The little Black Lion wandered deep inside the massive forest.
Far away from the ruins of his home, Aizen Arcime moved slowly through the towering trees. The unfamiliar surroundings confused him. Everywhere he looked, there were only endless trees and thick shadows stretching across the forest floor.
The wind rustled the leaves softly above him.
Aizen stopped walking.
Memories slowly returned to his mind.
He remembered the stories his beloved mother used to tell him.
Sophia Arcime.
His mother had long black hair that flowed gently down her back. Soft black lion ears rested on top of her head, and a long black tail swayed calmly behind her. Her beautiful blue eyes always carried warmth whenever she looked at her children.
Whenever she spoke, her voice sounded like a soothing melody.
Aizen could almost hear it again.
"Dear," Sophia once said gently while brushing Aizen's hair with her fingers, "our people are slowly disappearing."
Aizen had been very young at the time, barely understanding the seriousness of her words.
"We Black Lions were once the strongest among the Beastmen thousands of years ago," she continued softly.
"But everything changed when the Legendary Black Lion disappeared."
Her blue eyes had looked distant as if remembering an ancient legend.
"Her name was Vaelith Umbryss."
"The First Ever Legendary Black Lion."
"They say her strength rivaled even the gods who ruled entire worlds."
Young Aizen had stared at her with wide golden eyes.
"But when she vanished," Sophia continued sadly, "many Black Lions fled our homeland."
"Soon after, we were hunted."
"Some feared our power. Others were simply jealous of it."
She then smiled gently and tapped Aizen's nose.
"Did you know something interesting?"
"The Great Elder once told us that the names Umbryss and Arcime share the same meaning."
"They both mean bravery."
"The strength to stand proud… even if others think it looks arrogant."
At the time, little Aizen tilted his head in confusion.
"Mother," he asked innocently.
"Why do other Beastmen bully us?"
"Shouldn't we be the strongest?"
"Shouldn't father be the king instead of the Dragon King?"
Sophia only smiled sadly and hugged him.
The memory faded.
Aizen clenched his fists.
His golden eyes burned with anger.
"Oh… I remember everything."
He looked up at the sky through the forest canopy.
"How I hate those flying lizards."
His voice trembled with hatred.
"With this new mindset… I'll destroy every dragon."
"I'll become stronger than all of them."
"So strong that no one will ever dare face my wrath."
"I'll become so powerful that nobody will ever hurt me again!"
Even though Aizen spoke with fierce determination, he was still only thirteen years old.
If he had begun serious training earlier in life, he might have grown stronger much faster.
But now…
The massive forest around him would become his training ground.
After wandering for a while, the trees slowly opened into a clearing covered in mist.
Soft beams of sunlight pierced through the fog.
Glowing mushrooms grew along patches of moss, casting faint blue light across the ground.
The place felt magical.
Peaceful.
Like a forgotten sanctuary untouched by war.
Aizen slowly walked toward the center of the clearing and collapsed beside a small stream.
Cool, crystal-clear water flowed gently over smooth stones.
He drank deeply.
The cold water refreshed his tired body.
Then he splashed some onto his face before looking down into the stream.
His reflection stared back at him.
But the boy in the water was no longer the same boy who ran away from a burning village.
His golden eyes looked older.
Sharper.
Haunted.
"Will I ever go back…?" Aizen whispered.
His voice sounded lonely.
"I miss everyone."
"But I don't want to look back either."
"It hurts too much… losing someone who loved me."
He stared at the rippling water.
"If this world is like those fantasy games my little sister used to play…"
"Then maybe I can learn more about it."
He began thinking about the different races.
"Demons… Beastmen… Dragons… Angels… Elves… Snakemen… Vampires…"
"So many races that only existed in fantasy in my old world."
Aizen sighed.
"But my brain still thinks like a kid sometimes."
"It's hard to control those childish thoughts."
He clenched his fist tightly.
"No."
"I'll become stronger."
"I'll defeat everyone who dares insult my family."
Suddenly—
A rustling sound came from the mist.
Aizen froze instantly.
His lion ears twitched.
Someone was nearby.
Soft footsteps approached slowly through the fog.
Light.
Graceful.
Almost like the person was floating.
Then a clear voice spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
It was a girl's voice.
High and soft.
Aizen jumped back and quickly grabbed a rock from the ground.
He raised it defensively.
But then he froze.
A figure stepped out of the mist.
A girl about his age.
Thirteen.
She wore elegant noble clothing lined with silver and gold embroidery. Her long silvery-white hair flowed behind her like drifting mist.
But her eyes were the most striking feature.
Bright violet.
Sharp.
With slitted pupils.
Dragonkin.
Aizen's breath caught in his throat.
His grip tightened around the rock.
Every instinct in his body screamed at him.
Run.
Fight.
Never trust a dragon.
But the girl slowly raised both of her hands.
Showing she carried no weapon.
"I'm not your enemy," she said softly.
"I was just walking around here investigating something."
Aizen didn't lower the rock.
"You… you're one of them."
"You destroyed my home…"
Her expression darkened.
But she didn't seem surprised.
"I know what they did."
"My family didn't order that attack."
"I was sent here to investigate it."
"Alone."
Her voice carried its own pain.
Aizen noticed her violet eyes briefly look away.
Almost as if she felt ashamed.
Ashamed of her own wings.
After a moment she spoke again.
"What's your name?"
"…Aizen."
"Aizen Arcime."
Her eyes widened slightly when she heard his last name.
But she quickly hid the reaction.
Still, Aizen noticed.
"Arcime…" she murmured.
She studied him carefully.
"You have black lion ears… and a tail with thick fur at the end."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you… a Black Lion?"
"So what if I am?" Aizen snapped.
"Nothing," she replied calmly as she knelt beside the stream.
"It just means you're rare."
"And dangerous."
Silence filled the clearing.
Then she finally spoke again.
"My name is Lyra."
"Lyra Subaru."
A noble name.
One belonging to the famous Highblood Dragon Houses.
Aizen stepped back cautiously.
"I don't trust you."
"You have the same royal blood as those monsters who burned my family."
Lyra nodded slightly.
"You shouldn't trust me."
Her honesty surprised him.
"But I didn't kill your people."
"If I could have stopped it… I would have."
The mist drifted slowly around them.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Finally, Aizen lowered his rock.
"…Then why are you here?"
Lyra stood up slowly.
"Because something is wrong."
"Your village wasn't attacked randomly."
"The Empire is hiding something about the Black Lion clan."
Aizen's tail suddenly stopped moving.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know yet," Lyra admitted.
"But if the rumors are true…"
She looked directly into his golden eyes.
"Then you're not just rare."
"You're a threat to their rule."
Aizen's heart began beating faster.
Not with fear.
But curiosity.
"Why would I be a threat?"
Lyra's voice turned serious.
"Because the last time a Black Lion awakened their true power…"
She looked toward the sky.
"…the heavens split apart."
"And entire kingdoms fell."
Lightning flickered faintly above the distant clouds.
For the first time in his life…
Aizen felt the weight of something much bigger than himself.
And for the first time since his village burned…
He realized something.
He wasn't completely alone anymore.
End of Chapter 3