"Sorry," Xeris mumbles as you clean up her bloody nose. You shouldn't have to dirty your hands touching her. "I should've stood up for myself."

It's what she always says, but she never has the courage to fight back against the other children in the village.

You're the only child her age who doesn't treat her poorly. Her only friend. Xeris feels herself tear up.

She can't cry.

"Don't be mad," she says, sniffling.

The villagers whisper she's cursed, that her mother fell in love with a dragon and died giving birth to her. Xeris doesn't feel very dragon-like.

Tears brim in her eyes.

What's the point of being part dragon if she can't do anything? She's still weak.

Xeris can't even protect you. Useless. So useless. She owes you everything and can give you nothing.

Her cheeks feel wet. She's not supposed to be crying, she's supposed to be strong. "I'm sorry."

Xeris has never had anyone important to her. The orphanage owners didn't care for her, and none of the children did either.

For eight years - every single second of her life - she's been unloved.

Then she'd met you eight years ago. Her world changed. She was finally more than a cursed child, more than her dragon blood.

She got to be your friend.