"Oi, are you finally dead? Tsk, don't pretend to have died because I will not fall for it. Do you think I am naive or something? Open your eyes and face me, you coward."

The attacker yelled as he neared Layla.

He could see a river of blood escape her mouth as her eyes finally fell shut. Her body was too badly damaged to have survived.

"Hahahah, so you finally did die? Good! I am not happy that you got an easy way out, but this is what you deserve for trying to go against me. Repent in hell for the crimes you have committed against me."

The man bragged before he stood up and started to walk away.

He had only taken ten or so steps when he suddenly froze at the intense feeling he felt coming from behind him.

He quickly looked back, only for his eyes to see something he would never get to witness.

Layla's lips moved unconsciously, and she did not even make any sound when she spoke. Still, the shining body stabilized before the intense feeling finally stopped, and a blast occurred.

It was a magical blast that took the surroundings by storm. Nothing remained untouched, and the magic charred the land. The attacker quickly closed his eyes and placed a hand in front of his face to protect them.

His surroundings were charred when he opened his eyes, and he was the only thing alive. But that was not what took him by surprise.

What surprised him was the small creature barely bigger than his arm and thin limbs.

Its noodle-like body lay down on top of Layla's chest, and its beady eyes calmly looked at the attacker.

Magic shined behind those intelligent eyes, and the attacker had a feeling he was screwed.

"I-Is that dragon real? Maybe this is an illusion, and I am too tired to notice. There is no way a dragon would be here…. or maybe this is a test! If I can take this young dragon, I can gain so much more power-"

The attacker was greedy, so he tried getting close to the dragon.

Unfortunately for him, the dragon did not have the same thoughts or intentions as the attacker had.

The dragon's black body had silver marks on it. When they glowed, Layla's body glowed as well. The pair was well-connected and even felt like they shared their life force.

It took the attacker ten seconds to piece everything together. And as soon as he did, he paled in shock and fear.

"T-That is not possible. How can this child…a dragon is not something that one can tame just because they want to…. shit! What do I do now?"

The attacker asked, but it was already too late for him.

The dragon opened his mouth, and its magic breath petrified the human assassin.

The magic a dragon used was said to be potent enough to end anyone's life. Only another dragon or a god could fight against them on equal terms.

Even if this dragon had hatched minutes ago, the attacker was no match for it.

He tried to run, but he was unsuccessful in the end. The man was turned into stone before he realized it, and the dragon curled on top of Layla's hurt body.

That was how Mary and Raziel found the pair- with the dragon guarding Layla and not allowing anyone to come close to the unconscious female.

"Lady Layla, what happened-"

Raziel asked as he stepped forward to check on his young miss. But a single look from the dragon kept him at bay.

Mary was the one who pulled Raziel back before he could get hurt…or worse, could get himself killed off.

She looked at the dragon with a surprised but firm expression.

"Lord dragon who has yet to have a name, I am Mary, a maid of Miss Layla. Do you recognize my presence from when you were just an egg?"

Mary asked while still maintaining her bow. She let the dragon set the pace about how much it wanted to allow her freedom.

The dragon did not show that he knew Mary, but he did not attack her either. The demoness took it as a sigh to come close to her miss, and she was eventually able to pick her up.

The dragon settled on Layla's chest, where it made its home. It looked comfortable and even adorable when it sat on Layla's chest.

But behind those adorable eyes and looks lay a strength that would be enough to end this entire world if the creature wanted to.

*grr*

The dragon growled as soon as Mary neared Raziel. He was another person the dragon was suspicious of.

But Mary quickly assured the dragon that Raziel was harmless and even on their side.

"Please, do not be offended by Raziel's presence. He is one of Lady Layla's servants and will not harm her. Please, believe us for now, and let us take the lady back to a safe location."

Layla did not show any signs of being awake. Mary felt it would be a while before she could see her miss being alright again.

But she would be safe and sound with a dragon by her miss's side. That was good news and bad news at the same time.

The dragon leveled Raziel with one last look before it settled down on Layla's chest. It allowed Raziel to show that he was harmless and did not mean much. This was good news, and it helped Mary feel relieved.

'Feeling relieved and me? I never thought I would feel like this or think like this. Is this some kind of magic that has changed me?'

Mary felt she should be concerned about feeling this way, but she had other things to worry about, mainly hiding the dragon and ensuring her young daughter was safe.

"Mary, should we take Miss Layla to the temple and have the cardinal see to her? What if she never wakes up again?"