Asher beca confused and slowly took his hands off the tree to face her.
"Uhm… what are you doing?"
"Swearing my loyalty to you, Morgan," she said, still not raising her head. "I apologize for my rude behavior, but I was quite shocked when you did not judge my appearance, despite seeing as a human before. And… I am also glad you have the ability to bring back my family."
Asher humd, but he felt a guilty.
Why?
Because he wasn't raising dragons for their benefit. If it was for their benefit, he would still be using them to their full power.
And he doubted she would let her people's power be exploited.
Then again, he simply didn't care. But he made a ntal note, not to abuse their power, to let them keep their emotions.
Then, the red screen suddenly opened before him again.
[Unknown entities identified as potential companions.]
[Ta or Slay?]
Asher exhaled. The choice was clear, but the fact that the system identified both the horned woman and Nova as "taable," yet provided no details about the woman, was strange.
And he didn't want to take control of what he didn't understand.
What if she wasn't obedient?
What if her abilities were far more dangerous, capable of wiping him out if she felt the need?
Or worse… what if her anger toward humans led to their extinction?
'I choose to ta the hybrid,' he thought and stepped toward Nova.
[Selection confird.]
Nova didn't move from her spot, nor did she raise her head to look at him.
Asher placed his hand on her head, causing her to flinch when his fingers brushed her horns.
"Relax," Asher instructed, his hand shifting to her shoulder to keep her in place.
[Companion Bond Established.]
Runes ford around Asher, condensing into a thin black thread that briefly connected their chests before vanishing into their bodies.
For a brief mont, Nova felt the sudden cold move from her chest to her horns and back again. She blinked once but remained still.
Since he had said relax, she had no choice but to obey.
Once the screen vanished, Asher sighed in relief.
His second companion.
Ria had been the first. Now, Nova, and he could use her imdiately instead of waiting for Ria to be ready.
Naomi, who had been watching everything in confusion, finally moved from her spot.
"Nova, right?" she said. "Listen, I don't know what Asher told you, and I don't know why you bowed before him or why your eyes are glowing, but I'd appreciate it if you stayed away from him."
Asher glanced at her, wondering why she was acting as if she hadn't seen what had happened.
The horned woman whispered beside him,
"She cannot see our true forms, or anything out of the ordinary here, because she is blind to such things…" She paused and pointed at the tree.
"It keeps the eyes of regular humans, and the blind, from seeing what they are not permitted to see, especially dragons. Unless they use dragon magic to aid their sight… like you," she concluded with a warm smile before stepping back.
Naomi was still talking, still trying to move Asher's hand from Nova's head.
She didn't stop because she assud he simply didn't care about what she was doing, not realizing that he wasn't even paying attention.
"Hey… are you listening to ? Raise your head and step away from him."
"Naomi."
She ignored Asher and peeled his hand from Nova's head. Then, standing between them, she placed her fingers on Nova's chest as the girl raised her head.
"Listen, weird kid, if you've forgotten, Asher is mine....he's my friend, and I don't like weird people around my friends."
Asher pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
She was repeating the sa thing she had done with Emma.
He even doubted she rembered the warnings he had given her, and that was just earlier today.
Before Naomi could finish what she was saying, Nova's entire deanor shifted.
Asher instantly recognized the look in her eye pure, bitter hatred.
Naomi must've done sothing to her before, he told himself, sowhat amused.
Before Nova could react, Asher placed his hand on Naomi's shoulder and pulled her back.
"Let her be."
Nova hesitated, her gaze snapping to him, but then her eyes softened.
Seconds passed before she exhaled and stepped back, but the way she looked at Naomi already said she wasn't done yet.
The horned woman finally spoke. "You should leave. The dungeon will not remain stable for long since the beasts are falling."
Asher nodded. "Agreed. But where is the boss?"
She smiled. "This dungeon is not like regular dungeons, and you cannot beat the boss."
"So how will we finish our mission?"
"The dungeon moves after all the beasts put to guard it are slain," she gestured at the ringed moon that was slowly fading. "There are only five left."
Asher sighed. "It was a pleasure eting you, honestly," he said, bowing slightly. "What is your na, by the way?"
"You shouldn't bother about that," she said before shifting her gaze to Nova.
"You are her master now, though it is unacceptable. The other three will be glad to know that there is hope for our species."
He shrugged. "I wouldn't call it hope. We don't know who killed them in the first place."
"That's what Veylan asked to do," Nova chipped in. "I was sent on a mission to identify the man that manufactures the weapons for the Master's Guild."
"I see… So, have you identified him?"
She imdiately averted her gaze, chuckling nervously. "I might have made a slight mistake."
The horned woman sighed and whispered, lud enough for Asher to hear but not Naomi.
"She killed him and wanted to inform but got held back by one of the mbers who triggered the beasts."
His brow rose questioningly. "Should be the crazy one," he mumbled and let out a tired sigh.
"They'll soon be done with the beasts. We should get going, Nova," he said and turned to leave.
But she grabbed his coat. "Go without . I'm supposed to give my reports to the others."
Asher frowned. "The dungeon will soon close. How will you get back?"
She smiled for the first ti, "I can find my way back," she paused, looking up at him. "Master."
Pleased, he placed his hand on her head and mirrored her smile. "Alright. Just be back before dinner."
"I will," she said, and watched as Asher and Naomi walked back toward the gate. Then, she let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry."
The horned woman glanced at her. "For what?"
"I believe I have broken the rule of not calling a human my master."
The horned woman just laughed and started walking toward the field.
"He's a Necromancer. That is permitted under circumstances like this. Not everyone knows this."
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