Lily continued to stare at Rose, waiting for her to answer. Her arms also appeared to have a few more scales than she could recall, and she could've sworn they looked a slightly more vibrant red.

"Umm... Yes," Rose answered hesitantly. "I had a bit of a growth spurt..."

"That's so unfair... I don't think I've grown at all," Lily whined.

Rose gave Lily a studying glance over before asking a question. "Did nothing change at all after the dire hawks? Even something small?"

"No...?" Lily answered, then suddenly gasped. "Are you talking about your silly 'monsters making you stronger' theory? 'Cause I'm the exact same."

Rose frowned; she hadn't expected that answer. "... I got stronger from the monsters," she mumbled in response, chewing on her thumb.

"Really?" Lily asked skeptically. "I don't believe you."

Rose walked over to Lily's bed and partially lifted it with one hand as if to prove herself. "See? Although this isn't entirely just from the monsters..." She admitted.

"Uh... What...?" Lily asked, looking flabbergasted. Normally, lifting her bed wouldn't have been that impressive, except Rose had made it look effortless.

"I told you. When monsters die, they make you stronger. That's why they turn into that black stuff and disappear. We were both so close to the monsters dying that I thought it would have affected you, too. Has nothing changed? Anything at all?"

Lily couldn't believe it. Was Rose really telling the truth? It seemed so far-fetched. But her serious tone indicated her attitude, not to mention the results...

"No... Nothing has changed for me at all..." Lily spoke somberly.

Rose returned the bed to its position and sighed, scratching her head. "That doesn't make any sense. We were both there; the monsters were strong enough that sharing shouldn't have mattered... You even killed one!"

"I... Uhh..." Lily mumbled.

"Don't try to hide it." Rose interrupted. "I've had plenty of time to think about it. I burnt one. And I'm guessing your magic paper killed the other... Which is shockingly unbelievable. Like that paper is literally blank, and you somehow killed a dire hawk with it!"

"It's not blank..." Lily grumbled her complaint.

"Well... Clearly, since it killed a damn monster bird," Rose said, rolling her eyes. "But it's blank to me and everyone else. Which is crazy. I didn't want to believe you, but there's no other explanation for the second dead bird. Unless it killed itself."

"It was a shield inscription; it protected me and reflected the impact back to the bird," Lily explained.

Rose stared at Lily as if she had sprouted a second head. "I have no idea what an inscription is..." She admitted.

"It's two or more glyphs working together," Lily explained.

"Huh..." Rose answered; Lily had said it with such resolve that she couldn't help but believe the little bunny. "You've really been busy while I was gone."

"Yes... But don't try to change the subject," Lily pouted. "You said the monsters made you stronger? Did you suck it all up... Or is something wrong with me?"

"I'm not sure... Maybe I was a gluttonous dragon?" Rose answered with uncertainty. "From what I was told, anyone nearby gets stronger when a monster is killed. It should have affected both of us, but... It's looking like I got it all."

"That's not fair..." Lily whined.

"I know... But try to look on the bright side; now I can protect you even more!" Rose said excitedly.

"Mmm..." Lily grumbled. "So, is that why you're taller? Talk about unfair..."

Rather than answering immediately, Rose looked extremely embarrassed. "No... It wasn't the monsters that did that."

"Then how come?" Lily asked. "Also, do you have more scales? Are they redder? And why are you wearing a dress?"

Rose's face became tinted with pinkish-red. She put her face in her palms and groaned with embarrassment. She muttered something inarticulate as an answer.

"What?" Lily asked, not hearing or understanding her.

"...Dragon...Puberty..." Rose mumbled, Lily could barely make out the words.

"That... Huh..." Lily didn't know how to respond. "Is that because you protected me?"

Rose nodded. "Lady Desthu said I had an awakening... It can happen to some demihumans with ancient bloodlines. Supposedly, my deadbeat parents might have been someone important or something, not that it stopped them from leaving me behind."

"Oh... So you awakened to protect me?" Lily asked.

"Basically... I'm glad it saved you, but still... I could've done without some of the consequences..."

"Being taller is a consequence?" Lily asked skeptically.

Rose was fidgeting, looking very uncomfortable. "No... Not that... I... Grew a tail."

"Wait, really? That's a thing?" Lily asked inquisitively before staring at Rose's rear. "Is that why you're wearing a dress to hide it?"

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Her face, going entirely scarlet with embarrassment, silently answered Lily's questions. Which was a feat in and of itself, as you wouldn't think a red dragon could blush.

It took quite a bit of coaxing, but eventually, she showed Lily. It wasn't as big as she thought, but Rose said it was still growing, and soon, not even a dress would hide it anymore. Lily found it oddly cute and couldn't help poking it, causing Rose to twitch uncomfortably.

I finally have revenge for how much she pokes and prods my ears...

However, Rose's story didn't end there. She revealed two little stubs growing out of her shoulder blades when she removed her coat.

"Is this... Wings?" Lily asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes..." Rose admitted reluctantly. "Though they're vestigial, for now."

"Does that mean you'll be able to fly when they grow? Like an Aviania?"

"Maybe, if they grow big enough..." Rose sighed. "Lady Desthu said it's rare in Dragia, but she thinks my bloodline is strong enough that it will happen eventually."

"That's so cool... And so unfair..." Lily replied, poking her rabbit ears. "I wish I could trade you."

"I think I'd gladly take you up on that offer if it was possible," Rose admitted. "I'm not looking forward to being unable to wear the clothes I want. Like... If they get bigger, how will I put on any shirts? Will holes work? Will I be forced to wear only backless clothes?"

Lily giggled. "I still think the possibility of flying is more than worth it. But still, I'm sure even Avianias wear shirts, so there's got to be a solution for you, too."

"You're probably right..." Rose admitted reluctantly. "But still, why did I have to get wings and the tail? One would have been enough."

"I think the tail is cute," Lily pointed out. "Plus, now you have the full set. Imagine how cool and badass you'll look as an adventurer when you're older."

"Well, not entirely the whole set... I could have gotten horns, too. But yeah, I guess wings and a big tail would look pretty badass with some armor. Assuming I can wear armor," Rose finally agreed. "But enough about me; I want to hear about what you've been doing?"

Lily nodded, and after they both sat down on her bed, she began her explanation, starting with how she met Camilla.

***

"How is your brain not leaking out of your ears?" Rose asked, half joking and impressed. "At least you got out of some of your classes, but I can't believe you aren't playing around or something."

"It's been fun for me and interesting. There have been ups and downs, but it's been great to do something for a change," Lily answered. "Miss Camilla is a bit prickly, but she means well. I just wish she would let me take home more of the failed inks..."

She reached into her basket and pulled out the two bottles of failed ink, although it looked like crystal clear water more than anything else.

"Hey... Safety first, I'm sure you'll get there eventually," Rose said reassuringly. "Worst case, I guess you could maybe buy the tools and try to make it yourself?"

"I don't think I could hide an entire apothecary set up in my bedroom," Lily giggled. "Plus, I think it's pretty expensive."

"Well, we could always go to that little flower pit again and sell those," Rose suggested. "Or if you're too busy, I could go."

"That's a good idea... If I could get more Fairymoss, it'll help Arakil even if I'm not using it for ink," Lily replied. "And you could sell the rest to buy yourself some new clothes or something."

"No complaints there... Where is your book?" Rose asked, looking around the room.

Lily gasped, realizing her mistake. She quickly hopped off the bed, reached under the mattress, and pulled the book out.

"Sorry for leaving you under there, Arakil," Lily said before placing it on the desk.

"I still can't believe you have a talking book, yet you doubted me," Rose complained teasingly. "Can he hear you talk, or must you write to him?"

"He can hear me but can only write back," Lily answered. "Sometimes, he's meditating, so he isn't always listening."

"I hope he wasn't listening in on our conversation..." Rose mumbled, looking embarrassed again.

"We could ask?" Lily suggested, opening her desk drawer and pulling out her inkpot and pen.

"I guess I should say hello to him eventually," Rose replied. "He did save your life, so I guess I owe him my thanks. Although... You wouldn't have been out there if not for him."

"Don't say that; it's not his fault," Lily said defensively. "If not for him, I wouldn't be able to learn magic... I'd be stuck doing nothing but writing or doing math for the rest of my life."

"Yes, but you'd be safe at least..." Rose complained before sighing, "But I suppose he did have the foresight to give you that paper to protect you. Anyway, wake him up and introduce me."

Lily nodded and opened the inkpot. "Hey, Arakil, are you awake? Did you hear what we were talking about?" She asked before dipping the pen and placing it on the page. Like all times before, it sucked up the ink and began writing on the page.

[Greetings. I only ceased my meditation when you mentioned my name, so forgive me if I was supposed to be paying attention to your earlier conversation.]

"The ink all disappeared!" Rose exclaimed in surprise. From her perspective, a huge ink stain appeared and suddenly vanished.

"Arakil uses it to write," Lily explained. "Although I guess you can't see his writing... That's so weird. Anyway, Arakil, Rose wants to meet you. Also, I got two bottles of failed glyph ink…might that work for you?"

[Hello Rose. Thank you for being Lily's stalwart protector and companion. As for the ink, you should be able to just pour it within my pages.]

"What did he say?" Rose asked.

Lily giggled. "He said hello and thanks for being my friend and defender."

"Well! It's a big sister's duty after all," Rose stated matter of factly.

Lily giggled again, carefully opening one of the bottles and pouring it slowly over the pages. Even though Arakil had been adamant in the past that nothing could ruin the book, it still brought some terror to willingly do something like this as she watched the liquid softly splatter between the page margins.

Rose was also incredibly curious, and watching the liquid just vanish into the book like some sort of magical sponge was completely unexplainable. She felt like she held her breath until the final drop was poured.

"Did it work?" Lily asked before placing the inked pen again.

[Yes! Remarkably so. I'd estimate around a 30% efficacy increase over the powdered form.]

"That's really good! I hope you'll have enough Mana soon!" Lily said excitedly.

Rose stared at the book and Lily curiously.

"So... He needs Mana to help you?" Rose asked.

Lily nodded. "Arakil has an archive, but he needs Mana to access it. If he gets enough, he can search for a solution to give me my personal Mana."

"What's the ink for then?" Rose questioned.

"That's so I can draw glyphs and eventually inscriptions," Lily explained. "It would let me do magic without my own Mana, although at this rate, he will be successful before Camilla and I finish the glyph ink... But! Arakil says it's always useful to know!"

Rose nodded. "My teacher said glyphs are useful, but not everyone learns them..." She paused as if considering something. "How much more Mana does he need?"

"I'm not sure... I can ask, but we've been slowly growing closer," Lily answered. "Arakil meditates all day to collect Mana, then I feed him Fairymoss whenever possible."

"What if I gave him some Mana? Would that help?" Rose suggested.

Lily seemed shocked. "Maybe? How would that work?"

"I could give a little blood?" Rose suggested, almost casually.

Lily gasped. "No... That's creepy, Rose."

"It's just a little blood; if it helps you, then I'm okay with it," Rose replied. "Can you ask him if it would work?"

Lily nodded somewhat reluctantly and placed the ink on the page.

[It's very plausible it might work. But I'd suggest only a small amount at first. There's a decent chance the seals in place would not allow such a convenience.]

"Well?" Rose asked.

"Arakil says it might work..." Lily began explaining, but before Rose could do anything, she further clarified. "But! He says only try a small amount!"

Rose nodded. "Sure, no problem."

Then, almost casually, she ran her nail over a section of unscaled skin on her arm, causing a small cut to form. Lily let out a timid squeak at the sight of the blood as Rose held her arm out over the book, waiting for the blood to drip down onto the pages.