-Wolf territory. Morning. 3RD POV-

By the middle of the morning, the purple-blue Dragon had covered almost a third of the way to the Coast without encountering any Beasts in the blue skies, now completely dominated by thick clouds and a resplendent Sun half-way to its zenith. By now, over three Kilometers above the plains in Wolf territory, the purple-blue Dragon and the white-haired rider were exhausted from their reckless play in the sky. He was preserving Mana, and the static lightning that usually jumps on his body was suppressed for now while the girl was acting as Lookout.

The white-haired girl sitting over the hair fibers on the scaly neck while holding onto the cold metallic collar looked ahead while squinting her eyes to endure the wind gusts and called out with a voice lacking energy. "Neeeefiiiii...!"

Hm? The young Dragon flapping his sore wings vigorously heard the feeble voice and flickered his long ears while glancing back.

"Haa! Haahh!" Shaila panted with sweat glistening in the sun as she recovered enough to demand. "Let's stop playing already... I'm too tired for that... Huuuf~" She raised her voice over the wind gusts flapping her clothes and hair.

The Dragon's snout twitched in annoyance and flapped his purple-blue wings powerfully. *Fwoh--WHOSH! Swoh--WOOSH! WHOSH!...* He moved out of a wind current and began slowing down to catch his breath and reply. "...Tired? HUAFF! HUAFF! You aren't even--HUK! The one fla-flapping massive wings to--huaff! Keep Tons of weight airborne--Huff!" Nefiru complained as his deep voice reached the rider in favor of the subsiding wind easily. *Fwooohhh...*

"I WISH...!" Shaila retorted while sitting upright and looked at each purple blue wings lowering and raising rhythmically as her body moves up and down gently. She waited until another gust of wind passed and spoke up nearly yelling. "This must be the first time in aaaaalll my lives to reach the clouds. Huff! The first time to see a sunrise up here. The first time to see a broader picture of the World. The first time to feel so free, so...above the mundane world..." She declared solemnly as the dragon quietly listened. "Who wouldn't want to experience this personally?"

"Uhh... People with fear of heights? I'm amazed you didn't leak..."

"Geh! Sha-shadap... Don't ruin the moment!"

"You asked..."

"Rethorically!"

"..."

"Anyway, where was I? ... Oh, yes..." The girl recalled her thoughts and clenched the scaly neck with her legs before letting go of the grip on the collar, then lifted both arms as the wind gusts flapped her clothes and swayed the tied-up white hair noisily. Confirming that she was secured, the Light user took a deep breath and shouted ahead.  "Haap! Flying is AMAZING! Yaahoooooo~!" Having exerted herself with the little stun, she gripped the collar handles and leaned against the collar once again. "Huff! Huff!" She panted with eyes closed and began using Light magic to heal her muscles. Ow... It's hard to breathe even with magic...

"Yeah, right--Hruff!" Nefiru snorted and rolled his eyes. "It's hard work, it's what it is!" He protested once again and stopped the wings horizontally. *SWOooosh!* The dragon began gliding slowly with the forelegs relaxed under the body as he readied magic to heal his sore muscles.

The litle girl interrupted the regeneration and admonished sternly. "EY! Other Beasts don't complain so much..." So cranky... Could he want...praise? "You are doing super duper GRRREEAAT~!" She spoke up enthusiastically to encourage the Beast and resumed healing herself.

"Hm-hmm..."

"You are!" She reaffirmed and recalled the books about flying beast that her brother had. "It was ... rough at first, but you are flying smoothly now. And those maneuvers? It can take other Beasts and riders years of practice." Though I didn't do anything...

"Tha-thanks..." Nefiru stammered at the sudden praise, then looked ahead while making a smug expression before concentrating on healing his wings again.

Shaila, pleased to have cheered up the grumpy dragon, smiled broadly and chuckled. "Eheheheeng~ Don't worry, Nefi. Flying will get easier as you get older and get a higher Rank."

"Y-yeah..." The Dragon uttered mildly embarrassed before his expression gradually turned gloomy, then spoke up with a somber tone. "Although it pains me to admit that Rayan's memories helped the most with flying. I haven't even tried all the things he did in his Dragon body. Seriously, they knew Dragon Kung-fu or something..."

"Oh... Um... Don't lose to him!"

"Heh heh... The 'past me' probably didn't. These subtle sensations have guided me without even realizing. They feel so nostalgic now that I've become fully aware of their existence...as if...I've flown for several lifetimes... No wonder my infant brain couldn't handle the full download."

"Ahhh... I feel the same way about running and hunting and...other things, yet I can barely sprint for a few minutes in this human body... I can understand Beast body language, yet I can't even growl menacingly or...do other beastly things..."

"Yeah--Pfftahaha! Your growls are as cute as a puppy's!"

"Geh! It makes my throat sore too..." The white-haired girl muttered, then closed her eyes, and sighed. "Haahh..." She opened them again and looked ahead. "At least, one of us can follow their instincts--You...have stopped ignoring your instincts, right?"

"Yes, ma'am! I'm doing my best not to suppress those tendencies anymore. I have actually let them take over occasionally."

"Good draggy! I'll reward you later~"

"Hooh... I'll look forward to it, Masta!" The Dragon enlivened with a smile on his scaly muzzle and ears perked before wondering what to say next.

Fufufu... He's expecting something naughty again, isn't he? Nefi sure likes this body of mine~ Shaila mused while smiling mischievously, then turned serious a second later. Even though I am considered 'damaged goods' by my own family, even though I'm just a pretty doll that a rough Dragon can't embrace...Nefi still finds me attractive. Even more mysteriously, I can feel spiritually that we would like each other regardless of the vessel. Which suits us just fine. I will be able to make him happy even if it takes a hundred years for Nefi to get a humanoid body, or I, a Beast vessel... Yes, I'M supposed to please him! Not some weird Vixen that he met yesterday or some Wolf that just wants his seed or a Dragoness that won't like him for who he is... Hmph! But in the meantime...we must put more effort into Magic before--

"Oh, hey Shaila..." The dragon called out interrupting her pondering before glancing back again. "I'm also having deep cravings for a creature--"

"Ehhh?! It's not me, is it?"

"No, no... Besides eating you or that weird Fox in the north."

"Phew~!"

"Heh heh... It's something else. Not sure what though."

"Umm... It could be something that your current parents eat or your past-self ate. I remember that Shimmer knew instinctively what animals to eat and how to find them in the frozen land from the genes passed on to her, but now, it's only the knowledge of knowing that. If I see them, I might get a familiar feeling though."

"Ohhh... That could be another cause of Deja'vu. I'll need to delve deeper into these feelings..." He acknowledged with eyes opened wide and continued. "But there's also a desire to eat rocks that I think it's related..."

"Huh? Rocks...?!!" She uttered with a puzzled face as wolves never needed such a diet.

"Yep! I remember eating rocks and dirt when I was little. My siblings do it too...mostly Brother. I think we need it if we grow too fast and prey cannot provide the necessary elements for our bones and scales. Hence, why the cravings have increased since I stopped eating Snakes..."

"So, umm, your body is lacking something and your instincts are urging you to get it? Or...eat it..."

"It seems that way."

"That's good!"

"But they aren't clear enough! Grruff!" The scaly beast grumbled, feeling frustrated and exhaled deeply. "HUUuuf! The problem is that those urges are increasing and becoming harder to satisfy them..."

"I see... Umm... Sadly, I don't remember reading anything about Dragon diets. The books just said your body would strengthen with age and Magic."

"Veeeryyy helpful... You need better books." Nefiru retorted with slanted eyes.

"Yes. Can you believe they have stuff written like, um, Light is slow, Space is like Water, Lightning corrupts matter, Darkness eats Time and other nonsense?"

"The hell...?!"

"No worries, I'll get better books at the Capital."

"Meh! Too slow. Maybe it's something simple..."

"Umm... What about your birthplace...?"

"Hoh? That sounds promising... But intruding Father's place is dangerous."

"How about offering him food and asking nicely? It can work for wolves..."

"Denied. I don't trust Father one bit after our last encounter."

Ah! He killed that wolf... Hmph! The loss of an ally is tragic, but I am glad that I don't have to deal with another unworthy female claiming Nefi... The girl thought with contempt after recalling the event and reconsired. "But there must be a reason for Dragons to be living in such weird places. It can't be just for Elementals. I mean, why or how would Bloodlines get the toughest scales of your race?"

"Hmm... Good point. I took the easy way to enhance my scales, but there are unknown things about my body that I should find out..."

"It will be easier to just ask the Dragons at the Capital..."

"Agh! It would be embarrassing as heck... I can't even speak Dragon language well! Ugh... It seems that flying is about the only thing I've done right as a Dragon." The scaly beast sounded defeated with ears lowered, accepting the situation.

"Flying is all that matters!" Shaila exclaimed energetically and continued encouraging. "Remember that we don't have Airplanes, Cars or Trains here. There aren't even roads to all inhabited places, so just having a common flying Beast Trained is more important than horses or a fancy carriage."

"Hmm... True... A flying Magical Beast could be like military Aircraft. Magic Arts is a shortcut to technology, after all... Too bad I'm not a Wind or Fire Beast, so I can never be as fast as them..."

"Eeehh... But can't you use propulsion with water already?"

"Hm? Yeess, but compressed Water consumes way too much Mana for a short burst and it's dangerous to use regularly. Although..." The purple-blue beast explained before recalling the aftermath of his fight in the human town. "I could make ice rockets with Water Vapor and supercharge it with Lightning--... Hell no! I would look totally ridiculous!"

"Eehhh... But don't you always say functionality first, and aesthetics second?"

"Grrr... Fine... I'll give it some thought. It has other applications anyway..."

"Good." The girl approved with a nod and mumbled with a serious face. "Nefi shouldn't lose to those Spoiled and Tamed Beasts at the Capital..."

"Heeh~ Beast pride, huh? I'll ask Alphonse for advice..." The Dragon mused while glancing back and turned to the front reminiscing. "But, you know, it sucks way more for those brainwashed Beasts. A force suppressing your consciousness... it feels like getting your mind raped by a strong intent." Quite similar to what Erina did, actually... "I was lucky the Fragment allowed me to resit and the Tamer chickened out, but imagine slaves being in that state for a very long time." He declared and paused for a moment to allow the girl to process.

"...Nefi..." Shaila uttered in a sympathetic tone and tried to imagine the despairing pointy of view. Getting abused mentally and physically for decades--Ugh! She compared and shivered while making a twisted face. Yet...there's the hope that it won't last forever. The hope to find a sliver of happiness within all the suffering and make a wretched life worth it...

The Dragon, gliding smoothly while healing his wings, resumed the conversation. "So... I don't think I can resort to enslaving creatures to make soldiers. Which is a waste, considering how many Darkness wolves there are. But, haha, 'Tamer Beasts' sounds hilarious, right?"

"Umm, yes, it's ironic... But...not many Darkness users can actually 'Tame' without the Collar or keep many slaves under control anyway. Most 'Tamers' just operate it."

"Ohh... Why doesn't Alphonse tell us these things?!"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"He...doesn't say much...even if he knew... My Father also ordered him to keep quiet."

"Bah! Idiots... What else...?"

"Uhmm... I just read that certain individuals with Darkness Affinity can connect their Spirit with others which grants them an abnormally high influence for their Rank."

"Seriously!!? It sounds familiar..."

"Yes, but it depends on factors like susceptibility, Rank, Talent...things like that. So, they need a teacher or years of practice. It's a secret like the Light regeneration that I taught you."

"Hmm... How odd... Unless--!"

"Unless it has something to do with Souls and dispositions?"

"Yep! I've been wondering for a while about Affinities that magicians reject with the awakening. What if they pick the wrong Affinity or qualify for a second one?"

"Umm, the best hypothesis is that those Affinities can still influence your magic arts almost like a second one would."

"Seriously?"

"It's all speculation." She shrugged and stretched her legs while making a rustle over the hair fibers. "If it were so simple, I would be a Healer by now with only Light magic."

"True... There must be conditions to activate the ability, or perhaps having a certain disposition or maybe it's something like Grand Affinities."  I wonder if the Dragon Demigod forces a mating season...

"Umm... But I-I don't really care about healing others anymore, I want to hurt them."

"...Wut?!"

"That came out wrong... I meant that I want to do more damage with my Magic. I will be your DPS, and you, my Paladin hehe..."

"Aaaww~ That's so nerdy..."

"Hihihi~"

"But...you can't do AOE attacks like Fire users."

"Geh!" Shaila uttered as her expression darkened from the helplessness of comparing herself with the foxes and recalling past insults. "That...  I-I-I DON'T CARE!" She barked back angrily and then turned even more serious. "I am finally happy with Light Magic... I am finally happy with my life..." The girl announced in a solemn tone and lowered her head with a sad, angry look. I was just too dumb and too hurt to realize that I could still find happiness, that there are many amazing things that can only be experienced as a Human...

"Hmm..." Suddenly, the topic turned heavy... "It still bothers you that others called Light Magic useless, huh?"

"Ah!" Shaila opened her eyes wide realizing that she snapped and blushed. "S-sorryyy... I--"

"Never mind that. What were they right about?"

"Ah? Uhm... It-it's true that without Water Affinity, Light users cannot become Healers. A-and without a profound knowledge, Light Magic IS pretty much...useless."

"Good. Just accept that and move on. Don't let the bad memories torment you, learn from them or give them less importance."

"I...I understand... This is no time to be angry about the past. This is a time to rejoice!" Shaila acknowledged while loosening her grip and lifted her head before smiling broadly.

The gliding Beast couldn't help but give an approving nod back at her with a grin. "Mmn. I'm proud of ya, Wolfie."

"Eeek! I'm proud of my Pet too~ You have achieved so much in such a short period of time..."

"Ha! You haven't seen anything yet. Once my wing muscles reach optimal condition, we get to High Rank, and I master Healing magic, we'll be able to tour the World!"

"Hurray for Nefi Airlines!"

"!? Puahaha! How the hell do you remember everything I tell you?"

"Fufu... Because I am a genius!"

"Yes, yes, you are pretty smart for your age, but Magic Rank only help so much with memory retention."

"Umm..." Shaila thought back to the time her head was filled with mundane things of this world before replying. "Memory association? We are always having these discussions in weird places or doing something odd..." She explained and paused to look at the misty clouds moving at a distance all around. "And because it's really interesting hearing about another World! We really need 'Movies and Games' here by the way--AHH! You should make images with Light Magic and Sounds with Lighting!"

"The hell!? You want to turn me into a Movie Theater too?"

The girl locked eyes with him and grinned mischievously. "Fufufu~ You are the whole package!" I couldn't have asked for a better Partner. Buying a Dragon was the Best. Idea. Evee~eer!

"...I guess, I am..." The Beast muttered with a smug expression and reviewed. I do have clear memories, and some experience with pictures, but... Uff! I struggle to make simple images with my Light Talent... Oh, I wonder if I can replicate music too? Hm-hmm... He pondered and glanced behind at the girl who was waiting expectantly. "Cheeky girl... I'll rock your world!"

"...!! Kyaahh~ So confident... Nihihihi~!" The white-haired girl shrieked and giggled sweetly with a bright smile.

Her level of cuteness is off the charts when she's happy... The scaly Beast appreciated the sight and looked ahead before teasing. "Somebody is rather energetic..."

"Eh!? Oh... Yes, I've been using regeneration on my muscles trying to cure fatigue. But it's not as good as what healers do and a certain Dragon kept interrupting me, so I'm still quite sore."

"Heeh~ Not bad." Nefiru commended her efforts and prepared another mass of magic in his Core. "Alright I'm almost done with my Wings, so I'll recover you next."

"Already!!?"

"Well...it's healed enough..."

"B-but your body is huge! And you barely learned..."

"Yeaaah, but I cheated to learn Lifeforce, and I was a good Healer in Video Games."

"What does that have to do--Mu! You make everything look so easy that it's frustrating to compare..."

"Look who's talking... I can't even catch up to your Rank with a Mana supply, Cheats, and using High-Rank abilities."

"Hehe... But people Rank up faster than Beasts. There is far less Spirit volume to convert. And it gets increasingly harder the higher you climb in ranks."

"Yeah, yeah..." The Dragon grumbled, then slipped his magic through the channels in his body, between the scales and through the mass of hair fibers pressed down by the girl sitting on top before shooting upwards as strongly as he could control Spirit. *Zroom!*

"Hyaah!!? W-why through my butt??"

"Pfft! It was closer, and you are sore here too, right?"

"Ugh... You didn't have to be so rough. It's unsettling..."

"But I got to hear those cute shrieks of yours bwuahaha!"

"Mu! Jerk..." Shaila mumbled while narrowing her eyes and pouted. She then moved a mass of magic out her body secretly, then under the beast rear and into his tail hole. *Zwuong!*

"GUAH!??" The scaly beast jerked his body in the air, whipping the tail downwards and looking below by reflex. "M-my ass... This is Pet abuse!"

"It's payback!" Countered the girl wriggling her Magic energy inside the dragon's body. "Maybe I should create a large crystal here..."

"O-oiii... Point taken, point taken!"

"Hmph! You sure enjoyed teasing a traumatized little girl."

"Yeah... Too bad the little girl lost most of her shame without people around. Huuu~"

"Eum... I-it cannot be helped. I don't see Nefi as a Human anymore. My past memories are mostly to blame..."

"...I feel like I'm losing my humanity as well... But I am pretty happy with what I am."

"Good for you. And you feel very comfortable even compared to other Beasts."

"Uh-huh... Now, stop interrupting. I need to focus..."

"Yess~" The girl complied and continued exploring the Dragon's body gently.

"Let's see what makes you tick..." Nefiru announced and closed his eyes before concentrating on the Spiritual senses while gradually losing altitude with a smooth gliding. He found an easy spot with the abundant Lifeforce in her buttock, then began reading the energy wavelengths of a string twisting and turning within several Cells. "Well, this is odd. Your life force frequency is 23% longer than mine."

"Um... Why would it be the same?"

"Ooh... W-well, I'm going to memorize it now."

"Ehh!? Isn't it easier just to feel those vibrations and replicate them?"

"Er... You know that I like to quantify everything. Feelings are often too unreliable and cannot be described. Besides, I don't have the experience to do it by sensations alone. This process is like reading a Symphony written in a scrunched paper and then playing the Tunes with different instruments perfectly."

"Ah, that's true. And it's especially important for Magic arts since the more precise commands you give to Elementals, the more powerful the effect and control is." Which is why I need to comprehend Light at a deeper level...

"Hmm-hmm.." This is slow without Brain Boost... Only 12 % progress... Hm? Wait...don't I know this section here already? Why would it be familiar when I only learned to make MY Life-force? Hmm... No way... It can't be! But...if the Life force is compatible... "Shaila! Keep your Spirit steady near here."

"Um? You couldn't do that elsewhere..." She rolled her eyes muttering, but complied and wrapped the Spirit threads left inside her body around the intruder's.

"Er... I didn't say 'Choke my Spirit.'"

"My body, my rules. And you like it anyway. I can feel it."

"Uh-huh..."

"You do!"

"Sure..." He acknowledged without paying much attention and focused on comparing their Spirit and Life energies. Is it here? It should be... Hmm... A few minutes later, the Dragon discovered the Spirit patch that corresponded to that section of her Life-force which felt familiar and it made him tremble in joy and awe. AHA! Found it! There's no mistake... This patch in Shaila's Spirit...IS ALSO IN MY SPIRIT!

"Nefi... Why does it feel good to rub our Spirits together? Even the wolves say it's abnormal..."

"Uhh..." Oh, crap! Did my intentions leak? "...Beeecause...you were my Mate in a past life."

"I...don't know..." The white-haired girl mumbled looking at the shiny collar and narrowed her eyes in doubt. "I feel like there has to be a better explanation. We instantly liked each other the moment we met and our Spiritual attraction has only been growing ever since. Do you really have no idea?"

"Guh! A-alright, alright, I confess. I-it's because I am a lolicon! I love that flat body of yours with such piety that there is no room to like another..."

"Uh-huh... And water is wet." Shaila retorted with a blank face before the insult registered. "HEY! Why are you still calling me flat?"

"Uhh... Because your curves look tiny from my perspective? I just haven't had a good look..." And you are not an adult...

"Nu-huh... You have reached your pervy quota."

"There's a quota??!"

"Uhn. A goal... You can take a peek if you reach the next Soul stage."

"Hooh? Interesting. I was just teasing though."

"Haah?! You made me look like the pervert!"

"Huhuhu~"

"You jerk..." Although... I'm the one who teased him as Liana does... Oh, Gods! I'm the one perverting Nefi! Agh! I'm also turning into a pervert! What's happening here?!?! Wait a moment... "You totally changed the subject!"

"Oh, sorry. What was it again?"

"Stop playing dumb! I can tell that you are hiding something about our spiritual connection. What did you find? You always have some theory, yet you keep brushing me off about this."

"...I don't think I should tell you just yet. Especially not up here."

"Typical Nefi. You probably have reasons, but I don't care. I want to know everything about us." She declared while giving an unyielding stare with her silvery eyes as the wind gusts blow the loose white hair around her face.

"...Ugh! Fine..." Nefiru accepted but stayed quiet for a moment thinking where to begin. "Uh... You are right. I did have some ideas, but most proved wrong as clues piled up. The feelings when we met, my memory remnants before reincarnating, your messed up memories...all indicate that something happened before you were born in this life. Something terrible."

"Uh-hum... Some of my past memories do feel recent..."

"Right. Do remember when I offered my soul?"

"Un... It was selfish of me to corner you like that. I was too spoiled..."

"Yes, yes... Typical rich girl. Anyway, I gave it some more thought, and maybe...that idea to give you my Soul wasn't as original as I thought. Maybe I deduced it subconsciously or maybe remnant feelings of a past life influenced me..."

"Are you saying...this is our second life meeting as a Human and Dragon??"

"I can't confirm that. But I just confirmed that our Spirit feels so compatible because we share 8% of the frequency."

"Whaaa--!!!? Our Spirit is...?!"

"Yep! Your timing was too good haha! Maybe I would have never realized without learning Healing. I wonder if the wolves missed it..."

"Weew! What are the chances...?"

"Oh, uhh, judging by the permutations...like winning the lottery."

"Huaa~ That's amazing!"

"Yeah, but it's s actually something more fundamental."

"Like?"

"Well, keep in mind I don't know how it works, so it might be just speculation, but it explains everything..."

"What???"

"Huuu..." Nefiru sighed, blinked once and replied. "I think you already have...a piece of my Soul."

Shaila tilted her head with a blank look and uttered. "...Huuuh?! Why...??"

"Remember your recent dream of a room with a single bed, a desk and a large window to the left?"

"Yes. I think it's a prison for Nobles though."

"Well, it matches perfectly my bedroom on Earth... That white window in front of the Desk is probably my computer screen."

"...W-WHAT!?"

"That weird dream you keep having...are my memories, Shaila."

The revelation stroke the girl's mind like thunder, and several emotions overwhelmed her before exploding with a loud shriek. "WhaaAAAAAAHHTT??!!??"

"GAH! My ears! What the hell?!"

Little did they know that the girly scream resounded in the clouds and alerted a hungry Beast that buzzed not far away from within a swarm. *ZruuUUurururu~!!*

Moments later, the flustered Dragon was still trying to calm down the distressed girl who was having trouble accepting the situation.

"AAAH! What am I supposed to thiiiiiiiink???"

"It's okay, it's okay! Don't let go of the Collar. Take it slooow. I went through the same thing... Let the shock pass!"

"Huff! Huff! This is too absuuurd!"

"I know... Just talk it out. It's not that bad once you comprehend it, I promise."

"Uugghhh... I-I had another Soul in me all along?? How??? Whyyy?? Am I a Human because of that? Is everything that happened Nefi's fault? Why don't I have recent memories of Grey Mate?"

"I'm so sorry, Shaila." Nefiru apologized in a grave tone and shook his head. "I do not know. We can only speculate until you remember more. But I am sure that you weren't forced into this."

"How do you know??!" She accused while leaning forward.

"We talk about this before, right?"

"Ah..." The girl sounded in realization as she recalled the topic and sat back down relaxing. "Y-yes... Shimmer must have accepted this... B-but look how much it has changed me! I'm not even the same being anymore!"

"I understand your frustration, but our Past Lives had their reasons too."

"It's too unfair!"

"...You are being unreasonable. This is why I didn't want to say anything yet."

"Agh!" Shaila blurted as her expression scrunched and looked down at her legs, feeling embarrassed and saddened to be admonished.

*Swhooooh~* The dragon continued gliding in silence while losing altitude as the girl fought the turmoil in her head.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"...No... The current you didn't do anything bad... I'm sorry..."

"I don't need your apology. I need your understanding."

"Uhn..."

"Is it that appalling to have a part of me?"

"...No... I wouldn't have minded this happening in the future when my personality was fully my own, but I was influenced without my approval..." She declared while lifting the head and threw him a dismayed look. 

"Point taken. But a patch less than a tenth of your Soul with vague memories from assimilating my Soul can't affect your personality nearly as much as Shimmer does."

"No? That's where my perverted inclinations came from, isn't it? Isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah... I did watch a lot of Porn there hah hah..."

"Haaahhh... Boys... Well, if I start liking other girls then it's going to be your fault...somehow."

"NOOOO! I'll cry..."

"Fufufu~"

"Hehe... There's that precious smile that not many get to see... Are you alright now?"

"Uhn! I will be more than 'alright.' I won't be confused anymore." Shaila declared while maintaining her smile and moved her right hand to the rags covering her chest. "I will cherish this part of you within me. You...were always there when I suffered... I won't feel alone hehe. You should have trusted me with this secret--Unless...you have other reasons for not telling me..."

"Uhh..."

"No, don't answer that now. Let's go take a break on the ground first." The girl ordered and glanced below. "...Are those Lakes?"

"Hm? It looks like a Marshland."

I could use a refreshing splash... "Land there." She pointed with the right hand towards the Northwest.

"Now?"

"Yes, now! I-I have to relieve myself soon..."

"I can take care of it."

"It's number two..."

"I'll land right away!"

"Fufu... You refined Beast!"

"Er... I have to go as well..." Nefiru corrected and turned his wings speeding up their descent. A minute later, a ballistic sound zipped by the left side of his head closely. *Shiuuuu~* "Hm!? 'Shuu?'" The Dragon widened his eyes alarmed and looked around for the source of the noise until he finally found a possible culprit tens of meters below. Albeit it was only a dot at this point. "Hey, Shaila..."

"Mm?"

"Did you lose a fruit or something?"

"I...don't think so...?" She replied, feeling unsure, and glanced at the elongated bag hanging from her shoulder. "Nope! But I am hungry."

*Shiuuuu~* Another projectile zipped by the Beast's head at a speed that only registered as a foot-long blur.

"There!" Nefiru affirmed following the object visually and asked. "Did you see it?"

"Yes, it was probably a bird or an insect..." Shaila asserted and looked up at the thick cloud over a hundred meters above them. She wanted to probe the hazy mist, but the insides were out of range just as the creatures far below.

The Dragon looked up while expanding his purple view and peered into the cloud. "You were right. It looks like thousands of insects swarming around something larger up there and some of them are descending this way. Weird..."

"Insects...? Hmm..." The girl mumbled while trying to remember. Ah! She realized as her expression hardened and ordered with dread. "Nefi... RUN!"

"...Huh?"

"FLY AWAY!!" The girl commanded once again and enveloped the Beast with her magic before bending the light and turning them both invisible. *Ziuunn~!*