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"Itâs you... you reincarnated?! Like Alma and Drake... And Benladann!" Lucia cried, hugging her brother. "Brotheeeer! I missed you...! Y-You donât know how much Iâve missed you..."
"Lucia... I know. Iâve missed you as well. There hasnât been a day when I havenât thought about you..." Surtr cried, hugging her tightly. "I canât believe this... you really came from Earth... you really did!"
"Yeah... I did..." Lucia smiled. "This is a miracle... just like with Miranda and Benladann... Thereâs so much we need to catch up on... so much to talk..."
"I know..." Surtr nodded. "I was reincarnated here as a fire dragon, you know? It was crazy! And Iâve survived however I could. A big dragon family adopted me here... look, theyâre here with me!"
"Eeeh?!" Lucia gasped as a large group of dragons made of soul flames emerged from Surtrâs Aura.
"So youâre our boyâs sister from his previous life?"
"I canât believe this!"
"Wow, that sure is incredible..."
"So the worlds are really merging, what a beautiful coincidence amidst all this chaos..."
"Sheâs such a pretty human! I love her red hair!"
"W-Woah! Woah!" Lucia was shocked as the dragons surrounded her, inspecting every inch of her body. It was as if they now had a new sister too. "W-What the hell, brother?! These are your family now?"
"Unfortunately, I was the last Fire Dragon," Surtr said. "Theyâre all souls living inside the Draconic Records. But theyâve been with me anyway, as ghosts or souls, always helping me... even my mother of this world."
"It is nice to meet you, dear... Surtr has always talked about you," a giant dragoness, Muspel, emerged. "Youâre as lovely as he said... Iâm very happy youâre here."
"A-Ahhh... Wow..." Lucia gasped. "Youâre... I guess youâre like Drake?"
"Yeah, Iâm a dragon king too, in a way..." Surtr laughed. "Heâs my dear master and the one who taught me everything I know!"
"Wow... big brother..." Lucia smiled, shedding a few tears. "Youâve really built a whole life here, huh?"
"Yeah! I sure did..." Surtr laughed through tears. "Ah, right! I have two wives here and two adorable kids too! Iâm sure youâll love them."
"Wait, you got kids?!" she gasped. "T-Two wives?! Whatâs going on here?"
"They were twins, so I couldnât really... refuse one," Surtr sighed. "But I promise I am not a pervert, sister! Itâs just how it happened... people in this world have a different culture."
"I-I understand... sorry, I overreacted," Lucia sighed. "Iâm happy youâve made a wonderful life here, big brother... I kind of want to see your family now..."
"Master, can we?" Surtr asked.
"Of course...!" Drake nodded. "Go ahead! This is your family time."
"Thanks!" Surtr said happily. "Sister, letâs go!"
"W-Wait, Surtr, where are you taking me- Woaaaaah!" Lucia cried as she was suddenly teleported.
"Lucia?!" Chris cried.
"Sheâs gone..." Jake said.
"Hey, Drake, is this really okay?!" Chris asked.
"Donât be jealous. Itâs her damn brother. Let them have their time together," Drake sighed. "Sheâll come back with him soon enough. Iâm sure she wonât stay there too long either way."
"Uugh... okay..." Chris sighed. "Iâm just worried, okay? Iâm not jealous of him taking her away out of nowhere..."
"Hmm..." Jake looked at Chris, raising an eyebrow.
"Whatever, man. Letâs go meet the King. Sheâll be back in a few hours at most," Drake laughed, patting his shoulders. "Letâs go."
Meanwhile, Lucia was teleported to the interior of a dungeon, which Surtr guided her through.
Once outside, she emerged inside the mountain of the fire giant tribe, where her brother lived with his family.
The surroundings had changed greatly, with much more greenery, and the sky was generally more blue than the fiery red from before.
This was because the entire continent had nearly been destroyed and was hastily repaired by Drake and the other dragons.
When this happened, Elemental Essences of various elements were infused into the landscape, no longer dominated by volcanic wastelands.
However, Lucia quickly realized it was still intensely hot.
"Oof, big brother, where are we? Where did you bring me? Chris and Jake...! You left them behind?"
"Sorry, sorry, weâll go back in a few minutes. Please come with me!"
"This is... Whatâs this place? A mountain?"
"Yeah, come here."
Surtr led her inside a large cave, guarded by two tall, burly fire giants who looked down at them.
"Lord Surtr, welcome back... Hm?"
"You have brought a friend?"
"Actually, this is my sister! Her name is Lucia!"
"Sister, you said?!"
The two fire giants gasped, glaring at Lucia with intimidating eyes, only to smile gently at her.
"It is an honor to meet you, young lady."
"Yes, please come inside our village. A sister of our savior is also our family."
"Aahh... T-Thanks..."
Lucia slowly made her way inside, but the heat was overwhelming.
Although she was an Esper who had mastered Pyrokinesis, she wasnât immune to fire or her own flames.
In fact, she had burned herself many times, so she always wore special fireproof equipment, especially gloves, to avoid burning her hands.
"Itâs really hot in here. Is this a volcano?"
"Ah, yeah, it is... Sorry, I forgot. I was too excited."
Surtr hugged her again, making Lucia blush and then smile, returning the hug.
"Hehe, whatâs this? Hugging your little sister again?"
As she giggled happily, she felt a divine power embrace her. After Surtr kissed her forehead, a small red rune shaped like a dragon appeared on her right hand.
"W-Whatâs this?! Woah...!"
Lucia was shocked. Her powers surged as she felt the embrace of flames and draconic power now dwelling within her.
"I gave you my blessing and a title as my sister," Surtr said. "I can do this for those I deem worthy of my power and protection. Youâll meet them over there, my family and friends."
"I-I see..." Lucia nodded. "I feel so strong now, and my flames are upgraded..."
Lucia opened the palms of her hands, seeing her flames could now take the shape of small dragons, dragon jaws, eyes, or scales at will.
It was strange, but it opened new possibilities for her flames, which had been mostly offensive before.
What changed the most was her innate resistance to fire, if not complete immunity.
Her own flames no longer burned her, and her pale hands remained pristine, free of scars.
"I donât get burned by my own flames anymore... haha, this is insane... Thank you so much, big brother! Youâre amazing..."
"Aw, itâs nothing, really! A small gesture, if anything. I love you so much, Lucia. Iâm so happy you survived..."
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