The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 30

After they had eaten their fill, the three dragons rested for a time in the basin.

Eyelids covered in fine, crimson scales lifted. Aiden pushed himself up, his head turning to look at Bianca and Azure. The blue dragon was sprawled atop the white one's back in a messy pile. Both their heads were dangling against the floor, their eyes shut tight.

Hoo… hoo…

From the soft, rhythmic snores, he could tell the two of them were deep in slumber.

Aiden looked toward the cave's exit.

Should we go back?

Night had already fallen outside, and the temperature had plummeted. To be honest, Aiden had little desire to move in such cold weather. The day was far more comfortable.

Forget it. We'll sleep in the cave for one night. If those Aridfell could survive in here for so long, this place must be free of any real danger. It's safe.

With that thought, he lowered his body back to the stone floor. The heavy lids closed over his eyes once more.

…

Within the human Empire, on a small bed in a cramped attic, a tiny figure wrapped in a threadbare grey blanket shivered.

Crack!

The room's dilapidated, shattered window finally gave up the ghost. A large piece fell away, and with nothing to stop it, the biting winter wind rushed into the small attic. The temperature, already cool, dropped sharply.

“Achoo!”

The sneeze jolted Isolde awake. The cold shocked her to full alertness.

She sat up on the small bed, her thin, frail hands pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her gaze fell upon the splintered remains of the window on the wooden floor. She lifted her small face and looked out the new opening.

White flecks were drifting down from the sky.

The dead of winter had come. No wonder her aunt hadn't come to yell at her to get up. Every winter, her aunt would laze in bed.

Even so, Isolde couldn't bring herself to like this season.

She curled her toes against the cold. Looking at the gaping hole where the window used to be, she sighed. I should get up and go to the academy. I'll figure out how to block the window when I get back this afternoon.

She let the blanket fall from her shoulders.

Hiss~

The air was frigid. I have to get moving. That's the only way to keep from feeling the cold. Having survived six winters on her own, Isolde was well-versed in this routine.

She got out of bed, slipped her feet into her slippers, and took her academy uniform down from its hook on the wall. After changing into the white blouse and skirt, she picked up a pair of fine, silky white stockings.

It's winter now. I should wear something warmer. She glanced at a pair of white tights also hanging on the wall. Those will do.

…

Having just closed his eyes, Aiden's lids snapped open again.

The mark was active. He could connect with the human on the other side.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He lifted his right claw, bringing it before his face. The twin-ringed, five-pointed star on his scales was calm, but he could feel the presence of the one with whom he had forged the contract. If he could sense her, he could connect.

It's time to freeload.

He focused his will, channeling his mana into the sigil. It immediately pulsed with a faint, red glow. Staring at the mark, he sent his intent across the distance.

Now, all he had to do was wait for a response.

…

A familiar warmth spread across the back of her right hand. Isolde, who had just pulled her tights up past her knees, paused.

She lifted her hand, palm up. The twin-ringed, five-pointed star was emitting a soft red light.

It's him. Is he trying to tell me something?

Ms. Solana had said that if she infused the mark with her own mana, she could understand her partner's meaning. Isolde gathered her own power. A thin, orange thread of energy slowly coalesced in the air and flowed into the mark.

Instantly, a single word was carved into her mind.

[Mana~]

So that

's it? He's asking for mana?A pure, radiant smile bloomed on her small face. Every summoner provided their contracted partner with mana. Through this offering, the bond between summoner and partner would grow ever closer. This was progress.

He's finally accepted me!

With unrestrained joy, she directed her mana to pour into the sigil.

…

The mark on Aiden's claw shifted from red to orange. Her mana. It has an attribute. Fire. Excellent. This is excellent.

A compatible attribute would dramatically increase his own rate of growth. Aiden's pupils narrowed, his gaze fixed on the mark. His draconic maw unconsciously cracked open in a grin. He felt no need to be polite. He began to draw upon the offered power.

The fire mana flowed through the sigil and into his body.

After absorbing it for a few moments, Aiden narrowed his eyes.

Why is she so miserly? Is this a pittance for a beggar?

It had been a full minute, and she had only given him about a hundred points of mana. This was the same creature who had offered a high-grade fire magic crystal as a greeting gift. This paltry amount made no sense.

No. I'll have to take a proper mouthful.

Aiden's eyes narrowed further. After a moment of consideration, he made his decision. He seized control of the sigil, flooding it with his own red mana and using it to forcibly rip the power from the other side.

…

“Ngh…”

With a pained whimper, Isolde's small body collapsed onto her bed. Her mana vanished in an instant. The healthy red of her lips faded to a stark white.

…

Now, this is more like it. This is the amount I was expecting.

Basking in the nourishing flood of fire mana, Aiden closed his eyes in pleasure. The enjoyment, however, was short-lived. The incoming stream of power began to feel wrong. The orange mana was now tainted with a crimson haze.

A sign that it was beginning to draw on her life force.

What

's going on? Is she faltering already?Puzzled, Aiden immediately severed the connection. She was a fine mana source; it would be a shame to lose her so soon.

The twin-ringed sigil on his claw dimmed. All told, he had only drawn about five hundred points of mana. How could she be drained so quickly? She must be a weak entity. But, to offer a high-grade fire crystal as a gift… she can't be of common birth.

As a mana source, she was acceptable in every aspect, save for her limited quantity.

Aiden lowered his body to the ground again. Forget it. I'll think about it later. I acquired a personal mana source today. All in all, a good day.

His heavy eyelids closed. Soon, a third set of snores joined the others in the dark cavern.

Hoo~

Hoo~

Hoo~

The sounds rose and fell, one after another, as if composing a strange concert.

The sleeping white and blue dragons shivered, curling up tighter. Still feeling the chill, they followed their instincts. As if in a dream, they pushed themselves up, crawled over to Aiden, and flopped down onto his broad, warm back.

…

The draining sensation stopped.

Isolde lay still for a long time, waiting until the color slowly returned to her pale lips before pushing her frail body up with her hands. Her head was spinning, but the dizzy spell was already fading. After letting her senses adjust, she raised her right hand and looked at the twin-ringed star. It was dark once more.

He wanted so much. But… he stopped on his own. He didn't want to hurt me.

I wonder if he was panicking? She tried to imagine her partner's flustered face, but she quickly remembered that she had never actually seen him.

Still, he must be a gentle soul, Isolde was certain of it.

After resting a little longer, she finished pulling on her tights and went downstairs. The main living area was empty. Though her aunt hadn't yelled for her, Isolde knew the firewood still needed to be chopped. If she didn't do it, she would have to face her aunt's anger that afternoon.

She washed her face and then began the familiar chore. She spent ten minutes splitting the logs.

Crack!

The last piece on the stump split cleanly in two. That was enough for today.

Isolde stared down at her hands. They were as thin and slender as always. Usually, after chopping wood, she would be panting, needing a moment to catch her breath.

But today, it felt easy. Incredibly easy. At most, she felt only the slightest hint of fatigue.