After Amber tore the boat to pieces, the mana dissipated. She panted roughly before collapsing forward, Beatrice's tail caught her before lifting her and laying Amber on her back.

  While Amber was rampaging, Ruby had stepped over to the edge of Beatrice's back and cut her own wrist. A stream of blood came out and floated around her before stabbing into the water and sinking down. Closing her eyes to concentrate, she soon began pulling it back up. She yanked Skarlet out of the sea and dragged her onto Beatrice's back.

  The blood swirled around before returning to her body, the wound healing cleanly. She stood up and approached Skarlet, crossing her hands over each other she pressed down and Skarlet jerked before coughing up water and curling up. Blood was soaking her clothes from her wounds, she didn't wake up, but she started breathing again.

  Amber and Skarlet were out, Ruby was tending to Skarlet's wounds with what seemed to be blood magic. Beatrice lifted into the air, the only person left to look at the carnage left behind and the bodies floating in the water both alive and dead, was the young blonde haired maid.

  "A dragon. . ." She muttered softly, a shiver traveled up her spine as she glanced at her master. "Ruby, what have we got ourselves involved in?"

  "Alice. . . I don't know, but maybe they can help. For now, we can give them what they want. And in turn, maybe they'll save sister." Ruby responded, a bead of sweat trickled down her brow as she was controlling blood flow.

  Alice gazed at the open wound with morbid curiosity. It was difficult to tell, but a hole went through the girl's chest, but it was clean. Ruby had probably done that, using her blood magic to control the flow she couldn't heal the wound, but she could bridge the gaps between broken veins and arteries.

  "I've never done something like this before, our little country has been so peaceful up till now." Ruby lamented quietly, her mana was deep, as a royal she had noble blood. But it wasn't infinite, though the mental strain from the amount of control it took was far worse than the actual mana usage. She'd likely pass out from mental strain before her mana ran out.

  "I thought she might be a bit more reserved when she didn't have access to personal healing magic, but she's just as reckless as ever." A voice rumbled from beneath them, the dragon was speaking to them. "Truly bothersome this child."

  "Yet you're still here, helping, are you good friends with the girl?" Ruby asked out of curiosity.

  "She tried to kill me when we first met, the fool." Beatrice sighed though there was a tinge of humor in her voice.

  "Oh? How does that lead to friendship? I thought dragons had high pride, surprised she survived attacking you." Ruby spoke respectfully while Beatrice spoke as usual.

  "Ha, she's probably the most lucky and unlucky child to exist. I ripped her to pieces, but she showed me a glimpse into a possibility I can't help but long for. . . So I healed her and have been following her ever since." Beatrice sighed, "But she does frustrate me so, extremely reckless."

  "Hmm, ah hey, don't move!" Ruby's concentration broke as Skarlet suddenly shifted, her eyes opened and she sat up. Coughing and wincing as blood began to soak her clothes again. "You have a hole through your chest lay down!" Ruby forced Skarlet back down and began to activate her magic again.

  "W-what happened?" Skarlet stuttered out, her eyes took in her surroundings before relaxing.

  "Amber woke up." Beatrice explained, "She released all her new power and then collapsed again."

  "New power?" Skarlet mumbled in confusion.

  "She contracted the water pillar as a dragon mage, what do you think that means?" Beatrice asked, causing Skarlet to sigh.

  "Is she gonna be ok?" Skarlet couldn't help but ask.

  "She should be fine. What I'm more worried about is the second dragon I sensed inside her." Beatrice noted causing Skarlet to freeze in surprise.

  "What? A second dragon, are you saying she's had another dragon spirit dormant inside her all this time?" Skarlet shifted and was promptly reprimanded by Ruby.

  "Still!" She hissed.

  "Sorry." Skarlet mumbled.

  "I don't know, we'll have to ask it when she wakes up." Beatrice replied nonchalantly, in the distance the island of Gulress could be seen. "We're almost there."

  "Let's land on the beach. Away from the dock." Skarlet spoke up again, Ruby almost immediately protested though.

  "You need medical attention immediately."

  "It'll be fine." Skarlet sighed, Beatrice snorted in annoyance before tilting and curving through the air.

  Gulress rose before them and they lowered towards the sandy beach, landing with a puff of sand.

  Alice lifted Amber into a princess carry and stepped off from the dragon, Ruby sighed and helped Skarlet off as well before Beatrice transformed back into her human form. She approached Skarlet and activated her healing magic, Skarlet gritted her teeth at the burning sensation.

  After the major wounds were healed Beatrice stepped away and Skarlet sighed in relief, pushing away from Ruby she stumbled forward on her own.

  "You're. . . Urgh nevermind." Ruby was frustrated but she eventually gave up and followed.

  As they entered town Beatrice led them towards the inn that Cody had left Skarlet's sword at. She could sense the unique mana waves from the swords, and could tell that Cody's was also here.

  "Hello welcome," a voice greeted them as they stepped through the door. Skarlet stepped forward.

  "Hello, my name is Skarlet and I'm looking for my friend Cody." She explained, the woman at the counter nodded.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Ah, yes, he did say you would come by. He left yesterday and hasn't returned, here's a spare key to room thirteen. He said to just let you in." The woman explained, offering a key. Skarlet took the key and thanked the woman before heading up the stairs to room thirteen.

  "My sword." Skarlet seemed quite happy as she picked it up, though almost immediately she felt weird, a sucking feeling. But it slowly faded and she slipped the sword into her sheath. "But why is Cody's sword here?" She pondered in confusion, she reached out to pick it up only to feel a stabbing pain causing her to retract her hand.

  "Wait, isn't that the Light Hero's sword?" Ruby asked as she lifted it into her hand, examining it.

  "Yeah, that's his title I guess." Skarlet sighed as she stumbled towards the bed, "I am tired as fuck and I haven't seen a real bed in days. I'm gonna get some sleep." Skarlet plopped onto the bed, Alice also laid Amber on the bed as well.

  "Well, guess that's fair. It's been an exciting day from my point of view, Alice feel free to relax and get some rest." Ruby sighed as she sat down at the table and leaned back.

  "Yes Master." Alice replied with a yawn, she was quite tired it'd been a very stressful day. She approached the second bed to sit down, she wasn't planning to sleep but soon passed out as well.

  Ruby sighed as she looked at her, "I told her to relax and yet she was still hesitant." Even though she didn't think she would eventually Ruby also fell asleep, leaving the dragon by herself.

  "Haa, it's coming, the first awakening, my mother taught me about. The Demon King is coming." She muttered with a tone of annoyance.

  Time passed lazily till the sun had set and the moon was halfway through the sky. The first to rise was Amber who sat up and crawled from the bed, she stumbled over to Beatrice who watched her curiously.

  She opened her mouth as if it was the most natural thing in the world and spoke. "Hello, Beatrice. . ." She spoke softly, her mana began to fluctuate and two hazy figures slowly appeared.

  One of them was familiar, a small blue dragon, like a mini elder water dragon. The other however was white and sleek, and was a much younger dragon.

  "Thank you, Miss Beatrice. We didn't have enough mana to save ourselves, the contract gave us the push to escape the seal." The white dragon spoke with a clear voice, cutting like air.

  "Young flame." A familiar voice spoke from the blue mirage like dragon floating around the young girl. "It seems I wasn't the first, guess I was a little late." He chuckled softly.

  "Hello grandfather." Beatrice sighed, "There's no need to thank me, I didn't save you."

  "No, we're saved, thanks to all of you." Amber pressed her hands against her chest and smiled.

  With the quiet conversation drifting into silence, the moon quietly went to sleep and the sun peeked above the horizon.

  Companion to the sun's lazy gaze, the sound of shifting beneath the sheets announced Skarlet restlessly waking up.

  She sat up off the bed, her hair dropped in front of her face like a mess of black spider webs. She gasped as she arched her back and multiple pops traveled up her spine.

  She yawned softly before moving to get out of bed, something heavy seemed to be attached to her waist, she turned and glanced at Amber. The young Lithian was curled up and drooling while clutching Skarlet's shirt. Her eyes panned around the room and noticed the absence of the dragon and the vampire.

  Skarlet paused, and with a sigh she eased back into the bed and pet the girl on the head. Her gaze traveled to the ceiling and rested there, thoughts began to seep into her head though.

  What am I chasing? Originally it was power. I wanted to be able to protect my friends from myself. . . But I haven't reached that goal. . . Yet here I am caring for this girl and laughing with friends. I can feel your disappointed gazes, they haunt me. Skarlet sighed a frown of thought passed her lips.

  I need to do something Great, I need to do something so amazing not even the atrocities of my past could stand in the light I leave behind. . . Her gaze turned towards the window and rested on the sun letting off a majestic and golden hue.

  I have to leave behind an epic so great it's told for centuries after, leaving my name in history as a hero. . . If I do something like that. Maybe they'll forgive me for my cowardice, my failure. Her eyes fell down and she felt the bubbling emotions that would lead to tears. She shoved them aside roughly with a new train of thought.

  I can't ever see myself as worthy of being a legend told to the ones that come after, but I can't just lay down and die. I'll have to become something I'm not, accomplish something I was never meant to, and build a future that outweighs my sins.

  It'll be ok, as long as no one knows the girl hiding behind this skin. I'll keep everything deep inside, project only what needs to be seen to craft a good story.

  And when everything's over, I think it'll be nice to sit down and read about the hero I never was. The great Savior I pretended to be, and maybe that story will be enough. Maybe they'll also read my story, maybe they'll like the me I wished to be. Her momentary confidence faded and she couldn't help but question herself.

  Is it ok, to wish for a dream built from the fragments of a child's adorations of knights and dragons, heros and demons. Laid out in pieces at my feet.

  God, I'm such a child. Longing for a future like that. A radiant hero with a golden glow. I feel so much fear though, a little bit of hope couldn't hurt, even if it's not real.

  A finger brushed a tear from her cheek and Skarlet glanced at the golden eyes looking at her with worry.

  "It's ok, I'm ok Amber. I'm itching to fight something so I think I'll go visit the Guild." Skarlet explained with a soft smile while getting to her feet.

  Amber scrambled from the bed and grabbed her shirt. "I'm coming." She spoke softly as she climbed from the bed standing there with her frazzled hair and slept eyes wearing just a simple and cute night gown.

  "Amber. . . You're speaking. When did that happen?" Skarlet asked I'm confusion.

  "Bal woke me up." She replied with a yawn before pushing past Skarlet. "I'm gonna become a mage. . . I- I can become an adventurer?" She started out attempting to state her direction before glancing down at her feet and mumbling a question.

  "Ok. . . Yeah, let's go together." Skarlet pushed her worry down and took her hand, pulling her closer. Skarlet reached into her bag and began to brush the girls hair softly.

  "It's ok, I'll be careful." Amber reassured Skarlet as she finished, looking a bit lost until Amber took her shaking hand.

  Skarlet sighed with a nod before she began to help Amber change. She dressed her in a casual outfit consisting of a simple white shirt and short light yellow skirt, with a thin wide brimed sun hat.

  "Come on let's stop by some shops, an adventurer needs gear." Skarlet led the way out into the bustling port streets. Ducking past the salesmen being a bit too aggressive and heading deeper towards the city.

  The port town was pressed against the outer wall of the main city of Gulress. Effectively it was one big city, though the port didn't have walls and felt more like another world. You didn't need much to get into the port however the city required a trustworthy ID.

  Skarlet presented her guild card to the man at the gate and was easily let in. She led Amber by the hand to the market street. Amber grabbed the brim of her hat and glanced up at Skarlet with a smile.

  "Thank you, Skarlet. . . For saving me from that disgusting place. . . I don't remember what happened to me there, but I know that I'm only happy because of you." She spoke with assurance, like she was trying to ease a expected sense of guilt. Like she'd come to understand Skarlet's nature a bit, and wanted to ease that burden she puts on herself.

  "I, you know. . . I was being selfish. . . I saved you for my own self satisfaction you know." She whispered the last bit like it was dangerous to say it loud.

  "Hehe, Skarlet reasons like that don't matter when you save someone's life silly!" Amber giggled happily and hugged Skarlet. "You're so hard on yourself you know. Really should lighten up."

  "It's so odd. . ." Skarlet suddenly paused while looking at Amber.

  "Sorry. . . Should I speak less? Must be a bit overwhelming." Amber looked a bit worried.

  "No, this is how you were before huh?" Skarlet muttered, "I'll get used to it- oh here this shop looks good." Skarlet turned and led the way into a small shop with a display stand outside of cloaks, hats, staffs, and wands.

  "Ooh." With eyes full of stars Amber excitedly followed behind.