“Father!” she wept as she ran over and embraced him.

            As he hugged her, he said “I’m sorry for leaving you with such a heavy burden.”

            Valora shook her head “It’s alright.”

            “I should have explained everything before leaving you, please forgive me.”

            Valora hugged him tighter and said “That’s okay. I’m just glad that I can see you again.”

            “So, who is this young man you guys are talking about?” The dragons looked around nervously, trying their best to avoiding his eyes. He then looked down at his daughter with a questioning look.

            She smiled as she said “His name is Junak.”

            “Who is he?” he asked again and Valora blushed. “I think I’m going to need to meet this fellow.” He stepped towards the entrance to the tomb and spread his wings.

            Valora and the dragons quickly followed after him. “Father!” she called out as she caught up to him. She then led him to where they had left Junak and Tratan.

            As they landed, the two young men noticed that there was a new face amongst them. Junak walked over to Valora and whispered “Who is that?”

            Valora grabbed Junak by the hand and dragged him over to the group. “There is someone I’d like you to meet” she smiled.

            “Who?” he questioned.

            The dragons all looked at her as she approached. “Who is this, Valora?” the newest dragon asked.

            “This is Junak, Father!” she smiled even brighter.

            “Ahhh… So this must be the young man who has you smitten” he joked.

            Junak looked at Valora and then back to the dragon before him. His eyes widened in shock “Father? This is your fa…fa…father?” he stuttered.

            Valora looked at him and smiled “Yes, this is my father, The Dragon King.” She then looked at her father and blushed.

            Her father approached Junak and extended his hand “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

            “The pleasure is all mine” Junak bowed as he shook his hand.

            “So, tell me” the Dragon King said as he pulled Junak closer “What do you think of my daughter?”

            Junak blushed “I think she is…” he nervously turned to look at her and smiled as he sighed “Perfect.”

            “Guess she isn’t the only one smitten” the Dragon King laughed.

            Junak turned to face him once more “Huh?”

            “Do you want to marry her?”

            “Father!” Valora screamed as she ran over and pulled on his arm.

            “What? I thought you liked the guy” he smiled knowingly.

            Valora looked at Junak and turned beet red. She hid her face behind her father’s arm as she said “I do like him… but… you can’t just bring up marriage like that!”

            Junak also blushed as she confessed her feelings to her father. Then he took Valora by the hand and asked her “Why can’t he?”

            She looked at him in shock “Junak…”

            “Do you not want to marry me?”

            “Of course I want to marry you!” she blushed even more. “It’s just…”

            “Then why are you so worried?” her father asked.

            “Father,”

            “If it is about our age difference, I’m okay with it” Junak joked.

            “That’s not it” she giggled.

            “Then what?” he asked.

            “She doesn’t want to offer you her blood” Sunog blurted out. Valora turned and glared at him. “What? That’s the problem, right?”

            “Your blood?” Junak asked “What about offering your blood?”

            The dragons excused themselves and Tratan followed them as they left the couple to talk alone.

            “Junak, I care about you a lot” she started.

            “I know” he smiled “and I care about you too.”

            “I’ve lived over a thousand years, Junak. Do you know what that means?” Junak shook his head. “It means, if we get married, you will grow old and die while I will not age at all.”

            Suddenly realizing what she was saying “So you don’t want to marry me because I’m going to die before you?”

            “That’s not it…”

            “What is it? Just tell me” he spoke softly.

            She took a deep breath before letting out a sigh. “You wouldn’t have to die before me, if you were to take my blood.”

            “Your blood? You mean, if I drink your blood, I would… be like you?”

            “I honestly don’t know. The dragons said that my blood is not cursed like theirs.” She took another deep calming breath before continuing “They also said that if you take my blood, you would be able to live with me for a very long time.”

            “Will I look like you too?” he asked eagerly and chuckled.

            She giggled as well “I don’t know. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

            “Then let me ask you this” he took a calming breath and asked “Will you marry me?”

            Surprised by his proposal, she blushed and nodded as she said “Yes.”

            He placed his hand on her cheeks and kissed her lovingly. As they separated he asked “Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?”

            She smiled and said “Yes, silly.”

            “Then there is nothing to fear.”

            She nervously nodded as she pulled out a small knife. She placed the blade in her palm and wrapped her fingers around it. Then she pulled the knife out of her closed fist and blood started to flow from the cut on her hand. “Junak, will you accept my blood and life as part of your own?”

            Junak took her hand and smiled. “Gladly” he said as raised her blood soaked hand to his lips. Shortly after drinking her blood, he collapsed to the ground.

            “Junak!” she screamed and the dragons came running with Tratan in tow. The dragons looked at the boy’s lifeless body and then saw Valora’s bloody hand. “What happened?” she cried.

            Sunog crouch next to the young man “He is still alive” he finally said after a few minutes. “His body is fighting against the dragon’s blood right now.”

            “What is going to happen? Will he be alright?” Valora cried.

            Mizu approached the hysteric girl and held her in her arms. “I’m sure everything is going to be fine.”

            Valora grabbed Junak’s hand and held onto it tightly. “Please don’t leave me” she wept.

            After a couple of hours, Junak’s eyes sprang open. His once sparkling brown eyes and hair had now turned silver. As he sat up, two grey wings unfolded from his back. He raised his hand and wiped the tears from Valora’s cheeks.

            “Junak!” she screamed as she tackle-hugged him.

            Junak smiled “What’s wrong, Valora? Why are you crying?” She sat up and then hit him in the chest. “Ow! What was that for?”

            “I thought you were going to die!” she cried again.

            He pulled her into a hug “I’m not going anywhere” he smiled as he lifted her chin and kissed her.

            The dragons all smiled at the sight of the happy couple. “Guess we have a wedding to plan” Tratan teased and they all laughed.