Sylvia knew that she was not really there and he was simply saying these things to her.

She understood what he was trying to do. She imagined herself being back in that hopeless desolate place... but suddenly...

She felt pressure on her legs and her wrist that made her body shudder.

She was only trying to imagine things but she felt as if something was really weighing her down, her wrists and legs cuffed.

She could feel the old high council mage gazing at her, touching her hair and feeling her skin.

Sylvia screamed. All her composure was in a second shattered.

She screamed loudly at the top of her lungs and she opened her eyes, no longer wanting to go through with the plan.

She tried to open her eyes but she couldn't see. Everything around her was dark.

"NO. No. No. Stop this." She shouted, begging Roman to stop whatever he was doing, but the man's voice only unapologetically answered her pleas.

"Not going to. I will do whatever I want. Do you know why? Because you are weak and I am strong."

Sylvia clenched her fists.

Everything that she was trying to forget and erase from her mind, all came flooding back at the same time.

She was once again back to that weak little helpless girl who couldn't even save herself.

If a random stranger had not been kind to her, she would probably be suffering a fate far worse than death right now.

Tears streamed out of her eyes and she shook her hands and legs, trying to break free.

"Sylvia," Roman said, his voice cutting through the messy emotions which she was drowning in.

"The beast is your strength. Call it. Summon it. Make it come out and obey you. Channel your anger."

"Fight through whatever is holding you back. There is no use burying these painful memories."

"You need to face them head-on. You need to really let go."

"Don't you want to tear those humans apart? Don't you want to rip them to shreds?"

"Or are you just going to keep being so weak and defenseless?"

"Sure. You can do that as well."

"Your grandfather, your father, and your brothers will probably protect you all your life."

"You don't even have to lift a finger."

"Even now, just shout a bit louder. I am sure your grandfather is somewhere around here."

"Call for his help. He will come and save you in an instant. You are just weak and pathetic, right?"

Roman continued talking, each of his words more cruel and cutting than the previous one.

She didn't know but he was observing each and every single thought that flitted past her face.

She sobbed. She struggled. She bit her lips.

The woman in front of him was really weak. Roman sighed. Perhaps this was not the best way to help her.

He could see that she was suffering and he decided to stop the illusion magic spell he had cast.

He walked forward to help her steady herself when suddenly a loud growl sounded and before he could blink, a massive force pushed him down.

Looming on top of him, ready to rip and gnarl his throat was the same woman he had doomed to be too weak just seconds ago.

She was still…

The woman on top of him was still very much human, except her eyes were sharp and bright golden in color, and a pair of curved silver horns jutted from her long lustrous silver hair.

She stared at him unblinkingly with a wave of savage anger in her eyes, ready to completely devour him.

Her long hard nails dug into his flesh and her hands held him down with monstrous strength, mostly because he allowed her to.

He didn't want to intrude on her transformation, so he didn't even flinch as blood dripped from his chest and shoulder, where she mercilessly dug her fingers in.

Roman gulped. He couldn't withstand the overwhelming pressure exuding from her, but at the same time, he couldn't take his eyes away from her.

Beautiful.

That was the only word that came to his mind.

A pair of silver wings stuck out from her back and that had left her clothes in tatters.

There were shimmering silver scales here and there, covering most of her upper body, but it did so in a way that tested him.

Her ample breasts, partially revealed, partially covered, heaved up and down, as she growled in anger, her warm breath washing over him.

She smelled like lotuses and vanilla.

He stayed still, holding her gaze.

He knew how to tame an angry beast that wanted to rip him apart but for some reason, in front of this particular beast, his body refused to move or even think.

He stayed still, feeling an irresistible urge to raise his hand and run his fingers through her long silver hair.

Damn it. Roman cursed himself. He was here to help this woman but his mind was wandering elsewhere.

He forced himself to snap out of his trance, but before he could pull her away from him, he felt an even more powerful and intimidating aura that sent chills down his spine.

Ah, fuck! That old man!

A pair of big hands, dark brown and covered in golden scales lifted Sylvia up, separating her from him instantly.

She tried to growl and fight back, but she fainted the very next second.

Cough… Cough… Roman ruffled his hair awkwardly and picked himself up from the ground as well.

He only touched the wounds that were bleeding and they magically healed without him having to do anything else.

His blue eyes then darted to the short and chubby old man, the patriarch of the draconian clan, Cadmus Akhekh.

He was standing in front of him, holding the slender girl in his arms and staring down at him as if he wanted to kill him.

No, there was no doubt in his mind. This old man really wanted to kill him!