Void Dragon - A God among Gods

Finally, the class was over. I couldn't wait for it to end so I could find a quiet place to sleep in peace. As soon as the bell rang, I hurried out and started walking through the crowded hallways, trying to find a calmer spot to rest. However, even reaching the exit that would lead me to the free zone —where I could transform and return to the forest, to that perfect rock where I had been before —seemed impossible given the absurd number of people there.

My irritation only grew until, unexpectedly, something caught my attention. It was a different place, and, curiously, had nothing to do with sleeping.

...Sound of people talking incessantly...

- "Tsk… damn… even getting to the forest is going to be complicated. LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE… arghhh!" I muttered quietly, trying to make my way through.

- "I need to find a place to rest. FAST!"

It was then that my eyes caught something curious.

- "Huh? Art of Divine Music? What place is this?" I murmured, intrigued, peering through the open door.

The environment looked like a small theater. There were cushioned seats, the space was dark, and the soundproofing seemed perfect.

- "This is it! The perfect place! Haha!" I celebrated, feeling a rare enthusiasm.

Without thinking twice, I sat in one of the farthest corners. In the silence provided by the soundproofing and with the soft lights illuminating the empty stage, I could finally relax.

- "Ah… this is it… good night!" I whispered to myself, adjusting my position in the seat and drifting off to sleep.

For a while, everything was perfect. However, something interrupted my peace. A continuous sound and a voice that was... angelic. When I opened my eyes, reluctantly, I realized that someone was singing.

It was a girl on the stage, rehearsing in front of a small audience. Her long, straight, slightly whitish hair contrasted with her tan skin. She had a sculptural body and, above all, a stunning voice that seemed to have the power to dissolve any remnants of irritation in me.

...Sound of music...

- "But… what's happening?" I thought, still groggy.

- "Damn… who's making this noise and preventing me from sleeping?"

...Angelic voice...

However, my irritation gradually disappeared, replaced by a sense of peace.

- "What a voice… so beautiful… who is this girl?" I wondered, unable to look away.

For a few minutes, I remained still, admiring the music and the beauty of that woman. Her voice seemed to reach something beyond my ears, as if it were touching my soul. When the music ended, the small group of spectators began to applaud.

...Sound of applause...

- "Very well, Cristine! Your voice is amazing as always!" praised one of the girls present.

- "Huff… haha… thank you very much, Lyrielle. Although I think my voice left something to be desired today…" replied Cristine, with a shy smile.

- "What? Are you kidding? Your voice was perfect as always!" retorted Lyrielle, adjusting her friend's clothes.

- "By the way, it's time for our weekly little competition to compare the members' voices and see what we can improve. What do you think?"

- "A-already? Well… if the group agrees, I'm fine with it."

I knew that, as incredible as that voice was, the rehearsal would still continue for a while. This meant my rest was definitely ruined, which meant it was time to leave and look for another quieter place. Maybe now the hallways would be less congested, allowing me to reach the forest and return to that rock.

I got up, reluctantly, and walked slowly to the door. But before even leaving, something made me stop.

- "Sigh… the music was good, but I still want to sleep… Aaaah… looks like I'll have to find another place, right?" I thought, trying to gather strength to continue.

While walking, I still heard Lyrielle speaking:

- "Come on, folks! It's always like this… We say we're going to start the weekly challenge, and no one shows up. This is important to assess where we can improve. No one will mock you, so come relaxed!"

She seemed to be the group leader, and, besides, she was a Light Dragon. I was curious for a moment, but the fatigue was greater. My only priority was to find a quiet place to finally rest.

- "Sigh… it's always like this. This time, if you don't show up, I'll choose one of you to come up here, okay?" said Lyrielle, as everyone avoided her gaze.

- "Sigh… Okay… if that's how it is—" She was saying, but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

I, who was already in the process of leaving, froze upon hearing her voice directed at me.

- "Hey, you there, who are leaving... wait just a minute!" she shouted.

- "...Ugh... Me?" I asked, turning around slowly.

- "Yes, you. I've never seen you in the Divine Music Arts group. Who are you?" she asked, while everyone in the room was now looking at me.

I swallowed hard.

- "I-I... Well... I just wanted to take a nap and came in here to rest for a bit," I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.

- "Huh? Someone who came in here to take a nap? Haha… do you think that excuse is going to work?" She raised an eyebrow as she walked towards me.

Her steps were firm, and her fixed gaze made me uneasy.

- "From what I can see, you must be someone from that idiot Myrrith's group, right? You're here to spy on us and report everything to her, aren't you?" she asked, stopping a few steps away from me.

- "Myrrith? Spy? N-no, I don't even know who you're talking about! Look, I really just wanted to take a nap because the place seemed dark and quiet, but then you arrived and... well, when I realized I couldn't sleep anymore, I decided to leave and find another place," I responded quickly, stepping back a few paces.

She remained impassive for a moment before crossing her arms.

- "I see... and what's your name?"

- "I-it's Kyrion, miss..." I replied, looking away.

- "Kyrion, huh? Well, know that this place is reserved exclusively for our musical training. Only those who are part of the group have permission to enter," she stated firmly.

- "I-I didn't know... I'm sorry for that," I said.

- "Sorry, huh? Well, just saying sorry isn't enough. After all, how can I guarantee that you didn't hear something important about our preparation for the upcoming championship, and go tell Myrrith? Letting you leave now would risk the security of our performance," she said, her eyes narrowed.

- "So... are you going to keep me here?" I asked, already frustrated with the direction this was taking.

- "Hmm... That's an interesting idea, but I don't intend to go that far," she replied, with a smile that didn't inspire confidence.

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers, as if she had a brilliant idea.

- "I've got it!" she exclaimed.

- "W-what?" I asked, apprehensive.

- "Let's make a bet," she said, with a mischievous smile.

- "A-a bet?"

She looked at Cristine, who had remained silent on the stage until then.

- "Cristine, come here," Lyrielle called.

- "Cristine is our best singer and also a Lust Fox. This means she has a unique power that no one else besides Lust Foxes has. Do you know what it is?"

My heart raced.

- "Y-you… you're not talking about the..." I began to say, but was cut off by her laughter.

- "Exactly, the Mark of Desire. With it, the marked person will reveal everything related to their desires to the Lust Fox who marked them," Lyrielle explained, with a malicious smile.

- "Here's the bet: you two will compete by singing. If you lose, you will allow Cristine to mark you, and we will find out what your true intentions were for coming in here. If you win, you can leave without any problems."

A silence filled the room as she waited for my response.

- "So? What's it going to be?" she asked, still smiling.

I clenched my fists.

- "B-but I don't know how to sing... I've never tried before," I responded, trying to argue.

- "Well, then we can already consider this a defeat? Shall I call Cristine to mark you?" She provoked.

Despite having nothing to hide, the idea of someone accessing my deepest desires made me uncomfortable. I needed to get out of this situation without causing more problems — or, in the worst-case scenario, put everyone to sleep, without causing confusion, and escape.

- "Sigh... O-ok. Let's do it," I replied, reluctantly.

She smiled victoriously, while Cristine approached with a curious sparkle in her eyes.