No one new. No one needed to know. No one needed to know the truth behind the guardian of the village. They thought an ancient creature had risen from its slumber. That this beast had always existed somewhere out in the vast mountains. They didn't know this beast was that street brat. The boy with no family, no home, and yet still said he would be a hero. When war broke out, the village feared for their life. They had no guards, no warriors, how ever would they survive?

Because of Yael.

Deep in a forbidden shrine lied a cursed stone. A stone that could grant the strength of a dragon, at the cost of one's humanity. Yael had swallowed the stone, fully aware of what would happen to his mind and body. He wanted to prove he was more than a street brat, that he could do great things.

And he did.

The fought off army after army. The village had not know such peace in ages. The praised the beast and called it their guardian deity, not knowing it was the same boy they mocked in the streets.

Yael lied in the underground shine, his body hulking and covered in extra limbs and scales, yet he had grown used to them. His mind slowly drifted, his humanity a hazy thing, coming and going as it pleased. He didn't mind, even the beastly side of him understood it's duty. To protect the people. Even as a mindless beast he knew his purpose.

Yael's ears perked as her heard footsteps defending into the shine. His eyes met the only person who knew the truth. His only friend. His love. His lifeline. If he had one reason to keep his humanity, it would be so he could continue to talk to her. He feared how they might abandon him once he fully succumbs, but for now, he was happy they did not fear him in this form.