3rd Pov
Slowly opening his eyes, Dawn looked around...it seemed he had collapsed from exhaustion.
Dawn : Where am I ? Wasn't I fighting...Velzard !
Remembering what happened before he passed out, he panicked a little and looked around.
A room made of ice, even the bed he was sleeping on...but what truly stood out was the white haired woman sat on a chair beside the bed.
Velzard : Ara, it seems you know about my identity.
Dawn : (Shit...I spoke my thoughts out loud...)
Paling whiter than a ghost, this was a lost case...no weapon, directly inside a true dragon's home, defenseless and his magicule haven't recovered yet...
Dawn : (I'm dead, haha...)
Velzard : Don't worry, I won't kill you or at least not yet.
Dawn : Haha...not yet...
Velzard : Depending on your answer to my question, I'll judge your faith later.
Placing her hand on her lap, the sweet and innocent smile was contradicting her words...it was a terrifying sight and Dawn could only accept his fate.
Velzard : Glad you understand, anyway your ice magic is really similar to mine, mind explaining how ?
This was the main intrigue for Velzard, she was a true dragon with natural affiliation with the ice element...
So her magic was that as well...when she unleashes her power it's like a natural disaster, something only nature could match.
Yet a human had a similar nature...
Dawn : Honestly, I don't know myself...
Velzard : I don't really like this answer.
Dawn : Ugh...(But our magic nature is similar?)
He felt a chill down his spine when Velzard started glaring at him, she had limited patience after all so Dawn quickly gathered every brain cell possible and started thinking.
Dawn : Mmh...m-maybe, if i can use my analytical ability on Miss Velzard, i could find out...
Velzard : I see, then fine I will allow it since I'm very curious.
Getting authorization, Dawn sighed in relief...there was a reason he didn't use Reader on Velzard all along.
First, she was way too out of reach and existence for Reader to work...but the reason Dawn didn't even try is because Velzard would have noticed it.
She wasn't like Ramiris, Velzard is much more cunning and with her dragon eyes...she could easily see through his trick.
And her reaction would be much worse...
Dawn : (Still...would it even work?)
This was his only solution, so after taking a deep breath his eyes started to glow silver as Reader was activated.
Surprisingly, he could see the information of Velzard.
Dawn : (It seems since she agreed, my skill worked...but then why didn't it work on Ramiris ? Perhaps...no Reader has also more to it, maybe hidden condition?)
He wanted to try more things but time was running low so he sealed those thought for later and started looking through Velzard's information.
After 3 minutes, he finally found the answer to her question...sweat started pouring from his forehead.
Velzard : It seems you found it so tell me now.
Dawn : I-i...you have a daughter...
Velzard : Eh ? EHHHHH ?!
Several minutes later, Velzard finally calmed down and Dawn explained the situation.
Basically, something similar to Veldora and Charybdis happened to Velzard...and with her magicule she gave birth to a spirit.
That spirit was summoned by Dawn and given the name Snowie...after accompanying him, Dawn's ice magic was strongly influenced by Snowie's magicule.
This just showed how high quality Snowie's magicule was...
Velzard : So you are the master of my supposed daughter...
Dawn : Y-yes...
Velzard's reactions are now totally random...even for a reader like Dawn.
Velzard : I see...ahh, where is she now ?
Dawn : We had to be separated 20 years ago...right now she must be with a girl named Luna.
Velzard : Luna ? I see...
Velzard was perplexed, she couldn't feel any form of lie in those words...meaning this is true, that means she truly has a daughter.
Spacing out, Velzard wondered...how it felt to have a daughter...is it like when Velgrynd and Veldora were born ?
Velzard : Let's make a deal.
Dawn : Huh ?
Velzard : You were transported here by an enemy right, I'll help you and in exchange let me meet Snowie.
Dawn : ...sorry miss Velzard but i...don't think i deserve to see Snowie again after what i did.
He fell silent afterward, in reality Dawn felt guilt and couldn't properly face Snowie or Luna.
Because...he kept moving forward to get stronger and let them behind...
Velzard : Mmh, still you formed a contract right, someone who is my daughter won't break it even if the soul corridor is gone.
Dawn : I-
Velzard : Shut it, you seem interesting so i'll help you or are you saying that you'll refuse the majestic Ice empress's help ?
She clearly added some threatening tone in purpose...Dawn could just sigh and accept her term once again.
Dawn : Fine...but i cannot guarantee the success.
Velzard : Fine for m-
Dawn : But before that...can I ask a question ?
Velzard : ...cut me off again and I'll put you in an ice coffin.
Dawn : H-hai...
Velzard : Whatever, ask your question.
Dawn : Well...why help me ? With the information I have given you, no you can probably even go through my memory and find everything you need...
Velzard : Oh that...w-well, if I killed the one my daughter chose...i would look kind of bad in front of her...
Turning around, hiding her expression...Velzard spoke up embarrassed.
Dawn : A-i see...(That's horrendously cute...)
Velzard : A-anyway, what is your course of action now ? My schedule is pretty much clear at the moment.
Dawn : (If i recall correctly, beside staying here doing nothing all day for centuries...she doesn't have any other duty...)
Dawn could just stare at Velzard who was still facing the other way...at first glance you couldn't tell those two were in a death situation fight earlier...
Dawn : Ahh, I think for now I need to recover at least half of my strength...then I need to go to Sarion...
Velzard : Sarion ?
Dawn : Yeah...i got my sister there, before getting teleported we were trying to clear a weird dungeon run by a psycho.
Velzard : A dungeon, huh...I think I heard about that.
Dawn : Oh really ? I guess the news travels fast...well i was out for a day minimum so...
Still this was weird, Velzard shouldn't be aware of such meaningless thing...at least not so fast.
Dawn couldn't see Velzard getting interested in this weird event on her own will...and he doubted Guy or the two maids would talk about this.
Velzard : What do you mean ? If it's that dungeon expedition with the former empress Silvia in Sarion, then that happened 8 years ago.
The sudden information went past Dawn like a lightning strike...his body froze and eyes went wide in shock.
Dawn : 8...years ago ?
Velzard : Yes, in fact I only noticed your arrival at the ice continent because space-time was distorted.
Dawn : Space...time, don't tell me !
Suddenly, a realization struck him...when he tried to rewrite the teleportation spell, something felt odd.
He had overwritten the spell but not at 100 % meaning instead of a successful spell, he was teleported by an incomplete spell.
Something must have gone wrong in the process, the location was random and space time was disturbed.
8 years...he was sent 8 damn years in the future.
Dawn : Shit ! Please tell me what happened during those 8 years ?!
Velzard : Whoa, calm down a little.
Giving a heavy head chop, Dawn groaned in pain but this work...he calmed down a little.
Velzard : To think your soul managed to resist time travel...how interesting.
Dawn : (8 years...but then Ria, i need to get to her quickly!)
Jumping out of the bed, Dawn quickly realized something...he didn't have the strength to move.
His body had reached past its limit...even for an enlightened human, this was too much.
Dawn : Shit...
Velzard : Ahh...seriously, let me help you.
Stretching her hand, Velzard started using some basic healing magic...
Dawn : (Wait she can do that too ? I thought she was just an obsessed dragon who lazed around like crazy.)
To say this was a great shock...it was...
Anyway, after getting healed...Velzard went on explaining more things that happened during those 8 years.
One of them particularly attracted Dawn's attention...the Falmuth kingdom has changed its ruler.
The now former king was turned prisoner, leaving his place to the moon goddess.
A new ruler who emerged after the orc invasion and Charybdis situation...
Dawn : (That description fits...Luna ? I should check on that after I find Ria...8 years, she doesn't have much time to live then...)
His hair flying along the wind, he couldn't even enjoy the honor of flying on the back of a true dragon, the white ice empress nonless.
Dawn felt a sharp pain in his heart as rage filled his mind...Helios...that guy just ruined 8 years.
He didn't age or anything but missed 8 years worth of life...he was already limited in time to become stronger before Rimuru's arrival.
And now...8 precious damn years were wasted.
Dawn : If he is still alive...no pain will be enough to calm me (But wait...if my rewrite was incomplete, would that mean i could potentially complete it and manage time travel?)
Velzard below was in her dragon form, she could hear the grunt of Dawn and sighed...sure he has some good potential but he was getting a little too ahead of himself.
Like at first, he showed fear, then talked respectfully but gradually as it was natural he started talking and acting as if he knew Velzard for a long time.
Velzard : (Mmh...i've got this feeling but it's not just his ice magic that is familiar, the way he talks is like he already knew me...)
Velzard was in her own thoughts, there was no way she knew him...he is just a human who barely started life.
Velzard : (It seems this boring life of mine finally found some spark.)
Grinning to herself, then soon arrived above Sarion thought for aerial pov it was just a large forest.
The illusion spell that covers the city is still on but now Dawn knew how to bypass it...or rather he knew the road to bypass it.
Velzard : I'll leave you here then ?
Dawn : Yeah, thanks.
Velzard : ...(He talks to me casually now, huh...)
Dawn : Are you going to leave now ?
Velzard : Yes, I only decided to take you here, I need to go back to the ice continent.
Nodding, Dawn looked down and jumped...they were high in the sky but this wasn't a problem.
Midway through the air, a platform of ice appeared for him to take support and slowly he came down.
Velzard : I'll send you a thought communication later so...(wait...why am i so casual too ? He is just a human who has a connection with my supposed daughter...what a strange person...)
She fell silent simply watching him reaching the ground, after a short break she turned around and flew back to the ice continent.
Returning to Dawn, he quickly read through the illusion surrounding the city...the whole structure took the form of a maze.
Now finding the way was simple, in a flash he went past the illusion and landed directly inside the city...the familiar world tree, the architecture...
Nothing has changed in 8 years...
Dawn : Ah...my body is still recovering, I'm already panting, huh...
He felt exhaustion...after running for a while, humans naturally felt that but for an enlightened one.
His body is really in ruin...in this state several weeks are needed for him to recover fully.
Silvia : Oh look who's back after years ?
Dawn ; Silvia...
Turning toward the voice behind him, the former empress hasn't changed either.
Silvia : (Oh ? No honorific ? He doesn't seem in his right state of mind...)
Strangely enough, she felt as if this was actually the way he should speak with her...not arrogance or superiority.
It wasn't even on equal stand...it just felt right.
Dawn : Where is Ria ?
Silvia : ...
Staying silent, she could clearly see some despair in his eyes...sighing, Silvia took out a paper from her pocket and made it fly toward Dawn.
Silvia : This is her location, though don't expect happiness.
Dawn : I-i see...
Reading the paper, Dawn immediately turned around and left.
Dawn : Thanks.
Those were his last as Silvia watched him cross the illusion barrier...
Silvia : Seriously, he just crossed it once before and now is walking through this mechanism I took decades to make !
She shouted frustrated...though after some time she calmed and wondered if she should have told Dawn about him.
Inside the imperial prison of Sarion...the man that caused trouble 8 years ago in this nation was chained and heavily injured.
Silvia : That Helios guy's skill is really a mystery...even after 8 years of study...it feels like it isn't' part of this reality, actually i get the same feeling when i watch Dawn-kun using his skill...what are these powers...
This was something that even her mad scientist couldn't solve at the moment...
Once again back to Dawn, he was running with all the stamina left in him...a village located near Sarion in Ungracia territory...
From the paper, he learned the circumstances after he was teleported...for years Ria tried to find him but nothing...
It was as if his existence was erased...on top of that Dawn didn't show signs of life, this heavily affected Ria.
Depression, anxiety, crisis, fear...she went through multiple phases and slowly lost her will to live.
Tension, stress...all these things can affect one's health...Ria already had a short life span not being able to evolve into an enlightened...
What Dawn feared right now...was to see someone who accompanied him for 2 decades disappear...
He wanted to get rid of his emotions as much as possible, he succeeded...he could control them and suppress them but Ria was there.
He wasn't resentful, in fact he was grateful that she was at his side and because of her, he still was human...
He couldn't let that light escape...not after he bathed in...
Dawn : Ah...
Heavily panting, he finally arrived...his eyes blank into coldness as he stared at a house in this small village.
Some inhabitant looked at him weirdly but he didn't care, instead he approached the door and opened it without any care.
Inside, an old woman sat on a chair playing with a wooden tool...she looked up and sighed.
Old woman : You must be Dawn...the little girl is in the room next door.
Pointing the finger toward the place, Dawn nodded...sweat pouring from his forehead, the house was silent, only his footsteps could be heard.
Finally, his hand held the door handle tight as he opened the door...
Dawn : A-ah...haha...
A warm smile welcomed him...before disappearing into darkness, his pupil dilated as he fell on his knee.
The room was empty with simple fourniture...on the bed lay a woman with beautiful features.
Though you could clearly see how malnourished the corpse was...at the moment, no life radiated from it.
Old woman : She passed away 3 days ago...I wasn't capable of removing her corpse as my instinct told me you would come soon.
The old woman standing right next to Dawn, she had sympathetic eyes...she had met Ria 6 years ago and took care of her as her own granddaughter.
She was a lost cause because...she truly lost everything, seeing her suffer was unbearable.
Ultimately ; she held her last breath 3 days prior to Dawn's arrival.
Old woman : Those were her last words... « Thank you granny for these years...though I hope I could at least meet him and my brother in the afterlife. »
Tears builded inside the old woman's eyes...she who had already lost her daughter, now lost another member of her family.
What is even more regretful is that when she spouted those last words...Ria obviously toned down at the end...she still believed in Dawn's survival.
But her reaction was cheap compared to the young man on the ground next to her.
His eyes were empty, rage ? Sorrow ? Despair ? Who knew what he felt at the moment...his hands were shaking, his skin paled...
Dawn : This can't be...
Clenching his fist, after denying such reality...he slowly started realizing that it was true...
In a burst of anger, he smashed the ground with his two fists...this was his fault !
Dawn : If only I was there...her life span was reduced because of me...
He was angry at himself...smashing his fists on the ground again and again...the whole house was shaking.
The old woman could only look with pity at the young man...she closed her eyes and slowly retreated.
3 days, she already knew years ago that this day would come so her reaction wasn't as violent...but Dawn ? This all came onto him suddenly.
Dawn : It's all my fault...
Tears were falling rapidly from all the built up emotions...he then quickly went to her side and grabbed her hand.
Stone cold...no sign of life again, she was truly dead...there was no hope.
Dawn : ...
He felt silent as tears dropped on Ria's cold hand...flash of memories passed with her passed his mind.
Biting his lips...the worse had yet to come as a robotic voice resonated through his mind.
VOTW : (Individual Dawn will acquire through inheritance, unique skill : False hope, successful.)
The acquisition of a new unique skill...anyone would be happy when you know the treasure that a unique is.
But Dawn...at the moment felt it, this unique skill belonged to Ria...she must have awakened it during those 8 years...
This wasn't a gift but a curse...the name alone purged Dawn into guilt...
Dawn : Ah...AHHHHHHH !!!
Crying and shouting with everything he had, his voice was akin to a savage and untamed beast.
This day changed his heart forever.
He cried, letting out painful and devastated groans...he just couldn't stop.
A clear light then glowed...due to the overly rampaging emotion...the egg inside germed giving birth to a new saint.