Chapter 18
Dragon Growth (Part 2)
Eliron opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by an endless expanse of snow, stretching to the horizon under a pale morning sky. The crisp air bit into his skin, filling his lungs with a sharp chill. Everywhere he looked, he saw glistening fields of untouched white snow, broken only by jagged rocks peeking through the surface and waves of wind-carved drifts.
A faint shimmer appeared behind him, and he turned just as a warped portal flickered into existence. Nameless and Dynil stepped through, their forms solidifying against the bright, frozen landscape. Dynil took in a breath, his eyes scanning the scene as if reacquainting himself with an old memory.
Eliron turned, spotting a small cabin nearby. Its wooden structure stood resilient against the harsh winter, smoke faintly trailing from its chimney. Beyond it, the glimmering gray-blue ocean stretched into the distance, meeting the snow-dusted shore in frothy, ice-rimmed waves. He frowned, noticing how still everything was—no sound of birds, no signs of nearby animals. It was as if the land itself was holding its breath.
"Where are we?" he asked, glancing back at Dynil.
"We're in Neyla, on the opposite side of the continent. Efascht is the southest of the Winshen Continent, right? This is the northest." Dynil replied as if unbothered but the duo were visibly surprised.
Dynil lightly ignored their confusion, his gaze lingering on the cabin. "And this little place belongs to an old friend of mine."
Nameless took a step forward, pulling her cloak tighter against the chill, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings. The ocean's muted roar was the only sound against the winter silence.
Dynil gestured towards the cabin. "Come on, let's get inside and warm up."
The duo followed him with a skeptic gaze.
Upon entering the cabin, though there was fire in the fireplace, no one was there.
"He's likely in town, getting supplies or something," Dynil muttered. He unhesitatingly opened a cabinet and took some warm clothes, handing it to the two. "It's colder out here due to the ocean and the barren lands. You want hot cocoa?"
Nameless tilted her head oblivious to what he meant.
Eliron nodded for the both of them though, "Yes, thank you..." He turned to the girl and explained.
"Hot cocoa is like melted chocolate but for drinking."
Eliron's explanation was the simplest he could muster. However maybe it's because of the change of scenery or how knowledgeable Nameless seemed to be these past few days, but Eliron forgot one crucial thing.
"What's chocolate?" She frowned. Her face made an expression that she still didn't get it.
Good thing Dynil showed up bringing two cups of cocoa. "This is hot cocoa and, by the name and by the looks of it, it is hot. Careful."
Nameless didn't bother with his warning and drank a sip, she didn't feel the heat but she definitely tasted it. For a moment her eyes lit up, "It tastes weird... but in a good weird. Can I finish this?"
Dynil grins, nodding.
It had always been a fascinating thing to watch demons like mortal things. Even after seeing a scene like this twice, it was still cute.
"Do you want more?"
Nameless paused at his offer, he looked oddly excited, she immediately handed the cup after finishing. "No. But I hope the children will get to drink this too."
The sentry choef shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, "I'm sure Aria and Karson bought some already.
Once they get back after sending the documents to the association, they'll treat the kids to anything they didn't know."
Dynil Walker clapped his hands after taking their cups away, "So shall we see which magic you have?"
"Does everyone only have one magic system they can learn?"
Dynil shook his head at Eliron's question.
"No. If you have the natural affinity to learn any kind, you can definitely learn everything if you want. But it's not advisable unless you have a long lifespan."
"Dragons have long lifespans, elves too."
"Yes but like i said, they usually learn their attribute to its full potential and doesn't learn about anything else even if they can."
Nameless nodded, full of understanding. "...Demons have long lifespans too."
Eliron's breath hitched. He didn't know she'd openly mention it, but what's more surprising is Dynil.
The man nodded and pointed at her, "Indeed, you do."
The dragon sighed. So he knew.
He didn't even ask how, knowing Nameless she wasn't someone who'd let a threat go.
"So the attributes... how do we start the personal test?" Nameless asked with sparkling eyes.
"Seeing as how you weren't affected by the hot cocoa's heat, it is either you have an affinity for ice magic or fire magic... So that's elemental magic for you," Dynil explained. "And demons have natural affinity in using dark magic, did you feel it at some instance?"
Nameless didn't know but Eliron did.
"The sinister mana... is that it? Dark and murky."
"Yes, that's it. Was she able to manifest it? I heard it's all instincts for demons."
"She... manifested the mana and burnt a hole through Pearce's face." Eliron sighed.
"Pearce the human prince?"
"Yes. His picture to be exact."
"I see... Well anyways, are there other occurrences that you feel magic coming to you?"
Nameless didn't answer, and Eliron knew why, but he didn't elaborate for her, she must be thinking about the goddess' blessing.
"How about mine? I'm not showing any abnormal reactions to the cocoa." Eliron put the focus back on himself. "Maybe it's not elemental magic?"
Dynil caressed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you haven't been exposed to it yet?"
Nameless tilted her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes as she remembered something of Eliron too. "Is being able to carry large loot an attribute? Or is that just Eliron's talent?"
She glanced at him, recalling how he always slept and barely moved during all those years trapped underground, yet somehow he could carry all their belongings in one go for an hour without showing any signs of exhaustion.
Dynil's brow lifted, eyes narrowing with interest. "That's... an intriguing question. It could hint at a physical enhancement attribute. But how heavy could he have carried?"
"You've only seen him after landing but remember all the equipment we brought with us? There were weapons, relics, ores, eating utensils and some furniture. Everything." She pointed to the dragon, "He carried everything with no issues. With us children too behind his back."
"Well dragons can definitely carry all those things for awhile, no?"
"But he carried it for over an hour."
"An hour?" Dynil watched Eliron, remembering his dragon form. It was almost as big as an adult wyvern from the Continent of Penon, and the weight limit those beings can carry were a ton.
But that smaller dragon can carry a ton and a half for an hour with no issues?
The sentry chief bobbed his head as if thinking, he was excited for the results already. Since he can't wait, he pointed on the air and drag his finger downwards as if tearing up space. The area warped like the portal before.
On the small tear in space, Dynil put his hand in, taking something out.
"This is a [Magic Essence Mirror], as you can see it is a relic." The duo observed the mysterious object. It was an object as tall as a forearm, its borders looked ancient with wood like a small tree holding the piece. In the middle was glass, or what looks yo be, but it was hollow-like and rippled like water. Dynil tapped the middle to show that it wasn't as hollow as it looked.
Dug— Dug—
"See? It's not hollow."
He found an empty wall and simply put it there, hanging on it with nothing but its own white mana.
"When you step into the mirror's view, depending on what magic system you have a natural affinity to, the mirror will give you an appropriate event for that."
"Can you give us a sample?"
The sentry chief complied with Eliron's request and stepped into view. He crouched down a bit since he placed the mirror low.
When his figure showed on the mirror, nothing happened.
"And?" Nameless stared intently, thinking she might've missed something.
However Dynil knew that nothing will happen. "This is related to my attribute. You know how I can warp space and travel, right?" He raised his arm and poke the middle of the mirror, there was no invisible wall anymore but his arm passed through easily. "It doesn't just show an event but establish an event to completely showcase the extent of your attribute."
Dynil stepped away and gestured for the duo.
"Who's gonna try it first?"
Eliron stepped up.
He didn't feel any physical manifestations but... he knows. He was definitely nervous.
When he was young his parents never taught him magic, only showed him. Though he displayed intent on learning, they never said anything.
His mother would only say that he should watch.
Just watch the magic flow, my dear. Watch how it looks and feel.
Though at first the sensations felt ethereal. He just now realized that it wasn't enough, not enough in just seeing or feeling, he needed to know so—
Weong— weong— weong—
The mirror made a heavy noise.
"Uh what?"
The three were confused but not later than a minute...
Clank—
The mirror spit out something towards Eliron. It was fast amd the dragon barely dodged out of the way.
"Hey, you okay?" Nameless came to his side and helped him up. "What is it...?"
To her question, Dynil who picked up the object looked back. "This is..." His hand was submerged on the center, staring in wonder. "...You replicated the mirror."
It was another [Magic Essence Mirror].
Though it was a bit smaller, half size of a forearm, it worked the same way perfectly, seeing as how Dynil's arm easily passed through the center when he tried it.
"So what attribute do i have?"
"It's replica magic in the Unique Magic System. So you're a uniqist, that's what they call people of that category." Dynil's eyes were still on the mirror, fascinated. "But you're a dragon so you definitely have something else. You guys usually has two affinities maybe including elemental magic."
"How do I find that out?"
"I don't have qualifications on it so I don't really know but the owner of this cabin does. Let's wait for him while checking for Nameless' affinity."
Nameless looked impassive as she stood in front of the relic, but her eyes were definitely shining.
"Oh, um..." Dynil cleared his throat. "Maybe it's a unique magic, I'll try..."
But there was nothing.
At first he tried to lightly poke through every part of the mirror, tried to check the center but... nothing.
Only a dazed Nameless.
Dynil's face tightened as he observed Nameless in front of the mirror, its glass faintly shimmering in response.
She stood perfectly still, her eyes fixed on her reflection with an intense, almost spellbound expression.
Slowly, her golden hair dulled, strands fading back to the dark purple, reminiscent of midnight, and her orange irises drained into a deep, shifting pink—her true colors emerging as though the mirror was peeling back a layer.
"Nameless?" Eliron said, gently touching her arm. But she didn't move.
Dynil leaned in, calling her name louder. "Hey, Nameless. Kid!" Yet she remained frozen, her gaze still locked on the mirror.
His concern turned to alarm as her body trembled slightly, then more violently, as if caught in a silent battle.
Suddenly, she let out a shallow gasp, stumbling backward and falling to her knees.
She was coughing—no, choking—her face turning ashen as a thick, black bile spilled from her mouth. Both Eliron and Dynil knelt by her side, panic evident in their faces as they tried to catch her attention.
"Nameless, what's wrong?" Eliron asked, but she seemed unable to hear him.
Her gaze was distant, her lips barely moving as she whispered, "Nine... eight... seven... six..."
Her voice was faint, her eyes wide and unseeing as she continued to count, her whispers descending to one, then climbing back up to nine, her tone lost and hollow.
Just as they thought it wouldn't stop, a deep, inky aura seeped from her skin.
It pooled around her like a protective fog, shadowy tendrils wrapping around her shoulders and settling like a cloak. The dark aura seemed to pulse, shielding her, blanketing her in a defensive, almost sentient shroud.
"Nameless?" Dynil asked cautiously, but this time, she looked at him. Her pink eyes gleamed with a strange, almost fierce clarity—shimmering on the edge of red.
Finally, Nameless straightened, her breath steadying as the dark energy withdrew, seeping back into her body and leaving only faint traces behind.
She shook her head, disoriented but grounded, looking up at them with renewed focus. The strange, dark shield had vanished, but the change lingered in her gaze, as if she had emerged from a place far darker and deeper than either of them could reach.
"Oh, haha..." Nameless let out a faint chuckle, "I think I really do have dark magic..."
Silence grew until—
BANG!
Suddenly the door opened, a bearded man with a bear's fur as a coat appeared. He was huffing and puffing, his blue eyes was flaring, "Who the hell tried to burn my cabin?!"
The silence grew thick.