Evil Red Dragon

"Brother? What's wrong...?"

"..."

The next morning, Helena was the first to wake up.

She lay on her side, her arms wrapped around Alecto's waist, her purple robe draped loosely over both of them.

Helena watched Alecto quietly.

The bound dragon soul has calmed down considerably. Last night was like a brief storm, and now only a few weary ripples remain.

This is a good sign.

Perhaps the soul contract will no longer be necessary.

As Helena thought this, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

She brushed a strand of red hair from Alecto's forehead and admired his sleeping face.

The Red Dragon is undeniably handsome and charming.

Those eyebrows, those figure, that strength… Helena secretly swallowed, this was the ideal partner.

Witches never restrict their choice of partners based on race.

Humans, elves, elemental beings, even abyssal demons... anyone who is a good match could become their partner.

Just then, Alecto's eyelashes fluttered.

He slowly opened his eyes, which were initially somewhat unfocused, but gradually became focused, finally settling on Helena's face.

Strangely, Alecto showed no resistance whatsoever; his eyes were calm, with the bewilderment of someone just waking up.

Helena's heart stirred slightly.

She moved closer: "Awake?"

Alecto was silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing:

"Um"

"How did you sleep?"

Helena asked, her purple eyes carefully observing his expression.

"……fine."

Alecto knew this was more of a test.

She knows better than she does how well she sleeps.

"It's just... a little tight."

Alexo moved his chained wrists, and runes flowed from them.

Helena smiled, propped herself up, and her long hair slipped from her shoulders, falling to Alecto's chest.

"Take it, it's your own fault for not accepting the contract."

Even so, with a slight thought, the binding force of the chains lessened a little.

"Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I recently got some decent monster meat, I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Alecto looked at Helena, his gaze lingering on her for a few seconds before shifting to the curtains above the bed.

"casual."

He lay there quietly, sorting through his thoughts.

The hallucinations from last night still lingered in his mind, like lukewarm water eroding his will.

We can't tough it out.

Alecto said to himself silently.

Stubbornly enduring it will only make you break down faster.

Helena's mental shackles are like a resilient spider web; the more she struggles, the tighter they become.

We need to try a different approach...

Alecto's subsequent performance surprised and delighted Helena.

He no longer fiercely resists the mental constraints, and even cooperates by taking steps when guided to act.

Helena, of course, remained vigilant and kept a close watch on Alecto.

But the feedback fluctuations became increasingly smooth, and Alecto's attitude seemed to be softening.

She began to talk to him more, about magic, about the sights and sounds of different places, and about her experiences when she was young.

"The weather is nice."

Helena looked up at the sky: "Perfect for sunbathing."

As she spoke, she walked to the base of the wall, dragged out a deck chair, and placed it in the sunlight.

"Come on," she patted the chair, "sit down."

Alecto walked over and sat down.

The chair was made of rattan, it was old, but still quite sturdy.

The sun felt warm and cozy on my skin.

Helena dragged another chair over and sat down next to him.

Neither of them spoke.

A few bird calls drifted from afar, clear and melodious.

After a while, Helena spoke.

"How old are you?"

Alecto thought for a moment.

"According to human calculations... around 7 years old."

"Seven years old? That's so young."

Helena turned her head to look at him.

"When I was your age, I was an apprentice in the mage tower, memorizing spells, learning runes, and copying scrolls every day. I was exhausted."

Alecto didn't reply.

Helena didn't seem to care and continued talking to herself.

"Later, I defected, killed my mentor, stole his things, and hid for over a decade... until I met the leader, joined the Eighth Dawn, and became a member of the Witch's Guild..."

She smiled.

"Wasn't it amazing?"

Alecto glanced at her.

Why kill her?

"Because after she discovered I was a witch, she wanted to turn me into an experimental subject."

Helena spoke in a very calm tone, as if she were talking about someone else:

"She wanted to fully activate the Eye Demon bloodline within me, to turn me into an Eye Demon and her contracted beast. When I refused, she resorted to various methods against me."

She paused.

"So I took her by surprise and killed her."

The sunlight shone on her face, making her skin appear translucent white.

Alecto withdrew his gaze and looked at the distant sky.

The sky was very blue, and the clouds were very light, as if they had been washed with water.

"Do you regret it?" he suddenly asked.

Helena smiled.

"What's there to regret? Killing her? Or defecting?"

She shook her head: "I don't regret anything. I survived, and that's enough."

She stretched, and the recliner creaked.

"Living is more important than anything else."

she says:

"Once you're dead, you lose everything."

Alector remained silent.

Living is more important than anything else... Really?

"Would you like to take a look at my library? Don't you enjoy reading?"

Helena suddenly said.

"it is good."

Helena stood up, and Alecto followed suit.

The library is at the far end of the second floor.

The room was small, with three walls lined with bookshelves that reached the ceiling, crammed with all sorts of books.

Some are leather-bound hardcovers, some are handwritten copies...

"These are all things I've collected over the years."

Helena walked into the room, brushing her hand over the rows of bookshelves:

"Magic theory, alchemy, ancient history, local customs and products...it has everything."

Alecto walked up to the bookshelf, his gaze sweeping over the labels on the spines of the books.

"The Principles of Using the Five Elements", "Advanced Mental Magic", "Ancient Rune Analysis", "Kingdom Wandering Notes"...

He pulled out a book on fire magic and flipped through a few pages.

The content is very basic, but the explanations are very detailed, making it suitable for beginners.

"You collect books like this?"

Alector asked casually.

Helena walked over and glanced at the book in his hand.

"A solid foundation is very important."

Helena said:

"Many mages neglect the basics when pursuing advanced magic, which leads to slow progress in the later stages."

Alecto closed the book and put it back on the shelf.

He then pulled out another book and started reading.

This book contains significantly more advanced content, explaining how to combine magic of different attributes to create an effect greater than the sum of its parts.

Alecto watched very intently.

Although he learned a lot of magic in the inheritance, most of it was rough, and systematic explanations like this are rare.

Helena didn't disturb him. She walked to the chair by the window, sat down, and took out a book to read as well.

The room fell silent, save for the rustling of pages turning.

Time passed slowly.

The sunlight moved from the east window to the center, and then from the center slightly to the west.

Alecto read one book after another.

He read very quickly, skimming through ten lines at a glance, and memorized the contents of each page.

The red dragon's memory already far surpassed that of humans, and after constructing the magic corridor, his thinking ability was further enhanced, making his reading and comprehension speeds astonishingly fast.

He's taking as much as he can get now.

Helena occasionally glanced up at Alecto, a look of admiration flashing in her eyes.

She likes intelligent people, and even more so, intelligent dragons.

As evening fell, Alecto finally put down his book.

He rubbed his temples and looked at Helena by the window.

Helena closed her book and looked over with her purple eyes.

"Finished watching?"

"temporary."

"There are some parts I don't quite understand," Alecto said.

"What don't you understand?"

Alecto thought for a moment and asked:

"On the relationship between elements and magic."

Helena stood up and walked over to him.

"That's because the author of this book didn't fully understand it himself at the time."

"In fact, magic is a kind of primordial energy, while elements are the different manifestations of this energy in the material and conceptual worlds, which means..."

"Elements are the external manifestations and material carriers of magic."

"And magicians use their will, spells, and runes to guide magic to awaken these elements, thereby causing storms, igniting flames, stirring up giant waves, and shaking the earth."

She stretched out her hand, palm up.

"Like this."

A tiny flame, no bigger than a candle flame, ignited in her palm.

"When an ordinary mage releases a fireball, they need to first use magic to condense fire elements, then shape and activate them."

Alecto gazed at the flame, lost in thought.

Helena continued:

"Going a step further, it's about understanding that the elements themselves are not isolated."

"When fire burns out, it turns into ash and heat. The rising heat can disturb the airflow, and the ashes return to the earth, nourishing new life... Magic flows through it, and a single hair can affect the whole body."

"So-called high-level composite magic is the product of a deep understanding of this connection."

Alecto's gaze shifted from the flames to Helena's face.

Her expression was focused, her usual laziness gone, and her eyes were filled with a passion for knowledge.

I had experienced this state in my past life when faced with topics that interested me.

"Can you teach me?"

Alecto suddenly asked.

Helena smiled slightly and gently stroked his cheek.

"Of course."

She lowered her voice, as if she were telling a secret:

"But this takes time, and more importantly... trust."

Alecto didn't flinch; instead, he tilted his head slightly, bringing his cheek closer to Helena's palm.

This subtle movement sent a shiver down Helena's spine, and her eyes seemed to ripple with tears.

"I learn very quickly."

He was stating a fact:

"As long as you're willing to teach."

"That depends on how you perform."

Helena's smile deepened as she slid her fingers down, brushing them across his neck.

What do you want from me?

Helena did not answer.

She took one end of the chain and led him to the window.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window, casting long, diamond-shaped patches of light on the floor.

The two stood side by side in the light, their shadows trailing behind them, overlapping each other.

Tell me first.

Helena turned her head to look at him:

"Why did you agree to learn this? You even tried to tear me apart yesterday."

Alecto remained silent for a moment.

"Because you're right."

He began, speaking slowly:

"Living is more important than anything else. Once you're dead, you lose everything."

Alecto looked into Helena's eyes:

"Besides, you're very strong. By learning from you, I can become even stronger."

Helena chuckled softly and wrapped her arms around his.

Alexios stiffened slightly for a moment, but did not pull away.

"It's that simple?"

She leaned closer, her hair brushing against his shoulder, carrying a faint floral scent.

"Isn't that enough?"

Alecto countered with a question.

Helena didn't answer, but simply rested her head gently on his shoulder.

The two stood there quietly, watching the sunset slowly sink into the distant mountains, and twilight enveloped the courtyard.