"Little human… Hey… Wake up, little human, you need to meet someone."
I was awakened from my peaceful sleep by a voice that sounded slightly familiar, but due to my blurry vision and still struggling to regain full consciousness, I couldn't recall the details of what happened after I decided to paint the entire nebula with a single color.
The last thing I remember was that I was curious about the purpose of the test and began trying different things. Since I couldn't make major movements with the nebula, and it didn't seem to react to any other stimuli, I decided to do what I thought was most sensible.
After all, if the nebula responded to my emotions, it was likely that the objective was to play with my feelings. That is, instead of letting them take control of me, I decided to master my emotions.
That's why I chose to focus on only one emotion, and the best and easiest one I found was calm. I have no idea if that was the test's goal, but I know that somehow I managed to get out of there, so it worked out that way.
But after leaving that nebula, my consciousness became hazy, and I only recall vague voices and blurred visions. After losing consciousness for who knows how long, I now find myself in a completely different place from that dark, damp forest.
Carried in the arms of someone, I struggle to take a look around. Thankfully, the person carrying me—the dragon in human form I met in the forest—notices I'm trying to look around and adjusts me to a better position.
I sincerely thank him in my heart, for now, I have a wonderful view before me.
Valleys, snow-covered mountains, fields as far as the eye can see, and a beautiful lake reflecting the mountains and the surrounding landscape. Something I can only compare to the legendary and magnificent sceneries of Norway or Switzerland.
It's hard to find words to describe what I'm seeing; I can only admire Mother Nature's masterpiece and sincerely thank her for letting me witness such a sight.
"You liked the view too, little human? I'm sure this won't be the only time you'll see this place, but the first time is always unforgettable."
Sharing the pleasure of gazing at such a scene, the man spins me around and lifts me up to give me the best view from every possible angle. And once again, I thank him sincerely, within my heart.
"Great Lord Akachi, what a pleasure to welcome you to my humble home…"
Suddenly, while I was still mesmerized by the landscape, a vibrant and tuned voice of a woman snapped me out of it. The man didn't seem surprised at all by the sudden voice, but he noticed I was out of my trance, so he calmly turned toward the woman who had just arrived.
"Lady Kelama, I apologize for intruding upon your territory without permission. I couldn't inform you beforehand, as it was a last-minute decision. And the reasons are somewhat peculiar..." Calmly, the man gave a slight bow of his head and began to speak as he looked at the woman.
Unlike the man, who is dressed in a formal military-style outfit with a simple gray uniform and a black overcoat, the woman is wearing a simple light blue dress, so long it hides her feet.
Her pure white long hair shines under the sunlight reflecting on it, as does her skin, which is almost as white as her hair, showing a healthy glow. Her thick lips are a graceful adornment to her captivating smile.
Her vibrant green eyes continue to look attentively at the man, but they constantly shift to look at me as well. She acts as if her curiosity is great, but it's not the right moment to ask the proper questions.
"I don't mind your sudden visit, Lord Akachi, I was just caught off guard by it, as I wasn't expecting your presence in such remote southern parts. This isn't a very inviting place for us at this time of year…" with a small smile, the woman begins walking toward another spot.
"As I said, my reasons are a bit peculiar, and slightly urgent as well. As we all know, the southern climate doesn't suit us, but in fact, I was on my way to Faylom, and something truly surprising happened."
"Something truly surprising, huh… It's quite rare to hear those words, especially when they come from your mouth, Lord Akachi."
"The little human here is living proof of what I'm saying."
"Hmmm… I must admit I'm very interested in hearing the details of this story. Seeing you accompanied is something very rare, especially with such a peculiar companion. But let me prepare some coffee before that."
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"Really interesting… In fact, it's surprising that things happened this way. Aura truly works in mysterious ways."
Sitting on the veranda of an extremely opulent and attractive mansion, the three of us are calmly enjoying the magnificent view of the valleys and mountains while sipping coffee and eating some delicious cookies.
I must say that this mansion belongs to the woman, located on a large hill near one of the valleys between the mountains. Surrounded by a few enormous trees, the house seems to integrate perfectly with nature, even though it's gigantic.
"But after all, Lord Akachi, what really brings you to my territory?" Despite speaking calmly, the woman seems eager to address the main issue.
"As I mentioned, it is my duty to provide the best conditions for this human to grow and fully develop his potential. But after thinking through various alternatives and running countless simulations, I discovered that I cannot raise him myself and am forced to choose someone I fully trust to carry out this task."
"…" Lady Kelama's expression shows that she agrees it wouldn't be a good idea for him, Lord Akachi, to adopt me. But she says nothing, as that would be a terrible lack of respect, something you can notice just by looking into her eyes.
"Of all the people I could think of and run simulations for, only three relatively good options remained. And even among these three, there are high chances of something happening to interfere with the little human's progress. That's why I decided to choose the least risky option."
"So, I'm the least risky option… Haha… Who would've thought someone like me would be the 'least risky option'? How ironic." With a slightly uncomfortable expression, the woman averts her gaze for a moment while speaking.
"Correct… Despite your somewhat exotic customs and routine, it is common knowledge that you are a dedicated, focused person with enviable willpower. Whatever the task, you always execute it to the best of your abilities." The man states, looking at the woman even though she's gazing at something else on the horizon.
"Before we continue on this matter, Lord, let me satisfy a curiosity… I can assume that one of the other two options is ArchLady Dorothea, but who is the remaining choice?" The woman asks, turning back toward us, but with a sharper gaze than before.
"…Deep Sigh I thought of…"
This time, it was the man who looked away, and his voice stopped before he finished his response. His discomfort in revealing this information was evident.
"Hmm?"
"Sigh I thought of Inessa."
"WHAT??!!!??? Lord Akachi, you can't be serious!!" Failing to contain her reaction, the woman hurriedly put down the coffee cup she was holding and leaned as far forward as possible without standing up from the couch.
"From what I know of her and my personal experience, I'm certain she's someone capable of carrying out such a task. I have no doubt about that."
"Lord Akachi, Inessa is ill. Aside from Abigail, you are the one who knows her condition best. She is emotionally and mentally incapacitated because of that incident. I wouldn't be surprised if her physical condition is slowly deteriorating as well…"
"And yet, I remain convinced she's one of the best options…"
"Lord…"
"At any rate, Dorothea is not an option since it would be impossible to convince Alexandra, which leaves only you, Lady Kelama, or Inessa. So, without further delay, tell me if you will accept the task or not."
"We don't need to play games, Lord Akachi, it's obvious I'm being chosen not by merit but because I'm the only viable choice. After all, Lady Dorothea is excluded due to her duties on the council, and on the other hand, Inessa is excluded due to her health condition."
"I understand perfectly, but condemning yourself because of the circumstances won't change the facts, Lady Kelama. Will you deny my request?"
"It would be an honor to carry out such a task, Lord, but I feel like I'm in an unfair competition where all the odds are in my favor. To be honest, I don't like that…"
"I ask you to be as honest as possible and make your judgment for yourself, not thinking about what will happen if you refuse. There will be no reprimands or negative consequences for you if the answer is no; I promise this as the Great Dragon Lord."
"My code of conduct tells me to refuse this request, Lord, but my conscience tells me that the consequences of such an act will haunt me for years. Therefore, I propose letting the one most affected by this choice make the decision for us."
As soon as she finished speaking, both of them, who had been focused on each other until now, looked directly at me. This startled me a bit, and I was forced to stop chewing the cookie in my mouth and put down the other two I had in my hands.
When will I have a moment of peace and quiet? Can't I even eat in peace???