Beginnings I
Waking up from being knocked out, Sher Aka finds herself in a tent. Going outside she looks around and finds a barren range of green hills surrounding her and on one of these hills lies a giant pink Dragon.
“You! Where the hell did you bring me!?”
“Ah, you’re finally awake. Welcome to Talon, you’re not far from the next portal.”
“Why did you bring me here!?”
“You want to be my daughter's mother, don’t you? Do you think I’d accept a weakling like you with such a position?”
“So what? You stranded me out in the middle of nowhere to get rid of me?”
Standing up the King walks over to Sher Aka, the earth trembling with every step, until he puts his giant face right in front of her, “No, you don’t seem the type to give up so unless I kill you you’ll just end up running back to her like a cockroach. So I thought if you’re already going to be a nuisance I might as well train you enough to be useful enough to protect Rose a little.”
“Ha! So you’d train me?”
Letting out a toothy smile he answers, “I’ve always been known for my ridiculous ideas, like becoming knight captain or marrying the queen. Wait…Now that I say it I might be quite competent…”
“What do you want?”
“It’s not about what I want. I brought you here to give you a choice. Right now, you do not have the potential to get much further in life. You’re an Elf, you have no bloodline ability and you don’t seem to have a grasp on any magic either. To put it simply, you might be fit to be a village guard but that’s about it. But if you have the determination to risk your life I’m willing to raise your potential and train you.”
“How high?”
“Hmm?”
“How high will this training raise my potential?”
“Ahahaha, now we’re talking. This training won’t make you into a hero but what it will do is give you the time you need to reach your potential and surpass it.”
“I think as an Elf I have enough time.”
“Oh? Does being an Elf protect you from being killed by poison or getting killed by an arrow to the head?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s the sort of time I wish to grant you. An infinite amount of second chances but not third chances.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about but you promise this will raise my potential?”
“I do.”
“In that case I acc-”
Getting knocked out by the King before finishing her sentence a scrawny man, wearing a white robe appears. He has long pink hair and is smoking something.
“That’s no good Carlo, I need full consent to do this legally.”
“She seemed to agree wholeheartedly.”
“Tsk You should have at least waited until she fully said ‘accept’. Why are you always so impulsive? You’ve been like that since we were kids.”
“I guess I just don’t like waiting.”
“Sigh I know… So I’m guessing if the surgery fails and she dies you’ll take responsibility?”
“Of course.”
“Alright, in that case use those muscles of yours and carry her to the lab.”
Transforming back to his polymorphed form the King picks up Sher Aka and slaps the unknown man on the back.
“Have you gotten so weak now from all your lab work that you can’t even pick up an Elf?”
“That’s right, I guess I’ll just have my big brother take care of it.”
“Gee…You always want me to pamper you don’t you~”
“Shut up, you’re here because you need me, not the other way around.”
“Oh~ And yet you always have my favorite treats prepared when I come to visit.”
“Shut up idiot…”
Meanwhile in Berk, Rayla leaves an expensive carriage right outside the guild branch in Rostock.
“Heh, it's been a while.”
Entering inside many familiar faces await her all looking at her in anticipation then loudly yelling,
“Eeeeeh!?”
“I thought a Duchess was coming.”
“Welcome back Rayla!”
“You a guard now or something?”
With a smile she whispers to herself, “This place is the same as always…”
Before the Guild Master comes walking down the stairs and yells, “Oy! Numbskulls, didn’t I tell you to treat the Duchess with respect?”
“Well yeah but it’s just Rayla, ya know.” Jared answers.
“That’s not ‘Just Rayla’ to you, it's Duchess Rayla Zorra now, so treat her with respect.”
“EEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH!?” The crowd erupts in disbelief.
“Now then, Duchess. You have come a long way. Will you accompany me to the Guild Master’s Office?”
“Why of course, Guildmaster~” Rayla says with a smug look on her face as she passes everyone by.
Inside the office, Shara Seleen brushes through Rayla’s hair and says, “You’ve done well. Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Guild Master.”
Sitting down in her chair the Guildmaster asks, “So? What brings you here after all this time? I heard you want to train with Meshir Bakan again, is everything alright? How is Thoma Ahad doing?”
“Well…Before I start, is this office proofed against eavesdropping?”
Twisting a handle on her desk, the room suddenly glows in different runes, “It is now.”
“Rose isn’t doing well at all…”
“Who is Rose?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what I said. Who is Rose?”
“No way… Did she not tell you!?”
“Tell me what?”
A bit incredulous Rayla leans back into her chair and says, “I’m not sure if it’s my call to tell you this but Thoma Ahad is a girl and she goes by Rose now.”
“What!? Since when!?”
“Well…At least half a year now, probably.”
“Is that something that came because of his reincarnation?”
“Well…You might wanna sit down for this.”
“I’m already sitting, spit it out.”
“We found out who Rose was before she was cursed and we’ve also seen her uncursed form twice now.”
“Really!? Who was he?”
“Princess Eithlynn Pradia Sol.”
“...”
“You’re mocking me right?”
“I’m not.”
“...”
“You’re actually serious?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“And you’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“It’s a good thing you asked me to soundproof this room…So, when are you going to return him…Her to Tera Flora?”
“Never.”
“Why not?”
“Because she was severely abused there both by the King and the maids. They gave her lashings, told her her life has no value and the maids poked her with needles.”
Gasp
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“So what will you do? You can’t keep her in Blaze, she’ll be a political hostage if they find out.”
“Wait…Don’t tell me she hasn’t told you that either?”
“Told me what?”
“Ifrit…Made Rose not just into any Dragon. She is the daughter of the Blaze royal family and is currently staying with the Queen in Blaze. She already imprinted on both of them.”
“What!? Do they know!?”
“Yes, they know. As far as I understand, they care for her deeply and fully think of her as their daughter. They would probably go to war for her if it came down to it.”
“...”
“This is a lot to take in.”
“...”
“Could you leave me for now? Let’s talk about this again tonight at my home. I will also invite Meshir Bakan.”
“Sure, I’ll go catch up with some of the peeps here then. See ya.”