19 Dragon Believer's Blossoming Affection

My name is Li Mei and I'm a student in the elite vanguard class. I've been keeping this to myself for a while now, but I have a major crush on one of my classmates, Rahu. The thing is, Rahu is already engaged to our homeroom instructor, but I just can't help how I feel.

I know it sounds crazy, but every time Rahu walks into the room, my heart skips a beat and my cheeks turn bright red. I can't even remember when these feelings started, but one thing is for sure, they are strong and they are real.

I was absolutely captivated by his bravery when he confessed his love to Ms. Maria. The way he fearlessly approached her, even as the killing intent emanating from her aura had everyone, including myself, trembling with fear, was truly remarkable.

Instead of cowering in fear like the rest of us, he saw an opportunity to declare his love and make her his bride-to-be. It was a bold move that left me in awe, and I couldn't help but admire his courage and determination.

As the heiress of the illustrious Li clan, I was brought up with a singular directive- to never taint our bloodline with that of those of lesser standing. It was a mandate as old as time, etched into the very fabric of our family's tradition. But what can I do when destiny has other plans?

It was a chance encounter that led me to him- a man of unassuming origins. Yet, there was something that set him apart from everyone else. It was a fact that he had a dragon as his spirit, a creature that belonged to the mythical Tree of Life- a symbol that my clan had been guarding for centuries. We revered the tree and the dragon as equals, as if they were two halves of a single entity.

The attraction was undeniable, and my heart couldn't be silenced. The mystical bond between him and his dragon was an enigma, a force that drew me closer with every passing moment. But such a union was taboo, unthinkable to my clan. As the heiress of the Li family, I was bound to uphold the honor of my ancestors and follow their traditions. Yet, the heart knows no bounds, and sometimes, love defies all norms and conventions.

I found myself ensnared by his captivating charm, my feelings for him deepening with each passing day. I longed to claim him as my own, but alas, he was already claimed by another- Ms. Maria.

The thought of hiding him away from my family crossed my mind, driven by a desire to keep him close. But such a course of action was rife with danger, for my family was powerful and their disapproval would be disastrous. I knew that pursuing him would lead to nothing but heartache, and yet, my heart refused to be silenced.

The struggle between my head and heart was relentless, as I grappled with the knowledge that he was forbidden fruit. But the lure of his beguiling presence was too strong to ignore. I was in a bind, trapped between loyalty to my family and the intense attraction I felt for him.

As much as I wished it weren't so, I knew that I had to let him go. To pursue him would be folly, and the cost would be too great. It was a bittersweet realization, one that left my heart heavy with regret. But sometimes, the hardest decisions are the ones that must be made, for the sake of one's own wellbeing and that of those we love.

As I tried to move on from my forbidden feelings, fate seemed to have other plans for me. I found myself in the middle of a training session for a mock battle, surrounded by a group of students from my class. They closed in on me, smirking and making suggestive comments.

"You know, you don't have to work so hard to become strong," one of them said, leering at me. "You could just marry one of us and live a comfortable life."

Their words cut deep, and I felt a surge of anger rise within me. I knew they were trying to get under my skin, to undermine my efforts to become a skilled fighter. But I refused to back down.

"I don't need your pity or your offers," I spat back, my voice laced with a fiery determination. "I'll become strong on my own, and I won't let anyone stand in my way."

As their advances continued, my heart sank deeper and deeper into despair. The weight of their words and actions felt almost too heavy to bear. But just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I heard a voice behind me.

"Hey, back off," the voice said, strong and unwavering. "Can't you see she's not interested?"

I turned around to see Rahu, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He stepped forward, positioning himself between me and the group of students, ready to defend me.

"Who do you think you are?" one of the students sneered. "This is none of your business."

Rahu didn't falter. "I'm making it my business," he said firmly. "No one deserves to be treated like this."

The group of students exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond to Rahu's boldness. But Rahu stood his ground, unyielding in his defense of me.

As they left the scene, a sense of magic seemed to envelop me. Everything around me became bathed in a warm, radiant light, as if I was being cocooned in a protective embrace. It was a sensation that reminded me of my father's love, but this time, it was coming from Rahu, the man I had grown to love.

A burning determination ignited within me, fueled by the love I had for Rahu. I was not going to let anyone or anything stand in the way of my heart's desires. I knew that it was forbidden for me to be with him, but my resolve was unshakeable.

I was determined to become stronger, to hone my skills, and to prove to my family that I was capable of making my own decisions. I was not going to be bound by the rules that had been imposed on me since birth.

Nothing was going to stop me from being with Rahu, not even Ms. Maria, who had always been a formidable opponent. I would face her head-on, and I would not back down until I had claimed what was rightfully mine.

My love for Rahu was my driving force, and nothing could stand in the way of that. I was determined to make him mine, and I would stop at nothing to achieve my goal.