Tears' Curse

-Long Sheng Jie, Realm of Dragons-

'But to them, we are creatures that only exist in fairy tales.'

She slashed her tail across the blue sky, shutting out the familiar whisper from distracting her mind.

Higher than the birds could reach, encircled by intricate webs of fluffy clouds, a majestic castle sat on a colossal, floating boulder. Baby plant elves chuckled as they flew above the tiny yellow filaments of magnolias along the verge. Teal seeds of irises glistened in a rhythmic flow, displaying their thousand years of rich nourishment. Into the tranquil ambiance, the silver ferns, Soulless Sonder, released another puff of swirl from the tips of their fronds, steadily increasing the fine networks of divine air floating around.

This was where she lived. A place where she once thought everything was as perfect as it seemed to be...

Until she was exposed to the harsh truth.

She was just a whelp when she first learned about the existence of Ring of Mortality-a transcendent wheel enclosing an electrified azure energy ball, levitating above a luminous golden hemisphere. Her species feared the click of the metal bar centered at the core of the half-circle. They feared being summoned as the next dragon for the recurring mission.

The mission that took her childhood friend away in the last cycle.

With another powerful, thunderous roar across the sky, the white dragon unleashed torrents of fireballs from her gaping maw, sending them hurtling toward the swaying grasses below. One blazing smash after the other. More. She needed to let it out more. The pain for failing to protect her friend.

"Xue'er?"

Qilong's voice from an approaching cloud startled her, tumbling her down to the ground.

"Xue'er! You alright?" The cloud under his feet dispersed at once as he rushed over, shades of concern flashing across his face.

Xue'er retracted her claws, her scales dissolving to make way for her redeveloped skin. The thousand years of cultivation finally proved itself as she flawlessly transformed into a slender, refined lady figure.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Licking the new cut on her elbow, she drifted her gaze to the half-magnolia jade hanging at her pink sash. Her chest ached, remembering who had owned the other half.

As if Qilong could sense the overflowing guilt from her, he rested his hand on her shrunken shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Don't carry the blame with you, Xue'er," he said, taking a step closer. "It was never your fault."

She stared directly into her master's amethyst eyes, showering him with layers of unspoken pain. "How could it not be my fault? It was supposed to be me to go there."

"But you weren't ready." He ended on a cold note.

"Xun wasn't ready either!"

Qilong tucked his hands into his wide, long sleeves and heaved a tired sigh. "Things happen for a reason, Xue'er. You can't stop the rain from falling just because you have an umbrella. You can't change history just because you have a time machine. You can't save Xiao Xun from dying..." he muttered, "just because you wish he could stay"

"Just because I wish he could stay..." Xue'er repeated, her lips trembling. A drop of tear coursed down her pale cheek as the words slapped hard on her face.

"We, dragons, are meant to protect the mortals," Qilong paused, "though they no longer believe in us like centuries ago..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xue'er walked away.

All of a sudden, she turned around, a little too fast that she almost knocked into her master, unaware that he was following her. "Let it be me this time, Master." Xue'er moved back a step. "I think I'm ready."

Qilong twisted the long ends of his grayish brow, giving Xue'er a puzzled look. The dragon-shaped hair stick on his head glistened. "You've never liked mortals."

"You said it's our mission to..." she hissed to continue, "protect."

"Protect?" He lowered his head, gazing deeply into her inner soul through her different-colored eyes-blue and red. "Or is it revenge that you'll seek?"

There was a thin trace of anger laced in his calm, soothing voice.

Xue'er looked away.

"Hatred kills, my dragon." Qilong gently pulled her into his arms and said, "Don't dive into it."

"Mortals... are injudicious, Master. We might be myths to them, but we're real, right here, under their noses," she wept. "Because of their doubts and suspicions, too many of us have died. We can't afford to lose anymore..."

She heard her master sigh. "No matter what it is, the oath has been set. We have to protect them. This is our fate."

"Then let it be me this time, Master," she repeated her request, gasping in between her choky sobs. "I don't want to witness another death of our species, Master." Xue'er broke the hug and placed her hand over her heart. "I promise I'll keep the mortals protected. I'll take care of them just like how-"

'Xiao Xun did.'

Her voice trailed off. She couldn't get her best friend's name out of her throat.

The wind brushed past her teary cheeks like it was trying to offer her a tad of comfort. Pieces of pleated fabric hung at her sash swayed.

And there she stood, waiting for the "yes" from her master.

Qilong parted his lips, but no words said. Fine metallic chains attached to his silver circlet clinked softly as they swept against one another.

"Hmm? Master?" She tugged at his cuff. "You know I'm strong."

"Xue'er, I... I-"

"Ring of Mortality clicked a while ago, Master. The 18th-year tribulation is about to start in their world," she cut in. "There is nobody else who is as ready as me to go there."

"Protecting mortals from Mynheex and fallen angels isn't a child's play. You know exactly what they're hunting for."

"I know it isn't, and that's why it has to be me! I don't know why you've been stopping me from taking up the mission. All I know is that white dragons are powerful, and I'm one of them."

Xue'er simply couldn't figure out why Qilong didn't want her to step into the mortal world. If Xiao Xun hadn't gone in her stead back then, he would still be alive.

"You don't understand. Mortals are living in their 21st century-"

"Most of our friends are gone, Master," Xue'er reminded him of the fact he feared. "It's time to put a stop to Mynheex eating humans' hearts, to fallen angels craving for our pearls, to the tormented deaths of us, to everything."

"But..."

"Our dragons died protecting the worlds. You don't expect me to just watch the cycle end with another death of our species and do nothing."

Seeing how resolute Xue'er was, Qilong didn't say anything else. He flipped his silk robe and waved his hand at another layer of cloud, which then descended to his feet.

"Follow me," he uttered at last.

Qilong guided her to the back their castle. When he pushed a mobile marble rock at the expansive gravel entrance, the stone door lifted, unveiling a long corridor that stretched into darkness. The next second, their presence was greeted by a gentle flood of light, making its way to the far end and illuminating the entire walkway beneath the vault.

Xue'er stepped in, her eyes fixed on the iced cuboids nailed into the wall behind every two ionic pillars. She glided her touch across the coffins and sliced her finger on the sharp edge, drawing blood into view.

A ritual to remind herself of the pain and suffering they had gone through.

She extended her hand toward the illuminating azurites hovering above the coffins. A soft wave of blue radiance emanated from her palm, gracefully streaming towards the stones and intensifying their ethereal glow.

Preserving their dragon bodies was the only thing Long Sheng Jie could do.

"Come on, Xue'er." Qilong's echo came through.

She withdrew her force and headed over to her master.

The center-Ring of Deity-branched into four segregated paths, each leading to unrevealed passages behind the large white stones ahead. Though Qilong wore a smile, it was only when she held his hand that she realized the shades of hesitation her master was trying hard to hide.

"I'm going to be alright, Master," she whispered. A glint of white shone through her palm as she stroked the racing pulse surfacing under his skin. "Don't worry."

"Thanks, Xue'er." He squeezed it back, and they walked toward the last channel on the left.

Behind the white stone, wispy clouds drifted to their feet. The moment they stepped on them, the clouds gracefully parted, enveloping them in a woolly embrace while guiding them to the border of the mortal world. Xue'er sensed her master tighten his grip on her. However, this time, she pursed her lips and stared ahead, pretending like she didn't notice.

As Qilong brushed away the clouds hindering their path, a lonely wooden bridge came into view. Xue'er had yet to set foot on it when thousands of dragons, struggling to escape the border, materialized before her eyes. Among them was Xiao Xun-his cracked blue scales drenched in blood, his eyes pleading to be saved.

"Stay back," Qilong instructed, snapping her back to herself.

At the far end of the bridge, the entrance to an ascending cliff began to distort, transforming into a vortex. Pulsating waves crackled within, their swirling currents releasing a strong gust of air, beckoning the next target to step through.

"We're right on time." Qilong took out a glowing red potion from his white sash. "Drink this."

"What's this?"

"You'll find out if the time comes." He flashed her a benign smile.

At the sight of that, Xue'er's expression softened, and she gulped it down without hesitation. She knew her master would never harm her; after all, only in front of him could she free the weakling in her.

As soon as she finished it, something foreign ignited in her. She could feel it-something crawling under her skin, coursing through her blood, searching for a place to settle. It wasn't painful or sweet, but rather a neutral sensation, to which her body seemed to be overreacting. The tingling lingered for a few seconds, a whisper of something new, before it gradually faded away.

"Nice." Qilong patted her head and stroked the fine silver chains tucked behind her ears.

Silver belonged to dragons, blue belonged to TinXi-the border keepers-and gold belonged to the Almighty Dragon King, Long Shen. The more chains one possessed, the higher their status.

Right then, he thrust his hand toward her chest, drawing out a radiant white glow. It was too sudden. Her body arched like it had been pulled forward by a strong wave of energy. She staggered to regain her balance.

Fixing his eyes on the tenuous puff in his hand, Qilong began chanting long phrases of random words that Xue'er couldn't understand. He gently pushed the left lapel of her cross-collar shirt aside and placed his palm just below her collarbone.

Light flashed. Her body went numb.

It took a while for the dragon-shaped mark to fully emerge-the breath of her immortality.

"Kneel before me, Xue'er," Qilong commanded.

"Yes." She got down on her knees and bowed.

"Under the alias Miracle Watson, you'll live among a group of TinXi and disguise your identity by enrolling in Stellaerio High School. You'll stop Mynheex from feeding on mortals' hearts, crush the fallen angels' hopes of claiming the world of mortality, and, last but not least, keep the mortals away from them at all costs. Do you hear me?"

"Yes."

"This mark darkens every time you use your elements without external protection and when the mortals suspect your identity. The mortal world has long been contaminated with the evil energy. Our mark can no longer stay hidden in their world. So you have to hide it from mortals, lest they get suspicious. You can't afford any unnecessary darkening to it, especially with the evils still going strong out there. Now, Miracle Watson, do you obey these with no regrets?"

"Yes. I obey them with no regrets."

"All right, you're good to go."

Xue'er brushed the new white bulge on her skin as Qilong helped her up. "I'll never let the mortals find out."

She was only one stride away from stepping onto the bridge when her master suddenly pulled her back for a hug. This time, it was much longer.

"Come back alive, my white dragon," he whispered. "Come back before the mark turns fully black."

-Watson Residence-

Hopping down the empyrean loop after peeking through several times, Miracle found herself in an unfamiliar land. As the loop vanished behind her, she took in her surroundings. The warm sensation of wild grasses, coupled with a wave of sea-scented air, greeted her. Her shoes were gone, and the layers of her silky garments had transformed into a set she had no connection with-a pink cotton T-shirt and a pair of black ripped jeans. She touched her head. Her silver chains were no longer on her too.

'So this is the version of their world,' she muttered inwardly, recalling the lessons she had learned about humans.

"Good day." A deep voice snapped her to her senses. "Here, wear these." He placed the jelly flip-flop next to her bare feet.

"T-Thanks..." She lifted her eyes to the middle-aged man standing before her. "And you are?"

"Amenxious. I'm Hayden Watson, the TinXi who has been guarding here for decades," he said, giving her a slight gentlemanly bow.

As she watched Hayden move with practiced grace, her master's words echoed in her mind. The TinXi were legendary guardians of the mortal realm, renowned for their unmatched strength and agility. Whispers among her kind spoke of their unwavering loyalty in protecting dragons on their quests. In addition to their physical prowess, they excelled as spellcasters, effortlessly erasing the memories of mortals who had witnessed scenes they weren't meant to see.

"Amenxious. Nice to meet you too, Hayden. I'm Xue..." She trailed off for a moment, almost forgetting that she wasn't supposed to use her real name in this world. "Miracle. I'm Miracle."

She studied the man-fair skin, sharp nose, and rounded ears. Behind his hazel-brown eyes, she discerned hints of blue-the color of TinXi. Her gaze then drifted to his T-shirt, catching a glimpse of his tough body as it wasn't buttoned fully.

While Miracle was still sizing him up, a blue aquatic drop suddenly surfaced out of his dilating pupil. She froze. Her sight rippled for a second as another drop was extracted from the blueness behind her disguised left eye. When the blue spheroids merged together, they radiated a vibrant presence of vitality.

Miracle shook her head, feeling a wave of dizziness overcome her.

"H-Hayden?" She rested her hand on a bench next to the magnolia tree.

He didn't seem to notice. With a focused gaze, he drew the glowing spheroid from the air, squeezing it until it burst into twinkling fragments that spiraled upward, weaving an invisible elemental net over the house.

Right before her arm slipped off the crest rail, Hayden hurried over and caught her just in time. "Sorry, Miracle," he said, "we needed to do this to strengthen the barrier of this house. I should've warned you first."

She shook her head. "It's okay. Is it done?"

"Yes." He nodded. "Let's get in. It's cold out here."

When Miracle entered, she swept her gaze around. Blue opaque curtains were drawn, leaving only thin gaps between them for the slightest hint of light to pass through. Books, seemingly weathered by a century or more, adorned the racks beneath the double-stringer stairs. Familiar silver fronds at the corners infused the space with a divine ambiance that coursed through her body. Yet, her nose itched at the lingering breaths that belonged to the late dragons.

'I'll end this disaster, my friends. And shall bring back your names and dignities.'

"Have a seat, Miracle." Hayden gestured her toward the single seater couch. "I'll get you something to drink."

"Sure." She outstretched her legs.

Suddenly, the echo of loud footsteps behind the door jolted her, instantly heightening her guard. Miracle's eyes locked onto the entrance, her fists clenched in readiness.

"Daddd! We are back!" A teen's voice.

'Dad?' Her tensed shoulders relaxed a little.

"Oh, you're back?" Hayden responded from the kitchen.

Ignoring her father's reply, the girl in school uniform froze in her tracks as she stepped into the house.

"The... dragon?" She slacked her jaw.

"Gosh, what's with the stop?" the taller boy behind her grumbled, drawing his face back from her voluminous maroon hair.

Both of them bore a striking resemblance.

When he moved his eyes to Miracle, he looked as shocked as the earlier girl.

"Wow," he uttered under his breath after a long pause.

Putting down the tray of strawberry tea, Hayden waved at his children, telling them to come over. "Lyn, Kingsley. Come here."

Lyn's breath caught in her throat as she clutched the staircase railing, her wide eyes darting between her father and Miracle. It wasn't until the eldest TinXi introduced them to the young dragon that they finally approached.

The twins set their bags aside and executed a proper bow. Bending on one knee, Lyn formed a circle by connecting her index fingers with her thumbs, seamlessly interlocking them. The remaining fingers were held outstretched.

"Amenxious. I'm Lyn Watson, a water striker with 600 years of cultivation," she said, lifting her hands to her forehead.

"Amenxious. And I'm Kingsley Watson." The brother followed suit. "A fire striker with 600 years of cultivation."

Gently pushing up their elbows, Miracle curled up the corners of her lips. "Just ignore all the protocols. Nobody's here to check on this."

"Exactly!" Kingsley cast Hayden a sidelong look. "But our dad doesn't seem to be getting it at all."

Their father tried to argue. "Well... It's all-"

"Respect," said the twins.

Miracle chuckled softly.

Hayden flashed an awkward smile before walking away with the empty teapot in his hand. The moment he did, Lyn hopped over and perched on the arm panel of the couch where Miracle was seated.

"You're really... the most beautiful dragon I've ever met," Lyn whispered. She was so close to Miracle that Miracle had to inch a little to keep her maroon hair from tickling her arms. "Actually, the first white dragon."

"Can you stop acting like a hungry beast?"

"White dragons are powerful in nature, Kingsley. How can you not be impressed?"

He rolled his eyes. "Just so you know, aside from creeping her out, you're nowhere looking like you're impressed." Kingsley took a sip of his tea.

Miracle smiled. "Well, I'll be counting on you guys in Stellaerio."

"Don't worry too much about it. Lyn and I will be by your side." He shot a look at his sister.

"Of course..." Something caught Lyn's attention. "Oh my... god."

"What is it now?" Kingsley arched his brow, looking irritated.

"Her... m-mark. It's amazing," Lyn said, her fingers trembling.

As Kingsley followed her gaze, he drew in a sharp breath, shock washing away his annoyance. "I see... a truly white dragon," he murmured, the awe in his voice palpable as the reality settled in.

"I finally see some hope in ending this bloody war," Hayden mumbled as he came up from behind, leaving Miracle to wonder what he meant by that.