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In the vast Empire of Astashia, humans and Humalians once lived side by side in harmony. Among them, the most revered were the Dragon-Fox hybrids—creatures of unmatched grace and strength. Gifted with the wisdom of dragons and the cunning of foxes, they stood as the guardians of peace, ensuring the empire remained whole.
The empire itself was divided into two great kingdoms. Astrevia, the land of hybrids, thrived with mystic power and ancient lineage, while Fierondis, the realm of humans, prospered through ambition and growth. For generations, both lands coexisted in balance, their rulers bound by trust and shared destiny.
But peace is a fragile treasure. Greed began to fester in the heart of Fierondis's ruler. Blinded by the hunger for dominion, he cast aside the bond of trust and set his eyes on the downfall of Astrevia.
Thus, the empire stood at the edge of betrayal, its future hanging by the fragile thread of loyalty and power.
"Sister, how is Father's condition?" a lady asked, her golden eyes—set in the delicate features of a white fox—glimmering with concern. She gently placed her hands on her sister's shoulder, testing how she would respond.
"He is fine for now, but with how things are, he won't last much longer," her sister replied, rubbing one of the hands resting on her shoulder for comfort. Her gaze lingered on the man lying in bed—his black hair framed a face touched with faint scales. Even with the wrinkles at his eyes and on his hands, his features still carried the dignity of a divine man. His breathing was calm, his eyes closed. But when he opened them, amethyst-sharp irises shone brilliantly, beautiful and piercing.
"You needn't worry," he said slowly, his lips curving into a faint smile. "A dragon lives a long life. My version of 'won't live long' is probably another hundred years." He chuckled softly at his own jest.
"This isn't the time to joke, dear Father," the woman replied, half-angry, her lips pursed in a pout.
The man on the bed is the ruler of Astrevia. His features still shows his majestic glory and power. "Lumania, can you go fetch a box in the desk drawer in my office?" the old man asked his youngest child slowly. The lady just nodded in worry and went out to go fetch what asked. When the youngest went out, he then touched his oldest daughter's hand,"Lumitoile... have you ever heard about Astarte?", he asked as if he was hinting at something.
Lumitoile just looked at him and answered ," The Phoenician god?". "Yes", the man answered.
"If there's one god you should believe, always believe in Astarte ", he says as if he's assuring.
"I don't know why you're saying this dear father...", Lumitoile answered in confusion.
The man lying on the bed was none other than the ruler of Astrevia. Even in his frailty, his features still carried the weight of majesty and power, as though his very presence refused to wither with age.
"Lumania," he called softly, his voice low but steady, "go fetch the box in the desk drawer of my office."
His youngest daughter hesitated for only a moment, her golden eyes filled with worry, before she nodded and left the chamber without a word.
As the door closed behind her, the ruler turned his gaze toward his eldest. Reaching out, he gently took her hand into his own.
"Lumitoile…" he spoke with deliberate calm, his amethyst eyes glinting faintly, "have you ever heard of Astarte?"
Lumitoile furrowed her brows, tilting her head slightly. "The Phoenician god?"
A faint smile curved her father's lips. "Yes." His voice grew quieter, but each word carried the weight of conviction. "If there is one god you should believe in… always believe in Astarte."
Lumitoile blinked, her confusion clear in her eyes. "I don't understand why you're saying this, dear Father…"
Before Lumitoile could ask further, the chamber doors burst open with a thunderous slam.
"Sister! It's an emergency!" Lumania's voice rang out, her face pale with fear. Clutched tightly in her hands was the box their father had asked for. "The humans… they've announced war at the border!"
Lumitoile shot to her feet, shock flashing across her golden eyes. Just as she was about to rush out, a firm grasp caught her wrist.
Their father, though frail, pulled himself into a sitting position. His amethyst eyes burned with quiet strength.
"Lumania, give me the box," he said, his tone calm, unshaken by the chaos pressing in from beyond the palace walls.
With trembling hands, the younger daughter stepped forward and placed the box in her father's lap. His fingers opened it with deliberate care, revealing a single, gleaming earring.
"Always wear this," he said softly, his expression unreadable—as though the war outside was of no concern compared to this single act.
Lumitoile hesitated, her heart tightening with unease, but she accepted it. Sliding the earring into place, she gave her father a fleeting smile.
"…Thank you," she whispered, before turning and rushing toward the door.
"Stay with Father," she ordered her younger sister.
But Lumania shook her head fiercely, golden eyes blazing with defiance. "No. What happens in Astrevia is my responsibility too. I am a princess of Astrevia. I'll go with you."
Lumitoile froze, then a small, proud smile touched her lips. Brave and unyielding—Lumania was everything a ruler should be. Unlike her, who had never desired the throne. Lumitoile's only wish was to live and protect those dearest to her.
"Very well," she said at last, and together, the two sisters hurried toward the border—where the fate of Astrevia awaited.
When the two sisters reached the castle gates, chaos greeted them like a storm.
Screams and cries echoed in every direction, the air heavy with smoke and fear. Lumitoile clenched her fist, rage burning in her chest.
"Rescue the citizens! Go, hurry!" Lumania shouted, her command sharp and unyielding. At once, their soldiers rushed into the town, their armor clashing as they split into the streets.
But then—
A low, cruel laugh rolled from the shadows ahead.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't the two sisters. Hah! I guess you're not as powerful as the legends claimed you to be."
A man stepped forward, his pink hair cut into a medium mullet, gleaming under the firelight. His eyes—unnaturally golden—glimmered with greed and cruelty. His smile was twisted, mocking.
"Golden eyes?!" Lumania gasped, fury lacing her voice. "That's impossible! Only the royal Fox Kin can possess such eyes!"
The man chuckled darkly, his expression warping into madness. "Ahaa—so you noticed. You're right. These eyes aren't mine. But tell me—" he spread his arms, letting the light catch the unnatural gleam in his irises—"don't they suit me?"
Lumitoile's claws slid from her fingers, rage flashing in her sharp pupils. "How did you obtain it?!"
"How?" He laughed, the sound scraping the air like a blade. "Foxes live for centuries, dragons for millennia. Do you really think the blood you've shed in all those years simply… disappears?" His grin widened, cruel and triumphant. "Even blood spilled long ago, left to rot in the dirt—it still holds your power. And humans… oh, we're clever enough to harvest it. To use it. To become it."
He tilted his head, eyes burning with stolen gold. "Your kin's blood tastes divine. And this power flowing through me…" He inhaled sharply, shuddering in twisted delight. "It's addicting."
Before anyone could reply, his smile suddenly dropped. His hand lifted.
"This is getting boring."
With a wave, lines of soldiers emerged from behind him. Their numbers stretched across the wall of the castle gate, an ocean of steel and hate.
"Attack!"
The soldiers charged, their war cries clashing with the screams of fleeing citizens.
Lumania's eyes blazed. Blue fire surged around her feet as her form shifted in a blinding flash. Her body elongated shifting gracefully into a fox form, her nine tails fanning out behind her like banners of living flame. Her fur shimmered white, glowing under the firelight, and each step scorched the earth.
"Stay behind me!" she cried, her voice now layered with a fox's snarl.
The first wave of soldiers stormed forward. With a flick of her tails, blue fire erupted in a sweeping arc, consuming them in flames that refused to die. Their screams cut through the air as the fire seared flesh and steel alike.
Another group charged from the flank. Lumania snapped her jaws open, releasing a torrent of azure fire that split the ground apart. The heat was so fierce it melted weapons to slag and forced the soldiers to scatter.
A third wave came in with spears raised. Her tails slammed down like whips, shattering stone and sending men flying through the air as though they were nothing more than dolls.
Still they pressed forward.
The air was filled with smoke and sparks, the clash of steel against magic, the howls of men burning alive. Lumania stood in the center of it, her form radiating divine ferocity, her flames spreading wider, wider—until the very ground around the gate was a blazing inferno no soldier dared to cross.
She was unstoppable. Her power was overwhelming.
But her eyes were locked on the front. She didn't notice the glint of metal above.
The whistle of an arrow.
"—ahh!"
The shaft struck her shoulder, sinking deep. She staggered and changed back into her human form, blood dripping down her robes.
"LUMANIA!" Lumitoile screamed, her fury unleashed. Her fox ears sharpened into view, dragon tails flaring out behind her, scales glittering faintly across her skin.
The pink-haired man's grin faltered, replaced by wide-eyed shock. "A… half-dragon… half-fox kin?" His surprise melted into wild laughter. "INTERESTING!" His golden eyes gleamed with hunger. "I wonder how powerful your blood will be." He pointed forward with a twisted grin. "Focus on the half-breed!"
The soldiers roared and rushed—
But then, the earth trembled. A shadow eclipsed the battlefield.
A roar thundered through the sky.
A colossal black dragon descended, its wings blotting out the flames, its body four times the size of the soldiers below. It landed before the sisters, its sheer presence shaking the ground.
"Father!" Lumania cried, clutching her wounded shoulder. Her eyes filled with tears. "You're not supposed to be here! You'll—!"
The dragon's amethyst eyes softened, sorrow in their depths. "I'm sorry, Lumania." His voice was heavy, laced with grief.
Then he turned to Lumitoile.
"My dear… forgive me. I trust you to bring prosperity back to the empire."
Confusion struck her heart, but realization dawned in a single, horrific instant. Her eyes widened in horror.
"Father—no! DON'T!"
But it was too late. His massive tail swept forward, striking her with overwhelming force.
A portal tore open behind her—glimmering, shifting, alive. She was flung inside, her scream lost to the void.
The last thing she saw was her father's eyes—solemn, unyielding—before the world twisted around her.
And then—silence.
When the light cleared, Lumitoile stood alone. A vast forest stretched endlessly in all directions. No castle. No fire. No father. Not even her sister. Only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.
.
.
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