Wide halls of the schools never grew less impressive; each fresco was more detailed than the last. Groups of colorful dragon-girls walked across the facility, some holding data-pads, others speaking of something, and immediately becoming quiet when seeing Varaxis. Their ages varied, from children to teenagers to adults. All were wearing the same skin of seamless metal, with lines of light stretching across the surface of the suits. The metal even covered their wings.

  The most concerning part was that all of them had similar faces, as if someone took a template and changed one little thing and the color. They were really clones…

  Varaxis stopped walking and gestured at a massive metal door. With a touch, the door swung open to reveal an organized cabinet, almost like those of principals in my past life. “Lord Vogelgesang, please take a seat.” She walked inside and sat down behind the desk.

  Vogelgesang nodded and sat down. I followed her. Varaxis placed her hands on the desk and closed her eyes. She started whispering, “By the power of our blood bond, I call upon you, Lord Rame.” Then she stabbed herself with a claw.

  Red light shone from her body, painting the room crimson. Then the light started floating towards her, infusing her skin and funneling into her eyes. Varaxis twitched, a cracking sound resounded from her body, and she became still.

  The dragon’s eyes opened wide, she stiffened and stood up, stretching. As she saw Vogelgesang, she rolled her eyes and spoke with a measure of disgust, “You. Still haven’t died, hag?” It was different from the voice before, tougher, bolder.

  “Still doing the shameful possessions, child?” Vogelgesang smirked, giving the same look to the dragon as she did to me.

  “There are techniques to possess people!?” I couldn’t hold back my astonishment.

  They exchanged glances, deciding to ignore me. Varaxis, or rather Rame, spoke again, “What do you want? I don’t have time to waste.” He pointed a clawed finger at Vogelgesang.

  Vogelgesang’s ears twitched. “Accept this child into your academy. He is an old soul and wishes to reach adulthood faster.”

  Rame’s eyes opened wide as he realized something, “So that’s your plan?”

  I slapped Vogelgesang’s ear. “Why the fuck did you tell him?!”

  She didn’t react at all, only sparing me a pitiful glance. My anger stifled as Rame burst out laughing. After taking a deep breath, he spoke again. “Yeah, I’ll take him in.” He raised a finger, which caught aflame. Quicker than I could understand, he wrote on the desk, “I accept Magnus Glanzvoll as an honorary dragon, raise him as one of our own.” He shook his head and stared at Vogelgesang. “Is that all you wanted, witch?”

  “I’ll need a ship.” She spoke shamelessly.

  “Done. Farewell, Vogelgesang. I hope I won’t see you again.” He stiffened and fell back on the chair.

  Vogelgesang shook her head. “Don’t hope for it.”

  “That was it?” I asked, a little disappointed. “Could’ve at least made a speech welcoming me...” I sighed.

  “You will hear plenty of speeches, whelp.” Varaxis suddenly spoke, her eyes focused on me for the first time. Then she turned back to the elf. “Lord Vogelgesang, your ship has been prepared.. I will make sure Magnus Glanzvoll becomes strong.” Her stare sent shivers down my back.

  Vogelgesang showed her fangs. “Then I will take my leave. Magnus, we’ll see in three years.” She stood up, but I grabbed her hand, not letting her go.

  “That’s your goodbye?” So soon, I was going to be all alone, surrounded by these clones... I expected her to at least stay for a day.

  “Yes.” Before I could blink, she was gone, disappeared. I looked around the room, trying to spot anything.

  “Fucking elf…” I stood up, ready to run after her, but the door closed.

  “You aren’t going anywhere, whelp.” I couldn’t move. Varaxis stared at me, her eyes cold. She was ready to kill.

  I wasn’t going to succumb to pressure, not in my previous life and not here. Through the lump in my throat, I spoke as confidently as I could, “Why is that, Count Varaxis?”

  She sighed. “You have arrived at an inopportune time. You will join the unripe class.”

  Was she underestimating me? “By unripe, do you mean the weakest of the bunch, or is this some kind of category?”

  Varaxis stood up and waved her hand. The door opened. “Unripe are those that took the longest time to gestate. Their training started the latest, so you will have a chance to catch up.” She walked outside, expecting me to follow.

  “Alright… I guess that makes sense. I do have more questions.” I followed her, ignoring the curious and sometimes scared glances of other students. “Will I truly be able to grow up quicker here? Is there access to the Archive? Is your food even compatible with human biology?”

  “Yes to all of that.” She scratched her head. “Listen, whelp, this school isn’t your human coddling game - here you are expected to act with wisdom and maturity. Tears and complaints will not be tolerated.”

  I couldn’t stop staring at this place. “That’s exactly what I want. I don’t have time to waste on childhood.” I glanced into open doors along the way; the classrooms were filled with dragon-girls, attentively listening and asking questions.

  “At least you have a dragon’s spirit,” Varaxis said quietly. “Once you acquire your VITA trait, you will have all the information you need.”

  Soon we reached another place. Unlike the rest of the station, this section was made out of white marble, smelling faintly of medicine. “You will get a personal biocrafter to ensure the success of the growth supplements.” She opened the hospital door.

  I heard loud laughter coming from the inside. It was a proper laboratory, with strange vials, weird liquids, and so many notes splattered all around the place. “He is a human, so it will be easier for you to communicate.”

  An ominous feeling hung heavy in my stomach. In front of the operating table was a short man, wearing a white mantle. His hands were marred in blood. He was infusing the dragon-girl lying on the table with red light, occasionally pouring liquids on her. Then the girl opened her eyes, coughing. “She’s alive! ALIVE!” He cackled even louder. And as he wiped off the blood from her suit, he smiled dazzlingly and spoke, “You are free to go, Enamora. The reconfiguration was a success!”

  The girl stood up quickly and, without saying a word, started running away, not even looking at us. It was bizarre.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Varaxis coughed to bring the man’s attention. “Avennture, I brought another whelp to you.”

  He turned to us with a manic smile, but as his eyes met mine, he frowned. “That is not a tiershen.” Avennture took off his bloodied gloves. “Are you considering opening the academy to humans? Have you finally gone insane?”

  “The human child is an honorary dragon. Induct him into the latest unripe class. You will be his personal biocrafter.” Her eyes narrowed. “Do not disappoint, Avennture.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Avennture turned to me with a frown. “Let’s get you ready, kid.”

  Before I could utter a word, Varaxis turned around and marched out.

  I organized my thoughts and spoke in my coldest voice, “Pull the brakes, bud.” He tilted his head, confused. "I’m going to need some explanations. Varaxis wasn’t eager to tell me anything.”

  Avennture rubbed with chin, glancing around the room suspiciously. “You don’t speak like a kid, are you a geist possessing a kid?” He spoke lightheartedly. Standing up, he turned towards one of the drawers and started shuffling through the items.

  “Who I am doesn’t matter. What is a VITA?” I had to remain calm; freaking out wouldn’t help anyone.

  The man grabbed something from the drawer, making rapid movements over it, and turned to me. In his hand was a golden spiral with a porous surface. Even looking at this thing made me flare starpower. Avennture, yawned. “This is a VITA. Just use your little scouter.”

  Vestment for Integrated Training & Assimilation Trait Gem

  Type: Growing Trait

  Rank: Initiate

  Affinity: Null

  Description:

  An artificial trait gem created to facilitate growth and protection. Becomes stronger with the owner.

  - Learning. Functions as a neuro-plant connecting information directly to the mind. Grants eidetic memory. Contains an information package about the Copper Dragon Learning Facility, your personal domicile and your class. Has the ability to store, record, and integrate information from the Archive.

  - Scouting. Functions as an advanced evolving scouter and soul-introspector.

  - Protective suit. Grants the ability to form a protective adaptable suit of armor, giving the capability to survive in the vacuum of space, resist extreme temperatures, and physical impact. The suit constantly cleans the body. Allows for minute changes in its appearance.

  This is much better than any of the traits people got in Dad’s books. TAKE IT!

  I took a deep breath, savoring the information. Within this little thing was something that gave a literal superpower. Magical clothes and mind enhancement. But it seemed too good to be true…

  “Avennture. Are you certain this thing won’t brainwash me?” It was very tempting.

  “Dragons are brainwashed during gestation. I wasn’t paid to make them a trait that strong.” He scoffed.

  “I see…” The concern remained, but it was too late to worry anyway, either I become the galactic Overlord or burn. Fifteen years isn’t a lot of time to have fun. I grabbed the spiral. “How do I absorb it?”

  Avennture shrugged. “Go behind the curtain and take off your clothes. Flood the trait gem with starpower and crush it.”

  “Don’t act sassy with me, you’re my personal biocrafter.” I shook my head and walked towards the curtains. Avennture didn’t even care.

  After removing my clothes and my scouter, I flooded the spiral with starpower. As it reached the core of the spiral, a strange sensation swept through me. Anticipation of something great waiting for me soon. An entity asking me to bend it to my will.

  Crushing the gem with a starpower-infused fist, my mind went blank. I could see information, feel knowledge infusing my brain. There was so much. I saw how the school worked – its purpose was to raise the strongest dragons in the galaxy.

  I saw the location of my class, the time I had to be there every day, and the place I was supposed to sleep in. Every single training spot became clear in my mind’s eye as I mapped out the school. I saw the giant spire of the Archive, piercing through the center of the station, with thousands of corridors leading wherever I wanted. I felt the various courses available to me and more.

  The information about courses I could take in the future, and the exams that would happen. The fighting exams…

  My memories became as clear as water. I saw everything from my past life, from my current life. The faces of my family became as bright as the day I saw them. Even worse than during my awakening, I remembered everything. The room smelled of toast. I wiped my runny nose, and my hand became red with blood.

  Then, from my skin, something started peeling off. A magical light emerged from my pores, covering me whole. It turned to black metal, clinging to me like a second skin. From my back, a red cloak emerged mimicking the wings of those dragons. I stood there, and the world was spinning.

  As if swimming away from the current, I tried organizing the information. There were courses… which I could take after the diagnostic exam. The exam which will be tomorrow. And there were so many courses, it felt as though I lost connection with my body, swimming in the sea of information. Fighting, biocrafting, war, strategy, history, techniques, healing, chrono-analysis. Everything was covered here and available.

  My stomach gurgled as I felt an urge to vomit. I wiped my nose, seeing the trail of blood on my hand. There was a final exam with rewards – so awesome, it was a tournament. I don’t want to fight, but it might be cool. “It’s so hot in here,” I commented absentmindedly.

  The curtains were swiped open. Avennture clenched his teeth, looking at me. “Damn it, I knew something wasn’t right.” His hands started glowing green, and he touched my chest.

  Pain flooded my body and just as quickly receded, and clarity returned to me. I breathed in deeply. “Fuck!” My head was spinning. “Why didn’t you tell me this thing could kill me?” The pages upon pages of information receded into the background.

  “Don’t blame me! This wasn’t tested on humans. Something like that would be possible if you had too much information in your brain… I don’t know how you can have enough memories to overwhelm your nervous system. The new-dragons have a whole lifetime in their heads.” He healed me further. “You’ll be fine anyway. Even if you died, I would bring you back to life.” His crooked smile didn’t reassure me.

  “Thank you…” I shook my head and stood up. My body felt strange. It was as if I wasn’t wearing anything at all, and yet gloves stretched across my hands, boots thudded beneath my feet. Even the cloak gave a certain sensation to me. “Do you have a mirror here?”

  “What a feisty kid.” Avennture shook his head and started performing a technique by rapidly making signs. And as he closed his palms together, a mirror appeared before me.

  “That’s handy, I’ll learn it someday.” I stared at myself. This wasn’t the shitty bodysuit I saw others wearing. It was a proper black armor with a long red cloak, comfortable boots, and stylish purple glowing lines. I looked cute and not at all cool… Stupid child body.

  “I haven’t seen a VITA like that before. Guess your personality affected it.” Avennture shrugged.

  I looked at the biocrafter; he wasn’t happy at all. “Alright, now give me the growth supplements.”

  “You’re making a mistake, kid, but who am I to judge?” Avennture sighed and turned back towards the drawers. The mirror he summoned disappeared. He grabbed a jar of perfectly circular pills and took out one. “Here you go. Come here every week to take one and to observe any side effects.”

  I didn’t even need the monocle anymore… My own eyes could be used as a scouter.

  Growth Acceleration Panacea

  Description: Uses emerald imbua to stimulate the dramatic growth. You will need to eat a lot more after this.

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I took the hard pill and swallowed it with great difficulty. I stretched my back, uncomfortable at the sensation of VITA touching my skin. “You know, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Magnus Glanzvoll. It’s nice to meet a man of science.” A smile sprawled on my face.

  “Yeah…” He said awkwardly. “I am Knight Avennture Rudolph. I graduated from the biocrafting course in the Pentad Academy. Did anyone tell you that you’re weird?”

  Pentad Academy is a famous place. I think Stark finished it, too. “I don’t concern myself with the opinions of others. I’ll be seeing you, Rudolph. I’ll go to sleep now, my head is killing me.”

  I left the confused man and walked out into the corridor. Curious glances were directed at me from the dragon-girls walking around. None of them spoke with me, so I didn’t pay them any attention.

  The map of the academy appeared in the corner of my sight. “I didn’t know scouters could do that…” I mumbled to myself, navigating towards the dormitory. Maybe I should’ve talked to some of the students, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

  My room's number was 441, and after a solid 10 minutes of walking across this artful labyrinth, I found it. The door wasn’t locked. Inside was a pitiful room… One bed, one desk, no windows, a tiny light, and a toilet on the side. It reminded me of my university dormitory back on Earth. There wasn’t even a shower here...

  I dropped on the bed and the VITA across my body turned from a mantle into underwear… It was such an unconscious action that I didn’t even notice. I was too tired to think, too exhausted from the stressful day, and the clarity of my memories pressed on my frontal lobe. Sleep took me fast.