Taking a deep breath to calm his heart, Taehyung balled his hand into fist. Not for the first since he came back, he wished he could go about his life without seeing his father. But that was not possible. He would have to see Heechul, tolerate him like always. The better he get this over with the better, so he could go see the people he cared about. With stomach churning, he nodded at the guard. The guard knocked on the door to his father's study and announced his presence. Taehyung fought hard to swallow the fear that rose in his gut as he stepped inside. As he entered, Heechul watched him closely. It was hard to find resemblance between Taehyung and his father. Heechul was thick and muscular still, despite the fact that it had been years since he'd last led soldiers into battle. He kept his black hair, shoulder length, and the scar on his cheek was but one of the many he wore on his body. In contrast, Taehyung stood at just barely average height, and he was lithe where his father was muscular like most dragons. Taehyung's red hair had been cut short when he'd left Lyfe for the military training academy. It was still too long for a proper soldier, falling past his ears with the slightest curl, but Taehyung had never found himself directly on a battleship, deep down he knew he was no soldier. And Taehyung's eyes were gray, nothing like the intense brown gaze that settled on him as Heechul frowned. "I am back father." He said, with a deep bow. Heechul examined him like he was trying to figure out how he and his wife's genes had produced something so much less than the sum of their parts. "I see you're haven't changed." He snarled, making a gesture in distain, black scales appearing to cover his hand, which caused Taehyung shuddering at the reminder of his father being a black dragon. Black Dragons: were often vile and evil-tempered. Their hearts as dark as their colour. They often have the ability to teleport, and shadow walk, which made it easy for them to hide in the shadows and because of this they were primarily nocturnal creatures, who would lurk in the darkness, just waiting for the opportunity to strike. They would never fight fair or give you a chance. Black dragons form the archetypal dragon, one who was obsessed with gathering a hoard of treasure to sleep on, and devouring any prey that he might desire. They were also the most greediest of all dragons. Heechul never failed to live up to his scales. His father had sent him off world, to a military school in planet Haba, hoping the vigorous training would reshape him and bring out the dragon in him. As if that would change what he was born as. Taehyung was the only one born different of all Heechul's children. The only one born as a human babe instead of an egg, the only one without the ability to take on dragon form. And Heechul never turn down the chance to tell him how worthless he was. The only speeches his father had given Taehyung were on how not to shame him in life. The problem was Taehyung suspected he shamed his father by the simple act of breathing. Junmyeon was heir. Kai, a real soldier, was a military general. Taeyeon was the perfect daughter. And what was Taehyung? Nothing. "Prepare yourself, you're to wed Mr. Lee son Wonho." Heechul said. "The boy seem to take a liking to you." The disgust in his tone wasn't lost to Taehyung. His father find the idea of two male joining repulsive. Another thing, something that Heechul had wanted to eradicate from his son, but had failed. Something inside Taehyung dropped.Heechul didn't know but sending him off to that planet was the best thing that happened in his life. Taehyung had met the love of his life there. And now his father threatened to take that away? No he wouldn't allow it, and he especially wasn't going mate with Wonho. The guy was a heartless brute, that looked down upon the likes of Taehyung, believing them lesser dragons. Taehyung didn't want him, didn't want anything to do with him. "Father, i–" he knew it was futile, but he still tried. He had to convince his father, he must. "Please reconsider." He finally managed out. "Go," his father waved the words away with an irritated swipe of his hand, like he was batting away some parasite. "The wedding shall take place in two months. Don't disappoint me." The words, as always, were etched with stony disapproval, but Taehyung understood what he was really saying ... don't disappoint me. Again. He nodded, having learned long ago that nothing he did would ever be enough to please the elder Drake. He honored the man as his father, but held little love for the icy Drake who'd never shown him any. With heart threatening to break out of his chest Taehyung bowed and hastily exited the room. The hallway was empty when he stepped out into it.There in the quiet, with his father safely behind the closed door, Taehyung wanted so badly to sink into the unhappiness that threatened to engulf him. Nothing good would come of that, he reminded himself. Taehyung made himself start walking. At least he knew there'd be a few people who would be happy to see him. One of them, Kai. Following the familiar path, Taehyung found his way out to the training yard. A batch of soldiers stood in a line, listening as Kai gave orders. After a few moments, Kai saw him, a bright smile spreading across his face. He pointed to a nearby bench and Taehyung nodded, taking a seat to wait for his older brother. Looking amongst the group of soldiers, Taehyung could see that they didn't seem to be taking the speech very well. It made Taehyung wonder exactly what was going on. Before he could figure out the context of Kai's speech, he'd dismissed the soldiers. Kai stared after them, a troubled expression on his face, before he shook his head and turned his attention to Taehyung. His troubled expression shifted to a huge smile as he walked across the training yard, an easy confidence in his steps that Taehyung envied. For as much as Taehyung didn't resemble their father, Kai was almost an exact likeness. He was also a black dragon like there father, but Kai didn't possess the characteristics of such dragon. He was more like a red, silver, bronze and blue combined– scratched that, Kai seemed to have all the characteristics of all clans, minus that of black. His brother was a mystery that Taehyung hoped to solve someday. Kai was like a rainbow/Golden dragon. That many considered to be a myth. They had the ability to take any dragon form, including the ability that came with their scales colour. But their true form was often golden. Hence why they were mostly refer to as golden. Myth had it, the rainbow/golden dragons were the epitome of good, champions against evil and foul play. They appoint themselves to stand between the world and evil and would undertake any quest that would promote good in the world. The were warriors unlike any other, more fierce than a red dragon, and more harder than a bronze dragon and more kinder like a sliver dragon. They were the blend of all dragons which allowed them to undertake any challenge with confidence that they would be able to achieve their aims. Their golden colour meant that they were associated with the sun, for the warmth and security they brought, and wealth for all dragon race. A golden dragon was the true king of all dragons– not like how Heechul proclaimed himself to be. Having the ability off all clans magic, they were the only ones all dragons would bow down to without hesitation. One hadn't been born in seven thousand years. They only appeared when a tyrant took the reign to rule or when dragons were in extreme hardship. In other words, when they were needed. But as far Taehyung could tell the dragons were doing mostly fine, the only notable trouble they were facing was of the female dragons facing extinction. They had stopped being born twenty four years ago, a year after the Dragons took Lyfe as their own, like the planet was trying to breed females out and instead more male bearers were born. Like Taehyung. Watching as Kai approached, Taehyung couldn't help associate Kai's personality with that of a golden dragon. What if Kai– no he shook his head, so far he had only seen Kai take one dragon shape. But what if Kai knew about the legend and had deliberately hid his abilities? Waiting for the right moment to show his true self? He remembered his mother telling him about Kai's birth. It had been unusual, namely because Kai's one egg had been the size of four dragon eggs combined. He was born without a clutch mate, which wasn't something she had expected considering the size of her belly. Most importantly Kai's egg had been a mixture of colors, but had taken the shade of gold before it hatched. She had been so scared of Heechul finding out his own son was to be the one to overthrow him. Thus she hid the egg for two weeks after it was born, and gods so kind didn't allow Heechul stay in the planet for six months, until Kai hatched. But then to her surprise and relief, with a bit of disappointment, Kai came out as a black dragon and since then, he hadn't taken another form even after he reached adulthood. Golden dragon was a legend. It was just a myth. Taehyung was just overthinking things. He reminded himself once again. Kai unlike most soldiers, wore his brown hair slightly long and braided but for a few strands that escaped. His features were hard, except when he smiled, and then it was as if the sun had finally crept above the horizon after a long day of darkness. "You're back! I barely recognize you!"For as long as he could remember, Kai had always been there for him with a bright smile and a hug, even when Taehyung had proven completely inept at his training. Even though he sometimes suspected that Kai was baffled by him. Kai had been the one to find him after Taehyung's weapon instructor tried and failed to teach him the best places to aim for a sure kill. He'd been one out of two to sit beside Taehyung when he'd fainted at the sight of blood. And Kai was the one who'd encouraged him to begin studying his books when a second instructor had proclaimed Taehyung worthless dragon. His oldest sister, Taeyeon Junmyeon's clutch mate– a red dragon like their mom– was away far too often to see much of her younger siblings. She was married to the clan leader of north. A White dragon. Kwon Jiyong. White dragons tend to be the smallest of all the colours, associated with ice and snowy climates, they lived as high up as they could, in the coldest place, making the Arctic perfect for them. White dragons were quite intelligent, but they prefer to live isolate themselves, away from any civilisations or other dragons. They have wide and sharp claws, which were perfect for walking on ice or digging into the sides of mountains. Also having invisibility ability, and breath ice, instead of fire. And while Taehyung was close to Junmyeon, who was older than him by ten years. Junmyeon was tied up in the intricacies of court. He understood the politics far better than Taehyung could ever hope to. Junmyeon was a blue dragon. Though how he came to be one was lost to them all. All blue dragons tend to be pensive, lawful, hence why they tend to take on law enforcement jobs. They tend to be incredibly good trackers, and quick when springing an ambush, but they were some of the few dragons to have their own moral code and be lawful in their dealings. Not particularly good, but definitely lawful which made Taehyung believed his brother Junmyeon would do a better job leading their people. Blue dragons were lightning breath rather than the traditional fire breath. Some have atmokinesis ability and some have water magic. They were one of those that opposed Heechul on his quest for power, meaning taking over planets. Unlawfully. Kai, though, Kai had always been big brother and hero all in one. He was Taehyung's best friend and his closest ally. Then there was his uncle, Minseok. The quiet red dragon was one of the few that truly cared for him. Minseok had nearly gone mad with rage when Heechul had announced he was sending Taehyung off world. Something no one had ever seen happened, because Minseok had always stood by Heechul, no matter what choices the elder Drake made, whether or not he liked them. But like every other time, Heechul never change his mind when he made a decision. Consequences be damned. Minseok was his mother's younger brother form the red clan. And he was the most loneliest male he'd ever met, the most reserved dragon. He had never taken a mate all his life. Minseok was a warrior, well known throughout each clan, he had join Heechul's as his sister's bodyguard, but when Heechul witnessed his skills he had snagged him for himself, probably because he was afraid he wouldn't be Minseok's match, if Heechul were to physically hurt his wife– which he still did, but not in places people would see– and the red warrior would try to defend his sister. Red Dragons: Red was considered the colour of passion and fire, and these dragons have both in abundance. The fiercest warriors of all the dragons, their fire breath was the hottest of all of the colour of dragons, and they would use it when their territory or loved one had been violated, being fiercely territorial creatures. While they wouldn't always go for the attack immediately like their black brethren, they were quick to anger especially when it involved someone they cared about and have very short fuses, but they do also love gathering treasure hoards. All dragons did. They had the ability of persuasion. Similar to a vampire's compulsion. Some mistake this ability with bronze dragons mind control. But it wasn't the same. The ability come in handy when they wanted truth out of someone.
As creatures of fire, they lived in warm environments, such a tropical islands and even volcanic islands. Thus Minseok's clan chose the warmest province to live in Lyfe. Minseok didn't know though, no one did except Taehyung, that had one day snuck around and found his father hitting his mom, while blaming her for giving him a useless son like Taehyung. His mom had been horrified, when Taehyung told her what he saw, and had begged him not tell anyone. Though it ate at his inside, whenever he saw his mom's timidity– which was a contrast to her red clan– but he knew he had to keep his mouth shut. She had been mentally unstable, and he knew why. But was powerless to stop her sufferings. Besides, he didn't know how Heechul was going to react if words got out. He feared his dad would end up hurting his mom even more, worst he might even end her and blame it on suscide. Taehyung knew Heechul was capable of such thing. Especially now that he had his eyes on young mage, young enough to be his daughter. One of these days, Taehyung was going to spill all, to his siblings and uncle. Signing, he turned his attention back to Kai. It wasn't every day he get to see his brother. Kai as a general, and captain of his ship, he spent 3/4 of his time away from home, in space or some planet."I haven't changed that much. Is there something wrong?" When Kai gave him a confused look, Taehyung gestured toward the direction the soldiers had gone in. "Oh, that? No, it's nothing," Kai lied easily, releasing him. Taehyung might have believed it, too, if he hadn't seen the lines of worry around Kai's eyes."Nothing?" He saw one of the soldiers gesticulate wildly before scowling back at the two of them. "Nothing for you to worry about." Kai started to ruffle his hair, and Taehyung ducked out from under his hand. There was nothing like his older brother to make him feel like he was still twelve years old. "I have it under control." Usually, such a statement would fill him with faith that Kai truly did have the situation under control, but he'd seen the look on those soldier's faces. "Kai—" "It's nothing, Tae," Kai said sharply. An awkward silence fell between them until Kai continued in a softer voice. "I am sorry." He looked away. "Kai please tell me, what's wrong?" Running a hand through his hair, Kai let out a sigh. "A few of my men and I, have been tasked to retrieve something important to father – but unfortunately, someone has already gotten to it before we do. As of now we're still trying to get a location where it might be. And Father was furious, enough to threaten my position, and my men are not happy about it." "Oh Kai!" Taehyung gasped. "I am sorry," it was typical of Heechul to punish Kai for something that was out Kai's control. "What are you going to do?" Kai waved a hand, with a smile. "Have you been to see F