Today had been unusually calm. Without Eishen hovering nearby, the birds sang louder, passers-by chatted about the bandits growing bolder by the week… nothing out of the ordinary. But Liora was bored—more bored than usual. Eishen did everything for her: they even had a proper house now, right in the bustling merchant district. Yet she felt useless. So she decided to go exploring!
She raced down the stairs, flung the door wide open, and her little adventure began.
The merchant quarter smelled wonderful—fresh bread, spiced meats, candied fruits—but as always, the winged folk were bickering with the stone-skinned ones. The spirits around them stayed gentle, though; no one was truly mean. Onward!
In the upper district the nobles were elegant and kind, always helping the common folk despite their fancy titles. The spirits here felt fresh and friendly—no trouble at all!
Down at the harbor district, where all the factories hummed and clanged, a familiar voice called out.
"Liora? What are you doing here? Oh—you're exploring? Very good. Be careful, though. Danger is everywhere."
Eishen was working there. Even as a robot, people accepted him—mostly because a great, shimmering spirit always floated at his shoulder. To Liora, that made him the very best.
She kept going, climbing toward the high plateau where the city's great leaders worked.
"Liora? You're wandering alone? I didn't know Eishen let you roam like this. He really is devoted to you, huh? Hehe. Me? I came to see an old contact. I'll meet you back home—I need to pick up some materials."
Miss Zirus was surrounded by strong, confident spirits. She was the smartest person Liora knew.
Liora pressed on with her grand journey… until she spotted dark spirits—those that always clung to bad people. She couldn't just ignore them!
She slipped down a side staircase, then followed the shadowy wisps into a wide storm drain. The tunnels twisted and turned. Without the spirits guiding her she would surely have gotten lost… but Liora wasn't useless. She saw spirits more clearly than most people ever could.
At last she reached the end and heard voices.
"You really made us work for it, Maven. Took a lot of effort to catch you. You ran all the way from Montenheard in the west, thought you could start fresh here… but you really believed you could outrun the most famous bounty hunters in the county?"
Liora couldn't see anything yet. She edged forward—and then she did.
A new kind of spirit hovered beside the captive: bright pink and blazing, the kind that proved real power and kindness. The woman it clung to was called Maven. Human body, but dragon wings folded behind her back, curved horns sprouting from her forehead (a small eternal flame flickering between them), and a scaled tail. Her hair was vivid pink that bled into deep crimson at the tips; her eyes glowed red-violet.
"You're honestly a bunch of clowns," Maven said tiredly. "You poisoned me, then chased me. And thanks to whatever crap you dosed me with, my flame is barely a spark right now."
Liora didn't understand every word, but she understood enough: this lady was in danger. She had run away. She wanted a new life. That was two perfect reasons to save her—and add her to the family… but how? She needed an incredible, clever plan.
The bounty hunters moved to grab Maven again. That was when a tiny silver-haired elf stepped right between them.
"In the name of Her Majesty, kneel and state your identities!"
One of the three hunters dropped to one knee on pure reflex—only for his partner to smack him upside the head.
"You're asking who we are? Kid, if you pay us or threaten us, no job is too hard! Van the Trapper! Grik the Smasher! Don the Boss!! We are the Tyr-A-Nyk bounty hunters!"
They struck dramatic poses. Maven stared at them, clearly wondering how these losers had actually caught her. But to Liora? It was awesome. She clapped enthusiastically! And of course the hunters loved an audience that appreciated style—even if the audience really shouldn't be there.
"Otherwise, kid—move. You're in the way."
Liora panicked, expecting them to obey like Eishen did. But no… they had dark spirits clinging to them.
"No! She's going to be part of my family! Don't touch her!"
Boss Don gave her a light kick, sending her stumbling back.
"Don't interfere."
Grik hoisted Maven over his shoulder. Liora scrambled up despite the sting in her side. The village had hurt her worse. This was nothing.
"I've had worse in my life, so it's fine."
At those words, Maven finally looked at her—really looked.
Maven struggled harder, but Don shoved Liora aside again.
"She's a nuisance."
Maven thrashed once more and fell hard. "Stop!"
Liora clutched her arm, startled by Maven's sudden shout.
"You've had worse? Life's just a game to you? What does your life even mean? Something cheap you can throw away for a stranger? We're used to getting hit, so it doesn't matter if we take the blows? I know you're just a kid, but that's a rotten mindset! Cherish your life—you only get one… Thank you for worrying, but I can only blame myself for letting these idiots catch me. So don't feel guilty. You're a good girl."
Liora landed hard on her backside. She had never thought of it that way. Heroes in stories didn't care if they got hurt protecting others… No one had ever told her—plain and obvious—that her life had value. Eishen was the kindest person alive, but he had never said it out loud like that. And yet… and yet… she was stubborn. She refused to give up.
"My life? What it means? I don't know yet… but I know I want to live with Eishen, with Zirus, and with lots more family members."
Her hands began to tingle.
"I hate feeling useless."
The tingling grew stronger. The three hunters turned back after picking Maven up again.
"I won't let you touch my family."
Instinct took over. She raised both hands. The tingling became a rush, then a release.
A massive burst of electric flame exploded outward, filling the entire chamber. The hunters slammed into the walls, stunned. Maven used their bodies as cushions and her ropes burned away in an instant.
She rose slowly, staring at the tiny girl who had just unleashed more raw magic than most dragons could dream of. Then she scooped Liora into her arms.
"Miss? Are you okay? The flames…"
Maven took a few steps, amused.
"I'm a dragon. We're immune. But otherwise… what are you, kid? That much magical energy is insane…"
She thought back—her own exile, the loneliness, the endless running.
"What was that family you mentioned? I'm interested."