Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

I turned to look at my side where I noticed a black dragon floating beside me.

"Malenia?"

The black dragon shifted its form mid-air, her scales peeling away in soft shimmers of magic until Malenia Drakex stood beside me, suspended by her own mana.

Her long obsidian hair billowed behind her, her golden-slit eyes unreadable.

A long black cloth wrapped around her, working as her dress.

She looked me over for a moment, then folded her arms.

"You're a difficult one to track down," she said, voice calm but annoyance was hard to not notice.

"I was having a conversation," I muttered, still annoyed about Inna's sudden retreat. "With someone... Other half?"

She tilted her head in confusion and I didn't even bother explaining myself.

Malenia floated closer, stopping just a few feet away. "Just who are you?"

"Himmel?" I replied, tilting my head in confusion. "Why do you ask?"

She studied me in silence for a while before whispering, "You're changing things, Himmel."

My brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're beginning to draw attention from entities who usually stay in slumber." She tilted her head. "Do you understand what that means?"

"Uh, the old shits of Kandam continent?" I asked, tilting my head in opposite direction. "Are the demigods stirred up by some young man?"

[<Young boy.>]

'Shut up, I am done with you!'

Malenia blinked at my sarcasm, clearly unimpressed. "This isn't a joke."

I dropped the smirk, the humor draining as quickly as it had come. "I know it's not."

She hovered closer, her voice lowering.

"The balance you're breaking wasn't just imposed by the gods. It was maintained by necessity. Something changes too much, they will begin to interfere."

"Malenia, I respect you a lot. Truly," I said, looking into her dragon-like eyes. "But you give them too much credit."

She frowned. "What?"

"I am saying don't hype them too much," I replied, walking past her at the edge of the platform. "Even my mother can take care of them."

Malenia's eyes narrowed, the golden slits glinting in the starlight.

"You speak too casually of beings you've never seen," she said, her voice sharp now.

I turned back slightly, giving her a side glance. "And you speak too reverently of creatures who let fifty thousand people die just to see what I'd do."

She didn't respond to that immediately.

Then she sighed. "I warned you, rest is up to you."

With that, she shifted again into her dragon form and shot toward the clouds, disappearing into the night sky.

I stood alone on the platform, wind rustling my hair, staring into the stars.

'I wish I could turn into a dragon as well.'

That would be cool.

[<Childish.>]

"Inna," I mumbled, rubbing my temples. "Come out."

[<...>]

"I asked something—"

[<No.>]

I frowned. "What? Why?"

[<You will get angry if I did.>]

I drew in a deep breath and moved at the edge of the platform.

"Can you tell me how are you related to Isthar?" I asked, sitting back down.

[<.....>]

"Please just tell me," I mumbled, looking down. "I don't want to think you are some evil god pretending to be good."

There was silence.

A long, aching silence that stretched far too long.

Just as I was about to speak again, her voice echoed, faint and soft, not like her usual confident tone.

[<I'm not pretending to be good.>]

"…Then what are you?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

[<A part of her. And she's a part of me.>]

I blinked. "So you two…?"

[<We were once the same. A whole.>]

"...."

I had a lot to say but there was nothing I could speak.

It was... something that was beyond my expectations.

Isthar who is seen as one of the most evil persons in the world and Inna whose love and care I have experienced myself.

I mean, they are so different that it never crossed my mind.

"...So, are you mentally connected?" I asked, rubbing my hands. "That's why you can summon her?"

[<I don't want to talk about it, not right now.>]

"Why!?"

[<You aren't ready.>]

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

[<...>]

Of course, she would just keep her silence.

I sat there in the silence that followed, staring out into the vast stretch of stars.

The wind brushed softly against my skin, but it did little to ease the tightening feeling in my chest.

"Inna," I said again, quietly this time. "Do you think I'll ever be ready?"

No answer.

Typical.

I leaned back, my hands supporting me on the cool surface of the platform.

'A part of her. And she's a part of me.'

What does that even mean for her? For me?

And if that's true, then… was I trusting someone who shared a soul with the person the world considered a devil?

[<I know what you're thinking.>]

Her voice broke the silence, gentle like a breeze but weary.

[<You're wondering if I'm lying to you. If everything I've done, all the warmth I've shown was just a trick.>]

"…Yeah," I admitted. "I hate that I'm even doubting it."

[<You don't have to believe anything I say, Qais. But ask yourself this: has anything I've ever done made you feel like I was using you?>]

"…No," I murmured. "That's the problem."

[<Then just hold onto that. For now. When you're ready, I'll tell you everything. About me. About her. About… us.>]

I didn't know what to say to that. So I didn't say anything at all.

I let out a tired sigh as I lay down on the platform once again.

'Now that I think about it.....'

Even if she is some evil goddess...

...I still want her by my side.

---

The morning arrived and the first thing I did was to inform Caldus about the Candela city attack.

Even though doubtful about my source of information, he still agreed to send more troops to the place.

And we arrived at the place as well.

'I guess it was good to not tell them about the thing that's going to happen.'

Candela looked peaceful.

Children ran between market stalls, merchants haggled over prices, and a bard strummed a gentle tune under a tree.

As I walked through the city, looking around the place.

Elijah stood beside me as we moved towards the church. "It's hard to imagine this place being reduced to ash."

Aimar leaned against the railing. "We're here now. So it won't be."

I said nothing, my eyes focused on the people.

"Something on your mind?" Elijah asked, making me turn to look at him. "You have been a lot silent today."

".... It's nothing," I mumbled, rubbing my face.

Aimar bumped into me like an idiot. "I can bet it's about a girl."

My lips twitched at his words.

Fuck, I can't even deny it.

"Did you talk with Zenith?" I asked, looking at Aimar. "For some reason, she isn't picking up my call."

"I will try later on," he replied, nodding his head. "Anything you want me to tell her?"

"No," I mumbled, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Just tell her to be safe."

Elijah came closer to me, uncomfortably close.

I gave him a disgusted look. "What?"

"Do you like Zenith?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Wasn't it obvious?" I replied, shoving him back. "Of course, I do. I like her mother as well."

"I will kill you if you try to hit on my aunt—"

"Bitch please," I replied, smiling sweetly. "I would commit suicide myself the day you become stronger than me."

Elijah burst into laughter, grabbing his side.

"The fuck are you laughing at?" I asked, slapping his chest. "I would do the same if you became stronger than me."

"Aren't you underestimating me?" he winced, rubbing his chest. "I am an Avatar, you know?"

"So am I," I replied, shrugging. "It won't change anything."

"No but seriously," Aimar chimed in. "How many women are you planning to marry?"

"....I don't know," I replied, rubbing my eyes. "I wish Oliver was a girl, then it would have been easy to just choose him."

"That's creepy," Aimar grumbled, stepping away from me. "And even more creepy when we twins look alike."

I shoved him a middle finger as we reached the church.

The entire place was now filled with knights and nuns who were moving around.

"Miracle child."

"We greet you, Avatar."

"My lord."

As I walked, everyone bowed in front of me and Elijah.

Nodding to them, I walked further inside the building while looking around.

I even noticed the little girl who we rescued sitting on the side along with a nun.

She looked at me and smiled.

I smiled back as I walked past the crowd and entered the main hall.

Only to freeze at the entrance.

"Good morning, darling."

A girl wearing a graceful veil spoke in a cheerful tone.

I frowned. "Helena?"

She walked closer towards me. "Miss me?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked as Elijah and Aimar walked past me.

"I came to cheer you up," she replied sweetly. "And I wanted to see the glorious moment of you defeating the dead god with my own eyes."

I scoffed. "Yeah. I don't know how you are so sure."

"Of course, I will be," she replied, twirling on her steps. "I have far more confidence in you than anyone else."

"...."

I didn't reply as I walked past her.

Taking a few steps further, I stopped in front of another girl.

The one wearing a helmet to cover her face.

"Why are you here?" I asked, looking down at her. "Aria?"

She stood motionless for a long while, then she drew in a deep breath.

"Can I talk with you?" she requested, lowering her head.

I frowned. "About what?"

"About you, me...."

She took her time before speaking.

"...About Ashlyn."