Night had fallen, and the soft glow of the full moon poured in through the wide window.
Its silver light bathed the room, illuminating the gentle sway of the silk curtains as the cool night breeze brushed against them.
The atmosphere was peaceful, a perfect scene to ease the mind after the storm of all that was revealed earlier that day.
Alister lay sprawled on the bed, his golden eyes soft as he idly toyed with the edge of the pillow.
The cool fabric brushed against his fingertips, grounding him in the present moment.
Beside him, Cinder sat, her silver hair glinting faintly in the moonlight. Her head rested against the bed’s edge, her breathing slow as she slept peacefully. There was this surprisingly calm and serene look on her face, and Alister found himself unable to look away.
He smiled faintly as he observed her. “I never knew she looked so peaceful when she slept,” he murmured.
Turning his gaze back to the ceiling, Alister let out a soft sigh.
“Sonoris… The name brings back memories… Though they are hazy.” Alister mumbled.
The events of the day still weighed heavily on his mind. He gripped the pillow tighter, closing his eyes as he focused on the steady rhythm of his breathing.
After a moment, he whispered, “Open the Mindspace.”
The system’s response came instantly.
⫷『Mind space opening…』⫸
Slowly all his senses faded into nothingness.
Then, suddenly, he found himself seated in a massive green field. The grass swayed gently under a warm, unseen breeze, stretching endlessly in all directions. The sky above was a beautiful expanse of blue, streaked with soft white clouds.
Alister stood up slowly with a look of mild shock, his eyes looking around the unfamiliar yet strangely comforting surroundings.
“What is this?” he muttered, but he immediately froze at the sound of his own voice. It was deeper, richer, wait a regal tone he wasn’t accustomed to.
His attire was different too—a white and gold robe with black accents that seemed to flow effortlessly as he moved. Small traces of white and golden armor on his shoulders and chest, elegant yet sturdy.
Glancing down, he caught a glimpse of himself in a small stream near by and gasped softly. His hair, long and silver, shimmered faintly in the golden sunlight that bathed the field.
His attire was different too—a white and gold robe with black accents that seemed to flow effortlessly as he moved. Small traces of white and golden armor on his shoulders and chest, elegant yet sturdy.
Before he could process the change, a system window appeared before him, glowing faintly in the air:
⫷『After the player’s recent level-up after obtaining a piece of Restria, the Mindspace has undergone improvements due to the reality altering power of the fragment. The mind space has now taken the form of the most cherished place in your memories.』⫸
Alister stared at the text, a frown crossed his face. “The most cherished place in my memories…” he murmured, glancing around once more, the vast expanse of the green field feeling both strange and oddly nostalgic.
As Alister continued to look around the vast expanse, his gaze was drawn to the horizon.
In the distance, a expansive city-like structure stood, its towers and buildings glowing faintly in the golden light. At the heart of the city, a massive castle-like structure rose high into the sky, its grand spires piercing the clouds.
In the skies, dozens of wyverns soared gracefully through the air, their wings glinting in the sunlight as they spared in different patterns.
Some of them landed, their powerful bodies resting momentarily before taking to the skies again. It was a breathtaking sight.
Before he could fully admire the view, a new system notification appeared before him:
⫷『Several of your wyverns have laid eggs within the Mindspace. There is now a total of 250 eggs.』⫸
Alister’s eyes widened in shock. “Two hundred and fifty eggs?!” he exclaimed, his voice echoing across the field. He ran a hand through his silver hair, still grappling with the sheer number.
“Secience when coukd my summons reproduce… How long have I been asleep for this to happen?”
The system replied.
⫷『You have been unconscious for 12 days.』⫸
Alister’s breath hitched, and he shook his head in disbelief. “Twelve days… Damn didn’t know wyverns were that fast.” he whispered, his gaze drifting back to the wyverns in the sky and the city below.
“System…” Alister asked softly. “What about my generals, are they—”
“My lord!”
Startled, Alister looked up just in time to see multiple dragons soaring toward him with incredible speed.
Their majestic bodies cut through the sky like arrows, wings shimmering under the golden light. One of the dragon’s, far faster that the rest, arrived in mere seconds and suddenly began to shrink mid-flight, shifting into its humanoid form.
The figure dove downward with a burst of speed, the sheer force of their descent kicking up a powerful gust of wind.
Alister barely had time to react before the figure crashed into him, knocking him flat onto the soft grass. A cloud of dust billowed around them, obscuring the scene momentarily.
As the dust settled, Alister opened his eyes to find himself pinned to the ground. Seated atop him was a striking woman with long silver hair streaked with black.
A pair of curved crimson horns that curved around her her head, pointing upward before her temple, complementing her blazing crimson eyes that were locked intently on him.
Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, and her chest heaved with each panting breath.
She wore a crimson and black chest plate that hugged her figure, with black etchings resembling dragon scales. The armor left little to the imagination, with a daring neckline that revealed her ample cleavage as she gazed down at him.
Her parted lips revealed sharp teeth, a reminder of her… Intense nature. She smiled playfully as she leaned closed, giggling softly.
It was Mar’Garet.
“Oh, my lord,” she said with a touch of relief and adoration. “I’ve missed you… Tell me… Did you miss me?”
Her gaze softened as she gazed his face, her intense emotions laid bare in the way she lingered over him.
Alister blinked, his surprise melting into a resigned smile. “Mar’Garet,” he sighed, “you haven’t changed at all.”
Mar’Garet’s fiery crimson gaze locked with his. Her hands trembled slightly as she cupped his face as she spoke.
“I was so worried about you, my lord.”
“That filthy wolf dared to lay his hands on you. If I had possessed the power I have now, I would have ripped him to pieces.”
Alister sighed, “I understand your anger, Mar’Garet, and he has been dealt with. But now…” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “I’d prefer it if you stood up.”
Mar’Garet tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes sparkling mischievously as a playful giggle escaped her lips.
“Oh, my lord,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
Alister’s gaze hardened. “What?” he asked.
Mar’Garet leaned in closer, her cheeks flushing a deeper red as she purred, “The last time you almost died, my lord, I realized something terrible. If you had departed… you would have left this world without an heir.”
Alister’s brows furrowed in mild confusion. “What do you mean by that?”
Mar’Garet clasped her hands to her cheeks, her expression filled with feigned innocence and a hint of mischief. “Oh, my lord,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation.
“As the one who loves you the most, it is my responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
She leaned even closer, her lips curling into a seductive smile as she locked her crimson gaze with his.
“I will bear your child,” she declared, her voice filled with conviction. “The heir to your throne.”
Alister’s expression shifted, a touch of shock crossing his face as she continued, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
“Let us create life together, my lord! Do you want a son, or perhaps a daughter?”
“Oh, I can see it now! They would have your face, my eyes, your scales—”
BOOM!
A powerful gust of wind slammed into Mar’Garet, cutting her off mid-sentence. She was sent flying away from Alister, tumbling through the air before crashing into the distant field with a loud thud.
Dust billowed in the aftermath, and Alister blinked before slowly turning his gaze toward the direction of the attack.
“I knew she’d try something,” a sharp voice said.
A new figure stepped into view, his silhouette framed by the golden light of the Mindspace. His piercing gaze locked onto Mar’Garet, his expression a touch of irritation and anger.
The dust settled, revealing Alzuring standing tall, his blue scale armor shimmering faintly under the sun light. Beside him were Draven, his dark scales absorbing the light, and Terra, whose golden scales glowed softly as if radiating.
Alzuring’s piercing blue eyes locked onto Mar’Garet, who was slowly rising from the ground. His expression was a touch of irritation and restrained fury.
“To mount yourself atop the Overlord as if he were some horse,” Alzuring growled, “is an insult to his station. Were it not for my restraint, I should put a hole through your heart for such audacity!”
Mar’Garet wiped the dust from her armor, her crimson eyes narrowing as she met Alzuring’s gaze. Despite being blasted away, she retained her haughty demeanor.
“Oh, spare me your righteous indignation, Alzuring,” she snapped, brushing her silver hair over her shoulder. “It was merely an expression of my love and devotion to my lord.”
Draven let out a low chuckle, his voice deep and laced with amusement. “Love and devotion? You mean your obsession. You never fail to entertain, Mar’Garet.”
Terra, always the voice of reason, sighed and stepped forward. Her blue eyes softened as she looked between them. “Enough,” she said, her voice calm yet firm. “This is neither the time nor place for such petty squabbles. Our lord has only just returned. Let’s not make his first moments here a spectacle of our discord.”