Lysandra

I sigh, trying to collect my scattered thoughts. Lysandra... Lysandra... There's a lingering sense of familiarity about that name. It's like a pesky itch I can't quite reach.

"So, Darius," I start, looking at the old man before me. "Why did you call me over? And by the way, I still can't get over the fact that she just about turned my head into a ping pong ball."

Without answering, Darius reaches for a bottle on his desk. He takes a hefty swig, the liquid sloshing around audibly. "Dragon-brewed alcohol is truly the best," he mumbles, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

His casualness baffles me, especially given the earlier situation. Then, to my surprise, he hands me a vial filled with a thick, red liquid. "Here's the dragon blood, boy."

My grip tightens around the vial, heart skipping a beat. 'Are you kidding me? Already? I'd thought I'd be on standby for another few months, given the location of that particular dragon.' I hold the vial up, watching the blood shift inside. "Thanks," I say cautiously. "But... this isn't the only reason you called me over, right?"

Darius chuckles. "I could have given this to that little boy and saved you the trouble of coming here." He leans forward, his sharp eyes studying me intently. "But I wanted to see your growth firsthand."

His laughter fills the room. "You've improved quite a bit since the last time you were here. Back then, you barely had control over your aura. Now, you're juggling both aura and mana. Impressive."

But then his tone turns serious. "Enough about that. Lysandra is the daughter of my old friend, Valthor. What are your thoughts on her?"

My hands tremble for a split second before I steady them. 'Wait a sec, Valthor... the dragon? No wonder she seemed familiar. That means he didn't visit that other dragon. If she's who I think she is, then after the fourth time skip, things will get...complicated.'

Gathering my thoughts, I reply, "To be honest, she seems like a spoiled brat. She's immature, lacks self-control, and as I've experienced firsthand, she relies purely on raw strength. Which, let's be honest, is quite stupid. Tell me, Darius, is she... a dragon?"

Darius stays silent for a tense moment before breaking into another fit of laughter. "Hahaha! You've got quite the mouth on you, boy! But you hit the nail on the head. That brat has a lot to learn. She looks down on everyone without knowing the world."

I sigh deeply, trying to gauge the motive behind Darius' eyes. "Just how did you know she was a dragon?" he asks, a smirk playing on his lips.

My mind races. 'Damn this old man! How could I not know? I wrote this damn story!' Rubbing my forehead in exasperation, I attempt to dodge the question. "When I fought her, I couldn't sense any mana or aura in her attacks. They were pure, unfiltered strength. Someone as young as her can't just tone their body to achieve such raw power, especially without any techniques. I mean, if she had some rare physique, her movements would definitely be smoother, and she'd be faster. Given you handed over dragon blood just now... connecting the dots wasn't that hard."

Darius raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Kids these days. Always analyzing. At your age, I was too busy checking out chicks to notice such details."

Suddenly, he tosses a pouch my way. I catch it, spilling the contents. There are some documents, clothes, and coins. The documents catch my attention. 'What the hell is this old man planning? These are identity papers for a female.'

My confusion must be apparent because Darius chuckles, taking another sip from his drink. "Lysandra will be in your care from now on," he declares, a mischievous glint in his eye.

The shock is so profound I practically cough up blood. "W-what?"

My thoughts go haywire. 'No no no no no! There's no way! I'm already dealing with a training-obsessed cat, a lazy ass bitch of a sloth, a money-obsessed goblin, a fucking psychopath, a damn mini roadrunner, and a fucking catastrophe in waiting. And now, he's telling me to add a freaking flaming lizard to this insane mix?!'

The room seems to spin a bit as panic sets in. "j-just why am I stuck with her?" I manage to ask, voice trembling.

Darius just chuckles, continuing to drink. "Hahaha, blame Valthor. To get the blood, the condition was that she had to leave with you."

Groaning, I grab my head in frustration. 'Fucking dragons and their ridiculous demands! What's wrong with Valthor? Who the hell sends their daughter with a stranger?'

Trying to maintain some semblance of control, I shoot back, "I'll be at the academy, how the hell am I supposed to babysit a dragon?"

Darius grins, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Had a chat with the head. He said it's all good as long as a professor agrees to take her in. Surely, you can manage that little thing, right?"

I sigh, feeling the weight of Darius' words pressing down on me. 'This old man really won't stop testing me, huh? Just how many times has he put me through the wringer since I've been here? What's he playing at?'

"Ugh, dealing with Lysandra at the academy won't be easy. Given her attitude, she'll be kicked out within a week," I retort, trying to reason my way out of this madness.

Darius grins wickedly, the very image of mischief. "That does pose a problem. But you know, there's a simple solution to that. Challenge her to a duel. Dragons are notorious for their pride. Strike a bet, settle it with a duel. Regardless of her fiery temperament, if she loses the duel, she'll be bound to honor the terms of the bet. You just need to dangle the right carrot in front of her."

He ambles over to his desk and picks up a book, throwing it at me without warning. I catch it instinctively. "She's taken a liking to food," he begins, a twinkle in his eye. "How about this? If you lose the duel, you'll be her personal chef for a year. But if she loses... she'll become your blood brother. Or should I say, blood sister?"

I scowl, my frustration clear. 'Just what the fuck is this old man thinking? I never wrote anything about dragons and duels in my story. And even if what he's saying is right about her honoring the bet, can I really best her in combat?'

I toss back, "Why the hell 'blood sister' of all things? Why can't I just have her promise to behave? That's all I'm asking for!"

Darius bursts into laughter, making me feel even more like a pawn in his twisted game. "Trust me, boy, a simple promise won't cut it with her. But making her your blood sister? That's another story. While you might not have complete control over her, it'll certainly rein her in, even if it's just a little. She has never left her home so this place is a completely new experience for her."

Groaning, I throw the book to the side, skimming through a few recipes. 'Tsk, these dishes are all trash. This is such a damn hassle. The last thing I need right now is a dragon by my side, especially one like her. Something tells me she'll absolutely despise Biana. And having two crazy fuckers at odds isn't a recipe for a peaceful life. I can already see them fighting over a simple meal'

Darius chuckles heartily, throwing another pouch my way with more force than necessary. I snatch it out of the air, immediately rifling through its contents. It's crammed with the materials I had requested.

"What's the big deal? Are you saying you can't beat her even with that fancy toy you like to hide?" Darius' grin is unnerving.

Peeking into the pouch, I can't help but frown. 'Damn, did Eira request for more materials? This is insane. The fact that we still need more is even crazier.' I lift my gaze back to Darius. "Wouldn't using these in a duel be considered cheating, though?"

Darius bursts into laughter, nearly spitting out his drink. "What? What a stupid belief. Boy, in a real fight anything goes. She's a damn dragon, isn't that a bigger cheat?"

Sighing, I stand, a hint of gratitude mixed with my frustration. "Alright, thanks for the advice." Pausing, I remember something else. "Oh, I almost forgot. Do you happen to have any body cleansing pills?"

Darius raises an eyebrow but before he can respond, he barks out, "Oi, Mike, bring me some!"

From seemingly out of nowhere, a figure steps forward and then strides out of the room, leaving me startled. 'What the fuck! Just how many people are hiding here?' I muse, my mind spinning.

Darius, seemingly amused by my reaction, chuckles. "Haha, don't worry about it. You can take some as a bonus for your performance today. And about those artifacts you asked about? I'll be able to get them within a month or two."

Relief washes over me. "Thank God. I don't think I could handle the sale in front of figures like Lilith without them."

Darius clicks his tongue, a scowl briefly crossing his face. "That old hag," he mutters under his breath.

Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I decide it's time to wrap this up. 'I better get going.' As if on cue, Mike steps back into the room, handing me a small box. Nodding in gratitude, I mutter, "Thanks. I'll be taking my leave now."

Walking out of Darius' office, the sounds of shouts and clashes come to my ears. I turn the corner and — of course, Lysandra's right there, in the thick of it. She's attacking some poor dude not too far from me, throwing out punches while yelling, "Fight me! Why do you keep dodging my attacks, you stupid human?"

I click my tongue in annoyance. 'Ugh, she's gonna drive me insane. Darius said she's been stuck at her home her entire life, so I understand if she's curious, but why does she need to fight everyone? Dammit, should I just lock her up in a room?'

Quickly approaching her, I do the one thing I know will get her attention – I grab her hair, pulling her back. "Let's go," I say, a firm tone underlining my words.

Her cold gaze bores into me, lips curling into a snarl. "I ain't going nowhere with you, bastard! My father is a dick for sending me here, and I'm going back!" She roars, her voice echoing with her anger.

I roll my eyes, unable to help the sarcastic tone in my voice. "Are you a kid? Do you need your dad to feel safe? I don't like this any more than you do, alright? Let's go."

For a split second, I think I've messed up. Her eyes flare, and I think, 'Oh fuck, is she going to attack me? I've already been beaten once today — can't she wait until tomorrow?' But then, pointing her finger straight at me, she declares, "Fight me. I'll beat you this time!"

Sighing deeply, I look straight into her eyes. "You've been cooped up in your house, right? Don't you want to see new things, meet new people...?"

But before I can finish, she interrupts, her anger still evident. "Fuck that shit! I'm a dragon! I don't need to be in this pathetic place!" With a sharp swing, her hand comes dangerously close to my face.

'What a shitty dad she has. Seriously, how do you let your kid be this arrogant?' I think as I try to defuse the situation. "I heard you want to try some food, so let's go. I'm taking my crew out to eat. You can join us as long as you don't start any fights and you don't go around telling everyone you're a dragon."

Without waiting for her response, I stride out of the building and back into the street. True to form, Lysandra isn't far behind. 'I knew it,' I think with a smirk, 'she's curious.'

Lysandra marches up to me, her voice dripping with defiance. "Don't go thinking I'm staying with you! Once I try some food, I'm leaving!"

I sigh, glancing over at her. "Sure, sure, whatever you say."