-Chapter Thirty-Five-
Dragon’s Heiress
As Aelius watched the Aerianne Archduchess miserably die, he suddenly heard a roar from behind him and whipped his head around in time to see the Aerianne Archduke unsheathe his blade and charge at him.
The young teenager realised he couldn’t dodge in the narrow corridor, the man being far too close now, but as he resolved himself for a dangerous wound, he heard Aria cry out.
“Nooo!” her shrill voice echoed around them.
Before Aelius could react yet again, a light blue shadow dashed out in front of him and Aelius flinched as blood splattered onto his face.
All the roaring wind he could hear suddenly faded into dead silence and he heard Aria’s soft, vulnerable voice squeak and gasp from the shock of the blade plunging into her waist side.
“A-Aria…” the Archduke stumbled backward, stunned as Aelius took in the sight before him with wide eyes.
A large metal blade stuck out of her body and he saw her legs wobble.
The scene was all too surreal, but worst of all, it was all too familiar.
Suddenly, it felt like he had returned to the hellish past of his last life.
She fell without a noise backward toward him and he quickly stepped forward to catch her, gently laying her down into his lap as he pulled the sword out and flung it with brutal strength into the wall nearby.
Aria’s face was expressionless.
There wasn’t even a hint of fear in her eyes in her dying moment.
Instead, she was just gazing at him.
It was just like how she died in his last life, he couldn’t tell what was going on through her head.
Ah, right.
It was the look of someone who had faced death before.
That apathy.
There was familiarity in her demeanour.
How funny, that as someone is dying, they look as though they are calmly greeting an old acquaintance when faced with the grim reaper.
Aelius felt his eyes begin to sting.
That’s so messed up.
Suddenly, he felt as though a lifetime of woes and regrets had bubbled up to the surface from within him, and he reached forward, shouting her name.
“Why’d you do that? You idiot! You fucking idiot!” he spat, looking down at the gruesome wound that soaking her clothes and his hands.
Gazing back up, he saw blood trickling down from the sides of her mouth while she lay still. Her eyes were slowly, slowly falling shut.
Why? Why did she do this?
He pursed his lips as he began to gather his energy within him, closing his eyes to focus.
I shouldn’t have brought her here. Why did I have to bring her here? Why didn’t I foresee that the Devils would be waiting for us? Have I become too dependent on my knowledge of the future? Everything is changing so fast.
He inhaled sharply.
This time, I will change Aria’s fate.
Please, please be strong enough to work. Please don’t let me lose someone again.
The prerequisites for the innate talent Phoenix’s Love has been satisfied.
Phoenix’s Love is now taking effect.
「Phoenix’s Love」
Wounds that greatly impair or have the chance to cause permanent damage to the individual will trigger this skill and heal over a good nine-hour sleep.
The power to heal over sleep is only possessed by the Phoenix. For a human to come to possess this power, they must be the one the Phoenix blessed, at the cost of their own life. Imbued with power from the one who adored you, may you wake up from the long dream anew.
Side effect: Rekindling!
This skill heals by administering an effect similar to rewinding time. This effect however, if triggered, will affect parts of the User’s mind.
Caution is recommended!
The worse the wounds, the higher chance of triggering or increasing the intensity of the side effect Rekindling.
Alert!
Rekindling has been triggered - fatal wounds detected on the target.
Through the passive skill 「Universality」, the side effect 「Rekindling」is resonating in symphony with the passive skill 「Liberation」. The effects of Rekindling have a higher chance of being amplified the more severe the wounds to the User due to 「Liberation」.
「Universality」
Create hybrid skills from pre-existing skills that are originally entirely separate. Splice and dice skills freely.
United in Mind, Body and Soul.
Side effect: Automatic Activation Factor!
Universality has the certain chance of activating on its own where Skills naturally correlate to some degree.
The skill Universality has combined the effects of Rekindling and Liberation. Rekindling will now exhibit the functional effects of the Mind’s Eye.
Rekindling has been altered into a new side effect:
「Burst Bridge」
The user’s mind will open like flood gates, allowing more water than ever before to flow through.
Connect your mind to the outer world. Become one with what you witness.
Repeat, Rekindling has been triggered - due to the fatality of the wound, the Burst Bridge threshold has been satisfied.
Burst Bridge is activating…
The system urges the user to protect their psyche so it may remain intact and… dream well…
…
…
Aelius’ eyes widened as his irises began to glow a fiery orange, and he grabbed onto Aria’s hand, channelling his energy into her.
With relief, he watched as her veins began to glow with his powers.
Hah… he sighed heavily, seeing her wound rapidly begin to regenerate.
His knowledge of the skill Universality kicked in on its own, an ability which he came across in his past life that allowed him to splice and dice skills as he pleased.
Normally, Phoenix’s Love was unable to heal severely fatal wounds. Perhaps it was because Aria took the blade in the gut instead of the heart, or perhaps combining Reklinding with Liberation strengthened the regenerative properties of Phoenix’s Love, but it was a big relief to see that somehow, Aelius was able to save her.
Thank Goddess- he thought but froze as he suddenly felt dizziness overwhelm him and the world disappear.
Trapped in darkness, he looked around him with bewilderment, and then suddenly his clarity began to leave him.
He felt weight push heavily down on his eyelids, and his eyes began to flutter against his will, until his consciousness went under, and he was no longer awake, falling into a forced slumber.
—-----------------------
-Many years ago-
“Aria, listen to me,” a pair of hands firmly clasped onto the young girl’s shoulders.
Maybe four or five, the girl looked up at her mother with a clueless gaze.
“You must awaken the God Eyes, do you understand?” Aria tilted her head in wonder, looking at her mother with light blue eyes.
“Mama?” she asked.
“Call me mother!” the woman hissed, startling the young girl. “You must awaken the God Eyes! Okay? You must awaken them!”
Aria looked at her mother in confusion, and at her lacklustre reaction, her mother bit her lip in frustration.
“Listen to me!”
The young Aria felt a sting across her cheek, and upon realising she was slapped, began to cry and wail.
“Wahhhh-!” she cried without even reaching up to feel the wound, only crying her head off when her mother slapped her again, stunning her into silence.
“No crying! Or I’ll slap you again, you dastardly child!” the woman hissed and Aria fell silent, unsure of why she was being punished.
“The God Eyes! Okay? The God Eyes! The God Eyes!” the woman towered over her, repeatedly drilling the words into the young Aria’s mind. “Your light blue eyes that you inherited from me are ugly! Ugly!” the maddened woman hissed. “It needs to turn gold. It must be gold.”
The daughter tried her best to remain silent, miserably sniffling when her mother noticed her dejectedness.
“Aww…” Aria braced herself instinctively for another blow, but was surprised when her mother knelt down and put a comforting hand on her cheek.
“Mother’s sorry, my sweet dear.”
She was pulled into a hug by the larger woman, who gave her a consoling rub on the back.
“Mother was just too stressed. Mother didn’t mean to hurt you. Don’t be sad, okay?”
Aria felt the urge to cry again, but her mother pulled away and gently caught her tear with a finger.
“You need to help mother not be angry, okay? You need to be a good girl and listen to what mother says. Will you be a good girl?”
Met with the question, Aria could only nod and her mother gave her a warm smile.
“Then no more crying. There’s a good girl.”
Aria felt relief that her mother was suddenly treating her nicely again, but the young girl had no idea this would be the first of many times.
“There’s no way that bitch Leislette is getting to have my daughter. She’s mine. I won’t her over when she’s supposed to restore our forgotten honour,” the Aerianne Archduchess muttered menacingly under her breath.
—-----------------------
“Today, we’re taking you to meet someone very special, Aria,” a voice from a blurry memory said warmly, and she looked up to see the familiar silhouette of her father smiling down at her.
Blinding lights flooded in from either side of her, and she looked around to see they were in a carriage.
“Someone special?” the young five year old repeated, before her eyes lit up with excitement. “Who!?”
“A friend you can make. I want you to be nice to him. I know you will, since our Aria is such a good girl, right?” The Aerianne Archduke gave Aria a loving head rub, and she gleefully nodded.
“I’ll be a good girl!”
The young, frail girl shyly hid behind her father as they unboarded the carriage.
Dressed in a cutesy little dress with black shoes and a ribbon-bow, she clung tightly to her father’s sleeves.
The weather down here was far colder than where she lived, and she had no idea how far they travelled to get here.
The house before them was in the middle of the city, unlike the country-side where she was from, but the manor itself was just as large and amazing.
Still, her nervousness outshadowed her curiosity, causing her to remain behind her father as they approached the stairs at the end.
Opposite them, a family had already come down, and Aria snuck a peek to see a boy her age standing in front of his parents, excitedly pointing to her and her father and running up.
“Hoho! Aelius, boy, how are you?”
“I’m good, uncle. Who is this?”
Aria flinched under his curious gaze as he peaked around the side and she shrunk away.
“It’s good you asked,” she heard her father bellow. “I want to introduce you to my daughter. This is Aria. You two will be spending a lot of time together from now on.”
He was directing his sentence to both her and him, giving Aria a reassuring smile as he shuffled aside.
“Try to get along well with each other.”
“Hi!”
The boy opposite Aria reached out and excitedly took her hand, pulling her from her father.
“Ah-” Aria looked over her shoulder as she was pulled away from the Archduke, but he gave her a warm smile and an encouraging wave, so she turned back to the boy pulling her and his two faceless parents smiling at them.
“I’m Aelius! Let’s be friends, Aria!” the innocent child told her and she nervously nodded.
He soon pulled her up to face his parents, and she flinched under their gaze, when the pretty blonde woman above her leaned forward, reaching out.
She felt her shoulders begin to shake against her will and closed her eyes in fright, when she felt a soft touch run through her hair.
“Wow… Aria, you’re so pretty!” The woman gave her a beaming smile. “You’re the prettiest little girl! So cute!” The blonde woman fangirled.
With this strange affection, Aria didn’t know what to do but quietly nod.
“Oh, she’s shy,” the man opposite the pretty blonde woman leaned forward as well. “Hi Aria. You can call me uncle, too. This is our house, we’re going to take good care of you so I hope you have lots of fun, alright?”
Aria softy nodded again, feeling her face turn hot.
“Okay, u-uncle…” she mustered and the blonde woman squealed, startling her.
“Oh my Goddess, she’s too cute! She’s such a doll! Kael, you said you wouldn’t give me a daughter, so we have to make Aria our daughter!”
“Hahaha! Alright, alright. Go take her inside and dote on her all you want. Aelius, head inside as well.”
As Aria was pulled away by the mother and the boy, she looked over her shoulder to see her father and uncle converse, friendly smiles on their faces.
This place was unlike her frightening home, she soon realised.
Where her manor was so dark and grey, this place was bright and colourful.
Before she knew it, as the days passed, she had grown to become incredibly comfortable and familiar with this place.
It was like a new home to her, with a new, happy family that welcomed her.
—-----------------------
-Years later-
“Aria, are you going back down to Kanaria this year as well?” Aria heard her father’s voice call, and she excitedly jumped out into the corridor, from her bedroom.
“Yes, father!”
Now nine years old, the girl’s personality had time to blossom.
“Of course! I haven’t seen Aelius, uncle and auntie for so long!”
Aria stepped out and her smile faded as she noticed her mother was also in the corridor, giving her a glare.
“Honey, stop that,” her father gave her a scowl, and with a huff, she turned around and vacated them.
“Alright, Aria. I can’t go with you this year, but your coachman Porter will take you down South, alright?” he told her.
“That’s alright! I’m big enough to be okay!” Aria assured him with a beam.
“Alright. You’ve really grown up,” he gave her a small smile. “Oh, but you have to be careful. There has been talk of bandits on the forest paths between the cities, and recently the Warp Gate between Farrien and Dawnbreak was disabled. If anything happens, you have to stick close to adults, okay? I’ll also have the guards escort you. You remember Captain Dusk? Just listen to him and you’ll be alright.”
Aria gave him a well-practised, traditional Aerianne salute.
“Yes, father.”
“Good. Okay, I won’t bother you any further. I have to leave town for some business. Just make sure you don’t miss your departure day.”
“Okay~”
—-----------------------
Aria excitedly hummed as she rode the carriage along the bumpy road.
The anticipation of seeing her best friend, and uncle and aunt who treated her better than her own mother, was difficult to resist.
No one has been as nice to her in her life as them.
At home, her father was always absent. Though he was nice when he was around, most of the time, she was left to the mercy of her mother.
As for her mother, she was strict and stern, but also ruthless.
Aria was really envious of Aelius, who got to have a nice easy-going mother like Aunty Leis.
And so because of that, she loved them very much, and also looked forward to her yearly trip to the Kanarian Archduchy.
Swinging her legs happily, she heard a knock beside the door.
“Lady Aria?” a voice called and Aria slid open the window, peaking out.
“Knight Joseph?” she blinked upon seeing the young aspiring Knight of her escort riding on his horse beside the carriage.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Are you comfortable, Lady Aria?” he asked her diligently and she nodded.
“Mmhmm.”
At her response, his cold exterior slightly softened and he smiled at her.
“Captain Dusk asked me to check on you. We will reach Dawnbreak in another two days of travel. Tonight, we will make camp somewhere safe. The sun will set in a few hours, please be patient until then.”
“Okay~” Aria cheerfully smiled at him back and he happily dipped his head before breaking off from the carriage.
The young pre-teen girl looked out into the forests, dreamily smiling as the scenery passed by.
—-----------------------
When Aria saw the sun was yet to set, with still an hour or two left to go, she frowned as she noticed the carriage slow down to a stop. But she was a patient girl, and waited for a number of minutes.
Still, after all that time, there was no sign of anyone approaching her in the carriage.
“Porter?” Aria asked through the coach and heard him nervously respond.
“Please stay inside, m’lady. It’s dangerous out here.”
Aria heard the urgency in his voice and quickly anchored herself to her seat in her carriage, nervously twiddling her thumbs.
As time passed, she could now hear some sort of conversation taking place outside in front of the carriage, until it quickly escalated into shouting.
And then she heard men roaring and the sounds of metal blades clashing, and she immediately realised a fight had broken out.
Standing up, Aria was unsure of what to do.
Does she wait in the carriage, or step out and see what’s going on?
If she had faith in the knights, she should just wait, right?
But that line of thought was interrupted when the carriage door was thrown open, revealing Joseph panting harshly with blood flowing down his temple.
“Lady Aria! This way!” He urgently called as he reached into the carriage.
Aria took his hand with no hesitation and was escorted onto the pebble ground, looking around her to witness chaos.
The knights were all fighting in circles around the carriage, being overwhelmed by shoddily dressed bandits and Aria felt tears well up in her eyes as she witnessed several of them get struck down right before her.
“Please keep up! Run as fast as you can, m’lady!” Joseph ushered over his shoulder as he led her to the nearest treeline and into the forest, before switching places with her.
“They’re escaping that way!” Aria heard from behind her.
“Run, m’lady! Don’t look back! M’lady, you must run! If you head South, you will eventually reach Dawnbreak! We’ll hold them off here and look for you later!” Joseph called as Aria saw him clash blades with several other men.
“B-but Joseph-”
“RUN!” he commanded her, causing her to flinch and she turned away with tears in her eyes, running off into the trees.
I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, everyone! I’m so sorry!
—-----------------------
How many days has it been now? Aria wondered as she trembled in the cold, trudging through the forest, looking for any food she could.
It seems like all the knights had died, considering that she had been evading the thieves without any rest.
Her mind, body and spirit were at their limits now.
She’s tried to head South like the now no doubt deceased Joseph told her to, but the city was nowhere in sight.
Instead, only the forest was.
Using what little survival knowledge she had, Aria had somehow survived by eating any edible fruit she could find, hiding from both her pursuers and animals, and sleeping in large leaves and nests of twigs she found.
But in her torn dress, she could slowly feel her legs losing their strength.
The whole time, she barely had anything to drink and she was so dehydrated that tears could not even leave her eyes, even though she was sobbing.
For a nine year old girl, this was the hardest of tribulations.
It tested not only her physique, but her sanity.
What if she gets lost and is never found? What if the thieves find her first? What if she dies here?
She had to shoulder all of those horrible thoughts as she desperately struggled to survive.
But now, the will to persist was being torn away from her.
In her lonesomeness, she soullessly trudged through the trees until not even an ounce of strength remained and she found her legs failing her.
In a second, she went down onto the soil, unable to move.
Now, she was going to die. And so be it.
Just before her mind faded and her eyes fell closed, she noticed the trees shaking violently and parting, as though some gigantic beast was passing through.
Moments later, she heard a low hum of raw power, and felt the hot breath of a predator on her, with a large shadow towering over her.
And then, her eyes fell closed.
—-----------------------
Aria felt warm.
For the first time since this hellish nightmare began, she felt warm.
Slowly, the bare-footed, dirty and soot covered girl, wearing her torn dress, opened her sky-blue eyes, only to find herself gazing at a cackling flame.
She was in a cave, and she found she had been laid down to rest on a slab of fur.
Beside her was a large bowl of fruits and a small pond in the rock filled with crystal clear water.
Fascinated, the first thing Aria did was taste the water, cupping her small hands together and trying it.
It tasted normal.
Even better than normal, in fact, and she soon found herself gulping it down in mouthfuls, until she was finally satisfied.
Only then, did she begin to look around her in wonder.
Now that her attention was back in her control, she heard the deep breathing of a fearsomely large creature sending vibrations through the walls, and looked over the small pit of fire, gasping in shock.
Her eyes first took in the scaly tail, larger than triple her size, connected to a large scaly torso, a pair of wings, humongous claws, a sharp, pointy snout and gigantic horns.
Before her, Aria realised she was gazing at the mythical creature she had only ever read about in books.
Her breath caught in her throat as the beast slept soundly and she froze, sitting still, unsure of what to do.
Its scales were crystal white, its wings were majestic, and its entire body had a fairy-like tinge of pink to it.
After some minutes of it remaining asleep, Aria looked around her to see a tunnel leading out from the cave.
Nervously and quietly, she tried to slowly pull herself to her feet, keeping her eyes on the dragon like her life depended on it, but she flinched when she felt her hand knock over the bowl of fruit beside her.
The small clay bowl clanged as it smashed apart and she winced, hearing the dragon stir.
Turning her head back, Aria watched in horror as its large eyelids opened, revealing a pair of golden eyes with slits for pupils in the middle.
It quickly gained its clarity and rose its neck to its full height, its vision immediately locking onto her.
And Aria, in her tattered little dress, found herself gazing back into its golden eyes.
Surprisingly, Aria suddenly felt her fear fade away as she exchanged gazes with the being.
Upon it waking up, she somehow felt it was a sentient being.
Curiosity quickly replaced the panic, and she crawled forward a step.
The dragon didn’t react adversely, instead lowering its neck to approach her with its snout.
As Aria continued gazing at it with wide eyes, she heard a voice begin to speak in her head.
So you’ve woken up, little one. It was an old woman’s voice she could hear in her head.
Surprised, Aria looked around her, and then back to the dragon.
Immediately, she realised it could speak, and was too stunned to respond.
That’s right, it is I who converses with you. Are you hungry? Why not eat some of the fruit I prepared for you? Is the fire warmth adequate? Should I adjust the temperature in this humble abode? It overwhelmed her with questions, none of which Aria answered.
Instead, she keenly gazed at it until she spoke.
“Why did you save me?” she asked and the dragon chuckled in her mind.
I will explain that in a moment. Since you seem to have no interest in the food, I suppose you wish to know more about me.
Aria nodded, waiting for it to continue.
What’s your name, little one?
“Aria Aerianne,” she answered.
Ah, Aerianne. Protector of the North. Fairy of the Earth. What about your mother’s side? Which lineage do you hail from?
Aria was confused by the question for a moment before she understood what the dragon was asking from her.
“…Varnia.” At her response, the dragon seemed pleased, giving her a cheerful look in response.
Since we have met, you can consider it fate for our encounter.
The dragon laid its head back down to rest, idly speaking to her.
I saved you because I sensed the lineage of Varnia within you. You are the first descendent of Varnia within a dozen generations to make contact with me again.
Aria tilted her head in confusion.
“Pardon?”
Oh, it matters not, the dragon chuckled again. Anyhow, why were you wandering through the forest all alone? Human children are usually accompanied by their forebears. Could it be that your parents have passed?
Aria shook her head.
“I was travelling alone when I was attacked, and I escaped into the forest,” she explained.
Oh, someone dares to attack the Varnian lineage? And how preposterous that you were allowed to your own devices. Humans are most vulnerable at a young age, the dragon bared its teeth, but it did not scare Aria..
“I had knights escorting me, but I think they all died when we were attacked.”
Oh, I see. Then it would mean that the precautions to protect you were lacking.
The dragon sighed heavily.
Little Aria, in this world, you can rely on no one but yourself.
Aria recalled Joseph, Porter and Captain Dusk with guilt for a moment, before she shook herself out of it.
“What’s your name?” she asked the dragon and it smiled.
It matters not my name. Should you wish to address me, you may call me ‘grandma’.
Aria raised an eyebrow at the dragon.
“G-grandma?” she repeated in confusion.
Yes, very good, little Aria. Now, grandma has a present for you. Grandma was thinking, how do we protect you on your travels? And as expected, there is nothing better than for oneself to be capable.
The dragon turned its head to the corner of the cave.
Go and fetch something from the corner there, young one.
Aria did as she was told, her small feet softly pattering across the wet ground.
When she reached the corner, she found a small desk with a box on it, and upon retrieving it, returned to the dragon.
Now, open that box.
Doing as she was told, Aria was surprised to find a small wooden stick in the box. Grabbing it, she presented it to the dragon to take, and the dragon laughed in response.
Little Aria, this now belongs to you.
Aria pulled it back again, looking at it in confusion.
“What is it?” she asked.
It is a wand, and it will aid you in channelling Mana. With Mana, you will be able to cast magic.
At the mention of magic, Aria’s eyes lit up.
“Magic?” she repeated. She always wanted to learn, but her father was a swordsman, and therefore unable to teach her.
Her mother on the hand, both refused to teach her nor find a teacher for her, placing more importance on Noble etiquette instead.
“How?” Aria asked.
First, you must bring Mana within your body from the air around you. You will do this through your mouth and nose at first, and once you have gotten used to that, you will begin to do so through the pores of your skin. Any open surface that you can absorb things through on your body, you can use to pull in Mana. So, try breathing as I tell you.
Aria closed her eyes as the dragon began to direct her, and soon, she found herself being filled with some strange form of energy.
Good, good. Breathe for eight seconds through your nose. Now, exhale for four seconds through your mouth. Good. And again.
Suddenly, Aria felt a power well up within her, and her body completely refresh.
As expected of a descendent of Varnia. You have a talent for Mana. To think you constructed a Ring in just a few breaths from the technique I taught you.
“Ring?” Aria tilted her head.
Yes… A Ring is…
—-----------------------
For the next few weeks, Aria lived with the dragon, learning numerous spells, concepts, and theories about magic.
In the blink of an eye, time had passed and finally, the day came when the dragon called her to discuss something with her.
When Aria arrived back at the cave, she noticed the dragon was giving her a firm gaze.
The warmth she had felt from it was hidden away. Instead, there was a serious edge to her eyes and her voice.
You’ve arrived, little Aria, it greeted her.
“Yes, grandma,” Aria nodded, holding her wand closely to her chest.
You’re very good at magic now. Better than many children your age. I’m very proud of you.
Aria felt her cheeks flush from the praise, and embarrassedly nodded.
“Thank you, grandma.”
It is time for you to return to human society. You’ve been missing for almost a month. Your family must be worried sick.
At the words, Aria looked up with teary eyes.
“C-can I come back?” she asked, aware that she still needs to go see the Kanarians.
Of course, little Aria. But whether I’m still here or not, will be up to fate. Regardless, it is time you are on your way.
“Ah… okay…” Aria felt her eyes begin to sting. “G-grandma…” she looked up and saw the dragon giving her a patient, warm gaze.
“Thank you!” Aria thanked her at the top of her voice, throwing her head forward into a bow, feeling tears form at her eyes.
You’re welcome, little one. I’d like to send you directly to your destination, but unfortunately, with time, my powers grow weaker and weaker. The best I can do is leave you at the gates to the nearest city.
In a caring tone, the dragon gave her final goodbye.
Brace your head, you may feel a bit of nausea when you arrive.
“Okay…”
Oh, and lastly, work hard, little one. If you do, you will go to great places.
Before Aria could respond, she felt her body lift up into the air and looked around her in awe.
Bright, swirling lights enveloped her body from the dragon’s raised claw, and Aria looked into the dragon’s eyes one final time before she was blinded in a flash of light.
—-----------------------
Aria didn’t know what she was feeling, when she woke up and found herself leaning up against a tree trunk.
The city gates were just in sight before her, with a line of people and the Kanarian Knights doing their patrols.
As she pushed herself to her feet and looked around, she affirmed the dragon was no longer around, and felt a complex wave of emotions.
Mixed in with the relief that she had finally reached Dawnbreak, was the sadness of no longer being in the company of the dragon.
The bittersweet contrast was too complex for Aria, as she approached the gate in her tattered dress.
She had met death, narrowly escaped, discovered true love and affection yet again, and lost it.
The guards immediately noticed her as she stepped up, and she felt her focus fall away.
They scrambled as they recognised her, escorting her to the nearest office where she waited and waited, in a daze, until finally the door opened for her to see three familiar figures at the entryway.
“Aria!” Aelius ran forward to grab onto her hand, giving her a worried look and suddenly, she felt tears overwhelm her.
For the first time in years, she began to cry again.
For a moment, fear took over her that she’d be scolded for going missing.
If it were her mother, she would be getting hit right now.
There was a sting of uncertainty at how the Kanarians would react, but instead, they just gave her looks of worry, relief, and affection.
“Aria! We were so worried!” Aunty Leislette dropped down to her knees and pulled Aria into a heartfelt hug, stunning her for a moment, until she felt the warmth from the woman.
Human warmth that she had not felt in so long.
In the span of a few seconds, everything that had happened bubbled up to the surface from deep within her.
The horror of witnessing murder, the despair of wandering the woods alone, the heartache from departing from a loved one.
In the midst of the emotions, she suddenly gasped as she felt her eyes begin to burn and sting more than they ever had.
“Ah!” Her vision abandoned her for a moment and she reached up to clutch her eyes in pain, until it quickly subsided again and her vision returned.
As their faces came into view, Aria found Aelius and Leislette gazing at her in fascination.
“Aria! Your eyes!” Aelius exclaimed and Aria tilted her head.
“My eyes?” she repeated dumbfoundedly, and Leislette fetched a mirror.
“My goodness. Aria… you’ve… you’ve awakened the God Eyes.”
Aria looked into the mirror, shocked to see her once light blue eyes were now a contrasting golden yellow against her short, dirty blue hair.
And her once round pupils were now reptilian-like, narrowed slits.
As Aria looked at her eyes, she found herself recalling the intelligent gaze of the dragon, and found tears welling up again.
“Uwww-wahhhhh,” she broke into a wail again, overwhelmed by uncertain feelings.
—-----------------------
To Aria’s disappointment, after she calmed down, the Kanarian’s told her that the vacation could only be cancelled.
The first thing she must do is go home to her family, so they can confirm for themselves that she was safe.
In the time she was missing, the Dawnbreak Warp Gate had also been fixed, so there was no problem sending her home, unlike her trip down.
The Kanarian Knights had also found the sight of her wrecked carriage, and hunted down all of the bandits.
None of the Aerianne Knights had survived, as it turned out that one of the bandits was incredibly strong and also outnumbered the escorts.
With no choice, Aria left to return to her hometown.
She was disembarking her carriage before the front door to her manor, when she saw her mother come running down the steps, wearing a furious expression.
Nervously, the young girl braced herself with what was to come, immediately met with a slap and a soul-burning glare from the woman.
Aria remained quiet as she took the blow, standing up straight, disciplined for years by her mother to take beatings.
“You foolish child! You just get into trouble everywhere you go!” Aria was verbally berated until he mother noticed her eyes, and knelt down.
“Those eyes… Aria, did you awaken them?”
The young girl witnessed her mother’s attitude change to the polar opposite in a matter of seconds, upon seeing her golden eyes.
“Oh… Aria… mother was just worried for you. Mother was worried sick, so she couldn't help but get emotional.”
Yet again, Aria was pulled into a tight hug by the woman, just after her cheeks were left stinging from pain.
But for some reason, Aria did not feel relief, unlike all the other times. Instead, somehow, she was able to see through her mother.
Her eyes allowed her to peer into the depths of her mother’s heart, and the young girl, at the tender age of nine, understood in all of its entirety, what her mother’s true thoughts were. T
he woman was nothing but a manipulative fake who put nobody in her eyes.
Her consolation, her touch, and any affection she showed Aria, was all in the interests of self-gain.
Was love supposed to be like that? The nine year old did not know.
Love was supposed to be given, not traded like a commodity, right?
Quietly, the young girl was escorted into the manor, her demeanour cold and distant from her mother.
She now knew for a fact, that nothing was genuine anymore.
—-----------------------
From the next day onward, Aria was still getting used to this new world she had suddenly been induced into.
Now, behind every fake smile, she could see the truth hidden by it.
Whether it was her mother, the staff, or anybody that was receiving an audience at her manor, she saw everything.
Over the course of the following weeks, the eyes allowed her to see everything.
And her mother quickly changed to being even more stern than she ever was before.
Now that Aria has awakened the God Eyes, her mother has placed all of her full, unfiltered hopes onto her, beginning to raise her as a puppet.
Being the young girl she was, Aria had no idea what to do but to emotionally distance herself from everyone and everything.
It was the only way she could retain her sanity.
But then came one day, she was going about her study when the butler informed her she had a guest.
Surprised, Aria descended down the steps and made her way to the guest room.
Part of her was nervous, the other didn’t care.
But as she approached the guest room, she could feel some sort of warmth radiating from it.
With a perplexed expression, the young girl took a deep breath before entering the room, only to blink in surprise upon finding who it was that awaited her.
Aelius sprung to his feet as soon as Aria entered, giving her a genuine gaze of both worry and joy.
“Aria!”
He quickly hopped to the door, holding it open for her so she could enter.
“A-Aelius? Why are you here?” she asked, taken aback by the sudden visit and he shyly scratched his head.
“Oh well… everyone at home was worried about you and what happened last time. We’re sad our year’s vacation ended, so I thought I should at least come see you. We were worried sick after sending you off. Right after you went through something like that, we couldn’t take care of you.”
Aria was stunned as she gazed at him.
Not a single word was a lie. His concern for her was real. It was the first real thing she had seen ever since her eyes woke up, and suddenly, she felt her heart flutter.
Suppressing a soft sniffle and trying to suck her tears back in, she returned a heartfelt smile to him.
“Thank you, Aelius. Thank you.”
She will never forget this, for as long as she lived. She didn’t know it at the time, but she will never forget this moment, nor the light he had shone on her dark life.
The genuine emotion she received from him, she will cherish and return to him.
If there was anyone in this world more important to Aria than anything else, it was her best friend, Aelius.
As the years came, Aria slowly developed her feelings to the pure and admirable Aelius.