Aria's Awakening: The Dragon's Encounter

The door swung open, and a knight in red, gold, and black armor stepped through it. Aria, who was confused and gazing at the moons, didn't notice the knight's arrival.

After a few seconds of observing the moons, Aria became aware of the knight's presence. Upon seeing the armor that reminded her of the other knights who had killed her mother, she jumped off the bed.

"I knew it, they are going to torture me again. I will have to go through all of that once more. I won't be able to avenge my mother."

His eyes had a fearful tone and also held a look of hatred.

He knew that with his level, he wouldn't be able to scratch him, but he wanted to believe that if he were to die, it would be at least trying to inflict some damage.

His feet and arms wavered, afraid of reliving the same experiences. He wanted to escape from there, but his hatred for them didn't allow him to think it over.

"I'll kill them, I'll kill all those damn bastards, even if it costs my soul, even if my body falls into a hell of pain, I'll kill them. I won't die until they suffer the same or even more than my mother did."

At that moment, Aria's thoughts were not sane.

A bell-like sound rang, causing her body to relax.

[The host's condition is uncertain, poultra released]

An aroma emanated from her body, filling the room with a special scent, so soothing that the knight couldn't resist and for a few seconds, he was on the verge of falling asleep.

Right at that moment, Aria fell asleep, and the scent began to fade away.

The knight, while observing the situation from start to finish, could sense the murderous intent emanating from this strange girl, a strength so powerful that she couldn't help but tremble slightly. The girl seemed like a beast on the verge of going mad.

"A sigh echoed in the silent room. This is what I get for helping everyone without thinking it through. I helped her, and now she wants to kill me. Haha, it couldn't get any worse... And what was that scent? It almost put me to sleep. Even though I'm a failed dragon, I should have enough resistance to tricks like that, but damn, it scared me. I thought she wanted to put me to sleep so she could kill me later, but it seems more like a security protocol of her own body," the knight muttered, feeling perplexed and a little frightened. Nevertheless, she maintained her honor and bravery, choosing to believe that the girl could still be a good person.

Aria woke up, her body feeling heavy and tired. She had a headache that seemed increasingly unbearable.

The bell-like sound rang again.

[Clink]

For a moment, she was confused until she remembered the system. Although she felt more relaxed, her eyes still revealed fatigue and noticeable sadness.

[The host seeks revenge, right? She wants to make those who hurt her family suffer, right? Well, being sad and making those faces won't do any good.

Those knights were at level 300/400. Think about it, do you believe that sadness will have a magical effect and kill them all? That's where I come in. I am your magical effect, created by a god to take you to the pinnacle of power. My master trusted in you and gave me to you as your most loyal companion.]

Aria listened attentively to the words, and it reminded her of when her mother scolded her for thinking she was useless. Those words brought a small smile and a glimmer of hope to Aria's heart. Motivation began to surge within her, the desire to become stronger was born. She wanted to become stronger for revenge, or maybe for other reasons, she wasn't sure yet, but she was certain that she wanted power.

"Hahaha, you would make a good strict mother."

[Well, obviously! I am the best system of all times. I can be the best at everything.]

You could hear a hint of pride in the system's voice.

"Of course, you can be anything you want. That reminds me of a doll, ahaha."

Aria, caught up in a moment of laughter and teasing, didn't notice that the door was open. A girl with a tray carrying a plate of food she had never seen before was standing there, observing.

"You look even lovelier when you smile and don't have a murderous intent towards me," the girl said.

Aria was taken aback and momentarily frightened, but the voice of the system calmed her.

"That girl doesn't have the same energy as those knights. Her energy is more connected to nature, while those knights had a red energy that resembles blood. She's not bad, but strong by your standards," the system explained.

Aria looked the girl up and down, a little impressed. It was the first time she had seen someone like her. The girl had radiant red hair and emerald green eyes. She had horns with a shiny black tone, and her little laugh with her red lips momentarily paralyzed Aria. What impressed her the most about her appearance was her tail, a dragon tail with black and blue hues.

"Hey, hey, are you listening to me?"

"Yes... Of course, I'm listening."

"If you're really listening, stop making that dumbfounded face and look at me."

"I can't... Please give me a moment," Aria, with her face as red as a tomato, couldn't hide her embarrassment. She had just been caught staring at someone, and yet she was claiming to be paying attention.

[HAHAHAHAHA, I can't, hahahhah, "yes, of course, I'm listening." Hahahahaha]

A laughter could be heard inside her head, teasing her even more.

"Stop laughing, do you find this amusing?"

["Well, yes, I do hahahahaha."]

The girl, upon seeing these reactions, couldn't help but laugh a little herself.

"It must be her first time seeing a dragon; she must have been amazed by how majestic we are. It's normal for a race to show respect towards dragons."

Dragons were respected and feared beings, so Lyra found it normal to receive a respectful reaction.

"I like your gaze. You can call me Lyra. I am a proud dragon."

It took Aria a few seconds before responding, "My name is Aria. Nice to meet you."

"Hey... It would be nice if you said that while looking at me in the face," Lyra said.

Aria couldn't do it; she had been so embarrassed by her actions that it was too much for her to handle. Besides, the system's laughter was preventing her from thinking clearly.

After a few awkward seconds, Aria finally mustered the courage to look at Lyra in the face, still feeling embarrassed but doing it anyway.

"Nice to meet you too. I am Aria, an Elf."

"An Elf? It's quite rare to see them in these woods—rare, if not impossible," Lyra remarked.

Elves, especially noble Elves, rarely left their homes. If they did, it was usually to become adventurers, but this area they were in wasn't a typical place for adventurers; in fact, no one should be here except for monsters, and her.

"You are very... unique, I must say. At first, I thought you were another race or a cross between an angel and an Elf, but that's highly unlikely and quite rare."

"Well, yes, you could say that I am unique," Aria replied.

The conversation continued, a bit awkwardly as one had been isolated for a long time, and the other was in a bewildering situation she didn't fully understand. As time passed, the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

"I brought you some food to help you recover and some clothes. It's a bit uncomfortable looking at you when you're naked," Lyra said.

Aria was so preoccupied and disoriented that she hadn't realized it. Her eyes looked at her own body, and embarrassment overwhelmed her once again. She quickly covered herself with the blanket, not only her body but also her face, which was as red as a tomato. She was so ashamed that she didn't want anyone to see her like that.

The laughter in her head didn't stop, which annoyed her a bit, but it also helped clear her mind and stop her from overthinking, something she appreciated.

"By the way, what kind of Elf are you? You don't resemble any I've ever seen."

"Me? I am an ancient Elf."

[Idiot, how can you say such things just like that?]

"Why do you say that? Are we really that special?"

[Yes, you are! Your blood is used to cure all types of diseases, but that blood can only be used when the Elf is dead.]

"Damn, I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have said that."

[Yes, sometimes a bit too much.]

The dragon seemed to have understood something.

"Now it makes more sense that you are here. A normal Elf wouldn't be able to come here."

"By the way, you shouldn't go around saying that so casually. For common people, ancient Elves are just a myth, but for dragons like me, we know of your existence. We dragons may only care about power and gold, but other races like lesser gods and other superior beings covet your blood and body."

Aria, who had received a double scolding, felt like a scolded little child.

"Alright... I'll keep that in mind, but please, can you leave so I can change?"

"Yes, of course," the dragon said with a little laugh, leaving the room.