The Kingmaker System

"Don’t see... I’m ugly..." The child’s voice was muffled as he buried his face in his arms, trying to hide the reality of his transformation from me. His words were soaked in shame, and it tore at me to see him like this.

I shook my head, my voice soft but firm, the weight of my words carrying a sense of unshakable truth. "No, you’re not. You’re still the same child to me, you’re not ugly." My eyes softened as I gazed at him, watching the silent battle within him as he fought to accept what I was saying.

"But I... They all call me a monster when they look at me..." His voice broke on the words, a mixture of pain and confusion lacing his trembling tone. "They all hate me..."

My heart clenched at the thought of the cruelty he had faced. Without hesitation, I reached out and gently cupped his cheek, my touch soothing but insistent, forcing him to meet my gaze. "I like you," I said firmly, a quiet strength behind the words that would not falter, no matter how much doubt clouded his mind. "I like every bit of you, child. You’re not a monster."

He blinked, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at me, searching for any hint of deception. "But... I’m not like them," he whispered, his voice wavering.

I nodded slowly, my eyes filled with understanding. "I know. I’m not like them either." I paused, letting the words settle before continuing, "You know what I am, don’t you? You’ve felt it, haven’t you?"

His gaze flickered, uncertainty still gripping him, but there was a faint spark of recognition in his eyes. Slowly, I let the truth flow between us, speaking the words that I had carried for so long, words that connected us in a way no one else would understand. "I am a Dragon, child," I said softly, yet with a certainty that would leave no room for doubt. "I am the Scion of the Supreme Aqua Dragon. And just like your parent Dragon, I carry the same essence as you do. That’s why you feel the power in you. You aren’t alone in this."

The child hesitated for a moment, his wide, terrified eyes still clouded with self-doubt, but I saw the change in him—the shift in his heart, even if it was minuscule. His breath caught, and he looked down at his scales, his trembling fingers brushing over the smooth surface. They glittered under the dim light, the soft, glass-like sheen almost ethereal.

"Your form... it’s not something to fear," I continued, my voice gentle yet firm, "It’s beautiful. Look at you—your scales, the way they shimmer. It’s the mark of your true nature, and there’s nothing disgusting about it."

His eyes darted back up to me, wide with disbelief, his lip trembling as if he could not fathom what I was saying. "Am-Am I really... not disgusting?" His voice cracked on the words, and it was like the weight of the world rested on those simple, innocent words.

"No!" I answered immediately, my tone unwavering. "You are perfect as you are, child. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. They don’t understand, but I do. You are not a monster."