There Are No Bad Heroes in This World, Chapter 1: The Unlikely Savior
The flickering candlelight danced across Elara’s face, highlighting the determined glint in her emerald eyes. Rain lashed against the tiny attic window, mirroring the storm brewing inside her. She wasn't your typical hero, not by a long shot. No shining armor, no noble lineage, just a scrawny sixteen-year-old with a knack for thievery and a heart surprisingly full of compassion.
Tonight, however, compassion wasn't enough. Tonight, she needed cunning, speed, and a whole lot of luck. Because tonight, she was rescuing a dragon.
Not just any dragon, mind you. This was Ignis, the last of the Crimson Dragons, rumored to be as ferocious as he was magnificent. The King’s knights, spurred on by whispers of Ignis's hoard of enchanted gems, were planning a midnight raid on his secluded mountain lair. Elara, however, had a different plan. A plan fueled by a childhood promise to protect the creatures often demonized by her kingdom, a promise whispered years ago in the shadow of a willow tree.
Why is Elara rescuing the dragon?
Elara wasn't driven by naive idealism. She’d seen firsthand the cruelty of the kingdom’s elite, the callous disregard for the lives of those deemed "monsters." Her compassion, honed by a childhood spent dodging the harsh realities of poverty, extended beyond humans to the misunderstood creatures of the realm. She understood Ignis’s plight; he was simply defending his home. The gems were his legacy, not a prize to be plundered. Her rescue mission was a defiance against the kingdom's unjust persecution of the magically gifted.
What are the risks involved in rescuing Ignis?
The risks were staggering. Confronting the King's elite knights was suicide. Ignis himself, even injured as he was (rumor had it he'd been poisoned by a rival clan), possessed immense power. A single misplaced move could result in her being incinerated or, worse, becoming a pawn in the kingdom's game of power. Yet, Elara knew she couldn't stand by and watch an innocent creature be unjustly slaughtered. Her survival instincts were honed by years of near misses and desperate escapes—skills that would now be tested to their absolute limit.
How did Elara find out about the attack on Ignis?
Information in the kingdom flowed like the river Elara often scavenged near. Whispers from disgruntled knights, overheard conversations in smoky taverns, and discarded maps in royal garbage bins - this was Elara’s information network. It wasn't glamorous, but it was effective. This particular tip came from a former stable boy who’d overheard a heated discussion in the King's private chambers.
What kind of powers does Ignis have?
Ignis, beyond his incredible size and fiery breath, possessed considerable magical abilities. He could manipulate flames with startling precision, conjuring shields of fire and devastating blasts. Legends spoke of his ability to summon storms and control the very earth beneath his feet. But his current weakened state meant these abilities were severely compromised, making the rescue operation even more urgent.
As the first rays of dawn pierced the storm clouds, Elara, with the injured dragon safely hidden in a remote cave, knew this was only the beginning. The King wouldn't simply let this go. Her actions had just ignited a much larger conflict, one that challenged not only the kingdom's authority but also her own understanding of what it meant to be a hero. The fight for Ignis, for justice, had just begun.
