***Please bear with this chapter guys...this is full of back stories of what happened a hundred years ago. I had to put this in to clarify some things. 

Chapter 26

A hundred years ago

 “Then I have found my master.” Thought Muklan

Minho clenched his hand.  He can hear Muklan’s thoughts.

The black dragon roared. Someone stabbed his back. It’s the healer earlier.

The dragon flew a few meters away going to his master.

Ruffo fell on his knees as the shield disappeared.

“We’ll be back. The core is mine.” Said the witch

The witch and the dragon flew away.

“Are you all right?” asked Ruffo

“You’re the one wounded.” Said Muklan

“I’m fine. You must’ve been frightened.” Said Ruffo smiling faintly at Muklan

Muklan felt like something inside her is melting.

“Can I come with you?” asked Muklan “Can I join your group?”

“We just faced a black dragon and a Dark witch and you are asking to join us?” asked Ruffo “When I saw you pull out the arrow from your own side, I should’ve already known you’re one brave woman. But to join our group is much dangerous than just a single arrow. It’s like facing a thousand arrows.”

“It’s fine…thousand arrows is fine…” Muklan stood up and knelt in front to Ruffo.

“What are you doing? Stand up.” Said Ruffo

“I am your loyal servant Master.  I will forever be loyal to you. I will forever stay by your side to serve you. I will dedicate everything in my life for you.” Said Muklan

“What? What are you saying?” said Ruffo

Muklan released her wings She transformed into a  full dragon. Ruffo stood up pulling Lina behind him. The other part of the group also went on the guard.

Muklan slowly went back to her human form. “I am a black dragon. We are cursed to find our Master. I have found mine today. I will serve you Master Ruffo…forever.” Said Muklan.

“She’s a creature of the dark. We can’t let her join us.” Said one

“The enemy has a black dragon…she will be a big help to us…black dragons are extremely loyal to their masters…if she’s pledging her loyalty to Ruffo…then that means she’s going to stay with Ruffo and will not betray us.” Said the other.

“Ruffo…you need to decide.” Said the healer.

Muklan held her breath.

“She’s coming with us.” Said Ruffo

Muklan smiled happily. Joy flooded her heart.

“Welcome to the group.” Lina hugged Muklan

“Thank you.” Said Muklan

Minho felt the ground turning. Everything went dark and then the next thing Minho knows, they’re int eh forest during the day.

The group is travelling when a large black dragon appeared. Ruffo was about to release an arrow when Muklan stopped him.

“No Master. He’s not an enemy…he’s my father.” Said Muklan

The dragon transformed into Aji.

“Father.” Said Muklan

“We need to talk.” Said Aji

“We’ll wait for you in town.” Said Ruffo

“All right.” Said Muklan

The group left.

Aji went to Muklan and slapped her hard.

“You left without a word. Do you know what you are doing to your mother?” asked Aji

“I…father…” Muklan knelt “Father…I know it was wrong to leave like that…but…I have found my master…and I will not leave him. I will stay with him.”

Aji pulled Muklan up. “How many times do I have to tell you that we are trying to live a free life? That is why we tried to live as far away from the people of Zaruum as possible right? It’s because we are cursed. It’s because once we step on Zaruum…we would find our Masters. I told you never to go near the land. I told you to stay away from any creature. But you did not listen.” Said Aji

“Father…you are afraid…that I might find an evil Master just like the others of our kind. You are afraid that I might die a difficult and ugly death because of my master. You are afraid that I will be a disgrace to our kind. But father I won’t be. My Master…my master is a good man, Father…he is sent by the Palace to find the next bloodline to rule the Kingdom Father.” Said Muklan “I am helping him to find the next King. You will be proud of me, Father.”

“It is not what I am afraid of…I am afraid that you’ll get hurt in the end…Masters…they treat our kind like weapons…like tools… As our kind give everything we have to them…they do not value us the way we value them…in the end…it is the pain caused by despair that kills our kind…more than any physical death…It is the pain of being unvalued… that is what I was afraid of.” Said Aji

“My Master is also my friend. He values me like all of his mates in the group. There is nothing to be worried about father.” Said Muklan

“Your Mother and brother has been asking about you. They want to see you. You’re mother she…misses you a lot.” Said Aji

Muklan looked up to the sky. “I will ask my Master if I can go visit Mother and Han, Father.” Said Muklan

And then that familiar turn of the ground happened again.

This time, Muklan is inside the palace…she’s clapping her hand happily as Ruffo is being crowned.

“So they found the bloodline…and Ruffo became King.” Thought Minho

The ground turned. Minho is now standing on a balcony . Ruffo and Muklan are inside. It seems they are in an argument.

“Master…what do you mean…” asked Muklan

Minho can see tears pooling Muklan’s eyes.

“I need to find a queen soon Muklan…and I am thinking of marrying Lina.” Said Ruffo

“Lina…” said Muklan

“She’s a Faerie right? All her life, she has been keeping the core inside her body. She has been dedicated to the cause of protecting Zaruum.  She is a perfect Queen.” Said Ruffo

“But…Master…if you need a queen…if you just need someone to be beside you…can’t you just have me?” asked Muklan

Ruffo was taken aback.

“Muklan…do you know what you are saying?” asked Ruffo

“Am I not good enough to be queen? Is it because I am a black dragon? And Lina is a Faerie?” asked Muklan tears flowing from her eyes.

“Zaruum…can you imagine what Zaruum’s reaction would be once they learn that the queen is a Black Dragon?” said Ruffo “Zaruum comes first…and Zaruum needs someone from the light….”

“And Lina is perfect…because she’s a Faerie…a creature of light….” Muklan felt a bitter pain in her chest.

“If you are not King…if Zaruum is not in the picture…would you still marry Lina?” asked Muklan

“Zaruum is everything to me…if I ended up back being a Knight…I would have married a creature of the light too…That’s the only way I know I can empower the reigning King.” said Ruffo

“For Zaruum?” Muklan closed her eyes.

“Even if I get married. You can still stay as my loyal servant, right? I am not pushing you away. We are still good friends.” Said Ruffo

Somehow…being just friends isn’t enough anymore…Muklan wanted more…

“I don’t want to just be your friend…I want to be the one to stay beside you…I want to be the one who’s nearest to you…who’s closest to you…If it’s not me…I can’t let anybody else take that place.” Said Muklan

“Don’t make this hard for me Muklan.” Said Ruffo “Lina she…she’s special to me…she can touch my heart like nobody else can…she…she’s the woman for me.” Said Ruffo

“So in the end…I am not a woman in your eyes…” said Muklan “My father was right…my father was so right…” Muklan took a  few steps to the balcony.

“I am in love with you Master…my loyalty…my life…my heart…all belongs to you…every beat of this cursed heart is for you…but it’s broken now…” said Muklan

Muklan spread her wings

“Muklan…That’s exactly how I feel for Lina…my heart…beats for her.” Said Ruffo

Muklan closed her eyes as she jumped from the balcony and flew away.

The ground turned again. Muklan reached the black dragon kingdom. She went to the back of the palace and hid there…crying…

“Mu