I Raised A Black Dragon

Spring, Year 578 on the Continental calendar.

It was late March, six months after the second stage of the replica project ended with a success.

The upper floors of Harrell Workers' Hotel were bathed under the warm sun for the first time in a long time. Along one side of the wall was a huge blackboard that spanned from floor to ceiling, full of chalk sketches and equations. Next to the blackboard was a bookcase, absolutely packed with books and journals. Desks were scattered along the floor, each one containing yet more books and scrap bits of paper. Despite the chaotic mess of the laboratory, all was calm and quiet until Adrian broke the deathly silence.

“You really aren’t going to end it here?”

Eleonora clearly heard his question, but she didn't even look at Adrian. She continued to stare at the replica process schematic that filled the wall.

Her apricot-colored hair glistened under the sunlight beaming through the window. The thin-rimmed glasses on her small face made her haughty and arrogant impression seem intelligent. There was a teacup clasped between her thin, calloused fingers.

Adrian waited in silence for her answer.

The silence continued for a long while until Eleonora sighed.

“You know that I was not satisfied.”

“Do we really have to do this…? Aside from the replica project, there is still so much we haven’t done.” Adrian said, taking the chance to persuade her. “I've officially obtained a permit to start building the ship's blueprint. It will take decades to complete just that.”

“No, it won’t take that long if the replica project is a success.” Eleonora, who was looking up at the wall process, slowly turned her head. “There is a lot that I want to do, Ari.”

The world in her eyes was too slow. In her head, hundreds of designs had already been completed or were mere steps away from being completed. This world was too small to embody the world in Eleonora's head, and the pace of development was terribly slow.

Adrian knew that Eleonora had always been unhappy about that. Even though Laurent carried the weight of the entire continent's magic, she was not satisfied.

“This world still has no development; just idiots wherever I look.” She downed the rest of her drink and frowned.

“Ellie, Laurent already has enough–” Adrian spoke, only for Eleonora to interrupt him.

“You think so? Then you’re also one of the many stupid humans on this planet. The trains are still too slow, and the buildings all still stop at 100 feet. People still work with their hands. The same with the ship. In theory, it only takes three years to build a ship that flies in the air. But in actuality? To shorten the construction process, we need to rebuild the manufacturing plant first. Then it will take twenty more years for it to fly. I have so much that I want to see; life is short. Do you know how depressing that fact is?”

When Adrian remained silent, Eleonora raised her eyebrows as if she knew he’d do that.

“You don’t know a thing, stupid fool. People use the things I make, ride them, live, rejoice, grieve at the same time, and die because of my invention. The weapon I developed determines the survival of a country. I don't have a hundred years to feel that thrill. A genius like me will have to live for that long. But if only I perfectly succeed at this project… I can go off to accomplish bigger, better things. I can exert my influence on more people across the entire continent. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Eleonora turned her eyes to the wall again. The replica project. After thousands of simulations, the process that had finished up until the first and second stages safely moved slowly and showed the manufacturing development.

The replica project had even succeeded in the original goal, which was to manufacture a living clone. Now her goal was the next stage: To create a complete clone of herself. It was herself that she was fascinated with. Eleonora’s face was full of bliss.

“I need me. Not anyone else but me,” she muttered.

Adrian heavily respected the inhumane aspect of Eleonora and hated it at the same time. She was born with genius and psychopathic temperaments. If she hadn’t laid a hand on the invention, she would have probably become a wanted murderer all over the continent.

Although Adrian had defended her more actively than anyone else, he was sometimes afraid and hated that fact. Not because she was a cruel woman, but because a narcissist's terrible arrogance made others exhausted.

But surely hatred and love must come together like two sides of a coin.