Maybe it had something to do with my fears leaking at the last moment, but the monster looked nothing like a griffon. As for why I thought it was my fault... there was simply no way there could be such a coincidence. He looked just like...

"A dragon!" a scream reached from below.

...yes, just like a dragon. Long tail, four legs, and large bat-like wings. Almost typical western dragon... and if that's not enough, its color put an end to any illusions.

"~FOOD?~" a giant head covered in red scales turned to me with a hopeful look.

"No, they are not a food," I replied immediately and looked at the people running for their life. From this high in the air, they looked just like ants.

"~AWW~" with a sad look, the dragon looked at them for a bit longer and then, with a flap of his wings, increased the speed.

Actually, even red dragons recorded in the books are usually brown in color and turn red only right before unleashing their breath attack. Definitely not all the time like this boy. The first time I saw him, I thought he was covered in blood.

Then again, according to analyze he wasn't even a real dragon...

> Name: Tristan Level: 14 Race: Draconis Gender: Male Age: 0 Health: 14310/14310 Mana: 1.3M/34080 Stamina: 10143/10170

...not that it made much of a difference.

Tristan.

It was the name that belonged to me in one of my previous lives, one where I wasn't even a girl. It was one of a few memories I have observed till the very end, and the reason for that was... it wasn't very long. I was barely five years old when soldiers with unfamiliar banner entered our village...

Almost none of the memories from my previous lives affect my current personality and it was probably the same for the dragon... but it's the memories of the boy Tristan that held his heart.

This is also probably what has influenced the state of his body. Irregular or not, monsters within the dungeon should spawn in their adult form, but when I found Tristan, coiled into a ball, he wasn't even at the size of an elephant... a hatchling as far as dragons go.

His childlike behavior has only strengthened this belief and I was startled every time his train of thoughts leaked through our soul... is this how it feels like to have multiple personalities disorder?

"~AND THIS?~" a large green eye looked at me once again.

This time it was a cattle drawing a carriage that caught his attention. Probably some peddler on the way to the city.

I was a bit worried he has accepted his monster nature so easily. Maybe it was his means to run away from the past... or maybe it was the instincts of his body that had something to do with it. Now that I think about it, I was also slightly affected by my new body.

Well, at least, thanks to our bond, he considered me as his family and listened to what I say.

"No."

I sighed and then quickly looked at Phoenix in the distance. He was very far from us now and with the templars by his side, was guiding monsters I have created earlier. The plan to deliver them to the city hasn't changed, as I still have to fulfill my part of the bargain.

Actually, there was no need to guide them as the monsters followed my command to the letter, it was more so the people they meet on the way feel that everything is under control...

Then what about the dragon flying over their head?

It's simply impossible to make everyone happy! Maybe Tristan wasn't a griffon, but I always wanted to fly on a mythical beast. I am a cat, it's perfectly normal to be a bit selfish... after all, my happiness takes priority.

Hmm, those crystal guardians are very slow, so it will take quite some time for them to reach the city, I guess we can make a slight detour to hunt some animals. I am a bit surprised he is still hungry after eating that direbear, but it's not wise to approach the gates with a hungry dragon.

"The food is that way." I pointed at the forest and he cried out in excitement.

Our speed suddenly increased many times and my gaze was glued to the belts holding my saddle on his back. I started to wonder when they will snap.

I know that I should have anticipated this... just like I could access his memories, he could do the same, but I was still quite shocked when I realized that the dragon just learned my wind manipulation.

Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, even as a dragon at best the skill could increase his speed by two or three times, but there was one tiny detail that begged for attention. Just like me, he was now also a lord of the dungeon, and with the boost in power the dungeon has granted to him...

"Kyyyaaaa..." I started to scream as hurricane-like winds launched us forward like a bullet and the forest that was still quite a distance away suddenly was right in front of us.

"~AAAHHH~" with eyes wide from horror Tristan screamed as well.

*CRASH* *BOOM* *CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* *BOOM*

*

My arcana defense that was now also boosted by the dungeon managed to protect us from most of the damage, but... believe me when I say that the scales of a dragon are very... very hard.

I crawled from under a boulder and greedily breathed in...

Air.

The mountain behind me suddenly shifted, and I realized that all this time Tristan was sitting on top of me. The moment he saw me, his large teary eyes lighted up and suddenly I found myself in his grip. All the air was instantly squeezed from my lungs.

My hands flailed to the sides as I desperately struggled to breathe, but his grip has only increased in power... With no other choice, I activated my phantom shift and slipped back on the ground.

"~PLEASH DON"T LEAVE ME!~" the dragon started to cry and I had no idea if I should laugh or cry.

Not a single scratch could be seen on his body... but the same couldn't be said about me.

While my wounds have already mostly healed and even the clothes have recovered their shape, the dirt and blood on my body made me look like a savage.

I looked at our surroundings and was greeted by a wide path of wreckage and debris we have caused, many trees were broken in half or even smashed to the pieces completely. Hmm, we probably should leave the area... if anyone asks, it was another dragon that did this.

*

When we joined Phoenix, he was waiting at the gates of Endorod City, the sight of which was... completely different from what I remember... it's just a hunch, but I think it has something to do with that forest of weapons pointed at us.

I lifted my right hand and made V sign with my fingers. "I came in peace."

"~P... P... PEASH~"

I looked behind me and chuckled almost immediately. The sight of a dragon trying to mimic my gesture was... hilarious. Even more hilarious was when he got scared and tried to hide behind me while carefully sticking out his head. It's hard to believe it's the same dragon that was drolling from the sight of monsters inside the dungeon.

When I looked at his trembling body, my smile suddenly vanished. I realized, that the guards must have reminded him of those soldiers from our past life. Our parents were killed right in front of our eyes, and even though our life was spared, there wasn't much a child his age could do to survive on its own. Not with almost all the food in the village looted by the said soldiers.

Maybe his monster body isn't the only reason for his appetite...

"Is this what your parents have taught you?!" I glared at the guards with glowing eyes, "Waving your weapons at a little child... Is this how a man should behave?"

They looked at me confused and started to search our group for a 'child'... still not realizing that I meant Tristan. The air around me started to get colder...

"Easy there, Kitty. What happened to 'I came in peace'?" Phoenix tapped over my shoulder with a smile on his face.

"But they..." I started to complain but stopped, my ears twitched as I picked the sounds of someone approaching from another side of the gates.

"Yes, yes, a dragon..." I heard a familiar voice, "...seriously, you guys just don't know when to... quit..." when the elf saw the sight of Tristan his eyes widened and just stood there frozen.

"Hi there, Averon," Phoenix waved his hand, "I have to say that for a guild master, you have a lot of free time on your hands. I thought you sit all the day at the table with a large pile of documents."

"Ha," guild master chuckled, "I am afraid that's usually the case, luckily I have some friends that cause the commotion almost on the daily basis, a perfect excuse to take a walk..." he finished the sentence with his eyes on me, a moment later he shifted his gaze to Tristan, "I certainly didn't expect to see a real dragon when received reports."

"Well," I joined the conversation, "I wanted to deal with the rumors once and for all. Anyway, we have brought some... monsters..." my voice suddenly trailed off when I saw their expression.

Hmm? I looked behind to see what happened. Wait. Wasn't there supposed to be one more hellhound? I quickly looked around and saw a twitching leg in the mouth of Tristan...

*GULP*

...and it was gone.

"...as per agreement." I finished the sentence.

Was that deer we hunted in the forest earlier still not enough? If we also count that direbear in the dungeon... Oh, boy...

I guess it's a good thing I am rich... though I wonder for how long...

*

"...so you really want to bring him to the capital?" guild master looked as one of the templars assigned as my guards left for the temple.

"Yes," I answered with my gaze still on Tristan.

He was no longer afraid of the people and was eagerly waiting for the shop owner to return, the reason for that, of course, was a large piece of roasted meat he was carrying. This was the third stall we have visited and a large crowd has already gathered around us.

A full squad of soldiers assigned to escort us made them feel safe, and it's not everyday that a dragon walks the streets.

"Let's just say that it's for your own safety." I glanced at the crowd around us, "I really can't say more than this without causing a panic..."

I definitely can't leave Tristan in the vicinity of the dungeon... none of them have any idea just how dangerous he actually is. If he started to play with his control over the monsters... it could get messy pretty fast... Actually, with the boost of the dungeon, Tristan could probably wipe out the city all by himself.

Well, maybe not entirely... I looked in the direction of a library.

I should pay a visit to that spirit of knowledge while I am still there. It's about time to increase the value of my reward a bit further. I looked at my amulet and smiled. And I think this time I have much more to offer...

"I see..." guild master muttered with a thoughtful expression, then suddenly a smile appeared on his face, "By the way, I heard that some flying monster ravaged nearby forest, do you know anything about it?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about..." I quickly replied.

*

After some time the templar I sent earlier has returned with good news. Apparently, Evelyn has granted me permission to use one of the corners reserved for the griffons. The temple uses them to receive riders the council sends from time to time as their messengers. Other rooms were simply not meant to house a dragon, even if it's a small one. Still, it will take some time to receive permission for him to leave the premises of the temple...

*

"Oh, you finally..." Tia greeted us the moment we appeared through the portal, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and...

"Kyaaaa!"

...her scream echoed far and wide within the temple and even scared Tristan, who in turn jumped to the side and smashed into a pillar that was a part of the portal.

A deadly silence descended in the hall as everyone looked at the cracks spreading over the pillar. Tristan also looked at the cracks and then, with a frightened expression, tried to stop the spread by covering them with his claws... which of course had no effect and eventually the upper part of the pillar split in two from his weigh and crashed on the floor.

"Well..." Phoenix was the first to break the silence, "...things will definitely get more interesting now."