Mage Body

"Your Majesty?"

Zmey gasped, his voice struggling to pierce the silent darkness. A soft, cool breeze caressed his skin from both sides.

The first thing he saw as the world around him set into motion was a golden dragon statue.

Poised with elegance, it sat along the red carpet that lay ahead of him. Zmey realised, above all, that another person was in the room.

It was a young lady. A frank-faced type standing on the red carpet before the two golden dragon statues. Their eyes locked.

She wore a lotus gown, the white-lined fabric draping on her frame with elegance. Long, black hair that reached her waist. It had two buns at her temples, decorated with a floral hairband.

And a translucent, phoenix-shaped green jade. That, along with her unblemished and shining skin... Zmey could already tell that whoever this was had spent hours on her appearance. 

It would be a huge surprise if she could fight well, too.

"Your Majesty?" her tone grew indented with a hint of concern. She took a single step forward before her lordship stopped her with the raise of his hand.

Zmey cleared his throat and rose from his throne, only to take a seat once more. Perhaps… perhaps he was trying to make sure he seemed like the ferocious dragon emperor.

The actual owner of this body. As a tenant, he should at least avoid messing things up in a short amount of time.

He gazed at her shoulder instead of her face; those small red pupils were looking at him with concern. At least Zmey had something to work with in this strange place.

One of the only merits of reincarnation is that you aren't left guessing when it comes to adapting to your new form.

'She's Aura DrakeBorn, a Celestial Dragon. She's this owner's only friend. But instead of being on such terms, she became his right hand.'

Zmey was not surprised. From the memories of the owner that were now emerging in his mind, this dragon was one of wisdom. A breed ideal as a level-headed confidant for guidance.

Zmey Ashbane might have been ruthless. But he supposed this Aura DrakeBorn kept his temper in check. A strange sort of balance.

'Crap,' Zmey cursed, realising the dragon's personality was still intact. 'I am having this urge to keep her at ease. She must be Ashbane's weakness, I suppose.'

Aura's lips parted as she gazed at the man on the obsidian throne. Her expression showed her anxiety. She asked, with concern, "Your Majesty… are you feeling unwell again?"

'Again?' Zmey repeated; of course, only in his head. There was still too much to learn about his new identity.

But he couldn't risk slipping up... and questioning anything that the original Zmey Ashbane would have already known.

He placed his elbow on the rough-skinned armrest. He rested his cheek against the rather uncomfortable throne.

With a gentle but calculated gaze, like an emperor, he asked, "Why are you so worked up, Aura? You can see that I'm fine…"

"Pardon me, Lord Zmey," Aura shut her eyes and dipped her head in a bow, releasing a sharp breath.

She apologised, although she seemed more resolved about her anxiety than anything else.

"I was only worried because you've been sick on your throne for a very long time. You know, you usually get better in a few hours after experiencing such… troubles. This was quite the harrowing exception." 

She then glanced up, and Zmey realised that Aura had noticed his confusion. But, either to his relief or horror, she did not let that prevent her from putting on a smile. 

"But seeing you now, I suppose I can be at ease now that you have got better. The next full moon will not rise for a few weeks, so you'll be able to get some rest."

Aura gazed at Zmey with a look of admiration, letting a small laugh escape her lips. "I respect your resilience, Lord Zmey. Not everyone can be as strong as you... ruling the entire Infernosphere while still battling your full moon curse."

Zmey had to stop his jaw from going slack as he couldn't help but stare in disbelief. The full orb in the sky did tie into the ritual that put him in this state.

For a moment, he wondered, hoped that there could be an underlying connection. One between the emperor and him that could neutralise the magic's effect. But he brushed off the thought, dismissing it as a mere coincidence… for now.

'Will I make it past my thirties?' Zmey questioned. 'Could I have a better chance of living now that I'm in the beast's body?'

Could he outlive the past eight, the lives where he couldn't live past thirty-nine? If he somehow found a way to stop the curse… No, he couldn't get his hopes up. Fate had trapped Zmey Ashbane in this ritual, and he could not escape it.

"You feel… distant," Aura inquired, eyes lingering on Zmey's face. Until, almost self-consciously, he sat straight and cleared his throat. "Do you have something on your mind? Please share it. A problem shared is half solved."

Zmey smiled, his gaze still not reaching for hers. "I guess. Why are you in the throne room, though? I did not summon you."

He knew this white Celestial Dragon was a serious kind. After all, she had many tasks to take care of and inspect on a daily basis. She wouldn't have visited to check his condition alone.

Unless it was hard to handle alone; though, strangely enough, he couldn't recall such a day. Had he not regained the dragon's entire memory?

"Your order got me on a scout through the Infernosphere," Aura began. "As of my current knowledge, none of the fire creatures have left the land.

The lava elementals are rebellious. But they didn't disobey your orders not to descend to Earth. Not to talk of harming anyone."

Zmey Ashbane tried to comprehend what the hell she was rambling on about.

She paused for a slight smile on her face. "I can tell now; your idea to reconcile with the down-to-earth creatures is halfway done. Even so, the next step might not be easy.

The Beast Tamers and Exorcists won't allow any vulnerability for a 'treaty.' What's your plan for this, Lord Zmey? We can…"

Zmey mumbled under his breath, "Being the emperor is burdensome…"

"Pardon?" Aura retorted, an astonished edge to her voice.

Zmey said nothing. He couldn't look anywhere near her. In his memory, the winged fire creature had ruined lives. It had caused havoc and might as well have devoured people. Even if it made friends like humans, had its loved ones.

Or also suffered what seemed an endless sorrow, it remained a beast. And right now, Zmey knew he was in a body no other than that of a maniacal animal.

But what his companion had uttered shattered who he assumed this dragon was. Could a ruthless being truly consider making peace with humans?

Aura's cheeks pinkened with excitement. Her eyes were wide and glinting, the two of them never leaving Zmey Ashbane.

Although he was still busy rubbing his temples with his eyes absentmindedly shut, not giving her the slightest attention.... she seemed even more at ease with whatever made her heart race. 

She sensed thrills coursing through her wholeness, each one repeating the same thing. The dragon emperor said that his task was burdensome!

"Oh, my! I can't believe the day came, the one when I finally heard you say that you're tired of carrying out all those hectic tasks. Indeed, the tasks rarely help your mental stress." The same excitement shown a few seconds ago traced her voice underneath. 

Zmey locked eyes with her.

Her instincts provided an urgent warning to stop talking. Yet, that instinct lasted only a second. That's when she saw what the emperor's face hid. 

Her body still recalled the thrill she felt at the start of such discussions. Zmey would shoot a dissatisfied glance at her.

Even as the emperor's best friend and confidant, she couldn't discuss what she noticed. But, unlike past encounters, he didn't have a scowl on his face, not even a flicker of anything cold.

A faint smile bulged on her face. But, as soon as her eyes reached Zmey's feet, her head tilted in shock.

Her gaze locked onto what she noticed.

'Lord Zmey always sits with his legs wide, not having his feet intertwined at the end like that. He's different today… even the way he talks.'

"You were going to say something right now," Zmey said aloud.

Right away, Aura glanced up with a slight shiver. And when their eyes met, she broke into a grin. He noticed Aura's unnatural reaction after his voice echoed. 

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty," she replied, shutting her eyes for a slight bow. After easing herself, her voice rang out. "Everyone knows how hard you cultivated back in the days before becoming our leader.

You are the most powerful in this dominion for attaining a Wraithbound Mage Body. 

Though it causes you mental exhaustion and excessive life drain to meet. Everything has been hectic and stressful for you till now, Lord Zmey. It is not bad to take some time to rest.

By doing so, you can regather your thoughts and build a strategy to sign a blood-free treaty with humans. 

I will take care of everything in your absence, Your Majesty. This is all for the sake of our realm. Too, we are always reinforcing our realm's barrier against intruders, all thanks to you.

You also have people on your raider. Thus, you wearing out already would be disastrous for all Inferno creatures."

"He attained the Wraithbound Mage Body, mm? That should…" he mumbled, rubbing his temples again, "… be the third rank in dark magic cultivation.

Despite the challenges dark magic causes in comparison with pure ones, he could still meet it.

It seems like the other ranks are shadowing my memory. But I know how tough it is to continue living with every ascension a sorcerer makes. What a guy the dragon was."

.... 

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