As they were bickering, a sudden glow filled the room, and before anyone could react, Sio transformed right before their eyes. The small dragon was gone, and in his place stood a little boy, around the age of three, with soft white hair and shimmering silver eyes. He looked at himself, then at Akari, his face lighting up with joy.
"Yay, Mama! I'm a boy now!" Sio exclaimed, running straight into Akari's arms.
Akari immediately scooped him up and hugged him tightly. "I was waiting for this moment!" she said, her voice full of warmth and pride.
Kuro and Arnold were completely dumbfounded. Kuro blinked a few times, pointing at Sio. "Wait, what? That's… that's not normal! Akari, what is happening?"
Arnold rubbed his temples, looking equally bewildered. "You can't just drop this on us like it's no big deal!"
Akari shrugged, still holding Sio. "It's normal for dragons like him. It happened with Kuri too."
"Kuri?" Kuro asked, his brows furrowing. "You mean this is a thing you knew would happen, and you didn't think to tell us?"
"Yup," Akari said casually, stroking Sio's soft white hair as he giggled. "Honestly, I was waiting to see your reactions. Totally worth it."
Kuro groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable. I can't keep up with this girl. First dragons, now transforming dragons into kids."
Arnold crossed his arms, looking at Sio skeptically. "So, what now? Is he going to stay like this forever?"
Sio grinned, showing off a toothy smile. "I don't know! But I like being a boy. Mama, can we go play now?"
Akari laughed. "Sure, sweetie. But first, you need to say hello to your uncles."
"Uncles?" Sio said, tilting his head.
Kuro immediately waved his hands in protest. "Hey, hey, no one said anything about me being Uncle Kuro!"
Arnold smirked. "Oh, come on, Uncle Kuro. It has a nice ring to it."
"Don't start," Kuro said, glaring at him.
Sio pointed at Kuro and giggled. "Uncle Bird-Man!"
Kuro groaned, while Akari burst into laughter. "Oh, Sio, you're going to fit in just fine."
Arnold ruffled Sio's hair with a smirk. "Welcome to the chaos, kid."
Sio beamed. "I like chaos! Mama says it's fun!"
Kuro threw his hands up. "Of course, she does. This family is going to drive me insane."
The next day, Alastair made his move, walking up to Akari with his usual confident swagger. "Well, well, if it isn't the most amazing dragon-tamer in the kingdom," he said with a charming grin, clearly trying to impress her. "I must say, Sio is quite the adorable little guy now. You really are a woman of many surprises."
Akari smiled, but before she could respond, Kuro and Arnold suddenly appeared from behind her, blocking Alastair's way.
"Hey, buddy, you're getting a little too close," Kuro said, his tone playful but stern, clearly annoyed by Alastair's overconfidence.
Arnold crossed his arms, giving Alastair a side-eye. "Yeah, you know, it's a little too much attention on Akari right now," he added, though his voice was dripping with jealousy.
Alastair blinked, looking between the two boys. "Oh? What's this, a protection squad? Don't worry, boys, I'm just having a friendly chat with her," he said, clearly unfazed, but a little amused.
"Friendly chat?" Kuro scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "You mean flirting, right?"
Alastair's grin only widened. "Well, if you want to call it that," he said, clearly not taking them seriously.
Sio, who had been watching the entire interaction with glee, suddenly jumped up from Akari's arms and stood between her and the boys, hands on his hips. "Mama has too many boy friends!" he exclaimed, his tiny voice filled with mock seriousness. "You guys need to chill. Mama is mine!"
Akari laughed out loud, her hand flying to her mouth. "Sio, I don't think they're going to listen to you," she said, trying to stifle her laughter.
"Boyfriends?!" Kuro and Arnold both blurted out in unison, their faces red with embarrassment and disbelief.
Sio pointed at them both. "Yup! They're all jealous!" he said, pointing to Alastair. "But you're the jealous one!" He then turned to Kuro and Arnold. "Everyone's jealous of Mama, huh?"
Alastair couldn't help but chuckle at the little dragon-turned-boy. "I like this kid. He speaks the truth."
Kuro let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. "I hate that kid sometimes," he muttered.
Arnold cleared his throat. "So, about that friendly chat... maybe we should take a rain check on that," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just trying to avoid a huge drama fest here."
Alastair raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're all getting this worked up, I'll leave you to it," he said, though his smile remained.
Sio crossed his arms, smirking as he watched the boys. "Goodbye, Mr. Bird-Man!" he called out, earning another groan from Kuro.
"I swear I'm going to lose my mind with you all," Kuro muttered, walking off.
Akari shook her head, still laughing. "I can't believe this is my life," she said, glancing at the boys, who were clearly still trying to figure out how to handle the situation.
"Don't worry, Akari," Sio said seriously, his tiny face full of confidence. "I'll protect you from the weirdos."
Akari leaned down and gently kissed little Sio's forehead, her smile full of affection. "You're my brave little boy, aren't you?" she said softly, completely unaware of the effect it was having on the boys around her.
Kuro, Arnold, and even Alastair stood frozen for a moment, eyes wide, staring at Sio with envy.
Kuro was the first to speak, his voice tinged with frustration. "I can't believe this... I can't even get a thank you kiss, but Sio gets a forehead kiss?!" he muttered under his breath, arms crossed, glaring at the little dragon boy who was blissfully unaware of the drama he'd just caused.
Arnold, not far behind, sighed dramatically, his face reddening. "I'm supposed to be the one getting the affection," he said, looking at Akari with a mix of longing and frustration. "But he just gets all the love..."
Alastair, though trying to keep his usual cool, couldn't hide the jealousy that flickered in his eyes. "I swear, that kid's got it all... ALL." He shook his head. "You know, I was kind of hoping Akari would give me a kiss for... well, just being me."
Sio, completely oblivious to the jealousy swirling around him, giggled and cuddled into Akari, looking up with wide, innocent eyes. "Mama's the best!" he chirped.
Akari chuckled at his adorableness, patting his little head. "Yes, you are, Sio," she said, still not catching the storm brewing among the boys.
The tension was thick in the air as the boys all silently seethed with jealousy, each of them wishing they could be in Sio's tiny dragon shoes for just a moment. Kuro crossed his arms and huffed. "This is ridiculous. I'm not losing to a baby dragon."
Arnold gave a small, resigned sigh, looking toward Akari. "Well... maybe next time, we'll get a kiss, huh?" he muttered under his breath, trying not to look too disappointed.
Alastair, still pretending to be unfazed, grinned at Akari. "Well, if I had a kiss, I'd definitely not be complaining. But hey, no rush, right?"
Akari finally looked up, giving each of them an innocent smile. "What's going on, guys? Why are you all so quiet?"
The boys, realizing they had been caught in their moment of envy, quickly turned their attention elsewhere, trying to cover up their awkwardness.
"Nothing!" Kuro said too quickly.
"Yeah, nothing," Arnold added, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Alastair simply shrugged, his smile now a little too wide. "Just admiring the, uh, family bonds here."
Akari gave them a suspicious look but let it go, turning back to Sio, who was now happily dozing off in her arms, as if nothing was amiss.
"Well, I'm glad you guys are having fun," Akari said with a grin, completely oblivious to the way the boys were silently wishing they were the ones getting her attention.
As Sio cuddled against her, Akari couldn't help but chuckle, unaware of the inner turmoil she had just caused in the hearts of the three boys. "This little guy really knows how to make everyone jealous, huh?" she said to herself, though she wasn't entirely sure why she felt a strange sense of amusement as the boys continued to stew in their jealousy.
Sio, now fully aware of the effect his little presence had on the boys, couldn't resist stirring the pot whenever he saw an opportunity. It was almost like the tiny dragon was born with the instinct to mess with them, and he took full advantage of it.
One afternoon, as the group was lounging in the academy's garden, Akari was sitting under a tree, reading a book while Sio perched on her shoulder, his tiny hands gripping her hair for balance. Kuro, Arnold, and Alastair were lounging nearby, pretending to be casual, but their eyes were constantly darting toward Akari.
Sio's mischievous smile grew wider as he saw the boys all struggling to look cool. He cleared his tiny throat dramatically, and then, in the most innocent voice he could muster, he looked at Kuro and said, "Kuro, you look like you really like my mama. You always stare at her when you think she's not looking. Are you her biggest fan?"
Kuro froze mid-sip of his drink, and his face turned a deep shade of red. "W-what?!" he sputtered, choking on the water. "I-I don't stare! I'm just... uh... observing!" he stammered, his eyes darting nervously to Akari, who hadn't noticed the interaction.
Sio smirked, unfazed by the awkwardness he'd just caused. "Yeah, sure. Observing her... with heart-shaped eyes," Sio teased, leaning closer to Kuro as if to whisper a secret. "I think you're in love, Kuro. Is it true?"
Arnold immediately burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "Oooooh! Sio's calling you out, Kuro!" He grinned, clearly enjoying the discomfort Kuro was now experiencing.
Kuro shot Arnold a death glare, but Sio wasn't done yet. He turned to Arnold, who was trying to hide his red face behind his hand. "And Arnold," Sio continued with a knowing grin, "I think I saw you blushing the other day when mama smiled at you. Do you like her too? Is there a secret crush happening here?" He even tilted his tiny head as if in deep thought, looking so innocent that it made the teasing even worse.
Arnold groaned, facepalming as his cheeks flared up with color. "Oh, come on! I'm not the only one who looks at her like that!" he shot back, his voice a little too defensive.
Alastair, who had been trying to maintain his cool, immediately turned his attention to Sio. "What about me, little dragon? Do you have any... secrets about me?" He tried to sound casual, but the glint in his eye betrayed his curiosity.
Sio, ever the mischievous one, leaned in closer, clearly relishing the power he had over the boys. "Hmm..." he said, tapping his chin with a tiny claw. "You... you always follow mama around like a lost puppy. I think you're her puppy dog, aren't you, Alastair?" he said, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
The teasing was too much for Alastair to handle. He grinned awkwardly and ran a hand through his hair. "I—I'm not a puppy dog!" he protested, but the smirk on his face gave away the fact that he actually found it amusing.
Akari, oblivious to the chaos her son was causing, looked up from her book just in time to see all three boys looking unusually tense and red-faced. "What's going on over here?" she asked with a curious tilt of her head, completely missing the fact that Sio had just sent all three into a jealous spiral.
Sio, seeing his chance, quickly climbed up to Akari's head, resting on top like a little crown. "Nothing, mama! Just checking on how much your fan club is in love with you!" he said innocently.
Kuro, Arnold, and Alastair all exchanged glances, knowing they'd been caught in Sio's game. But instead of protesting further, they all slumped down, resigned to their fate as the subjects of the tiny dragon's teasing.
Akari blinked, clearly confused. "Fan club? What fan club?" she asked, looking at them. The boys, though, were too embarrassed to respond.
Sio, unable to resist, gave a tiny giggle. "You're too innocent, mama," he whispered to himself, before adding, "Well, if they're not your fans, I guess they're just your boyfriends, huh?" He said it so innocently that Akari couldn't help but laugh.
The boys, now fully red and awkward, scattered off, unable to handle any more of Sio's teasing. Akari shook her head and smiled as her son giggled, already plotting his next bit of mischief.
"Well, I guess you really know how to make things interesting around here, huh?" Akari said with a chuckle, as Sio smiled proudly, his tiny tail flicking with satisfaction.
Akari and Alastair's Call to the King's Council:
Akari and Alastair were summoned to the king's council, the room filled with tension. Akari couldn't help but wonder why she was specifically chosen for this.
"Why me?" Akari asked, glancing at Alastair.
"I don't know. My father just thinks you're capable," Alastair replied, trying to mask his discomfort.
As they entered the grand council room, Akari was taken aback by the sheer formality of the setting. She was greeted by shapeshifters and elves, each giving her a measuring look.
"My daughter, welcome," the king said, his voice filled with an oddly warm tone.
Akari froze, whispering to Alastair with a look of disbelief, "My daughter?"
"I didn't do anything," Alastair muttered, not daring to meet her gaze. His unease was evident.
Akari raised an eyebrow, suspicious of what was going on. As they sat, Akari noticed one person in the room—the elf Asterin. Even with the changes in Akari's appearance, Asterin's sharp gaze immediately locked onto her, recognition flashing in her eyes. Akari could tell that Asterin knew who she was but chose to remain silent for the moment, her expression unreadable.
The council discussions went on, with everyone addressing the rising tensions between the shapeshifters and the elves. Negotiations were the topic of the day, but Akari couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, especially with Asterin's knowing look. As the meeting concluded, Asterin subtly gave Akari a signal—a small nod—indicating she wanted to meet with her privately afterward.
Akari's curiosity piqued, she couldn't help but wonder what Asterin's game was.
Alastair, noticing the exchange, leaned toward Akari. "You know her?" he whispered, trying to mask his concern.
"Not exactly," Akari replied, her mind already racing with questions. She had no idea what Asterin wanted, but something told her this would not be a simple meeting.
Asterin's sharp eyes scanned Akari, her expression unreadable. "What are you doing here, Akari?" she asked, her voice calm but tinged with an edge of curiosity.
Akari met her gaze without hesitation, a determined look in her eyes. "Asterin, I'm here for revenge. You just wait and see what we will do," she replied, her words carrying a quiet but intense weight.
Asterin's eyes flickered with a hint of recognition, but she quickly masked it, her face returning to its neutral composure. "Revenge?" she repeated, her tone flat. "You've changed, haven't you? I wonder, though, if you really understand the consequences of this path."
Akari smirked, her confidence unwavering. "I've walked this path before, and it's one I'm more than familiar with. You'll see. Things aren't what they seem."
The tension in the air was palpable, and Asterin couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Akari wasn't the same person she remembered, not anymore. There was something dangerous about her now, a hidden power that Asterin wasn't sure how to gauge.
"So, what's your plan?" Asterin finally asked, crossing her arms.
Akari took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. "We're going to turn the tables. The elves, the shapeshifters, all of you—don't think we're the weak ones anymore. We've got allies, we've got power, and we're going to use it." Her voice was steady, each word sharp as a blade.
Asterin studied Akari for a long moment, then shook her head, almost with a hint of amusement. "I see. You think you've got control of the situation. But there's always more to the story than you know."
Akari smiled, a dark glint in her eyes. "Then it's time for you to learn the truth."
Akari smiled as Asterin took in her plan, the weight of their shared history lingering between them. "So, forge a relationship, and then boom—everything falls into place," Asterin said, her voice reflecting a mix of understanding and strategy.
"Anything for Kuro and Arnold," Akari replied, her tone firm. The mention of the two boys always brought a protective edge to her voice, and she wasn't going to let anything stop her from securing their safety and success.
Asterin tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "You've really changed. The Akari I met before was a calm girl, spending her days in the angel's palace library, buried in books. You didn't care much for politics or scheming."
Akari's smile widened slightly, though her eyes were hard. "People change in a second," she said, her voice quiet but powerful. The person she had been—someone docile and restrained—was gone. In her place stood someone who had seen the harshness of the world and learned to survive it.
Asterin chuckled softly, almost fondly. "True. Well, if this is the new you, I'm all in. You have me on your side—the future Queen of the Elves." Her words were filled with pride, and there was an unspoken promise of alliance between them.
Akari's gaze softened for a moment, a rare flicker of appreciation crossing her face. "Thank you, Asterin. Your support means everything."
Asterin gave a confident nod. "Just don't forget, when you rise to power, we elves expect some of the benefits." She winked playfully, showing that she was still the same Asterin, despite all the changes.
Akari chuckled softly, the tension lifting just a little. "I won't forget. Now, let's make sure we win this."
With that, their brief meeting ended, and Asterin walked away, already planning her next steps. Akari, meanwhile, took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the upcoming confrontation settle on her shoulders. She had allies, but there was still a long road ahead.
As Akari finished her conversation with Asterin, she turned to see Alastair approaching her. His usual charming smirk was in place, and his eyes glinted with curiosity. "What were you talking about?" he asked, his voice playful yet tinged with a hint of suspicion.
Akari quickly adjusted, slipping back into her usual confident persona. "She said I look like her dead friend," Akari lied smoothly, her tone casual as she gave him a sidelong glance. It wasn't entirely false, but she wasn't about to get into the full details with him just yet.
Alastair blinked, clearly taken aback by the oddness of her response, but after a brief pause, he shrugged it off with a grin. "Well, you do have that unique charm," he said, his usual flirtatious tone returning. He stepped closer, looking her over with exaggerated interest. "Maybe she just wants a piece of your beauty for herself."
Akari raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms. "Well, you'll have to fight her for it then."
Alastair laughed, a deep, easy sound. "I think I stand a much better chance," he teased, leaning in slightly closer, his gaze playful. "After all, I'm not just some random elf. I'm royalty. And I'm far more... persuasive."
Akari smirked, clearly entertained by his antics but not easily swayed. "Oh? Well, you'll have to show me then," she said, keeping the banter going. "But I don't think you're quite as persuasive as you think."
Sio, who had been quietly observing the exchange, let out a small giggle, looking from Alastair to Akari with amusement. "Mama, you're too good at teasing him," he said, his voice still childlike but with an edge of mischief.
Akari chuckled and ruffled his hair. "I've had a lot of practice, little one."
Alastair, a little flustered but not about to back down, grinned. "You're both a handful, you know that? But I wouldn't have it any other way."
With a teasing wink, Akari turned to leave. "Keep dreaming, Alastair. Maybe one day you'll catch up."
Sio hopped on her shoulder, still chuckling softly as they walked away, leaving Alastair to watch them with a mixture of admiration and frustration, already plotting his next move.
As Akari turned to leave, she couldn't resist a final bit of fun at Alastair's expense. With a mischievous grin, she walked up to him, leaned in, and planted a quick, unexpected kiss on his cheek. It wasn't long, just a brief peck, but it was enough to send his face into full-blown panic mode.
The moment her lips touched his skin, Alastair's eyes went wide. His body froze, completely still, as though someone had pressed the "pause" button. His expression was a mix of shock, confusion, and utter fluster. His face turned a shade of red that could rival the sun at its highest point. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out—he looked like a fish trying to speak but failing miserably.
"Wh—wha—what was that?" he stammered, still not able to move, his hands hovering in the air as if unsure whether to touch his cheek or not. "You... you kissed me...?"
Akari, already a few steps away, turned back just enough to throw him a playful wink. "What? You seemed so serious, thought you could use a little distraction," she said, her voice sweet as sugar.
Alastair tried to speak again but only managed to make a strangled sound. His face was still frozen in shock, and he remained perfectly still, like a statue of someone who had just seen a ghost. It was as if time itself had stopped for him.
Sio, perched on Akari's shoulder, couldn't contain his laughter. He burst out giggling, clutching his tiny stomach. "Mama, you really broke him! He's not even moving! What did you do to him?"
Akari just shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, he'll be fine. It's just a little... tactic." She looked back at Alastair, still frozen in place. "Goodbye, Alastair. Don't worry, I'll leave you to your... thoughts."
As she walked away, the sound of her footsteps fading, Alastair remained exactly where he stood, still wide-eyed and staring into space. It took him a good few moments before he finally snapped out of it, his entire body jerking as if he had been jolted back into reality. He blinked, still flustered, and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
"I think I'm going to need a minute," he muttered to himself, pressing his hands to his face as if to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Sio, still giggling from Akari's shoulder, added one final jab: "Good luck, your highness! Maybe next time, don't get so flustered, huh?"
And with that, Akari and Sio continued on their way, leaving a very confused and extremely red-faced Alastair in the garden, wondering just what in the world had happened to him.
Akari walked briskly into the room where Kuro and Arnold were sitting, a determined look on her face. "It's time to make things serious," she said, her voice firm.
Kuro raised an eyebrow, glancing up at her. "How?"
"Plan A," Akari replied, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Kuro immediately shook his head. "That was a full no from the start."
Arnold crossed his arms, his expression darkening. "There is no other way."
Akari's gaze hardened, but her voice remained steady. "We don't have a choice."
Kuro's face twisted with frustration. "You can't marry that bastard!" His fists clenched in anger, clearly not wanting to accept the idea.
"We want revenge," Arnold added, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a hint of rising frustration. "But not at the cost of sacrificing yourself."
"Will you calm down?" Akari snapped, her voice rising with the tension in the room.
Arnold didn't seem to hear her. "We won't agree to that! How can we see you with someone else?" His words slipped out in a mix of concern and something deeper, something that Akari wasn't quite ready to acknowledge.
Akari's eyes softened as she took in what Arnold said. But then her voice trembled slightly. "I told you, no falling for me. Please, Kuro, Arnold... don't leave me. Can't you understand a simple statement? I begged you, please..." She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat, the pain of past timelines creeping back into her heart. "I'm not worthy. Choose someone else, please."
Kuro and Arnold both froze. The air grew thick with unspoken emotions. Akari's words had cracked something inside them, and they both looked at her—guilty, confused, and torn.
Akari wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hide the sudden wave of emotion that overcame her. Her past lives, her mistakes, the endless cycles of pain—she couldn't bear to drag anyone else into it. She couldn't let them fall into the same traps she had set for herself in the past.
"You're not worthy?" Kuro's voice was low, his face clouded with disbelief. "Akari... don't say that."
Arnold stepped closer, his expression softening, but still uncertain. "You think we don't understand? You think we can just walk away from you because you ask us to?" He shook his head. "We've been through too much together."
Akari took a shaky breath, her resolve weakening. "I'm trying to protect you both. I don't want you to get hurt, but if we do this, if we follow through, there's no turning back. I don't want to lose you... but I can't—"
Before she could finish, Kuro stepped up, a sudden fierceness in his eyes. "We're not letting you go through this alone, Akari. You're not pushing us away. We've been with you through everything, and we'll stand by you now."
Arnold nodded, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "You think you're the only one who's suffered? You think we haven't seen what you've been through? You're not alone in this, Akari."
Akari felt a tear slip down her cheek, a mix of relief and guilt. They weren't backing down. Despite her wishes, they refused to leave her side.
"I'm not asking you to do this for me," Akari whispered, almost pleading. "I'm asking you to help me make things right, even if it means we're all in danger."
Kuro and Arnold exchanged a glance, the resolve in their eyes hardening. "We're in this together," Arnold said quietly.
"Always," Kuro added, his tone final.
Akari could only nod, her heart swelling with both pain and gratitude. She hadn't wanted them to get involved, hadn't wanted to drag them back into this mess. But it seemed like they had made their choice, and there was no turning back now.
"Then let's do this," Akari said, a new determination filling her voice. "Let's make sure this is the last time."
And with that, the three of them stood united once again, ready to face whatever came next, together.