XV - Usual Day… with Ravenous Dragons?

Aurora stirred from her slumber as she felt tiny paws kneading her cheeks, coaxing her from her sleepiness.

Five more minutes… she groaned, burying her face into her pillow, blocking the sunlight from hitting on her sleepy face.

Mrrowmp~ Mrrowmp~!

A soft, purring meow answered her insistent and affectionate with a hint of mischief beneath those mismatched eyes. 

As if she were saying.

Wake up, sleepyhead! Mommy wants to show you something!

"Zzz… zzz…"

Aurora understood the cat's language perfectly, fluttering her eyelashes as one of her mismatched eyes blinked lazily.

Until her eyes widened as realization suddenly hit her. 

That cat—it could be…

"A-Aria!?"

"Meoww…?" Aria tilted her small head mockingly, her small nose twitched at the scent of mother's cooking lingers in the room despite the door creaking open, watching her sister sit up against the mattress with a heavy sigh.

"Aria, what's going on—?"

Before she could explain—her bakeneko form suddenly reshaped into her hybrid form, already dressed in her academy uniform, wearing a mischievous grin.

"Ta-da! Surprised?"

"A-Aria!? H-H-How many times have I told you not to pounce on me while I am still asleep in your cat form?!"

"Why not? Because mama told me to wake you. But ugh, you're drooling."

"What?! W-where!?"

"In your pillow.”

"Ugh. Absolutely disgusting."

"It's your own drool, not mine."

Aurora grimaced, yanking the blanket up to hide the damp trail she left behind, her cheeks warmed in embarrassment.

Aria's eyes glinted mischievously as her hand darted out to steal her older sister's lunch grain cookies.

"Aha! It's mine now."

"Hey!? Stop right there—!"

Without hesitation, Aurora lunged toward her sister, her long dark blue hair trailing behind her as she chased her down the hallway.

The sound of growl and hisses echoed, suddenly a cyan tendril coiled around their form freezing them in their tracks.

Aurora looked down at her wrist, as the tendrils pulsating the warmth spread through her veins.

"Mom…"

Their mother crossed her arms over her chest, unimpressed despite the exhaustion hidden beneath her youthful face from cooking their breakfast and lunch, her hair still glowing, floating behind her.

"Ehem? What are you doing, girls?"

"I-I uhh… Aria steals my snacks!"

"W-w-what, me?! I didn't mean to!"

"Oh, really? And what is that on your back?"

Aria giggled, finally raised her both hands with the lunch snack on her grip on mock surrender.

"Fine, fine. It's yours now, sister."

She tossed it as watching her older sister catch it even though her wrist was still caught by her mother's hair.

Their mother released her grip, pinching the bridge of her nose as she let her hair glow fade as the floating strands fell over her waist once more.

"…sighs, oh dear, maybe you two save your energy for training instead of wrestling at sunrise."

"Yes, mom…" both girls said in unison, however Aurora shot her sister with a warning glare with a low hissing sound escaping from her lips.

"Good, now go. Eat your breakfast, and also, Aurora?"

"Yes, mom? What is it?" Aurora responded, tilted her head in confusion.

"Come, I'll show you something." her mother replied, gesturing her to follow as she watched her daughter rising from her chair, leaving Aria munching her meal alongside with their family cat, Mr. Whiskers, meowing softly. 

While Rocky, a fluffy tuxedo cat remained asleep on her bedding.

Mr. Whiskers, an adult calico cat with soft fluffy fur, who had accidentally wandered outside of his previous home since he was a small vulnerable kitten.

He was the rarest male calico in the world, but thought the Chu family found him and adopted anyway, raising him with care.

Meow~

Aria paused, looked down at Mr. Whiskers as she let out a chuckle gently petting his head, hearing the sound of his purring music to her ears.

Aurora and her mother arrived in the sunlit dressing room, formerly known as the guest room which changed into dressing room for dress making for the family, or for the next activity.

Positioned in the right center, stood a polished wooden mannequin that bathed from the soft glow of morning light, draped over almost it was an exquisite brand new set of battle regalia.

Aurora's jaw dropped, her mismatched eyes wide in amazed as her breath hitched while taking in the sight.

Woah…no way… did she create this… for me?

Her mother shifted her attention from the mannequin towards her daughter, placing her slender hand on her shoulder, anchored her like from the past.

"Surprised, sweetie?" she interrupted, her soft brown eyes focused on her oldest daughter.

Aurora didn't look back, her mismatched eyes still wide and focused on her battle attire.

The attire featured a deep indigo robe with flowing cyan waves reminiscent of her mother's shimmering, dominant hair, layer beneath of sculpted gold-and-blue corseted waist piece. 

One long sleeve in the left draped over her waist, while the other has another layer revealed of seafoam translucent sleeve and then the underlayer to let her move more fluidly—paired with two war fans meant to control wind and mist surrounding her.

The wing shaped ornament rested above her forehead, styled like a small gold diadem.

Then a single gem sat at the central point oriented vertically in tear-drop shape.

Aurora finally shifted her attention back toward her mother, mismatched eyes shining.

"M-Mom…i-is this for…me?"

"Yes, sweetie." her mother admitted, a faint smile curl on her lips.

"It's yours now. You can travel whenever you want, alongside with your friends like Charlotte."

Without hesitation, Aurora wrapped her arms around her mother's back, resting her chin against her shoulder blade, murmured softly with her ears flattened on her sides.

"Thank you, Mom… this is the best gift I've ever received."

"It's alright, sweetie, let's change your uniform— wait!"

"What's wrong, mom?"

"Oh, don't forget sweetie, you need to take a bath first before you wear your mother's masterpiece."

"Oh—oh, oh yeah, thanks, mom!"

Without hesitation, Aurora bolted out from the dressing room. Leaving her mother unshed the attire from the mannequin for preparation, shook her head in amusement.

Sighs… She looks very happy.

꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱

The morning gates of Asahi Academy were filled with students dressed in their personality styles over their uniforms.

However for Charlotte, inside of the hallway still wearing her old paladin gear instead using her new armor, known as Lancelot II.

Though it was still risky to expose herself, except a single bandage on her cheek with a stiffness on her left shoulder from blocking Grimlock's attack from yesterday.

"Hey! Charlotte!"

"Hm?"

Charlotte shifted her attention toward the call as Quincy and Sarah approached, Sarah waving her hand in greeting.

"Hey, uh…why didn't you change your…armor?"

"Huh? I-I—It's fine, my armor is still fine."

"But hey, Aurora told me about Lancelot II the Silent Paladin."

"Yeah, the silent paladin who saved our friend Aurora from the three menaces. At least she did it on purpose."

Charlotte froze, her heart skipped into the beat from mentioning her anonymous name.

Oh no… t-t-that's me, but. I-I'm not supposed to tell her—or them about this! she thought to herself, her brown-golden eyes widening in disbelief.

Quincy looked at her, a concerned look forming on her face.

"Uh, Charlotte?"

Charlotte snapped her thoughts away, shifting her attention towards her.

"Y-Yes?"

"You didn't look fine, A-Are you sure you're okay?" Sarah asked softly, fidgeting her staff, wearing a concern look forming on her face.

"Y-yeah, I-I'm fine, look."

Before she could explain, a sudden sharp snap echoed in the hallway, then a soft tapping of heels followed.

Students paused their conversation, one of them eyes widened in awe in disbelief.

I-Is that…

No way! She was… gorgeous.

Absolutely!

A short while later, Aurora arrived at the gates of Asahi Academy, dressed in her battle attire, her heels tapping softly against the cold floor, her long dark blue hair with crimson streaks trailing behind her that made Charlotte's heart flutter.

Woah… she's so… beautiful in that dress.

Aurora paused for a second, her mismatched eyes scanning over the crowded students. Then landed on the three familiar figures in the hallway.

"How déclassé. How rude, having a chat without me?" she scoffed, as she approaching them smoothly with her hips swaying, heels clicking on the cold floor.

Her long dark blue hair with crimson streak trailing behind her as she approach them.

Charlotte paused, turned away with her face flushed despite the realization hitting her.

"Quick! Aurora's coming." Quincy hissed, as three of them shift their attention, while Charlotte stood between them with sheepish grin though the bandage on her cheeks shows the story that made Aurora's mismatched eyes sharpened.

"G-Good morning, Princess Aurora." Charlotte greeted warmly, bowing her head slightly.

"…I see. Good morning too, Sir Charlotte. I trust you had…a quiet evening yesterday?" Aurora said, snapping her fan open with a sharp clack to hide the lingering blush on her face.

"—E-Evening?! W-w-what are you talking about? I'm just feeding my siblings! Nothing special!" Charlotte stammered, her face instantly turning red as ripe strawberry.

"Really?"

"Y-Y-Yes! I-I'm not gonna lie!"

Aurora's gaze narrowed in suspicion, crossed her arms over her chest.

Do you honestly think—you're a sneaky liar?

Before she teased her further, the crystal flared to life, a screeching roar echoed through the hallways.

"Everyone get down!" 

Students scream for their lives, scrambled in different directions as three massive winged dragons burst out from the trees.

Their hungry jaws snapping greedily at everyone—as their food!

"What in the…world is GOING ON!?" Aurora gasped as the sudden interception of the three ravenous dragons from the deep forest, seeking food for their diet.

Quincy and Sarah hugged themselves, watching the three dragons roared, their flapping wings echoed inside.

Charlotte stepped in front of Aurora without hesitation, drawing her broadsword with sharp discipline.

"Stay with me, Princess! The ravenous dragons from an unknown habitat are here!"

The three dragons roared, circling outside the academy from above, waiting for someone to step out bravely to fight them, neither weak or not.

ROOOAAAAR!

GRAAAAHHH!

SKREEEEEE—!