-Sundown. Forest - Nefiru's POV-

I separate the wings shielding us, and fold them back while lowering the white haired girl holding onto my left forearm to the ground, then changed my posture to stand on four legs again before staring at the passing clouds above me. At sundown in the afternoon, the moderate rain is still falling while the wind turned into a breeze with occasionally stronger gusts, and a patch of clearer sky to the East indicates the approaching end of the storm will soon be upon us. After lowering Shaila to my side, she gets drenched by the rain once more and walks to a patch of grass while shivering from the cold. Then I shield her from the wind coming from the East with the left wing before lowering my head in front of her.

"..." The girl stares up with a blank face without saying anything.

"I'm just going to swallow you whole..." I informed the despairing person.

"I'm not even worth chewing?!" She protested.

"Relax, it's just an experiment...for science! We need to test this in a safe enviroment since it might come in handy one day. Also, I'm curious about eating a human to find out what the fuss is all about." I calmed her down.

"Sighs..." Shaila breathed in relief before lifting her brightened face. "Uh... isn't that still dangerous?" She inquired while gazing around.

"It'll be fine." I comforted shaking my head slightly. "I'll help you climb out controlling my muscles with lightning, but if you can't come out, then just cut me open with lasers. I should survive according to your dad, but if I don't, then it's my punishment." I instructed assigning her as the contingency plan.

"So... No chewing-- Wait, you explained this to Father, and he agreed!??" Shaila inquired looking at the mana crystal bottle she's holding with both hands as recognition dawned on her face.

"I indeed have permission from your father after promising not to touch you in other ways." I resume my deal with Faust.

"Not to touch me in other ways...?" The little girl muttered poker-faced. "Argh... Fine!" She conceded walking up to me from her patch of grass on the south after leaving the bottle behind

"But Shaila, this time I to feel your bare skin, so no clothes please." I pleaded with puppy eyes watching her expression hardening.

"N-nude?" She exclaimed as her white cheeks and ears turned scarlet then turned around fuming. "Gah! This... Dragon... swallow me naked..." She grumbled walking back to the patch of grass.

The white haired girl starts taking her wet clothes off as my extended wing blocks some of the wind from the left, then throws the mana crystal bottle over to stop them from being blown into the mud.

"Umm... you didn't have to take the underwear as well..." I remarked as she turned around while covering her delicate parts with each hand.

The wind gusts coming from the sides of the purple-blue wing blow her waist-long hair from side to side on her back as her pure white figure stands shaking over the grass at the distance of my extended neck.

"And You didn't have to watch me undress either!" Shaila retorted frowning with a reddened face before looking around us in the forest.

"Touche... I'm proud of you enduring the shame, but this is enough...I'm sorry for pushing you this far," I nodded approving with my eyes closed.

"Nefi, spoil me lots after this since I'm literally freezing my ass off to do something that would ashamed me to death before." She solemnly declared staring into my eyes with a straight face.

"But Wolfie, I always spoil you!" I declared staring back at her.

"Oh?" Shaila tilts her head with a mischievous smile as her shades of red intensify. "You didn't want to see this tainted and undeveloped human body that your wolf mate has now?" She said before taking off the hands covering her body as she uses Light Magic for warmth.

"GHU..." I uttered before jaw involuntarily drops and tail slumps on the mud.

"Aha!" Shaila triumphantly shouted while pointing. "I'm aware that your interest in me goes beyond this body, so this is not surprising." Shaila affirmed staring into my eyes with arms crossed.

"Argh... I'm just...looking at a talking meat." I said averting my gaze.

"Are you sure you don't have any dirty thoughts?" Shaila squints her eyes probbing. "Spill it! I forbid you to hide anything from me." She firmly ordered with an imposing tone that wouldn't accept any lies.

"Well... It feels different from carnal desire because of our soul resonance since not even your naked sister was of interest to me. Soul desire?" I asserted before giving her an appraising look.

I stared at the mesmerizing albino figure shimmering light on the smooth white skin while random sparkles appear with all the hairs glowing pure white which reflects off the wet ground, and creates small rainbows from the raindropplets.

"Honestly, far from tainted, you look mesmerizing like a bewitching work of art painted by a godly being depicting the envodiment of light and pure intentions." I appraise her body making the little girl beaming a relaxed smile.

"Hehe, compliment accepted! This just means that you like all of me!" Shaila giggled nodding before placing both hands on her waist.

"But, you could have used light to censor yourself instead of covering with your hands." I point out the neglected light ability.

"I know." She nodded before doing a turn of her body showing off. "I can also turn invisible on the spot, but for the first time in my life, I wanted to feel proud of my body, and what's wrong with my pet watching me?" The white haired girl shrugged while saying.

Mew... I'm a cat who only stares... Not like my body would react even if I consider a human or a rock attractive since only pheromones of my species can influence this body. I affirmed, then decided to mock the girl.

"I see, you wanted to feel proud of your body since it's so lacking compared to Liana and who better than the pet who already like you." I criticise with a smirk that shows my tease.

"Ack!! I have been developing..." Shaila rebuked lowering her head."Augh... But Sister said my chest wouldn't grow much..." She spoke with sadness as the light on her body hides her embarrassment.

"Well, for what is worth, I'm sure your body will mature splendidly but I--" I declared before getting interrupted.

"Nu uh..." Shaila shakes her head denying. "Remember that Rank slows down aging, but as you have experienced yourself... maturity can happen in a flash and my body has been maturing for a while now." She looks down to her white pubic region soaked from the rain. "I didn't even have this much hair below when you arrived... I'm almost an adult woman already. And according to sister, my bleeds will come any day now." The little girl looks up to continue speaking. "Also, I'm already Rank 5, and if I keep ranking up... my body will stay like this for a very long time, though grandma would help me with my chest, I don't want to look like a child after two hundred years!!" She complained doing an angry posture with her arms extended and fists closed

"Oh! Congratulations on Rank 5, I didn't notice. Anyway, as I was saying... My only preference before was big breasted women like your sister until she did that to me in my previous life, and I wonder if that was her role, so that I wouldn't reject you." I admit scoffing after recalling our intimacy which Liana doesn't remember in this life.

"Fufu... you perverted dragon." Shaila chortled with a smug face.

"Hmph! You exhibitionist wolf." I countered the tease which made her writhe. "Sighs... being me is complicated," I remarked turning serious again. "My feelings that find someone attractive, aren't stable, and quantifying them... usually around 40-60% craves to chew on your flesh and bones while 30% cares as much as a rock, and up to 20% is actual desires." I described while neglecting the percentage of mixed feelings.

"What about now?" The nude girl inquires under the cover my wing with her feet sinking into the mud as she gets closer to my head.

"Now half of me still wants to devour you while the other half accepts the girl, but it fluctuates back and forth even staring at you." I describe my thoughts before averting my eyes from the glowing girl.

"I can imagine why you said that being you is complicated. Is the same going to happen to me once I remember past lives more clear?" She inquires with after understanding.

"Nay. Athough it's worse after becoming a dragon, I felt like this since my past human life every time I deeply analyzed the core of my desires. My most primitive instincts see no logic in feeling pleasure staring at two lumps of meat on the chest of a human or any other shaped part which is why it's better not to analyze where feelings come from... what's deep below might ruin them." I elaborate the origin that dampens my temptations staring far into the distant clouds with the rainy sound less intense now.

"I see... Ah, Magic is running low... I'm going to use your mana crystals, okay?" She informed while I hear her footsteps walking away towards the patch of grass.

"Ah, you mana thief!..." I protested turning my head to find Shaila bending down to grab the bottle holding the clothes on a patch of grass. "Uhh... you could have squatted..." I retorted staring at the girl folding the clothes, so they don't get carried away by the wind while shooting glances behind her.

"Nefi, you wanted me to lose my shame. Think of this as a step forward since I can't even think of doing it in front of people, and I always considered you a girl. Also, you can't mention it unless necessary, or I will get mad, and you don't want me angry! Besides, it seems you promised Father not to touch me in lustful ways, yet somehow he still allowed eating me... maybe he thought I would wear clothes." She ponders looking back at me as her hair reaches the ground.

"That's cruel Shaila...calling me a girl...I will bleed tears of blood." I complain feeling the urge to bite her ass.

"So you say, but you haven't taken your eyes off me!" Shaila responded. "Fufu, I believe the view is worth a few crystals." Shaila chortled opening the bottle on the ground to take out a few crystals visible through her legs.

"You-- you are charging me? What the hell? What have I done... I broke Shaila!" I lamented as she stands up before turning around with a smirk.

"Uh... then why are you smirking?" She replied with an accusing tone walking closer while holding crystals in her hand.

"Agh... sorry. I opened that door for you, but is this better than a repressed and refined, noble lady?" I inquired apologetically.

"Uh huh, we could always blame you for my behavior, but I was already broken, and there is no chance to be a refined, noble lady when people call me things like broken ass doll." She reveals before swallowing the crystals in her left.

"Hmph! Dat ass is high class." I review proudly.

"Augh... so obscene." She said covering her face with both hands and writhing. "Hey Nefi... what kind of relationship can we have in the future? Will you leave me after finding a dragon family because our bodies are not compatible?" Shaila inquires peeking between her fingers.

"Yeah... This dragon body is only for my own species. Regardless, you are my eternal companion since our Soul resonance transcends mere flesh." I declared peering into her eyes without neither of us blinking.

"Uh huh, that suits me fine because I don't think I'm capable of human affections either. Even at school, no boys could catch my attention while most of the other girls were looking for a marriage partner to secure their future already. My sister said I was just too young to have romantic feelings, then my trauma messed up my emotions, but it makes sense if I'm like you... part beast and human." Shaila recounted doing a thinking pose.

"Sighs... Shaila, that's actually sad since you deserve to fall in love like a normal girl. And you were born into a comfortable human family with an older sister that could guide you in the typical romance a girl should experience." I announced her right as a human.

"Well, I promised your father to make you happy, and I'll try to please your desires once either of us reach Divine rank." I revealed.

"Haha... we'll see." Shaila laughed skeptically. "I recalled something when you turned away earlier... Nefi, you are quite similar to the nature of Elementals which always require something new to keep progressing. I fear that you will also get bored of my body before Divine Rank just like my scent, so I won't show you this body again." She declared making me recall that particular bad trait I have.

"Smarty wolf...Let's seal this chapter until we are ready. Oh, also, your father doesn't want you to destroy this body at Divine, but your figure could use some changes. Hmm... I would like it more if you had tails and wolf ears with some cute fangs to bite me." I informed adding some of my fantasies.

"Ah, that's a good idea! A body with animal features like the beast people..." She approved the idea of demi-human. "Nefi with purple and blue fur.. fufu... I want!" The little girl demanded maniacally.

"Scary...but okay. Let's hope it doesn't take a hundred years, and I'm not sure how a second vessel would work either. Anyway, if we take too long then just find another man--" I propose alternatives before she interjected.

"Do I look like that kind of girl?" She interrogated with a pose crossing her arms while narrowing her eyes. "I'm not a pleasure-seeker like Sister who don't care how she is treated, but I still want to experience things the right way, and who else would do everything I say? Do men in this kingdom look like they care for women?" Shaila asks as her expression hardened. "I WAS A KID!!" She yelled making me wince.

"Geh... I'm sorry... this is just me being insensitive." I apologized watching her nod.

"Sighs... you mean well, but I will wait for Divine rank. Though our pace to rank up is rather slow since we may only reach Rank 7 within 4 years, so getting to Divine could take us hundreds of years unless we find a mana vein, use the tax money to buy mana crystals or another source like wars." She elaborates the same conclusion as me.

"Heh~ You seem to have given this a lot of thought already. Well, this town is super monotonous which leaves with a lot of time to think about things or gossip." I realize the little girl had her own thoughts.

"Un...What do you think I've been doing staring at you from the window every day? I was pondering about all this and more, but I will tell you when you are older." She affirmed with a mischievous smile.

"Ugh, you damn teaser, let me eat you already... The feet down the throat first." I complained lowering my head close to the ground as she puts the bottle down before getting closer to the left side.

"Sighs... Let's get this over with... Open up." Shaila ordered placing her hand on my snout while my jaws slowly open with thick dripping saliva. "Hmm... Large and sharp... It's a good thing I'm not going to get chewed by those, but I do not want to be impaled either, so don't you dare move." She commented before commanding as she avoided my teeth to sit on my tongue while holding to my snout outside with a hand.

"Okay, this is like that time we pranked brother, you can do this... it's just your butt... touching the tongue of a dragon... Nefi's tongue...this is really perverted-- Hyauuu!" She encouraged herself before shrieking as her buttock sinks in my tongue. "Eeek don't move! Ugh... This feels weirder than I thought... It's wet, hot, and sticky...I almost leaked. this is so wrong. I can't believe I'm doing this, but it's years too late to say I'm a normal girl... Agh, sister would be glad, but brother would try to kill you if they knew. Ah... what would everyone else say? The most perverted girl in the kingdom, no never mind, they say worst things already." She speaks nonstop while I clean her feet dangling outside on the left side.

"...Won't be the first animal that leaks in my mouth." I said casually.

"Mu... you have grown. I couldn't fit my whole body in here before." The soft meal commented accommodating herself which made me act involuntarily. "Nefi, I'm nervous-- Hyung... don't slurp!" She complained sliding both feet down my throat.

"Mmm... succulent, you are so soft that my tongue could probably peel your skin off." I described lifting my head slowly as the rain continues. "Okay, relax and tell me how you are feeling to intervene if something happens. Anyway, down you down," I instructed before gulping the girl down while feeling her hands trying to grab hold.

"Do it slow-- Mmmph!" She spoke before the tightness squeezing her body down my throat interrupted. "Kyaa... tight!... can't breathe!" She screamed as her long body continued sliding down slowly. "Hah... ha.. I can't move much, but everything is pressing on me and pushing me down." She described as I feel her weight halfway in my neck. "So slimy and hot. My hair is in my face, do something!" Her muffled sounds come from the bulge containing the girl as it moves down to the base of my neck.

"It's going to get tight again before the stomach, so don't breathe in. I already produced oxygen, and there is no meal." I informed then she stops talking and a plop sound is heard in my belly.

"Puah!" Shaila got out of the stomach acid and took a deep breath. "It stinks! There is some space but it's sticky, and my legs sting from the acid. I don't think I can stay here too long before my legs start to bleed." She described as I inspect with my awareness while feeling her steps on the walls of my stomach.

"So, this is what it's like to eat a human? No wonder monsters get addicted to eating people. They are easy to eat, delicious, nutritious and digest quickly." I rub my belly outside trying to feel the girl inside.

"Okay, you had your fun. How do I get out?" She inquired.

"The opposite end!" I jester insinuating to poop her.

"I'm preparing a laser now." She started kicking my stomach.

"Kidding haha. Never eat a light magician who can make lasers that cut steel beams... Anyway climb up while I relax or contract the muscles with lightning, it will feel weird, but this was my idea... shame we can't prank Lester though. Still, we learned that a human can't stay too long inside even with enough oxygen, and this is good because any improvisation would have ended badly." I instruct while lamenting a good prank.

After a lot of effort, the girl finally wriggled her way out and lowered my neck, dropped her on the mud before she got up, looked at her body smeared in disgusting fluids, then looked around.

"I was eaten!" She yells running away in the rain towards the volcano on the east.

Ah, she did really ran away. I thought before chasing the naked girl running through the woods as a calmer rain pours down.

I caught up not far away to see her lying on the ground of a forest patch devoid of grass all covered in black mud.

"Uh... I got nothing..." I remarked looking down at the girl playing with the mud.

"Hehe... I just came out of Nefi! The way in was fun, but out... not so much. Not doing that again though." The nude girl stated before giggling with a face smeared with mud.

"Okay... I suppose in a weird way you could consider that as being reborn." I interpreted while feeling my stomach protest the absence of food.

"Haha, your stomach misses me already." She mocked my starvation.

"Ugh, my food escaped! I need to go hunt with the siblings soon anyway, but they are probably sleeping to lurk in the forest at night," I commented looking towards the north where our lair is being constructed out of wood logs.

"Be careful..." She said with a sly smile.

"Alright, let's get you cleaned up," I announced moving magic with water elementals through my body.

I covered her dirty body with my left wing and washed every nook and cranny, then carried her on my head to find the clothes before taking the girl home.

"I don't think I can look at anything the same anymore," Shaila remarked from my back.

"That was the idea... you were looking at things through a crack, so I needed to break the shell and give you a broad view of the world," I explained her repressed personality.

"Nefi... you should have told me everything sooner because it feels good knowing there is more to me than just a little girl with a terrible past. Also, do not tell me even if it turns out to be wrong that I'm not your mate since I prefer to live a sweet lie rather than a cruel reality." Shaila explained before commanding me.

"I understand. But remember to pay attention to those dreams now that you know they could be memories, and don't throw them away like most people do since they are part of you." I sternly advised looking forward to the descriptions of dreams she remembers.

"Don't worry, now I can embrace those memories like something precious, but the sad ones will take me time." She affirmed her resolve.

"Of course-- hold on," I said before instructing to accelerate towards the estate walls.

It is close to sundown already when I climbed over the wall to see the kitchen door open with people inside staring back at us.

"Oi! Look at the hour you two appear!" Lester admonished as his forehead creased.

"We were worried..." Liana speaks accusingly from behind Lester next.

"And we were on a romantic getaway." I declared walking towards the kitchen.

"It was important," Shaila stated climbing down before running inside.

"Let her go. It really was important." I stopped the two about to chase after her to lecture. "It was a lot to take in and probably wasn't equipped to handle it, so she needs some time to sort her feelings. Don't bother her studies but make her eat food even if you have to shove it down her throat." I instructed the two then turned around to leave.

"Nefiru, wait!" Lester calls out from inside the kitchen then continues after I turn my head around. "How did the talk with father go?" He inquires on the result as well.

"It went better than either of us expected. Also, Faust gave me Shaila under some conditions." I informed and rushed for the woodpile to leave the estate.

"...WHAT!?" Lester's perplexed shout came from behind as I climb the walls.

Duh! You can't stay around after dropping the bomb, and I don't want my scales broken by the overprotective brother throwing rocks at me. I affirm jumping out before rushing to our lair.