"Okay, Astral, I think it's time to let Drake go now. You know time works differently here, right?" Sarah said casually.
"You're right! I totally forgot," Astral said, snapping her fingers.
"What?! Why are you mentioning that only now?" Drake exclaimed, his voice cracking.
"Relax. An hour here is like two or three days in the real world. It's not like years or something," Sarah said with a dismissive wave.
"Right..." Sweat beaded down Drake's brow. "And how's that supposed to comfort me?"
Sarah stared at him blankly. "I don't know."
Drake's eye twitched. "Helpful as always."
"Anyway, Drake, as much as I enjoyed our chat, you must go now. But first, I need to give you my blessing," Astral said, stepping forward with divine grace.
Drake's eyes widened. "A blessing?"
"Huh!" Sarah sighed dramatically. "The divine protection she's had cast on you this whole time—so you couldn't get killed so easily—is more than enough blessing if you ask me."
"Sarah! Why did you have to tell him?" Astral said, exasperated.
*So I was really protected... No wonder I didn't get completely destroyed by Havoc and Bronn even though they were way stronger than me,* Drake thought, deflating slightly.
"Don't worry, Drake. You were strong enough on your own. I just cast that to be safe," Astral said gently.
"No matter how you put it, it still sounds like he's weak," Sarah said, scratching her ear with zero tact.
"Thanks for the confidence boost," Drake muttered.
"Ahem! Anyway, back to the blessing." Astral raised her hands, and power thrummed through the air. "I grant you the ability VEIL OF RESILIENCE. Shadows will form a thin barrier around your body, cushioning physical blows and dispersing weaker magic attacks. But don't get cocky—strong attacks and powerful enemies can still break through. It just makes you more durable."
Drake glowed with a soft blue light that gradually faded. He felt the power settle into his bones, making him feel... sturdier. "Thank you, Lady Astral." He bowed respectfully.
"That's not all." Astral's smile turned mysterious. "I give you the shadow blade TSUKUYOMI—a weapon that can sever magic itself. As you grow stronger, so too will this blade, adapting and evolving with every step you take. Wield it wisely, Drake."
In a cascade of dazzling silver light, the blade materialized. Its steel was black as midnight, its design otherworldly beautiful. Ethereal symbols pulsed along its edge as it floated gracefully toward Drake. He grasped it, immediately feeling the immense power humming within.
"Whoa..." Drake breathed, completely mesmerized.
"I think that will be all for now," Astral said warmly. "If you want to speak with me without waiting for me to summon you, head to any of my churches, kneel, and call out to me. We can have a brief meeting."
"Don't you think you're over-favoring him?" Sarah said, crossing her arms. "Even Kael didn't have all these privileges."
"Good thing Drake's loyal, right?" Astral winked.
Drake flashed Sarah a smug grin.
"Whatever," Sarah grumbled, looking away.
"Thank you, my lady, for the blessings and most importantly for the comfort and support I needed. I entrust you with my life and devote my loyalty to you," Drake said solemnly.
"Aren't you the charmer," Astral said, placing a hand to her cheek with an amused smile.
"If by charmer you mean pervert, then I'm with you," Sarah deadpanned.
"Seriously, what's your problem?" Drake snapped.
"You, idiot."
Drake turned to Astral with hopeful eyes. "Are you sure there aren't any better systems than Sarah over there? Because I see zero chemistry between us."
"Nope! You're stuck with her for life," Astral smiled cheerfully.
"Ah, just my luck." Drake sighed dramatically. "Okay, I'm ready to go."
"When you leave here, don't slack off too much. Try to get along with Sarah, and make sure you train hard. I'll be watching over you and will be here when you need me," Astral said.
"Thank you, my lady."
"Finally! The moron is leaving. Good riddance," Sarah said with obvious relief.
"Don't forget—you'll always be with me," Drake said with a wicked grin.
Sarah's expression soured. "Whatever. Training starts when you've recovered completely and are in fighting shape, so keep your guard up."
"Got it."
"Good. See you later, Drake, and good luck," Astral said with her final words.
**FLASH!**
The stars, the goddess, the cosmic throne—everything vanished in an explosion of blinding light.
---
*Ugh, that light almost blinded me,* Drake groaned internally. *Wait, aren't I supposed to be awake? Why is everything so dark?*
*Oh right, I haven't opened my eyes yet.* Drake slowly opened his eyelids, squinting against the dim light.
"Where am I? An inn? A hospital?" he wondered aloud, feeling the soft embrace of what had to be the most comfortable mattress he'd ever experienced. Warm covers wrapped around him like a gentle hug.
*I didn't expect hospital beds to be this luxurious,* Drake thought, staring at an ornate ceiling.
*Sniff sniff.*
An exquisite perfume filled the room—expensive, elegant, and oddly familiar.
"Hmm, what's that smell? It's just like Elsa's..." Drake's eyes snapped open. "Wait—ELSA!"
He jolted upright, panic flooding through him. "How can I be lying down when I don't even know if Elsa's okay?!"
Drake swung his feet to the edge of the bed and froze. "This... this isn't a hospital."
The room before him was breathtaking. Stylish noble paintings adorned the walls, and a massive window at the far corner was draped with elegant curtains that filtered golden sunlight. An enormous mirror—twice the size of the one at the inn—dominated the center wall.
"Holy molly, where am I? This isn't a hospital or inn..." Drake's mind raced. "The perfume, the artistry, the room... have I been reincarnated as a prince?"
**Creak!**
The door swung open slowly. A maid entered carrying fresh clothes and a wet rag.
"What—" Drake started.
"Ahhh!" The maiden dropped everything. "You—you're finally awake!"
"Yes, I am, but please don't shout. I'm confused—where exactly am I?" Drake asked, rubbing his temples.
Another maid rushed in. "What's wrong, Madeline? I heard you screaming." She too gasped when she saw Drake. "Oh my! He's finally up! I thought he'd never wake up."
*I'm so confused right now,* Drake thought desperately.
"Go inform Lady Elsa that the man has finally woken up. I'm sure she'll be overjoyed," Madeline said quickly.
"Right away!" The other maid hurried off.
"Wait—Lady Elsa? Oh no, don't tell me..." Drake scrambled out of bed and stood before the large mirror. He still looked the same, but now wore a pristine white robe with a bandage wrapped around his head.
**Thud thud thud!**
Running footsteps echoed in the distance, growing rapidly closer.
Drake turned to Madeline. "Please, where am I?"
Madeline bent to collect the dropped items. "Well, sir, you're in the guest room of the noble house of—"
"DRAKE!"
Elsa barreled past Madeline before she could finish, her voice cracking with emotion.
Drake's breath caught as he saw her—tears streaming down her face, relief and joy written across her features.
"Drake!" Elsa launched herself at him with the force of a cannonball.
**THUMP!**
They both crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs, Elsa landing squarely on top of him. Her chest pressed against his face as she sobbed.
"You're finally awake! I thought you'd never wake up!" she cried, holding him tight.
"No need to cry—I'm up, aren't I?" Drake said, his voice muffled against her. "But please, can you get off? You're suffocating me."
"Oh! Sorry!" Elsa quickly composed herself, cheeks flushed red.
Drake sat up, breathing heavily. "You're still very energetic, I see." He smiled warmly. "How are you, Elsa? Are all your wounds healed?" His eyes instinctively went to her waist where she'd been injured.
"Yeah, without a scratch," Elsa said, beaming.
Drake's smile widened with pure relief. "Good. I'm so happy you're safe. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't okay."
Elsa blushed deeper. "Will you stop worrying about me already?"
"Yeah, alright." Elsa stood and helped him to his feet.
"So... where am I?" Drake asked, though he was beginning to suspect.
"Oh, you didn't notice? You're at my place—the noble house of Umbra Leclair," Elsa said proudly.
*I knew it. I suspected as much.* "How in the hell did I get here?!" Drake screamed internally.
—TO BE CONTINUED—