The wind seemed to not blow anymore and the grass stood still under Aira’s feet as her eyes were fixated at the crater and its bottom where she saw Elias engulfed by Perak’s power. She was surprised at first when she saw herself at that place again.

“I won’t be used!”, Aira said after a while, sensing Perak’s steps as he approached her.

“What?”

“I won’t give you my body even if you kill me.”, Aira replied. She strangely remembered the last moments of her previous life and the words of that cloaked man telling her to not allow anyone else write on the pages of her own book. She did not have the chance to reply, but from the moment she received a second chance, she was determined to follow his advice, even if she had to sacrifice her second chance to live.

“Don’t you have things you wish to accomplish and people you wish to see again?”, Perak asked.

“What is the use if I am not the one to accomplish and witness them while you possess me?”

“I will allow you a few moments a day to be yourself.”, he then said with a slight desperation in his voice. He could not afford to lose his only chance to get out from the eternal prison of that dungeon. Thus he had to convince her to let him have her, but had to have the advantage in that deal.

“A few moments are nothing to me.”

“Alright! I will allow you a day every week. How does that sound? I think it is more than enough. And how about this? I can solve many of your problems myself. I can kill anyone who tries to harm you or stays in your way.”

Perak grew frustrated beyond measure, his lips trembling with aggravation.

“Can you bring Elias back?”, she asked, her eyes still fixated on the place where she last saw him.

“That… I cannot do. But I can do this instead.”

Perak suddenly took Elias’s appearance as he did once before.

“Hm?”, Perak waited for her reaction, convinced that with his perfect imitation he would finally sway her.

Yet, Aira was not impressed. She did not even bother to look at him.

“So, this is your decision.”, Perak said in a grave, cold voice. “If I cannot have you, no one else shall, either. See you in the underworld, child.”, he spoke as he pointed his sharp nails at her neck.

Aira closed her eyes, waiting for her second end. It was short lived, but at least she witnessed the warmth of a mother and a brother, although not by blood - something she did not have before. Her only regret was that she did not take the gentle lady Hestia and the caring brother, Adriel, away from that horrendous family, to allow at least them to live a happy life.

Perak lifted his hand, like a sword, ready to slit Aira’s skinny, frail neck with his sharp nails.

Aira then heard the horrific sound of flesh being pierced through.

Yet, she felt no pain.

“...?”

“I really hate when someone uses my appearance to commit crimes.”

Aira quickly opened her eyes just to see Perak in front of her, kneeling and bleeding. From his chest, the tip of a spear emerged.

“How can this be? You died! I am certain of it.”, Perak said, his eyes wide open in astonishment.

“Elias!”, Aira called, surprised.

“Did my little lady miss me?”, he asked, with the usual grin on his face, then, indifferently kicked Perak’s body into the crater, ignoring his words.

Aira hastily stood up, then touched Elias’s arms, chest and face, unable to believe her eyes.

“A… are you real?”, she asked.

“Hm! I wonder. I might be a ghost.”

“I thought you were dead.”, Aira said, upset at his idiotic joke, slapping his arm.

“Well, I was about to meet the Creator, but I had a card up my sleeve. I’ll show you.”

Elias took her hand and pulled her close to him. Where they stood, on the ground, a wide circle appeared.

In less than an instant, they were at the bottom of the crater.

“Is this teleportation?”, she asked.

“Indeed. It is but one of my abilities.”

“So, you were not hit by Perak’s ball of wind?”

“I waited until it was close enough, then I used my skill to teleport elsewhere. I needed an opportunity to finish him off, but because the dungeon is unstable I had to pass through multiple portals before I could return.”, he replied. “Did you cry because you thought I was dead?”, he teased again.

“No!”, she replied firmly, unwilling to admit to the fact that she indeed cry for him.

“Hm!”, Elias raised one eyebrow, looking at her red and swollen eyes.

“Something got into my eyes.”, she said, averting her gaze. “Is he dead?”, she asked, pointing at Perak’s large body, trying to avoid the subject.

“Not yet, but he does not have much left.”

“Heed my words, cursed Orians!, Perak spoke as he turned back to his mighty form. “This is not the end. My brothers and sisters will not go down as easily. So, do not celebrate too soon and wait for them to revenge me, arrogant mage. And you, my vessel… you may have the Freedom of Wind but it is useless unless you gather the rest. You will meet your end just like the others before you.”

Those where the dragon’s last words before he closed his eyes and turned into dust. Elias let his spear absorb the dragon’s remains through its tip.

Aira did not ask why he did it.

She sighed in relief that the final boss of the dungeon was defeated.

“How will we get out of here?

“Now that the dungeon is cleared, a gate will soon open. We just need to wait a little.”, Elias replied, moving closer.

Aira instinctively hid the hand on which she wore the ring behind her back.

“Do not worry! I will not take the relic from you. It’s too much of a bother. However, there will be many who will come after you. A realm walker is as precious as it is a rare existence. And owing a relic from Asteria will attract many greedy eyes.”

“Realm walker? What do you mean?”

“Realm walkers are known for their ability to walk across different realms or dungeons, which not anyone can do Rumors say that they can also open the gates to Asteria. That is why many will try to catch one. I suggest you hide the artifact and talk to no one about the fact that you can enter dungeons. If someone asks how you awakened your core, just tell them that you used an Acarasa root, even if it is a lie.”, he advised. “Of course, you will not be able to keep it secret forever, but keep it a secret for as long as you can, until you get strong.”

“Awakened? You mean I awakened my core? How? When? How come I don’t feel anything?”, she asked, surprised, curiously looking at her hands and touching her hands and chest.

“It takes time for the energy points in your body to connect to your core which is no longer sealed due to touching the relic.”, he said. “By the time we are out, you will start feeling the flow of mana.”

He did not inquire about what happened after the portal swallowed her, which intrigued Aira.

“My core must have unsealed after that woman put the ring on my finger. It’s strange that I did not feel anything at that moment. But, what matters is that I have awakened. I can finally become a mage.”, she rejoiced in her mind.

“But, my lady, are you not going to praise me?”, Elias suddenly asked, innocently.

“Huh?”

“I defeated a dragon and saved my damsel in distress.”, he teased.

“You…”, Aira stopped. She did not wish to argue with him on the weird ways he addressed her anymore.

Although he followed her without her consent, he still saved her life, for which she was truly grateful. She would have died at the hands of a mere fiend before even reaching the dragon’s lair. But how could she express her gratitude in a way that would be accepted in that world?

After some thought, she approached him. He was much taller than her, so she stood on her toes, pulling his head down with both of her hands.

Elias was left speechless as soon as her lips touched his cheek, having to take a few moments to process what had happened.

“Thank you!”, she said, proudly, thinking that it was the best way to show appreciation.

In a lot of novels with western cultural setting, which she used to read in her previous life, a kiss on the cheek was many times used to greet or show gratitude to people.

“My little lady…”, Elias sighed, realizing that she might not have known what she had just done. “I strongly advise you to never do this to any other men, unless they are very close blood relatives.”

“Huh? Why?”, she asked, not understanding what he meant.

“Oh! Here it is. It’s time to leave.”, he said after noticing a gate starting to appear in the air, avoiding to answer her question. He then grabbed Aira into his arms, extended his wings and flew right through the portal, which shrunk and disappeared shortly after their escape.

Author notes:

QUIZ:

How would you show gratitude to a handsome young man who save your life?

A. Pick leaves from the ground, give them to him, then tell him to imagine they’re money.

B. Pet his head and tell him he’s a good boy.

C. Show him your best dance moves.