I Am Not Afraid

Winona's POV

I wake up early in the morning because I want to train with Lizardo and because I want to be ready early for my date with the human hunter who made me feel special. I felt so guilty for not telling Lizardo about him, but I won't risk my chance of having my first love; what am I thinking? Why am I even thinking about love when he only wants to be friends with me? I am already ready to have our morning training, but I find him sitting on his stone chair, and I cock my head at him. When he noticed me watching him intently, he motioned me to sit down, and I suddenly felt nervous because I was afraid that he knew I had met a human boy yesterday afternoon.

"Don't we have to train now?" I asked.

"Of course, we will have our training after I tell you something important, " he said, studying my face.

"What?" I asked because I could tell something was going on.

"Winona, listen to me. Since you shifted, you have nothing in your mind but to go to the Dracousia Kingdom to save your mother. I understand your goal, Win, but there are so many things you need to consider."He said.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Winona, no matter how powerful you are, you are still inexperienced. During the tournament seven years ago, you showed everyone that you have superpowers: you can control the four elements. I get that, but the reality is, the dragons are powerful too, Winona, especially the red dragons, and they are getting stronger because King Alexandrix recruited mages, wizards, and witches from Thesirea. And all of them are powerful." Lizardo said.

"And why should I be afraid of them, Lizardo?" I asked.

"Because King Alexandrix is preparing for the day that you will come, and I think even when you were only twelve years old, your mother informed you that the son of King Alexandrix is a powerful red dragon shifter." He continues.

"Yes, but I haven't seen his power yet," I replied.

"Yeah, but I did, and I have seen how powerful he was." He said, looking at me in the eyes.

"The thing is, King Alexandrix is now ready to turn over the crown to the Crown Prince of Dracousia." He said.

"And why are you telling me all about this now? Isn't it a good thing or a bad thing? Look, Lizardo, you train me from dawn to dusk because of one purpose: to save my mom, and I will do everything I can to see her again. I am imprisoned here for nothing, Lizardo, if I can't save my mother and need to see my mom." I said, realizing how much I miss her beautiful face and sweet smile.

"I know, Winona, but from what I gathered, the King challenged his son to bring your heart to him, and the Crown Prince of Dracousia made a promise to his father in front of the councilmen that he would offer your beating heart to his father in a platter." He said, and I felt so horrified. I can't imagine what he is going to do with my heart.

"What? That is ridiculous; why would King Alexandrix want my heart? Why can't he kill me without taking my heart?" I asked, and I was so bewildered.

"Because of a long-time prophecy. It was a long time ago that a fortune teller witch prophecied that someday a Golden Dragon Witch would be born, and her heart would make anyone immortal, you know, Winona, even though romantic relationships between dragon shifters and mages are prohibited. Still, many forcefully violate it because they want to have a robust child, but they never become successful; no witch got pregnant except your mother, maybe because she was a mighty witch." He said, and he looked at me with concern on his face.

"Now, the crown prince of Dracousia Kingdom is on his quest to find you. So, what I am saying is I think you should delay your plan to get into Dracousia. Besides, we don't know how to let you in, " he said.

"I am not afraid of him, Lizardo. My only purpose in this life is to save my mom and avenge my father's death. He ordered the execution of my father because he was an ancient golden dragon. My father didn't commit a single sin except he was born a golden dragon and fell in love with a witch. Who made that stupid rule anyway? That no dragon should marry a witch? " I asked.

"It was King Novaz, King Alexandrix's father because he was so afraid that someone would be born more potent than their clan." He answered.

"If they are not only greedy with power, my father could have been alive, and I thought his son was not interested in the crown, and now he is hunting for my heart?" I asked.

"Winona, you can't deny it. Everyone loves power. A family feud happens all over realms because many want to rule the world with great power. Your grandfather, King Sullivan, lost his life because of King Novaz's greed." Lizardo said.

"Now, I want you to be careful and, if possible, stop going to the forest. Stay here in the cave; you will never know the Prince will come and get you. Winona, the Crown Prince of Dracousia, is a very handsome man, and I am sure you will fall for his handsomeness in one glance at him." He said, and I laughed.

"It will never happen to me, Lizardo. I am very sure of that." I replied as I thought about Kai, and I wanted to tell Lizardo he didn't need to worry about anything because I was already in love with a human boy.

"You don't realize what I mean, Winona. I am asking you to be careful, and he is now looking all over Thesirea. Who knows, he will come to Dasos anytime, " he said.

"Look, Lizardo, I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to worry about anything. My heart is safe from falling in love with him, and I am very sure the Crown Prince of Dracousia can never have my heart." I replied.

"And one more thing, Winona, now that you are in your full power, I think it is time for you to know the truth. King Alexandrix killed your father in front of the dragons, not the executor of the palace." He said, and my knees felt so weak that I sat back down on the stone chair. My anger toward the Dragon King became more intense, and my desire to have my revenge became stronger.

"I think you need to learn the truth, and I am sorry for telling you about it just now. It would help if you didn't have your anger burning inside you, but I know sooner you will learn about it, and I want this information to motivate you in enhancing your witch power within you." He said, and I felt the tears of anger fall on my face.

"You need to practice shifting and changing your dragon color, Winona, because you can never get inside the palace with a golden color." He said.

"Yeah, I am on it, Lizardo, and you don't need to worry. I am trying my best to summon my witch magic; I am sorry if I have been enhancing my dragon power lately. I need to learn how to teleport because it is the easiest way to save my mom," I replied.

"I know, but you only need some practice because your father can teleport, so it is in your blood." He said, and I smiled at him.

"Thank you for being with me, Lizardo; I know I will be nothing without you. Thank you for being my parent all this time. You are like a father to me, Lizardo." I declared, and I could see his face softened.

"I knew on the day I brought you here in this cave that I would be your mentor, teacher, and protector, Winona, and now I feel like you are my daughter too, " he said, and I smiled widely at him.

"Thank you. How about your family? Are they still safe?" I asked, and he laughed.

"Yes, I am just glad my wife, son, and daughter got out from the palace after they learned I came with you, and you don't need to worry about them. We still see each other since they settled in Thesirea pretending to be mages without magic." He said my daughter and son would help us when it was time for you to rescue your mother. For now, we should focus on your training. You can shift without difficulty, and it is one of the indications you are a powerful dragon shifter." He said, motioning for me to follow him to our training area inside the cave near the pond.

He starts my training for my strength, stamina, and mind power. I almost lost my focus because I couldn't stop thinking about the information I had learned from Lizardo that the Crown Prince of Dracousia was hunting for my heart. Could he do that to me? I know I am not afraid of him, but knowing that he is aiming for my beating heart makes me feel uneasy, and I am looking forward to the day that I will meet the Crown Prince of Dracousia Kingdom.