Chapters after this will start picking up to three a week again (starting the week of June 10th) and I'm going to try to keep that going every other month at the least, so I hope that not too many are disappointed when chapters die down to 2/3 a week after an entire month of daily releases ((This month July) The following month being back to slower releases). 

Anyways, the next five or so chapters after this are plot filler and lore. They're important to the history of this world, but if you don't like that kind of thing they are skip-able.

---------------------------------

I traveled to a different section in the field, still decently close to Red, but far enough away that she wouldn't know where I'd have gone, hopefully, and to give myself the needed space to think. 

One of the upsides about not having to rest was that I had all the time in the world to think about what I wanted to do in the future, but it was also a downside because I had just as long to think about the bad events that happened in the past; being a dragon--a young on at that--and one barely the size of an adult Coyote was hard. I was already having enough of a hard time just getting my skills to a decent level as it was, but having to worry about potentially killing someone by accident was a whole other thing entirely.

I decided to look at my stats before deciding what I wanted to do:

Name: Sc'the---- ????????? ?????????
Species: (Young) Invisible Reaper Dragon
Condition: Irritated, Mischievous
(Class A Monster)
Estimated Rank: S-
Job: (Assassin/Reaper Class) Dragon
Personal Level: 1/50
Health: 3765+/4000
Constitution: 200
Strength: 400
Magic: ?????
Dexterity: 200
Mana: --/--
Stamina: --/--
Free Points: 92

Skills: Flame (Lv. 6), Toxic Slash (Lv. 33), Tail Smash (Lv. 29), Bite (Lv. 5), Flight (Lv. 2), Toxic Breath (Lv. 11), Hindrance (Lv. 5), Stealth (Lv. 12), Patient Hunter (Lv. 22), Steal (Lv. 16), Tracking (Lv. 4), Paralyzing Touch (Lv. 10), Dash (Lv. 40)

Special Skills: Void Storage (Lv. --), Invisibility (Passive/Activated), Fear Aura (Lv. 5 (Passive)), Spy (Lv. 4), Reap (Lv. 2), Soul Devour (Lv. 3).

Resistances: Toxin (Lv. 2), Hunger (Lv. 8), Physical (Lv. 5), Magic (Lv. 5), Fire (Lv. 9), Fear (Lv. 27), Aura Pressure (Lv. 15), Heat (Lv. 15).

Titles: Hunter, Thief, Observational, Destroyer, Reincarnated (Hidden), Powerful One (Hidden), Curious Soul, Good Natured, Judge & Executioner, Merciless, Reaper of Souls, Reckless, Clumsy, Mischievous.

Alright. At least that was something good that came of this: I didn't know what things increased in level or when but I could only guess that my Stealth was passively increasing in level as I continued just being invisible and moving around. My (Hunger Resistance) increased because of the earlier incidents with me moving things around, then having to move them back to where they were with Red, and having to wait to eat until Pops was done serving everyone. I got a new Title from all that too.

...It seemed the Voice was either playing a prank on me earlier, or it decided to just let me keep the title. I still had no idea when they each did, and it probably wasn't something that increased one's stats as mine haven't changed a bit since getting all of these titles. Maybe a few of them were beneficiary, and I believed I knew what they were, but I didn't want to look throughall of them at the moment to make sure. 

Everything else was from the encounter in the 'Training Arena' as Redline had called it, and it made sense. That was something that was intended to be used to train one's Skills, to push a person/being to their limits through several different ways. In areas with or without the participant being in control of the various situations associated with an active and dangerous life. I looked at Red in the distance, only to see her sitting down in the field ripping apart a flower similar to a dandelion--something that was everywhere here as it was everywhere back on Earth--but its petals were purple and blue.

I made my way over to her again, done with what I wanted to do and wanting some attention. I nuzzled her side gently, careful of my horns, letting my head become visible as I lay down next to her so she could pat my head. As embarrassing as it was to do this, it was both soothing and relieving for me. It was for her as well apparently, and she continued to pet my head and back  for a good ten minutes.

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat from a few lengths away and I went invisible immediately upon realizing who it was. He wasn't pulsing his aura at the moment, and I was grateful for that he couldn't see me while I carefully got up and moved to the other side of Redline. Aiming to get as far away from him as possible, but still stay close enough to her that she could still touch me. Even as he started speaking, the glare he was getting from Red was intense enough I thought it might burn holes through his head.

"I apologize for taking that too far Sc'the." He closed his eyes and bowed his head a little, "I wanted to thank you as well, for the great amount of care you've been showing towards my daughter while around her. I can't imagine losing her, and seeing that you and her have grown so close in such a short amount of time is relieving to an old man like me. I--I wish to ask something of you in that regard." His bow deepened until his horns were level with his waist.

"I ask of you to protect her from now until you go back to the Dragon Empire," he thought for a moment, adding, "Or until she gets past the Level 100 mark and earns her own Aspect." I couldn't help but tilt my head at that, how would getting an Aspect at Level 100 be such an important thing.

"An Aspect is something that--if powerful enough, or extremely rare--usually earns a being a spot in history as one of the Greater Powers of the Empire...most of the people in the Capital are over Levels one-hundred fifty on average, and the minimum level necessary to be able to pass through the gates is Level one-hundred." She seemed to scowl at that last remark and I looked at her curiously, "Everyone wants jobs involving the city because even the lower grade ones pay well enough to support a family of ten in Forge's, this kingdom-city's first district. It may be barely enough to even get food for a week to us, but getting an offer there its everything."

"You are in no means being pressured into accepting this," she looked at Pops harshly, "Right?" He shook his head, still bowing. His horns were extremely menacing like that and I would rather not be the unfortunate victim should he intentionally stab or have someone fall on them accidentally. I thought for a few moments: It was true that I wanted to stay with Redline for as long as possible, but did I need to 'protect' her per his request? She seemed perfectly capable of protecting herself, and running away when necessary. I also wanted to go places other than being stuck here for such a long time, so maybe it would be a good thing in the end?

He might let me actually leave the house if I agreed to this, otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to do anything, if I refused I would probably be kept here until everything was ready to start taking me back to the Dragon Empire. I looked at Redline for a few more moments, she was trying to hide it, but she seemed to be thinking of the same thing I was, so the decision was easy.

-(If You're reading this anywhere other than Wattpad (Buddy227) or ScribbleHub (Dragons) it is stolen)-

I still couldn't voice my agreement, and he wasn't using his power to perceive me, so I had to do the most annoying choice...I walked up to him. Cautiously. Meticulously. Ready to dive for cover should he so much as twitch in my direction. It didn't matter that I wouldn't be fast enough to escape anyways, just the thought of being able to settled my nerves a little. When I got close enough I bent my head and touched my horns to his best I could, it was difficult because of his horns curving back and mine being decently straight, but I managed.

Stepping back he smiled at me, gently pulsing his aura little to show it as genuine, "Thank you for agreeing to do this, and I'm afraid I have to ask which option are you agreeing to?" I forgot that he offered two options...but that didn't matter much either, as I had already decided. 

I dragged a single claw down on the ground and he nodded to himself, "Alright then, from now until you leave I will allow you out into the city, but Red must accompany you at all times--and you must wear a Tracking-Band just in case you are or get lost at any time whilst there. I'll connect it to her signature instead of my own since you seem to be more comfortable around her than me at the moment. I'll go out and get one tomorrow, but before you're allowed into the city I want to test you for the next couple of weeks to see what you can do, and teach you about how things work in the city so you're as prepared for how things can be there."

I nodded, a little sad that I wouldn't be able to leave immediately, and nervous about him training me: if it was anything like before...He seemed to notice my unease about that and smiled warmly, "Don't worry, I won't be doing that again until you're ready for the experience. I plan to just test the limits of your...abilities. Just to see what you can do and how far along you are with fighting and confrontation just in case. As well as how society in the city works and getting you a more effective way to communicate with others..."

Alright. That made me feel much better about this. I nodded my agreement, trying to push the experience I had with him earlier to the back of my mind for now. I never wanted to experience that kind of fear again: I died once, how I didn't know, but I was not too keen on dying again so soon. Just the thought of being eaten by a creature known to drown it's victims in my previous life's history was chilling; a being capable of snapping bones easily, and drowning their broken victims was definitely going to be a nightmare...a daymare of mine now, if such a thing existed.

Pops rose to his full height again, backing up slightly and looking at the both of us with visible guilt, mostly intended for Redline to see he actually felt that way I'm betting. "Alright that's enough excitement for the rest of today. I'll give you eight hours of rest before getting you again to continue with your punishment." He then looked at me but I looked at Redline. She was trying to keep as straight a face as she could, but her tail and ears moving around excitedly betrayed her stoic demeanor. 

"Do whatever you want, but until Sc'the gets a Tracker and some ability assessment training he is not to leave the property." Then he disappeared and Redline barely got out a quick "follow me!" Before dashing off to the house, thankfully not using (Streak) as that was much too fast for me to keep up with at the moment.

-----------------------------------

Poppa had made a huge mistake, with the current level he assumed the (Young) Dragon was at, nearing the same strength as Redline was without her equipment, he'd assumed that Sc'the would be able to handle the projection scenario. But it seemed that--as smart as he was--there were still limits to what the (Young) Dragon was able to handle.

Being a hyper menace able to stay up all night without showing a hint of fatigue was one thing; though, challenging his (Pressure Aura) was another entirely. Poppa had thought Sc'the would've risen against the challenge like before and get through it with his head and intelligence over freaking out. Then again the giant creature was only around that of a mid-B ranked monster, and the highest level being Sc'the had gone against were exhausted D ranks.

Poppa did not expect the (Young) Dragon to lose it completely: Breathing out what seemed to be a mix of a Fire Breath attack and a Purple Gas Breath that took some of the properties from the previous. Pops had to use his (Energy Manipulation) to box in the entire area in with (Disintegration) to nullify the Gas' effects, but before he could get to the (Young) Dragon to calm it down. Redline dashed in without a second thought it seemed: Towards the extremely dangerous creature visibly thrashing around in blind fear before he could yell at her to stop.

His heart dropped as the (Young) Dragon reared to strike at her, but it seemed that today of all days her training was operating at full capacity and Red was more focused on getting to the dragon than she was about listening to his warnings against such actions. Pops noted this as a mental note for later when--not if, when--he ramped up her training, clearly she'd been holding back in their duels and he was going to make her give him her all for not taking it seriously all this time.

Red dodged the toxic claw-strikes, and the deadly tail, and stepped within biting range. But before he could bite she closed Sc'the's mouth by pressing his head against her chest and hugging him around the neck, her hands just before the first set of equally deadly toxic spines. Pops was about to use (Teleport) to get her out of danger when Sc'the struck again, but the motion stopped half-way through and the (Young) Dragon went limp in her arms.

Pops let out a breath of relief; something he didn't realize he'd been holding until this whole nervewracking ordeal was over...he thought to himself that he was totally going to be hearing about this from her in a few moments, and he was right: Pops took a moment to deal with the stray clouds of deadly gas before (Teleport)ing to Red, she let him have it with the moment he appeared and berated him for his neglect.

Pops had forgotten that Sc'the was only a day old, his eagerness at seeing what the (Young) Dragon could do trumping the earlier experience he had with the (Young) Dragon. Showing him around the little 'project' Pops had going on under their house...he should probably do that again sometime soon if there was even a small chance the (Young) Dragon would forgive him, even if only by a small amount.

Pops let out a heavy sigh as he made his way off of the Property: Maybe a moment at the Guild would help. Both to let the two of them cool off and to let him think of what he should do as well as getting to finalize the transport of the (Young) Dragon under careful watch of Guards and maybe even Sentries send by the Emperor himself...unfortunately they wouldn't be able to arrive until a few months due to something going on within the city that even he wasn't privy to yet. Only able to gain snippets of info from those still loyal to him in the Capital after switching from The Shadow Blades Guild to one of the Capital's Scouting/Elimination Forces.

He did it the usual way he got there, as to not attract unwanted attention: From people seeing that he was leaving his property, and because he didn't want to deal with the obnoxious adventurers scrambling after an autograph or whatever from him. Pops was already in a pretty negative mood so that would only serve to piss him off. He activated the anchor that he had set to the middle of his office, with specific instructions to staff to never set anything on it, to just put something at the door (if large) or on his desk (if papers and similar materials) and so far he hasn't had problems...until today. 

His activation Anchor wouldn't activate. Pops sighed louder, now frustrated, and he waited a few moments before trying again three more times--each time failing. It looked like the universe was keen on playing games with him today. He activated his movement skill (Blink) to disappear before getting to the front gate of the weeks chosen location and appearing in a back-alley near the center of the Second District's Commercial/Merchant Area. Thankfully there was no one there this time, and all he had to do now was...

Where was the VIP Teleportation Rune?

Pops swore under his breath and made his way to the back entrance of the Underground, whoever was making his day a worse than it already was turning out to be was going to have hell to pay.

Thanks for reading!

Ended up making this chapter (1st Edit) a half-hundred words shy of 3k, so it's a longer chapter than usual for me, and I am unsure if this or one of my more recent ones had the higher Word Count lol. Took me a good hour of reworking though, so hopefully it looks better now. 

Patreon Plug: https://www.patreon.com/Cr1mson_Fangs

Patreon Support: Nicolae, sselraef, ShadowOfShadow, EstenLyrics
(If you want a Patreon Shout out please consider joining The Eyes of Amber, in order to gloat about them to the world!)