"Fuuuwahh..." I let out a breath of smoke. My senses were overwhelmed by the hard-fought battle against my father and then the nonstop training right after.
Though my body is far more durable and the fatigue doesn't set in until it reaches dangerous levels because of my skills, races, and soul strength, everything still ached with phantom pain. Brute forcing only takes me so far and he made that very clear. I noticed him adjusting my stance or shifting my claws in a way that had me learning far more than I would've thought possible. I have no idea how long that was... it felt like days to me, and if I'm being honest, it might've been, it was all a blur but I distinctly remember Grayfia coming in and leaving food for us. Going to have to make it up at school somehow, thankfully it's not too bad.
It was a painful way to learn, being on the receiving end of pure unfiltered killing intent was frightening. My father's gaze was cold and icy, frozen over in eerie calmness as the instruction proceeded. Faint flashes of concern broke through the surface, but he iced them immediately. It was unnerving sure, but as one would expect from a battle junkie, it was going right through my head, and not until I actually had time to think it over did I think that it was scary.
At the edge of my awareness, I felt the faintest brushing of two presences and then another right outside the door. They felt familiar, and though I was in a vulnerable state, my rapid healing was already making strides, well, it had kicked in full force during the battle, but now that I'm free of it the stress isn't there anymore and it can flow uninhibited. I raised my eyebrow at how slow it was however, the energy my father wielded flashed before my eyes and I grimaced at the thought. That's the cause, isn't it?
I open my eyes gradually, blinking away the tears caused by the light, and turn toward the two that are nearing my position. Sure enough, my two moms show up at the edge of my vision and proceed to fuss over me or at least Mamako does. Miyu says nothing, simply sits near me with her legs tucked underneath as she gets my head ever so gently and places me on her lap. I feel myself relax ever so steadily. The dull ache of my soul still ringing at the back of my mind, but only becomes the faintest of echoes. Now that it's not too bad, I can always just buy the rest or ask the adults if they would like to join, Jibril is for certain and I might go ahead and give her two. Hopefully, I won't have to worry about the damage after the fact.
"I'm glad to see you're back. You have lots to explain but first, Ryu-kun, seems like Issei did a number on you huh? You're healing just fine though, a bit on the slow side," Miyu said softly as she combed through my hair, lifting up the crimson lock in intrigue.
"You better start talking! Phew looks like the old man didn't hurt you too badly, but the healing process is both fast and slow! Your dragon constitution is crazy for it to be standing up to your father's power," Mamako fretted, but she was giddy all the same. I felt her own power prod at me from within doing a thorough check-up, it was ticklish, but a warm experience.
"I will," I promised. "And yeah, my body is getting tough rapidly, probably as a consequence of being bonded to Ddraig. I do feel that it's a lot slower than normal, and if it was my dad's power then it'd make sense," I hesitated for a bit, but then ultimately said it. "The circumstances also probably had me manifest special abilities with it, but it's more like all that power is jam-packed into me with no proper outlet. The training and mock battles helped settle it, but I'm still far from being able to properly wield it...." I muttered with a sigh.
I saw them look at each other, a smile dancing on their lips. "We know honey, it's never going to be easy adjusting to the new power, I rampaged all the time before I was able to properly incorporate fancy moves like your father..."
"I'm much the same Ryu-chan, the two blessings filled me with so much mana it practically swallowed me up. Learning to guide it and let it flow smoothly is a long process, and no amount of shortcuts will get you there fast enough," Mamako said gently, laying a hand over my own and holding it. "You wield it far differently from us, however, you fiercely direct it for the desired effect and it will be difficult for us to properly teach you."
Miyu shook her head. "Any amount of guidance will either be a hindrance or provide better understanding. We will do what we can, your father already taught you many things I imagine," she said her voice lingering in the air awaiting my nod, she then continued when I did. "The wicked energy from his blade did a number on you though, it's partially preventing you from healing, basically debilitating draconic entities. It's why many fear him, you felt the dreadful energy, right?"
"It was terrifying, it practically annihilated my scales and my fire," I said with a shudder.
Miyu patted my head and chuckled. "I agree, it's how he was able to be a force to be reckoned with. Dragons rely on their scales and their recovery, but once the energy seeps in it slows down to a crawl and then they succumb to his swordplay and devouring Katana."
"Hmph, he just wanted to show off! Ryu-chan took it like a champ!" Mamako pouted puffing out her cheeks in indignation at my father's audacity. It was cute and funny. I almost sat myself up and poked them, but I controlled myself.
"I'm sure your father told you about us, but we were no less terrifying than him. Your father and I love a good battle, he courted me once he bested me singlehandedly. My powers are both powerful and a hindrance. My berserker status has more to do with the cursed demonic weapons I wield and because I use touki, it taints my lifeforce, so like your father, I became something far more than human. Fufu, perhaps you take after me more?" Miyu said with a giggle.
"Wait, wait?! Cursed?! Is that safe??" I asked, suddenly worried.
"It's fine, it's fine, it does nothing to me anymore, and Mamako already checked over them countless times," she said with a wave of her hand indicating how little it bothered her.
"If you say so..."
"Ooo! Ooo! Me next! I told you I got blessings right, well, I got them specifically from Gaia, Mother Goddess of the Earth, and Yemaya Mother Goddess of the Ocean. They are both Primordial Beings and way above the Dragon Gods, except they do not interfere at all and only maintain the balance. It's why I've been alive for so lo-" Mamako cut herself off abruptly, a pained expression on her face, as she bitterly smiled. "Ah, well ahem!" It disappeared with that cough as she continued, leaving me no room to intervene but I gripped her hand all the same. She offered me a small smile. "My past doesn't really matter, but I have met wonderful people throughout my time and it fills me with joy that they are with me even now," Miyu also laid her hand over Mamako's.
Mamako continued, smiling pleasantly at the warmth from our hands. "Your mother and I formed many strong bonds, much like your father did with those men when they went out drinking. Gabriel, Tiamat, Sephie, Yasaka, Amaterasu, Artemis, and then Grayfia who served me for decades, but it wasn't until I met you, Ryu-chan that I felt the wonder of finally finding someone who relied on me, regardless of me being a stranger. I wasn't some figurehead, hero, lord, or goddess for you; powerful maternal instincts kicked in- who knows how long it's been. I could finally regain back the love I had dearly missed... I didn't know how much I needed it. It was excruciatingly painful. When I first held you, I was finally living, my emotionless self became whole," she finished wistfully, tears pooling on her face.
Both Miyu and I dove into her embrace, smothering her until sniffles echoed across the space. We stayed there, holding her until she composed herself. I let out a soft growl, almost unconsciously, and when I did the flames within me bubbled to the surface, warming them up. Mamako laughed between her sobs while Miyu also gave a hearty chuckle of her own. It was a soothing time for us all, so we enjoyed it.
After a few moments of silence, Mamako no longer crying I psyched myself up into talking. "Thank you for telling me this mom," I then took a deep breath. "One of the special abilities actually allows me to summon beings and items and I wanted to let you both know and introduce you to someone dear to me." I then motioned for Jibril to get closer, she seemed hesitant but obliged. My mothers were both curious and while Mamako was drying her tears they gasped when Jibril dropped her invisibility.
"Jibril is the subordinate that helped me throughout my awakening, I summoned her and she is bound to me. She is also the one who saved Shouko-chan..." I said as I grabbed both their hands when they tried calling forth their power. They hesitated when I mentioned Shouko.
"R-ryu-kun. This... she's powerful... I've never seen anyone like her..." Miyu stumbled over her words as she gaped at the flugel proudly showing off her wings and rotating halo. I nearly rolled my eyes at her show-boating.
"Ryu-chan... she saved lil Shouko-chan...?" Mamako breathed out, nearly crying once again. Seems like Shouko won over Mamako as well.
"Greetings, my master's mothers! It is a pleasure to meet two powerful beings. Though you may be humans, you have my respect, you can thank me for the high praise I bestowed upon you at a later occasion... But I also must apologize for not introducing myself earlier..." She started off haughtily but grew more subdued as she apologized. I didn't think she needed to, so I cut in.
"No, I am the one who is sorry, I should've let you guys know beforehand, but it was a shaky time to just introduce someone so powerful out of the blue..." I then was struck with something and I turned to the door. I sent out my aura and then with it projected my voice. "Grayfia-nee, you should also come inside I would like to introduce you to someone."
The door clicked open and she walked in all composed-like. She spared a glance to the flying flugel, and though she was shocked at first, she reeled in her expression with a look of understanding dawning on her. "Excuse the instruction," she said to the three of us and then turned to Jibril and bowed. "It is lovely to meet you..." I whispered her name and she continued. "...Jibril-san. I see it was your aura that I sensed briefly those times in my investigation..."
Jibril smiled sharply, almost arrogantly, "I see, so it was you who always prodded at the edge of my awareness. Not too bad, your strength is palpable, it is no wonder you are the second strongest ba- devil... It's the midget who stands at the top as the strongest female... Heh, as expected... Very Intriguing..." She finished with a smirk.
Grayfia for her part schooled her expression, but the slightest twitch of her eyebrow gave her away. She only smiled pleasantly, however. "You flatter and think so highly of me. But I wonder why you chose now to reveal yourself, sounds a bit cowardly, don't you think? Ah, my apologies, I have stepped too far." She grinned ever so slightly knowing that it would affect Jibril. And she was right, my flugel was practically frothing at the mouth, seething in anger. But she shook it off and tilted her and showed a brilliant smile. Sparks of palpable energy danced across the ground and between them, and I used a bit of my aura to defend myself.
Jesus, if I didn't know any better these two sound exactly like sisters who do not get along. If anything it's surprising because it sounds like they have met before. Probably just that Jibril pushes Grayfia's buttons and Grayfia's icy expression irritates the flugel. My mothers were taking it better now that they heard the banter. They fixed me a look but just ruffled my hair. We scooted away from the bloodbath and they made me promise to let them know whenever I planned to summon more... beings. I told them there was probably a chance that'd I summon three more. They pinched my cheeks in response.
I laughed but pleaded for them to stop. It was then that we heard the faintest sound of something shattering. We turned and Jibril was gloating over Grayfia right in her face with a smirk. The air around Grayfia cooled and the ground beneath her began freezing over. Jibril noticed but continued her taunting. We got out of the way and let them get to fighting already. It seemed like they needed to blow off some steam.
"Oh right, I have something for you two!" I practically shouted. Damn, it's a good thing I remembered. I then began flicking through the dozens of items in my inventory as my mothers paused their conversation and looked at me in interest.
I had one in mind for Mamako already. It's the Necklace of the Serene Mother Goddess (Mythical Rank), but it was a toss-up between the Cursed Lich Queen ring or the demon lord one for Miyu. I went with the Lich Queen, fully knowing that Mamako had the power to purify it if worst comes to worst, and from the description I'm reading it's freaken powerful and safe-ish.
I took out the items. The necklace had a beautiful iridescent that sparkled in gold, emerald, and aquamarine. It had countless runes etched onto the surface as well as symbols making up the actual necklace.
The ring was a purple diamond with a skeletal-like structure but within the crystal were runes and a ghastly visage that was apparently screaming within. Miasma leaked out, but no harm came upon me or anyone else, it looked more like a hologram of what it represents.
"Oh my! For me!? Thank you little Ryu-chan! I love it! Ah! It increased my power that much?!" Mamako began to gush about it as she hugged me tightly and then skipped away to launch some devastating water and earth attacks. I trembled in place when the whole room shook.
"You had these on hand, Ryu-kun?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. I sheepishly nodded. "They're powerful, I can tell you that. I was going to argue about them being too precious, but you're stubborn to a fault, so I'll say thank you, I appreciate this, Ryu-kun" Miyu replied with a fond smile as she slipped on the ring. She was annoyed because of how powerful they were, but she reluctantly accepted when I frowned, I also convinced her by telling her the stuff I got was random. When she placed it on herself, she noticed the effects right away so after giving me a kiss on the forehead, she ran off to join Mamako.
I smiled at them, happy that I was able to put to use the items that I got from the gacha. I can't just accumulate them and not use them. Sure, it's possible that I will do that in the future, but for now I'll look over the ones that are useful and also the ones that will either protect the people I care about or enhance their strength. I then eyed a particular one that I might save for myself. The Crown of Chaos and Order huh, wonder how it'll react to my ability that I got from drinking liquid chaos. I grinned in anticipation, already forgetting the constant booms from the maniacs who were battling and my two mothers throwing out dangerous-looking attacks.