Anger, curses, despair, hatred.
Her former kin heaped the vilest words upon Winna, praying for divine justice to strike her down.
But there was none.
This world had no gods... and certainly no "justice" To speak of.
Unwilling but helpless, the people supported each other, cursing the girl they believed bewitched by a demon, as they trudged back the way they came.
Winna stood silently, watching their figures fade into the distance until they vanished.
"I'm back."
Minutes later, she crossed the narrow rocky pass again, returning to the white temple.
Her aura was utterly transformed.
"It's like she's a completely different person!"
Artoria stared in disbelief at the expressionless girl... she couldn't fathom how, in mere minutes, a harmless rabbit had become a lioness exuding a deadly presence.
Alaric, however, was displeased.
"You let them go?"
The baby dragon swooped down from the temple, hovering just above Winna, questioning her from a commanding height.
"Was I not clear? I said kill them... or kill me."
His cold words carried endless weight. Artoria, listening nearby, had no doubt that in the next moment, the dragon might extend his claws and execute this "disobedient vassal."
But Winna stood unafraid.
She had nothing left to fear… her sword bore the blood of her kin, a sin she could never wash away.
More importantly, through what had just happened, she'd come to a profound realization:
[I can make mistakes.]
[But I cannot do nothing.]
The dragon's teachings, delivered through that sharp sword, resonated with the faint White Dragon blood in her veins.
"I won't kill my kin, nor can I raise a blade against you."
"This is my answer."
Winna lifted her head, gazing at the "dragon god" That should have terrified her, her eyes free of hesitation.
Slash...
She raised her sword.
But its tip didn't point at the dragon... it aimed at her own left shoulder.
Without pause, she drove the blade through. Searing pain shot to her brain, forcing her to her knees, nearly losing control of her body.
She gripped the hilt with her right hand, using the bloodied blade as a crutch to keep from collapsing.
Frankly, she looked wretched.
Dark red blood gushed from her shoulder, soaking her upper body in moments, a shocking sight.
Yet she was smiling.
A grim, strained smile, but a genuine one, from the heart.
In that moment, she finally understood the way of the dragon.
She bowed her head, watching the blood... hers and her kin's... drip from the blade.
"I offer this blood as sacrifice."
"White Dragon God, may this please you."
…
It was an unthinkable, almost "sinister" Scene.
Artoria watched the girl, bleeding yet smiling ever brighter... if she hadn't witnessed Alaric's growth, she might have thought Winna was worshipping some "evil god."
And the dragon? Was he pleased by this "blood sacrifice"?
Artoria stole a glance at Alaric... and saw the little creature tumbling through the air.
"Not bad, not bad."
"Very good."
The dragon nodded repeatedly, showing approval.
Dragons, unlike humans, didn't hide their feelings... dislike was dislike, like was like. They expressed emotions openly, heedless of others' gazes.
"You did well, better than I expected."
"You've pleased me."
Alaric was thrilled, but not because of the so-called "blood sacrifice."
He wasn't a vampire or an evil god, needing no such bizarre offerings.
What truly pleased him was the girl's "struggle"... faced with his two choices, this unwilling girl had carved out a third path.
That was right.
For a dragon, there was no absolute right or wrong, no need to be bound by rigid rules.
Do what you truly want, become who you truly wish to be.
"I acknowledge you!"
"From now on, my will is with you."
…
Alaric landed on the girl's shoulder.
It wasn't his first time touching her... last time, he'd tossed her into the pond, saving her from death's edge.
This time, he touched her soul.
White light bloomed from him... dazzling yet gentle, harmless.
Artoria felt the light, sensing a holy power flowing within, faintly accompanied by a dragon's roar.
"Wow, how fortunate to witness such a rare scene."
The Flower Magus's voice sounded in Artoria's ear... his timing and tone perfect, neither disturbing the dragon and girl nor failing to explain to Artoria what was happening.
"He's awakening her bloodline, stirring the true [Dragon] attribute within her."
"What? Will she become a dragon? No, no, Artoria, you misunderstand the term [Dragon]."
"Try replacing your idea of [Dragon] with [God]."
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