Heartbroken by the destruction of her hard work, Jasmine descended into the crater to assess the damage, silently cursing the human mages who carelessly flung spells around. Almost finished circling the crater, she spotted a small, charred lizard lying on the ground.

Another victim, she thought, a wave of pity washing over her. On impulse, she decided to take the lizard back and try to heal it. Over the long years of her solitary life, she had amassed countless herbs and potions; reviving a small lizard was well within her capabilities.

After numerous potions, the little lizard's condition began to improve. Upon waking, it cried out, its large, golden eyes fixed on Jasmine. Including its tail, the creature wasn't even as long as Jasmine's hand. The charred layer had sloughed off, revealing vibrant crimson scales beneath.

Jasmine's heart melted. She decided to keep it as a pet.

She named the creature Little Red. Every day, she'd shift into her black cat form, catching fish for it in the river. At night, she'd carry Little Red to her nest and cuddle it close as they slept.

The little lizard grew attached to her, perched on her shoulder as she worked with her herbs. Although its appetite was enormous, requiring considerable effort to keep it fed, Jasmine adored her little pet.

Then, one ordinary day, Jasmine returned with a fresh fish for Little Red, only to find him gone. She searched everywhere, heartbroken for days, but eventually had to give up.

Much later, a red-haired boy of an unfamiliar race appeared at the base of her treehouse, seeking her out.

The boy dropped a bombshell: Little Red wasn't a lizard, but a dragon. He was Little Red. He'd been practicing magic as a child and accidentally landed near her home, badly injured. After she healed him, his family had found him and taken him back. Now, he'd returned to repay her kindness and compensate her for the damage he’d caused.

Jasmine was stunned. Her green cat eyes widened, fixed on the boy before her. She couldn't speak. It was difficult to accept that her adorable little lizard had transformed into a…person.

Her look of disbelief was evident. The boy's eyes welled up, golden tears shimmering. "You used to love me!" he cried. "You held me while we slept and played games with me!"

It clicked. His eyes were identical to the little lizard's. The long tail behind him also looked familiar, although the red was deeper now.

Jasmine had never seen a dragon before. Legend held that while dragons were few in number, their bloodline granted them immense power upon reaching adulthood. It was said that the rulers of the world beyond the forest were dragons.

Everything she knew about dragons came from hearsay. She never imagined her first encounter with a live one would be…Jasmine thought, …so small and…adorable? He was nothing like the majestic creatures described in books.

Two small bumps protruded from the young dragon's forehead, the future location of his horns. Baby fat still rounded his cheeks, contrasting with his pointed chin. His skin, set off by his red hair, was pale. Dressed in fine clothes, he looked, at first glance, like a little girl.

Tears streamed down his face, his normally narrow pupils dilated with emotion, like drops of ink swirling in the purest amber.

The boy bit his lip, trying to stifle his sobs, but the tears continued to flow, making Jasmine feel incredibly guilty.

She felt a headache coming on. Interactions with unfamiliar intelligent beings were her least favorite thing. Her solitary life in the forest was specifically designed to avoid such situations. But this was her former pet, and he was so young, so…pathetic.

With an elder's compassion for a younger being, Jasmine crouched before the boy, wiping his tears. "I'm so sorry," she said softly. "My memory is terrible. I didn't realize. Please forgive me. My Little Red, all grown up! Don't cry, don't cry."

Her initial reaction had clearly stung him. Comforted, the boy began to cry even harder, wailing for a long time before finally quieting down.

He'd been crying so hard he’d swallowed a lot of air. Hiccuping, he stammered out his question again, asking if she had any wishes. He was here to repay her, after all.

He hadn't forgotten his purpose, even after crying for so long. Jasmine was almost impressed by his persistence. Still crouching, she gently patted his back, hoping to stop his hiccups.

She couldn't think of anything she wanted. She'd lived a secluded life for so long. Her treehouse, hidden deep within the forest, provided her with a sense of security. She occasionally sold her potions through an acquaintance, using the meager earnings to buy cat toys.

She certainly didn't need potions; healing him had been effortless. He didn't need to make such a grand gesture of repayment. But she didn't want to disappoint her former pet. "Let me…touch your tail," she said.

Linsey looked puzzled but agreed to her strange request. He maneuvered his supple tail, placing the very tip in her hand.

Extending from his tailbone, it was almost half his body length. Dark red scales were arranged neatly along its surface, shimmering in the sunlight.

Jasmine weighed it in her hand. It was surprisingly heavy, the scales smooth and cool to the touch. The warmth radiating from where their bodies touched reminded her of when they used to cuddle together in her nest.

She couldn't resist stroking it for a long time, only stopping when the boy, blushing, asked her to.

Linsey stayed for dinner. Jasmine caught him the most tender fish. They exchanged names. Jasmine learned that Little Red's real name was Linsey. His parents were strict, and he lived in a castle far from the forest, spending his days studying. He'd been granted special permission to visit her. Linsey made her promise that he would visit often.