Chapter 10: Awkward Dragon Conversations

One of our "rest days" (which, let's be real, who even knows how long I've been stuck in this weird time loop at this point?) was dragging on, just like every other day. But hey, at least we had some routine going, right? We called it a "rest day," but I'm still not convinced it counts as one since we didn't exactly get to do anything normal. But whatever. It made it feel like I was actually living through a day instead of being stuck in a time warp where hours and days just kind of smooshed together into one big blob. So, you know, progress?

Anyway, most of the day was spent just... talking. About life, about stuff, and honestly, just random nonsense. It was a nice change from the weird, endless sparring sessions. And by "talking," I mean me and this giant, grumpy Dragon sitting together—me on the floor, because apparently that's now my thing, and him in his human form, acting like he was too good for the floor. As usual, we were chatting about anything and everything when, out of nowhere, I threw a bomb into the conversation.

"Did you know that I just got reincarnated in this world?" I blurted out, probably a little too casually for something that's, you know, kind of a big deal.

His reaction was priceless. His eyes widened a bit, and his eyebrow twitched, like I'd just told him I was secretly a dragon in disguise. He froze for a moment, clearly processing my words, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

After what felt like forever, he blinked and shrugged, as if it all made perfect sense. "I guess that's why you've been surviving without a magic core," he said, like he was just casually solving a puzzle. "When I saw you at the beginning, your soul didn't need mana to be tied down in this world."

I swear, this guy could be a walking mystery. One minute, he's acting like a giant, petulant child, and the next, he's making connections I didn't even think about. I stared at him, trying to make sense of his response.

"Wait, hold up," I said, eyebrows raised. "You believe me?"

He tilted his head at me like I was the weird one here. "Were you lying to me again?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Hahaha nope, it's real! I just can't believe you'd believe me that easily."

It felt... nice, honestly. Talking about my life from Earth to someone who wasn't going to laugh it off or call me crazy. Like, I could actually share it without feeling like a freak. It was almost like confessing something deep, like some long-kept secret, but it wasn't heavy. It was light. Easy.

And so, I just kept going.

"Well," I said, looking up at the ceiling as if it could give me some answers, "when I was on Earth, I was an orphan. Never really knew who my parents were... they left me outside the orphanage. So, yeah, I grew up there. And for some reason, nobody wanted me. I was that kid... the abandoned one. You know, the kind nobody picks, like a forgotten toy. But I found solace in reading. Books, manga, manhwa... novels. It was like I could escape into another world. And heck, I even wrote my own story. It was... I don't know, comforting? A way to feel like I had control over something in my life."

I paused, remembering the exhaustion of those days.

"Anyway, one day, after a long day of work and yelling from my superiors (yep, my work life was super fun), I was just sitting there, writing my novel, and... I fell asleep. You might be thinking, 'Why were you writing a novel after work?' Well, I don't know. It was the one thing that made me feel like I had power, like I was the one who got to decide what happened. You know? It was addicting, that feeling of control."

I looked over at the dragon, who was now listening intently, and I felt a weird sense of relief just... saying it out loud. I hadn't even realized how much I needed to talk about it.

"That's the last memory I have," I continued. "I was just writing... and then, bam, I woke up here. In your world. As the only princess of an empire I don't even remember asking to be part of. And honestly, I don't know what happened or why I ended up here. But ever since I got here, I've been asking myself one question: Why? Why me? What's my purpose?"

There was a long silence after I finished. The kind of silence where I almost regretted saying anything, thinking maybe I was oversharing. But then I felt his eyes on me, and I didn't want to take it back.

"So... you were just... writing your story when you fell asleep and ended up here?" he asked, breaking the silence with a somewhat baffled look.

I nodded. "Yep. That's pretty much it. I was just some random, ordinary person with an ordinary life... and now here I am, surrounded by dragons, royalty, and magic. Like, what happened? Did I die? Was it fate? I don't know..."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "That's a lot to take in," he said, sounding surprisingly serious. Then, he smirked. "I don't know about you, but this world is a whole lot more interesting than writing novels. Maybe you should consider sticking around and seeing what happens next specially after we get out of here"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, maybe I should. But right now, it feels like I'm just trying to survive, not live."

"You'll get there," he said with a shrug. "We all just have to figure out what we're supposed to do with our lives, right? Even dragons don't know everything. Some of us just wing it. You'll find your purpose, eventually."

I stared at him for a second, feeling something like gratitude creeping up. Even the grumpy old dragon had a point.

-

"Let's spar" I said with a grin

With a determined smirk, I raised my hand, focus into shaping my mana into something that I have imagined. "Flame Sword, let's go!" I shouted, summoning a blade of intense fire that flickered in my grip, its heat radiating like a mini sun. The flames crackled, dancing around the sword in a way that made me feel like a total badass.

The dragon gave me a sidelong glance, clearly impressed—though he'd never admit it. "Well, look at you. Making a sword out of fire now. Think you can actually use it?"

"Watch and learn," I said confidently, gripping the fiery blade with both hands.

Then, I snapped my fingers, sending a surge of mana into the earth. "Golem, you're up!" I shouted. The ground rumbled beneath me as my stone buddy—who, to my surprise, was about three feet tall now—crawled out of the earth, ready for battle.

The dragon chuckled, clearly amused by the tiny golem standing next to me. "You seriously think that thing is gonna be of any use against me?"

"Don't underestimate us!" I yelled, charging at him with my flame sword raised high. The golem followed closely behind, swinging its stone fists and lumbering toward the dragon. It was a team effort.

As I swung the flame sword at the dragon, it effortlessly dodged, but the golem made an unexpected move—charging straight at the dragon's tail. The dragon flicked his tail and sent the golem tumbling like a toy. "Nice try, rock buddy," he smirked.

"Don't you dare laugh at my golem!" I shouted, spinning around to avoid the dragon's fiery breath, which scorched the ground beneath me. "Hey, my golem has potential!"

The dragon's eyes glinted with mischief as he let out a huge roar. "Alright, alright. If you want to fight, I'll give you a proper challenge."

Before I could react, his massive form shimmered and began to shrink, shifting before my eyes into his human shape. Standing in front of me now was a tall, imposing figure with black hair hair, wearing a look of casual confidence that made my heart skip a beat. His fiery eyes were still sharp, but there was a spark of amusement in them now, as if he was fully embracing the challenge I had unwittingly invited.

"You think you're ready for this, little one?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

I couldn't help but grin back, my fingers tightening around my flame sword. "I'm always ready for a challenge, dragon boy."

With a chuckle, he raised his hand in the air. Mana crackled around his fingertips like a miniature storm. It wasn't long before the air around him began to shimmer with heat, his own version of a flame sword materializing. Unlike mine, which was compact and bright, his was massive and intense, the flames roaring like they had a mind of their own. The sheer heat from it radiated in waves, making the air ripple around us.

"I told you I could do this," he said smugly, holding his sword out like a seasoned fighter. "Let's see how well you handle a real blade."

I eyed him, impressed despite myself. The dragon had definitely done his homework—his sword was expertly formed, and he wielded it with an almost unnatural ease. He wasn't just showing off; he was serious.

"Well, now we're talking," I said, raising my own flame sword defensively. "Let's see what you've got."

Without further warning, he lunged at me, his sword slicing through the air with a speed I hadn't anticipated. The flames crackled loudly as it swung toward me. Instinctively, I blocked with my own sword, the collision of fire against fire creating a shockwave that sent sparks flying in every direction.

His strength was staggering. His strikes were fast, precise, and carried a weight that made it feel like I was facing a force of nature. I barely managed to deflect his first few blows, but the impact left my arms tingling from the sheer power behind each strike.

"Not bad," I grunted, grinning as I dodged another swing, stepping to the side just in time. "You're quick for a guy who's never used a sword before."

The dragon smirked, a twinkle of pride in his fiery eyes. "I told you, I don't need practice. I'm a dragon. We don't need to be taught. We learn by doing."

"Oh, really?" I quipped, twisting my blade to parry another of his attacks. "I guess that means I'm gonna have to teach you the hard way."

With a wild grin, I launched forward, spinning my sword in an arc, flames bursting from the tip as I aimed to meet his head-on. He didn't flinch—he was already on the defensive, his own sword slicing to meet mine with a ferocity that matched my own.

We danced around each other, a whirl of fire and flashing blades. I was beginning to realize that I was up against more than just a simple opponent—this dragon, in human form, was damn good with his sword. His movements were fluid and controlled, every strike carefully measured. His flame sword was like an extension of his body, and he wielded it with a natural grace that belied his earlier claim about never having used one.

I stepped back, trying to catch my breath as he moved to strike again, but this time, I didn't retreat—I launched myself at him, determined to land a blow. My sword crackled with fire, and I pushed my mana to its limit, focusing on speed and precision. For a moment, it felt like I was locked in a duel with someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

His eyes narrowed, and for the briefest second, I saw a flicker of respect before he parried my strike with ease. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he said, spinning away with a fluid motion, his sword leaving a trail of flames in the air.

"Thanks," I said, my heart pounding from the adrenaline. "I'm not giving up just yet, dragon-boy."

Our swords collided again, and the air seemed to hum with energy. But I was starting to tire, my mana reserves dipping as I poured more and more into my sword. Meanwhile, the dragon didn't seem to slow down. I couldn't help but wonder if he was secretly holding back.

"Not bad for someone who doesn't know what they're doing," I said, a little breathless.

He chuckled, his flames flickering brighter as he held his ground. "I told you, I learn quickly."

I swung my sword again, this time more recklessly, hoping to catch him off guard. But he was too fast. With a swift flick of his sword, he knocked mine out of my hand, sending it spinning to the ground.

Before I could even react, the dragon was right in front of me, his sword raised. He paused, his fiery eyes locking with mine, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"Looks like I win," he said, lowering his sword just enough to give me a chance to breathe.

I stood there, panting, unable to stop myself from laughing. "You know, I didn't expect you to be so good. Maybe you should've been a sword fighter instead of a terrifying dragon."

After extinguishing his flaming sword, the Dragon stated, "I think humans feed their inferiority by manufacturing devastating weapons like that, but no matter how exquisite a weapon is or how useless it is depends on the wielder."

"My master said the same thing, a legendary weapon in the hands of a child is worthless."

"You have a knowledgeable master, and I can tell he is highly skilled based on your swordsmanship."

"It's not a He, but a She, my master is a woman," I said

"Really? My bad, ladies in my time were only used to produce male heirs; if a woman is unable to have a male child, she is condemned or wasted."

"Wait, hold up," I said, eyes wide. "You're telling me that in your time, women were only good for making male heirs? And if they couldn't do that, they were 'condemned or wasted'?!"

He nodded, completely oblivious to how wrong that sounded in my head. His face was as serious as a dragon could be, like he was recounting an ancient history lesson.

"Yeah, that's how it went. The strong ones had to make sure there were future generations to take over," he said matter-of-factly, like he wasn't discussing something barbaric, but just regular Tuesday night conversation.

I blinked at him a couple of times, trying to wrap my head around it. "You... really think that's okay?"

He tilted his head and stared at me, clearly puzzled by my reaction. "Well, of course. The continuation of the bloodline is sacred. The strongest must produce heirs, and if a woman couldn't... well, she had no use."

My jaw practically hit the floor. "Wow. Just... wow. And here I thought I had it bad in my world." I shook my head, trying to keep my tone light even though my brain was processing a whole lot of not okay thoughts.

I stood up and paced a bit, trying to figure out how to respond. "I get that your culture is different, but, like... that's messed up, even for dragons. People—especially women—are so much more than just their ability to have kids, right?"

He looked confused for a moment, clearly trying to digest my words. "Hmm... That's true. But the legacy, the future of our kind, that's important. I mean... I don't think anyone would just throw away a person for being a person... just for not doing one thing."

"Yeah, well, that's what I'm trying to say!" I threw my hands up, feeling a little exasperated. "Women—people—have value beyond just being the means to an end. They're not objects to be used for one single purpose!"

The white dragon, still in his human form, rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his eyes flicking between me and the floor, clearly unsure of what to say next. "Okay, okay. I get it now. My bad... that wasn't how I meant it to sound."

I gave him a pointed look. "You should probably rethink how you phrase things in the future. That was borderline creepy."

"Yeah, I'll work on that," he said sheepishly.

For a moment, it was quiet. Then, after a beat, he smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "But you know... if you ever have a kid, no pressure or anything, but I do hope it's a future ruler of the dragons. Could use some strong heirs around here."

I was unable to process what he said and I'm in the middle of trying to wrap my head around it when he suddenly slashed my neck, which resulted to me dying and losing consciousness for a few minutes

-

I was still reeling from the ridiculousness of what he just said about "future rulers of dragons" when suddenly—slash.

My vision went blurry, and I felt an intense, sharp pain sear through my neck. I stumbled back, my hand instinctively going to the spot where the gash had opened, but it was too late.

The world around me spun as I felt my life force draining away.

And then... nothing.

I was out cold.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the odd, dry taste in my mouth, and the light pain in my neck. I groaned, sitting up, only to find the white dragon casually leaning against the wall, looking as if nothing had happened.

"Really? You're just gonna slash me and then sit there like it's no big deal?" I snapped, rubbing my neck, which was thankfully not as bad as I thought it would be. His slashes were usually more... final.

He didn't even flinch at my tone. "Hey, I had to see if you were paying attention. You weren't, so... mission accomplished."

"Mission?!" I exclaimed, hands throwing themselves up in exasperation. "You nearly killed me, and your mission was to—what? Make sure I'm awake for your creepy royal heirs comment?!"

He gave me a lazy smirk, as if he thought this was all some weird game. "Well, you weren't listening to me earlier, so I figured a little shock therapy would get your attention."

"Shock therapy? You beheaded me!" I fumed. "That's not how you teach someone not to make bad jokes, you idiot!"

He just shrugged, his usual carefree grin spreading across his face. "Eh, you're fine, right? Still alive? And now, you're definitely paying attention."

I let out a frustrated sigh. I couldn't decide if I was mad, amused, or just... resigned to the madness of it all.

"I'm really starting to question my choices here," I muttered under my breath, still glaring at him. But deep down, I couldn't help but laugh a little at the absurdity of it all.

"Relax," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "It's not like I killed you on purpose. I mean, not for real. You'll be fine in like, what, ten minutes?"

"Maybe twenty," I shot back. "But I'm not talking to you for the rest of the day, deal?"

He gave a dramatic sigh. "Aw, c'mon! You can't stay mad at me for long. It's impossible!"

"You'd be surprised," I muttered, but there was a tiny smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

For all the weirdness, danger, and insanity of this place, I couldn't help but feel a strange kind of... comfort. Maybe it was the ridiculousness of the situation or the fact that I wasn't completely alone, but despite everything, it felt like—maybe, just maybe—I was starting to find a sense of belonging in this bizarre, twisted little world of dragons, near-death experiences, and weirdly funny conversations.