Battle Against the Dragon: Part 1

Maros turned to Alice with a faint smile.

Maros: “Go ahead and eat, Alice. Enjoy as much as you like.”

Alice, still unsure, slowly sat back down and began nibbling at the food with hesitation. Meanwhile, Maros shifted his gaze to Vany.

Maros: “Vany, come with me for a moment. Just the two of us.”

Vany glared at him but eventually followed Maros to a quieter corner of the room, away from Alice’s view.

There, Maros stood calmly, completely unfazed by Vany’s cold demeanor.

Maros: “Why didn’t you want to eat, Vany? I’m worried you might be starving. And… are you having trouble with someone?”

Vany crossed her arms, her expression tense.

Vany: “Maybe the problem… is you.”

Her voice was sharp, like a blade freshly drawn. But Maros didn’t flinch. He simply looked at her with steady eyes, as if reading the final page of a book he already understood.

Maros: “Oh… I see.”

No defense. No anger. Just that unnerving calm that made the silence feel heavier.

In the quiet corner of the room, Vany stood face-to-face with Maros. The air felt cold—not from the temperature, but from the words left unsaid.

Maros: “By the way, Vany... about that magic potion you and Alice received yesterday. Do you know where it came from?”

Vany narrowed her eyes.

Vany: “You sent it, didn’t you?”

Maros raised an eyebrow, as if the question had caught him off guard.

Maros: “Me? No. I only heard about it from Alice. She mentioned you both got something strange. But I have no idea who sent it.”

Vany didn’t respond immediately. She studied Maros—too calm, too composed.

Vany: “Don’t play dumb, Maros. You always know more than you let on.”

Maros smiled faintly. A smile that offered no answers.

Maros: “If I knew, I’d tell you. But this time... I genuinely don’t.”

Vany’s brow furrowed. Suspicion crept in like a shadow.

Vany (thinking): If it wasn’t him, how did he know we received it? And why is he so calm?

Maros remained still. Not stepping forward, not stepping back. Just waiting. As if he knew the next question would matter more than the last answer.

Maros leaned casually against the wall, his smile thin but loaded with meaning. His gaze locked onto Vany’s, unreadable yet deliberate.

Maros: “You’re fascinating, Vany. You can sense my movements... even before I act.”

Vany clenched her fist. Her eyes flared—not from embarrassment, but from the primal urge to punch him square in the face.

Vany: “Your mouth... really deserves a fist.”

Maros didn’t flinch. Instead, he stepped half a pace closer, as if inviting the blow.

Maros: “I know your movements too. You and Alice. Both of you... way too expressive when you're hiding something.”

Vany held her breath. There was something in Maros’s tone—not fear, not arrogance, but something else. Something that made her hesitate. Did he truly know something? Or was he just playing?

Vany (thinking): He knows too much. But why won’t he just say it outright?

Maros (still calm): “That potion... maybe it wasn’t from me. But I know what it does. And I know you haven’t been entirely honest about what you felt after drinking it.”

The room fell silent. Only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard. Vany stared at Maros, trying to decipher the intent behind his words.

Vany couldn’t hold back anymore. Her emotions surged, boiling over the edge. Without hesitation, she threw a punch straight at Maros’s face.

But Maros moved swiftly—his hand shot up and caught her fist mid-air, firm and effortless.

Maros (calmly): “I told you, Vany... I know your every move.”

Vany gritted her teeth, her arm still locked in his grip. Before she could pull back or speak, a loud knock echoed from the door.

Servant (panicked, from outside): “Lord Maros! Lady Vany! Something’s happening outside!”

The door burst open, revealing a breathless servant, eyes wide with urgency.

Servant: “There’s a dragon—a monster—roaming the streets! It’s heading straight for the restaurant. It wants to destroy everything!”

Maros and Vany exchanged a glance. The tension between them instantly shifted into alertness.

Servant (insisting): “You must leave now! Hurry, before it’s too late!”

Maros released Vany’s fist. His expression turned serious, no longer playful.

Maros: “Looks like we’ll have to postpone this fight.”

Vany (still irritated but focused): “If the restaurant gets destroyed, you’re paying for it.”

Maros (smirking): “If we survive, we’ll talk compensation.”

Without wasting another second, they followed the servant through the back exit. In the distance, the ground trembled with each roar—the dragon was close, and its fury was unmistakable.

After escaping the trembling restaurant, Vany scanned the chaotic streets.

Vany (frantic): “Where’s Alice?! She was just inside!”

Maros looked around, eyes sharp, searching through the fleeing crowd. But Alice was nowhere to be seen.

Then— A scream. They turned toward the sound and saw her.

Alice. Caught in the claws of the dragon, lifted high above the ground. She struggled, but the beast’s grip was merciless.

Vany (shouting): “ALICE!!”

Maros clenched his fists. His eyes darkened, something stirring beneath the surface.

Maros (thinking): I could save her... but if I reveal my true power here...

He turned to Vany, voice low and urgent.

Maros: “Vany. I can’t show my real strength in front of these people. But you... you can do something.”

Vany (confused): “What are you talking about?! That’s a dragon! I’m not—”

Maros reached into his cloak and pulled out a sword. Not ordinary. Its blade shimmered with a deep blue aura, and ancient runes pulsed along its hilt.

Maros: “This isn’t just a weapon. It’s forged to wound creatures like that. But it only works in the hands of someone who doesn’t hesitate.”

He handed the sword to Vany.

Maros (firmly): “Save Alice. I’ll distract the crowd. You need to act—now.”

Vany gripped the sword. It felt cold, but alive. As if it recognized the urgency of the moment.

Vany (thinking): I’m no hero. But if I do nothing... Alice dies.

She nodded, then sprinted toward the dragon, sword in hand, resolve burning in her eyes.