My mother was considered a legend and the daughter of queens.

She was a tall beaut, a one of a

kind, and built like a goddess, all bold and wise. She married my father when she was 18 and
was sworn by the priest to be blessed. The matchmaker considered them a good match: her
husband was an only child, and his father’s fortune would go to him.

My mother caught my father’s eye when he came to visit the palace of her own father, Peleus.
Varian and Peleus were often seen together in their younger days. They were best friends, equal
in age, and were practically raised together. They were both kings, and preferred each other’s
company to the proud and corrupt nobles in the Solar Imperium who wouldn’t hesitate to stab
them in the back.

Peleus’ palace was a great wonder, set high on the earth’s rocks. Its stone walls were white and
smooth, reflecting the golden light of the sun. The towers were elegant and graceful, each one
crowned with a golden dome and a flying flag. The windows were large and bright, like jewels
in a crown. The inner walls were covered with tapestries and paintings, depicting scenes of
history and legend. Within it, outshining all that grandeur, stood my mother.

She was a princess of beauty and grace, with skin as dark as the night sky and eyes as bright as
the stars. Her hair was long and curly, cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of ebony.
Her lips were full and soft, smiling with kindness and joy. Her dress was made of silk and gold,
shimmering with every movement. She wore a crown of pearls and diamonds, reflecting her
royalty and dignity. She was admired and loved by all who saw her, for she had a heart of gold
and a spirit of fire. My father fell for her immediately.

“Who is that?” my father said to Peleus.

Peleus had gained many grandchildren from my father already, and he was proud to think of
more. “My daughter Thalia. She is yours if you seek to marry her.”

The next day, my father wasted no time in approaching her. He found her by a garden beyond
the palace walls. It was a beautiful place, crowded with flowers of every specie and color. There
was no pollution, only clean and sweetly scented air.

My mother sighted him just as he entered the garden. Bold she was, because when he stood
before her, arrayed in royal glory, she laughed at him. Marry you? Why should I?

My father’s ego, of course, shattered right there and then. He could have taken what he wanted,
but he prided himself that all women were eager to wed him.

“It is loyalty,” she said to him, “or nothing. Be sure that you may have no other woman after
me.”

Conditions, control. My father loved nothing more than novelty. “A bargain,” he said, and gave
a sapphire ring to seal it, one of his own making. Later, I was born, and he gave her another ring
as a gift.
At my birth, a midwife washed and dressed me. Another took care of my mother, cleaned her,
painted her lips red, and laid her to rest. A third went to break the news to my father.

“It’s a girl,” my mother sighed, her tone carrying a hint of distaste that lingered in the air.

But my father loved his daughters, who were beautiful and as lovely as the

Altheria had two problems to take care of: selfish dragons and her size.

She was supposed to be prepping her wings for flight in her cave, but for the last 45 minutes,
she’d been trying to hide from other dragons that have been trying to find her.

If only she was big enough to face them. Instead, she was stuck being small-
Scrawny, ugly, weak minded… she could name a few insults the other dragons have called her.

“Just steal some gold,” my cousin Pete had once said. “It’ll be good for you.”

A wonderful solution, but the other dragons would roast her before she tried. Altheria stared at
her reflection from a nearby pool. Her mother was right, she was a hopeless case.

Gently, she climbed a boulder in an attempt to feel big. She definitely felt stronger than
yesterday.

“Badass Dragon Altheria Vanzel,” she whispered, savoring the sound of her words. “Great
Dragon Altheria Vanzel.”

“Stop gawking at yourself.”

Altheria turned, face going pale as Neo and Trent flew into her view. They were both older,
bigger, and better suited with their abilities than Altheria, and they were palace dragons,
private servants of dragon riders. That meant they wore fancy saddles, carried warriors from
castles, and never let Altheria forget she was a lowly dragon newt.

“Hyping that small body of yours isn’t going to make you grow any faster,” Neo said with a
teasing smile.

Altheria tried to summon some dignity.” I need to fly with the others.”

Neo elbowed Trent. “That means she’s going to beg for gold coins from some puny humans.”

“Oh, human, won’t you spare me some change?” Trent mocked.

Altheria spun away, cheeks turning crimson, and flew out of the cave to catch up to the dragons
already flying in the air. They’d been teasing her since they were kids. If it hadn’t been for
dragon hunters, she probably would have left a long time ago.

And she had to admit, she enjoyed the safety of the caves and the freedom of flying. The gold
coin Altheria had managed to secure as a child, grants her the ability to fly. She holds on to it
like it’s her life, because it might as well be.

“One day… I’ll become better than every dragon here.” Altheria swore. And adjusted her wings
so she could keep up with the dragons in the front.

From her altitude she could see the famous Solar Imperium.

“Hey, pipsqueak,