Chapter 5: Pursuit and Discovery

Feeling the commotion behind him, Gern jumped in alarm.

“Damn, they’re still chasing me. But I paid for the clothes, so why are they still after me?”

However, when he turned around, he saw a flash of gold and was instantly terrified.

“Shit, shit, shit, the mad princess is still chasing me!”

Gern ran forward like a madman, the group behind him hadn’t caught up, but something even more terrifying had.

His footwork, honed to perfection, allowed Gern to meld almost seamlessly with the night.

This was a martial art from his past life, more accurately, a type of movement technique.

When mastered, it allowed one to merge with shadows, appearing ghostly, perfect for assassination.

This technique was called the Shadow Step, one of the top-tier movement techniques of the Chaos God Sect.

As the light from the pendant flickered and dimmed, Lilia grew more certain that Gern was being pursued.

“No, I have to save her!”

Lilia’s speed increased, surpassing even Gern’s Shadow Step.

Beneath her feet, flames seemed to gather, leaving small embers wherever she walked.

Gern glanced back, and in that brief moment, his tears nearly spilled over. A faint white light flickered around his body.

“Help! Help! Don’t come any closer!”

He screamed in his mind, unaware that a silver tail was faintly visible behind him.

Finally, Gern saw a glimmer of hope. The exit of the secret realm was just ahead, and he could finally escape.

He planned to blend into the crowd, confident that Lilia wouldn’t catch him then.

****

Space rippled, and a silver-white figure burst out of the secret realm. When the silver-haired girl appeared, everyone froze in place.

Gern, still unaware of what was happening, imagined a life free from Lilia.

But when he looked up, his expression stiffened.

“Huh? Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my face?”

Seeing the confusion and greed in their eyes, a terrible thought crossed Gern’s mind.

Could it be…

He touched his cheek, the soft and smooth sensation confirming his worst fears. Tears streamed down his face.

Why had he turned back into a dragon again? This couldn’t be right!

Suddenly, Gern felt a surge of magic and vitality within him. His nearly depleted energy now flowed abundantly.

“What…?”

Before Gern could process, several people rushed towards him.

“Not good!”

Gern’s senses went on high alert, his hair standing on end. The Shadow Step activated again, and he melted into the night.

The oncoming crowd was shocked, searching frantically for Gern.

After all, he was a young dragon, valuable whether captured as a s*ave or sold as material.

Huddled in a dark corner, Gern watched as they searched for him, a sense of helplessness overwhelming him.

He hugged his knees, tears streaming down his face.

“I’m human, I’m not a dragon. Why… why is this happening?”

He couldn’t accept his current state, the conflict between his human identity and his dragon form was intense.

He still didn’t understand the mechanics of his transformation. Would he have to avoid human society from now on?

In his past life, though he was a puppet of an evil sect, he could at least blend into human society with some disguise.

Now, he was constantly turning into a silver dragon, making it impossible to live in the human world.

“Finally, I found you.”

A familiar female voice echoed in his ears, and Gern instinctively looked up, seeing the beautiful yet terrifying face.

“!!!”

The silver dragon girl’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Lilia looked at the unconscious girl, scratching her head. She thought, “She must have been traumatized from the chase, leading to this reaction.”

She gently picked up the fainted silver dragon girl and stepped forward, addressing the crowd.

“Everyone, I am Princess Lilia of the Kleit Kingdom. My silver dragon slipped out and frightened you all. I apologize. Now, please disperse.”

Lilia’s actions served two purposes: asserting her identity and warning the crowd not to mistake Gern for unclaimed treasure.

The crowd, hearing this, didn’t press further. They greeted Lilia and went about their business.

Lilia gazed at the peaceful sleeping face of the girl in her arms and felt an urge to kiss her.

Unconsciously, she leaned down and lightly kissed the silver-haired girl’s red lips, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

“I… what am I doing?”

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, but the lingering scent made it hard to resist.

Before she knew it, she leaned down again, this time kissing deeply.

The sudden lack of breath jolted Gern awake. Seeing the girl so close, her mind was in turmoil.

She couldn’t believe what was happening, convinced it was a dream.

Thus… Gern fainted again. Noticing the brief struggle, Lilia finally let go.

She gently placed Gern back on the ground and sat behind her, hiding in the shadows to observe.

If the silver dragon girl didn’t want to be seen, Lilia would stay hidden, watching from afar. When Gern truly accepted her, she would make her presence known.

After what felt like an eternity, Gern finally regained consciousness.

The memories were blurred, dreaming and reality intertwined.

She sat still for a while before slowly rising, changing into a somewhat fitting set of women’s clothing, and running towards the other side of the town.

Lilia, hiding in the shadows, watched Gern’s peculiar movements, deep in thought. Normally, dragons wouldn’t use human movement techniques; they had their own inherited skills.

Unless Gern was abandoned by other dragons or orphaned due to her parents’ deaths, unable to access her inherited knowledge.

Moreover, this movement technique didn’t resemble any reputable sect’s teachings, but rather those of an evil cult.

Lilia’s curiosity grew, more determined to follow Gern and uncover the truth.

****

Unaware of being followed, Gern finally made it through the alleys and returned to her modest home.

The small courtyard was dilapidated, made of thatch and mud. Cracks covered the walls and roof, threatening to collapse at any moment.

Gern’s home held few possessions: a bed, a table, a chair, and a stove. The neighbors were mostly elderly, with many houses standing empty.

Gern’s parents had died in a war a few years back. Her father, with a hint of knightly talent, perished on the battlefield.

At first, Gern believed her parents were killed by the enemy, but upon investigation in her past life, she discovered the war was influenced by the Chaos God Sect, and her parents were casualties of their scheme.

Recalling the past, Gern gritted her teeth, her golden vertical pupils filled with resentment and frustration.

“Chaos God Sect!”

Given the current timeline, the sect would arrive in less than a year. She needed to act fast, hoping to avenge herself against the evil sect member who once enslaved her.