After the transformation a young girl stood in front of the stood as she bent her head, covered in bruises.
Ryan didn't know what to make of this. He wasn't sure whether she was real person or just an illusion.
"W..who are you?" Gabrielle asked wit curiosity.
The girl remained silent as she stepped back a bit. She soon answered as she couldn't sense any ill intent towards her.
"E..eclair" she replied stuttering.
After hearing her name, Ryan had a hint of who she might be.
"Why are you here?" Ryan asked wanting to know what a young girl would be doing in a Dungeon.
Eclair wasn't sure on how to reply but tried her best to make them understand.
After she had finished explaining her current situation, Ryan understood that she was part of the previous set of students that attempted to take the Trials. But she was not able to escape in time and has been here ever since.
Ryan was shocked on how she was able to survive during that time.
She further explained that she was a Beastfolk;model>Dragon. She was practically a Dragonkin. Dragonkins are descendants of the first great Dragons that fly over Spectra.
Dragonkins were regarded as one of the strongest beings of Spectra. They possessed unmatched powers which would be able to flatten an entire city.
Though Dragonkins were strong, not all had parents as they were abandoned. Almost all Dragonkins were slaves leaving them with no choice but to obey their masters.
Ryan noticed this from the slave mark on her forehead. He wondered why her previous master would let her take such a deadly Trial.
What made Ryan more worried was how she was able to survive all this time. The previous set of students was about three months ago.
Fortunately, Dragons like to hibernate. They could stay three whole years without eating anything.
Dragonkins also possessed that kind of ability, but theirs were limited. An experienced Dragonkin could go without food for a year. While the younger ones were limited to six months or below, depending on how well they were experienced.
Eclair was clearly experienced as she had been in this Dungeon for the past three months.
Gabrielle was shocked to hear that someone could survive three whole months without food or water.
Ryan complimented her resolve, but he could see that she was already at her limit. If she had stayed here any longer, she would have died.
"Do you want to come with us?" Ryan asked. He hoped that he could get her to come with them seeing as Dragonkins were loyal to their masters no matter the type of situation they were put through.
Eclair was shocked when she heard Ryan. She wanted to go but she already pledged herself to her master, eventhough he always treated her like trash, she was to remain loyal to him.
"B..but i have a slave crest" Eclair said as she pointed to the mark on her forehead.
Ryan just smiled as he brought out his knife and made a small cut on his finger.
Gabrielle and Eclair were puzzled by what he was doing. Meanwhile, Eclair had a hint.
Ryan took the bloodied finger and made a marking on her forehead. This was to neutralize the slave effect on Eclair.
A Blood Marking was a type of ritual that allows a person to make a temporary contract with a slave even when she already had a master. This was a useful thing, but also had a disadvantage. If the slave were to clean to marking of their foreheads, the contract holder would die.
Gabrielle knew what Ryan was doing and tried to stop him, but it already to late as he had already drawn the marking on her forehead.
Eclair just sat there and watched Ryan as he drew the marking. She was completely bewildered by his actions as she couldn't understand why he would do such a thing.
"I made this contract so you don't have to follow your master for the time being" Ryan said with a warm smile. He really wanted to help her out of here.
Eclair who heard his words, tried to stop herself from crying as she held back her tears, but few drops managed to flow through.
"W...will you really get me out here?" Eclair asked with a mix of pain and gratitude in her eyes.
"Ofcourse I will" Ryan said with a smile. He's a villain not a monster and what villain wouldn't want to have a Dragon as an ally.
Gabrielle who was watching this scene, felt a bit of jealousy in her heart.
When Ryan said that Eclair wiped her tears as she accepted his offer, in return he would allow her to be his slave.
Ryan knew his plan had worked when he heard her.
Because she was young Ryan couldn't dominate her, but she would prove to be useful in the future.
Ryan accepted her offer. He noticed that she had a fractured ankle, he picked her up and placed her on his back as he carried her and headed for the sixth chamber.
Eclair had a slight blush on her face when Ryan carried her.
"Ding!!"
[You have obtained favorability and affection from Eclair]
Ryan wore a slight grin when he saw the notification.
Gabrielle watched as Ryan picked up Eclair. A part of her wished that she was the one Ryan picked. She suddenly got out of her thoughts and followed behind them.
When Eclair turned her head to see Gabrielle, she could sense jealousy in her. She wondered why she was jealous of her.
Ryan who was walked with Eclair on her back was thinking of a way to beat the final boss. He planned on making a surprise attack, but that would be ineffective as he wouldn't know where of his opponent would be. The only option was to make due with all that he has.
"Eclair, what type of powers do you possess?" Ryan asked, wanting to know his chances on survival.
"I naturally wield forest magic and water magic. My gifted ability is Slave Control. It allows me to bend anyone to my will and control them...." Eclair explained.
Ryan wondered how she managed to wield forest and water magic at such a young age. He knew that all beings were capable of controlling certain elements. But that was if they were able to merge their mana energy to their environment, making them able to use certain elements. He would learn how to use that power as he had an infinite amount of mana.
Ryan was shocked to hear that she possesses Slave Control. A slave given the ability to control other people.
"But i don't have good control of my skill" Eclair said with a hint of sadness in her tone.
Ryan wasn't worried about that as she would learn how to control it later in the future.
'A formidable skill indeed' Ryan said inwardly as he complimented her skill.
Ryan knew that she would aid him greatly on his journey. He had made a new ally in the most remote places.