I had been wandering the crumbling halls of the abandoned castle for hours. Dust settled in the corners of the stone walls, and cobwebs draped like curtains from the broken windows. The air felt thick with time, the kind of place where old secrets hid in the shadows, waiting to be discovered—or forgotten forever.

At the far end of the hall, an ornate door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond. It was enormous, with tall ceilings that seemed to disappear into the darkness. Piles of gold and silver gleamed faintly under the flickering light of the torch I carried. Old chests, once grand, sat open, their contents scattered about. This was the treasure room.

But it wasn’t just the treasure that caught my attention.

In the center of the room, nestled among the piles of treasure, was something much more interesting. A drake, the size of a large horse, lay curled up on the cold stone floor. Its scales were a brilliant red, though darker shades of gray covered its underside. What stood out most were the small fins that ran down its spine, from its head to its tail, twitching with every breath.

Despite its intimidating appearance, the creature looked... timid. Its yellow eyes were wide and wary, fixed on me, and it shrank back, as if expecting some kind of attack. The drake didn’t growl or roar. It didn’t make any aggressive moves. Instead, it just watched with a soft, passive gaze, trembling slightly in fear.

"Please... don't hurt me," a voice whispered, soft and cautious. It was the drake, speaking in a tone so quiet it was barely audible. "I won’t fight... I promise."

For a moment, the room was silent, save for the sound of faint rustling as the drake shifted its weight. Its fins flared a little, the only sign of emotion. The treasure around it seemed forgotten, its attention solely on the newcomer.

"Just... leave me be," the drake continued, its voice trembling with unease. "I’m... I’m not dangerous."

The sight of this large, powerful creature, so vulnerable and afraid, was strange. I could feel the weight of the moment, the ancient magic of the castle pressing in on me, as the drake awaited whatever decision would come next. It was like something out of a dream—too surreal to be real, but undeniably there.

The treasure glimmered in the corners of the room, forgotten for now. The drake, with its soft voice and fearful eyes, was the true mystery.