Ashen Dragon

The bitter cold wind blew through the gate of Rock Fortress, causing the goblin guarding the entrance to sneeze involuntarily.

"Damn, it's really cold…"

"Yeah."

The goblin next to him agreed, rubbing his red nose, but accidentally scratching a long gash on his face with his claws.

"Ouch!"

The goblin yelped.

Beads of blood oozed out but quickly solidified.

Over the past few months, many of the retainers of Ashen Nest had begun to exhibit "Dragonification" traits, though not as pronounced as their leader but showing some distinct characteristics of a Red Dragon.

For example, the occasional sparse scales, sharpened claws and fangs, the fringes on their ears, and a preference for warm or even hot climates...

The Red Dragon, who had been long asleep in the cavern, acted like a massive radiation source, using its Bloodline Gift to influence and transform all the retainers within Ashen Nest.

Cassius still lay sideways in the cavern, his enormous body heaving gently.

As the weather turned cold, being a Red Dragon that favored warmth, he loathed going outside and preferred staying in the cavern, spending his days eating and sleeping like any native Red Dragon of Erezer.

Cassius lazily stretched, slowly opened his eyes, "But there are still things that need to be done."

He softly called out in Draconic:

"Chimera——"

The three-headed beast immediately flew out from a hole in the rocky wall, obediently crouching in front of Cassius, awaiting its master's orders.

Since receiving the "Bloodline Gift" last time, the once defiant beast had become particularly docile, so much so that even Cassius felt a bit unaccustomed.

Cassius continued in Draconic, "Take me to find those Tieflings."

"What?"

Seeing the three heads of the Chimera tilt in unison with confusion.

The Red Dragon was speechless, picking up an old, horned skull from a corner of the cavern and tossing it in front of the Chimera.

"Find me these people."

The lion head of the Chimera leaned in and sniffed carefully, then spoke in its still-unskilled Draconic,

"Horned, human, not tasty."

Impatiently, Cassius said, "Yes, them. Take me there."

Seeing this, the Chimera quickly bowed compliantly to show obedience.

"Yes, master."

It then let out a low growl and took off, flapping its wings.

The Chimera flew out of the warm cavern, leaving the broad Giant Valley, and into the snowstorm-filled sky.

Cassius followed closely, soaring through the wind and snow.

...

Amid the secluded mountains, a clearing was covered with many makeshift tents pitched in the snow, while a nearby spacious cave was brightly lit, surrounded by walls precariously stacked with rocks—this was the refuge the Tieflings called the "House of Ruin."

Here resided the Tieflings, with their long horns and red skin.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The mountains shielded them from pursuers, but couldn't protect them against the harsh cold and snow.

The Tieflings still wore ragged clothes in the severe weather, with men chopping wood in the forest, women kindling fires in front of tents to roast their hunted prey, and children collecting dry wood and grass to fuel the bonfire and doing whatever little chores they could.

Some injured Tieflings were placed in the comparatively warmer cave, wrapped in layers of animal skins and grass velvet, but these measures couldn't stop their breaths from growing weaker, their eyelids fluttering before closing.

"Mezulash, if this goes on, we won't survive the winter."

"The injured are on the verge of death. We need to go to the nearby towns."

A female voice, hoarse from the cold, was heard.

The Tiefling referred to as "Mezulash" turned his head.

His rugged face bore burn scars, and his tall body was clad in blood-stained, battle-scarred armor.

Speaking in a grave tone, he said, "Lerisa, you still hold on to fantasies about those humans."

The female Tiefling shook her head in defense:

"No, I didn't..."

Mezulash interrupted her roughly, his voice growing intense:

"Those pitchforks, those stakes, those blazing houses, those naked bodies hanging at the city gates, the cheers and curses of the citizens, haven't they revealed their true nature to you?"

"This is humanity, Lerisa."

"If we go to any town now, we won't be greeted with fine wine but with ruthless expulsion—and the pursuit of the Old Vampire's lackeys."

Lerisa's voice trembled, tinged with sobs, "They just don't know the truth, but perhaps, maybe we could clear up the misunderstanding, explain to them..."

"You should understand how humans see us, Child of the Devil."

His cold, black eyes seemed to pierce into her soul, and the sudden gravity in his voice silenced her.

Mezulash continued,

"One person is curiosity, two people are a conspiracy."

He paused.

"Three... people are a curse."

"The moment they raise their blades against us, urged on by hatred, there's no room left for misunderstandings."

Finishing his words, Mezulash ignored Lerisa's sobs, silently wiping his bloodstained Silver Sword.

The polished blade reflected his weathered face.

Horns curled like those of a ram, eyes pure black without irises, sharp canine teeth, red skin, his appearance still largely human, but his Devil lineage was clearly marked.

"Such a naive fool."

Mezulash couldn't help but recall his past life, those painful yet intertwined memories.

At Northwind Castle, his younger self often faced stares and whispers due to his identity as a "Devil's Offspring," bearing the brunt of street violence and insults, always seeing distrust and fear in others' eyes.

But he still had human friends he could trust.

This was a kind of luck.

And a kind of cruel fate.

Such genuine concern from his friends kept a spark of kindness and trust in young Mezulash's heart.

Thus, he joined the City Guard Army, becoming a paladin at a young age, taking the Oath of Redemption.

Paladins of the Oath of Redemption face evil creatures, hoping to turn their enemies toward the light, resorting to violence only as a last measure.

And, except in situations where it would clearly save other lives, they never kill their enemies.

The young Tiefling believed that everyone could be redeemed, that all could tread the path of mercy and justice.

Mezulash believed his benevolent actions could correct the world's biases against his Devil bloodline, and it seemed he was moving towards that goal.