Kodom was in the water.

  He didn’t know how he had gotten there, or when he had entered it.

  All he could feel was the cold slowly wrapping around his body.

  He was swimming with difficulty, forcing himself forward, searching for any patch of land or even a faint light that might lead him out.

  The water wasn’t very deep, but it was heavy.

  Every movement required twice the effort.

  At first, he didn’t notice.

  Then he felt it.

  An unnatural cold began creeping in from behind.

  Not just cold water…something harsher.

  He turned his head slightly and saw the surface behind him changing.

  The ripples disappeared.

  The color became harder.

  The water was freezing.His heart stopped for a moment.

  With every stroke forward, the water behind him turned into a solid layer, spreading slowly, as if it were chasing him.

  It wasn’t fast, but it was steady. Relentless.

  If I stop… I’ll be trapped, he thought.

  He tightened his grip around the small body he was carrying.

  The red dragon was still asleep.

  His breathing was faint, his body completely still.

  Kodom looked at him with worry and whispered unevenly,

  “Wake up… please.”

  Nothing happened.

  He kept swimming, but the cold began reaching his limbs.

  His arms felt heavier.

  Slowly, his muscles started losing their flexibility.

  Then something strange happened.

  He felt warmth.

  Not from outside…

  but from between his arms.

  He paused for a moment and looked at the small dragon.

  The dragon’s body was giving off a gentle warmth.

  Not flames yet—just an unfamiliar heat.

  As if the body was defending itself.

  The frozen water drew closer, almost touching Kodom’s feet.

  Then suddenly…

  The dragon’s body trembled.

  His breathing changed.

  He didn’t fully wake up, but his body moved instinctively.

  The heat intensified.

  And then the flame appeared.

  It wasn’t red.And it wasn’t blue.

  It was golden, with a hint of orange.Calm in appearance, but powerful in effect.

  The flame spread around them without an explosion, without violence.

  It simply expanded.

  The frozen water stopped…

  then began to melt quickly, as if it couldn’t endure the presence of that flame.

  Kodom stared in shock.

  He didn’t speak.

  He just watched.

  The flame didn’t burn the water.

  It didn’t boil it.

  It pushed it away, opening a clear path ahead.

  A sudden strength filled Kodom’s body.

  He took the chance and swam faster, heading toward the faint light he had seen between the trees.

  Behind him, the water returned to normal.

  No freezing.

  No pursuit.

  When he reached land, he collapsed onto his knees, gasping for breath,He carefully placed the red dragon on the ground.

  The flame slowly faded.

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  The heat receded.

  The small body grew still again.

  Kodom looked at him for a long moment and whispered, unheard by anyone,

  “What are you…?”

  It wasn’t a question expecting an answer.

  It was realization.

  This dragon

  was not ordinary.

  Kodom remained seated, his breathing still uneven, his eyes fixed on the red dragon.

  Seconds passed.

  Then a minute.

  The warmth coming from the dragon’s body increased slightly.

  It was no longer just gentle heat …it was clear, as if his body were trying to recover its balance after what had happened.

  Then suddenly…

  The claws moved.

  Kodom froze.

  He leaned closer, cautiously.

  One eyelid opened slowly.

  A dark eye.

  Tired, but aware.

  The dragon opened his other eye and tried to move, but his body didn’t respond right away.

  He let out a weak breath.

  Kodom spoke quickly, his voice clearly shaken,

  “Don’t move… you’re safe. We’re on land now.”

  The dragon didn’t answer immediately.

  He looked around slowly-the black trees, the faint light…then turned his gaze back to Kodom.

  His eyes were confused, as if he were trying to organize his thoughts.

  He moved his head slightly and spoke in a tired but clear voice,

  “I…”

  He stopped.

  He closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering something important.

  Then he opened them again, and there was something different in his voice…something close to surprise.

  “I… remembered my name.”

  Kodom’s eyes widened.

  “What?”

  He leaned closer without realizing it.

  “How?”

  The dragon took a slow breath.

  “In the dream…”

  He paused, then continued,

  “There was a voice. It didn’t explain anything. It didn’t tell me who I was… but it said my name.”

  He fell silent for a brief moment, then said more weakly, but honestly,

  “My name is… Raf.”

  Kodom froze.

  It wasn’t an ordinary name.

  It wasn’t an empty word.

  It was the first real thing spoken since they had awakened on this planet.

  Kodom swallowed and felt something strange pressing against his chest.

  “Raf…”

  He repeated the name slowly, as if testing it.

  Raf lifted his head slightly.

  Despite the exhaustion in his eyes, something else appeared.

  Joy.

  Not loud joy.

  Not a wide smile.

  But the quiet kind…

  the joy of someone who had found something they had lost.

  Raf said softly,

  “I felt lost…”

  Then added,

  “But when I heard my name… I felt like I existed.”

  Kodom didn’t know what to say.

  He sat in silence, looking at him, suddenly understanding the meaning of a name.

  To know your name

  means you are not just a wandering creature in a strange place.

  Kodom took a deep breath and finally said,

  “It’s good to meet you, Raf.”

  Raf moved his wing slightly, then closed his eyes again.

  Not to sleep this time, but from exhaustion.

  Before growing still, he said,

  “Thank you… for not leaving me.”

  Kodom stayed where he was, watching him.