In the grand halls of the Serfort Citadel, beneath towering stained-glass windows that cast long shadows across the marble floor, Duke Ardan stood in rigid silence. His clenched fists rested behind his back as he stared out at the dusty courtyard below. William stood beside him, armor still stained from the failed ambush in the forest, his face hard with frustration.
"They were supposed to be dead," William said through gritted teeth. "All of them. That damned Brotherhood... they stole her from us."
"She was a liability the moment the dragon blood awakened," Ardan muttered. "And now she's in the hands of Deviants."
He turned, the sharp edge of his jaw illuminated by the morning light.
"This is more than just a failure, William. The Brotherhood has made its move. If word spreads that rogue Deviants took a woman who has the ability to turn into a dragon, the province will demand answers. They'll see me as incompetent. We cannot allow that."
William's eyes burned with anger. "Then give me the authority. I'll take a company and raid every hideout they've ever used. We'll gut them one by one."
Ardan raised a hand. "No. That's exactly what they want. A public war legitimizes and victimizes them. We need precision, not fire."
There was a pause. Then Ardan spoke low, cold.
"Find out where they've taken her. I want eyes in every alley, every trade route. And once you do… we'll use her. The people still believe she's dead. If they see her again, in the hands of the enemy, then we control the narrative. And if not…"
He glanced at the flame flickering behind the iron brazier.
"were done."
_______________________________________________________________________
The Council Hall was colder than usual. Frost clung to the high pillars, and the hush that settled over the round stone table felt almost reverent. Duke Ardan stood at its head, flanked by advisors cloaked in deep navy robes, the sigil of Serfort embroidered in silver thread on their chests. Across from him sat the Council of Lords—eight men and women who governed the regions of the kingdom and held the power to sway public law.
William stood behind his father, arms crossed, jaw locked.
"We must control the story," Ardan began, voice steady, composed. "The public cannot know that Selene turned into a dragon. They cannot know that the Brotherhood stole her. That would ignite fear. Panic. Instead… we spin this."
Councilor Harlan, a thin man with silver-rimmed spectacles, leaned forward. "And how exactly do you suggest we do that?"
Ardan's lips thinned. "We declare that Selene was abducted by rogue Deviants during a transport mission. That they killed the escort detail and vanished. We place a bounty on them, not as political retaliation, but as a public safety measure. We make them the villains."
A murmur of agreement swept the room. Councilor Ilra, a sharp-featured woman with red hair pinned back in braids, nodded.
"And Selene?"
"We say she's presumed dead. Unless we recover her," William added, "in which case she becomes evidence of what they're capable of."
The vote was unanimous.
Moments later, a royal scribe was summoned. Within hours, four bounty sketches were sent out across the kingdom—black-and-white renderings of:
Blake: young, white hair, intense eyes.
Malrek: masked, tall, lean.
Javier: blonde, shaved sides, fair complexion.
Drayce: blue eyes, a solemn face, black hair.
Each poster was stamped with the royal seal and labeled in bold:
WANTED – DEAD OR ALIVE
The deviants responsible for the abduction of Selene. Bounty: 10,000 Orions per head. 50,000 for the return of Selene.
In the dim corners of taverns, along the backstreets of walled cities, and within the smoke-filled halls of bounty hunter dens, the sketches began to circulate. Word spread fast.
And the hunt began.
(INT. BLACK HALO HIDEOUT – INFIRMARY ROOM – DAY)
Selene lay still beneath layers of bandages and soft linens, her breathing steady but shallow. Sunlight filtered in through the cracked shutters, painting golden lines across the bed. Her hair, damp with sweat, clung to her brow. The remnants of her transformation still lingered in her aura—heavy, volatile.
Lora sat at her side, unmoving. Her hand rested gently on her sister's, eyes locked onto her unconscious face.
"You didn't ask for this..." Lora whispered. "And yet… here we are."
She brushed a stray lock from Selene's face, guilt anchoring her chest like stone.
(EXT. CAPITAL MARKET – AFTERNOON)
Julie strolled through the bustle, a woven basket in hand, her hood pulled low over her head. She was picking through a stack of herbs when something caught her eye.
A poster was nailed to a wooden board.
She froze.
Her eyes scanned the page—four faces, sketched in stark detail. The names below them were missing, but the descriptions were unmistakable.
BLAKE.MALREK.DRAYCE.JAVIER.
WANTED – DEAD OR ALIVE.
A lump formed in her throat. The vendor called after her as she dropped the basket and bolted down the street.
(INT. BLACK HALO HIDEOUT – COMMON ROOM – MOMENTS LATER)
The door burst open as Julie stumbled in, breathless. "We have a problem!"
The others—Blake, Malrek, Javier, Mirai, Drayce—looked up from the map they were studying.
She slammed the posters down on the table. "You're all wanted."
Everyone went silent.
Javier picked up one of the posters and let out a low whistle. "Damn. They didn't even get my good side."
Malrek grinned. "I look taller."
Blake just stared at the image of himself—his pale hair etched in strokes, his expression cold, dangerous.
"Ten thousand orions," Drayce murmured. "They really want us dead."
Mirai stood behind Blake, arms folded tightly. "This is what I was afraid of," she snapped. "You just had to play hero. If you had just left the damn dragon alone—"
"She was going to kill people," Blake cut in.
"And now we're the monsters!" Mirai shouted. "You don't get it, do you? You're not some invincible savior, Blake. You're a deviant. A wanted criminal. You'll never be free again."
The words hung heavy in the room. Blake turned to face her fully, gaze steady, voice low.
"No one's ever free, Mirai," he said. "Not the nobles in their palaces. Not the farmers in their fields. Not even the children born into peace. We're all bound by something—fear, duty, blood. I'd rather be hunted for saving someone than safe for watching them burn."
Silence.
Mirai's expression faltered. Her anger melted into something softer—hurt, maybe. Or understanding. She looked away.
Malrek clapped a hand on Blake's shoulder, amused. "Look at you. Almost sounded wise."
Julie lingered in the doorway, her voice quiet. "We should burn those posters. Fast."
Javier grabbed a flint from the table. "Yeah, but I'm keeping this one. For the ego."
They all shared a dry laugh. Even Mirai cracked a faint smile, despite herself.
Outside, the wind picked up. And with it came the scent of war on the horizon.
INT. BLACK HALO HIDEOUT – INFIRMARY ROOM – NIGHT
The room was dim. Only a single lantern glowed faintly in the corner, casting soft shadows along the stone walls. The sound of quiet breathing filled the air.
Selene stirred.
Her fingers twitched first, then her eyes fluttered open, confused, dazed. Her body ached, every limb heavy with exhaustion. She blinked up at the wooden ceiling, disoriented.
"…Lora?"
A voice, fragile and hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Lora shot up from the chair she'd fallen asleep in beside the bed. Her eyes widened, glassy with emotion.
"You're awake," she breathed, standing and gently placing a hand on her sister's forehead. "You're okay. You're safe."
Selene's lips trembled. "Where… where am I?"
Lora brushed her hair aside softly. "At the hideout. With me. With the others. You turned, Selene. You lost control—but we brought you back."
Selene's face contorted, the memory returning in flashes—flames, fear, the sensation of flying, and not remembering why.
"I… I hurt them," she murmured. "Didn't I?"
"You weren't yourself," Lora said firmly. "You weren't in control."
Tears slipped from the corners of Selene's eyes. "I felt everything. The pain… the rage. It was like something else took over."
She clenched the bedsheets tightly, trembling.
Lora leaned down, resting her forehead gently against Selene's. "I'm here now. I won't let them hurt you. I promise."
Selene swallowed, voice barely audible. "Did… did anyone die?"
Lora hesitated.
"No," she said softly. "But Blake almost did. He risked everything to save you."
Selene's eyes widened, breath catching in her throat. "Blake…"
Her body tensed, overwhelmed by guilt, grief, and confusion.
Outside the door, unseen, Blake stood listening silently. He didn't enter. Just lingered in the hallway—his hand resting against the wood—before turning and walking away, vanishing into the shadows of the corridor.
The long table was surrounded by tense faces, flickering candlelight painting deep shadows across their features. The atmosphere was grim—every chair filled with unease.
Blake leaned forward, arms crossed, jaw clenched. Beside him, Javier spun a dagger in his hand with restless fingers. Malrek slouched back in his seat, boots propped up, but even his usual arrogance was muted with sharp-eyed focus.
Drayce stood in the corner, arms crossed, his jaw tight. Julie sat quietly beside a stack of maps, her face pale after returning with the wanted posters. Lora paced slowly along the far end of the room. Mirai leaned on the wall, arms folded, expression unreadable.
Lora stopped pacing. "The bounty is official. They're not just after Selene anymore. They've named all of you as enemies of the province."
Javier scoffed. "Oi, alive or dead? Bold of them to think anyone's bringing me in alive."
"Don't joke about it," Mirai snapped. "This is serious. If one of us is caught, the others will be next."
"We should split up," Drayce said. "Lay low. Keep heat off the mansion."
"No," Blake said firmly. "If we scatter, we're weaker. And we'll be hunted one by one."
Julie hesitated, then added, "The bounty hunters will come in waves. First, the mercenaries… then the true monsters. Some of them won't care about collateral damage. They'll hurt innocents just to draw you out."
Everyone went quiet.
Malrek finally spoke, voice low and calm. "Then we stop running. Let them come. Let them try."
Javier cracked his knuckles. "Aye. We'll bury the first dozen and hang their boots on the gate."
"But we still need a plan," Blake said. "We can't protect Selene forever. Not like this."
"She's not stable," Lora said quietly. "If she turns again, and we're unprepared—"
"She won't," Blake cut in.
Everyone looked at him.
He continued, "We've faced a dragon and lived. We've stolen from the nobility and walked away. We aren't just fugitives now—we're a force. Let them put our names on every wall in the empire. That doesn't change who we are."
Julie looked at him, softly impressed. Mirai looked away.
Blake stood. "We stay together. We fortify the mansion. We get stronger. And when the time comes, we fight."
Malrek smirked. "Now that's the kind of stupid courage I like."
Lora sighed. "Then we're all in this together."
Everyone nodded, one by one.
A moment of silence. A pact, unspoken but ironclad.
Then Javier muttered under his breath, "Oi, white hair. You better not die before I get to beat your ass again."
Blake gave a slight grin. "Get in line."
The room had just settled into a weighty silence after the group's decision. Flickering candlelight cast a warm glow over the tense, dust-filled air. The sound of the door creaking open drew everyone's attention.
Selene stepped in slowly, barefoot on the stone floor, still pale and visibly weak. Her long blonde hair was loose, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and remorse. She wore a plain robe Julie had bought for her.
Everyone turned to look. A mix of surprise, wariness, and sympathy flickered across the room.
Her eyes searched through the group and landed on Blake.
"…Blake."
Blake stood up as she approached, cautious but calm.
She stopped a few steps away, eyes glassy with guilt. Her voice trembled.
"I remember everything. What I became. What I almost did to you.""I'm… sorry. For all the trouble I caused."
Blake looked at her for a long moment. The memory of dragon fire in his lungs flickered in his eyes — but then he nodded.
Blake:"You didn't choose to lose control. But you chose to fight it in the end. That's what matters."
Selene blinked, lips parting slightly in surprise. A small breath escaped her chest — relief, maybe. She nodded slowly, eyes soft.
Selene:"I don't deserve your forgiveness."
Blake:"Maybe not. But I'm giving it to you anyway."
Selene let out a quiet, breathy laugh. It was the first trace of warmth in her voice since she'd returned. For a moment, they stood there, silence stretching between them, not awkward, but full. Understanding.
Javier muttered from the back, "Oi, now he's taming dragons. What's next?"
Malrek gave him a smirk and an elbow to the ribs. Julie grinned quietly. Mirai looked between Blake and Selene, unreadable.
Selene finally looked around at the others and gave a small bow of gratitude."Thank you… for not leaving me behind."
Blake stepped forward, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder."You're one of us. Like it or not."
Their eyes met, and there was something unspoken in the exchange — a beginning.
Selene nodded softly. "Then I'll fight for us. All of us."
The moon hung low in a silver-washed sky. Stars stretched like frost across the heavens. The cool night wind whispered through the trees that encircled the hidden mansion.
Blake sat on the rooftop, knees drawn up, arms resting lazily on them. A light cloak hung around his shoulders. His white hair shimmered in the moonlight.
The door to the rooftop creaked.
Selene stepped out, slow and uncertain. She was wrapped in a thick blanket, her steps light but careful. She spotted him and hesitated.
"You're not sneaky, you know," Blake said.
Selene smiled softly and made her way over. She sat beside him, keeping a small distance, both looking up.
"Couldn't sleep." She said.
"Me neither."
A long silence. Just the sound of wind and distant rustling leaves.
(after a moment)"I remember seeing your face through the flames… when I was losing myself. You looked afraid."
"I was. Anyone would be afraid of a thirty-foot death lizard."
She chuckled under her breath.
"But you didn't run."
"…Didn't want to."
Selene glanced at him.
"Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe I saw something in you. Something worth saving."
The stars twinkled above.
"I could've killed you."
"But you didn't. I'm still here."
Another quiet moment passed.
"…You're not like the others."
"I hope that's a compliment."
She smiled. Her voice was softer now, almost a whisper.
"It is."
They sat in silence for a while. She leaned her head lightly on his shoulder. Blake didn't move— he let her.
"…I don't know who I am anymore."
"Neither do I. But maybe we'll figure it out. Together."
She smiled faintly, eyes closed. The wind passed gently over them like a hush.