Void Dragon - A God among Gods

Finally, I had resolved everything. Now I could finally go back to sleep in peace and let things return to how they were... well, almost everything. I started my way back to the dormitory, feeling the weight of that night finally lifting.

...Sounds of footsteps in the forest...

- "Sigh... Yawn... Honestly, why do people have to be so complicated? What do they gain with these foolish acts?" I murmured to myself, as I walked through the forest towards the entrance of the free zone — the space where we could use our true forms.

- "Well, at least those guys learned a lesson. I doubt they'll try to bother me again." I said, letting out a big yawn.

- "Yaaawwn... Damn, sleep is calling me, huh? Better pick up the pace." I added, smiling at the thought of my comfortable bed, so close now.

I reached the entrance of the free zone and could already see, in the distance, the lights of the small square nearby. Voices mingled in the air, almost inviting me back to the school routine. I had finally resolved all the problems... or so I thought.

...Sound of footsteps...

- "Kyrion..." called a female voice, coming from a dark corner next to the gate.

At that moment, a familiar shiver ran down my spine, and I swallowed hard. I knew that voice very well.

- "...Gulp... A-Aurëalis? W-what are you doing here?" I asked, alarmed.

- "Well... you seemed in a hurry before and said you had something to resolve. I ended up following you and... saw you entering the free zone. I got curious and decided to follow, thinking you might be in trouble... or wanted to return to the rock." She said, blushing as she spoke.

- "But in the end, I saw everything that happened." She added, looking down.

- "...I-I'm sorry. I know it was none of my business, but I heard your conversation with them and... saw everything you did." She said, bowing in an apologetic gesture.

- "...Sigh... And what are you going to do now?" I asked calmly.

- "W-what?" She questioned, surprised.

- "I asked what are you going to do now. Are you going to turn me in to the administration? Use your influence to get me expelled from school? Not that I care... honestly, being expelled wouldn't be so bad. I could go back to my peaceful life." I replied.

- "What? No! I would never do that." She said, shaking her head emphatically.

- "I heard everything, and from the conversations I overheard before, that group had been doing horrible things for a while. They deserved what you did. Besides, you didn't kill them or do anything irreversible. You just taught them a lesson." She said, with a firm voice.

- "Wrong would be anyone who tried something against you."

- "...Hmm... quite a rebellious thought for a princess who should be exemplary, huh? I like that." I replied with a smile.

She smiled from ear to ear, and her face, already blushing, turned even redder.

- "Well, princess, it doesn't matter if you heard or not. You don't need to apologize." I said, running a hand through my hair and fighting off the impending sleep.

- "Well.. I'm heading to my dormitory. After all, I haven't even really started sleeping." I added.

- "Yawn... If I were you, I'd do the same. Walking around at this hour, in places like this, can give people the wrong idea." I finished, with a playful tone.

- "Especially with me around. Hahaha." I laughed.

- "I wouldn't mind what people would think if they saw me with you now." She said, with a soft voice, and eyes that sparkled, her face incredibly red.

I looked at her fixedly, surprised. For the first time, I felt my face warm up slightly. Maybe, for a few seconds, I blushed.

- "...Uhhh... W-well... I'm going first. Just be careful out there, okay? Some people are cruel and might try something bad against you." I said, quickly turning and hastening my steps towards the dormitory.

- "Kyrion... just one more thing." She called.

- "Sigh... What is it now?" I asked, turning calmly.

When I turned, I was speechless. There was Aurëalis, on top of a small hill that led to the free zone. Behind her, the large moon shone intensely, and the wind made her hair dance gently. It was a sight that held me in place, stealing any trace of sleep I still had.

For me, sacrificing a few hours of sleep to admire that scene didn't seem like a problem.

Then, Aurëalis spoke:

- "Thank you so much for defending me back there… I heard what they said about me and saw what you did to them afterward… Thank you very much." She said, with an enchanting smile. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she looked at me. Her face was extremely red, but that only accentuated her beauty.

- "D-damn… I-I… sigh… you're welcome." I replied, struggling to organize my thoughts before that vision, before quickly turning and walking towards the dormitory.

Back at the dormitory, Cédric and Theron had already taken Karix to the school infirmary. With nothing else to worry about, I entered my room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed. But unlike before, when just touching the mattress would make me fall asleep, that vision of Aurëalis wouldn't leave my mind. I spent minutes staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the warmth on my face.

The next morning, the magical alarm clock woke me up with its deafening sound.

- "Zzzz..." I snored.

...TRIIIIMMM!...

- "AGH! W-what was that?!" I jumped up, startled, trying to understand what was happening.

- "Tsk... This damn infernal alarm clock!" I grumbled, irritated.

But, as expected, the alarm didn't stop. Aertharion had personally ensured it was impossible to ignore, programmed not to cease until I left the room.

- "Argh… grrr... AAAAA!" I screamed, defeated.

- "Okay, okay! I'm going to that class!" I yelled, quickly getting dressed and heading to the designated room.

In the classroom, the buzz was impressive, even on that cold morning. I looked around, searching for a place far from all that commotion.

- "Sigh… Look at these people, chatting so early." I thought, analyzing the environment.

Finally, I found an empty desk near the window, away from the rest of the class. It was the perfect spot.

- "Ah… This place is perfect." I whispered, settling in to sleep.

- "Come to me, sleep..." And, effortlessly, I dozed off.

For a good while, I managed to rest. Until a deafening sound woke me up.

...BOOOM!...

- "AAGHH! What was that?!" I screamed, disoriented, looking around.

In front of me, a tall man with a stern expression leaned on a book he had just slammed down hard on the desk. It was the teacher.

- "What is your name, sir?" He asked, looking directly at me.

The entire class laughed, and I realized I was the butt of the joke. However, I leaned back in my chair, resting my head on one hand, and replied with a carefree smile:

- "That depends... Who's asking? Someone important?"

The teacher clenched his fists, clearly irritated.

- "Who do you think is asking, boy?!" He roared.

- "You think this school is a joke, to sleep on the first day?"

I raised my hands in a gesture of surrender.

- "No, sir. Not at all."

After glaring at me, he huffed.

- "Sigh… I'll let it go this time. But next time, I'll give you a magical formula from the lower dimensions that you will never be able to solve. Understood?"

- "Yes, sir." I responded promptly.

He returned to the lesson, and the whispers began. I felt judging eyes from all directions, but it didn't bother me. After all, if people thought I cared about their opinions, they were sorely mistaken.

While he explained something about the lower dimensions, I leaned my head back on my arms. However, my mind wasn't on the lesson. Aurëalis still occupied my thoughts. Her soft voice, the sparkle in her eyes, the vision from the previous night… Everything seemed to stubbornly stay with me. It was starting to irritate me, after all, that wasn't my style, and it wouldn't be at that moment.

- "Damn…" I murmured, trying to shake off the thought, before dozing off once again, now careful not to be caught again.

The lesson, titled "Positioning Yourself in the Lower Dimensions," introduced customs and basic concepts of these dimensions, which, according to the teacher, would be fundamental for future work and missions. Even so, all that seemed unnecessary to me. Whether due to the sleep I had or already knowing very well what he was talking about.

After a few hours, finally, the sound of the bell announced the end of the lesson. Another day had begun, and I was already eager for a new place where I could, finally, sleep in peace.