Chapter 2
Drakon's insult plunged the entire Dragon Crystal Hall into dead silence.
By all rights, I should've cried. Should've begged for mercy. Should've let them trample me like in my past life.
But reborn, I only found it laughable.
"Since I'm so unworthy..." I swept my gaze across the hall. "Why don't you both climb into Zephyra's bed together? With her talents, handling two dragon lords shouldn't be difficult."
The hall erupted into chaos.
Roran's face darkened. "Megan! What the hell did you just say?!"
Cold flames ignited in Drakon's eyes. "Do you have a death wish?"
The two dragon lords closed in, their draconic pressure warping the air.
That's when Zephyra grabbed them both, playing the fragile victim, the dragon flame pendant at her chest glowing faintly.
"Please, don't blame Megan. She meant well ten years ago, even if things went terribly wrong. Besides, she was there at the Abyss Rift..."
With that careful mention, she almost let that twisted history slip through the cracks.
Ten years ago, I'd been sent to the border abyss for my trial as clan heir. Drakon was the young Shadow Dragon emissary assigned to oversee it.
On the final day, corrupted wyverns ambushed the camp.
One beast locked onto Drakon, ready to tear him apart. I threw myself between them, slashing my wrist to let my dragon blood pour forth, drawing the wyvern away.
I ended up critically injured and unconscious. Drakon survived. Zephyra only arrived afterward.
But when I woke, everyone said Zephyra had saved Drakon. That I'd only "gotten in the way."
Worse—they claimed my bloodletting had "contaminated" me with the wyvern's abyssal taint, rendering my dragon blood worthless.
Drakon glared at me. "Stop bringing up ten years ago! Your recklessness nearly got me killed. If you hadn't drawn that creature's corrupted blood onto yourself—"
"You always twist what happened," Roran cut in, his voice cold as winter steel. "Zephyra arrived and saved you both. You nearly got Drakon killed with your impulsive stunt, yet you act like some kind of hero."
Triumph flashed across Zephyra's face before she switched to a wounded expression.
"Please, don't be too harsh. Megan was young and frightened. She couldn't have known what would happen..."
Listening to them rewrite history made my blood boil.
I'd actually believed these lies in my past life.
Drakon's voice cut through. "You should thank Zephyra for covering up your blood contamination. Otherwise you'd have been cast out long ago."
"That's right," Roran said. "You should be grateful instead of stirring up trouble. Zephyra is your benefactor."
"If Megan would just behave, we wouldn't mind letting her stay." Triumph glinted in Zephyra's eyes. "We can't have an abandoned half-blood wandering outside. Other clans would call us heartless."
I'd had enough.
She became the savior? The contamination was my sin? And I should be grateful?
"What if I refuse?" I rose slowly, dangerously calm.
Roran and Drakon regarded me with contempt.
Isabella's palm struck the table. "Your dragon blood is tainted! And yet you dare spew such venom in this hall?"
I met her gaze without flinching. "Then I'll prove my dragon blood is purer than anyone's. I'm going to the Ancient Dragon Tombs in the Far North for blood verification."
Memories flooded back—in my past life, they'd locked me in the dungeons for my "defective" blood, injecting me daily with "purification serums" while Zephyra stole everything.
This lifetime, I would never be trapped by these lies again.
Roran lunged for my arm. Draconic power erupted from my body, throwing him back several steps. Shock registered in his eyes.
"Since you all claim my blood is defective, let me prove it. Let's see who's really lying."
Three months later, the Ancient Dragon Tombs of the Far North.
I'd severed my family contract, completely cutting ties with the past.
Isabella had signed the exile decree without hesitation. To her, this was simply using the Dragon God's trial to eliminate a family embarrassment without dirtying her hands.
She'd miscalculated.
When I entered the Dragon God's Sanctum, the entire tomb trembled. Draconic power frozen for a millennium began to stir.
"Lady Megan," the Dragon God's priest prostrated himself, voice trembling. "The Dragon God has bestowed a divine oracle! You've received the highest sacred mark in a thousand years—the Crimson Gold Dragon Ring!"
But that wasn't all. They'd discovered another truth.
"A curse mark was planted in your dragon blood, but under the Dragon God's protection, it's been completely purified. Only someone with exceptional skill in blood magic could accomplish such manipulation..."
"Someone with absolute devotion during blood awakening and unwavering will," I finished quietly.
The rage and clarity from my rebirth had earned the Dragon God's blessing, purifying Zephyra's curse.
Just then, my mother's keepsake—the dragon scale talisman my father had given her—began searing my skin.
Isabella's voice pierced through. "Megan! Return at once! Your mother's memorial day approaches! As her daughter, will you dishonor her memory?"
Mother's memorial day. An emotional chain I couldn't break.
I smiled bitterly. "I'll return."
Three days later, I stood before my mother's grave at the ancestral burial grounds.
I'd barely taken position when a familiar voice drifted from behind.
"Megan, you finally came back." Zephyra's smile appeared warm, but jealousy flickered in her eyes. "I heard about your trial in the Far North. It must have been... challenging."
"The Dragon God's trial is notoriously dangerous. Simply surviving is an accomplishment." False sympathy dripped from every word. "Isabella thought since your blood still needs attention, I should continue the purification treatments."
I ignored her performance and raised my left hand.
The Crimson Gold Dragon Ring blazed in the moonlight, sacred draconic power washing over the cemetery.
"What... what is that?" Color drained from Zephyra's face.
"The Dragon God's personal blessing. The Crimson Gold Dragon Ring." My tone remained flat. "The highest sacred mark bestowed in a millennium. Proof of the purest ancient dragon bloodline."
"Impossible!" Zephyra's shriek shattered the night. The pendant's light stuttered and flickered. "Your blood was corrupted! This must be fake!"
"Still clinging to your lies?" I stepped closer. "The Dragon God's power revealed something else—a curse mark in my blood. Care to explain how it got there?"
Zephyra's composure cracked. "I... how would I know? I've been trying to help you!"
"Really? Then why are you trembling?" I closed the distance, gripping the pendant at her throat. "This 'purification' of yours—you were planting curses while draining my dragon blood into this trinket, weren't you?"
With her deception exposed, Zephyra's gentle mask shattered.
For a brief moment, terror bleached her features—then madness took over, her eyes burning with feral rage.
"So what if you have some worthless mark? I refuse to accept this!"
"I'm going to the Forbidden Abyss! The most primal Dragon God trial still exists there—I'll prove I'm superior!"
She screamed, her form rippling into an incomplete half-dragon shape as she launched into the night sky, fleeing toward the Forbidden Abyss.
I didn't move to stop her. Just watched her disappear.
The Forbidden Abyss. That place was genuinely perilous, but it no longer concerned me. I'd be gone soon enough.
Early the next morning, I was gathering my belongings to leave permanently.
The door burst open. Roran and Drakon stormed in.
"Megan!" Terror had drained all color from Roran's face. "Zephyra never returned! The patrol found signs of combat near the Forbidden Abyss!"
Fury blazed in Drakon's eyes. "This is your fault! If you hadn't driven her to desperation, she never would have gone there alone!"
Roran thrust an accusing finger at me. "You're coming with us to find Zephyra right now! You caused this—you'll fix it!"
"Don't even think about leaving! You're not going anywhere until Zephyra is safely home!"
