There were days when excitement surged within him, especially when embracing Elise. It typically occurred when she inadvertently provoked him with her words or appeared exceptionally beautiful. The power within his right arm, usually restrained, would inevitably trigger the seal when it surged back. Only on rare occasions did Elise express fear, activating the seal.
She was the only human spared from his hand. It was convenient that as long as the seal permitted, she could move freely. However, he couldn’t help but wonder about the seal’s origin, its purpose, and why it came into existence.
Since Elise showed no signs of using magic, the cause must reside within him. It wasn’t difficult to link it to the imprisoned dragon sealed by Gallian. However, if he hadn’t been bound by the human seal, releasing it and disposing of the disciple who betrayed him wouldn’t have been an issue. Why, then, was the seal left intact?
The dragon appeared surprisingly forgiving, offering a cool response. “It’s a promise we made during our days as priests. I feared I might inadvertently harm that child without even realizing it.”
“Even after your disciple’s betrayal?” Rezette queried.
“Because I once held affection for that child,” the dragon admitted.
Rezette couldn’t suppress a chuckle as he took another sip of water. “How human of you. Do dragons truly understand love?”
“Emotions are not limited to humans. They are gifts bestowed by the gods upon the creatures of their choosing,” the dragon replied, chuckling as if it found the situation amusing. “If I were an indifferent being, the betrayal of that child wouldn’t have affected me so. Life would have been simpler without love, hatred, or resentment.”
Silence hung heavy for a moment before the dragon continued, its tone contemplative. “Then you wouldn’t be burdened by the desire to become human, nor would you harbor such hatred and the urge to kill me. Isn’t that so, Rezette?”
Rezette’s hand, brushing away the ashes of the new year, froze suddenly.
Wait a minute.
In that instant, his name, unspoken for so long, echoed through the air. “How?” Rezette began, but before he could even raise his sharp gaze, the ground trembled as if in an earthquake, then lurched sideways.
A voice, commanding and omnipotent, thundered down like a storm. “I have given you an answer; now it’s your turn to provide something in return.”
Rezette’s discovery of the sharply marked magic circle beneath his feet was met with a sudden, angry groan. Yet, it was already too late to act.
“How are you, Rezette?” came the voice. “It means ‘Black Lightning’ in the ancient tongue.”
“Live as a human, Rezette….” The fragments of dreams that had plagued him for days resurfaced abruptly, and amidst the fading vision, Sameshita loomed.
“I’ve been quite curious about you for the past six months,” Sameshita declared, its tone betraying a hint of excitement. “You, the one who captivates the beautiful Elizabeth.”
“What…?” Rezette could barely muster a response before Sameshita continued.
“I wish to examine you closely.” There was no room for objections as the blue aura of magic drew dangerously close to the pair of yellow eyes.
Without warning, the mad dragon began scrutinizing him intently.
***
On the ninth anniversary of his birth, a fateful turn of events altered the trajectory of the boy’s life forever.
Returning to his nest after a routine competition, the boy found himself abruptly sold to a man named Noyer Erdelich, who purported to be the Fifth Prince of Van Yela. The notion of royalty and countries held little meaning for the boy; all he could vividly recall was Galeus’s twisted grin as he was handed over.
Under Noyer’s care, the boy, now under his second master, struggled with communication, prompting Noyer to appoint a nanny. Lady Rebecca Petisson, widow and head of the Petisson family, was tasked with educating the unruly boy.
“Teach him some manners and educate him properly,” Noyer instructed Lady Rebecca. “Before he starts pretending to be human, he should at least learn to communicate!”
For several years, the boy resided within the modest confines of the Petisson family mansion. Despite his innate intelligence, speaking came easily, but the challenges of learning to read, write, and understand human behavior proved more arduous.
At the age of fifteen, still not fully matured in mind, the boy, now regarded as a brother by the Fifth Prince, followed his command to the Imperial Palace. Armed with nothing but a single breastplate, he breached the formidable castle gates alone, vanquishing hundreds of knights and ultimately claiming the life of the Emperor.
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