Episode 8
Prince Richard blinked in confusion, unsure of how to respond, then smiled gently, his eyes curling like a crescent moon.
“I am honored to receive praise from a dragon.”
“Is that so? Then what exactly is that emotion?”
“Perhaps… embarrassment?”
“And how is that different from shame? There are so many words for feelings, and every one of them has its own subtle nuance. It’s maddeningly complex. Too difficult.”
Ignis was filled with curiosity. Perhaps because she had been born knowing everything and possessing all things, she had never lacked anything—until now. Lacking emotion for the first time, she was obsessed with understanding it, relentlessly asking questions that led to more questions. At last, Prince Richard offered a suggestion.
“Shall I help you?”
“You? Help me?”
“When it comes to emotions, I likely know more than you, Ignis. I can help. If you describe what you’re feeling, I’ll tell you what that emotion might be.”
“What if you’re trying to deceive me?”
“How could a mere human deceive a dragon? Our entire kingdom rests in the palm of your hand.”
“…Fair enough. Then, will you assist me?”
At Ignis’s question, Richard smiled brightly and nodded. Once again, Ignis felt a strange, fluttering sensation inside.
Was she unwell? Troubled by the thought, she abruptly rose to her feet and began running in wide circles through the woods. Perhaps it was, as Richard had said earlier, that she felt overwhelmed—though she couldn’t quite say. All she knew was that, at that moment, her previously still heart began to beat furiously.
It was a peaceful day at the Catedra Temple, nestled in the clouds, where Ignis and Prisia resided. Ignis was flipping through books from the human realm when Prisia, lying in bed with a dissatisfied expression, sat up.
“I want to have a wedding, Ignis.”
“A wedding?”
Prisia had, by pure chance, witnessed a human wedding a few days prior. The couple wore flower crowns made for each other and recited vows of love before witnesses, ending in a kiss. There was nothing extraordinary about it, and yet, it had lingered in Prisia’s mind ever since.
“Among humans, they hold wedding ceremonies with the ones they love. It’s like a celebratory ritual.”
“Humans really do love celebrating anything.”
“You and I love each other too, so I want to have a wedding.”
Ignis slowly looked up from her book and met Prisia’s gaze.
“Now that you mention it, I do recall saying something to you long ago. That if you gave me feelings, I would accept your heart.”
Prisia looked at her with hopeful eyes. But the response that followed did not meet her expectations. In fact, it crushed them.
“Not now.”
“…Are you rejecting me?”
“No. I just haven’t fully understood these feelings yet. Until I do, I can’t say I truly possess them.”
“…”
“So, once my studies are complete, I’ll give you an answer.”
“Understood.”
Prisia was deeply dissatisfied, but she couldn’t bring herself to pressure Ignis. After all, Ignis had only just begun experiencing emotions, and was still utterly confused by them. Moreover, Prisia wasn’t the type of deity who would coerce someone—especially one as proud as Ignis—into marriage.
She simply assumed that once Ignis had explored the full spectrum of emotions, they could affirm their love and finally hold a wedding.
But just as Prisia was about to accept the situation, Ignis suddenly stood and began to prepare to go out, donning her cloak.
“Where are you going?”
“Down below.”
Prisia’s brow furrowed.
Down below? She meant the human realm again? She was going down again? She had already gone yesterday, and the day before that—and nearly every day for a month now.
“You’ve been visiting the human world quite frequently lately, Ignis. What’s so special about it? Did someone smear honey down there or something?”
Surely Prisia knew the answer. As the primal deity who could observe all things, she could know anything she wished. Her question, feigning ignorance, could only be motivated by something else. Ignis, assuming no hidden meaning, replied plainly.
“I’ve been meeting with a human lately.”
“A human? Who? Why? Did they make a wish? Are you blessing them? Or punishing them for sin?”
Ignis stared at her, incredulous.
“Prisia. Is there something wrong with your powers? If you truly don’t know, I’m worried about you.”
“…”
“I’m meeting with Prince Richard of the Kingdom of Horizon. He understands emotions better than I do. He’s been helping me. He’s quite a fine human.”
“Why go to him for help? Humans are more incomplete than we are. I can help you instead, Ignis.”
“No need. Aren’t you busy tending to the human world? I’m not so desperate for help that I must call on someone as burdened as you.”
With that, Ignis spread her wings and descended to the human realm. Left behind, Prisia stood frozen, then frowned.
“I didn’t give her feelings just for this…”
She muttered under her breath. Though she recognized the feeling stirring within her as jealousy, she chose to ignore it. After all, what could be more ridiculous than a perfect god envying a mere human?
“Richard… Richard, huh…”
Of course she already knew who Ignis was meeting. She had spied on them many times. She knew exactly what kind of man Prince Richard of Horizon was. Of all humans, he was one she begrudgingly acknowledged.
The King of Horizon had two sons, both outstanding. But the elder, Prince Richard, was the more widely known. The brothers were kind, devoted to their people, and above all, pious. Horizon had never once neglected the temples of Ignis and Prisia. Even other nations knew of their beauty and talents.
“How irritating.”
Prisia found Prince Richard highly irksome.
“Ignis!”
From afar, Richard waved enthusiastically. Ignis couldn’t help but twitch her lips into a faint smile and raised her hand in return—then stared at her own hand in surprise and quickly lowered it again.
“Just call me Ignis. When it comes to emotions, you’re practically my teacher.”
“Even so, how can I dare speak your name so casually?”
Ignis frowned slightly at his polite words.
“That’s disappointing.”
“Pardon?”
“I was looking forward to you calling me by name. But now, you’ve gone and dashed that hope.”
Ignis’s lips pouted slightly in displeasure.
“So now, I feel upset. Isn’t this what you described before—being disappointed? I thought we’d grown quite close over the past month.”
Ignis scowled again.
“So I feel… hurt. But also confused. I feel like I’m acting childish.”
“I… didn’t expect you to speak so frankly.”
“Why not?”
“Most people tend to hide those kinds of feelings.”
“And why should they? Do you find it unpleasant?”
“Not unpleasant—just surprising. I didn’t realize dragons could feel that way.”
“I have emotions, too. I believe in being honest. I don’t understand why people feel the need to hide such vibrant, rich things.”
At the time, Ignis couldn’t comprehend why humans would hide their feelings. So she expressed them freely, without hesitation. Richard found it utterly fascinating—he had never imagined a dragon would share her emotions with a mere human like himself.
“Then… would it be alright if we became even closer?”
“…? Isn’t that obvious? Haven’t we already become close? I thought we were friends. We meet regularly, speak for hours, and share good feelings—if that’s not friendship, what is?”
“You would be friends… with a human?”
Richard’s eyes widened in disbelief. Given Horizon’s deeply devout culture, such a notion was unthinkable. A human, befriending a divine being? It was beyond honor—it was paralyzing.
But Ignis remained calm, her face composed.
“Even if I am a dragon, we both possess emotions. You were the first human to show me kindness. I wish to be your friend. Surely there’s no harm in that? Isn’t it a good thing to be friends with me?”
Richard was momentarily speechless. He stared at her in awe.
“…I would like that too.”
With Richard’s reply, the hurt and disappointment Ignis had just been feeling instantly transformed into joy. She marveled at how swiftly emotions could shift, like flipping a coin.
But she still didn’t yet understand something important:
That just as feelings can change in a heartbeat, they can also erupt like flames—sudden, consuming, and dangerous.
