MHHC Chapter 93

Dragon

Adelheid froze the moment she descended the stairs.

Across from the priory, on the opposite shore of the lake where she stood, something immense crouched in the darkness.

The moonlight blazed full and bright that night, allowing Adele to witness every detail of 'the beast's' form with terrible clarity.

'Dear God...'

It was a dragon. Its unfurled wings were so vast that each alone could have blanketed half the sanctuary, and the horns crowning its head were as hideous as any demon torn from scripture.

The claws and teeth were monstrous, and the scales encasing its body were each the size of a window pane.

Every time it drew breath and released it, the atmosphere itself trembled with minute vibrations.

'Valentin?'

The dragon was suffering terribly. Though no sound escaped it, Adele could have sworn she heard every agonized scream it silently tore from its throat.

Deep wounds covered the dragon's entire body, and the dark red blood dripping from those injuries stained both earth and lake crimson.

The wings that had seemed so indomitable were twisted and broken on one side, dragging uselessly along the ground.

She had been too overwhelmed by the crushing spectacle to notice it earlier, passing it by without truly seeing.

Yet worse than all those visible wounds, the true torment driving the dragon to its knees was the black miasma adhering to its entire form.

It was locked in a desperate struggle to tear that clinging corruption from itself.

To her merely human eyes, the substance appeared like viscous black liquid, and despite the dragon's repeated attempts to scrape it away with razor-sharp teeth and claws, it refused to release its hold.

'What in God's name is that?'

The sight was profoundly unnatural. Even in the brief time she observed, the miasma seemed to expand its reach with increasing ferocity.

Only after a final, violent effort—when the dragon succeeded in tearing away the last of the corruption along with strips of its own flesh—did the darkness finally vanish completely.

[......!]

The dragon's breath came harsh and ragged as its broken wing trembled violently. In that moment, Adele found herself taking an unconscious step toward it.

Her careless foot crushed the branches and fallen leaves scattered at her feet. Rustle.

In that instant, the dragon across the lake turned its gaze precisely toward her position.

"......"

The moment those savage yellow eyes fixed on her face, Adele startled and froze where she stood. The standoff stretched taut between them.

Despite the vast lake separating them, she could feel his gaze with absolute clarity. She rubbed her tension-dampened palms against her skirt.

A sudden gust forced her to close her eyes. When she opened them again, the dragon had vanished without trace.

"......What."

The blood that had stained the lake waters crimson, the ominous miasma, the black scales that had fallen from the dragon's body—all of it had disappeared.

As though none of it had ever existed in the first place. Had it been a dream? Or a hallucination? Any other explanation seemed impossible.

After all, why would the supreme being that was Valentin suffer such torment in the first place?

Perhaps the nightmares plaguing her these past days had finally manifested as waking visions...

[Why are you out here? You should be resting more.]

But Valentin's will spoke to her, flatly contradicting her desperate hope.

Adele lifted her head and whipped around to scan the empty air. Yet Valentin was nowhere to be seen.

Only then did she sense the unnatural pulse of magic. He must have woven an illusion around her immediate surroundings.

[I thought you were sleeping deeply, for once.]

His will carried no sound, making distance impossible to judge, yet somehow she felt certain he was not far away.

"......Show yourself to me."

[You look exhausted.]

She felt a breeze touch her forehead and cheek with unexpected gentleness.

Was it Valentin's hand? Or perhaps a sigh? Acting on instinct, Adele reached out to grasp him.

But her fingers closed on nothing but empty air.

"Where are you?"

[Why?]

"Because this makes me feel as though I'm speaking to the void itself."

[I warned you that the dragon's true form would not be pleasant to behold. Yet you're so fearless, you didn't listen at all.]

"Do you truly believe I would suddenly fear you now?"

[Would you not?]

The cold mockery bleeding through his voice pierced deep into Adele's chest.

He was right—a frigid current had been flowing between them lately. They slept in the same space, and she consumed the food he prepared, but that was all.

Valentin's indifferent attitude toward the child constantly stirred her wariness and wounded her heart.

Just as her coldness toward him stirred his own hurt and sorrow.

He was a god who could never be reborn, and thus even in death could never become human. Therefore they would run parallel forever, never understanding one another.

That was Adele's fundamental terror. The seed of it was vicious—it had driven roots into every tender place in her soul and drunk all the moisture dry.

"......"

Adele suddenly caught Valentin's scent.

That fragrance reminiscent of lightless, cool forests reminded her always that he was not human.

Along with his scent, she slowly inhaled the faint traces of blood and ash lingering in the air. He had come close.

Her chest rose and fell in shallow movements.

[You don't even deny it.]

The air stirred once more with gentle motion. Laughter? Or perhaps another sigh? Adele offered a quiet defense.

"Of course I'm not entirely unafraid. But...... you speak so frighteningly..."

What should she say? That he had crossed the line first? That she feared he would kill the child? That even if she died bearing this 'sacred being,' would he care for the infant properly?

If her life hung in the balance, Valentin would undoubtedly 'tear the child out' without a moment's hesitation.

Was that why? Sometimes when he gazed fixedly at her belly, Adele could barely control her trembling body from sheer terror.

[You needn't make excuses, Adele.]

Valentin's will suddenly pierced through her lengthening thoughts, and Adele's head snapped up with a start.

[Even if you fear me, I have no intention whatsoever of letting you go.]

With that chilling declaration, the air enveloping Adele rippled.

Like a stone thrown into still water, the disturbance spread in slow waves before stopping all at once.

The veil drawn before her eyes lifted gradually, and he appeared in human form.

"Dear God."

His appearance was horrific. His entire body was covered in blood, ash, and wounds.

The torn and shredded flesh hung in tatters, and in some places bone showed through.

Her throat closed as her trembling gaze traveled slowly over him. How long had it been like this? Since when had he been reduced to such a state...

[I told you it would be shocking.]

A hint of humor suddenly colored his will. Yet Adele did not miss the wounded look in his eyes at her reaction.

"Of course...... when you're this badly injured..."

[I understand if you find it unsightly. That's why I warned you.]

"It's not that it's unsightly, it's just too......"

[Ah. So now you pity me?]

"......What exactly have you been doing?"

Adele's expression twisted with incredulity as she examined Valentin's body from every angle. Even rags would take better care of themselves than this.

[Well.]

Evading her question, he walked to the lakeside and tore off the remnants of the shirt 'draped' over him, casting it aside.

Adele watched as he wetted cloth in the water like any ordinary person might, slowly wiping away the dried blood caking his body.

He appeared thoroughly accustomed to such rituals. His movements were practiced, unhesitating.

How many times had this been repeated during those weeks when she had been lost in her stupor?

"......Valentin."

[I told you I wouldn't create anything for you to worry about, Adele. I meant exactly that.]

Adele read the deep exhaustion not yet erased from his face.

By the time he had wiped away all traces of blood, his skin had healed smooth as though he had never been injured at all.

Could recovery truly be so swift?

"......"

She abruptly seized his forearm with force as he approached.

It was the arm that moments ago had borne wounds so deep the bone showed through.

If the healing were merely an illusion temporarily concealing the damage, he should have flinched and pulled away from even the lightest touch.

Yet he did not so much as twitch an eyebrow, only curved his elegant mouth into a smooth smile.

[It's been so long since you've reached for me like this.]

"......"

[You've always been weak to pitiful things. Because you don't pity me, you treat me so cruelly.]

"...How long must we remain here?"

[For some time yet. Why?]

"I'm feeling rather confined."

[Once everything is finished, we can leave this place. We might even search for somewhere better to live together.]

He pulled her lightly into his embrace, then released her.

[Let's go inside, Adele. Back to our shelter.]

Adele remained frozen in place, watching Valentin's back as he entered the priory.

Then she suddenly came to herself and looked down at her palm. Her right hand—the one that had grasped Valentin's arm—was soaked through with blood.

Her premonition turned dark. Terribly, viciously dark.

"Where are you going?"

Dawn. Adele's eyes fluttered half-open at the careful stirring beside her.

[I have somewhere to go briefly. It's dangerous outside, so stay within the priory today as much as possible.]

"I understand. Be careful, Valentin."

He widened his eyes as though hearing an unexpected farewell, then smiled beautifully, the corners crinkling.

He pressed a careful kiss to her forehead.

[Yes, Adele. I'll return.]

He transformed into a dragon in an instant and soared into the sky. Adele waited until he vanished completely from sight, then hurriedly pulled on her clothes.

There was no time.