Dragonlord

Ep 152. I’m Sure We’ll Meet Again. (6)

Ep 152. I’m Sure We’ll Meet Again. (6)

“You’re not Serenis. Who are you?”

“Well…you see…”

The dragonlord looked away from Light with a sheepish grin, nervously scratching the back of her head.

And Light was watching every bit of it, with each passing moment adding onto her growing suspicion.

‘Is it the Reaper guy again? It can’t be…right?’

The display was jarring, to say the least – but while strange, Serenis’ current behavior was in no way akin to what Light had seen in her possessed professor.

And once Light had made her claim, the dragonlord’s odd behavior was becoming more and more apparent to Ilias as well.

‘I’ve seen her smile before, but that’s just…’

The usual indifference was nowhere to be found in her lord.

In a way, Serenis looked and sounded friendlier – neither of which were exactly helpful in this case. Her aptitude in magic had seemingly disappeared, replaced with an affinity for healing that she’d once claimed outside of her reach.

“And also…”

Moments after, Light struck out her hand to pinch at a bruised patch of the dragonlord’s arm.

“!!!”

A muffled groan escaped Serenis’ lips. She looked towards the half with a clearly pained expression.

“L, Light?! What are you doing??”

“Serenis was just fine during the day. What’s with all these burns and bruises?”

“That’s…well…”

At first, the dragonlord’s pained eyes looked away in avoidance.

But as the pain from Light’s pinching hold grew to an intolerable level, Serenis’ bitten lips finally began to make its confession.

“She…did it to herself.”

“’She’? So you aren’t Serenis after all.”

“Uh…haha…um…”

Meeting the half’s cold, questioning gaze, the dragonlord responded with nothing but meek laughter.

But while Light was focused on undoing the pretender’s ruse, Ilias’ attention was focused on an entirely different detail.

“Lord Serenis did this to herself…?”

“Um…yes?”

“W…why?...”

Hearing the youngling’s shaky voice trailing off in fear, the pretender hurriedly wove their arms, denying the red dragon’s worry.

“It wasn’t anything that warrants concern! She only did so to summon me. I cannot be present while she’s awake.”

“Oh…phew.”

Ilias let out a relieved sigh. Light also made a small grunt, nodding her head as she acknowledged the sensible response.

“To help Raizel, right? Serenis couldn’t do anything herself, so I’m guessing she called you instead.”

“Quite sharp, aren’t you? Karas is lucky to have such a bright student.”

“Ehehe…”

“…But can you please let go of my arm now?”

“Oh…sorry.”

The dragonlord’s body shuddered in pain as Light let go of the bruised arm. After a small, muffled groan, the same glow of orange from her palm began to undo the damage Serenis had inflicted on herself.

As the light magically to her wounds – literally – Light watched the spectacle for a moment longer before beginning to question the pretender again.

“You still haven’t told us who you are.”

“Uh…right! I’m, uh…I’m Zion.”

“Zion?”

“That’s correct. In case you weren’t aware, this is my body. Serenis is…a guest, essentially.”

“…?”

Light’s expression twisted in disbelief, Ilias’ in confusion. Neither of them were convinced by the answer.

And again, it was Light who’d speak on it first.

“The…actual person, you mean? Like, the human-person-Zion?”

“Mhm.”

“…Hold on, hold on. Aren’t you like, 15?”

“Yes? What of it?”

“You’re telling me a 15-year-old knows how to treat a dying dragon?”

A few seconds ticked by as the pretender wracked their brain for a sensible answer.

And, finding none, they let out an exasperated sigh.

“…That lie wasn’t going to last, was it?”

“I swear I’m going to pinch you again.”

The dragonlord’s body lightly jerked back as Light made a pinching gesture with her fingers.

“Hey now, aren’t you scared what Serenis might say when she’s awake?”

“I’m pretty sure she’ll say ‘Good job, I’m glad you drove the fake-me away.’”

“…”

Another sigh followed from the dragonlord, this time out of the irony of the situation. They briefly entertained the thought of Serenis regarding them as some fake persona, which was laughable at best.

Clearing their throat, the dragonlord’s lips began to confess their current controller’s identity.

“I suppose I’m just a distant elder to you two. After all, I was the first of mankind to join the dragonkin.”

“The first one?...How old ARE you?”

“Who knows?”

After a hearty chuckle, the pretender briefly spared a glance towards Ilias. They stretched out their hand, petting the red dragon on her head.

“A long time has passed, but every single one of you are still very dear to me…and so is Serenis. That’s why before I tell you my name, I need you both to promise me something.”

Both Light and Ilias looked towards the dragonlord’s pretender with a confused gaze.

Smiling back at the two, the pretender retreated their hand, crossing their lips with one finger in a silencing gesture.

“When Serenis awakes…promise me you won’t tell her who I am.”

“Wait, she doesn’t know?”

The dragonlord beamed back towards the inquisitive half.

“I’m sure she has her own suspicions. But there’s a difference between suspecting and knowing.”

“Ehh…but why wouldn’t you want her to know? Are you worried she’d get rid of you?”

“…If only. That’s the opposite of my worries, actually.”

“The opposite?”

“Mhm. If Serenis were to learn who I am, I’m afraid she’d cast herself away instead.”

“…Ok, now I’m REALLY confused. Who are you??”

“…”

‘I was born with the very first star, and I will perish with the very last.’

A hint of regret and bitterness washed over the dragonlord’s eyes. Their golden eyes closed themselves in a momentary reflection, their lips curving into a wider smile.

‘To you, I remain forever bound – willingly – until the end of time.’

“…My name is Adam. Though…perhaps you’d understand me better as our dear dragonlord’s spouse.”

“Sp-“

Light quickly cut herself short in the middle of parroting the last word. As soon as her head processed the phrase, her train of thoughts came to a screeching halt.

And likewise for Ilias, the red dragon seemed frozen in position. Only her twitching eyebrows suggested that time hadn’t stopped.

“…Light?”

“…”

“Ilias?”

“…”

Watching the two in awkward silence, the pseudo-dragonlord blinked a few times, meekly wondering if they’d done something wrong.

A handful of minutes had to pass before either of them would say anything again.