My Trash Talent Is Actually OP!

The next morning, things were worse.

Nova was pale, sweating again, and her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't hold a cup. Tay saw her nearly fall on the way to the hallway and caught her just in time.

"You need to lie down," he said.

She didn't argue.

When the others saw her, their moods dropped. Sinnett looked between Nova and Cinder, who stood at the far side of the hall drinking tea.

"What happened to her?" one of the guards asked quietly.

Sinnett turned to Cinder. "You didn't tell me your flames could do this."

Cinder looked over, calm. "I didn't know it hit her."

"It shouldn't have hit anyone," Tay snapped.

Sinnett sighed, rubbing his temples. "Everyone relax. If it was direct, she would've been dead already. Cinder doesn't throw fire without reason."

The maids nearby exchanged glances, then one stepped forward. "She's dangerous."

"Excuse me?" Sinnett turned to the girl.

"You saw Nova. She's getting worse. You can't protect her and ignore this. That girl...."

"Say another word," Sinnett warned.

The other maid joined in. "You think it's okay because you like her? Forgive my disrespect but liking her doesn't mean she can't kill you next."

"If she's made up of poison... she's a dangerous type of dragon then, it's not safe," another said, since the entire household knew, but no one was scared.

They were more even curious because they've never met real dragons before, and some were very jealous.

"Sir, you really have to punish her for what she did, she's very dangerous and I know she won't hesitate to do it again."

Sinnett watched Cinder drop her head from the corner of his eyes, he saw she felt guilty but when a single tear dropped from her eyes, he lost it.

Sinnett's locs moved before he did. The dark strands extended, twisted like ropes, and shot toward the two maids.

One screamed. They ran, but he caught one by the ankle, dragging her back. The other he wrapped around the waist, lifting her off the ground.

"Don't speak about things you don't understand," he said, voice low. "That's if you'll get to even speak again."

The caught maid whimpered. His locs tightened around her neck. She clawed at them.

"Sinnett!" Asher snapped.

He released them immediately. Both girls hit the ground coughing and gasping. The other maids stood frozen.

"Out. All of you," Sinnett said coldly.

They fled without looking back for even a second, Sinnett let his locs move to Cinder.

He made the locs wipe her tears and patted her head before he turned to leave, while dragging her behind him.

----

Nova had been taken to her room again. The king came by soon after, frowning.

"I heard there was trouble," he said.

Asher nodded. "It's not your people. It's the poison. She's getting worse."

The king glanced toward the door. "We have doctors. Should I call one?"

"No," Asher said quickly. "This kind of thing... they won't be able to help."

"Then what can?"

Asher didn't answer. He went into Nova's room. She was lying in bed, her breathing shallow. Zain was by the window, arms crossed.

"Her Phylactery," Asher said. "Is it still safe?"

Nova held her hands up, a blue crystal appeared above it and vanished.

Zain nodded. "Alright. That's good." He looked at Asher. "We do this now."

Asher hesitated. Then nodded. "She agreed to it yesterday."

Zain walked over to the bed. An arrow appeared in his hands, humming with energy, heat in this case and the tip was glowing faintly.

"You ready?" he asked Nova.

She nodded.

Zain leaned close. "It won't last long. You'll wake up. Just trust me."

He placed the arrow gently over her heart, then with a flick of energy, drove it in. Nova gasped once. Then she went still.

The room went silent.

Asher stared. Her chest stopped moving. Her skin turned pale fast. Her lips lost color. Her hair faded from its usual dark hue to a dull gray.

One minute passed.

Zain didn't move.

Two minutes.

Asher sat down, forcing himself to stay calm.

Three minutes.

He checked the Phylactery again, it was still glowing.

Four.

Still no movement.

Then, at five minutes, Zain turned to Asher. "Is your bond with her still active?"

Asher lowered his gaze, the system screen appeared suddenly as if hearing Zain's voice.

[Connection to Nova: Stable. Phylactery Secure. Soul Pulse Detected.]

He replied with a nod, then Zain exhaled.

He pulled a second arrow. This one was black, almost smoke-like. He didn't hesitate. He jabbed it into her neck, hard.

The arrow vanished on impact, a few seconds passed then Nova gasped, her eyes flying open. She sat up, coughing, then winced.

"What the hell was that?" she snapped.

Zain grinned. "Nice to have you back."

She rubbed her neck. "You could've at least warned me you were going to try to break the bone there!"

Asher laughed softly, relieved.

Nova calmed down slowly. Her breathing leveled out. She stretched her arms, flexed her hands.

Then she noticed everyone staring.

"What?" she frowned.

Asher looked stunned.

Zain looked her up and down.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Mirror," Asher said.

Nova got up and went to the mirror.

Then she froze.

She stared.

She was taller. Her body had filled out. Her legs were longer, her chest fuller, hips wider. She looked stronger, older even. Her hair, though still dark, had hints of violet.

"What the hell happened?"

Zain shrugged. "Sometimes a poison clears the way for growth. Think of it like a molting phase."

Sinnett peeked into the room. Then smirked.

"Well damn. You grew up."

Asher didn't let him say more. He slapped him in the back of the head.

"Ow! What? It's a compliment."

"Think with your brain, not your mouth."

Nova rolled her eyes. "I feel fine now. Better even. Weird, but fine."

"Keep resting anyway," Asher said.

She nodded. Then looked back at the mirror.

For once, she smiled and it reached her eyes.

Zain leaned back against the wall. "She'll be okay."

Asher finally relaxed. "Yeah. She will."

Nova sat back down on the edge of the bed, still processing the reflection in the mirror.

"This is insane," she muttered, lifting her hand to feel her cheek. "I don't even look like me."

"You look more like your dragon side now," Zain said casually. "They grow fast when needed. Guess your body thought it was time."

She looked at her hands again. The tremble was gone. Her breath steady. The faint burning in her chest had vanished. Even her thoughts felt clearer.

"Everything's sharper now," she said. "Like my senses. Even the light feels… lighter."

Asher crossed his arms. "Any pain?"

"Nope."

"You died five minutes ago," Tay said from the doorway. "So I'd say this is a good result."

Zain sat down near the window again. "Still not something I want to do twice."