Chapter 0.173 : I still love you

Rena stepped softly out of Naoko's office, the long black gown trailing behind her like a shadow embracing moonlight. The fabric clung to her slender figure, accentuating the curves that were more pronounced than ever before—her skin, flawless and white as porcelain, gleamed under the dim lights of the vast Rotschy estate. Her hair, now a cascade of snowy white flowing past her hips, was tipped with the faintest flush of crimson, like the dying embers of a distant fire. Her long, dark lashes framed eyes burning a deep red, smoldering with power and something far more dangerous.

Barefoot, she moved silently through the corridors, the cold marble cool against the tender soles of her feet. Her heartbeat pulsed with a strange rhythm—a melody of renewal and fierce determination. She moved quickly up the grand staircase, every step echoing softly as her thoughts raced faster than her feet.

Her fingertips grazed the familiar door of her chamber, a space she had once filled with memories of a life now irretrievably changed. As she crossed the threshold, the room greeted her like an old friend, the elegance reminiscent of her home at Amberhart. Without hesitation, she shed the heavy black fabric, the gown pooling silently at her feet like spilled ink, revealing skin that seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance.

Rena walked directly to the mana bath, the smooth surface inviting her to immerse herself. Her body, still humming with the recent transformation, thirsted for restoration. The transformation had drawn deeply from her mana reserves, leaving only a faint ember behind—barely enough to sustain her until replenished.

As the warm, luminous water enveloped her, Rena closed her eyes and surrendered to the flow of mana, feeling it seep into her pores, filling the hollows left empty by her rebirth. The sensation was intoxicating—the slow, steady influx reawakened every fiber of her being. Time dissolved as hours slipped by unnoticed, the magic-infused water nourishing her until her mana pool brimmed once more.

Opening her eyes, she caught her reflection in the shimmering surface. Her ruby eyes glowed faintly like twin embers, alive with a new intensity. A soft, almost wicked smile curved her rose-tinted lips, a low, husky laugh escaping her throat.

"Darling Jin," she whispered, her voice thick with a newfound confidence. "I wonder... how will you react when you see me like this?"

Her tongue traced her lips, savoring the imagined taste of his touch. A flicker of surprise crossed her own face—how bold her words sounded, yet how natural they felt. She was no longer the timid girl she had been; reborn from fire and mana, she was half-dragon now. It explained the hunger, the thrill that surged beneath her calm exterior.

Rena stepped out of the mana bath and moved into the steam room, letting the thick mist swirl around her bare skin. For half an hour she surrendered to the warmth, the heat loosening every tense muscle and comforting the restless fire within her.

From there, she moved to the herb bath—an ancient blend of leaves and essences designed to heal and soothe. The pain lingering in her muscles softened, her shoulders releasing the stiffness that had clung to them like chains. Her body, once rigid with uncertainty, now moved with a newfound grace and ease.

Back in her room, she reached for her black gown and delicate undergarments, feeling the weight of her new status as a Rotschy. She mused, with a small smile, "Since I am part of this family now, perhaps it is time to embrace their colors—black, white, and crimson. Jin and Naoko both favor black... it suits the darkness I am learning to wield."

Her fingers searched through her collection until she found the perfect pair of black high heels, their sleek silhouette a symbol of the power and elegance she was meant to embody. Sliding them on, she admired the way they accentuated her long, slender legs.

Next, a golden watch adorned her left wrist—a subtle but constant reminder of the binding promise she carried. She glanced at the wedding ring on her finger, the only piece that had survived the fiery rebirth unscathed, gleaming softly like an unbroken vow.

In front of the mirror, Rena applied a light touch of makeup. Her eyes deepened, framed by lashes thick and dark, lips flushed to a soft rose. A delicate white floral tiara rested atop her flowing hair, a contrast to the fierce glow in her gaze.

With a final spritz of a rare, intoxicating perfume—its scent a perfect balance of sweetness and spice—she exhaled deeply and opened her door.

Her heels echoed in the vast halls of the Rotschi mansion as she moved with purpose, each step a declaration of the woman she was becoming. Her mind swirled with thoughts both daring and tender, the fierce pulse of her dragon heart intertwining with the warmth of her love for Jin.

Though her soul had been forged anew in fire and shadow, one truth remained unwavering: her love for him was fierce, unyielding, and utterly consuming.

I am reborn from flame, yet my heart still beats for Jin, she thought, feeling the weight and wonder of her new existence. And now... I am ready.

..... 

Heat: What do you think? Do you want me to put a new picture of Rena after the transformation???? 

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