Grabbing the rails with both hands, Markus tries to lift himself up. Step by shaky step, he pushes forward—one foot, then another—until he makes it halfway across.

  “You’re doing great, Markus,” Alexia says, her voice warm with encouragement. She’s been at his side since childhood, and even now she leans in close, ready to catch him.

  But his strength gives out. His grip slips, his weight collapses beneath him, and he crashes to the floor. Before he can even try to rise again, Liddle—his wife—drops to her knees beside him, steadying him with gentle hands. Together, she and Alexia lift him back up.

  “How, Liddle, he really does fall for you,” Alexia giggles as she helps her friend back into his seat.

  “Oh, haha,” Markus mutters, rolling his eyes.

  “You’re doing so good, Daddy! I’ve never seen you make it that far,” Sally says, rushing over to climb into his lap.

  “Daddy?” Markus echoes, caught off guard. For a moment, he just holds her, thoughtful. Then he smiles softly. “I’m glad you feel comfortable here, Sally. But… don’t forget your real parents. I’m sure they were good people.”

  Sally looks down at the ground and lets out a small sigh.

  “I remember when they used to take me to the park. We’d have a picnic—Kansas Fried Chicken, every time. We laughed, we played… it was always the best. I miss them.”

  Markus nods gently, his voice quiet. “I think I remember your father coming in once…”

  Their conversation is cut short as a portal rips open in the middle of the room, light flaring so bright it makes them flinch. Lemres stumbles out, his cloak torn, his voice frantic.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Alexia,” he says, his tone urgent. “But we need your healing.”

  Alexia straightens, her staff already forming in her hand. “Oh—um, of course. Liddle, can you help Markus up the stairs?”

  As the portal seals shut, Liddle grips Markus’s wheelchair and carefully pushes him up the stairs. She wheels him into the living room, where Sally darts ahead and flops onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.

  Markus looks between them. “Do you two want to go back out?”

  Liddle shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Not really. I want to go to bed. The only problem is—you’re not in it. So we’ll have to fix that.”

  “Oh, do we now?” Markus teases, leaning forward to kiss her softly.

  He leans close, his voice dropping low. “As much as I love this idea… how about you and I spend the night together in bed?”

  Her cheeks heat up. “You mean…?”

  He pauses, then grins. “Cuddle time.”

  She exhales, half-laughing, half-relieved, while he nods with a mischievous smile.

  “Hey, Sally—want to go get some ice cream?” Markus asks.

  Sally grins, pulling on her socks and shoes before racing to the door.

  As Liddle wheels Markus after her, his eyes flick upward. For a moment, the sky twists. Shadows coil across the clouds, and he swears he sees the outline of wings—vast and endless. The air grows heavy, burning in his lungs.

  The Morgi Dragon.

  His breath stutters. The image claws at him, dragging him back to fire, screams, the smell of ash.

  “Markus… Markus.” Liddle’s voice reaches him, pulling him back. She leans close, her hand warm on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  He blinks hard, the vision breaking apart. The sky is empty again.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Yeah,” he says, forcing the word out. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  Markus raises a hand in greeting, waving to the familiar faces around him.

  “How are you holding up?” he asks a woman hauling supplies.

  “Are you able to stay in school?” he asks another, crouching down to speak with a teenager.

  Each answer brings a smile—tired, but real. The community is rebuilding, piece by piece.

  A sudden blur of movement rushes toward him. A boy, no older than eight, thrusts a crumpled sheet of paper into Markus’s hands.

  “Can you sign this, Dragon Slayer?” the boy beams.

  Markus blinks, then chuckles softly. “Sure. How old are you, kid?”

  “I’m eight! And when I’m older, I want to slay a dragon—just like you!”

  Behind him, Sally peeks out from where she’s been hiding behind his chair, her wide eyes fixed on the boy.

  “I’ll marry you, sweetie!” the boy blurts before darting off as his parents call him away.

  Sally sticks out her tongue, pressing her hands to her nose in disgust. “Ugh. That boy is always hitting on me. So annoying.”

  Markus chuckles, reaching down to scoop her onto his lap. He gives her hands a playful shake.

  “Yeah,” he teases, “he didn’t seem worth your time anyway.”

  “I want something like what you and Momma have,” Sally says. “How did you meet?”

  “We’ll tell you more at dinner,” Liddle answers, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “I… wasn’t in a good place back then. Being a demon and all. But he never saw me as just that.”

  Markus reaches into his pocket and pulls out a delicate necklace with a tiny silver sparrow. A faint smile tugs at his lips. “Alright, no need to make me sound like Superman.” He slips an arm around her and pulls her close. “It’s easy to stay loyal when the demon is as lovely as you.”

  Sally grins. “You know, my former parents loved each other… but Aunt Alexia’s right—you two are something else.” She giggles, holding Markus’s hands—until her gaze shifts past him.

  A group of kids in scuffed sneakers and matching dark jackets wander down the street, stuffing things into their worn canvas bags.

  Sally tilts her head toward them. “Gang kids,” she says quietly. “Most of them lost their parents in the Dragon attack.”

  Markus watches as the kids dart out of a grocery store—the only one still standing despite the damage from the dragon’s army. Their worn bags bulge with chips and canned goods.

  The kids sprint away, laughter and heavy footsteps echoing down the street. Their bags clatter with stolen goods—it’s clear they didn’t pay for any of it.

  “I see,” Markus says quietly, his gaze lingering on them. “They don’t have anyone to take care of them. Must be hard… being them.”

  “Um… they’re criminals. That’s what the TV said,” Sally murmurs.

  “They’re kids who need a meal,” Markus replies, his voice steady.

  Sally blinks, glancing toward the alley where the kids vanished. She doesn’t say anything right away, but her grip on Markus’s chair tightens. In her mind, one thought rises clear as day—everyone should be loved.

  Her eyes suddenly lock on a girl at the edge of the group. “Is that…?” She starts waving frantically. “Kanna!”

  Without hesitation, Sally runs toward the gang. “Kanna! I was so worried about you!”

  The girl barely slows, glancing back just long enough to shout, “We gotta split!” Then she’s gone, swallowed by the fleeing group.

  Breathless, Sally returns to Markus’s side, tears welling in her eyes. “That was my sister. I… I thought she was dead. I haven’t seen her since… and now she’s… in a gang.”

  Markus doesn’t hesitate. He reaches out, pulling her close, holding her as the tears spill over.

  “I never realized just how much you’ve given me,” Sally whispers, her voice trembling. “How much you’ve helped me… And Kanna… she’s a good girl.”

  Markus squeezes her hand gently, letting her words hang in the air, the weight of them settling between them.

  “You still have her phone number,” he says softly, wiping her tears with his hand. “She’s welcome to stay too.”

  Sally quickly pulls out her phone, typing a message to Kanna with shaking fingers. A reply pings back almost instantly.

  She reads it aloud, her voice catching. “Sorry for running—thought you were the cops. Glad you’re not dead; I needed some good news. I can’t come back with you. The gang needs me… but let’s keep in touch. And, Sis… I love you.

  Sally’s hands lower slowly, the phone trembling in her grip.

  Markus watches her for a moment, then pulls her close again. “There has to be something we can do for them.”

  “I know what you’re thinking—we can’t adopt all of them,” Liddle says, slipping her hand into his and weaving her fingers with his.

  Markus’s eyes widen as the thought hits him. “I know… but what if we can?”

  Liddle gives a small smile. “I love the idea, but even with our bigger house, it’s too small for all of them.”

  “Not our house,” Markus says, a determined spark in his voice. “We could start an orphanage.”

  Sally’s head snaps up, her eyes wide. “You mean… a place for all the kids without parents? Like… forever?”

  Markus smiles down at her. “Yeah. Somewhere they don’t have to fight to survive.”

  Liddle’s smile deepens. “I love that look in your eyes.”

  The set of his jaw says it all—this isn’t a dream. It’s a promise.