Chapter 10

A Gentle Dragon

XXX

Everytime I fell asleep, I dream of a sea of blood…..

And on it, lies a mountain of corpses…..

And standing on it, was me…..

XXX

"What to do, what to do?" Mikhail who left the shop muttered and asked himself what he should do with his new free time.

The requests in the shop were fulfilled, the house was cleaned and as long as the goods weren't delivered, his Master allowed him to use the time for himself.

"Well I just walked through the village."

XXX

As Mikhail was strolling through the streets, while being greeted by the people, he noticed something on the sides of the main street near the gate of Kusanagi.

It was a play.

Something like that wasn't unusual in a Mistralian village, since this kingdom was known for its act, plays and rich culture. Sometimes stages were built and actors from different places or from within the walls came through the villages and made a play.

People were already gathering to look and watch the spectacle…..

But the moment he was close enough to see the play, his eyes widened and his jaw almost met the ground.

On the stage posed a man, with a white-hair wig and clad in a pure-white kimono with suitable wide black trousers. The back ground of the stage was a burning village.

"In the darkest moment of the village Kusanagi, a man stronger than any Ursa," The speaker in traditional Mistralian clothes spoke, creating an atmosphere of tension "And yet fairer than the first snow, shrewder than a raven and braver than a Vacou lion, saved this village." On cue several people in Grimm costume appeared on the stage. The speaker then turned dramatically around and pointed at the Mikhail-actor "And burned the rancid beasts with the fire of justice and judgment!" The Mikhail-actor took a deep breath and from his side several burning balls, probably made through fire dust, were moved to the 'Grimm' and in detailed 'explosions' they came into contact followed by a flash. When the people opened their eyes, they saw that the 'Grimm' were lying on the ground and through more effects, the 'corpses' dissolved like the real ones in smoke.

"And this, my dear people," The speaker raised his hands "Is the story of the 'Dragon of Kusanagi'! Fear not as he will always guard our home, no man, faunus or Grimm dares to attack our prideful land, in fear of the fire of a man who will protect us!"

Suddenly with another flash, all actors appeared behind the speaker. While holding their hands together they bowed to the people, who promptly began to whistle, clap and shout in joy.

Meanwhile Mikhail could only smile wryly 'Seriously….' He palmed his face, and yet his wry smile turned into amusement, he was more appreciated in this village than he should be.

'Better get going, before they see me.'

XXX

Rancid Humans, disgusting beings, I hate them, all of them.

I. HATE. THEM!

XXX

"Mikhail?"

"Wha?" Mikhail who was mediating, while glowing golden the same time, was broken out of his trance by his instructor, Dusk.

The female fox faunus looked at him with worried eyes as she kneeled in front of him, eye to eye.

"Is everything alright? You looked uncomfortable….." She took is hand, her other was placed on his right cheek. She then began to gently stroke his face.

Hearing and seeing her worry, caused Mikhail not to lie to her and he shook his head "No…the Flower spoke to me."

Hearing this caused Dusk to widen her eyes "What did it say?" The vixen began to scowl "It didn't hurt you, did it?"

"No….." Again he shook his head "No it….it wants me to hate humans…." The young dragon began to put a hand on his face, and rubbed his eye

It pained Dusk to see her pupil in such a way, even more as he was a happy-go-lucky person.

Yes Dusk knew about it, she and only Auburn.

The Flower.

A parasitic being that kills its own host, resurrect it and feeds on the body of the victim. It makes the being infected, by it, aggressive and seductive and extremely lustful. Killing other beings and absorbing the essence of the enemies or sleeping with people to absorb their body fluids and energy.

The stronger it grows the more it infests the body of its victim, to the brink were the brain is assimilated and the host becomes insane. And then transforming it into a mindless beast.

She and Auburn were horrified, when they heard about Mikhail and saw the plant sprouting from his eye socket.

Even more when they heard that the host cannot be killed no matter what.

Dusk and Auburn didn't know what to do when Mikhail explained them what he is, after the incident five years ago.

When they heard that the host of the Flower is likely unkillable, they still wanted to know, how something like that could be stopped.

When Mikhail heard their question, he faced them smiled bitterly, making them also shiver and answered.

'Only a true dragon, as myself can kill an host of the Flower, but since I am the new host and yet the only dragon, I cannot do it.' They learned, that the bearer of the Flower cannot commit suicide….

Meaning, Mikhail didn't just get the short end of the stick…he was thrown entirely in the canyon.

But at least there was a silver ray of this rather 'unfortunate' event.

Mikhail, as a dragon, could contain the parasite from being sprouting and blooming.

But back to Mikhail and Dusk

"I believe in you."

~Ba-dump~

These four words struck something within Mikhail, something he didn't know what it is. These words…these four words, caused something in him….

Dusk gently put her forehead on his, her eyes closed "I believe in you, that you would never stray from your path and that you would never lose to this dirty parasite." She smiled "I believe in you."

~Ba-dump~

Again, this funny feeling inside in him.

These words….a feeling….memories in the dark, forgotten in the deepest place…..

"Thank you Master, thank you!" The bitterness and sadness were gone; a wide and warm smile now adorned his beautiful and handsome face "Thank you Master!"

She nodded in and stood up, dusting herself and put her fists on her hips "I think it's enough for today, you can go out and have some fun."

Hearing this made the smile on his face even brighter, the young dragon stood up and pumped his fists "Really!? What about Sword training?"

Dusk shook her head in amusement "Let's just face it, you are already strong enough to beat me and the others." Her smile brightened as well "And I think….." She then became hesitantly "You a ready for your final test."

The smile fell and yet the eyes became wide as saucers "Does this mean….."

"Yes," She raised a hand "Now, chop, chop go have some fun!" And waved him away.

Jumping at the fox faunus and engulfing her into crushing bear hug Mikhail shouted out "Thank you!" He let her go and stormed outside but before "Oh, hey Auburn, nice to see, later!"

"Wah, wait Mikahil…."

But he was already gone.

"Auburn, good evening." The vixen greeted her best friend but noticed Auburn's rather grim face "What happened?"

The doctor sighed and looked away, while gripping her arm.

"Auburn?"

She looked back at her friend "We have a problem."

"What do mean?"

"It's about Mikhail….the Flower has already infested a good amount of his body…he …..has human DNA…..his body begins to change….."

Vote for the poll, the beginning arc is slowly coming to an end, in a few chapters!

Hope you like it!

PS Why does he human dna? Or rather why is he human, well let's just say, there is a reason he looks like Zero in this story.