Fortunately, I had several excuses to buy time.
If I said I was taking the cell keys, Jed would grow suspicious, so I waited until he left for the day. I called on Rami’s help for the first time in a while.
Then I stole clothes from the storage room that Varen might be able to wear. He looked to be around two meters tall, so even the largest size would be short on him, but there was no helping it.
Finally, I stopped by the food storage. When he’d been in his dragon form, even ten red salmon at once hadn’t been enough, but as a human, the quantity he needed was far lighter.
While I carefully chose what to bring, Rami devoured an entire bunch of grapes. Depending on what it ate, its skin color changed, and now it was puffed full and glowing purple.
Only after half a day of delay did I return to the basement. I’d been in and out of here so many times, but now my steps felt heavy.
It had been good that he regained his name through me and awakened his identity as a dragon in that moment. That was something to truly congratulate him for, but...
“Ah... seeing him in human form just makes everything awkward.”
Tch. It had been better when he was a dragon.
Of course, Varen in human form would be handsome even if he stood on his hands.
But in the end, he was human. No matter how perfect he looked, it could never compare to the breathtaking magnificence of a dragon’s form.
Those shining, glossy scales. That plump, elegant tail. The sharp eyes and those adorable little ear-fins.
And the things he did—how impossibly cute they were. The way he would wiggle his heavy backside when backing up, or that tiny paw-slap show with the salmon.
Was I really never going to see that again...?
It was a happy development for Varen, so why was I this depressed.
Dragging my steps, I slowly went down the stairs. The chaos had settled, and the basement had returned to its usual state.
“Vareeen, I’m ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) back. I brought clothes and food... some bread and sausage...”
My gloomy mood slipped into my voice.
Every time I’d come down before, I’d been sweating buckets carrying tens of kilograms of supplies. But now the basket containing just some bread felt absurdly light.
My hands were light, but my heart was heavy.
...Ugh, I’m seriously upset.
“Varen, I said I'm— I even brought the key—”
My footsteps halted.
I had been sure I’d find Varen, still human, still naked. But inside the bars was a dragon once more. It had only been a few hours, but the sight of him made a sudden warmth rise in my chest.
But it vanished just as quickly.
“Varen... Varen! Get a grip! Hey!!”
The dragon lay with his entire body limp, eyes closed.
Along with the basket in my hand, it felt like my heart plummeted to the floor.
I hurriedly took out the keys. I needed to look at the keyhole, but my gaze kept being pulled to Varen.
After fumbling several times, I finally managed to unlock the door and step inside. It was my first time setting foot in the dragon’s territory, but there was no time to feel anything about it.
“Varen! Wake up! Hey, you can’t just die like this!”
The dragon was stretched out neatly, jaw and belly pressed to the ground. His long tail touched the cavern wall, curled halfway.
From head to tail he was at least thirty meters long. I had no idea where to grab or shake, so I headed for the face first.
“Hey! Wake up, Varen! Open your eyes!!”
I pushed his jaw upward with both hands as hard as I could. He didn’t budge.
Where was I supposed to shake to make him respond? I searched his face anxiously.
Among the stone-hard scales, the lips were the softest-looking part. A fang protruded where it didn’t quite fit back inside his mouth.
Even now, I thought it was cute, and I slapped myself mentally for being insane.
“Varen! Open your eyes! You finally got your name back... we only have to escape now...”
.......
“Why— why are you sleeping, you bastard! You scared me!”
His broad back rose and fell in a steady rhythm. His breath came in soft, even snorts.
I’d thought he was dead and nearly lost my heart, but the dragon was simply in a deep sleep.
Weakness drained my legs. I dropped down and leaned my back against his neck.
“You brat, looks like you ran out of strength.”
For someone of the Dravergh bloodline, Varen was very much a novice dragon.
Well, usually dragons receive education slowly from the time they hatch. He awakened all at once like lightning; of course he’d be exhausted.
I turned on my side and admired the sleeping dragon’s face. The way his lips fluttered with each breath, the thin eyelids where faint veins showed. It was perfect.
Up close he was even more handsome. Yes. I definitely preferred him as a dragon.
***
I dreamed of floating in gently rolling waves, my whole body buoyed and drifting freely. From head to toe, the soft, moist sensation made my lips curl automatically. I rubbed my cheek into the water’s surface.
Ah, this feels good. I never want to wake up.
“...Wake up.”
“Hrrm... mnya...”
I cracked my eyes open. A dazzling golden light wrapped around me. Pretending to still be asleep, I stroked the dragon’s belly with my palm. Unlike the harder scales of the back, it was soft and pliant.
If I pressed my ear against it, I could hear the heartbeat—thud-thunk, thud-thunk—slightly off-beat, steady and mesmerizing.
“Haah... you’re already awake. Get up, Ceryl.”
Varen sighed deeply. His torso rose, lifting my body with it, then dropped again as I settled back onto his stomach.
“Mmm, just a little more...”
“...Get up!”
His voice boomed directly through my mind. My skull vibrated.
Still half-asleep, something firm wrapped around me and lifted me into the air. The damp cavern floor swung beneath my dangling feet.
“How long are you going to pretend to be asleep.”
“Holy— are you lifting me with your tail?!”
“...Haa... don’t enjoy it.”
The very tip of his tail was the thinnest part, yet it squeezed my torso with ease. A normal person would have been terrified, but I only felt a thrill. Even being gently set down was like riding a roller coaster.
“Again! Do it again!”
“Get a hold of yourself, Ceryl Aylos.”
“Ah, you said you were grateful! That I saved your life! Do it again!”
“...I never said that.”
I sprawled out across his broad belly and yelled for more.
Varen sighed, long and exhausted, then lifted and lowered me several more times with his tail.
So fun, so exhilarating, so good. Next time, I should ask for a flight.
Only after enjoying myself thoroughly did I really look at Varen’s condition. Thankfully, nothing seemed wrong.
“How’s your body? You scared me. I thought you were dead.”
“I wasn’t unconscious. I merely closed my eyes for a moment.”
Of course. Pride, always.
After getting my fill of shameless dragon-touching, it was time to work. I stepped back and examined him.
Seeing him no longer bound by chains made an involuntary smile escape me.
“Varen, you’re seriously smart. How did you think of breaking the chains by taking human form?”
“I didn’t think. I realized.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It is not. Thinking, learning, and realizing are different.”
Great. He awakened his identity and turned into a philosopher.
I shrugged lightly and looked around inside the cell. From the outside it had always looked bleak, but from within it was even more suffocating.
Before, my chest would have tightened. But not anymore. We were going to leave soon.
“All right. If you’re ready, transform again. I brought clothes.”
......
“You can’t leave like this. This place is dug way too deep. If you try to break out by force, you’ll be crushed.”
“...I cannot leave.”
The unexpected answer tangled my thoughts.
Was he afraid to leave the place he was born and raised in? Had he developed attachment to his prison? Was this that Stockholm syndrome thing?
“I still... lack the mana to remain in human form.”
“God, don’t say that so shyly.”
“...I am not shy.”
I have no idea what part of that embarrassed him. Anyway, adolescence.
“So how long do we wait?”
“Too much mana was drained. Even if I take human form now, I won’t be able to maintain it for long.”
“Hmm, got it. Then first things first—we restore your strength.”
His dragon body wasn’t skinny, and his human body had been sturdy.
But to a caretaker’s eyes, he looked like he could faint again at any moment.
“I’ll bring twenty salmon at a time. I’ll wipe out the whole river if I have to.”
“It’s fine.”
“It is NOT fine. That’s just your habit of speech, isn’t it?”
Was it because he’d never been cared for? Every time I tried to take care of him, Varen always said it was fine—only to eat happily once I brought it.
“Because it’s hard for you.”
Thud. A heart that had already fallen still managed to drop again.
A dragon worrying about me. I wanted to go outside and shout to everyone that my kid had grown up.
When I approached his face, Varen reflexively pulled his head away. He turned it far aside, then slowly brought it back when I stared at him.
“...Why are you looking at me like that.”
“Because I’m proud of you.”
I tapped the bridge of his nose. Varen squinted slightly but did not pull away.
Encouraged, I rubbed his jaw line with my palm. Unlike a furry animal, the texture against my hand was smooth and slightly damp.
Instead of avoiding me, Varen stared at me with startled eyes.
“...What is that supposed to be.”
“Why? Doesn’t it feel good?”
“It does not.”
Maybe reptiles were different. Would’ve known if I’d ever raised one.
I was just about to pull my hand back—when I heard a heavy whoosh, beating through the air.
I craned my neck to look.
“Stop. Take your hand away. Now, Ceryl.”
Varen’s plump, flexible golden tail was swinging sharply side to side.
