Chapter 4

Chapter4

As long as Quinn slept, Rei took care of the fire and then sat down at the table to watch Quinn from there, lost in thought. Outside, the wind whistled ceaselessly around the castle walls, bringing the snow to the windows, where it joined the ice flowers. The cozy warmth in the room did him good, and he was glad he had found it in time.

He really felt sorry for Quinn. The pain she had to endure was not pretty. The fact that there were no natural remedies for it bothered him. It was possible to alleviate the symptoms, but nothing more.

He waited for Elgatos to bring fresh food and medicine. Also, Rei hoped to get a report on how things were going in the basement.

A little later, Elgatos returned to the room. Along with the food and tea, there was also a letter on the tray he placed on the nightstand.

"This is the summary of her transformation," he explained, handing the letter to Rei.

The latter nodded and took it in hand. "Please use the ointment on my back to numb it," he asked Elgatos, taking off his top. In the meantime, he was able to attend to the letter. "Have the clothes arrived yet?" inquired Rei. If Quinn didn't want to wear pants, she would just wear dresses. That's why he hoped they arrived soon.

"They came with us as well," Elgatos said, nodding. "They didn't come from Harri, though," said the dragon, who was the only one who knew who Quinn actually came from. "He didn't have any to give away that you could use," he said, trying not to put any value into his words as he anointed Rei's back.

"Well, bring them here as soon as you're done, please," the guard asked, opening the letter before delving into it. It was essential to know what had happened so far.

According to the letter, she had already received much more than she should have. It was not only talking about a diluted mixture but also a pure one. However, she had received this almost over a week before she arrived here. It was a long time, and there really shouldn't have been that much between intakes so that the body didn't break down but kept going.

Quinn should never have been given a pure at this stage! Probably that was why she was doing so poorly. Unfortunately, it also meant they needed to start her on Rei's blood as soon as possible.

First, however, she had to eat well. Otherwise, it would end in disaster when she was so weak. He had to start in two days at the latest. It was better to postpone it to the next day already.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" asked Elgatos, as if he were some kind of servant for Rei.

"If she refuses to eat, we'll have to put it back in her. So please stay there," he muttered, lost in thought as he read through the letter one more time and then passed it on to Elgatos. The latter was to give him his opinion about it.

Elgatos read it thoughtfully and, like Rei, again. "Sounds like sloppy work," he said in disgust. "Harri completely screwed up the dose. To me, it looks more like he did some kind of experimentation," he confessed honestly.

Sourly, Rei nodded. This was something that would lead to throwing the stone dragon into the dungeons here soon. Not only the bad conditions but also the evil work was an excellent reason to do so. Also, Harri had killed some women recklessly as a result.

Simultaneously, it was the dragons' highest duty to make sure that enough women got through. Otherwise, it was utterly nonsensical to even attempt to convert human women.

"It might make sense to start the whole process over again," Elgatos said thoughtfully.

"She won't go along with it," Rei remarked, glancing at Quinn discontentedly. Putting her through everything again was not good, nor was it his job. "It would be better to take her to a decent dragon that we know treats women well," he opined.

"If this gets out," Elgatos began thoughtfully, "they most likely won't want her," he whispered, knowing how meticulous the dragons were about that. Everything had to go strictly according to plan so that the women would then be what they wanted. Quinn, on the other hand, was tainted.

"There will be someone who wants her. She can't stay here," Rei replied seriously. Not everyone was as wrong as Harri and would take her with a kiss on the hand. At least, he hoped they would.

Quinn couldn't stay here. Walking her and then leaving her there would be a big mistake. The place was teeming with men who would be very happy to have their way with a woman as soon as they got the chance. Besides, the island was not conducive to survival.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his tousled blue hair. Rei had to share the facts from the letter with the Supreme. Though everything inside him bristled, it was his duty.

"Only if the transformation goes well in the end," Elgatos said thoughtfully. "Either you make a decision, or you ask the Supreme for his opinion."

"I can't make a decision on my own since I have to follow the words of the Supreme," Rei explained sourly. "That is, I will immediately draft a letter, which you will please send today," he urged Elgatos.

If Rei had her way, he would grant Quinn her wish and set her free. Let her die to escape it all.

Elgatos nodded. "This is not an isolated case," the older dragon remarked. "There are definitely dragons who experiment with women," he murmured. "And that is tolerated. Should Harri also do these things, and it should be accepted, it may well be that she is here so that no other dragon finds out about her," the orange-haired man said seriously and unenthusiastically. "From what I read in the letter, she should be dead by now."

"Still, she can't stay here. I am merely to finish the transformation so that she can be passed on to someone," Rei said bitterly. And break her will. He found it even more challenging because Quinn had a strong personality, and it felt wrong to change her.

Rei fervently hoped that Harri would get the just punishment for this. "I would love to release her to spare her all this crap. Unfortunately, she has nowhere to go in this state. Not even back to her family."

Elgatos lowered his eyes. "If I'm right in my guess, then there's a reason she's here and why you should break her," he said thoughtfully, but also mysteriously.

"I hear?" asked Rei, frowning. He didn't have much more than the order to walk and tame them.

"There were always experiments on women so that they would become stronger and the children would also survive or be able to bear more children," Elgatos explained slowly. "I was also given a task at the time that involved a new type of transformation that I was supposed to try on some women," he admitted with little enthusiasm. "In the end, only the strongest of them survived. However, she was unpredictable and, in terms of the gift, almost as strong as us. As far as I know, she was finally given to the Highest after I turned her, and the last guardian tamed her. This reminds me of that very strongly."

"So, in a way, she's supposed to become special, to end up with the Supreme?" he asked, stunned. It sounded like a bad joke. What did the dragons expect from trying new methods? However, it reminded the guard of something from his past. Something he had tried to suppress.

"Maybe yes, maybe no," Elgatos opined. "Perhaps she is to be the beginning of a new breed of dragon, more like what we need to sustain our species. The present women die too often in childbirth. The children are often not viable, and not infrequently the women go mad after a few years," he said bitterly.

Rei also laughed bitterly. He knew that very well. Those who did not go mad among the dragons were very resistant. Many male dragons even went mad and had to be imprisoned.

"I will write to the Supreme and ask for advice. Starting the whole process over again is not easy," he finally said. If anything came to his attention that it was just as Elgatos suspected, he would refuse to do anything. Whether he would lose his job because of it or not was of no concern to him.

Elgatos nodded. "I'll get you some paper and pencil," he said, knowing Rei had misplaced his work utensils, even if his desk was still here.

The older dragon was about to leave when Quinn suddenly writhed in pain in the bed, gasping frantically for air.

Astonished, Rei jumped up and was with her in two steps. Questioningly, he gave Elgatos a look that also meant to help him and bring paper and pens later.

Quinn was more important for now. "Quinn..." Rei spoke to her in a clear voice, holding her gently but firmly so she wouldn't fall out of bed. Nightmares seemed to plague her, from which she could not free herself.