MT - 97 Lesson

Should I just grow wings and fly over?

Roy instinctively turned his gaze to the little creature transplanting the demonic seed.

At that moment, the young red dragon was feeling extremely uncomfortable.

The volatile and nearly uncontrollable demonic energy quickly consumed all the magical energy in its body, spreading through its veins until it reached the heart. There, the energy merged, forming a pitch-black demonic seed.

Thus, the young red dragon, now awakening its intelligence, became entirely bound to Roy as a loyal subordinate.

The moment the seed took root, the dragon's body began to grow rapidly, from its original two-meter length to five meters. Its crimson scales shifted, the red patterns changing and new black scales appearing.

An invisible bond formed between them, and before Roy could say a word, the now five-meter-long red dragon rushed up to him, affectionately rubbing against his feet.

Roy fell into thought.

The sight of the five-meter-long dragon rubbing against his pants was admittedly odd. He kicked the dragon away, sending it tumbling backward before rolling and quickly righting itself. It looked up at Roy with a pitiful expression.

Roy's golden eyes met the dragon's, and instinctively, it lowered its head with a soft whine. It then flapped its wings, signaling Roy to climb on.

Roy was momentarily stunned. The dragon's obedience caught him off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know how to react.

But he didn't say much. As the first light of dawn began to break, he realized it was getting late. No, it wasn't just late—he could already imagine Eris eagerly coming to find him, only to discover he was nowhere to be found.

She would probably get angry, maybe even scold him a few times, and then storm off to her etiquette teacher for dance lessons.

But Roy couldn't help the situation. Who would have expected so many complications during the fusion?

His clothes had already been torn apart by the earlier transformations. He was now wrapped in magic, wearing a simple black short-sleeve shirt. The clothing resembled the vest he had worn earlier, but without a closer look, no one would notice the difference.

After all, one was a coat, the other a short-sleeve shirt. The difference was obvious.

Roy climbed onto the red dragon's back, gently patting its forehead, then pointing in a direction. The dragon roared in response, spreading its wings and taking off toward the pointed path.

Roy silently enjoyed the wind rushing past his ears, his golden hair glistening in the breeze as they flew toward the Asura Kingdom.

The red dragon's speed was impressive—after all, most flying creatures were fast, and dragons in particular were known for their speed.

By the time Roy returned, it was already around nine in the morning. To avoid causing any panic, he asked the red dragon to drop him off on the outskirts. With a reluctant gaze, the dragon watched him walk toward the location where Greylat's family resided.

Although the Fitoa territory ruled by the Greylat family appeared prosperous, it was little more than a rural area full of adventurers in the eyes of the nobles of the capital.

It was also the fortress city that had served as the final defense during the demon-human war.

If an S-rank red dragon appeared, it could easily cause quite a stir.

As Roy walked, he could sense the odd looks people gave him.

Everywhere he went, a brief silence fell. But unlike when the Dragon God passed through, the silence among the adventurers was followed by a buzz of excitement. Some female adventurers shyly approached him, eager to ask questions, but when they finally reached him, they were unsure of what to say. And then there were the girls blocking his way, which Roy found somewhat exasperating.

Seeing their awkward postures, Roy sighed. "Uh, you're blocking my path."

The young girls' faces turned bright red at the sound of his voice, their hearts racing.

Roy couldn't stand this attention and, feeling the crowd beginning to encircle him, gathered a bit of magic and vanished from the spot.

As he disappeared, he couldn't help but grumble to himself, wondering just how much charm he really had.

What he didn't know was that dragons were naturally handsome creatures, and the purer their bloodline, the more striking their appearance. Roy, with his already exceptional looks, was now at a point where his mere presence could captivate hearts.

As he prepared to return to his room, a frown creased his brow.

He sensed someone inside, and to his surprise, it was Eris.

She sat in his chair, resting her head on her hand, wearing an expression of deep frustration.

It was hard to imagine Eris displaying such a look. Clearly, her dance lessons had been weighing heavily on her lately.

Roy quietly climbed through the window and silently approached her from behind, clearing his throat.

Startled, Eris instinctively turned and threw a punch toward him.

Roy didn't dodge the blow. Considering his current physical condition, it was easy to predict the outcome. With his enhanced body, even a direct hit wouldn't harm him—ordinary weapons wouldn't even scratch him.

Eris's arm turned red from the impact, and just as she was about to speak, she froze when she saw him.

Roy had just fused with the dragon bloodline, and he couldn't fully control the pressure it gave off. The faint but unmistakable aura of dominance now radiated from him.

His golden eyes shone with ancient authority, and just one look made Eris's body stiffen.

It was the primal instinct of a creature facing a predator, a feeling of overwhelming pressure that seemed to force Eris into submission, a gap between their bloodlines that could not be crossed.

Eris was naturally a competitive person, and the more Roy displayed such dominance, the more it ignited her rebellious spirit.

Roy had no idea what Eris was thinking. Seeing her expression, he assumed she had come to find him but couldn't, and now she was looking to vent her frustrations.

Amused by the thought, Roy leaned in closer, locking eyes with her.

Eris glared at him, and Roy stared right back.

Just as Eris was bracing for some intense confrontation, Roy suddenly smiled. He reached out with his delicate, fair hand and gently placed it on her head, ruffling her hair.

With a soft chuckle, he said, "Sorry for keeping you waiting."

The intensity that had surrounded him moments before seemed to vanish completely, replaced by a warm, almost serene aura.

Eris stood frozen, her eyes locked on his flawless face, and she found herself lost in silence once more.

Was Roy handsome? That was beyond doubt. From the moment she first met him, she thought he was good-looking—just good-looking, nothing more. But over time, as the twelve-year-old boy began to grow into his features, he transformed from merely attractive to strikingly handsome.

Eris had to admit, he was undeniably handsome, and he certainly had the looks to back it up.

But she hadn't expected him to be this handsome.

This was the first time she was observing him so closely, the first time she was really taking in his appearance.

Roy had bold, charismatic brows, and beneath them, those unmistakable red-golden eyes that seemed to carry an authority all their own. His features were perfectly sculpted, flawless to the point where Eris couldn't find a single imperfection, no matter how hard she looked.

Roy flashed a bright, sunny smile, his fingers gently running through Eris's fiery red hair as he spoke softly, "Come on, let me show you how to learn quickly."

Roy's Crash Course in Dance

Roy didn't know anything about dancing, that was certain.

But that didn't mean he couldn't help Eris. After spending over a year together, Roy had come to understand her fiery temper and her deeply innocent nature. He knew her well.

Eris wasn't the type to think things through much, and when faced with anything even slightly complicated, she would become frustrated. She also had a childlike stubbornness.

Right now, she didn't particularly enjoy dancing, but she had still decided to learn, probably not wanting to disappoint anyone.

In noble circles, appearances were everything. For the daughters of noble families, it was expected that they would make their debut at social events, showcasing their family's status and reputation.

That pressure had landed squarely on Eris's shoulders.

Roy led Eris to the etiquette teacher, a middle-aged woman with increasingly noticeable fine lines on her face. She had a soft, round face and a gentle, welcoming smile, giving her a kind and serene impression.

When she saw Roy, she paused for a moment. Edna placed her hand on her chest, bowed slightly, and smiled warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Edna Leren, and I am responsible for teaching Miss Eris etiquette."

Roy nodded and, mimicking her gesture, returned the bow. "My name is Roy. Just call me Roy."

Roy's eyes drifted toward Eris, and he sighed. "I'm sure you know who I am. I teach this child magic and literacy. Honestly, I didn't expect Eris would come to me for help. But since she did, I'll try to be of some assistance. I'm quite skilled at teaching her, after all."

Roy flashed a proud smile.

Edna looked at him with a mixture of admiration and surprise. She didn't immediately address Eris's situation but instead commented, "You truly are a remarkable person. I can sense both elegance and authority in you, yet your demeanor is so gentle."

Roy raised an eyebrow, confused by her sudden shift in topic. Were they not discussing how to teach Eris?

Edna smiled calmly, extending her hand and gently taking Eris's smaller one. With a warm smile, she said, "Well then, come along with me."

...

The room was spacious and bare, with only the most basic of furnishings—a single table and a wall-mounted oil lamp.

On the table sat a peculiar object, a vintage European medieval phonograph. Roy had never seen anything like it before. The design exuded a strong sense of nostalgia, an overwhelming retro vibe.

With practiced hands, Edna wound the phonograph, and soon, a soft and cheerful melody filled the air.

She turned to Eris, offering a warm smile. "Miss Eris, please begin by following the steps I've taught you."

Eris nodded and began to dance.

Roy watched for only a moment before understanding what was wrong.

Her steps were too fast.

Eris's movements were hurried, and she was using too much force. Her temperament and style were more suited to swordsmanship.

But when it came to dancing, that same energy backfired.

Where she was supposed to move in time with the rhythm, she instead tried to execute the steps as quickly as possible, throwing off the synchronization with her partner.

Eris instinctively resisted when her rhythm was disrupted. She always wanted to maintain her own pace, never letting anyone influence her movements. In battle, this was an exceptional skill, but in dance, it became a hindrance.

After all, dancing requires coordination with a partner.

If it were just her on the floor, Eris might excel, but unfortunately, there would always be a partner in a ballroom.

Edna turned to Roy, her expression questioning. Roy nodded, signaling that he understood.

With a flick of his fingers, a thread of dark magic wove through the air, wrapping around Eris's joints.

Edna gasped, but Roy reassured her with a calm smile. "No need to worry. It's just a simple trick."

Eris, however, remained unruffled. Her gaze was fixed on Roy, his golden hair gleaming under the light.

With a grin, Roy said, "Now, I'll 'guide' your movements and show you how it's done. Just feel the rhythm."

Though Roy had never learned to dance, he quickly grasped the basics. The movements weren't particularly difficult—he understood them after just a quick glance.

The gentle music resumed, and Roy controlled the thread, making Eris move gracefully across the floor.

She danced through elegant steps, each movement flowing seamlessly into the next.

Dancing, after all, is about making the right moves. Even with a few minor imperfections, the overall effect can still be pleasing to the eye.

Eris, meanwhile, was left in a state of confusion.

Now she understood what Roy meant by "control."

It felt like being treated as a puppet, manipulated against her will. The sensation was uncomfortable—if this had happened in the past, Eris would have surely exploded in anger.

But remembering Roy's soft tone earlier, her frustration began to dissipate like wind.

Eris tried to reassure herself. After all, he was only trying to help her.

Still, lost in her thoughts, she had zoned out, and the price of her distraction was that she couldn't fully grasp the essence of the dance.

"Eris, Eris?" Roy's voice was stern. "You're not paying attention, are you?"

Eris snapped back to reality, her expression subtly shifting away, as if she'd been caught daydreaming in class.

Roy sighed, his face a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Eris, you came to me for help. At least put in some effort."

Realizing her lapse, Eris didn't argue. She nodded seriously, her expression more focused than before.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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