Noah took a slow, steady breath, allowing himself to recover from the shock.
A dragon. A real dragon bloodline stood before him. After calming himself, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind from the beginning.
"Then who brought you here?"
The instant those words left his mouth. Akari’s expression grew noticeably more serious. She lowered her eyes, as though recalling a memory she had buried deep within her heart.
"To be honest I don’t know much about him."
She spoke slowly, carefully choosing each word.
"During the battle against the demons, I fought one of their commanders. His name was Rashkir. The battle lasted for hours. He was unbelievably powerful."
Akari unconsciously clenched one hand.
"In the end, we both unleashed our strongest attacks. Our final clash...created an enormous explosion."
She paused for a brief moment.
"Rashkir died. I survived. But before I could even understand what had happened... A portal suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It swallowed me before I had any chance to resist."
She looked toward the garden outside.
"When I regained consciousness... I was already here."
Her fingers lightly tightened around the fabric of her kimono.
"And then...I heard a voice."
Noah quietly listened.
"It wasn’t loud. But it carried an overwhelming pressure. It felt..."
She searched for the proper words.
"Absolute. As though the very world itself was speaking."
A faint chill passed through Noah.
"What did it say?"
Akari slowly answered,
"It told me that I had been chosen to become the next Dragon of Storm and Lightning. It said I was to remain here, train and awaken the dragon bloodline completely. And only after achieving that...would I be allowed to leave."
Noah stared at her.
"That’s it? No explanation? No reason? And who that voice belong to?"
Akari slowly shook her head.
"I asked the same questions."
She met Noah’s eyes.
"The only answer it gave me was that it was a dragon. A being like me. A dragon."
She paused.
"After that... I never heard its voice again. That was first and last time."
Silence settled over the room.
Noah slowly nodded. ’Another dragon...’
His thoughts immediately wandered back to the labyrinth. The enormous stone doors. The ancient carvings. The black-scaled dragon with crimson eyes engraved upon them.
’Could they be connected...?’
If they were then the labyrinth wasn’t simply a normal labyrinth. It was hiding something far greater.
Noah lowered his head, completely absorbed in thought. Across from him... Akari quietly gazed out toward the peaceful garden.
She didn’t interrupt him. After spending sixty years alone. Silence had become something she was more than comfortable with.
The room remained quiet. Only the wind stirred the leaves outside.
Then another thought suddenly surfaced in Noah’s mind.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
’Wait... Something isn’t right.’
He began recalling the original game’s storyline.
’Damien... The protagonist was supposed to enter that labyrinth alone if my guess is right. Not me.’
His heartbeat quickened.
’Then...This place... Was never meant for me, Noah Eldritch.’
His thoughts raced even faster.
’Ophelia wasn’t one of the main heroines. She was only a supporting character. But...The game did have routes where additional heroines could join Damien later in the story.’
Noah’s pupils suddenly contracted.
’A hidden route...? A secret event...?’
He abruptly looked toward Akari.
Then everything seemed to connect.
’This was it... This was the storyline. Damien would have been the one pulled into this place. He would have met Akari. He would have helped her complete her dragon bloodline or whatever it is... Or perhaps find a way to escape. Then Akari would return to the outside world... Reunite with Ophelia... And naturally Ophelia’s feelings toward Damien would deepen because he had saved the mother she believed was dead.’
Noah slowly leaned back.
"...No way."
The more he thought about it. The more plausible it became. Because he had unknowingly taken Damien’s place.
A wry smile appeared on his face.
’I’ve derailed another major event in the original plot. At this rate. The game’s story isn’t just changing. It’s becoming something completely different. But again... I never had any information about storyline. So it doesn’t matter.’
Noah remained silent for long.
Countless thoughts raced through Noah’s mind. The more he connected the pieces.
The clearer everything became.
’The labyrinth, it wasn’t created at random.’
It had been built specifically for Damien. Every challenge. Every trial. Every hidden mechanism. Everything had been carefully arranged so that, one day, the protagonist would reach this very place.
And the dragon the mysterious being that had imprisoned Akari here. It must have been the mastermind behind it all. Its intention had likely been simple.
To guide Damien here naturally. To have him meet Akari. To help her awaken her dragon bloodline completely before eventually returning to the outside world.
But that entire chain of events had been interrupted. By him. Noah Eldritch. He had unknowingly taken the protagonist’s place.
"..."
He let out a long sigh. It no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered now. Was finding a way back home.
His thoughts drifted away from the labyrinth as he turned his head toward the woman sitting beside him.
Akari remained seated gracefully in seiza, quietly enjoying the peaceful scenery beyond the veranda.
The morning sunlight gently illuminated her profile. Her raven-black hair, neatly tied into a bun, shimmered softly beneath the light.
The blue crystal hairpin reflected faint rays like a precious jewel. Despite the sapphire scales tracing the sides of her neck and reaching her right cheek.
She possessed an indescribable elegance. Almost otherworldly.
’At least...If I’m trapped somewhere. I’m trapped with a beautiful woman. Much better than spending my days with some grumpy old geezer.’
As though sensing his gaze. Akari slowly turned toward him. "...Is there something on my face?"
Her expression had already returned to its usual calm and indifferent state. She once again looked every bit like a strict and disciplined noblewoman.
Noah smiled warmly.
"No. I was simply thinking."
He met her eyes.
"Even after all these years...you’re still incredibly beautiful."
He paused before adding honestly,
"I think you’re even more beautiful now than you were before you disappeared."
For a brief moment Akari simply stared at him. She didn’t blush. Nor did she avert her eyes like a young girl hearing her first compliment.
Instead she looked genuinely surprised. Almost confused. Her fingers slowly reached toward the blue scales on her neck. She gently brushed them.
"You really think so?"
There was a hint of uncertainty in her usually composed voice.
"Even with these scales... You still think I’m beautiful?"
Noah answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Definitely."
He smiled.
"They don’t make you look frightening. If anything... They make you look unique. Mysterious. They’re part of what makes you... you."
Of course he wisely kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.
’You’re far prettier than your daughter. And much easier to get along with. Let’s not say that out loud.’
Akari quietly observed him for several seconds. As though trying to determine whether he was merely being polite.
Eventually a soft chuckle escaped her lips.
"I honestly don’t know how to respond." She lowered her hand from her neck. "It’s been decades since someone last complimented my appearance."
There wasn’t any sadness in her voice. Only quiet nostalgia.
Noah laughed lightly. "Then I suppose you’ll have to get used to it. Because I have a feeling I’ll be complimenting you quite often."
Akari looked at him. A gentle smile slowly bloomed across her face. "I’ll look forward to that."
It was only a small smile. It was reserved and elegant.
Yet to someone who had lived in complete solitude for sixty years. It meant far more than Noah could imagine. She might not openly show it because of her personality.
But deep within her heart she felt happier than she had in decades. For the first time in sixty long years. This quiet house no longer felt empty.
The silence no longer felt lonely. She wasn’t alone anymore.
Noah suddenly glanced toward the scales on her neck again. Curiosity gradually replaced his previous thoughts.
"By the way, Akari. May I touch them?"
He pointed toward the sapphire-blue scales. "I’ve never seen anything like them before. They look... surprisingly beautiful."
Akari looked at him for a moment. Then, without any hesitation. She gave a small nod. "Of course. I don’t mind."
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