Chapter 1 - Introduction

The year is 2019. The calm spring that once blossomed over the fields of Japan has been replaced by the scorching heat of summer. This summer, however, felt like the hottest summer I've ever experienced, with the temperature sitting at around 35 degrees. Seriously though, if a dragon just randomly appeared and started spitting fire, it'd probably be around this hot. Ok maybe that was an exaggeration, a dragon would burn you to a crisp before you felt this level of heat. Wait, I'm getting distracted.

My name is Samira, but most people just call me Sami. I'm an 18-year-old student living on my own in the rather unironically named Sunshine Town. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Well, it can get rather lonely at times since most people prefer to stay away from me as I don't look 'normal', but I don't let it bother me. I suppose the reason why I don't look normal is my hair, I mean it's fairly short with semi-long bangs, is jet black and parts directly in the middle, but I do have this yellow zigzag line straight down the parting. Aside from the odd colouring, I'm normal-looking but most people see the yellow streak first and judge based on that.

Thing is though, thanks to an event we know as the Gate Opening, this world is now also inhabited by people from the God race and Demon race, and somehow I'm the one that's not normal. Double-standards if I may say so. Still, I can't hate these two races for being normal ones, they act just like us in every way and they don't really care that much about their lineage, although the main difference between us and them is the fact that they can wield magic in various forms while we...well...can't even wield magic to start with. The reason I know this is because I'm friends with some girls from both races and they struggle with magic control as we would struggle with languages or maths, which I guess is what endeared them to us.

Today was a normal day, as it usually consists of walking to school with my friends and having various levels of boredom throughout the day.

"Hey, Sami! Over heeerrreee!"

I looked up and saw a red-haired girl waving at me, so I immediately started quickening my pace to meet her.

"Hey, how are you doing this morning?" I said as I joined the girl in walking to school.

"I'm doing great! I work up super early today, so I decided to take my time making my lunch this morning so that it's super tasty"

This red-headed girl is Sia, she's from the God race and she's also a student at the school I go to. She's also one of the girls in my only friend group at school. She's known for being very energetic and uplifting spirit but she also tends to be very driven when it comes to things she likes.

"So..I've always wanted to know. Why do you have that yellow pattern in your hair? Is it dyed or something?"

"Oh, this? It's a very long story. All I can say is that whatever happened to me when I was younger gave me this. Oh, look there's everyone else."

Eventually, the two of us ran into the rest of the group, who were outside the school gates waiting to go in.

"Good morning Rin!" She shouted as she ran towards a guy who was walking with an orange-haired girl.

"Hey Sia. You're rather energetic this morning."

"Mhm. I woke up early today so I had enough time to prepare everything. I don't usually get up this early though."

"Well I know I'd never be able to do that. I sleep in all the time."

This guy is Rin, the only guy in our group and also the centre of attention for the girls in our group. He's known for always sleeping in through his alarm and for being a little dense when it comes to the girls around him.

"You shouldn't push yourself too hard to wake up in the morning if you're not used to it. I'm able to do it because I've done it for Rin so long."

This girl is Kaide, the one who has known Rin the longest and is also very diligent when it comes to him. Making his lunch, waking him up, she does it all for him. You'd think that he's abusing her kindness but it was her that instigated this, although that story is not one for me to tell.

"That's true Kaide, but you worry so much about me you forget about yourself. Like forgetting your lunch, you very nearly did that this morning."

"I know, but I'll get there sooner or later."

Our group was soon interrupted by a blue-haired girl walking towards us while waving gently.

"Good Morning everyone. How are you?"

The final girl in our group, Nerine. She's from the Demon race and unlike Sia is rather shy and reserved unless it comes to anyone hurting Rin, then her real self emerges and she unleashes devastating power to destroy anyone who hurts him even if they are just badmouthing him, much to his shock.

"Hey Rina. We're doing great. Kaide nearly forgot her lunch again."

"Hey don't make fun of me Rin.."

"Hehe sorry. I'll stop now."

We soon made our way into the school and then to our classroom. Our school is called Verbena Academy and it's one school that supports cross-race students like Gods and Demons. Because we all live fairly close to the school it's very convenient to walk here.

The first lesson was history, one class that would bore anyone to death but this time we were learning about something interesting, as our teacher was going to tell us.

"Alright, everyone. Now as you know we live collectively with the God race and Demon race, and I also told you yesterday that these 2 races were the only ones that existed other than humans. However, what I didn't tell you is that there once was a third race."

Everyone immediately started paying attention when they heard this while looking very confused.

"A third one? What do you mean?"

"Good, that got your attention. Yes, there was indeed a third race, but they were thought to have perished a long time ago. These beings were once called Draconians and they were a race bent on destruction, so much so that it took the combined efforts of the Gods and Demons to stop them in the event we took to calling 'The Great War'. Why did I say 'thought to have perished'? Well, these beings had one final trick up their sleeve before the war ended, which was to merge with humans to create humanoid beings that possessed their power. This allowed them to essentially fool the Gods and Demons into thinking they all perished. As a side effect, this allowed the humans to live longer lives...but it didn't stop them from dying as the Draconian within would sap the life force from the human to survive before moving onto another host. This continued throughout time and it's thought that as of right now there aren't any more hybrids among us. If there were any in this time, then we very well might not be able to stop them again."

The entire room was silenced by this speech and everyone looked scared. Suddenly the silence was broken by the bell ringing for the end of class, to everyone's relief.

"Alright everyone, make sure to revise this because it WILL be coming up in the test. As I am telling you this you shouldn't fail it, unless you're an IDIOT!"

The rest of the day went by smoothly, we had class, had lunch, and then had more classes. It was during one of these classes that we saw something we never wanted to see.

During maths class, we were having our lesson when all of a sudden we were shaken by this light rumbling and heavy wind. We immediately looked outside and saw the sky turn black and storm clouds had started forming. Eventually, a blinding light shone directly at us from the sky, which was then followed by a huge tremor, causing everyone to panic. When the light finally disappeared, that's when we saw it:

A Red Dragon...

"Show yourself, dragon! I know you're here!"

"Dragon? What's he talking about?"

"Wait. Could it be….? One of the long-lost races we learned earlier today?"

"It can't be! They all died out, that's what we were told...right?"

Everyone had surmised the impossible: A Draconian had arrived and was most likely after another of his kind. But why here? And who among us is a Hybrid?

"Fine! If you won't come out, I'll make you show yourself!"

The dragon then opened his mouth and started spewing fire at the building, trying to roast us alive until he could find what he was after. Everyone immediately exited the classroom.

Everyone...except me.

"What are you doing, Sami? You're going to get burned alive by him."

"Why are you still standing there? Get out of there! You'll die if you stay here!"

Both Sia and Kaide looked worried but all I could do was smile at them and say:

"I'm sorry...I would have preferred to have kept this from you a while longer...but it seems it can't be helped."

Before they could answer, a large fireball came veering towards the school directly at me. I then turned around and raised both my hands. At that moment, a partially see-through barrier appeared and blocked the path of the fireball, much to everyone's shock.

"You want me? Come and get me!"

I then jumped out the window and in a short moment, disabled the barrier and punched the fireball back at the dragon, causing a massive explosion which sent him flying backwards and landing on his back. In a flash, I appeared on top of him and looked him in the face while slowly smiling.

"Ughhh. I wasn't expecting that, but I won't let it happen agai...n...No...NO...WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I came here to find one of our brethren but...OH NO…YOU'RE ONE HALF OF THAT PAIR….THE INVINCIBLE LOVERS…!"

"HEHEHEHE...So you figured it out did you. Not to worry, I won't kill you. Just get out of my sight and don't bother me again."

"Y-Y-YES OF COURSE!"

The dragon then got up and flew away into the sky, causing the storm clouds to start dissipating and the sun to begin shining again in the sky. I turned around and looked up at everyone in the classroom who were just standing in stunned silence, looking horrified by what they just saw. I was partially worried about what they were going to do, but I just sighed and waved at everyone.

"He's gone now! Don't worry, he won't be coming back!" I shouted at everyone to try and alleviate their fears. I slowly started running back inside the school to where everyone was, but what awaited me was the feeling of pure fear coming from everyone.

"In case you're wondering what happened, or in case you're already surmising it...I am a Draconian hybrid...and a very powerful one at that. I wanted to keep this a secret because, as the teacher said, they have a history. But I assure you, I'm not here to destroy anything nor am I here to start a war. I'm here to be a normal human and hope that I can persuade everyone that the Draconians aren't all bad like the legends say."

"Yeah right! How can you prove that to us?!"

"You're one of them, that makes you evil! You shouldn't be here!"

"STOP EVERYONE."

All of a sudden Kaide piped up and silenced everyone.

"CAN'T YOU SEE THAT HE JUST SAVED US? WHY WOULD HE DO THAT IF HE WAS WILLING TO DESTROY US?"

"Yeah. If he wants all of us to live together then we will make a start right here. I'm sure you don't want to make enemies of us do you?" Sia said with a rather sneaky smile, which made everyone back down from trying to essentially hunt me.

The rest of the day went by rather awkwardly, but we got through it. Although I was getting some looks throughout the rest of the day, I just ignored them. As soon as the day ended I was approached by my friends who were looking a little worried.

"You weren't lying, were you? About Gods, Demons and humans living together in the same realm?"

Nerine was the first to speak up, followed by Sia and Kaide. I assured them that I was telling the truth, which filled them with a sense of relief. After that, we all walked straight home together but before we approached the point where we would separate, Rin asked a question:

"So...how did you become a hybrid? Is it like, painful or something?"

"I'm curious too. Who are these 'Invincible Lovers'?

"*sigh* Yes it was rather painful. As to who the Invincible Lovers are? That's a long story that I don't have time to tell you as of right now. How about you guys come over to where I live at the weekend and I'll tell you the whole story."

The girls were a little apprehensive but Sia spoke up:

"Um..sure that sounds fun. Where is your house?"

"Oh, my house? It's right here."

I turned around and gestured at my house, causing everyone to just quickly jump in shock.

"You timed that so perfectly. I'm almost impressed."

"Yeah...I'm a little surprised at how I managed that."

We then separated and I walked into my house to go up to my room.

That was too close, you need to be more careful, Sami.

"Don't worry. I will be."

The weekend had arrived and everyone started to arrive at my house one after another. After everyone had arrived I led them to my living room and began preparing to tell them my story.

"Okay, so as I mentioned I'm a Draconian hybrid. How did I become this way? Well, the short version is that I was kidnapped for experimentation by this underground organisation that thankfully don't exist anymore."

"Kidnapped? How horrible.." Nerine said with a rather sad face.

"It was horrible, but looking back on it now it was the best thing to ever happen to me. Let me explain why."