Chapter 14~ Nightshade

Author here ~ Sorry for disappearing like this. First there were constant visit from guest, then I got into a physical fight with my perverted neighbour. Then constant tension of police knocking on my door since I broke my neighbours nose and gave a black eye.

Then when I was writing drafts, my phone slipped through my hands and the screen broke. Well not screen but the internal wire that connects screen and phone broke . So I had to get the whole screen combo changed.

I will try to give an extra chapter or two for compensation.

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Alaric Noir stood tall, a towering figure at 6 feet 6 inches, with a body seemingly carved by the gods themselves. His muscles were lean yet powerful, sculpted to perfection, radiating an aura of unstoppable might. His black hair, darker than the void itself, cascaded down his back like the flowing night, absorbing the light around it.

But it was his eyes that captured attention the most. Silver, bright yet haunting, holding an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal. They weren't just eyes; they were like portals to another dimension, deep, mysterious, and terrifyingly captivating. Anyone who gazed into them for too long would feel as if their soul was being pulled into an endless abyss.

Yet, despite his overwhelming presence, there was something about him that demanded reverence. A man who stood beyond mortal limits. A being who wasn't meant to exist in this world—yet here he was.

---

As Alaric and Elia embraced, lost in the warmth of each other, Alaric whispered into her ear,

"Let's take you to see the wonders of the world."

Before Elia could even ask what he meant, the world around her shifted. The soft sands of Dorne, the warmth of the Water Gardens, and the gentle breeze of the Dornish sun—all vanished in an instant.

Instead, they stood amidst a new land, one unlike anything she had ever seen before. The air was thick and humid, filled with the scent of damp earth and the wild aroma of an untouched jungle. The sounds of unfamiliar beasts echoed through the dense foliage. Towering trees, their canopies so vast that they blocked out the sky, surrounded them.

Elia's heart pounded as she instinctively clung to Alaric's arm.

"Where are we? How did we get here?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.

Alaric chuckled, amused by her reaction. "We are in Sothoryos, the land of monsters, disease, and the unknown. This is where everything I trade originates from. And as for how we got here… the answer is simple—Magic."

Elia barely had time to process his words when suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over them. The ground trembled slightly.

Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly looked up.

"Th-that's a dr-dragon?" she stammered in disbelief.

Above them, a massive beast soared through the sky. Scales like molten obsidian, eyes burning like hellfire, wings so vast that they could darken the land below. Its mere presence exuded a terrifying dominance over everything around it.

Alaric smiled. "Yes, that is one of my pets."

Before Elia could even respond, a portal of swirling energy appeared beside them, crackling with an unknown power.

"Come," Alaric said as he stepped forward. "I will tell you everything."

---

Inside the portal was a magnificent castle—one unlike anything found in Westeros. It was not built of mere stone and wood, but of materials that shimmered with power, something far beyond what Elia had ever seen.

[Home world]

Seated within the grand hall, Alaric finally spoke the truth.

He told her everything—about his powers, his ability to travel between worlds, the fate of Westeros, and her tragic future. He spoke of how, in another timeline, she had married Rhaegar, only to be betrayed and killed, along with her children, because of his lust for another woman.

Elia sat in silence, her hands clenched into fists, her expression unreadable.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "So, I married Rhaegar and then died in a humiliating way with my children because he couldn't keep it in his pants in my original future."

Alaric nodded. "Yes."

Elia exhaled sharply, her golden eyes burning with emotion. But then, she smiled.

"It doesn't matter. It won't happen now anyway."

Alaric grinned. "Exactly."

"Now, come with me," he said, standing up. "I have to perform some rituals to ensure you have enough power to protect yourself. And while we're at it, I'll be giving my stupid dragon an upgrade."

Elia raised an eyebrow. "Stupid dragon?"

Alaric smirked. "Yeah, to me, he's still just a big lizard. But after today, he won't be stupid anymore."

---

They left the castle and returned to Sothoryos, heading toward the farmlands where Alaric's dragon resided.

As they approached, the ground trembled beneath their feet. A gust of wind, strong enough to knock down trees, blew past them as the mighty dragon landed before them.

**Its sheer size was monstrous—**almost 220 meters long, its wings stretching out like a living storm, casting a shadow that swallowed the land below.

Elia was awestruck. She had heard of dragons before—the Targaryens' so-called mighty beasts—but none compared to this titan of the sky before her.

Alaric, however, didn't seem impressed. "Hmph. You're still just a big lizard to me."

The dragon growled, eyes narrowing at Alaric, clearly understanding his words.

Elia looked at him. "You haven't even named him?"

Alaric sighed. "No. Honestly, I was disappointed with him and the sea serpent. They're powerful, sure, but they lack the intelligence I was aiming for. I wanted something like the dragons from Tensura or at least Elden Ring. But today, that will change."

Alaric walked forward, standing before the massive dragon.

As Alaric stood before the dragon, Elia by his side, the air around them trembled with unseen energy. Then, suddenly—

Three massive magic circles appeared beneath them.

One gigantic circle surrounded the entire dragon.

One formed beneath Elia.

And the last appeared beneath Alaric himself.

The intricate runes within the circles glowed, pulsing like a heartbeat. The very air felt charged, thick with raw power.

"It will hurt a little," Alaric warned, his voice calm but firm.

Before Elia could ask what he meant, she felt a sharp sting on her palm.

A few drops of her blood floated from her hand, glowing in the dim light.

At the same time, Alaric's blood rose from his own palm.

The dragon let out a deep growl as its blood, too, was drawn from its massive body.

All three sets of blood merged mid-air, swirling together into a crimson sphere. The moment they combined—

BOOM!

A wave of pure mana burst forth, wrapping all three of them in glowing cocoons.

The energy within the cocoons was intense, shifting, reshaping, evolving. It felt like an eternity, yet it lasted only moments.

Then, with a sudden crack, the cocoons shattered.

The first change was in Elia.

She stepped forward, her figure completely transformed.

Her body had become stronger, more refined—like she was sculpted by the gods themselves. She was now the peak of human perfection, every movement fluid, powerful, and graceful.

Her golden-brown eyes had turned into pure gold, glowing with divine radiance.

She looked down at her hands, clenching and unclenching them, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through her veins.

The second change was in Alaric.

He looked the same at first—still tall, still powerful—but then Elia noticed his eyes.

They had turned crimson, with sharp slitted pupils, like a dragon's.

He let out a slow breath, and for a brief second, the very space around him trembled.

The biggest change, however, was the dragon.

Gone was the massive, towering beast from before.

Now, before them stood a sleek, compact creature, only five meters tall.

Yet, it was far more terrifying than before.

Its scales were now a deep, endless black, blending into the shadows like a living void.

Thin glowing blue lines ran across its body, shimmering faintly—like constellations scattered across the night sky.

Its long, elegant neck was lined with sharp, jagged ridges, resembling twisted blackened branches reaching toward the heavens.

Its eyes—two piercing blue orbs—shined with an eerie glow, as if they could see through time itself.

And at the side of its head, a curved, luminous horn extended outward, pulsing softly, adding to its otherworldly presence.

Even its wings had changed.

Though folded, they looked powerful, but their edges flickered, almost like shadows dissolving into thin air.

The most unsettling part?

The aura around the dragon was unnatural. Neither warm nor cold. Neither alive nor dead.

It wasn't just a creature anymore.

It was something ancient, something beyond mortal comprehension.

[Dragon image]

Elia felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed upon it.

"This… this is incredible," she whispered.

The dragon let out a low, rumbling growl—not of anger, but of acknowledgment.

It was fully aware now. It understood.

Alaric smirked. "This dragon has both of our blood flowing through it now, so in a way… it's technically our child."

Elia blinked, then turned to face him. "Our child?"

Alaric nodded. "Yes. This dragon isn't just a beast anymore. It has intelligence, magic, and a soul that connects it to both of us."

Elia's gaze softened as she looked back at the dragon.

It stood there, watching her in silence, its piercing blue eyes unblinking.

Finally, she spoke.

"With how you blend with the night sky, I think… Nightshade will be a fitting name for you."

The dragon let out a deep, resonant growl—a sound that carried power and acceptance.

It had a name now. It was no longer just a creature.

It was Nightshade

Nightshade lifted its head and roared—but this was no ordinary dragon's fire.

From its throat, a stream of pure black flames erupted.

But these weren't just black flames.

They shimmered, speckled with tiny glowing particles, like stars burning in the void of space.

Stardust Flames.

Elia's eyes widened in awe. "Its fire… it looks like the cosmos itself."

Alaric smirked. "Not just that. Nightshade isn't bound to one form anymore."

Elia turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Alaric crossed his arms. "This form—his current form—will always remain at five meters. It's his 'magical' form, perfect for combat, mobility, and intelligence."

Elia nodded, following along. "And his other form?"

Alaric's smirk widened. "His other form… keeps growing."

Elia's breath caught in her throat. "Keeps growing?!"

Alaric nodded. "Yes. That means if he wants to, he can return to his previous massive size—and grow even bigger over time."

Elia stared at the dragon in amazement. "So he can be both small and massive?"

Nightshade let out a low growl, his blue eyes glowing.

It was as if he was confirming her words.

But that wasn't all.

Both Alaric and Elia had gained something from this ritual too.

Elia had gained the ability to use magic with her words.

She didn't need spells, rituals, or incantations anymore.

If she said "Fire", fire would appear.

If she said "Heal", wounds would close instantly.

It wasn't full reality manipulation, but it was close.

And Alaric?

He had gained the same ability—but far stronger.

If Elia's power was advanced magic, then Alaric's was absolute command.

---

The Beginning of Something New

Elia took a deep breath, still overwhelmed by everything that had just happened.

Nightshade—their dragon, their child—was now more powerful than anything she had ever seen.

She, herself, had been transformed, gaining magic beyond imagination.

And Alaric?

She looked at him. He was still the same… yet different.

His red, dragon-like eyes gleamed with hidden power, but his gaze remained soft when he looked at her. [Will change to silver when he isn't using world magic.]

"This is just the beginning," he said.

Elia nodded, feeling something deep inside her shift.

For the first time in a long time, she felt something she had never truly felt before.

She felt invincible.