[Master, your body is completely damaged. Rest and recovery are required immediately.]
"How? And why?" Aron's thoughts raced as he communicated with the system.
[Master, you have a tremendous amount of energy inside you, and in this short amount of time, you released and used a large amount of it. Your body was barely able to withstand that energy. Moreover, the recent events have been overwhelming. Your body has undergone multiple cycles of damage and healing in a short period, which is not healthy.]
Aron understood the system's explanation; he noticed that 'Fire' gave him an immense burst of energy for a short duration. This energy allowed him to move at an extraordinary speed, deliver heavy and powerful blows, and heal any wound instantly. And not to forget about his 'Wrath' skill—the more damage he takes, the stronger he'll become. All of that puts too much pressure on his body.
'Ugh... So what now? Do I have to suffer every time I use my powers or what?' Aron's inner voice seethed with anger, resonating with a demonic undertone.
[Rest and recovery are required immediately, Master. I advise refraining from utilizing your powers until your body has fully healed. It is also recommended to consume more magic cores, as they will increase your body's durability and stamina to better withstand the strain of your powers in the future.]
Aron groaned in frustration,realizing that he needed to take a break from using his powers. But he knew that if he didn't listen to the system, he could cause even more damage to his body.
Aron closed his eyes and focused all of his will to endure the pain. He didn't know how long he had to endure it, but he was damn sure to go through it. With memories or not, Aron is still a dragon, and dragons do not bow and accept. No, they endure, adapt, grow strong, and then burn everything and everyone.
The Dragon's Pride.
Aron will not bow even to pain. After an unknown amount of time to him, he gradually regained control of his body. Slowly opening his eyes, he was greeted by a sight that stabbed his heart with multiple knives.
Raum was in front of him, tears streaming down his face. Though the little raven was speaking, Aron was unable to hear him. Meanwhile, Pethra was using her magic to help Aron somehow. While she was uncertain of the issue, she believed healing magic could help. She appeared drained, her skin as pale as snow, and her body frail, as if a gentle breeze could blow her away.
Attempting to move, Aron found his body still weak and sore. Concerned, he looked at Pethra, noticing her exhaustion. "Little witch, are you okay? You look like you're about to faint," he asked in a weak voice.
Pethra forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine, Aron. Don't worry about me. Just focus on recovering," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.
Aron turned his gaze to Raum, who continued shedding tears. "Raum, what happened? Why are you crying?" he asked, his heart heavy with concern.
Sniffling, Raum wiped his tears with a tiny claw. "Kaaahh!...I was so scared, Aron. I thought I was going to lose you," he choked out, his voice brimming with emotion.
Aron mustered a gentle smile.. "Nah!... It's nothing; I'm just tired, you know what we've been through so far?"
Raum nodded slightly, then buried his head into Aron's chest.
Aron tried to wrap his arms around Raum, but he couldn't. His body still felt weak and sore, and he didn't have the strength to lift his arms. He sighed softly and closed his eyes. Pethra continued to use her magic to help him recover, but it would take time for his strength to fully return.
As he lay there, Aron couldn't help but feel grateful for his companions. Raum, the little raven whom he considers family and has been with him since the beginning; and Pethra, the little witch who, at first, was terrified of him but now respects and admires him. She went so far as to heal him.
Aron glanced at her gently with a smile on his face. "Thank you, Pethra."
"!!!" Pethra froze for a moment; her eyes widened, and she gazed at Aron with shocked eyes. But then, out of nowhere, a sweet, gentle smile carved its way to her lips.
"Finally, you spoke my name."
Aron chuckled weakly, his voice still hoarse. "Of course I would, little witch. You're the one who's been helping me all this time."
Pethra observed him for a moment, a sense of warmth spreading through her chest. She had never felt this close to anyone before. Aron closed his eyes again, feeling his body slowly recovering thanks to Pethra's magic. He focused on his breathing and tried to ignore the pain and exhaustion he felt. After a while, he felt strong enough to sit up with Pethra and Raum's help.
"Thank you, both of you," he expressed, gazing at them with gratitude.
Pethra smiled softly. "Don't thank me, Aron. I'm just glad I could help you," she replied, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity.
"Kaah! Kaaaah!" Raum was happy; he quickly hopped onto Aron's shoulder. Aron gently patted the little raven's head.
"We need to find a place to camp. The night is upon us."
Pethra and Raum looked at him inquisitively, asking simultaneously, "Where?"
Aron shifted his gaze to the dead trolls. "The troll cave."
Then he turned to Pethra and Raum. "We killed all the trolls, and the cave is now empty. We can rest there for the night, recover, and tomorrow we'll head back to town. But first... we need to take out the troll cores and a piece of them as evidence for the task."
Both of them nodded in agreement. "Leave that to us; you need to rest."
When Pethra was about to get up, Aron grabbed her hand. causing the little witch to tremble with surprise.
"You need to rest too."
"But-"
"No 'but'! You look paler than me. Rest first; come here." Aron's gentle tone allowed her no refusal. Pethra quickly found herself being pulled by him. Aron fixed the little witch at his side and started stroking her hair.
Bump. Bump.
"!!!" Pethra's heart threatened to burst out of her chest. Her face was red as a tomato, and she found herself unable to speak or move a muscle.
'T-This…is..too much-'
Aron noticed the sudden increase in Pethra's heartbeat and looked at her with concern.
"Are you alright, Pethra?" he asked softly.
Pethra nodded, her face still red with embarrassment. "Y-yeah, I'm fine," she stammered, trying to calm her racing heart.
'Calm Pethra! Calm!'
Aron smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry, Pethra. You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not going to hurt you," he said gently. Pethra's heart swelled with warmth at his words.
'It's not fear…' She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, feeling safe and protected. At first, she couldn't help feeling nervous around him. She had never felt this way before, and it was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
"I'm sorry for attacking you before. I couldn't help but follow Josh's orders. I have a big debt to his faction, and I couldn't pay it back, so I agreed to work for them."
Pethra broke down the walls that she always surrounded herself with. She always preferred to keep things to herself, everything from the good to the bad, and never share her joys or burdens with anyone. And for a long time, she didn't feel safe.
Aron listened attentively to Pethra's words, his eyes filled with understanding. "It's alright, little witch. You don't have to apologize. You didn't have any other choice but to follow," he said, his voice soft and gentle.
Pethra looked up at him, surprised by his understanding. She had grown accustomed to people judging her for her past actions, but Aron was different. He didn't seem to harbor any grudges or resentments toward her.
"I... thank you," Pethra said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"As for your debt, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
"Eh?" Pethra immediately gazed into his eyes, looking for the meaning of what he said.
"Have you forgotten what I did before? I killed your entire party…" Aron didn't stop stroking her blond hair. He gazed at her in the eyes. "...And unfortunately, you died with them."
Pethra immediately widened her eyes, understanding what Aron meant by that.
"Ahh! Yes, truly unfortunate," she chuckled slightly. However, she faced Aron again and asked, "Even if I die on paper, is there still a chance that they find or look for me?"
Aron thought for a moment. "Do they know where you live?"
Pethra shook her head. "No, I gave them a fake address."
Aron smiled gently. "Smart girl."
"Heheh~" Pethra's cheeks turned slightly red. She lowered her head and hid her face behind her hair. She didn't know how to react to his smile. Pethra had never been this close to a man before, and to make matters worse for her,
'A smile on that face is simply unfair...'
Aron is at a whole new level of beauty by human standards. And that beauty is too much for Pethra's little heart.
"HAHAHA~" Aron laughed at her reaction as he kept stroking her hair. The little witch melted under his touch. She felt warm, comforted, and, more importantly, safe.
"Don't worry about that either. They won't find you." His soft, gentle voice made her tremble a little. She looked at him with her red face and asked, Why?.
"Well, it's nothing. I'm just going to kill them all."