Established Pinnacle: The Enigma

"As you see, not everyone was on your side, Mirai. Some were even forced to act all lovely dovey with you, just because their lives depended on it... An order from above, if you will." Teach said, floating up towards Mirai and carefully patting her lowered head.

"But at the end of the day, they were the people that stood with you at your lowest level, regardless. Whether forced or not, they suffered alongside you. Hence I'll leave their judgement to you. What will you do?" He softly added.

Meanwhile, the dragons that were truthfully supporting Mirai, were also a bit shocked by this discovery. So much so that, they found it a bit hard to swallow the given reality.

Even those exposed weren't prepared for this, and remained floating above in shock. How could they be exposed like this? By a complete stranger to boot? It was stupid!! But knowing Mirai, she was capable of such a stupid decision.

And that was frightening!! Their lives depended on this, be it the order, or the stupidity of Mirai, they were in danger regardless!!

"L–Lady Mirai!! We... We have been through a lot together, haven't we? Re–Remember that I was the one who took the master's space beam for you!! How could I possibly betray you!!" One of the seventy or so dragons above, shrieked out with the desperate intent to live.

Their tone was broken and torn apart, like a woman mourning for her child. She didn't want to die, not yet. Not so stupidly!!

"Y–Yes!! Lady Mirai, don't you remember it was me who stood by you everytime you felt lonely? Wasn't it I, who always held your shivering soul when it was about to collapse?!" Another dragon screamed out.

And that, triggered the other dragons above to sing desperately and dreadfully, a chorus of salvation. As multiple voices shot towards Mirai's lowered head at the same time, as they all weeped and shrieked.

"Young miss, it was I that killed everyone for you. Be it before, or after this whole shenanigan!! Ive listened to your every order and now that I am of no use, you want to throw me away?! All because of a man you just met?!"

"Young lady, wasn't it you who promised me that you will not walk over the same path again?! Wasn't it you who swore to never let men be the end of you?! Aren't you the one betraying yourself instead..?!"

"Lady Mirai..!! Please, think your decisions carefully!! You've lost your family, your power, your everything, because of a man. Why would you want to lose us too?!"

"Lady Mirai, please forgive me!! I... I will try harder, I'll try my best!! Please don't discard me like this, please!! I'm sorry, forgive me, I'm sorry. Lady Mirai..!! Lady Mirai!!"

Cries of grievances, prayers of trepidation, appeals of forgiveness, echoed out. And regardless of which, they were all sent towards Mirai, and the young dragoness felt all her joy dissipate into conflicted sadness.

What was she to do..?

Choose her followers? The people that followed her even through sickness and death. The people that risked everything, and protected her ever since she transmigrated into the original Mirai's body.

Or...

Believe her teacher? The man that she just met. The man that took her in, and sheltered her when she was hopless of her survival, giving her a reason to keep pushing on. The man... who might be her reason to survival.

"...."

What was she to do..?

She kept her head lowered, her eyes drifting within bleakness and distress. She was lost. She was confused. Trapped between two fork ways that each had their pros, with their red flags¹ waving through the air.

"...."

Teach saw through her conflicting emotional state, and waved his hand through the air, "Silence. Let us give our dear Mirai here a chance, shall we? Let's hear what judgement she has for you all. Or what words she has to say to me." He said.

And as dictated, the dragons above immediately closed their mouths. And no matter what it was that they did, it would not help them. Not even by a tiny bit. Unique Skills or Divine power, it didn't help them at all.

Those below, also remained quiet. They were partially as conflicted as Mirai, but they expected something like this to happen one day. One way or another.

"Mirai, what will you do?" Teach softly asked her, and all eyes shifted through the air to focus on her. He didn't add anything else, afraid of adding more pressure, and gave her the final choice. 'And what will it be..?' He thought.

"...."

Mirai herself, remained quiet after hearing that question. She didn't know the answer to it as of yet, and was carefully thinking about what to do. Yeah, what was she supposed to do..?

For one, she knew that Teach was almost "all-knowing". The things he taught her, or the secrets he exposed out of her, such as her transmigration, her previous home world, it's culture, and many more.

Things only she should be privy to. And in other cases, he also knew a lot about the three powerful Factions, sometimes telling her what would happen, before it did indeed actually happen.

He was powerful, and very much capable. Experience also taught her that Teach's power, doesn't necessarily force oneself to do things, but subtly convinces their body to do certain things against them.

Like involuntary actions triggered by the brain. Teach also subtly convinces ones brain to make the owner of the body do to his bidding. Hence, if he were to say, 'All of you, tell the truth.' Their brain would comply, and whatever would come out of their mouths, would be nothing but the honest truth.

Hence what he did, was not a ploy. Even if it was, why were there twenty subordinates exempted? Mirai thought about all of this, and finally looked up, her expression still the same. Bleak, and distressed.

"Tell me... You. You claim of being selfless for me by taking a killing move from my father. But, isn't it strange that you recovered very fast afterwards? And you, you claim to have always been my pillar of support, but, it isn't it strange that you always appeared when I was low and depressed?"

Mirai said, her bleakness burning to anger amidst her distress. She wasn't the original Mirai, and could see through schemes. Especially the carefully planned ones.

Thus, she begin pointing fingers to exempt herself of guilt. "What about you? Wasn't it you who always volunteered to kill my enemies? If you regret it now, go rot in Hell by yourself. All i did was give you what you desired most. Killing."

"Or you. You're right, I did promise you such. And even now, I'm not willing to break that promise, hence this should be more than enough proof that this man will not be my downfall, but my ascension. I... just know it."

She said, her distress subsiding. Making her choice was still hard, and the stress was there. But finding fault in their words and actions, lessened the burden greatly. "And you, how do you know I lost my power? If I remember correctly, only that hateful man and his maids know of my condition. And yet..."

"And yet you... No. Teacher, please send them away. I am done here. I don't want anything to do with them." She added, the rest of her thoughts weighing down on her soul.

Yet she did what she had to.

"Are you sure? Will you not regretting letting them go like this?" Teach affirmed with her. And the hidden message within his words were prevalent. Will she not regret choosing him over everyone else?

"No. I will not. So please, send them away." Mirai looked up at him, still conflicted, but determined. Her gaze was stern and blazing. "...Fine. But be aware, letting them go like this, will result in enemies flooding towards us." He added.

"...I know. But regardless, like you said, they did all that they did because they wanted to live. And their words are also partially true, and I am grateful for that." She responded as such, casting her gaze aside.

"...Alright then." Teach waved his hand once more, and the seventy or so dragons above, still stripped of their right to speak, were pushed light years away from this Continental zone. "There. You did good, child. Now calm your people, and let them on about our business."

"Yes... teacher." Mirai nodded, and thus, began her path of convincing the remaining twenty unconvinced dragons about the situation. They were still dubious of Teach's appearance, and his ulterior purposes.

But Mirai managed to rally them, and calm them down. She then partially convinced them, and gave them fifteen years to judge him for themselves. Until then, they were to obediently treat him as a powerful being.

Her subordinates exchanged gazes and ultimately gave in. They decided to trust in the princess they chose to risk their lives for, and believe in her judgement for once.

Despite not being deserving of it.

Yet they thought otherwise, after they mysteriously experienced a growth spike in their talents and comprehensive ability. Something that was beyond their wildest dreams, or anything they've had in legends.

But it got worse, when the augmentated talents they had, increased even more the next day. And without being a chance to wonder how, they were forcefully taken into a state of cultivation by Teach's magnetic voice full of Reiki.

For almost twelve years, they experienced things they could not even consider eldritch in nature. They found themselves doing the literal impossible, and breakthrough multiple realms. Just in twelve years.

No, less than twelve years!!

[ 1. Red Flag - A warning of danger ]