I don't know if I slept or just waited out these seven days. But the information clearly indicates that seven days have passed.

I wonder, what now?

Should I use the absorption again or somehow activate it?

[Action Completion: Use of Absorption Skill IV]

[Skill Upgrade: Luck Skill II upgraded to Luck III]

[Skill Upgrade: Absorption Skill III upgraded to Absorption IV]

[New Active Skill Acquired: Magic Dispersion I]

[New Active Skill Acquired: Curse Breaker I]

[New Knowledge Acquired: Knowledge of Magic / Knowledge of Black Magic / Knowledge of Curses]

[New Ordinary Skill Acquired: Trap Creation]

So much information, which I don't fully understand, but I'll think about that later. Now, more importantly, is this strange sensation I felt. Something like tingling.

And as if the ground was slipping away beneath my roots.

Maybe it's worth changing into a human form. Let's use shapeshifting.

[Skill Activation: Shapeshifting I / Transformation into: Human]

The transformation lasted a moment, so soon I could open my eyes and check what was happening. And quite a lot was happening.

Where there was probably a stone wall with a sealing spell on the cave before, now a hole was forming, as if the rock was crumbling and ceasing to exist.

Through the hole, I saw bright rays. Some kind of light source?

Could it be the sun? I don't quite remember what it looks like.

I approached closer. Now the entire cave was shaking. Stones were falling from above. Maybe I'll die under one of them if I don't get out?

But the passage – despite its increasing size – was uphill and steep. I wasn't sure if I could make it out.

"Be careful!"

I heard a loud voice and suddenly something wrapped its paws around my waist.

A second later, I was dangling in the air. A funny feeling.

I raised my head, looking towards the approaching cave exit.

Behind me, I heard falling boulders. The whole cave was ceasing to exist.

The flap of dragon wings stirred a wind so strong around me that I had to close my eyes, especially when the light started to blind me.

"I forgot to add that canceling the spell will lead to the collapse of the ceiling and the cave falling in."

I felt something soft under my feet and soon the grip loosened. And disappeared. A soft sigh from behind and a thump made me realize that the dragon had sat down, and I was standing, so logically we were no longer flying.

That means...

I tried to open my eyes.

Slowly.

Bright.

I closed my eyes.

I began to open them again, even slower, to get used to the first light I had encountered in this life.

I saw the blue sky, and on it white clouds enveloping the sun like a quilt. I don't know how I knew what was what.

Maybe instinct?

Or some memories?

It doesn't matter.

I looked down.

"Gosh..."

I couldn't say more as the wind gently brushed my rustling leafy hair.

A green meadow as far as the eye could see, and far away, its boundaries were marked by a forest. In several places, the green of the grass was dotted with dandelions, clover, and various colorful flowers.

"Beautiful view."

"You're right. Beautiful and extraordinary."

The dragon's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I turned towards him.

Finally, I could take a good look at him.

He wasn't particularly large, but who said a dragon has to be big? At the withers, he was barely taller than me, and I don't think I'm too tall.

I looked carefully at the black scales, slender paws, and sharp claws. Then the snout.

The creature fixed its gaze somewhere in the distance...

Maybe he's ignoring me? Or thinking about how to wriggle out of a promise.

I followed his gaze across his snout. Blue eyes that seemed quite cold.

"You want to fly away." It was neither a question nor a statement.

I looked at him, waiting for some movement or response.

The dragon suddenly turned his head towards me and looked at me. I didn't even flinch.

Either I don't know fear, or I'm flawed, because normally you should be afraid of such a beast.

"What I want doesn't matter. I gave my word."

Was that irritation I sensed in his voice?

"So you're going to follow me everywhere and protect me?"

A snort. He must have been really irritated.

"Yes. A dragon's word is sacred to him. But know this. Just as we detest breaking a given word, so too we hate bondage. I don't want to be a prisoner again. Nor will I be a servant. Try to make me such, and I'll find a way to kill you without dishonoring the oath."

That sounded threatening or was meant to. I'm not sure, but the seriousness and slowly spoken words made me pay a bit of attention to the matter and decide it would be good to remember that.

"Alright then. From today, you'll be the Dragon, my travel companion."

"If you introduce me as a dragon, many will panic, or start hunting us... And what journey are you talking about?"

"But you do look like a dragon!"

"I can change that right now. What journey?"

He can change? I don't quite understand.

Does he also shapeshift?

"Well, a journey is kind of like someone setting out, going ahead, having adventures, and all. And that's what we'll do!"

"Ah. Such an adventure..." Did I hear doubt in his voice?

"So how will you hide your dragonness?" I asked after a moment.

The dragon stood up and slowly approached me. Maybe I should back off, to show respect for someone so powerful, but I wasn't going to. And besides, he works for me, so all the more reason not to give in.

"Just like this." A simple and short answer was preceded by a slight smile.

A moment after the dragon's words, the creature began to shrink and change before my eyes.

First, it was a black mass, and after a moment, that mass began to increasingly resemble a humanoid.

Arms, legs, eyes, hair.

This time I stepped back a bit, but only because I wanted a better look at him.

Black hair tied in a loose braid, swarthy skin, and those icy eyes. His body was also covered in black attire.

I must admit, he looks quite handsome.

"And you can call me As." A smile appeared on the dragon's narrow lips, which – I don't understand why – gave me a slight shiver.