Kagerou, The Last Winged Heir

The dragon plunged into the gloom. We vanished over the cliff's edge, as if swallowed by the void.

Then suddenly—a sharp ascent. Wind slammed into my face. I clung with all my strength to its back, crawling toward the neck.

"Wooo! This is actually amazing!" I shouted, laughing from the adrenaline rush.

It dived again, heading toward the palace. Was it over?

But the moment it spotted the river, the dragon twisted and dove sharply. Its wings sliced the air with a deafening howl.

I instinctively latched on tighter.

"Hey! What are you trying to do?!"

We were falling. Fast. Very fast. And then I understood.

He was trying to throw me off.

"No-no-no-no!" I screamed as the dragon flipped in mid-air.

"Magic Barrier!"

I activated a shield just as the icy river swallowed us whole. Waves slammed into my body. Even through the barrier, I felt the crushing pressure.

"Gblrr… no-glbrr… joking-glbrr… matter…" I choked, expanding the barrier further.

We skimmed the river's surface for nearly its entire length.

Then—an abrupt lurch upward. The dragon soared so suddenly, I slipped from its neck. I barely caught its tail.

It started whipping it side to side, clearly trying to fling me off.

"You son of a—!" I hissed through clenched teeth.

I refused to let go. Even as my hands burned.

I glanced down and froze. The entire world lay beneath us. Rivers, trees, mountains—so far they looked like toys.

Then… he dove again.

The wind sliced against my skin. My chest tightened. Breathing became harder; I couldn't even close my mouth from the pressure.

If he keeps this up, we're both going to crash and die!

"Fly, you suicidal lizard! FLY!"

The ground rushed up toward us. My fingers slipped. My skin felt like it was about to peel off.

Damn it, he's really trying to die with me!

"FLY, YOU STUPID LIZARD!!"

But at the last second… he leveled out. Sharply, like an arrow. I swung upward and scrambled back onto his back.

Now he flew steadily. Calmly. We glided over the river, a gorge, then forest.

The palace disappeared behind us.

For a moment, it seemed like no one had followed.

"...Did they eventually crash?" Lirael muttered, scanning the sky.

Meliora stood with a facepalm.

The silence broke as we soared over the gates. The dragon zipped so low that everyone staggered back.

We landed directly in the courtyard. I slid off.

I exhaled. Looked around.

…That dragon just turned me into a one-man amusement park.

He landed behind me. Curled up like a child at its mother's feet, radiating warmth.

"Is he… tired?" the family cautiously watched.

This time, he didn't roar. His breath was calm. And as I approached… he closed his eyes.

Slowly, with great caution, I extended my hand.

At the last second, I hesitated. Something inside me trembled.

He was wild. Completely untamed. Of course he wouldn't want to obey anyone. He'd only just been born yesterday.

But he… lowered his head.

I stroked him. Ran my hand along his scaly forehead.

The dragon yielded to me.

The family behind me relaxed their brows. They exhaled.

Meliora clapped.

The dragon's scales began to shimmer. Energy flowed out of him and into me.

"Mana transfer?" I wondered aloud, feeling a sudden lightness.

"What a tale," said Will, father of the three daughters. "Our guardian is a dragonslayer with a pet dragon. If I told anyone, they'd laugh me out of the kingdom."

"That's not a dragon," Meliora stepped forward.

She pointed to the beast's limbs.

"What you see is a true wyvern. Two legs, more bird-like than reptile. And still a child."

"Wyvern?" I examined it. "Since when did wyverns become familiars?"

"Any creature can become a familiar if your souls resonate. Wyverns vanished long before your kind appeared. This one might be the last of its kind."

The last of its kind…

I looked over the blue lizard. He stared back with majestic eyes.

Seems like we're kindred, you and I. Fate really messed with us both, huh?

I scratched under his chin. He closed his eyes.

"You need to name him."

Meliora was more serious than usual.

"It's your duty now, as his master. He accepted you. But are you ready to accept him? To share his fate as he shares yours?"

Lizard. You tried to kill me. Ruined my mood.

…And yet I can't leave you alone. I summoned you. Gave you a second life.

Looks like you want to walk this path with me. I don't mind.

"Kagerou. I name you with this victorious name, so that all who enter these lands with ill intent shall tremble."

My voice—deep and regal.

"From this day on, you shall obey me and the house of Ataraxia with honor and will. You were not born by accident. These lands gave you purpose and whispered your name to me.

Kagerou il Ataraxia!"

And so, I gained a pet.

He rose, unfurled his wings, and let out a deep, warlike roar.

Lirael had no reaction, but she felt safer at my side.

Let them dare call me pathetic now. The only one who can protect this palace—is me.

Monday. Start of a new academic week.

Dean Hellmaine, a young professor, led a field lecture.

"Well then, students. Who can now recite the formula for magic flow through a caster's body?"

I raised my hand. The whole class gasped.

"Atheron…? That's a first. You've never volunteered before."

"Actually, professor, I wanted to take your exam."

"Ah, that's the reason," he folded his arms. "Show me, then. Care to share with the whole class?"

"I don't want to waste time."

I wrapped my hand in bandages and stepped forward.

Aim the hand, draw the rune, summon the familiar — I did it all with precision.

Wind burst from the rune, tearing off jackets. Dean shielded his eyes.

"Interesting."

Sparks gathered at the rune. Forming a tall, majestic beast.

"Is that a dragon?!" students panicked. "No, it's a wyvern!"

Before them stood a legendary creature once thought extinct.

Lirael looked around awkwardly. Her bespectacled friend, Serene, hid behind her.

Salazar was speechless. His wide pupils begged me to laugh at him. Well, princess, how do you like my upgrade?

Dean didn't flinch. Amidst the murmurs, he clapped.

"Excellent. You exceeded expectations. You're a fine student, if you ever decide to take learning seriously."

What a clown. Teachers say that to everyone. His smug grin annoys me.

"Well, Atheron. Congratulations. You passed. Be proud, this familiar can do far more than you imagine."

I passed the exam. No one can talk about expulsion now. I've reclaimed my life from exile!

Couldn't have dreamed of better. For the final class, I decided to arrive a little late.

I entered the room filled with art canvases, spell tomes, and…

...in the corner, by the window, stood a piano. The most luxurious grand piano on the continent.

Bathed in crimson twilight, it called to me. Beautiful thing.

I brushed the dust off its keys.

"Been a while since I visited you. No one plays you anymore, huh?"

I remembered the days I skipped classes, locking myself in this room. Even teachers couldn't stop me from playing ballads.

"You must be bored. Wish I could take you with me."

But my peace was shattered by a scratching noise outside the window. Something was crawling along the walls.

"Play… for me… Play…" came a voice, harsh and screeching.

Panic seized me. I couldn't sense any mana.

What was that?

Then my ears rang as I saw a hand grip the windowframe.

A dark, eyeless creature emerged, its body misshapen and sticky. It gave off no magical energy.

It looked at me.

"Come on… play for me…"

My pupils widened. Goosebumps spread across my skin. That thing couldn't be alive…

How did it even move with that body?

I blinked.

It was gone.

I scanned the entire room. Nothing.

But the ringing in my ears remained. The chill. The tension. It wasn't exactly fear.

It was something tied to me.