The dragon's harem

The shadow drakaina gasped, freezing in place as the radiant woman smiled. Something was off. Even she didn’t understand what was standing in front of her.

The radiant woman smiled, her red lips curling up into a terrifying smile, “You can see me, can’t you?” She stood, her feet sinking into Arad’s mountain of gold coins and gems. With each step forward, the light radiating from her body refracted and reflected on the gold and jewels into a rainbow of sparks, colors, and mesmerizing brilliant luster.

Before the shadow drakaina could know it, the woman was already at her side, standing not a meter away from her. “I’m Luminous, what’s your name, child.”

Grace’s skin started ripping apart and melting just from standing this close to her, and before she knew it, all of her skin had evaporated, revealing the dark shadows beneath.

Luminous frowned as she stroked the ground with her foot, then bent down. Touching Grace’s shadow with care. Her long crystal fingernails sank into the shadows, and she then pulled Grace out of the shadows where she was hiding, lifting her up by the head.

Grace struggled to escape, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t resist Luminious’s stupid strength.

“When two dragons meet, the young must answer the older’s questions.” Luminus lifted her other palm and rubbed Grace’s face with a gentle touch, then gave her a weak tap, “Come on, girl, what’s your name? It is not every day that I meet someone who can see me.”

“Grace! My name… is Grace… let me go.” Since she couldn’t escape, her only option was to play along with whatever Luminous wanted for now.

Luminous giggled and licked her lips. “A beautiful name, named after Gracie, the goddess of life and death, the one who rules over the shadow palace and the succubus. Good, I’ve heard Arad needed the help of someone like you. But as it happened, I need help, too.”

Luminous and Grace were sitting on the peak of Arad’s mountain of wealth.

“What do you need my help with? I want to leave if you don’t mind.” Grace glanced back at the door and then felt sweat rushing down her back. Luminus had already locked the door with ten locks and several chains and spells. Not even Arad would be able to help her escape from this room now.

But what scared Grace more was that even with all of the gold and gems in the room, not a single shadow existed. Every small corner got forcibly illuminated by Luminous radiance, meaning she couldn’t even escape into the shadows if she wanted. What’s more, she could feel her power being at an all-time low. The lack of darkness and shadows was almost rendering her magicless.

“Tell me, Grace. What problems do you think someone as bright and radiant as myself faces?” Luminous put one leg on another, staring at Grace with a terrifying smile.

“I… don’t know.”

“I can’t see myself. Even mirrors can’t help. It’s been over five hundred years since I last managed to catch a glimpse of my body.” Luminous leaned back on her hands, “That’s what I need your help with. Tell me how I look. I want to know if I grew a few wrinkles or not.”

Grace gulped and took a deep breath.

“And what if I refuse?”

Luminous giggled, “Of course, I’ll poke a hole in your head and pull your memories straight out. I can use those to see how you saw me. But I can’t guarantee that you’ll survive with your intelligence intact. Who knows? You might even get stupider than you are now.” She reached forward with her foot and tapped Grace on the knee, “Asking what will happen if you don’t do what I say. As if you’re stupid enough to refuse.”

Grace sighed. Starting next time, she’ll do whatever Arad asks by the letters. Really, what in the nine hells is a light drakaina of such power doing holed up inside his hoard?

For a moment, Grace wanted to entertain the idea that this powerful drakaina was just a prize, sitting here collecting dust in Arad’s treasure room.

“What kind of description do you want?” She’ll play along for the time being.

“Let’s start with my face. How does it look?” She got closer so Grace could get a better look.

“First, your skin is weird. It’s as white as snow and dotted with multi-colored spots, like white opal. Those multi-colored spots are like freckles on your face and through your whole body, for that matter.” Grace tilted her head, “Your eyes are also strange, very human-like, but instead of having one color, they are like two pools of glass, like they were carved out of diamond, and I can see my reflection in them clearly.”

She leaned back, “Lips as red as blood, and your hair, I can’t understand if you don’t have any. Or that your hair is just a flame of radiant golden light.”

Luminous smiled, “I do have hair. I’m not bald. My hair is just brighter than my whole body by a lot, probably why you see it as a flame of light.” She then got even closer, “What about wrinkles? You avoided the topic without a comment.”

Grace cleared her throat, “You don’t have any. You do look older than me and Arad, but I can’t really tell what old looks like with everyone else being shadows.”

“Everyone is shadows? Now that’s interesting.” She leaned back, “Care to elaborate?”

“What is there to elaborate upon? Everyone is dead, and only their shadows roam the world. Arad can’t see that. He thinks they are alive.” She growled, “I bet they brainwashed him, you too, most likely.”

“I see, I see, now that’s quite the problem. You think he is insane, while he thinks you’re insane. You’re both stuck in a deadlock.”

Grace glared at her, “What about you? Are they dead or not?”

“Listen to me, girl. My opinion doesn’t matter since you’ve got no reason to trust me. In fact, you’ve got all the reasons to fear and avoid me, don’t you? With us being a light and shadow drakaina.” Luminous had a point. No matter what she says, Grace would just think that she is either lying or brainwashed.

“Then? You got a solution for us?” Grace glared at her, and Luminous smiled.

“I’ve got two solutions. One to end it here quickly, and the other would take some time.” She put one leg on another, “Which one do you want to hear?”

“What’s the quick solution?” Grace was finally interested.

“Knowing Arad, you’ll soon be his mate. Aren’t you one already? Am I right?” Luminous asked, and Grace nodded.

“Then let me ask you, how strong are you? What is your relationship?”

As before, Grace replied quickly, “He is far stronger than me, so he is the dominant one. I can’t do anything about it.”

“Then, if he tells you to do something.”

“I’ll have to do it.” Grace understood where Luminous was going.

“He already told you that you’re insane and that the world is alive and not dead, yet you’re still refusing to believe his words. I would say that you lack manners. Go apologize and help him find a cure for you.”

“That isn’t really a solution, but I guess it can put an end to the argument. What’s the second option?”

“You grow stronger, become a greatwyrm, challenge the twilight, and survive. Both your soul and body should be reborn then into a perfect form. All defects with you will get fixed.” Luminous stretched her arms, “You might find other solutions, but those are what I can think of on the spot. Now, how does my body look? Don’t tell me my breasts are dropping like an old hag!”

“No, they aren’t. In fact, they look quite firm.”