Unveiling Destiny in a Dragon's Domain

Aria, who was already dressed, couldn't help but sigh.

"System, can you tell me where I am?"

[There's very little information, and from what I have memorized, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Why don't you try asking Lyra? She'll know.]

"That's a good idea, but the problem is that I don't know how to start a conversation with her."

"The only times I talked to her weren't very... Well, I'm not sure how to put it."

"Well, they weren't the best conversations."

[Yeah, I suppose, hahaha.]

Aria, who left the small room, could see a small hall with a wooden table and a few chairs, but she didn't find Lyra.

To her right, she saw a partially open door, so she assumed Lyra was outside.

As she stepped out, she encountered Lyra, who was seated in a lotus position. She seemed focused; her calm and steady breath contrasted with the sound of the wind rustling leaves around her.

Seeing her, Aria contemplated not interrupting her and was about to go inside and ask later, but Lyra noticed her presence. She raised her voice to get her attention before she left.

"Do you have something to ask?"

Aria was a bit surprised, but she managed to formulate the question.

"Do you know where we are, what is this place?"

Upon that question, Lyra's expression became complex, but she responded promptly.

"We are in the vast Draconian Scalewood Forest, a forest ruled by dragons, and currently, you're in my part of the forest. My family entrusted me with this portion."

Her family entrusted her with a forest? Aria, who didn't quite understand, made a strange face.

"Yes, my family granted me this part of the forest."

Though it sounded strange, Aria believed her. Everything had been strange since she opened her eyes and saw the moons.

[It might seem odd to you, but to her, it might be more common. Since we came here, everything has been strange: three moons and colorful plants that couldn't exist on your planet. Everything was already indicating it.]

And why didn't you tell me, even if everything was already indicating it?

[Because someone was distracted introducing themselves, plus you would've found out sooner or later.]

"Alright, alright, I get it. Could you stop reminding me of that?"

Aria said with a slightly annoyed expression.

[First, you should ask basic things like the continent, and then you can inquire further.]

But then I don't know, will she think it's strange?

[Well, everything has been strange since you appeared naked in the forest.]

It makes sense, even though asking her would be odd, it's worth it.

Aria started to formulate questions, and although it seemed strange to Lyra, she answered the questions without hesitation. She thought that Aria had arrived here recently and didn't know anything about the outside world.

Lyra wanted to know how Aria had come to this place and why. But before she could formulate her question, a powerful aura appeared, enveloping the entire forest. The ground trembled, and sounds of trees being uprooted echoed.

A portal emerged behind her, and when she turned her head, she couldn't help but feel the pressure. The aura and the presence of the person were so superior to her that she felt quite inferior. However, that aura was familiar to her; it was the aura of the dragon king, a being whose presence alone could make your soul tear apart.

As she turned to see Aria, she noticed her struggling to breathe. Her breath was labored, and her eyes looked confused.

Turning her gaze back to the dragon king, she saw a man who appeared to be around 30 years old. He stood over 1.90 meters, reaching 1.92 meters. He had shiny black hair, black eyes with a thin red pupil. They were hypnotic eyes that reflected mystery and power. Wisdom and experience could also be seen in them.

The dragon king's eyes shifted from Lyra to Aria, and upon seeing her, a hint of sadness and sorrow could be perceived in his gaze.

"My king, what brings you here? Can you-" Before she could do anything, the king dissipated his aura, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Aria. With his finger pointed at her forehead, he lightly touched her, and she fainted. Lyra, who had witnessed the scene, was confused but powerless to act. Going against the king was tantamount to going against all the dragons, and since she had only known Aria for a few hours, all she could feel towards her was sympathy and pity. Without saying anything, the dragon king opened another portal and stepped through. Upon seeing this, Lyra sighed, and as she relaxed, her breath became heavy. Her eyes, which had displayed great determination before, now reflected a sense of weariness and fatigue. [In a room]

"In a room, Aria could be seen resting, her eyes closed, deeply asleep. She saw someone with her same eye and hair color; the person was turned away, as if they couldn't see her.

Time passed, and in the following moments, there was a tranquil and peaceful silence.

Before she could realize it, the man turned around and looked at her. With a tender tone, he said: "This is the only gift I can give you for now. Destiny will guide you, but it doesn't have to be the destiny that's written.

You can create your own destiny; you don't have to be swayed by what's coming your way. Everything depends on how you want to live your life. We'll meet again soon." Upon hearing those words, she woke up quickly.

She found herself in quite a spacious bed, large enough to accommodate more than four people. Aria looked around, feeling confused, unable to avoid wondering why so many things were happening to her.

Before deciding to explore her surroundings, she paused to reflect. The myriad of things happening made her feel like she was losing even the slightest control over her surroundings. She couldn't make decisions, and everything happening seemed to be the work of destiny—a notion that frustrated her.

But as she recalled the events, she couldn't help but feel sad. She wanted to release all the pent-up stress. She was lying on the bed, and tears began to fall.

The little time she had been given to process things was too much for her.

She simply desired a peaceful life, free from the threat of others. She wished for a serene life with a family, helping her mother and occasionally making her feel that she wasn't a bad mother for not being able to spend time with her." Time passed, and Aria, who had calmed down, looked around. She was in a house with a medieval style, akin to that of a noble residence. Vases, tea cups, paintings, and various items with a unique and distinct style adorned the place.

Suddenly, the voice of the system caught her attention.

[I have a message. When that being appeared, it took us through a portal, and then we appeared here. However, before that, somehow, it managed to access me to leave a message.]

"And what did the message say?" Aria asked, bewildered by the message. [It basically provided essential information about where we are. It seems we're on the continent of the Four Clovers.

This house you're in appears to be reinforced with powerful magic, and it contains an array of items to make you stronger. Whoever sent you here wants you to grow stronger and is providing you with ample resources.]

[There was also a final message that said to retrieve a pendant from the drawer.] Without a second thought, Aria searched and found the drawer beside her.

The pendant was a unique piece, incorporating both a crescent moon and a sun into its design. In the center of the pendant, there was a radiant sun in relief, crafted from a golden metal or with a radiant finish. Surrounding the sun was the crescent moon, with its shade of light blue and elegant dark tones forming subtle speckles.

The crescent moon and the sun were balanced on the pendant, creating a harmonious visual effect.

Upon closer inspection, the details of both elements could be appreciated, showcasing the golden shine and the blue hue of the design. This unique pendant represented the duality of night and day, the sun and the moon, all in one piece that captured attention and imagination. As Aria picked up the pendant, it vanished and appeared around her neck. Before she could think anything, a notification surprised her.

[NestBound Amulet fusing with the host's soul.]

Aria's surprise wasn't small, and by the time the system was thinking, Aria moved to the mirror she had spotted in the room.

In the mirror, she could gaze upon her reflection: a young woman with long silver hair that cascaded just a bit past her shoulders. Her eyes were golden, shining with a mysterious glint, and her ears subtly elongated in a typical elven fashion. Her face was delicate and attractive, capable of leaving anyone who looked at her in awe.

While she observed herself, her eyes couldn't help but slide down to her bust, which was notably generous and alluring. Though its size didn't become uncomfortable, it was a feature that stood out in her figure and couldn't go unnoticed.

[Quite impressive, but you could take advantage of the situation to examine your Soul, practicing your class abilities will be beneficial]

At that moment, Aria remembered her class and couldn't help but feel that she hadn't used it at all.

[Divine Ascension System]

- Name: Aria Luminara

- Level: 10

- Age: 17

- Race: Ancient Elf

- Classes: Soul Luminary Hunter

- Bloodline: Lumenelf Bloodline

- Blessing of Verdantus

Strength: 8

Speed: 9

Endurance: 7

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 9

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 9

Charisma: 8

Magic: 10

Resurrected Abilities:

Envy (Level 2): The host has the ability to steal skills from beings they have killed. This ability has a success rate and also a failure rate. It is based on the host's desire and envy towards other beings.

Unleashed Wrath (Level 2): The host can channel their internal rage to temporarily increase their strength and speed in moments of intense combat.

Phantom Eye: Ability in which the host can see the phantom world, view Souls, and other entities not visible to the common eye.

Soul Harvest: The host can consume souls from monsters and enemies slain. This provides significant experience and facilitates the host's Soul strengthening upon consumption.

- It is recommended not to consume souls much more powerful than the host's, as it could cause a rupture in the soul or worse, destroy it entirely.