Opening my eyes I found myself in a familiar room laying in a bed. It was the room Angelica had been resting in when injured after her fight with Silas.
"Good morning."
I looked over seeing Gale nonchalantly reading a book and sitting on a chair with his legs crossed.
"Uhh... Good morning?"
My mind was in shambles and I was wondering what had got me into this situation. Blinking I saw something white covering my view, and all the colors around me were much more vivid than usual.
Moving my hand I reached up and grabbed at the snow-white object obstructing my view, grabbing it I felt a pain in my head.
"Huh?" I said perplexed.
Ruffling my hair I noticed the snow-white hair was mine. Exhaling I began focusing my thoughts trying to remember what happened. All I could remember from the recent events was a voice telling me, 'This is my final gift to you.'
I couldn't even remember what had happened prior to getting here...
"I'll explain what happened if your mind is still shaken, after all, you were fatally injured."
Gale began speaking and telling me about what happened and my mood shifted immediately as I began remembering what happened.
"W-what did you just say?"
"Father unfortunately passed."
"H-how..?" I stuttered asking Gale with a desperate face.
"The monster who put you in this state found its way to him."
An empty feeling spread throughout my chest and anger filled the emptiness, I was angry with my powerlessness and how I had lost so many people in one night. Not only were there extreme losses on the human side, but the Sword Gods had also mostly betrayed us, as well as many Archwizards, probably they will undergo demonification and become demonic humans.
"I understand..." I looked at the covers with an unhinged face. "How many days have I been out."
"Almost 2 months now."
His words made me feel slightly hysterical, but my facial expression didn't change in the slightest and I simply looked at him.
"You need to leave this place... As soon as possible Rei." Gale's expression finally changed, he tried to keep it straight but I could tell he couldn't as he simply looked at me with no words coming out of his mouth. Gale took a deep breath and refocused on me. "I was able to cover up the incident that happened, but many nobles know of what happened, and with you awake now it's only a matter of time before something happens to you... Human fear is deep-rooted and your true origins will drag out that fear making our leaders do something rash."
Gale stopped talking and looked at me, perhaps to gauge my reaction to his words.
"Father was already insinuating that I would have to leave once I awakened my lineage, I've prepared for this."
I raised my hands clenching them with a determined expression, my determination soon faded noticing something was missing from my fingers, something very important and essential.
My teeth chattered thinking about what could have happened to my stuff, "Do you know what happened to my subspace." I asked as calmly as I could possibly ask, losing my sub-space was losing Zenith, Phaedra the spear my father gifted me, Spell Breaker, and many essential items and weapons to survive a journey.
Gale placed the fingernail of his thumb into his mouth and went into deep thought before finally saying something, "Yeah, I gave it to Dawn Leviea."
"Really?"
"I thought you were dead, and she was hugging your body while crying despite the strong demon being present, I assumed you had a good relationship."
"Mmmm... You weren't exactly wrong but I would have rather my family kept my things." I placed my head in my hands thinking about the headache I would soon be going through, I also thought of how Dawn would have looked crying over my basically dead body.
[Good morning Rei.]
I heard a voice in my head, 'Althieus... Thanks for your help earlier, I ignored your warning and got what was coming for me but I don't regret it.'
[I'm glad you don't regret it, if someone didn't attack that demon after watching what he did I would break out the link and find a new master.]
'I'm glad I did then.' The words Althieus said to me brought back a terrible scene, I didn't want to remember ever.
"You should prepare brother, I have a fresh outfit laid out for you on that table over there."
Gale pointed at a table that had a black garb with golden laces near the wrist and middle, and laying next to the black garb was a pure white cape.
"Thanks for grabbing that for me."
"Don't mention it." Gale blushed at my words and smiled brightly. "Train diligently, and don't do any disgraceful stuff that would dishonor the Ven-August."
"I won't... And I promise to become strong enough to avenge our losses."
"I'm glad you are prepared for that." Gale got up from his seat with a pleased expression. "Don't forget to check yourself out for a mirror, and do yourself a favor and wear that hood when you go outside."
Gale left the room shutting the door, this would probably be my last time seeing my elder brother for years. I wasn't scared or sad by any of the facts, more so I was prepared to face the future and move on becoming stronger with my newly gained powers.
Getting up I walked towards the clothes, but as I did something important hit my mind and I walked into a bathroom attached to the room and took care of my hygienic routine. Looking into the mirror I saw a face that was hardly reminiscent of my old one besides the structure itself, a small sharp horn that looked like a blade stuck out of hair, the horn was white and was mostly covered by the fluffy snow-colored hair on my head. My ears were pointy like elven ears, my eyes were a deep red, and instead of having a contracted look, it seemed as if there were multiple layers of my eyes with different shades of red stacked on each other. My fangs were slightly longer, and my skin was much paler and felt different from the occasional human skin, on closer in-depth observation I could see a scaley pattern nearly microscopic in my skin.
'I guess my skin is made of scales now? It still feels soft and looks regular seeing it from the naked eye.' I marveled at this fact, now I could defend against stronger attacks without trying much.
I soon left the bathroom and threw on the black garb, I then hung the cloak over my shoulders and put on the hood.
I exhaled looking out the window of the room. "It's time to head out." I jumped out the window after my words channeling a small bit of Draconic Force in my feet I leaped through the air heading towards the dorm house. 'Hopefully, Dawn is there.' I thought while cutting through the air.
Now that I was a full dragon I didn't have to worry about any rebounds from my Draconic Force, though if I overused it I would probably get fatigued, after all, it was my natural energy, and everyone's energy gets overused if not replenished or rested at some point.
Seeing the luxurious dorm on the ground I cut off my momentum and softly descended, using my energy to force air to push against me creating resistance as I landed. Swallowing I entered quietly. 'It would sure be lucky if she wasn't here and just left the ring in her room.'
Looking around I noticed the lights were off and it was kind of unkempt, the common room pillows were laying on the floor and there was dust building up. Dawn was a clean girl and the dorm never got messy despite me making zero attempts to clean it up, so this was strange.
I walked slowly towards the hall Dawn's room was on, the lights were off throughout the halls. 'Perhaps she's truly not home?' I crept up to the door and it was already cracked so I slowly pushed it open.
Inside the room, I saw clothes on the ground and the bed was unmade with Dawn's unkempt hair sticking out of the blanket. 'So she's here... Why is she asleep during this time of day?'
I tip-toed silently to her bedside, not being able to use magic anymore made it impossible to use muffle spells so I did things the old-fashioned way. I took my hand and moved the covers down slightly, revealing a pale white hand with a ring on its finger.
'That's my sub-space.' I smiled reaching down for it but right as I was about to grab her hand twitched and grasped my wrist firmly. I could have dodged her hand but it would have made things more difficult. Probably.
Dawn turned her head and her other free hand pulled something out from inside the covers, it was her sword Excalibur.
'W-what the hell? Why is she sleeping with a sword!? How is that comfortable.' I nearly laughed seeing her pull Excalibur out but her serious expression urged me not to.
"Who are you?"
"Could you let me do what I need to do and I'll leave after... It won't harm you."
"I'll kill you."
Her words reminded me of the time we first encountered each other, 'I think she said something similar back then? Perhaps, when I saw her half naked for the first time...'
Exhaling I pulled down the hood and watched Dawn's expression change in real-time, she immediately recognized me which didn't really surprise me and she dropped the sword and embraced me.
"Are you doing okay Rei?" She asked with her head dug into my chest.
"Yeah, I'm doing better," I responded in a monotone voice.
"Are you going to return to the academy? This time I promise to spend time with you more."
Sadness spread across my face as I looked down at the girl still embracing me.
"Sure... Can I get my sub-space ring?"
"You're leaving aren't you?"
"I am."
"Then why did you lie to me." Dawn looked up after her words with teary eyes.
"Because I don't want to deal with a problem right now." My words were harsh but true.
I pushed her back from me and held my hand out.
"Give me my ring. I won't ask again." I said coldly.
Dawn's expression turned dark she faced the floor while sliding the ring off her hand and dropping it in mine.
'Perhaps I went too far...' My heart ached to stay with her but I had to resolve myself and prepare her for her fate as the Hero, while also preparing for my own.
"I'm sorry but this is goodbye... You probably won't meet me again anytime soon, so find someone el-"
Right as I was finishing my sentence I felt Dawn's lips press against mine and she tightly held me. When our lips parted I looked at her bewildered, soon it changed into a smile, and I softly kissed her again this time putting a bit of tongue action in.
Dawn's soft breathing on my face put me near the limit and I felt like going insane, I really didn't want to leave anymore but Dawn was simply an obstacle at this point. I tackled Dawn to her bed.
"Dawn Leviea you're quite bold."
"And you're a coward."
I chuckled at her while looking at her irritated but embarrassed face. After looking at her for a bit I could tell she wanted to go further, but unfortunately, I had to disappoint her so I stood up looking down at her embarrassed face now gone to disbelief I hardly held in my laughter.
Reaching my hand over I pulled out an amulet that was made out of an expensive clear gem. Clenching it into my hands I injected my energy into it.
"If you ever need my assistance in the future crush this amulet and I will come to your location... Though I can't promise it will be fast, so maybe just assume when you'll be in danger." I rubbed my head and laughed while handing her the amulet.
Dawn's expression lightened up and she gestured for a hug. I walked in formally embracing her and after a few seconds I felt her tongue slide across my neck, and her head began reaching up towards my ear feeling her hot breath radiate onto my ear I swallowed and began blushing.
"Next time we meet, no matter how long promise you'll leave me satisfied." She whispered into my ear causing me to shiver.
Trying my best to resist any urges I played it cool and walked away from her to the door. "I promise... Next time."
Opening the door I walked out giving her one last glance before shutting it, A deep breath escaped my lips as I walked away heading towards the exit.
'She's a demon...' I thought with my heart beating rapidly.
[It was fun watching you resist being bewitched.]
'God I hate having someone else in my mind.'
[Do you want me to leave?]
'Sorry.'
I raised my hood up and exited the door, channeling an extreme amount of Draconic Force into my legs I streaked through the air like a shooting star.
'Whoops, I probably destroyed the door lifting off... Next time we meet I'll apologize for that as well.'