The baby crystal dragon

"Asta oh my gosh." I look at him my eyes alight with glee.

His surprise was to take me to the barn where they keep any of their larger animals including dragons. I get to personally meet the baby dragon he talked about rescuing in town. This barn we are in is just for baby animals the family takes care of and his baby dragon is the only one here right now. I look over the stall in front of me taking in the baby dragon resting in the hay.

The baby dragon is about the size of a full-grown German Shepheard. This dragon is different than the large storm gray colored one I saw Luca return upon earlier. It isn't covered in scales completely but instead appears to be a mixture of scales and glittering pastel rainbow colored crystal shards.

"Asta is it made of crystals?"

His violet eyes flash with sadness. "She is that is why her mother was killed these dragons are rare even in this world where magical beings are supposed to live in harmony away from such slaughter. We have been without a ruler for so long that some of us have given in to the chaos. The magical families with the most power have become divided all hoping to be the next ruler. I told you earlier though the beings of this world don't pick the ruler the eight elders of the Kitsune fox do they can speak to this world in ways we can't. In this chaos of waiting for them to find a worthy choice some families have decided they would be better off harvesting the crystals from the dragons instead of living alongside them like we should. If they could be patient, they would know these dragons shed crystal shards over time and could supply them with crystals without being killed. The remaining dragons have fled into hiding but I guess her mom was forced out or didn't make it somewhere safe. It sickens me what some of this world has come to."

He stops and sighs shaking his head. "It's not all bad though at least not yet there is still hope and I promise to show you all the good things."

I put my hand on his shoulder. "It's a good thing you found her she is very lucky to have you to look after her I would know."

He stares into my eyes those violet eyes swirling with adoration I think I can't quite tell but it's different than the flirty eyes he had when we first met like he's feeling this connection to each other ive been feeling. I never bonded with anyone in the human world I never even had any friends. I have never felt anything like how I feel with Asta. With him around I feel safe like everything will be okay no matter what. I get this feeling deep inside myself almost as if we have always been connected and that dormant connection is awakening swirling to the surface becoming more present as we spend more time together.

I know it's barely been a day but so much has happened and he has been nothing but kind to me through it all I can't help but let that warm my heart a little. All of this is terrifying and exhilarating all at once the old me would be scared but the new me that I want to be in this world is excited to see what this world can offer me and for now ill let that part of me win. I want to be here in this moment with Asta and for once not worry about all that 'what ifs'.

I look back at Asta who is staring fondly at the bay dragon, yet that hint of sadness still clouds his beautiful violet eyes. "Thank you really that means a lot to me I just wish."

"That you could have saved them both." I interrupt finishing for him. He nods his normal playful demeanor diminished like a flickering flame as he hangs his head his gaze fixed upon the hay covered floor.

I wrap my arms around him pulling him into a tight hug as he has for me so many times today. I still really can't believe I've been here just a day it feels too much has happened for just a day. I feel like I've known this man in my arms for so much longer than just a day. We just seem to click in every way so far.

"You can't beat yourself up like that Asta. It will eat away at you if you think like that. I wish you could have saved them both too. I wish I knew who my parents are we can wish for things all day long, but it doesn't help. I know more than most how hard it is to focus on the good things when the world has so much bad so much, we wish we could change. I'm sure mommy dragon is happy her baby is going to live a safe life with you. One of my goals for living in this world is to focus on all the good things and the things I can do to make this world a better place because all it does it hurt to dwell on what we can't change. You have been kinder to me than anyone has in my life. I want to be here for you if you let me. We can work on being more positive and finding things we can do to change this world for the better together if you would like."

I whisper all of this into his chest my confidence is fading, but our arms are still tightly wrapped around each other.

I slowly lift my head to look up at him. I breiflly catch a glimpse of those eyes enough to see the sadness replaced with something fiercer before his lips press into mine. I'm caught off guard for a second, I wasn't expecting him to kiss me but its not unwanted. I give In to his kiss the warmth I always seem to feel around him feels like it's exploding to life inside me shooting sparks through my body as he kisses me hungrily like he cant get enough of me. By the time he pulls away I'm shaking and out of breath. I stare at Asta I'm excited, confused, starstruck, so many emotions are going through me at once.

Asta is running his fingers through his hair now as he paces around those violet gem-like eyes alight with worry. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that you aren't one of those girls that throw themselves at me and I don't want you to think I see you like that." He runs his hand over his face in frustration with himself.

"I just think you are amazing. I have seen you go through such a wide range of emotions in one day. Go through so much in one day have your whole world changed and still be standing ready to jump headfirst into it all and help others. I can tell you have so much potential, and you don't even know it. You are going to grow into someone truly amazing here." He sighs like its hard for him to say the rest.

He looks into my eyes as he goes on. "I feel this connection to you I can't really explain I didn't realize it at first not at least until I had to calm you down in town holding you felt so right as has ever moment we've had since then. I want to see where things could go with you. I know I shouldn't have kissed you without asking. You are just so pure, and kind and you looked up at me with those big blue eyes and I."

"I feel it to all of it the connection you can't quite explain you just feel and everything. Being with you has felt so right today Asta and I don't mind that you kissed me I wouldn't mind if you did it again."

He pulls me back into his arms crashing his lips into mine. He kisses me with such passion like he's been holding back from me all day. Like he can't get enough of me and always needs to be here with me. It is a fierce and fiery kiss like Asta himself. We are interrupted by the cries of the baby dragon as it wakes up inside its stall. We pull apart laughing.

"Let's feed this dragon." He says looking at me with the biggest smile on his face.