Hidden Enemy

''There weren't always dragons in the Valley. There was a time when the Valley was a peaceful place to live. Where you could enjoy life and the natural surroundings without having to be constantly caught in a vicious cycle of fear, fights, uncertainty, doubts and insecurity.'' Corazón said impatiently.

“I have always warned people that they should try to seek help if they cannot defeat the dragons they face alone. But the pride and greed of many lead them to their own destruction.'' Brain replied as he reflected on the last person who had fallen foul of these creatures.

''I am the creator of all dragons in this world where the Mist reigns. It is a world where the sun barely rises and where suffering and pain are the order of the day. I am responsible for creating and training dragons to inflict death and the greatest destruction imaginable upon people. Only the strong are capable of fighting, defeating and overcoming such beasts. Each dragon in the Valley is different and possesses unique abilities that fit the character and fears of the person confronting them. This Valley is unforgiving and tends to be very cruel to those who dare beg for mercy. Above all, the Valley tests the moral compass of everyone who decides to walk through it. The Valley is a place of shadows, and death shows each person as they truly are. Without false appearances and without protective masks. Not all people are as many perceive them to be. Many are thought of as being good because they haven't had the liberty to fail.'' Mind told Mist somewhere in the Valley.

The day was very dark and cloudy as it always was. Hardly anyone could remember the last time they saw the sky clear. They no longer remembered the light of the moon that lit their way in the middle of the nocturnal darkness. The only thing that could be heard from the residents were complaints about the constant rain and the perpetual dangers outside the Great Castle. This had reached the point where they were not thankful for the things they still had.

''Wait for me. You're running very fast and I don't have the strength to keep up with you.'' Ingenua told Malice.

''………….'' Malice contemptuously kept silent as she gained the upper hand in the middle of the forest.

Tired, sad and exhausted without knowing the way back home. Ingenua was left alone in the middle of nowhere. Unprepared for the dangers that lay in wait for people who decided to walk through the Valley without having the ability to defend themselves against the beasts that prowled in the dark. Because there are not only dragons that prowl the Valley looking for someone to kill. There are also vicious beasts looking for someone to devour.

Breathing heavily from exhaustion, Ingenua heard a strange sound, like that of a great, enraged, angered beast. With each step the beast took, the earth trembled slightly.

Malice, who is prepared for the dangerous surprises that the Valley hides, arrives at the gates of the Great Castle and begins to shout for the gates to be opened. After a few seconds the guards of the Great Castle diligently let him in and likewise closed the doors again.

“Where is Ingenua?'' Asked Cletos, the King of the Great Castle, he is also Ingenua's father.

''She went out with you so that you could teach her how to survive on the outskirts of this walled city. She is not ready for the dangers of the Valley. What happened? Where is she?'' King Cletos, Ingenua’s father, asked again. Voicing great concern.

''While we were exploring part of the Valley, a large beast crossed our path. I tried to kill the beast but it turned out to be much smarter and stronger than me. I tried to save her but the beast separated us. Ingenua ran away uncontrollably, panicked, and in the middle of the darkness I lost sight of her. And I had no choice but to flee, because fighting that beast is like fighting a mirror. It read my every move as if it were my own reflection.'' Malice replied.

''We must send the best warriors we have to find Ingenua and bring her back. I'm going to lead the rescue group my King.'' David replied, he is the King’s right hand man, and one of the most feared warriors within the Great Castle and the Valley.

“It is very dangerous to send the best men against a beast that can read your every move as if it were its own reflection. It is unacceptable to risk our best warriors.'' the King replied.

''She is the rightful heir to the throne. According to what the old man's prophecy says, she is the one who will return the light to this world and bring back the peace that has been lost for hundreds of years. We can't leave her out there alone. My girl is not ready to fight those beasts or dragons. You have to do something! Mary, King Cletos's wife, proclaimed desperately. Mary is Ingenua’s mother after all.

''Maybe the old man was wrong. That girl is very naive for her age. She doesn't even know how to fight, nor does she have a good understanding of the dangers beyond these great walls. Wars are not won with a good heart alone.'' Interrupted Delilah, Malice's mother, who is Mary's sister.

By law and tradition of the Great Castle family, Malice is the rightful heir to the throne in the event of Ingenua's death.

In the middle of the discussion King Cletos decided to send a rescue group led by David.

''Take care my son. May the Great Father of All accompany you and the light of his rays give you strength and protect you.'' The King told David before leaving with the group of warriors.

As the King dispatched the group led by David, the old man, named Brain, silently considered Malice's mother's response. He didn't answer anything because Malice had a great reputation in the eyes of the King's family and everyone else within the Great Castle and Walled City.

David arrived with the group of warriors at the place where Malice had said that the confrontation with the great beast had taken place. David and his group could only find one piece of Ingenua's clothing, which was stained with blood. A few minutes after arriving at that location, they began to hear footsteps that made the earth tremble. Noises could be heard among the trees. Even the birds were scared. Closer and closer, they began to see eyes that glowed, as if they were on fire. To everyone's surprise it was a giant beast that roared so fiercely that the group of warriors was intimidated, all except for David.

And a great battle between David and the beast began.

Quickly, the beast dealt David a great blow, knocking him about 60 meters away. David shook off the dust and mud. He stopped and just listened.

“David, the most feared warrior in both the Valley and the Great Castle. It will be my pleasure to kill you and mercilessly tear you apart and feed your flesh to the ravens. Today will be the last day of your legend and great fame'' The great beast spoke with a very strong and thick voice.

“You can speak? I had never heard a beast speak.'' David said, a little surprised.

''Yes I can talk. And I also know how to kill.'' The beast answered.

''I don't want any trouble. I'm just looking for a girl. She is still very young and I have to take her back to her family. She's about 6 feet tall, blonde, with honey-colored eyes. Have you seen her?''

''Nope. And I don't care either.'' The beast responded with another powerful blow launching David more than 100 meters away.

David was very angry and a little hurt. He ran up and punched the beast in the torso area hard making it roar in pain.

After several minutes of hard and bloody fighting, David managed to climb on top of the great beast, close to its head. After several hard and strong punches to the head, he managed to knock it down with an axe that he buried in its head. He knocked it down, and after several punches to the beast's face, he ended up ripping its heart out with his bare hands.

Immediately, hurt and badly injured, David fell to the ground. The group of warriors diligently carried him back to the Great Castle.

''Hold on brother. Everything will be fine.'' His best friend Paul told him.

Once they got back to the Great Castle, they rushed him to the doctor. And in the process, David heard a question..

' 'Did you find my girl?'” King Cletos asked him.

''…………..'' David was badly wounded and almost unable to speak, shaking his head slightly, answering no. Passing out in the process of handing over Ingenua's blood-stained piece of clothing.

''The King breathed sadly with teary eyes and was unable to say anything.''

''Thank you for giving your best whilst looking for my girl. I'll see to it that you recover quickly. I will go talk to Malice again.'' King Cletos told him in a low, quiet voice.