In the midst of absolute darkness, where not even a sound can penetrate, Raven finds himself feeling confused. He wonders if this is like an awakening of a protagonist, a turning point in his story. Sitting cross-legged in this void, Raven begins to meditate, trying to gather his thoughts despite his puzzled expression.
As time passes, a tremendous pair of dragon eyes, filled with darkness, suddenly open in front of him. A deep voice emerges from the dragon, asking, "Who are you?" There is a hint of confusion in its tone. "You are not that kid," it adds.
The dragon's presence adds to Raven's bewilderment. He contemplates his response, uncertain of how to proceed.
"Oh! I see... Your soul and that kid's soul had merged into one, and you're that kid, but somehow you're not," the Dragon's eyes said before Raven could respond.
Raven asked curiously, "Are you Ragnar the Undying Dragon?"
The Dragon scoffed. "Tss. You killed my body before, and now you don't remember me?"
"I don't care who executed you," Raven replied dismissively. Then he added, "So, what exactly are you doing in my consciousness?"
"Arrogant bastard, you just pissed your pants when you saw me last time!" the Dragon retorted. "I don't know what happened or how I died at the hands of such a weakling like you! I am the Undying Dragon! I have lived through many eras, but I died at your hands!"
Raven glanced at the Dragon's eyes, feeling a chill run down his spine. He realized that even with all the strength of his former self, he would be unable to destroy this dragon. The dragon's consciousness was threatening, and Raven knew he couldn't possibly kill it himself.
The main culprit in this situation was Kenn, the author of the novel. Kenn had created Raven Ashford as a character to make the story more interesting. Who wouldn't want to have the coolest character in their own novel? Perhaps it was Kenn's quirk as an author. He cast Raven as a fallen genius who appeared in the first series, and he included elements such as slaying one of the most deadly creatures and having a curse. But now that everything was becoming a reality, it was getting messy since Raven's power was incomparable to that of the dragon.
The Dragon continued to protest, anger evident in its tone. "You sure are unlucky," Raven replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right," the Dragon blinked its eyes, seemingly agreeing with Raven's words.
"Anyway, you are the Undying Dragon, right?" Raven asked.
"Yes! What's the problem?" the Dragon responded.
"Does being undying mean you can resurrect yourself?" Raven inquired.
"Haha! Hmmmp! Do you think I really died?" the Dragon chuckled. "I can resurrect after the owner of the curse dies; that's how I've survived for many eras."
"Seriously?" Raven was taken aback.
"Of course! I'm happy to have a look like you! Maybe many dragon ladies will find me attractive if I have a face like yours!" the Dragon said, a hint of desire in its voice.
"My face?" Raven was perplexed.
"Yeah, last time the one who killed me was looking like shit! That's why I've stayed single until now. Even though I am strong, the Dragon ladies were disgusted with my looks," the Dragon explained with frustration.
Raven couldn't help but suppress a laugh, finding the dragon's dilemma amusing. However, before he could ask any more questions, he was abruptly pulled back into the darkness, leaving the dragon's consciousness behind.
********
"Young Lord," a woman's worried voice was heard near Raven's body.
After some time, Raven slowly woke up from his deep sleep. He saw Sonya sitting next to his bed, her head resting on the mattress as she sleep-talked. He also noticed Lilith sleeping on a nearby sofa.
As he regained his senses, Raven gently patted Sonya's head, wearing a gentle smile on his face.
"I can't believe you can smile like that," Lilith suddenly spoke up, startling Raven.
"I thought you were asleep," he said, slightly surprised. Then he asked, "How much time has passed?"
"It's only been 4 hours. By the way, your students are waiting for you," Lilith replied, getting up from the sofa.
Raven nodded and decided to wake up Sonya gently. He whispered her name and gently shook her shoulder, allowing her to wake up slowly.
Sonya blinked her eyes, a bit disoriented at first, but when she saw Raven's smiling face, a look of relief washed over her.
"You're awake, Young Lord!" Sonya exclaimed, her worry turning into joy.
Raven nodded and reassured her, "Yes, I'm awake now. Don't worry, Sonya."
He then stood up and got to his wheelchair, feeling a renewed sense of energy. He turned to Lilith and said, "Thank you for staying by my side, Lilith."
Lilith smiled softly and nodded.
Raven appreciated Lilith's dedication and nodded in gratitude. He quickly gathered himself and prepared to meet his students.
As he entered the hall, his students greeted him with excitement and relief. They had been anxiously waiting for their teacher to wake up, worried about his well-being.
Raven addressed them with a warm smile, "I apologize for the delay, my dear students. Let's continue our final training. There's only little time left before the end of this special training."
His students' faces lit up with determination, ready to give their all under Raven's guidance.
"I apologize for the delay," Raven said, his voice filled with sincerity.
"I also want to let you know that only seven students will have the privilege of taking the final test," he continued, causing a wave of anxiety to wash over the students.
Observing their worried expressions, Raven quickly reassured them, "But please don't be disheartened. You have all made remarkable progress during this training, and I have no doubt that each one of you will excel in the upcoming test. Some of you may even have the chance to bring glory to our class in the upcoming freshmen competition."
Hearing Raven's encouraging words, the students' determination started to shine through. They clenched their fists, ready to give their absolute best, even if they couldn't participate in the final test. They understood that the knowledge and skills they had gained in this short time were invaluable, and this privilege was a rare opportunity.
Witnessing their resolute expressions, Raven dismissed the students who hadn't passed the test, thanking them for their efforts and reminding them that there would always be more opportunities to grow and improve.
The seven students who remained, the ones who had successfully completed the test, felt a mixture of relief and excitement. They were eager to continue their journey under Raven's guidance, knowing that they had earned a lot and would have a chance to prove themselves further.
Raven addressed the chosen students with a proud smile, "Congratulations to all of you. You have shown exceptional dedication and talent. I look forward to seeing your continued progress as we embark on the next phase of your training."
With newfound determination and a sense of purpose, the selected students stayed behind, ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Raven knew that these students had the potential to achieve great things.