Rain fell sorrowfully behind them, sheltered by the crater in the hill-side, as they stared on at Erika on her knees before the grave they had helped dig by the large runic inscription of a name.

Kailu

Silent she lay on one knee, her left hand over it and her right pressed onto the muddy ground.

Not Seiki, not Tejil, not Celest or Drun spoke, not even Kei, none said a word.

As approaching from their left came the oversized Draem, Gray and Dust riding its back whilst a make-shift satchel of cloth and leather lay strapped to its side, the remains of Erika’s weapon within.

“The others haven began moving, we’ve collected all the resources off the enemy and…” Gray began to say, before pausing at the sight.

“Gula and Gerick’s bodies were amongst the fallen as well.” Dust continued.

Kei’s fists clenched, “You all have ten minutes, I will await you at the back of the march.” She said, turning away and walking off into the forest.

All nodded, all but Erika who remained kneeling before the grave, silent as it was.

Minutes passed by, the rest having settled about some rocks, waiting for their companion to finish her mourning.

Gray, stood up and approached Erika, crouching down beside her.

“Elder Lano…Who was he, really?” He asked.

To his question, Erika opened her eyes, “Kailu Xilfir, member of the royal guard tasked with protecting my family. He, was my protector.” She said softly.

“I didn’t fully believe it, at first. Well, I guess I had to I just…couldn’t process it.” Gray mumbled out, “You are royalty, and the daughter of a great and powerful being. You and your protector, brought great change to our people. He may lay in foreign soil, but the earth accepts him, that much I can assure you.”

With a tear streaking down her cheek, Erika smiled, “I did not take you for the spiritual type.”

Gray chuckled in response, “I am a man of alchemy and logic, but in times of war, it is nice to know there are things aiding you that even you do not understand.” He said, his gaze rising to the scripture carved into the crater’s wall.

“One should not question higher power,” Drun grumbled from the side where he sat watching the rain outside alone.

“I do not simply question it.” Erika then said, rising to her feet. “I challenge it.” She announced, then raising her arm to the side as a glow came from the Draem.

Her sword shone brightly before rushing out of the satchel, re-assembling itself mid-air, it flew back into her hand.

All turn to watch her then, as she stood drenched but glowing with a pale energy.

“Our paths diverge here, I thank you all, for everything.” She said.

“Diverge? And where do you plan on going alone?” Tejil asked, her large eyes widening further.

“It is clear to me, that there is no way for me to return home. So I will do what I can, here.” Erika explained, turning about and walking outside to her Draem. “If I remain with you, the demons will continue to focus alongside the vampires. I can change that, I can direct their attention elsewhere.”

The Draem lowered itself to the ground, splashing mud all over as it’s massive body sunk into the wet forest floor. Coming to stand beside it, she met the creature’s eyes.

“One does not leave without the other.” It said.

Erika nodded, “Thank you, but, I do not even know your names.” She replied in draconic.

The Draem bowed its head, “This one, is Wytar.”

Bowing her head in return, Erika willed her weapon to hover up and back into the satchel, before climbing up herself to the beast’s head.

Rain poured down upon her, drenching her further as she gave them all one final glance. “I guess, the Draem follow me now…I will leave you the rest, take care of them.” She said, urging Wytar up and to turn around, the massive creature’s footsteps echoed throughout the opening as its paws splashed into the mud.

When, Erika then heard grunting coming from behind her, inbetween each Draem step.

Looking back, she watched as Gray struggled to heave his alchemy bag up to the Draem’s back, giving her a grin as she saw him. “What? Did you think that after that display, that I’d just let you run off?”

“You’re not getting rid of us that easily.” Celest mused, appearing out of nowhere to her left and resting her back onto the Draem’s horn.

“As annoying as this is all going to turn out to be, I think I’d rather be with you morons.” Drun grumbled, using the Wytar’s furry hide to climb up, just like Gray but with far more ease.

“Yes! Just like before, we stick together!” Tejil exclaimed, leaping up to the Draem’s back without effort.

Dust sighed, “Guess it’s decided.” He said, crouching down briefly before leaping up just as effortlessly onto the Draem’s back. “We’re coming with.”

“You guys…I…I can’t let you.” Erika said in astonishment.

“You’ll all be branded exiles.” Seiki said then, the only one who did not join them, as all turned to look at her. Standing stoically under the rain, she glanced harshly at each. “All you recruits, out there in the wide world alone?”

Drun chuckled, “We’re all gonna die.”

“No, I don’t believe so.” Celest added, meeting Seiki’s gaze with her own cold stare. “After all, we have a dragon at our lead. What other power can say that?”

“You fools…” Seiki growled, “Do you all understand the circumstances our people reside in!? And you’d up and abandon your post like that!? What can you bunch of fools do, that an army of Lycans cannot!? That two entire species, humans and lycans together, could not do!?”

“Exactly that.” Erika then mused, standing atop the Draem’s forehead, she glanced back at Seiki as draconic energy flowed through her eyes. “I made my vow. This world, I set my sights on protecting it. The vampires are a plague, and I, will be the flame to burn it all. This world is dirty, covered in ash and rotting away. I will be the storm to wash it all away.”

“You and what army.” Seiki asked, unamused.

As Erika’s eyes focused into slits, suddenly lightning surged through her body as she flashed forward appearing before Seiki who held her ground.

“A Dragon doesn’t need an army, only chosen.” Erika said, as she looked Seiki up and down. Always the sceptical one, always the competitive one. While reminding her of Lizbeth, Seiki’s sense of keeping to the rules was just as strong as Lizbeth’s pride.

“Ch-Chosen?” Seiki asked with a raised brow, confused and annoyed by Erika’s sudden scrutiny.

“You like rules, don’t you? I’m afraid I don’t quite like them at all. It is in my very nature to be a harbinger of chaos. Storm and Flame, both untamed. I cannot stop these fools from following after me, and I agree, they shouldn’t so…” Erika suddenly grabbed hold of Seiki’s chin. “My father never liked rules either, but he told me, to never do this. As such I’ve never done this before, I’ve read about it, but I can only do this once since gaining my tail.”

“Huh-What are you-” Seiki’s expression froze as her eyes widened.

“You wish to protect your people, and I am taking some of that protection away. It is only a fair exchange, that I offer something back.” Erika spoke in Draconic, the words entering Seiki’s mind. “Seiki Snowtail, I Erika, offer you power beyond your imagination. I offer you a wellspring into my ocean of untapped raw magic…”

“Untapped…power?” Seiki repeated, as if in a trance, as all watched in surprise and confusion.

“I can make you a paragon amongst your own and others, I can unlock your potential beyond your age.” Erika said, leaning in closer. “All I ask, is for your soul.”

“My soul…If that is the cost, to become as strong as they need me to be…Take it.” Seiki replied, her expression hardening, yet her body shook.

Erika nodded. “You creature of new, being of crafts and community. Pledge your very existence to me, and have a taste of my own.”

One, two, seven, twenty, runes began flaring into existence all around them as the ground shook and the rain suddenly ceased to enter their immediate surroundings.

“Speak my name, for I speak yours Seiki Snowtail. Speak, my true name.” Staring straight into her eyes, Erika chanted the ancient magic.

Seiki felt lightning rush throughout her entire body, as mana poured into her mind, raw magic overwhelming her like she’d never felt before. Seiki stared back into those bright golden slits “Eriveas.”. She spoke it as the formed into her very mind.

“Then it shall be, my servant, you now are. And a Dragon’s servant requires a Dragon’s name.” Erika said, pausing a moment to think, she then began moving closer. Erika spoke the name, flowing out with a shudder of mana which blew through the rest like an explosion of wind, “Seikethea.”

Tejil shrieked in embarrassment, as even Celest and Dust blushed at the sight, as Erika’s lips met Seiki’s, closing the contract.

Gray watched with a raised brow, “Huh, so that’s your type.”

---

Elsewhere

The 3rd Hell.

---

Demons swarmed over the hellish fields of flame like an ocean of carapace and flesh. Monstrosities so inexplicably warped, beasts so mangled and manifestations of the very demonic essence of this realm, they swarmed out of every crack, crevice and hole in the hundreds and thousands.

All converging on one singular entity as he casually walked out of the hell rift, both hands raised, flames rushing out of one palm and lightning crackling in the other, both danced all around him also like a forcefield of draconic prowess.

Erikathyr walked through the demons, spreading the ocean open as he walked, blood and viscera splattering all over within thirty feet of him, then ceasing to exist entirely within twenty feet.

His golden eyes surging with fury, he reached ten feet from the rift before pausing in his steps.

Behind him the rift suddenly widened a hundred dozen times, and the draconic head of an Elder Dragon peaked out, sending forth a rain of silver flame which encompassed the horizon.

Erikathyr snuffed out the magic within his palms, then opened his wings wide, setting his sights on a massive tower in the distance.

“Your brother Xokith will be next, and I have long killed Azruxan. So tell me, Kurzan.” Erikathyr spoke out in draconic, his voice shaking the entire hellish ground and ceiling.

As he spoke so, the Elder Dragon re-entered the rift, making way for an armada of flying ships to soar out. Dotting out the air above Erikathyr, this 3rd hell realm’s ceiling was barely visible now to him.

“How would his hellish majesty…like to die?”