The draconic energies flowing through the marks, the eye, and Grea’s circuits were like a mighty torch to his special sight. And most of them bore the deep, dark shade of his Onyx ancestry.

  “Okay. I’ll begin. Though I’m starting to figure out what it actually was.” She shook off her stupor and took a deep breath. “I’ve been working on being more useful to you—yes, I know, I’m already useful a lot, let me have it, okay?—and about a day ago, I had a breakthrough. Your energy filled me to the brim like never before and went straight to my racial trait. It somehow evolved, though the pain was insane. Almost instantly, I knew it could now peer into the very essence of spiritual energy, and therefore have no true restraints anymore.”

  “So you used it to penetrate through the weakened seal and take a look at us,” Selene deduced.

  “Just so,” Grea confirmed. “I came back after spotting the fight, not wanting to be a distraction. Getting a better grip on it, I made a few more attempts, and not meaning to boast too much, they were decent enough for you not to notice the tiny eyes I kept on you until your very return. Albeit, I feel like that was only possible thanks to our bond. It’s not so accurate otherwise. But I’m still testing its limits. And dimensional farsight isn’t all that is to it. Looking at you—inside you—I can see how much more powerful you have gotten. And in the case of Miria, I have no fucking idea what I’m even looking at. She’s like a completely new person.”

  Asterios and the girls exchanged glances.

  “You aren’t that far off with your assessment.” He chuckled wryly. “We’ll fill you in on all the details soon, but to sum it up, I connected on a deeper level with my Onyx lineage. Our trip in the Nethernight realm ended up as a resource-gathering quest of a kind, where I absorbed a lot of light divine energy. Abyss helped too. All the variables combined, and in the last fight…”

  “You advanced into your dark side so much that it affected me!” His demon lover cackled madly. “Fuck me! That’s why Bryn was feeling so restless! She was getting boosted too! Your love for us couldn’t be stopped by a mere insignificant seal, hah! Oh, man. Even not coming with you, we are reaping benefits. What did we do in our previous lives to deserve this?”

  Asterios met Bryn’s awed eyes, and he smiled at the pair lovingly. “No idea about that, but I can mention a thing or two from your current lives that would be enough.”

  The duo shared a glance, then trotted up to him, placing a kiss on his cheeks from each side.

  “You are too much, love...” Grea sighed dreamily.

  “Master…” Bryn hugged his arm.

  He accepted their affections wholeheartedly, waiting for the amazing ladies to calm down.

  “Alright. Enough. I have a feeling we’ll stay like this for days at the current pace. Should we exchange information on the way to the city?” his demon mate suggested.

  “A good idea,” her angelic companion agreed. “It’s after the noon already, and I’m sure Master would like to see the changes before we retreat to… rest.”

  The hopeful glance she was directing his way hid something else in its depths too, but whichever thing would come true in the end, Asterios was sure he would greatly enjoy it.

  Chapter 42

  For the Better Lives

  Asterios soared through the afternoon sky, his majestic draconic form slicing through the blanket of fluffy clouds. He didn’t fly too high, allowing himself and his passengers to gaze upon the lands below. Thanks to Tina’s handy masking technique, which currently covered the bottom half of his body, they didn’t have to worry about accidental sightings.

  Which, to be honest, would most likely not evoke that much surprise or chaos at such a point in time. People of Glimmervale and Dragon Valley were already used to various draconic surprises. After the introduction of the Dragon Guard, their tolerance for unbelievable or previously unthinkable revelations and events must have risen by leaps and bounds.

  Yet, it wasn’t the time to dismiss all the secrecy. Asterios wished to grow stronger and master his powers before that happened. When the fact that he was a True Dragon became public knowledge, it was inevitable for it to travel all around the world and very likely outside the realm too. He knew of at least one entity keeping a relatively close eye on Kraedorion that could be provoked to act after receiving the news.

  The black Dragon controlling the noctis, of course.

  It was another matter to take care of somewhere in the future. Right now, it wasn’t of the utmost importance. Still, if he and the girls managed to figure out how to bring Tia back into the material world, it would undoubtedly send waves across it, refueling the greed and desire amongst those who dared to possess Dryads for their own benefits.

  Asterios wanted to be powerful enough to protect his newest mate from all the dangers that awaited her in the big universe. Without that, freeing her from her prison would be pointless. Thankfully, he and his entourage were constantly growing. Supporting each other, they were going to reach heights previously thought unattainable. Be it for Dragons or all the other races the women came from.

  Only the best for his lovers.

  “How much different is that new eye of yours from the previous one?” Miria asked Grea, breaking the silent moment of just taking in each other’s presence atop their mate’s back after the return.

  “Un-fucking-believably different!” The demon woman beamed at her. “Like I said, it can peer into the very structure of mana. I can see things I’ve never dreamed about when looking at spiritual energy. Studying a person or a creature, like right now with you, I can follow all those sophisticated lines, flows, colors, combinations, and so on. The details of your inner circuits are insane. That’s partially how I could tell you’ve changed, besides the obvious jump in the vibes of your aura. I feel like I can see everything as long as I want to see it.”

  “Sounds incredible.” Silvia stroked her chin thoughtfully. “You can see my bloodline, then?”

  “Yes, and so much more.” Grea chuckled softly, patting Ast’s scales beside her. “My Third Eye was able to spot his multiple sources, and after some digging, even identify them, but with the change, everything lies bare before me. The true nature of his Hearts, how they interact with each other, what form they take, and the way they flood his body when he draws on them. Or their interactions with all his affinities. And those have so much room to grow still.”

  “Does that mean that you can assess someone’s affinities and potential now?” Tina wondered out loud.

  “Shit. When you put it like that, I kinda can.” The crimson-skinned lady blinked back at her.

  “That’s going to be so useful for the academies. You’ll be able to identify so many problems that the students might struggle with. Even with all the knowledge and techniques in Rosewind, there were still walls no one knew how to overcome, crushing the spirits of so many people. Like Asterios.” The Summoner girl glanced down at their draconic lover with a troubled but fond expression.

  Althea let out an amused laugh. “A perfect ability for the headmistress, don’t you think?”

  “I should have kept my stupid mouth shut about that.” Grea’s lips curled up with a small smirk. “But you aren’t wrong. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s been no more than a day since I gained this gift. There’s so much to learn about it. And, unfortunately, I don’t think I can dig out any information from even the most ancient records of my tribe. The progenitors were immensely powerful, but I bet I’m the first one with a draconic-demonic Third Eye hybrid. I’ll have to discover its full capabilities myself. Such is the fate of the precursors.”

  “What about Master’s memory seal?” Bryn asked curiously.

  Grea’s eyes widened, and her face snapped towards Ast’s neck. Her gaze wandered over his head for a few moments, and everyone could tell she was already starting to crack into it. Judging by the heavy frown, it wasn’t something as simple as snapping one’s fingers, but there was something more to it than before.

  Selene’s tap on her shoulder was what finally brought their sister-mate back.

  “Ah. Sorry.” The dedicated researcher shook her head. “I can see it. It’s affected by everything we have done so far, and all the memories he has reconnected with. Just looking at its complexity is giving me a headache, but that won’t stop me from diving into it with everything I have. I’m going to push this new eye of mine to its limits.”

  “Careful with that,” Selene warned, waving a finger in front of the other woman’s face. “It seems like you are getting dangerously close to our master’s level, if not past it.”

  Asterios chuckled deeply from the front. “A female with better spiritual sight than mine? Oh no, that won’t be! I think I might have to remind someone who is the True Dragon in this relationship. With a long and extremely rough one-on-one hands-on lecture. ”

  The girls giggled quietly as their red friend squirmed under the effect of his words, trying her best not to vulgarly blurt out how much she would love that. Being put in her place by a strong and domineering mate was definitely her thing, and they all knew it. That wasn’t something possible to change, no matter how hard Grea tried to deny or hide it.

  Their conversation moved onto the topics of the adventures Ast’s group had in the Nethernight Realm. Everyone chimed in as the two beauties who had been absent listened to the events of each day. Supplied with bits and flashes of the party’s memories, the explanation progressed fairly quickly, Bryn and Grea going through a plethora of emotions and expressions, positive for Asterios and negative for the bastard who had hurt Abyss and her children.

  Soon, they arrived above Glimmervale, and the chatter quickly died down. The stay-behind duo had proud grins on their faces as the rest of their family laid their sights on the much more developed state of their nation’s capital.

  About half of the newly created space between the transported outer walls and the outside runic barrier was already filled up. Houses, mansions, buildings, shops, warehouses, and all other facilities riddled the various districts. Plenty more was in the middle of construction as the mishmash of races cooperated to improve the city.

  Inside the academic ring, the three tall hills stood proud around the inner city. They were much more defined, the long stairways and railings easily noticeable over those marble, onyx, and emerald mountains, matching the colors. But what caught the eyes more were the intricate universities resting atop them, made of pure white, shadowy black, and jade green blocks respectively.

  Each school was a wonder on its own, and there were three of them. They were still being worked on, but the majority of the facilities were finished. Dorms, study halls, libraries, training grounds, hospitality wings, every necessary part of a university was there. And between the three institutions, back on the low ground, lay lush gardens intertwined with shops, markets, stalls, restaurants, and other recreational locums the students could enjoy their time in outside of the lessons.

  It was all a sight to behold.

  “Our little Glimmervale is becoming quite something, isn’t it?” Grea snickered at everyone’s taken-aback visages. “Even we are amazed. This is the first time seeing it all from up here for us. We saved it for this moment. Now you understand why I’ve already brought up the matters of the headmaster.”

  “The candidates are lining up for days, and we don’t even have the cadre ready.” Bryn chuckled too. “The Committee wanted to wait for your return before any teachers, professors, and trainers were signed. They compiled quite the list of potential recruits for all three academies, specializing in melee, ranged, and magical education.”

  “I’m at a loss for words…” Silvia breathed out dreamily. “My heart tightens, in a good way, as I gaze upon something like this… I never thought I would get to experience the minuscule development of a new nation… It’s something mesmerizing… Watching our home grow and prosper from the ground up…”

  “It feels so rewarding, doesn’t it?” Tina wrapped her arm around the princess’s shoulders, pulling them closer. “When all your efforts show meaningful results.”

  “Let’s view those breathtaking results from up close,” Asterios suggested, and they could all sense the big smile on his draconic snout.

  He was just as excited as they were.

  Landing stealthily amongst the trees, he transformed back into his humanoid form, and they walked towards the gate together. A steady stream of travelers flowed in both directions. The arrivals were quickly but thoroughly interviewed and inspected by the gate guards equipped with some interesting artifacts Asterios hadn’t seen yet, most likely creations of his elf allies and their friendly artisans.

  The sentries recognized his group from afar and signaled for them to go on without the check, professional smiles accompanying their respectful salutes. Some whispering arose from the awaiting bunch, but the word of who they were must have spread instantly as the voices grew more thrilled than annoyed.

  As interesting as the flat, underdeveloped area right behind the walls was, Ast’s party crossed it with a hasty step, impatient to get to the good stuff. They wandered through the outer town for half an hour perhaps, admiring the newly set-up businesses and private properties. Whoever recognized them always stopped to thank the overseers for the chance to live there and the fair conditions.

  Approaching the glowing belt of draconic runes, Asterios and the ladies pressed into the academic ring. It was much more spacious, allowing the passersby to view most of its natural beauty while gazing to the sides. There were no extremely tall or clustered buildings. Most of the terrain was kept open and comfortable. Numerous ponds and gardens, benches and wooden bridges, bowers and picnic sites were scattered over its entirety. As for visitors, the number of people was much lower, the quiet atmosphere creating a noticeable difference from the bustling streets of the town.

  “My Liege!” A familiar feminine voice reached their ears as they were strolling around.

  Right after, a certain short Knight in fierce armor jogged up to them. The young girl took off her helmet and stuffed it under her armpit, saluting to her chest while standing straight.

  “Greetings, My Lord!” Irelia bowed her head politely. “It’s a pleasure to see your successful return!”

  “At ease, please.” Asterios smiled at the respectable lady.

  “With all due respect, My Lord, I’m on duty, in a public space, no less.” She remained stiff and proper. “These gardens might not yet be fully functional, but it’s my responsibility to patrol the grounds and reassure the visitors with my inspiring presence.”

  “Patrol? Are you moving up the ranks already? That’s admirable,” Tina commented.

  A delicate blush tinged Irelia’s cheeks. “My instructors deemed me ready to gather experience in the field. That’s why I’m assigned to the slower regions.”

  “Does it not interfere with your training?” Silvia asked.

  “I’m not working a guard’s full hours yet, My Lady,” the youthful Knight answered. “It’s more of an exercise every third day. Getting to know the people and familiarizing myself with the city. Later, we simulate critical situations in various parts through a debate.”

  “That’s amazing. What would you do if you saw thick smoke coming up from past that edge of the gardens?” Asterios raised a single brow at her.

  “Politely ask you to report the sighting to the garrison, My Lord, then run towards the area to assess the situation and attempt to rescue the injured or take other necessary preventive actions depending on the circumstances,” Irelia hastily explained. “Citizen safety first, property preservation second, sir!”

  He chuckled at the strongly ingrained quote, feeling the impression of the city’s guards in those very agreeable words.

  Reaching out to gently pat her head, Asterios nodded approvingly. “We’ll let you get back to your responsibilities, then. Don’t want to get you in trouble. Let’s talk later. I wish you a safe and uneventful day.”

  “Sir, yes, sir!” She saluted to her chest again and put on her helmet, resuming her patrol route.

  “She’s grown, hasn’t she?” Selene noted with a motherly tone.

  “In more ways than one,” Grea grinned.

  Tina elbowed her in the side.

  “Not what I meant!” The demon woman huffed, making them laugh.

  Deciding to leave sightseeing the academies for the future, they moved further into Glimmervale.

  “I can see improvements to the streets, many of them of magical nature,” Asterios pointed out. “You must be working hard with your father.”

  His sultry lover dismissively waved a hand at him, unable to hide the slight darkening of her cheeks. “Please, most of that is just byproducts of our random ideas or designs from trying to help you out. But, we have accepted your words into our hearts and take it easy more often, resting properly. The thing is, researcher freaks like us can’t sit idle for too long, so we relax by fiddling with minor stuff. We are actually passing by the pub I was in with my father before jumping to Althea’s lair to greet you guys.”

  Following her lead, the group crossed a few more streets and stopped before an iron structure. The styling was visibly demonic, mirroring those ferocious metal buildings from their home continent. Only the signboard hinted at its true role. The first impression suggested some kind of prison or a scary castle.

  Peeking through the window streaked with cylindrical bars, they scanned the interior, confirming their suspicions. The majority of the patrons were demons. And in one of the corner tables sat a certain familiar man, smiling, laughing, and drinking. However, he wasn’t alone. A woman accompanied him, nursing her own beer as she supported her chin atop her hand, looking at him thoughtfully.

  “Is that…” Miria squinted suspiciously.

  “Governor Rowena, yes.” Grea snorted. “That reminds me, we established the requested embassies. The humans, the elves, the silvery dwarves, and the demons. King Zegion assigned her to this post. Not that she fought against that decision much.”