"Looks like you're finally waking up."

Creation's voice rang softly in Rou's ears.

"Mm… sorry, I guess I fell asleep or something?"

"Something like that. When you're more aware, give me a response. We should talk."

".. yes of course."

It took Rou almost an hour to finally start coming to. It was so hard. Though his body was no longer sore, or tired, it's as if he was covered in mental tar and he was moving so very slowly through it. It almost felt like when he was first just a soul with no way to interact, watching the child's life go by through the window.

But finally when his awareness returned and Rou came to, he realized that he was seated on the platform in the underground chamber in the Castle. The giant chains and restraints laid on the floor uselessly all around, with no sign of the crystallized heart he had been in before.

Just as he started to look at himself, Creation said, "Hey, I said respond when you're aware."

"Ah, sorry, I just…"

"No, no, it is understandable. Just lay back and stare at the ceiling for a while, as we discuss things."

"Sure." And with that, Rou laid back and stared. His eyes felt strange. The world… looked strange. Everything about him felt warmer, like he was submerged in hot bath water.

"So, young man, not only are you lucky - as my gift allowed - but you're a clever little bastard as well. You managed to get to that crystal without dying. Good job. I was fully prepared to simply reincarnate you into a different body if you died."

"Uh…" Rou seemed rather worried, "Thank you I guess?" There was a clear lack of gratefulness in the red panda's voice.

"When I discovered you coming here, I expected you to just use your luck perk to be able to reach the crystal, but instead… you managed to get inside the damn thing on your own and even used it then. And on top of that, you let Affection and Aether elaborate on your behalf since you passed out before you could finish!" Creation seemed a bit exasperated at it.

"Lucky for you, not only have you charmed Affection quite well, but even Aether seems to be understanding of you. They do not know we are having this conversation right now of course, but you should thank them individually when you get the chance later. If it had been up to me, I would have just let you inherit the legacy fully and normally, but you probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if that was the case. Go on, open your screen."

Rou tapped on the right temple of his and it suddenly appeared.

Status Screen 1.04

Name: Rou Erial

Titles: [Pathetic] [Miracle Child] [Affection's Pet Project] [Affection's Betrothed] [Feral Cat Tamer] [System Tester] [Legacy Inheritor] [Favored by Creation]

Strength: C - 50+ [Model Adventurer focused on Strength, Supernatural]

Agility: C - 50+ [Model Adventurer focused on Agility, Supernatural]

Intelligence: D - 26++ [Clever, with a past life of memories]

Constitution: C - 50+++ [Supernatural]

Charisma: B - 10 [Aesthetically pleasing with a strange attraction to others]

Magic - Power: G - 100+ [The best foundation]

Magic - Perception: A/S++ - 100 [A step below a proverbial God]

Magic - Control: G - 100+ [The best foundation]

Magic - Capacity: A/SSS+++ - 999 [Functionally limitless]

Perks

[Subject to Affection's Whims] [Subject to Aether's Whims] [Subject to Creation's Whims] [Immaculate Soul] [Customized Looks] [Contact: Affection] [Contact: Aether][Contact: Creation] [Draconic Lifespan] [Dragon's Heart] [Dragon's Eyes] [Redemption Ticket]

Flaws

[Hoarding]

Status

[Immaculate Soul] [Sublimated Soul X - 0%]

Rou simply stared in confusion. That was… a massive change.

"So yes. I catered things towards what you seemed to want according to Affection and Aether. You can now see freely. I removed your High-dimensional glasses perk as it was no longer necessary given your perception. And, let us see… Your magical capacity is as it says, functionally limitless. I still left room for you to explore, grow and have fun. Your power and control, I feel like you'd want to figure out all that yourself. Probably far less fun otherwise. Your body is now much more capable, and you are… well, you aren't four anymore, young man. It's been quite a while."

That last bit concerned him, "My parents, they…"

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

"They were informed. Your mother was not terribly happy at all but eventually understood that between taking you back immediately and taking away your future, the choice was obvious. I will let the three of you sort that out."

"As for how long, well, a good fifteen years or thereabouts. It took far longer than expected for you to fully sublimate everything, especially with that childs body. It was only because Affection thought to have you, and your customized body from when you two first met, both sublimate simultaneously that it didn't take another fifty years. That body and yours have merged now, if you take a look."

Rou sat upright and looked himself over and indeed the childs body was gone. In its place was the body he had customized, well, mostly. Only his body beneath the extra soft, fluffy fur was much, much more firm. Defined muscles, hard enough to probably withstand an actual weapon hitting him. And…

Yes, even that aspect which he customized. His tail extra long and fluffy. Hair down to his backside as he ran his hands through the fur all over his body in surprise.

"Outside the chambers you will find a set of clothes. Handmade by your mother. She insisted. When we gave her the size through one of our oracles she about fainted, that her cute little baby was so much larger. In exchange… I doubled their lifespan so no time was taken away from them and you. At least in theory. Unfortunately, not even I can turn back time." Creation seemed a bit sad as he said that.

"Go on now."

–

Rou had stood and looked around only to see his old belongings laying on the floor nearby. That little pair of shoes, the blood-stained conttonfluff-fiber gloves and his belt made of the same material. Why did he feel so sad, and nostalgic. He felt self-centered, like he had taken away something terribly important from his new parents and truly almost felt like crying. He hadn't wanted all this. He was just following through his own curiosities. If he didn't have parents here he'd probably be on top of the world. But at the moment…

He kind of just wanted to hug his mother and apologize.

Having and raising a child was the only thing she ever wanted after she became with child despite her infertility.

Indeed though, outside the door was a simple handmade robe. She was never good at making clothes before but it seems his mother had worked hard in his absence these years to learn for this occasion. Made him feel extra guilty. Rou quickly tugged on his clothing and then used his old belt of cottonfluff to carefully pick it apart and use some of the fibers that had been spun into a twine to tie his hair back and up at the crown of his head into a loose bun to keep it out of the way.

And then he started to walk out of the castle. At least until he was spotted by a guard and immediately assaulted, "Intruder!"

"Wait, I was already inside, I'm just leaving! Surely the King made preparations for this!" Rou countered, "Haven't you all been told to expect me coming out of there one day?!"

"State your name or I'll stick you!" the rodent guard exclaimed, leveling a spear with him.

"Rou Erial!"

The guard stared in confusion, "You're not a kid…"

–

After ten minutes and once again surprising the King and Queen - who actually had a teenage daughter they briefly attempted to arrange a marriage to, as it was through Affection they had a kid or twenty(rabbits, right?) - before he was guided out and about into the city proper. "Are you sure you don't want us to take you by carriage? We can." the groundskeeper suggested. "No, no…" Rou responded softly, "I need time to collect myself. If I show up in front of my parents now I'll just get all weepy." he laughed at himself and began to walk through the streets.

It would seem his parents continued the research into the anti-gravity applications and the cottonfluff as his current clothing, including his shoes, new belt, and a pair of gloves were all made accordingly. A belt around the middle of the robe to keep it from flopping, sleeveless and the same green color as his eyes. A pair of cottonfluff-thread sandals lined with some kind of fur for comfort, and even the gloves - much more expertly crafted - this time actual leather gloves that were lined with compressed cottonfluff instead of made of it. A dark brown natural color.

Clearly his mother and father did quite a bit with this.

Being so close to the actual castle at first meant that it was more of a royal district, a bit polished, more carriages and whatnot led around by magical tools.

As he walked further along on foot after a few awkward attempts from nobles who tried to bother him with questions, which was easily pushed away with a flash of the Kings symbol which he'd received in thanks for his… 'contribution' to the bloodline of the royal family, Rou was finally able to see the grand gateway into the royal district..

And eventually Rou crossed the gateway into the commoners area which encompassed 95% of the capital city. What he hadn't expected, though, was the number of looks and stares he got from the people of the capital. Sure, they were clean, most average, some ugly, some beautiful. A normal crowd of people of varying kinds. But something about Rou caught their attention. He stood out despite not trying to.

This was all quite overwhelming to the fellow. The sights and sounds and occasions were so… unique. The sides of the main street were lined like a bazaar, selling everything from grass to ass. Quite literally, both kinds. Monster Rumps for sale for those who fancied meat on dinner plates, and scantily clad women who were skittering here and there between those who were locals and traveling trying to ply their trade.

It all seemed fairly magical to him, who was still 'new' to this world despite now having been here nearing twenty years. The odd smile on his face made him stand out a bit but most didn't pay too much attention. Anyone that pretty was probably too much trouble to harass. Probably a young lord out on his first visit to see the rabble.

Rou even got to see fighters and adventurers wandering around as well as mages, carrying staves adorned with crystals and others with more martial weapons and armor. His tail flopped around, a bit excited. He very much wanted to go and see about such things, but recalled his parents and held off. But just before he started to look around for someone to get directions from…

"Think you could use some company?" A voice spoke from nearby, soft, melodic, charming.

Rou froze up and looked towards the woman beside himself. Another red panda like him and his parents, the first other of his kind he'd seen in this world yet. She was slender, attractive in all the right ways, and very much looking at him with /those/ eyes. Covered in a pleasant perfume.

And very much offering from what he could tell.

Much to her chagrin, the attractive fellow she had flung herself at actually snorted laughing - caught off guard by being approached by a sex worker out of nowhere. She was so offended she outright slapped him across the cheek. Didn't really hurt him at all, though it shocked him despite his continued laughter, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just… didn't expect… oh geeze I'm sorry, I didn't try to laugh at you. Look, if you came up to me any other day I probably would have jumped onto you like a spider a fly, but today really is just… not the best day."

He wasn't lying. Rou had /no/ luck with romance or such in his last life. Hadn't even tried seeking it out after his teenage years. So to suddenly be offered /that/?

Yes, any other time he would have dove in like Scrooge McDuck swimming in a pool of gold.

But that wasn't on his mind at the moment.

Besides, as guilty as he felt for making his parents wait fifteen years, he didn't have the heart to make them wait even another ten seconds as that would probably be about how long he'd get to enjoy himself anyways.

The woman was quite offended, ears back and rather angry, but softened as he added, "I am off to see my parents you see, I have not seen them for many years. So perhaps you can understand what you offered simply came at a bad time?"

"Oh… you are being serious?"

"Yes, I am. I'm Rou. You?"

"Celia."

"Well, Celia, I promise… as soon as I don't feel guilty for making my parents worry and wait all these years, I will come find you, pay you twice what you normally ask, and we can go from there?"

She snorted once again and tried to slap him, though as he was paying attention now he actually managed to dart his hand up and grab her wrist only to surprise himself and let it go.

She just stared at him flatly.

"Nice reflexes, but… I am no whore, I am just… ugh. I guess that's my own fault for offering that way." Celia grumbled and leaned to kiss Rou quite suddenly, leaving him unable to respond as his first kiss in this life was taken by someone whose name he had just heard. "I offered because I am bored and you are pleasing to the eyes. I don't take coin for my time. Treat me like a whore again and I will make you regret it. Okay~"

That last word of hers was laced with sugar as the rest was laced with venom.

"...right, right, Celia. Sorry."

"Good boy. Now, where are your parents? I will take you and you will keep me company until you get there, consider it payment for mistaking me for a whore. Then I'll be on my way."

Before Rou could even complain, she had taken his hand in hers and interlaced their fingers, walking him in the same direction he was going as Rou awkwardly gave Celia the manor and address information.

"Oh… well, look at you, parents live there you say? Mm… let's go."

–

Right as they got to the corner where his parents supposedly were, she bumped his hip with hers. "Remember, not a whore." And she leaned up to kiss his cheek again before walking away with a light wag of her fingers.

What he didn't see was her shaking her hand lightly from the earlier slap, clenching and unclenching her fingers. It felt like she had slapped a suit of armor. Why were all the cute ones strange?

Rou was a bit… overwhelmed by it all. Was it his new Charisma? Or something about the draconic aspect? Was he stuck with others 'wanting his genes' as was the case for the bachelor dragon?

He shivered and realized now he smelled like Celia's perfume.

'I'll just tell my parents someone tried to sell me perfume on the way and got a bit pushy. …yeah, that'll work.' And not that he was truly considering making them wait another ten seconds. Even if he knew he probably wouldn't last that much longer, he /very much/ craved those ten seconds with Celia.

Finally Rou rounded the corner and approached the doorway to the manor, banging the metal knocker on the fairly simple door and waiting.

Nothing.

He rapped the knocker again.

Still nothing.

At which point he happened to hear something roughly from around the back of the place, over top the stone wall that surrounded the property at large. Walking around the side of the place and hopping up to peek over the wall…

The first thing he saw was his mother, who looked a bit older now, with her hair far shorter and pulled up in a bun compared to how she used to have it when he was younger - long and free - being punched in the nose quite squarely by his father.