Aftermath:
After the disappearance of the platoon within the Territory of Bristle.
The Order of Light had begun to make their move and denounce the city of bristle.
The King and Queen of the nation had begun to lose power over their people and aristocrats.
Pushing them in a terrible state, Leanne returned to provide them with information as they plan their next move to prevent any further damage to their name.

Lana on the other hand was sent to the demon-kingdom along with Estel.
The gate had no time left to have the Menders return after healing both of them.

Both their condition was dire enough that it required a dozen of them to perform the ritual to heal them. Strength and stamina are easy to restore, but lethal wounds are deadly practice when performed a single person isn't enough unless that person desire's to throw their lives away for another. Because of this, they are rewarded with a large sum as they are partaking in rescuing an important guest including the princess herself.

As for the Demon-kingdom after receiving Leanne's explanation they decided to keep things quiet and let them handle the issue regarding the church. However, the Frost Queen left a message that they can ask for their help when needed as a sign of goodwill for Leanne's efforts.

It appears Leanne herself left a good impression on her as she left.

As a day passed by...

Morning: 5:30 am

// Not all Adventure's end in happy endings. //

The moment she woke up...
The first thing that happened was...

She threw up a lot.

"Bleeeuuurgh"

[Reducted Rainbow] apparently covered the side of her bed, as the servant entered my room.
Only to scream in horror as they saw her awake.

She was feeling dreadfully sick with a sharp pain on her head.
With the aid of the menders, she was able to physically recover most of her wounds along with her fever. However, that doesn't mean mental pain can be healed so easily.

Her body and head ached as she could barely recall what had happened.

The memories of that nightmare that entered her mind, however, remained.
As it left her feeling like she just watched some disgusting horror show.

 She felt stings on her arm as she lifted it to see,
Only to realize they were wrapped up in bandage's with a tinge of blood from her own wounds.

[What on earth happened?] she asked.

While scanning her surrounding with hazy thoughts.

She turned and asked one of the servants for a mirror while rubbing her aching eyes.
As her visions slowly returned to her.
The mirror closes unto her, as she saw them carried it.

But only then she realized that the servants had wings.

The moment she saw it.

[No...No...No...
That can't be possible.
Am I dreaming?] she thought.

While observing the mirror gazing at herself, wearing a white linen cloth that was easy to move in.

She could only think.
[I look like shit.] as she continued to observe.

Dark hair that was a mess and scales covered the right side of her face, as it glistened in the mirror reflecting the light in the room.

Her eyes were now red similar to her sister.
It's almost like the external feature my own sister had, were suddenly thrown at her.

She then suddenly felt an itch on her scales as she accidentally touched it a bit,

"Ow!" it stung, then slightly bled.

The servants swiftly panicked while grabbing a clean cloth to gently wipe it.
Though the most disturbing thing wasn't the scale on her face.
... But the servants.

The fact her surrounding looked extremely familiar.
Doll's line up, stone walls, and a wide room that is eerily quiet.

Made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

[Ah... no good.
I feel like I'm on full denial.
I can't possibly be back home...
... Can't I?]

While turning to the servants all of them were eerily smiling at her without saying a word.
Their flickering wings and polite gesture's with elegant maid clothes is completely making her feel awkward.

... To the extent.
It's Completely Throwing Her Off!

She could vividly remember a bit of her memory,
How each and one of them had scorning eyes that it felt uncomfortable for her every time they entered her room.

She had to complain to her own mother and sister about it.
Preventing them and leaving most of the cleaning to her.

She then said.

[But what's with those bright smiles!

It's like the world completely turned upside down!

They have never done such a thing before...

That it, pisses me off more every time I look at them.]

Their very presence made her feel both uncomfortable and awkward at the same time.

[Agh, I'm getting dizzy...]
Reaching for her head, she felt drained of all of her strength.

Feeling sick again,
She swiftly rested back in the bed while feeling the stinging sensation on her whole body.

One of them suddenly approached the bed pushing a trolley.
They opened it and a sweet aroma of food gushed out of it,
Her stomach then made an obvious sound.

*Growl*

She raised herself from her own bed with a groan,
Gazing at the servant's she couldn't help but accept their hospitality no matter how bitter she felt about them.

________________________________________________________________________________

// Aisha's Shadow. //

After eating, I simply told them it was fine to leave me be.
They gave me concerned looks as they left the room.
While they silently left without saying a word.

I deeply sighed, but then I heard a voice above this luxurious bed.

"Look's like you have a stronger will, compared to the rest of our kin."

Its red eyes glistened on top as I gazed at it eye to eye.
As it's dark figure is completely hidden by the shadow of the room.
In a few seconds, it leaped off the roof of my bed on the right side of my bed,
While it revealed itself in the lightly lit room.

The first emotion I felt upon gazing at its appearance was...

*Dread.*

My body reacted in terror while crawling and pushing off the pillows and cloth as I make my way to the opposite side of my bed. I then fell off of it causing a small *Thud*.
The carpet and wooden structure of the floor saved me the trouble of having a bad fall,
But the anxiety and terror I felt from that creature was something I do not want getting any closer to me.

As I reached the wall of my room, I leaned on it to pull myself back up.

Because this thing was the one who gave me that disgusting nightmare.
While I felt my stomach twisting just from its appearance.
Enduring the feeling I swallowed my own guts back in my throat, while gritting my teeth as I tried to pull myself together.

The creature then leaped up, on top of the bed with its red eyes.
Gazing at me intently as it then said.

"Still spirited and healthy.
How fortunate, I worried that you wouldn't be able to handle it."

[Eh? Worried.] The words it spoke puzzled me.

It then tilted its head.
"Of course, is it strange not wish for my own master to remain safe?"

[Master?]

As it approached her, it then closed its eyes while turning away.

"I see...
So, you instead chose to turn your eyes away from it.
I suppose that's one way to keep oneself from being lost."

As it said those words, I then recalled it.
The day I committed my first murder.

Before I knew it, I threw up once again.
[How... how the heck did it end up like this?]

...

...

...

After a few moment's I returned to my bedroom, as for the mess I've made.
I chose to ignore it and ask more question to this fiend that made me lose myself.

"You said, you were worried about me.
Then why did you give me such a dream?"

It's tiny head went low, then turned to the window.
"It was the only way." It said.

"You've seen it...
Did you not?
The memories of the victim of those that carried that banner."

Estel grimaced when she heard it.
"So... it wasn't just a dream.
Was it?"

It nodded.

"Feigning a good beautiful shining beacon for the humans.
The Order of Light is nothing but a sham.

Into a darker world which they now control.
Those who wielded power are often manipulated by them.

I feared you would become their pet.
Which was why-
-The souls of their victims cried out to you."

Estel then complained.
"Then why did you need to give me such memories!?
That was just...
Just..." as Estel held her head in frustration.

It replied.
"Because there was no other choice."

She turned to it in shock while it continued to speak.

"To forge a contract with me,
Memories of your kin that had fallen must be thrust into you.

I am not like Aisha that had forged a memory with you, upon your birth.

I am what you could refer to as...
A spirit that wakes when the souls of your kin howl for vengeance.
You can simply say I am a part of Aisha that lurks in its shadows."

She then asked it.
"Then why did you appear?"

To its reply.
"Your circumstances and condition were met.
It was only your own misfortune that this happened.
The emblem of the white dragon on their banner.

Along with your own anger that seethed with malice.
Paved the way to wake me from my slumber.

Granting you the power of your kin, that slept within your blood.
Power to slay the monster in front of you."

Estel's eyes grew wide, as it said those words.
She had seen the fanatic priestess in front of her as a monster, instead of a human.
Giving the black dragon a pained expression as she clutched her chest.

It then said.

"I can understand your fear and doubt, child.

The dread you sensed, the moment I threw you into the abyss known as the tragedy of your own race.

You believe I am some kind of demon.

Rest assured, I will not do anything malicious that would cause alarm.
Nor is there a need for you to experience any other memory.

After all...
Your ancestors even now...
Continues to watch over you.

Child of the Moonlight."

It soon walked towards her own shadow and melded itself within it.
Estel could only feel worried and concern when it said those words.

She then said in frustration.
"Please, tell me this is the end of it..." As she prayed for a peaceful day.

...

...

...

Servants later enter her room, only to find another mess,
She then swiftly apologized to them, while they swiftly shook their head in a panic.

Estel was puzzled why they were acting so politely to her, despite how they used to sneer at her.
It gave her a disturbed her mind every time they did such a thing.

But as she stood on her own, due to the call of nature.
They swiftly came to her side helping her stand,
In a panic and in confusion she pulls her arms away from them.

"I'm fine," she said in annoyance.

"Continue your work." as she walked away from them.

The servants could simply sigh, as she walked towards the curtain to do her business.
While placing both her hands on her face, she then thought.
[What the heck is happening!?] in her own frustration she repeatedly wonders.

________________________________________________________________________________

// First Visitor //

After being able to relax in a chair, she sat beside the window with tea prepared on the table.
The servants however persistently worked their way to providing her tea for her,
That she was feeling disturbed by their level of hospitality.

Once again she had to shoo them away, a second time.

While gazing at the windows she saw a familiar scenery of the bustling city of the demon-kingdom.
They were placed in the center and her room was located on the 6th floor of the castle.
Making it extremely high, despite that she simply gazed at the vast area while people of all kinds moved like ants that can fly.

While relaxing and drinking her warm tea, she then thought.
"Not a prank, either."

As she reminisced the day where they made her drink dirty water.
Showing their disdain for her.

"Seriously, what is up with this day." with her furrowed brow, she couldn't understand what was happening.

A knock on the door then occurred.
She then replied with a rough voice.
"Come in."

 As she turned towards the door the first person to greet her was her grandfather.
While entering the room, he then showed his figure to her.
His left arm was healed but his right was replaced with a prosthesis.
To her surprise, she then asked.

"Grandpa! what happened?" he could only give her a wry smile as she saw her innocent question.

He then said with a bit of laughter.

"I guess that answer's my first question."

Approaching her as he pulls out a second chair to calmly sit with her.
She then asked with concern.
"Your... arm."

But he simply shrugged with a wide smile on his face while saying.
"This is nothing, It was completely worth it."

He then pulled out a crystal placing it on the table.
"This will answer your question, apply your mana into it."

As he said those words, she swiftly grabbed it.
Images and records flowed inside her mind as she swiftly released her hand in confusion.

"I- I did that?" he nods then explained to her.

Estel showed frustration and confusion,
As she felt guilty about what happened.
Her grandfather explained to her, that none of it was her fault.
That the fact he grew complacent was partly to blame for what had happened.

He wasn't aware of why Estel went on a rampage.
But the fact she was kidnapped and grew berserk was something he blames himself.

Estel then swiftly asked him for help, regarding a different subject concerning the incident.
The reason why she went berserk.

"Come out!" she cried out to her own shadow.
Her grandfather was skeptical but Estel wasn't the type to lie about it.

The nameless spirit then sprawled out from her own shadow in a fashionable way.
It's black scale and tiny size were similar to Aisha as it fluttered its wings as though presenting itself to him.

Her grandfather could only give it a wry smile in response.

As it then said.

"Greetings, former demon-king.
Your sacrifice to save her life was admirable.
I cannot simply hide from the presence of the one who saved my owner." It mischievously said.

Estel retorted to it.
"Does that mean you won't appear if it wasn't my grandfather."

It then replied to her in a calm tone.

"Of course, I rather keep my presence hidden rather than.
Becoming worthless if something decides to attack me.

Unlike Aisha, I do not need rest nor perform miracles like them." Her grandfather was simply intrigued.

"So... you're the so-called Black Dragon Of Calamity."

It then calmly replied to him.
"That's what my own kin called me.
Though my true purpose is to grant my owner their true potential in battle.
Which you should already know is only available to certain candidates of the whites.

Otherwise, I cannot connect to such beings as the presence of darkness does not exist within them."He then nods to it in response while groaning a bit.
Turning his head to Estel with a troubled expression.
He then said to her.

"Estel, this being is a part of you.
The records which the Moonlight wrote regarded it, as a being that causes destruction while also its protector. The reason why it was named as Calamity was that it often causes the owner to lose themselves in a frenzy the moment a contract was made."

Estel had a troubled look as he explained it to her.

"But, but...
This thing nearly killed you!"

He then replied one again.

"I do not know the details of what happened,
but you cannot blame it for causing yourself to go on a rampage.

It was said that there are moonlights that successfully retained their mind while making a contract with it."

The nameless dragon then replied to his words.
"Indeed, there were...
Although that was an age where the light dragon was still in peace.
With the tragic tale of how my kin fell into extinction.
You cannot blame her for being unable to bear the tormented souls of her own kin.

Estel possesses quite a strong mind to remained sane even after our ritual.

Though what was even more intriguing was...
The fact you managed to safely rescue her without crippling her."

As it said those words, her grandfather eye's widened.
Estel was even more confused at what was happening.

The tiny black dragon and her grandfather was having a conversation she couldn't retort.
As the two happily conversed, but then it asked a question to him.

"So...
Tell me?
How long do you intend to hide the truth.
Regarding her future as the next queen?"

It was at that moment Estel's face froze in shock.
While her grandfather who was desperately trying to avoid the matter, could only groan in response.

As he had no choice but to tell her the truth he had to tell her.
"Estel, recently you were just announced as the crown princess.
I'm sorry..."

At that moment inside Estel mind.
[How the heck did it end up like this...]

________________________________________________________________________________