Reborn as a dragon, now my new life starts with an ultimatum?!

...

Where...

Where the hell am I?

Somewhere... claustrophobic, and dark.

...Is this the afterlife? I wouldn't be surprised. I had just died, after all. I just expected something more flashy. Chalk it up to my upbringing, I suppose.

But no, it's just... nothing.

No, that's not right. Some light is peeking through, faint as it may be. Flickers of it, at least. I must be inside something, cramped as it is.

Something like... an egg.

Yes, I think that's it. I must've been reincarnated, and this is the time for me to begin my new life.

Yet, why do I still have memories of my past life? Why am I able to have coherent thoughts when I haven't even been born yet, technically speaking?

I guess it doesn't matter, right now. It's probably more important that I'm actually born, first and foremost. Those questions can be answered later, if ever.

My limbs strain to press against the walls that have enclosed me, my supposition quickly proving correct as cracks start to form, small yet growing bigger and bigger before eventually giving way to an opening I can push myself out of.

Now that I'm free from my egg, truth be told I'm not sure where I am. It's hard to make out any details in this dim, candle-lit room. Though, given the fact that I was just born, I suppose that even in a well-lit room I would probably still struggle to make out any details.

Despite that, it looks to be that I'm probably in some sort of derelict castle-- my eyes must be adjusting quicker than I thought. Seemingly, this place has not been abandoned, given I'm not immediately choking on dust or mold, but I highly doubt any upstanding nobility would want to live here. The stonework is a drab gray, the atmosphere far too dark and far less flashy for any self-respecting hoity-toity type to call home.

Speaking of which... where the hell is anyone?

I sincerely doubt I was laid and then abandoned.

Or at least, I hope I wasn't laid and then abandoned.

It's hard for me to move in my current state, so it'd be nice if someone finds me soon, especially if it's my new parents. I can't exactly support myself like this, so I don't really know how long I'll be able to last without whoever my mom and dad are to care for me.

I suppose for now, I should take in my surroundings some more. It seems like I'm in some sort of bedroom, lying atop a cushy velvet pillow of sorts. There's a very big and lavish bed nearby, but I suppose everything looks big to me right now. Even still, I find myself jealous at its scale, wishing I had a bed even half as big in my past life. Maybe then I would've been able to actually get some sleep, given all of the things going on in my life that lead me to-

"Ah, it seems as though my plans have finally come to fruition." A low, growling voice interrupts my thoughts, bellowing out from behind me. That must be one of my new parents, then. Though, I can't make out their gender from their voice alone. Not that I care to make assumptions. So, for now, 'parent.'

"I bid you welcome to Arethon."

Do they expect me to speak back? I'm not even 10 minutes old yet.

They enter my view, allowing me to take in their appearance.

...

They're... much shorter than I expected them to be.

"...What is the matter?" They respond with confusion.

They seem to be some sort of small, stocky demon, with the mane, ears and tail of a lion. One of their horns has been reduced to a nub, though their other one suggests it was that of a goat. I can't see their face, however, it's being covered by the visor of their helmet.

"Are you unable to speak? ...I suppose that would make sense. You were just born, after all." They walk up to me, lightly pressing their palm onto my head.

"This should work better." They exclaim non-verbally.

They've entered my mind. Some form of telekinesis? ...It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, but I guess that'll work. Within my thoughts, I'm finally able to respond.

"I just wasn't expecting you to be so... small."

"Small." They hang on that word, seeming to not understand what I mean. After a pregnant pause, they walk away, presumably to look for a mirror.

"WHAT IN THE NINTH LAYER-"

I hear the sound of glass shattering shortly after.

They return once more, looking notably more exasperated.

"It seems as though there may be a few wrinkles in my plan."

"You mean you're not usually this cute?"

Their body recoils at that remark. "H-how dare you call the great Allogor von Exgrave CUTE?!"

Exgrave. Sounds like something out of a children's book.

"The spell I had prepared for my resurrection seems to have gone awry, is all." They mutter something else, but I can't exactly make it out. It sounded like they were complaining about a second spell failing, or something.

Regardless, they turn away, regaining their composure. "No matter. Only fools place their faith upon perfect execution. I will simply adapt to these circumstances."

Really inspiring confidence, here.

"I fit into this plan... how, exactly...?" I think in response.

Exgrave turns their head towards me. "Ah, but of course. Your confusion is more than understandable."

"You, my dear... ah." They trail off, unsure of what to call me.

"Penelope. Penelope Toil." Or is it Penelope von Exgrave now? I'll have to ask later.

"Your gender as well, if you do not mind my asking?" How... polite, for what I assume to be a demon lord.

"I'm a woman." Or... girl? I wasn't exactly expecting to ever be reincarnated, let alone keep my past memories, so I don't know if I should go by my old age or new one. The fact I'm able to process anything right now isn't helping that dilemma.

"Very well." They turn around to face me completely. "My dear Penelope, you've been given a second chance. An opportunity to live once more, despite whatever fate befell you in your past life."

As if I deserve a second chance. Reminds me of some of the books my sister and I would obsess over as teens, though. But, wait... it's usually a divine goddess that summons the hero, right? In order to defeat a demon lord?

I'm suspicious, to say the least.

"What's the catch, exactly?"

"You're a wise woman, Penelope." As if people can just casually perform reincarnation magic. They take a sharp breath, as if to punctuate what they're about to say. "In exchange for your return to the mortal realm, I simply ask that you..."

...

...

...

SMACK

I feel a small hand slapping me awake.

"How rude! Nodding off in the middle of my big speech... for shame, Penelope. For shame."

Despite maintaining my emotional maturity, I feel an overwhelming urge to cry.

"I-I was just born today, cut me some slack for nodding off...!" I sniffle, overwhelmed by my instinctive emotions.

Noticing the tears welling up, Exgrave pauses. "Right... right. My apologies." They meekly pat me on the head, rubbing where they had struck as if to make me feel better. Cursing some 'Orien' individual under their breath, they step back, giving a prolonged sigh. "I suppose these complications have left me on edge, as well."

"As I was saying, in exchange for giving you a second lease on life, I am asking of you to join me on my quest for world domination."

World domination. Huh.

I guess that makes sense, demon lord and all that.

"This world is plagued with rot, poisoned so thoroughly by greed and selfishness, and I have devoted my life to cleaning it up."

"What do you define as rot, exactly?" I shoot them an incredulous look. Lots of these evil types act like they're the hero, but really only crave power. Real 'bullied in high school' energy, if you get what I mean.

The slats in their visor furrow to match my expression- almost as if they were a cartoon character.

"Racial prejudice. Systemic oppression. The wealthy elite serve to benefit only themselves yet have convinced countless others that supporting them will make the world a better place. In truth, as you would suspect, it serves only to keep them in power. Disgusting, is it not?"

That's... not unlike my world. Surprisingly so, honestly. I would've expected to reincarnate into a world with far simpler struggles. Like, y'know, a demon lord problem. That's usually how it goes, right? Still, how am I to trust that they're not just jealous that they're not the one propagating all of that injustice?

"I can see the look of distrust in your eyes." Their expression neutralizes. "Understandable; expected even. It is wise of you to not trust a demon lord to their word."

They look off to the distance. "You need not believe me. I am not blind as to realize the magnitude of that which I ask of you, nor am I lacking in self-awareness that I, a demon lord, expect you to readily believe that my intentions of taking over the world are to make it a better place. I only ask, once you see this world for what it is, that you consider following in my footsteps."

They sigh, "...Especially now that I find myself in a less capable shape than before."

I'm at least glad that we both see eye-to-eye, metaphorically speaking. Though, literally speaking, they don't actually stand too much taller than me. They must be... what, 1, 2 feet tall?

Speaking of which, though...

I look down at my hands- claws? Claws.

Both of which are scaled. Left one black, right one white.

What... am I, exactly?

Exgrave notices my confusion. "Give me but a moment." They walk off, climbing up several shelves with a surprising nimbleness. Then, after some further time has passed, they return, carrying a compact mirror in tow.

"I do not expect you to be able to walk much, so here." They place it down in front of me. "So that you may observe your new form."

I'm...

....

Huh.

A dragon?

Some strange looking one, that's for sure. As my legs suggested, my scales are split down the middle, not unlike a chimaera. Golden stripes adorn my limbs and back as well, though the part that has me the most curious are the similar markings on my forehead. For whatever reason, it resembles an artistic rendering of an eye.

I really do look like I'll grow into the form of an evil dragon- one the hero would devote their whole life to taking down. If nothing else, I look the part for someone siding with a demon lord.

"This is your doing, I take it?" I telepathically ask.

"It is not." They respond with an honesty that catches me off guard. "I knew not what form you would take, nor who you were. All that was my doing was me pulling you from death back to life."

So I'm not any sort of chosen one, then. Thank the gods, I was beginning to worry I'd develop an ego in this life.

"How did you know I would be able to help you with your plans for uh, world domination, then?"

"I have faith in my spells."

"You just said they had gone awry."

They pause, taken off-guard by my willingness to push back. "W-well... I had supposed that I would be in better form to train whoever I had called forth to this world." They puff themselves up, arms at the hip to appear more confident. "I may not look the part at present time, but I am still a demon lord. Many had feared me in my prime. ...Though they may be gone now, my army once stood strong against those who opposed me."

"I believe you, I believe you." Or at least, I don't have any reason not to. Like I said before, it's not like anyone can simply bring the dead back to life. Even if it didn't have the intended result, these spells are still no laughing matter.

Their arms fall to their sides. "Where then does your apprehension lie, Penelope? If you lack faith in yourself, then I can always begin the ritual once more. Find someone else to fight in my stead."

As if those tiny arms could perform any complex rituals.

It's not like I lack faith in myself, or anything... I'm a dragon now. I can do anything I put my mind to.

I... think so, at least.

...

My mind wanders, finding its way back where it was when I had died. It was... a dark place. An uncomfortable place. A place I don't really feel I want to mentally interrogate right now. So, I shut those thoughts out for now, attempting to recenter myself in the present time.

"I'll see what I can do. I haven't seen the outside world yet, and..." I yawn, thoughts clouding up once more. "I'd like more context before coming to a decision."

"Of course. It would benefit us both for you to make your decision one that is as educated as possible."

I find myself falling asleep once again. Being a baby again kinda sucks, now that I think about it. Their constant sleeping is great for the parents having to deal with them, but when you're trying to make sense of the strange world you find yourself in?

Though, given how much I always wanted to sleep in during my past life, I guess I should count my blessings while I still have them.

Hopefully this time, though, they won't try to wake me up.