"Sera"
The moment the name slipped out, a strange burden lifted from his chest, followed by a cold sensation against his right ear.
He flinched without thinking and covered both ears while backing away.
"Why are you so surprised?" asked the woman in a silver dress that matched her platinum hair and golden eyes.
Unlike anything he had seen before, her pupil was a thin vertical slit, like a reptile's, and her iris was gold in color.
But she didn't look scary at all. If anything, it made her look more captivating.
He stared too long, forgetting she just appeared out of nowhere. His brain chose the worst time to stop, all because of her perfect features.
Her skin was soft and pale, like porcelain. It made him wonder if it was real at all.
And her almond shaped eyes were unforgettable.
They were surrounded by thick silver lashes that made it impossible to look anywhere else.
His eyes dropped to her figure, drawn to the way the fabric move with her, tight in all the right places.
She didn't need to try. Her body spoke a language all its own, one that whispered temptation.
GULP
He swallowed hard , and began feeling hot all over the place.
"Lady, why did you come for me?" He scratched his head, unsure how to handle such a pretty woman.
She crossed her arms under her chest, making it even more noticeable. "Are you really his descendant?"
"Descendant?" He was confused by her words.
"Are you talking about my father or grandfather?" He searched her face, trying to read her expression.
The woman shook her head, then walked closer to touched his forehead.
When their skin met, a sudden shock of electricity raced through him.
His vision blacked out, and he found himself in a lake.
Kash's feet sunk slightly into the cool surface of the lake, the water rippling gently under him. He could feel the breeze carrying the scent of night and fresh water.
For some reason, he didn't panic as much as he expected.
'Where is she?' He turned in circles, trying to make sense of it, but he stopped midway, unsure if his mind was playing tricks on him
Before him stood a winged beast, its silver scales shimmering under the moonlight.
Its head looked like an art piece, adorned with complex horns made of gold that matched its claws that has the same intensity
Thin lines of gold also ran down its back, glowing faintly like exposed gills.
(Human.)
The voice boomed, the same as the beautiful woman's but amplified . It's golden eyes bore into him, scrutinizing his whole being.
'What should I do?' His heart pounded ,terror clawing at his chest. He wanted to run, to bolt and never look back.
But he knew it was a stupid idea to turn his back on a creature of this size.
He swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "Who are you? And where am I?"
The dragon's eye twitched, and it leaned closer, its massive head hovering just a few meters away.
Its mouth opened a little, close enough that he could feel its breath on his face. It didn't smell foul, not at all.
Instead, it was fresh, like the first burst of ginger and lemon in a warm drink.
(I am Sera, Queen of Dragons.)
'Dragons?'
"Dragons... they're real?" He struggled to grasp the revelations.
They vanished eons ago, and even the best scholars debated their existence, claiming they were mere exaggerated tales.
Sera's golden eyes gleamed with an intensity that held him captive.
(Though my kind has not been present for a while, a few of them still exist in this world. They have been watching, waiting...)
"W…Waiting for what?" his lips trembled slightly,
The dragon turned her massive head toward the moon hanging in the sky. "Waiting for you to finally bridge a connection to me."
(Your lineage holds the key, human. A bond that has been dormant for generations, and you've finally managed to reach me.)
"Don't tell me…?" Kash's eyes widened in disbelief. "I summoned the Queen of Dragons?"
He let out a laugh, but it was more of a nervous reflex.
But her next words made him completely lost it
(Yes, human. You did summon me.)
'Impossible....This is too good to be true,' his laughter faded.
Could this be real? Or was he finally losing his mind after all the years of failure?
Without thinking, his hand move to pinch his arm, hoping the pain would snap him back to reality.
The pain was there, but he still couldn't stop doubting his own sanity.
SLAP!
He smacked his own cheek. "Ow... okay, that hurts."
The dragon tilted her head. (What are you doing, human? You're acting weird.)
"I apologized, I just need to make sure I'm not dreaming…" Kash took a deep breath to composed himself. "So let me get this straight. You're really my summon?"
(Human, I already told you. Why do I have to repeat myself? Are you perhaps mentally challenged?)
She didn't sound mocking—just genuinely concerned that her new master might be an idiot.
"I'm not dumb." he responded defensively "Okay, I might not be the best summoner... but I did excel in every class they put me in…the theoretical subjects."
The dragon raised an eyebrow. (Does being good in academics really equate to intelligence?)
Kash was lost for words, because he couldn't really argue with that.
"Yeah, that was an ignorant thing for me to say. I'm sorry,"
Sera looked surprised by his actions.
(Human, you really are different from your ancestor. But I do not dislike your personality. It shows you are not someone easily blinded by pride and ego.)
"Thank you… I guess?"
Though she already told him she was his summon, he still didn't dare act too casual with her without getting the full story.
"If you don't mind me asking, could you give me more information? I'm still confused about how I ended up here. I've failed at summoning more times than I can count, so…"
(You deserve to at least hear the truth, so listen carefully. I don't like repeating myself.)