MELION

Melion is an intelligence-based support hero of the Draconis faction.

Melion, once a revered inspector admired by all, now teetered on the verge of suspension for simply following his conscience and making three choices.

Reflecting on the genesis of it all, it was just four short months ago on a sunny afternoon.

Back then, rumors tainted the "Draconis Guardian", an emblem of absolute principles, with whispers of personal connections. With his commitment to upholding rule and order, Melion swiftly cleared the "Draconis Guardian's" name and honed in on a specific suspect-the right-hand man of the youngest and most prominent elder in the council, currently a figure capable of swaying public opinion.

Despite this, Melion, bound by the Draconis' strict code, never wavered due to their difference in status. Following the trail of rumors, he meticulously gathered evidence and duly brought the suspect to the Inspection Institute for questioning over his infractions. Every step was within protocol, like second nature.

Left to his own devices, Melion busied himself with his assignments and awaited the results. Yet, when he looked into the matter after completing his busy duties, the suspect had vanished from the Institute. Even records of the suspect entering the facility and the evidence Melion submitted had mysteriously disappeared.

At that moment, Melion hesitated briefly before making his first "wrong choice".

When the young inspector made an unexpected visit, the head of the Institute, though caught off guard, greeted him warmly.

Melion, always immaculate in his uniform, stood out from the more lenient and open-minded new generation of dragons. He was reserved and traditional, intolerant of any deviation from the rules, a staunch defender of the Draconis faction's longstanding regulations. His sharp words and indifferent demeanor towards his reputation and others' opinions were clear signs of his steadfast character.

Before the Institute's head could respond to his inquiries, Melion had already envisioned numerous scenarios. The worst-case scenario involved his mishandling of evidence, allowing the wrongly accused suspect to gather enough public support to leave triumphantly. Nevertheless, Melion would never shirk his responsibility; he would calmly apologize for his mistakes, true to his fair and diligent demeanor.

"Melion, my dedicated and talented assistant," praised the Institute head, "you handled your responsibilities swiftly and flawlessly. Now, focus on your other duties."

"I haven't received the investigation's results yet."

"You see, there are no results when nothing has happened."

Melion furrowed his brow. "Events that occurred always leave traces. I will gather these traces and present them to you."

"Melion, I trust you understand my meaning." The Institute's head frowned momentarily but quickly composed himself. "If you're not willing to fulfill your duties, perhaps I should send you back and reconsider your loyalty."

In such a critical moment, Melion made his second "wrong" choice without hesitation.

Despite his courage to uphold his duty, it was no simple matter. Before this visit, Melion had already conducted preliminary investigations. However, the suspect had vanished completely, and his efforts to gather evidence had hit dead ends, forcing him to consider a new approach.

Ultimately, Melion lacked the healthy interpersonal relationships that characterized the younger elder. Even if Melion had once been willing to turn a blind eye to minor infractions, today was different-he clearly felt threatened and lacked a confidant willing to discreetly pass on crucial evidence, at least according to his friend.

Melion, amidst the chaos, had been racing against time to piece together clues in his notebook. Now, he abruptly stopped writing, with the image of Elder Skylan suddenly surfacing in his mind. Skylan, known for his bold and decisive actions, had quickly gained the support of many young dragons since assuming his role.

If someone wanted to cover up the suspect's private dealings with the "Draconis Guardian" and possessed enough influence...

Melion stood up abruptly, swiftly gathering the documents on his desk. The sudden movement startled his friend, who blurted out, "What are you doing?"

"Go to the source, gather evidence, and prove my theory."

"Can you ease up on your investigation for now?" the friend persisted. "Honestly, if they find out you're still pursuing this, I have a hunch your problems are far from over."

"You should know, I've never really cared about those things."

His friend understood Melion's perspective well and sighed under their breath-perhaps more than anyone else, they knew why he held such strong beliefs.

As a young dragon, Melion should have intervened to stop his older brother from leaving Dragon Isle without permission. Back then, he was compassionate and emotionally driven, placing individual bonds above strict laws. As a result, he chose to hide and silently approve of his brother's actions. However, this decision ended tragically when his brother died unexpectedly, and his remains were never returned.

While no one blamed him for this, his lifelong friend understood that he was endlessly tormented by it. Melion's brother had taught him throughout his life that the ancient rules were more than mere words; those who dared to disregard them faced serious consequences.

"Is this what you've chosen?" his friend hesitated, before sighing with resignation. "You really do put your oath before anything else."

Melion said nothing more. As he passed his friend, he nodded slightly, the heavy robes swaying with his quickened pace, leaving behind only a vague silhouette.

His friend sighed again, momentarily flashing back to the inauguration ceremony, where the newly appointed inspector stood tall in the sunlight, solemnly pledging-a posture almost identical to Melion's now:

"I hereby take this oath and vow to hold myself accountable at all times."

"I shall fulfill my duties as an inspector of the Draconis faction, safeguarding our honor and survival."

"No differences in lineage, status, clan, or beliefs will sway my actions."

"Though the road ahead may be fraught with doubts, threats, and difficulties, I shall steadfastly fulfill my duties."

"I am the shield that defends the faction's rightful choices and the sword that guides the lost back to the path."