For the First Time in Centuries, the Crimson Dragon Feels Genuine Fear!?

After my mom fainted, we woke her up by splashing water on her face.

The first thing I did was explain to her how I found Eggy and promised to be its mother.

“So that’s what happened. So I’m guessing you came here to get your child back?”

“Mom!? Whose side are you on?”

“Piyu!”

“Kurenai, don’t be like that. Of course a mother wants to be with her baby. Just like me and you. Or do you think it’d be fine for someone to take you from us?”

“B-but she abandoned Eggy all alone in that forest!”

“Ah-huh. And who was it that destroyed half the forest?”

If glares could kill... that one would surely take me out in one hit!

“...”

“Do you even realize what it means for a human to be taking care of a dragon?”

The Crimson Dragon asked me.

Hmmm.

“Giving her a lot of food, washing her, petting her, cuddling her... sleeping together.”

Halfway through that sentence I spaced out, imagining all the things we could do.

“Hahaha. That’s one answer I did not foresee.”

Eh?

With a confused expression, I looked at my mom, who was in the process of face-palming.

Did I say something weird?

“Kurenai... she meant more so the fact that it’s unheard of for a human to raise a dragon.”

She laughed so much that tears formed.

“I-I mean... Haha. That as well, but... Hehe. It’s also against almost every human’s morals. A dragon is still a monster after all.”

“But Eggy didn’t hurt anyone!”

“Indeed, she didn’t do it yet, but how can you guarantee she won’t in the future?”

Standing up, I slammed my hands onto the table.

“I’ll just teach her! Right, Eggy?”

“Kyuuu!”

Eggy took a determined stance between my hands.

“Intriguing-”

“Also! Isn’t that kind of hypocritical coming from you?”

My mother froze, her face turning white.

“K-k-k-kurenai...”

“Oh ho. How so?”

“Aren’t you the one who rampaged and burned down multiple villages? Leaving not a single survivor!?”

Her eyes sharpened with a dangerous yellow glow.

“M-mrs. Crimson Dragon! She didn’t mean it like that.”

Mom rushed over, trying to cover my mouth, but I freed myself.

“You big meanie! Evil Crimson Dragon!”

“Kurenai!”

Mom raised her hand, aiming it right at my head-

“Hahahaha. You really are a weird one. It’s been forever since the last time someone had the gall to talk to me like that.”

Eh?

Her reaction stunned us both.

“I can’t even remember the last time I laughed this much.”

She claimed with a nostalgic expression while wiping away the tears.

“But just to clarify, those rumors aren’t entirely true.”

That is supposed to be the Crimson Dragon? I’m starting to really doubt it...

I thought as I suspiciously glared at her.

“Truth is, I’ve been searching for the kidnapper of my egg for quite a while.”

“You mean Eggy?”

“Indeed. Have I burned down a few buildings while doing so? Yes, but there was never a single casualty.”

“Meaning-”

“They lied and made up rumors. So that they could just hide the fact that they stole my baby.”

I don’t fully trust her... But she did save Mom, and she could have taken Eggy by force.

Mom sighed deeply with relief while joining us at the table.

“If that’s the case, then what did they want from Kurenai? Did they know that she has your egg?”

“Not at all. Kurenai has something that is way more interesting to them.”

Tilting my head, I thought about it for a second.

If it’s not Eggy, then what else? That perfectly round rock I found last week!? No, no way. Oh! The perfectly straight stick with the splitting end...?

“I’m not handing over Sticky the Third!”

“...”

“And neither will they get Rock-”

“They don’t want your stupid sticks or whatever!”

Sniffle...

“They aren’t... stupid...”

“Piyu...”

Eggy comforted me while Mom looked at her with disappointment.

“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean it. But, getting back to the topic, they want Kurenai herself.”

“What for?”

Mom asked her with a worried expression.

She stood up.

“Let’s go outside, I’ll show you.”

We headed outside to the backyard.

“Good, this should be a good spot. Now, Kurenai, channel as much mana as you can into your palm.”

“Oh water spirits, lend me thy strength-”

“I didn’t mean like that, but that should work as well.”

“And bless us with, water.”

A water ball formed in my hand while I kept condensing more mana into my palm.

“Continue, channel as much as you can.”

Closing my eyes I really focused on my mana flow, routing as much as I could into my palm.

The ball started to grow in size, and a white glow radiated from inside it.

“Good, good-”

Splash.

The water ball exploded, drenching her from head to toe.

“Seriously!?”

“Sorry... that’s the best I could do.”

While I was a bit sad that I failed yet again... It also felt good to drench that meanie!

That’s what you get for trying to take Eggy from me! I’d love to say that out loud... but that’d make me the meanie.

“That’s odd, even compared to when you fought me before.”

Steam came off of her as she dried herself while walking up to me.

“I don’t really know what I did back then...”

She placed her hand on my forehead.

“Let me check something.”

Closing her eyes, she focused in on me.

I could feel warmth pooling in her palm, trying to enter my body.

While I enjoyed the comforting feeling, she, on the other hand, was using her mana to enter my mana plane. A space that exists within every human, that takes on different shapes and forms depending on their personality and mana capacities.

“Did something go wrong? Why is everything so dark? Torch!”

Raising her hand, she cast a fire spell to light up her surroundings.

It barely helped, illuminating only a few meters around her.

“How odd... seems like her mana is putting pressure onto mine.”

Noticing a faint glint in the distance, she tried squinting her eyes.

“Is that a human? No way!?”

Splash.

She stepped forward but jolted back from stepping in freezing water. That’s when she noticed that she was standing on a small platform surrounded entirely by water.

“Ugh. Then I’ll just have to strengthen the flame.”

A bit annoyed yet curious and determined, she kept continually strengthening the flame.

“What a pain! How does her mana push mine back so much!?”

But she didn’t give up and continued pouring more and more mana into it, slowly allowing her to see further and further...

Yet she couldn’t believe her eyes at what she saw.

An angel statue with horns and a black halo. Four arms, out of which two were impaled against a wall. With six wings spread out.

“W-w... what is that?”

Thud, thud, thud.

Her heart rate rose as she contemplated.

It looks similar to angels, yet it isn’t one. But neither is it a demon? Thankfully it’s just a statue-

That’s when everything around her started moving, as if she were surrounded by a massive monster with long, sleek, black fur.

“Hoho. It’s been a while since I’ve last felt uncertain. I should get out for now.”

She tried severing the connection, but that’s when the being across her opened its eyes and locked onto her.

“This aura... My mana is getting suppressed!?”

For the first time in centuries the Crimson Dragon felt genuine fear. Fear of the unknown...

Instinctively her body went into survival mode and released her limits, causing a massive bright flash, and using that as the perfect opportunity to escape.

Back in our realm I was still trying to understand what she was trying to achieve.

Then, a sudden, violent wave of mana exploded from within her as she leaped backward. In midair, she partially transformed back into a dragon, her hands became claws, horns erupted from her head, wings sprouted from her back, and a tail whipped out from underneath her dress.

“Who are you!? No, what are you!? Tell me!”