I want to say thank you to XSkyeStarlX, anna the viking XD, and xXxMentalPancakesxXx for reviewing! It means a lot and helps with the motivation after work and school process.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Freedom is merely a figment of your imagination. No matter where you go there is always a dark cloud hanging over your head, watching your every move; and a shadow that follows, close enough to strike if and when you overstep the invisible boundaries chained around all life."

Chapter Four

I observe the king and his kin closely, watching for any movements indicating attack. "Pray tell, what will your next move be now, O' great king?" My tone scornful and full of malice.

The king chuckled lightly. "I suppose we shall see, O' mighty dragon."

Such light manner is infuriating, but also makes me wary. I can only hope that I am not as weak as his airy attitude implies. I narrow my eyes at the man.

"I'm quite curious, I ask that you humor me mighty king," sarcasm is heavily laced within the title of the wretched man before me and my anger continues to build, even as we do nothing but gaze upon each other's form. "Who do you think would win, should a battle arise, you or your kin of dragon slayers? Or myself, a dragon born?"

Those with knowledge of dragons are very few in number. Most believe that they are nothing but myths, legends crafted by elders to trick children into behaving. But there was once a time where dragons lived in great numbers along with the rest of the elves, dwarves, humans, and other creatures of the world. What most don't know is that the downfall of the dragons was set when the second generation king took the throne to the empire. The second king created the dragon hunt. For to him, dragons were only great beasts to be slain. It was viewed as a great honor for one to be able to claim that they slayed a mighty dragon.

However, for whatever reason, only those of the royal bloodline were able to successfully slay a dragon on their own. Knights of the court and other travelers, though brave and strong, were never able to kill a dragon by themselves. This did not stop men from creating great hunting parties and running out to conquer the great beasts. It was also for this reason that the royal bloodline was names the dragon slayers. What only a rare few know, was that the reason they had the ability to slay a dragon on their own was because they had dragon blood flowing through their veins.

The first king had fallen in love with a woman, who turned out to be a dragon who could shape shift into a human form. The king and the dragon woman contracted each other, in which the king burned away half of his human side and became a dragon born. Those of his bloodline received similar abilities to his own thanks to the pure dragon blood flowing through their veins.

The second king also made a contract with a dragon, becoming a dragon born, however it was a forced contract. Yet, the reason he and his bloodline had any dragon blood within them was because the second king drank the blood of a dragon he took down, then cut open a his arm and bathed his wound within the stomach of said freshly killed dragon, absorbing some of its life essence.

Dragon hunting became such a widely practiced sport that by the time the fifth king took the throne, dragons were scarce in number and only a meager forty or so remained. The fifth king slayed only one dragon, for by that time it was considered a requirement to take the throne, then passed the decree that dragon hunting would be considered a crime. However, this did not stop dragon hunting entirely. Those to take the throne must slay a dragon and drink it's blood, as set by the second king, and any king since then has followed those traditions.

A true dragon born is never like that. The power they receive is great and must be handled with care, for it could easily destroy the user otherwise. A true dragon born never forces a contract. They don't look for a dragon either.

The dragon finds them.

But this also causes a question to rise, for they have never met in battle before this. Dragon born or dragon slayer. I wonder what the king will say to this.

"That is something to ponder upon, though I hope such bloodshed need not come to pass," the king replied calmly.

"You hope that this will not escalate to that?" I reiterate angrily, my fury starting to boil over. "You hope that blood will not be spilled today when you have already bespattered a sea of blood across this country you call an empire! Such vexatious words from a human like you, who has followed every man before you in the killing of the weak has the gall to say such words? You are the thief of souls and the murderer of the innocent! You tear apart families of all species so that the power ultimately remains in your grasp! You are the shadow that haunts the civilians who have long since given up hope of ever living better lives! You are the darkness that eats away at the light and gives way to thugs and murderers, whom steal whatever is left after you have sucked them dry of all their worth!" Smoke streams from my jaw as the fire within builds. However, my next words are given quite calmly. "It is because of humans like you, that I burned away my own human side for good."

"I see that there is no way to quell your anger, for which I acknowledge that I am partially at fault." The king closed his eyes for a moment before opening them once again and holding up his scepter. "Then come forth, great dragon. I shall receive you accordingly."

A rush of fire rains out of my maw, followed by a quick whip of my tail to deter the attacking guardsmen. I twist about and send out another flare of flames, taking out many soldiers and nobles alike. They turn to ash in a matter of seconds due to the intensity of the fire I breathe, igniting the tables and drapery nearby as well.

A blast of energy slams against my side, but is much too weak to break through my scales. The men who looked remarkably similar to the king's three older son's had closed in to attack. How foolish of them to think they could trick me. I had seen those three escape from the room the moment I had transformed. My serpent like body allows me the flexibility to twist around quickly and send a quick blast of heat toward the culprit. Had I not decreased the power of my attack, there would not have been any part of his body to bury. At least his family still had bones to mourn over. Another attempts to take me head on. Only a foolish arrogant fool would do such a thing. My front foot/hand pushed him to the ground, but he died of a talon through the heart. The last son attempted to attack a blind side, but he was easily dealt with as well. All it took was a flick of my tail, and the human crashed against the wall. My sensitive ears could hear his ribs break and tear through his lungs. That one drowned in his own blood to death.

Perhaps, should I be unable to make it out of this kingdom, I shall cast a curse upon those three cowardly men and have them die a similar death to the one I sent their illusions to.

I continued to snap and claw at the continuous assaults. I continue casting and repelling other spells. The mages of the court send streaks of electricity, water, and ice, however the spells merely bounce off glittering silver scales and are reflected right back upon the caster. I refrain from using my own dragon flames any further. It would not do well for even myself if I used too much fire. If the building collapsed, even I may not be able to come out alive.

However, one burst of flames was misdirected and was heading for the youngest boy of Nono's, who had failed to escape thanks to the inattentive guards. I whipped my tail around and dissolved the attack before it could hit, I am not so cruel that I would kill such young and innocent children. As the sparks of the halted attack rained down, I caught a glimpse of the boy and the blond I assumed to be his brother, and for a moment, time slowed down. I stared at the two calmly and without anger, despite my vicious attacks used on the others, and I could see their wide and fear free eyes. Curiosity and wonder danced through those orbs of orange and caramel, the reflection of the sparks twinkling like stars as they fell.

But then time continued and I was back to attacking everything and everyone else around me. I clawed my way to the door, and with a mighty roar that propelled a shockwave, I burst through and made it out into the courtyard.

I would have immediately taken off into the sky, had it not been for a burst of powerful flames to my left. I snarled at the perpetrator, with the intent of ripping their head off, but froze when I took in my surroundings.

Four dragons stood before me. Each of them seemingly relaxed, yet all were ready to fight.

So many loses in a row is a bitter affair.

I laughed bitterly. "So this is how the kings has remained in power for so long."

Four mighty dragons of a different color stood before the gate.

Four mighty dragons of a different ability stood before my freedom.

And four might dragons of a great and terrible strength stood before and crushed any further hope of escape.

Reviews are lovely~!