-Mid-Morning - Ragefire's backyard - Shaila's POV-

I walk outside the house on the hardened ground forming a trail where wood is carried into the kitchen as the cold breeze softly flaps parts of my clothes, and the sun shines from a blue sky devoid of clouds, and approach the scaly beast peacefully breathing. I pass by the stumps where the logs are cut down to smaller sizes and placed down the paper bag before reaching the base of the huge pile of drying tree trunks of different lengths and thickness, then circle right until arrived at his tail in the shadow of the wall.

"How long do you intend to sleep?" I said grabbing the tail with both hands at the thinnest part before dragging to the left until it was not possible to pull anymore.

Ugh... Too heavy... I complained tugging his body and trying not to bend my knees too much which would dirty my dress.

"GHUH?" He groaned as his left eye blinks and narrowed vertically while pulling the tail.

"Heey laziru~" I greeted the waking lizard not letting go of his tail.

Hah... Sometimes I wish you were fluffy to hug you tight or ride without ripping my dresses to pieces... even the riding clothes have holes. I make a mental note to go shopping soon.

"Heey Shy~" He greeted back looking me from top to bottom. "Oh! Something else besides the Black frilly dresses you usually wear." The lizard admired before resting his gaze on the tail held captive by my chest. "Say... can I have back my tail? It's in the way of a good view." He asked the removal since all the hair fibers are cascading in my front.

"Mm-hmm." I nodded letting go of his tail.

I step back on the trail to give him enough space, and the Dragon climbed down the big heap of logs with heavy steps that add to the number of pawprints on the black soil.

"NGHARGH..." He stretched on the ground before lowering his head to get a closer view.

"Oh, my... You look dazzling!" He flattered after inspecting me.

"Sister bought them for me but didn't wear them until now. Do they look that good?" I spin around so he could see me, and asked for his opinion.

"Fun fact. I barely complimented before, and I've seen prettier dresses, but... you are the one who makes them look good." He complimented gazing straight into my eyes as if admiring them.

"Kyaa~" I screamed hiding my face with both hands. "Hehe... that's so like Nefi, to complement with a tease..." I giggled latching onto his snout.

Ah! I forgot about the dress... Bah... whatever, it should be okay since he's always clean, smells of trees for sleeping over logs, and doesn't seem to have any broken scales now. I count on the dragon caring for his scales more than I do for my clothes.

"Haha... You sure can act like a little girl sometimes!" He remarked as if surprised at my behavior.

"I am a little girl!" I retorted separating from him and fixed my dress before holding both extended hands close to my body. "Now, praise me more!" I selfishly ordered more of the rare kind of attention.

"Alright, alright... Model for me." He instructed.

Uh... How do I do that? I ponder on the matter until I came up with a simple solution.

I started walking around slowly and stopped where I started, then placed my right hand on the waist while fingers from my left rest on the lips forming a subtle smile, imitating a pose that sister does.

"Mm-hmm... Well executed." The dragon commented with a smile that shows his teeth. "I could see the refinement of a Noble lady without extravagant movements as your white features blend with the party dress colored in different shades of pink, and adorned by lacework or frills maintaining an exquisite contrast." He appraised nodding.

And I heard better compliments, but he is always objectively, and with effort since he doesn't practice. I assessed feeling his breath blow on my body.

"Hehe, compliment accepted." I approved walking to his left side. "Do you have another one? I'm hungry for attention!" I requested stroking his cheek.

"Uh... How bold, to openly admit that..." The lizard maintained his grin. "Let's see... Are you wearing 'All' pink?" He inquired with another meaning.

Ah! That's cunning...impliying the underwear color, but I could just show him my shoes. I discovered his little scheme realizing what to say.

"Yes, it's a pink set..." I informed rolling up my dress a little. "See the sandals?" I said showing the thin footwear with short heels and exposing my toes.

"Good girl!" He happily praised my wits.

"Hu-hun~ You are the founder of this wise personality." I gloated placing a hand on my chest.

"Hmph! That little head of yours absorbs everything, even with memory improved by ranks, and you learn scary fast." Nefiru bitterly described.

And from where does all that knowledge came? I wouldn't be able to fill many pages with what I knew from before. Also, the school should be improved... it's too silly. I retorted inwards at the improper education system.

"YOU MONSTER!" He called harshly with a grin.

What a strange praise, but I know how proudly he means that. I asserted recalling my efforts. However, even if I'm above average, it's all the result my of my hard work since there isn't much to do around here when he's not around besides rereading old stories, and I need to be capable of defending myself outside these walls. I affirmed my desire of freedom.

"Ah! It's because I'm very motivated." I replied gazing all over the side of his body.

Heh~ He must be caring for his scales seeing how there are fewer scratches than usual. I realized while he follows my stare inspecting his body.

"What? Is there something on my clothes? Wait, where are my clothes!?" He dramatized fooling around.

"Hehe... Somebody looks glossy today." I complimented his undamaged scales.

"Well, I took a bath before sleeping here last night, but there are fewer scratches because I stopped playing rough with my siblings and taking unnecessary risks hunting large prey to focusing solely on ranking up while Mana Crystals are leaking away." He explains the priorities.

Yeah... He can't replace the scales like clothes, change their color, or polish the scratches, and his injuries are always exposed, but at least he naturally has an enviable healing ability... I affirm recalling his past wounds. He's lucky the scales, flesh, and bones grow back in a matter of days albeit hardening to previous levels takes a little longer while his body also grows faster than humans of the same rank... perhaps it's because of Dragons hardly age? I ponder about the convenient feature

"So, you gave up on growing?" I asked to clarify.

He must have consistently been bored doing magic exercises then. I wondered if he reached a limit.

"Not like I had a choice when growth keeps slowing down considerably." The blue dragon spoke with mockery. "Sighs... I'm over Rank 5 already, but hardly taller than I was ten days ago, and even sister started to fall behind in growth compared to our brother. Alphonse said that it's also possible that my mixed species may have something to do with not growing much past a certain size." He explains his growth problem.

"Look on the bright side, at least you didn't get stuck on baby-size anymore." I point out the positive aspect.

"Though Dragons are supposed to get big, you know?" He countered lowering his head to my belly. "Speaking of growing... mind telling me why you are pregnant and who's the father so that I can eat him?" Nefi asked staring at my inflated belly barely visible over the dress.

"The father is the nefarious Bread that you had me eat a lot of," I replied pointing at the paper bag to my left side. "I brought you the leftovers," I said walking to pick up the bread.

I hold my dress with the left hand and bend forward to open the bag when heavy footsteps approach; then a shadow covered me when I realized what was going to happen.

Agh! He just did that again... I keep my body lowered as he passes over me heading towards the tree by the middle of the backyard.

"Hey! Don't just walk over me!" I protested dodging his tail before chasing behind.

"Let's relax under the tree." He offered, stopping for a moment to look on his left side.

The naughty dragon laid down facing the middle stone table and placed his head perpendicular to the bench on the left facing while the kitchen door, then I walk around him to sit on the same bench before putting the bag on his snout.

"Bring your foreleg here, so that my dress doesn't reach the ground," I ordered to place my feet.

He complied using magic to wash away the dirt from my sandals as I wonder how long he's going to stay this time.

It's ironic that he spends most of the time in the forest after building a gate to facilitate his entrance, especially in case of being too hurt or tired, to jumping over the wall. I thought before accommodating myself closer to his head perpendicular to the seat.

"I'm gonna have to tie you up since despite having a gate now, you are less time in our estate each day," I remarked glaring at his right eye. "I felt lonely and worried if something happened in the forest during those days you randomly sleep away from our estate," I revealed my anxiety.

"My bad... for sleeping away without notice," Nefi said feeling sorry. "I missed you too, and wish to hug you tight until you have trouble breathing, but sadly..." He spoke with regrets, leaving unsaid he doesn't have human arms.

Hah... I know that he doesn't belong here with people either, especially now that he has siblings in the forest, and I'm tying him here even without a rope, to a place hardly comfortable for a magical beast... I notice the solution is me leaving. Well, soon I'll be able to follow him since I'm mid-Rank 5 already and almost mastered survival abilities of light manipulation. I recall our agreement.

"Okay, but at least try to come periodically to expect you in our estate until brother can let me leave without yelling." I compromised on his visits.

"I understand he's worried about high ranks ambushing us in the forest, but the few spies that Alphonse didn't get to kill, only saw a pet coming and going to the woods. Plus, they don't know our rank yet." He complained about brother's unreasonable attitude.

"Tell me about it... We had another uncomfortable conversation after waking up." I say, thinking back to the talk at the study.

"He can be annoying..." He rudely remarked.

Though Brother is being narrow-minded when it comes to Nefiru, and overprotective with me, he doesn't actually know anything about this dragon. I affirmed running my hand on the snout before picking up the bag.

"Open up," I commanded.

The purple-blue dragon slowly open his jaws, and I took a peek inside before dropping the bread on his tongue, then he waited for me to separate to savor it loudly.

"Mmm... Bread." He quickly finished the bread commenting.

Ah... Too lazy to go back into the kitchen... better not throw trash around. I averred signaling him to open again then threw the paper inside.

"Mmm... Paper... Oi! I'm not a trash can." Nefiru objected after swallowing. "Look... maybe I should eat those two who are laughing at us." He gestures with his eyes pointing behind me.

I followed his gaze and turned around to see Hilda in a light brown dress holding hands with Marlo while staring back at us from a dozen meters away.

I still need to get used to this measuring system Nefiru told me to learn since ours is a mess called 'marks' that use the length of human body parts... I remember the metric unit of measure. Also, as a light magician, I like how a meter is defined as the distance light travels in 1 out of 299 792 458 of a second, but sadly we have no easy way to calculate it now, and just use an approximation. I admire the use of light, and our struggle to define it then puzzled over the reason we are being observed.

"What are they looking at?" I inquired placing my right hand on the scaly snout.

"They have been looking at us for some time now, and snickering as if we are something comical to behold," Nefiru replied casually.

We are not doing anything out of the ordinary... Though it is a little embarrassing, being stared at while they act like that... I scoffed turning back to the table ignoring them.

Still, it amazes me how well she's taking everything after. And that recovery of hers, is probably the hidden reason why brother hired her as a permanent worker... to show me 'that' kind of thing is not the end of a woman's life. The same objective reasoning Nefiru practically forced on me, but I... wanted him to change me, and perhaps only he could, with all the absurd things he said harshly, though doubting him was never an option. I ponder about revelations before recalling Hilda's protests earlier.

"Nefi, can you stop harassing other people? Hilda complained about your spankings earlier, and don't you think it's inappropriate if they are together as you said?" I requested explaining the reasoning behind.

"...Oh. Okay..." He answered dispirited.

Hah... I know that response... I observe his lowered eyelids. The disappointment comes first, then sadness, and lastly upset. I read his emotions thinking what to say next.

"I tried talking to her... but I didn't feel any intentions to get along with you." I present my opinion.

"I get it! Sighs..." Nefiru acknowledged deeply exhaling from his nostrils with eyes closed.

Oh, he's angry... I asserted leaning on his head. Let's soothe him! Maybe I'll get to see the rare tail wagging reaction. I affirmed stroking around the eye.

"I just... tried making a friend...Hilda qualified since she is a permanent Maid whereas Meruna is too serious, and would probably burn my eyes if I step out of line. However, being nice only caused Hilda to reject me openly, then I tried other methods until her behavior changed, but she just started offending me." He explained the turn of events.

So he says... I roll my eyes skeptical. I already know he finds amusing the girly reactions of Hilda, but I can't admonish him harshly without getting called flatlander...I didn't ask to be born with this body... I think? I analyzed his habits. Although those kinds of things might also be the result of nostalgia of his past life since he lacks friends and conversation partners which made him eager to put a collar on Raiga, she wasn't enough it seems... Ah! Of course... the so-called internet kept him entertained for years, but now, all he has is the knowledge in his head, his siblings, and me to keep him occupied. I deduced the primary cause.

Either way, I think Nefiru will inevitably change once he finds a Dragon mate during the mating season, and become a father with children to raise which Sister said makes men responsible. However, his human personality could get suppressed even more after that and would hurt not feeling special in his eyes anymore, even by his perverted side. I... don't want him to change... I'm scared to be treated as a soldier, then taken for granted because I have nothing else to offer. But perhaps...he noticed my insecurities, and that's why he offered his soul? Maybe I'm overthinking things... our future is not always in our hands. I deliberate about future uncertainties, then inspect the dragon's estate of mind.

Hmm... he's still upset... I noticed from his closed eye. Maybe I should tell him why Hilda won't get along. I ponder turning around to confirm we were alone. Those two left the vicinity already.... Meruna wouldn't eavesdrop, and the other temporary maids are average humans who avoid knowing too much to stay alive, but they should also be done with their work by now, so it should be alright to talk here. Though not many would want to be permanent workers like Hilda, Alphonse does keep an eye on anyone employed from the guild... I judged to be safe before deciding to gossip.

"Nefi... You were supposed to hear this from her, but it doesn't seem possible at this point." I announced watching his ears perk up loudly. "The reason you are making Hilda uncomfortable is that a magical beast destroyed her birthplace, and left her without any relatives, then bandits also captured her a year ago which makes what you do to her all the more unacceptable," I revealed the black haired maid's story.

Maybe he'll understand now... I wonder watching his reaction.

"Yikes! She's rather unlucky, huh?" He opens his eyes wide comprehending. "Well, maybe she'll change her attitude towards me with some cheesy plot like the damsel in distress." He mentioned a simple plan from stories.

Ack! I think I just encouraged him to continue harassing... But even if a plain girl like Hilda were to appreciate being rescued, it's not like such convenient development would happen, and it would be quite dangerous to fake. However, I'm starting to get annoyed by Nefiru chasing a mere maid to such lengths, and Hilda rejecting him like a disgusting beast who's beneath her. I affirm shaking my head, then turned to him.

"You know... I don't like how you give that girl so much attention, yet we hardly talk lately." I said glaring with arms crossed.

"Ah! You are right...she's not worth the trouble." Nefiru acknowledged.

Hmm... Not exactly what I meant, but he'll probably try to ignore her from now on anyway. I review his decision narrowing my eyes. Well, I'll have the guards chop wood when Nefiru isn't sleeping, and stack the logs next to the kitchen. I think of an idea to avoid Hilda waking him in the mornings.

"Also not worth it getting in trouble with Shaila." He added.

Much better...case closed. I nodded closing the matter.

"Still...I was well aware that people with her kind of past should exist in a world with ferocious beasts, but actually encountering it seems... unreal." Commented the blue dragon.

I think I understand what he means... I also read many stories about high Nobles marrying a commoner without high affinity, but it would be strange if it happened for real. I sympathize with the awkward sensation. However, he's the beast here... I notice the difference.

"Says the dragon that tried to eat a little girl slave, and already ate his owner." I scoffed saying.

"Touche." Nefiru briefly smiled. "So...are magical beasts raids common?" He curiously inquired.

"Yes. For one reason or another, Beasts wander about in search for territories as you have experienced it yourself, and when they find a settlement somewhere, they make it into their hunting ground unless high ranks are protecting it. However, even if they manage to get a word out to the territory lord, or the guild if regular guards can't handle it... by the time an appropriate subjugation forms, a beast had plenty of time to wreak havoc." I explained the danger commoners face.

"I see... I would just eat the humans leaving the town, then threaten them to give me someone periodically while maintaining their hope of survival by punishing the brave ones who resist and reward those who are loyal or keep others in check. However, a slower, yet more efficient method would be to rule a remote town, then teach the people limited knowledge about agriculture, domesticating animals, and Magic to have a steady supply of food, and Mana once their Ranks are high enough." Nefiry elaborates two different approaches.

The first method would also get a beast subjugated eventually while the second, seems safer... I reviewed. Indeed, if at least 20% of the population becomes Rank 1, and reaches even higher with knowledge from an advanced civilization, then food and Mana as a price would be abundant for our current ranks, but Nefiru lacks the patience for that. I conjecture the effectiveness.

"Well, if you feel like trying ruling a town to test that, there is a settlement to the south that's still in our territory halfway to the city Oriole, but they have the same contaminated river as us so that farming won't be possible." I offered an experimental site.

"Actually, I can solve the irrigation problem with a windmill pumping water from a well, and I can probably install one in less than ten days working with some blacksmiths since I have built those as a child, though in a smaller scale. However, the issue with that would be calling attention to myself with strange technology long before any results show while I'm not high rank enough to defend myself, and even then, the consequences could be unpredictable."He explains the problems with the idea.

Right...we are making good progress already, and we do have a source of Mana crystals from the high ranks supporters of our family, but new paths might also open after reaching higher ranks ourselves. I affirmed our improving speed.

"Although I'm gonna need a group of slaves soon, and perhaps the kitty I tried to eat before as well." Nefiru casually announced.

"What for? Are you going to eat them?" I inquired puzzled.

"To make a harem, of course since I failed to convert Hilda." He declared solemnly.

"Ah, so that was your real intention!" I angrily said smacking his snout.

Guh! I fell for it...forgot he doesn't like those harems things. I grimaced feeling my face getting hot.

"Haha... I'm just messing with you." The smug dragon revealed his tease.

"Truth is, I need trusted workers for some personal projects since as you know... I have no hands!" He declared, leaving things unsaid.

Can't I be your hands? I helped with the gate last time... though he did the heavy lifting. I recalled our last project.

"I'm not enough?" I asked saddened.

"Silly, you and I need to focus on ranking, but you also won't be able to help me with everything, understand?" He kindly explained.

Now, he treats me like a kid... I thought irritated.

"Oh, okay." I nodded understanding.

"Although there is a delicate job for you that no one else can do...inside my brain." Nefiru announced.