Chapter 14

"[Shadow Clone]," Ryuu could practiaclly feel the excitement in Serafall's voice as she called out his technique. With an all familiar poof and white smoke a new "person" appeared in the room.

Both Serafall's were standing there, completely dumbfounded. Ryuu just watched half in amusement and the other in embarrassment . He could feel how this was going to be a repetition of what he and his clone did after successful sumoning for the first time.

As he expected, both Serafall's jumped up, high fived, and hugged followed by a small victory dance only stopping after they saw the amused and smirking Ryuu.

An embarrassed blush crept onto their cheeks. After clearing up their throats both Serafall's gave him a peace sign and said, "we did it! Are you impressed Ryuu-tan?! Did we make your heart skip with our awesomeness?" The last part was rather cheeky so he decided to get a little revenge.

He stood up and walking slowly with a gentle smile on his face. The Serafall duo couldn't help but be mesmerised by him. With every step he took towards them their heartbeat seemed to respond, amping up their nervouseness but also their anticipation.

Once he stood before them he just said, "well done Sera," warmly and hugged both of them. The duo stiffened and then melted into his embrace while their embarrassment was climbing higher and higher.

The clone seemlingly unable to take any more. With a squeak she dispelled herself, leaving the original alone to face this super nice, yet terrifyingly embarrassing situation.

Ryuu just snorted in amusement and enjoyed the hug. Serafall's nice and calming scent was tickling his nostrils while his body was enjoying the soft and warm feeling she was providing.

A pink atmospehere was building itself around them for a moment, before it collapsed again after hearing a cough coming from the door: it was Melissa. "My my, what do we have here? Sera-tan, are you seducing my baby boy", she asked in a teasing tone.

Serafall, full of indignation and embarrassment just screamed, "Meli-tan you meanie~", and run away as fast as she possibly could. Which prompted Melissa to laugh at Serafalls' plight.

Once she was done laughing Melissa faced Ryuu with a serious expression and asked in a demanding tone, "do you know?"

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"Do you know," was what Melissa asked her son in a no nonsense tone. Ryuu of course was very much aware of what she meant and decided that this would be a good time to have a heart to heart talk with his mother.

"Yes, I knew for a while now," he answered her seriously. Melissa took a moment to peer into her sons' eyes, what she was looking for exactly was beyond him. After staring for a good while she broke eye contact.

"Don't hurt her," is all she said. This made his eyebrow arch up and look at her questioningly. Melissa just said indifferently, "you've changed a lot more than just in attitude. If you've thought I wouldn't notice you are wrong," this gained his attention.

He never wanted to hide something from Melissa nor hurt her in anyway. After all she was one of the few people that would give him the world without hestiation.

Melissa saw that his expression got a little uncomfortable but didn't comment on it. She was hurt that her son, her precious treasure had secrets from her, but she also knew that Ryuu would never do anything to hurt her intentionally.

"Just take your appereance for example. We devils might be minor shapeshifters due to our demonic energy changing our bodies to suit our needs, but our appearance is always based on something we know, or have seen.

You look nothing like your farther, you are taller and more muscular. Your body is perfectly shaped for battle and the color of your hair went from dark brown to pitch black while your eyes went from a subtle amber color to a shining gold. How in the world did you expect to keep that hidden from me? What do you take me for? An idiot," she asked in a rather irritated tone.

Ryuu just stared trying to look calm on the surface while the gears inside his head were spinning furiously. Being someone that doesn't care all that much about appearance he didn't bother checking in with a mirror again, so aside from his build he wasn't aware of his changes.

"Mom let me-," but before he could finish Melissa waved her hand as to cut him off. "I don't care. I know that no matter how or why you are changing, you'll always be my son. Do you know why? Some things are forever unchanging. Take the sky for example, or your dilligence and your love for music," she said.

This got Ryuu thinking. He always thought that despite his nearly obsessive behavior towards training and his studies, his grasp on social relations was firm. Turns out he didn't pay as much attention as he should've.

While Ryuu was busy contemplating his choices in life Melissa continued, "you sometimes remind me of someone that is shouldering the fate of the world on his shoulder." This made him stiffen.

Melissa just looked at him in silent contemplation. She seemed to have struck a nerve. "Regardless, just make sure to keep treating us well, and again: don't hurt Serafall, alright," she offered and moved on from this topic.

Ryuu appreciated his mother even more than before. He decided that once everything is done he'd tell her everything: from his rebirth to why he changed to how he came to love her as a real mother despite his orphan upbringing.

Both mother and son decided to shelf anything related to this topic and just enjoy their time together. Two hours later Serafall had calmed down enough to come back which lead to Melissa mercilessly teasing her again.

The three of them were surrounded by a joyous atmosphere. Everytime they were together the problems of the outside world seemed to disappear, to not matter anymore. Regardless five hours later everyone needed to get back into their work.

Serafall had all hands full with the Foreign Affairs of the devil race, Melissa was sneaking away, getting training from God knows where and Ryuu went to sleep to prepare for his next fight in the underground arena.

After a lot of back and forth they finally found a willing opponent. One of the entry-level high-ranking fighters came from the headquarters to battle him. He felt that this had deeper implications but kept to himself; after all this is what he was waiting for.

A tough fight, giving him a chance to breakthrough his shackles once again and attain the mid-rank of the power ladder!

A rather bloodthirsty grin formed on his face as his battle intent soared. Ryuu didn't know yet that eversince he came into this world, he was being more and more affected by his race, liberating his desires that he once locked away in the name of survival.

What was purely business before, becomes pleasure. When in the past Ryuu fought to live another day he'll start fighting for pleasure, like a true dragon would.