After the initial shock and horror had passed, I had to admit to myself that this dragonkin was… quite attractive.

I’m no expert on draconology or anything like that, but I can bet my money it’s a middle-aged dragonman.

He had emerald scales and a mountain of muscle on his body. He was dressed in nothing but a shirt and pants, only instead of synthetic fabric, they were made of wool. If I were a woman, I’d say he was a shining example of masculinity. His every muscle and curve probably causes envy and lust in those who look at him.

He also had a pretty neat Mohawk that turned into a mane, horns, and a goatee, and his face looked adorable. For some reason, I had the urge to hug him and even pet him…

‘Okay, stop… I think I went in a completely wrong direction. I need to think of a backstory and origin!’

So I started brainstorming.

'So, what is my best choice for this particular case? The chosen one? No. Amnesia? No. Teleport from another world? Not so good either. Alright, moving on…'

“Why aren’t you eating?” he asked, bringing me down to earth. I remembered that I was very hungry, and I started eating, trying to follow all the rules of etiquette at the table like a true nobleman.

For dinner, there was some strange fish about half a meter in size, which I had never seen before. The dishes were also made of a metal I’d never seen before. It looked like silver but with a kind of purple tint. It was hard to tell… I guess that was more proof that I was really in another realm.

I quickly went back to thinking about my origin. But nothing came to mind until I realized:

‘Holy crap! I’m out of clichés!!!’

Trying to buy myself some more time to think, I decided to start the conversation myself with something casual:

“You have a great library,” I remarked, looking at the bookcase. I didn’t know why, but for some reason, it was making me nervous.

“Ah, this? Yes, thank you. It’s more for decoration purposes. It does come in handy when I have nothing else to do though. I assume you’re an expert on literature?”

I was going to answer in the affirmative, but then I realized that by doing so I risked cutting off half of the options as my backstory.

“How can I tell you…it’s complicated…” I mumbled.

“Really? I’m interested to hear more about these…”complications”. If you’re comfortable talking, of course.”

That was a hint that he wanted to hear something from me, so I decided to use the story of the character whose name I’d chosen. After all, he wouldn’t suspect a thing.

“You know, it’s a long story… and a bit sad. I come from the distant kingdom of Fargus… a kingdom that has now gone up in flames.”

It had been quite some time since I’d read The Flaming Crest, but I still remembered most of it.

During my monologue, I noticed how for some reason I can’t stop looking at that pesky bookshelf.

‘What the hell is wrong with it…?’

Somehow I retold almost every bit of Dimitri’s tragic story, only turning the events in a different direction at some points.

“So, after being betrayed by my own sister, I ran away, and now I’m looking for a way to escape. I don’t know if there is light at the end of the tunnel, and yet, as hard as it is for me…”

Suddenly I noticed one of the books on that damn shelf… and felt frozen, not realizing if it was just a similar book or if it was actually…

‘The Flaming Crest?! That can’t be… since when do Dragonkins read the same stuff as us?!’

“Why have you stopped?” the creature asked me suddenly. At that moment, his expression became unreadable.

“HUH? OH! You know, it’s just, uh…”

Suddenly I was completely miffed and at a loss for words.

'Maybe he hasn’t even read it…? ' — I was about to continue my lie when he cut me off:

“Well, I see you’ve forgotten your backstory, so let me jog your memory, “Dimitri”: after you were betrayed by your sister and spent five years in prison, you were rescued by your mentor, who showed you the path to salvation and redemption after you, you know, killed a bunch of people to avenge your family. In a nutshell."

I barely held myself back from dropping my jaw to the floor.

‘I’m caught!…’

If it was a board game, I think I’ve rolled a critical failure right now… so much so that it’s time for the dice to get a number zero on it exclusively for me. I’ve never been this screwed before. I lied to almost every person I met and not one of them got suspicious. And yet I got caught by some lizard who wasn’t even from our realm.

‘Unbelievable!’

While I was recovering from the shock, the lizard propped his cheek with his fist and looked at me expectantly. The facial expressions of our races might be different, but the look of unconcealed irony on his face at that moment was unmistakable.

“So? How much of a man of culture am I?”

“You are… very impressive…” I mumbled. I know I have to come up with a plan B, but I was so bewildered that I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” — he said, and, after his mocking grin had completely come off, he continued, “Real talk: aren’t you ashamed even a little bit?

'Ashamed? Wait…what should I be ashamed of? It’s not like I’ve done anything wrong …'

“… for spewing such obvious lies for personal gain?”

“Wait, stop…”

This one I couldn’t let go.

“What specific “gain” are you even talking about?!”

“That’s what I want to hear from you,” he clarified, “because I thought I’d made it very clear: I don’t need to see tears to help someone. You could always ask for more if you didn’t have enough. You didn’t strike me as a self-serving person at first, but… maybe I was wrong?”

I felt my face flush with red .

‘If I don’t have enough? Do I look like a parasite?! ’

“Or was the real reason you decided to choose a new past because you were unhappy with your present? Or because your parents were cruel to you? Because if something happened to them, I don’t think you’d be so careless about lying.”

“So, first of all, sir, you’re being paranoid. As you noticed, I didn’t need anything more from you and I stayed only out of gratitude… which I already regret by the way. Secondly… in the name of the Holy Goddess, don’t make up a backstory for me!”

“Me?…” the lizard started, but I didn’t let him continue.

“…and third, why should I be honest with you? Maybe you’re some kind of spy for all I know!”

“I see you’ve got quite an imagination, kid. Do I look like a spy?”

“Well, no, but, you see, that’s the point: spies don’t usually want to look like they are . They are the spies at the end of the day. Speaking of which, where did you get The Flaming Crest from? That book should only be available in our realm!”

“This is a novel I bought with my honest-earned gold, and if you’re implying that I rob and kill your kind for some kind of stuff, you’re even more delusional than I am.”

“Oh, so you’re killing my kind for something more valuable then?”

He shot me a look that almost made me fall out of my chair. He looked more like a wild animal than the nice man who’d just helped me. I couldn’t decide if I was more scared of that or more pissed off that he was treating me like an irrational child . I even involuntarily reached for the taser that was still in my pocket.

I also remembered that nothing was keeping me here and I could leave at any time.

Meanwhile, the overgrown lizard took a couple of deep breaths and continued.

“Anyway… not considering the fact that you could have just honestly admitted that you couldn’t tell me about yourself for one reason or another instead of spouting… this kind of nonsense, do you even realize that there are people in this world who have indeed lost something important in their lives? It’s not just fictional characters who lose loved ones. Don’t you think you’re disrespecting those people by making up this story about yourself?”

‘Now, that’s just absurd. Since who does this prick think he is? A paragon of justice?’

“Why don’t you throw some potshots at those writers, storytellers, and musicians who dedicate their prose to that type of story?”

“You see, my friend, they address those stories to very heroes you described, not themselves. Speaking of which, many of those heroes are based on real people who sacrificed their lives for great causes. I'm pretty sure even that Dimitry guy was based on one. On the other hand, what did you do to take credit for that?”

“I’m listening to a deranged reptiloid. And you know what? That’s a modest start.”

“So you’re not gonna change your tune, huh?”

His face had long since stopped being cute. Now it was threatening , his eyes fixed on me like needles, his smile turning into a toothy snarl.

But in spite of all this…

“You started it first, so, hey, don’t look at me like that.”

…I refused to give up.

At this point, my right hand was already clutching the taser, ready to pull it out at any moment.

Inwardly, I shrank with fear, barely trying to hide it anymore. Sweat dripped from my forehead. Nevertheless, I summoned all the courage of a true adventurer and waited.

…But after a few agonizing seconds, the lizard sighed heavily and unhappily, as if getting tired of this .

‘I won ? That’s odd…I don’t feel any excitement from it …’

I suddenly realized that I’d hurt him, and I wasn’t happy about it. Did I have to act that way? Wasn’t it easier and better to just admit that I’d screwed up and promise not to do it again?

Aside from the arguments with my father, I couldn’t think of a single person I’d ever behaved like that with… how undignified. A nobleman must maintain his dignity in all situations.

But before I could consider any of this, the lizard calmed down and even… smiled…?

“Well, alright then!” He said casually, then picked up his plate and carried it somewhere off the room… completely unfazed.

‘I don’t get it…what’s going on? ’

I couldn’t tell if the danger was over or not, and I didn’t know what he was planning to do next. Attack me? Eat me? I had to stay alert.

“I guess your dad’s alive and well after all?”

“And even well-fed, believe it or not…”

'Wait, what does this have to do with him?'

Then it came to me:

‘Probably just tell me to go home. Well, let him. I’ll probably have to leave his supplies behind, but I don’t feel like taking them anyway so that’s fine. So, three, two, one…’

“Well, in that case, you’ll stay here until tomorrow.”

“Wait…what???”

"…And by tomorrow I’ll wrap you up like a nice, little present and hand you over to the border guards. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they don’t treat you too harshly. Your father, on the other hand, most likely will have something to say to you, and I have zero doubts in my mind he will be doing this for a very a long time after this,” he finished, coming back to his seat and sitting down with a satisfied smile.

At that moment, I felt like something exploded inside me.

'That’s… so messed up!…'

Blushing with rage and humiliation I said:

“You know what?! Find yourself another princess to kidnap. I’m leaving."

“I beg your pardon, young man, what are you even talking about? Kidnapping? I don’t kidnap anyone. On the contrary, I’m returning things to where they rightfully belong!”

His pompous, innocent face only pissed me off more. I swear he should have been born a troll.

“Doesn’t matter, I’m done here anyway. See ya.”

“And where do you think you are going? It’s pretty late, you know. Do you know how dangerous it can be at this time? All sorts of creatures and monsters are waking up, like, for instance…”

While the lizard talked about various other chupacabras besides himself, I gathered up all my belongings and headed for the door.

“Won’t you at least take my supplies?”

“You can keep them. Feel free to choke on them for all I care.”

Finally putting on my backpack, I headed for the door… when suddenly its handle turned into a spiky vine. It was the first time I’d ever seen magic being used in my life, and it was directed at me. I knew Lady. Luck was a common prostitute. I knew it!

“That's enough, you brat. If you don’t understand common sense , I’ll use other methods to get through that head of yours. I thought you had at least some of it in you but… oh well.”

His tone suddenly became cold and serious. It was so strange after hearing his snide taunts from before. But it didn’t matter anymore: I was in trouble, and I began urgently going over the possible escape plans in my mind.

“Hey sir, did you know by chance that the law of the Republic of Noctua punishes kidnapping and holding someone against their will?” I said, remembering what equipment I had that could help me out aside from the pesky taser.

“No, but I do know a punishment for making false accusations. By the way, thanks for telling me where you’re from, that’ll speed things up.”

“Oh, don’t mention it, I was happy to help!” — I said, with a mocking bow.

And while I was at it, one of my hands went down to my waistband, quickly reached into my pocket, and stuffed itself into a nylon glove. After that, I rushed to the door and opened it without any pain or resistance.

“Stop right there!!!”

I didn’t even bother to look at the lizard, and just sprint as fast as I could … when suddenly I near;y tripped on something.

A glance downward made it clear that the vines were wrapping around my ankles, and glancing at the lizard again I noticed him thrusting his hand forward, chanting some words.

I couldn’t wait any longer.

Without further hesitation, my other hand pulled out a taser from my pocket, took aim, and fired. Suddenly, the vines tried to wrap around it too, but luckily for me, the taser was faster.

The thin beam hit him right in the chest, and the pressure of the vines on my body loosen . Immediately. I wanted to run away like I’d planned… but suddenly found that I couldn’t. It was like I was the one who was paralyzed, not the dragon man.

In the moments that followed, I struggled to release the trigger, or at least move the beam away from him, but the adrenaline rush of rage, fear, and still perceived danger prevented me from doing so.

“ARGH!”

The creature roared and fell to the floor. Only now haveI forced myself to toss the gun aside.

…And immediately unimaginable guilt and remorse overwhelmed me.

‘Goddess… What….have I done!?…’

“I’M SORRY!!!”

As soon as my facade cracked, I wanted to run up to the lizard and provide first aid, but stopped as soon as I found that he was still breathing. I hesitated, but finally, my instinct for self-preservation took over, so I turned and ran away.

My running quickly turned into a sprint as I tried to get as far away as possible, dragging my heavy bag behind me.

I ran and ran until finally, exhaustion made me give up completely and fall to the ground.

My legs ached, my lungs ached, but most of all, my heart ached. When did I become so cruel? When did this fun journey become so dark?