Dragons, Dragons, and More Dragons

Chapter 2

9/9/18

Lila was daydreaming about yet another storyline.

"Ah, what would my dream male lead character be? I'd like him to be handsome, like one of those anime characters... and well tempered, like Toby, to an extent... And to have supernatural powers, of course! But what kind? Hmm. Things to think about. Should it be a romance novel? And how do I keep myself from falling in love with him!?" she nervously fidgeted, seated nicely in her desk chair. "What if I make him a dragon, to match with the title for this month? Nah, that would be overly expected. Alright! I'll make him half-demonic and have him seal his power in his left arm, even though he's left-handed and it's incredibly bothersome! It'll be a reverse-isekai kind of deal, and the MC'll wake up one day, finding that he's not human anymore! Mhmm, mhmm!" She nodded to herself. "Now, he should be able to summon plants, but they all have some sort of magical power differing from their earthly counterpart! Umu, a future botanist in the making!"

[Did I pick up a verbal tic? Oh no. The anime is consuming me from the inside out.]

Regardless of whether she was developing Mental Corruption EX or not, she decided to immediately pitch her idea to her editor. She slammed her fingers on her phone and dialed his number with lightning speed.

Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep.

"Lila? What is it? More trucks?" Miss Forticia answered frantically. "ANSWER ME. ARE THERE TRUCKS?!!"

"Relax, there are no trucks this time, for some reason. But I need Toby, right now!!!!!"

"Sorry, but he's busy being unconscious. Maybe call back in a few days."

Miss Forticia hung up.

Lila flipped a table, mentally, but she automatically resorted to drafting furiously to deal with her anger.

She flipped a switch on the radio, readied herself, and positioned her fingers.

"Alright, here I go~!"

|Chapter 1- Ferns, Mistletoe, and Cyclamen, or in Other Words, Magic and Resignation

I was your regular high-schooler, a bit shy, but not afraid. I had friends. It's not like I was always alone. I even had a girlfriend for three months, until she put our relationship on hold, for external reasons. I was fine with it. Within those three months, we'd established a good rapport and she'd swept me off my feet with that charming attitude of hers, and grandeur delusions of being a witch. I'd simply played along with it, because to me, it was true. She really performed feats of magic in front of my eyes, because to me, she herself was a miracle. And I myself dazzled her with my simple but elegant word choice, and my only talent- the language of flowers. I had a flower for every occasion, and she- she was like a white lilac, pure and innocent. But I refer to the past self in such a way, because upon the first rays of sunlight that'd shone upon my bed this morning, I instinctively know I wasn't human anymore. I'm not human anymore.

If so, what am I?

I get out of bed to look in the mirror. Each step feels heavy and worn as if my body had fought a war the previous night.

[But you did,] a voice echos. [At the very least, I did. In my panic to flee the ruined world I came from, it seems I have created a bit of a mishap, to have fused with you, halfling. It seems those who are missing part of themselves are naturally attracted to each other.]

"Who are you?" I ask out loud by habit. "Explain."

[Merely a passing demon. Those who are shunned and scorned without reason or rhyme are all called demons, regardless of the species they belong to. Human, elf, or dwarf- it doesn't matter if they stick out in some way. It is the way of the world, to prune unsuspecting and benign branches.]

"I want to know why you've fused with me," I calmly say, asserting my dominance over our situation.

[How interesting. To be so calm in such a situation, it's commendable. Very well, I'll explain. I am a demonic elf, with the power to control wicked and evil plants, as well as those with goodwill and beneficial properties. By halfling, I mean that you too are partially empty inside. Partially hollow, just like a fruit that's been eaten out from the inside, by a worm. For me, it is as natural as existing, for I was born this way, and it allows me the use of magic, but you were hollowed out only recently. The edges, seemingly cleanly scraped, show me this.]

"I see. Have you any idea of why this is so?"

[I cannot. Although we are now adjoined, it is only in body and not soul. However, I'll be more of a passive observer in whichever endeavours you wish to take. After all, this is your world, and not mine.]

The demon's presence disappears from my mind, and I decide to take a look in the mirror.

A boy with sharp, bright blue eyes, and white hair, with tinted mint green around the edges stares back at me in the mirror.

I don't recognize him.

Trying something I'd seen before, in a fictional story, I decide to concentrate all my power into my dominant hand, and imagine cutting it off from the rest of my body. Immediately, a strange glow lights up from my left arm, and my hair and eyes fade back to my usual color- brown with brown. I didn't say I was an average high-schooler for nothing.

And now, I am headed for school, regardless of all the strange things that I've woken up with, whether it be the demonic possession, the revelation that I'd been chipped away at, spiritually, or a strange craving for mild curry.

It is tiring, each step I take, on the dull, grey sidewalk.

As I swing my useless left arm, I realize that I can now use my right hand as efficiently as I did with my left hand.

[Perhaps that demon had been right-handed?] I muse ironically.

"Clematis, Clematis!" an old friend cries out from behind.

"Yes?" I answer, looking back to see my friends, Damien and Sharon.

"What've you been doing over the weekend?" Damien asks, his face giddy. I see. He wants to brag about his weekend plans, and how he carried them out.

"Nothing much, what about you?"

"Oh gosh, you've really done it now, huh?" Sharon comments, saying, "Get ready for a handful..."

Although it is long-winded and detailed, I enjoy it, as we three walk to school.

Now, it is lunch, and I wave to Emily, the witch, as I walk over to her at the lunch benches. Sitting next to her among the busy chatter at the table, I remember the day I met her.

"Your last name, Nightshade... And that outfit. Perhaps you fancy yourself a witch?"

I chuckle at the thought, just when she whispers into my ear, "See me after school, near the garden, with the witch hazel and willow tree. I have a surprise there for you. Just because our relationship is on hold doesn't mean we can't celebrate our fifth month."

Strange thoughts of doubt and worry cloud my thoughts throughout the day, almost if a third party had planted them there, until the time of our meeting. I make sure to pick up a few flowers- honeysuckle, roses, and lilac- before heading back into the school to meet with her.

"Emily, I come to thee with an offering of flowers. Perhaps this humble fool can win back thy love from the troubles that've consumed thy thoughts?" I mumble out as I stand behind her, her back turned.

"Clematis..." she says, still turned away from me.

"Yes?" I reply, hopeful.

"Please die, for my sake."

As the bouquet is hastily swatted away by her unhesitant hand, and the flowers ground up by her iron-toed boots, in the midst of the falling of petals, I find myself stabbed through the heart.|

"Yep, I think that was good for a first draft. It's a bit short though..." she muttered to herself. "If only I had a better grasp on his personality... And I wonder if anyone gets the flower meanings- I had to look them up myself..."

Hearing that, she attracted the attention of an otherworldly being.