The secret system of the Gallant Heir

As the last warrior lunged at me, I barely had time to react. My body tensed, my mind screaming that this was the end. I braced myself for the inevitable strike—

But it never came.

A roaring fire erupted before me, engulfing the enemy in a searing inferno. The sheer heat forced me to take a step back as the warrior was reduced to nothing but ashes.

Standing in the aftermath of the flames was a girl in a flowing red dress, her long crimson hair dancing in the heat waves. Her golden eyes gleamed with an intense, almost playful confidence as if she had been waiting for this moment.

I froze.

Who was she? Where did she come from?

I immediately took a defensive stance, narrowing my eyes at her. "Who are you?! And how did you get here? This is my subspace!"

Before she could answer, a familiar voice echoed in my head.

"Host, that is Ignis! How could you forget her?"

My heart skipped a beat. "What?!" My eyes darted back to the girl in red. "Ignis?! But—I thought Ignis was a boy! And more importantly, how is she in human form?!"

"Host, Ignis has been with you for two years. Some legendary dragons develop intelligence over time. Because of her bond with you, she has been experiencing everything you have during this period. Now, she has gained the ability to change her appearance as well."

I struggled to wrap my head around it. 

Before I could say anything else, she folded her arms, smirking. "I can talk, you know. And stop looking at me like I grew a second head, Rave."

I blinked. "You—Wait. You called me Rave?"

She raised an eyebrow. "What else would I call you? 'Sir'? Please. That doesn't suit me."

A dry chuckle slipped past my lips. Yeah, this was Ignis—just in a different form.

"You could've warned me before making a dramatic entrance," I muttered.

She gave a teasing shrug. "Where's the fun in that?"

I exhaled sharply, still trying to process everything. "So… you've been experiencing everything I have for the past two years?"

Ignis nodded, tilting her head slightly. "Yep. Every battle, every struggle, every dumb mistake you've made—"

"Hey!" I shot her a glare, but she only smirked.

"Relax, Rave," she chuckled. "I was just stating facts."

I crossed my arms. "Alright, if you've been with me all this time, why reveal yourself now?"

She placed a hand on her hip and tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm… Maybe I got bored of being stuck in my dragon form. Maybe I wanted to stretch my legs." Then, leaning forward slightly, she grinned. "Or maybe I just wanted to see the look on your face when I showed up like this."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Unbelievable. You enjoy messing with me, huh?"

"Oh." Ignis flicked her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms. "But on a serious note, my evolution was bound to happen sooner or later. Two years is enough time for a legendary dragon to develop intelligence and—well, as you can see—gain a human form."

I studied her for a moment. Despite her playful attitude, there was an undeniable power radiating from her. The way she had incinerated that warrior with a single fireball, without chanting, was proof enough that she wasn't just any ordinary companion.

"So, what now?" I asked. "Are you just going to follow me around in human form now?"

Ignis grinned. "That depends. Would you prefer me as a massive dragon looming over you all the time?"

"...Point taken." I sighed. "Just don't cause trouble."

She smirked. "No promises."

Something told me my life was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

I took a deep breath and said, "System, exit the subspace."

"Understood, Host. However, now that Ignis has a human form, would you like to take her along?"

I hesitated. Bringing Ignis out now would be a problem—I needed a good excuse for her sudden appearance. "Not yet. I'll take her with me, but I need time to figure things out first."

Ignis frowned. "Wait, Rave! I don't want to stay here. Take me with you."

I glanced at her, feeling a little guilty at how frustrated she looked. "I will take you, Ignis. Just not right now. I need to come up with an excuse"

She huffed, crossing her arms. "A reason? Seriously? Just say I'm your long-lost childhood friend or something. Who's going to question you?"

I sighed. "Yeah, because that's believable."

Ignis rolled her eyes. "Ugh, fine. But don't take too long, or I will find my way out."

Something about the way she said that made me uneasy.

"I'll be back soon. Just wait a little longer," I assured her.

She clicked her tongue, but her expression softened slightly. "Alright, alright. But don't keep a lady waiting, Rave."

I shook my head with a small chuckle before commanding the system again.

"Alright, System. Exit."

With that, the world around me faded, and I left Ignis behind—at least for now.

As the subspace faded away, I found myself back in my room at Gallant Estate. I took a deep breath, adjusting to the familiar surroundings, but my mind was already racing.

Now came the real challenge—introducing Ignis to everyone without raising suspicion.

I ran a hand through my hair, thinking. How do I explain a mysterious girl suddenly appearing in my life?

Then, an idea struck me. Drakenshire—the capital of Drodia—was infamous for its corruption, especially when it came to slavery and the mistreatment of the lower class. If I claimed that Ignis was an abused slave I had freed, no one would question me.

A smirk formed on my lips as I called out, "Bell, come to my room!"

Within moments, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway, and the door swung open. Bell, my ever-loyal attendant, stood at the entrance, slightly out of breath. "Yes, young master?"

"I want to visit the town. Prepare the carriage."

Bell blinked in surprise. I rarely left the estate, and he wasn't expecting such a request. "O-Of course, young master," he said, quickly bowing before turning to leave.

As the door shut behind him, I exhaled. This should work. If I bring Ignis back as someone I 'rescued' from Drakenshire, no one will doubt it.

Now, all I had to do was make sure everything went according to plan.

The streets of Drakenshire were as chaotic as ever. Unlike the structured elegance of the Gallant Estate, the town was a loud, bustling mess of activity.

Narrow cobbled roads twisted through tightly packed buildings, some grand and refined, others on the verge of collapse. Merchants filled the streets, shouting over each other as they advertised their wares—freshly baked bread, exotic spices, fine silk, and gleaming weapons. The rich strolled through the main square in lavish robes, while beggars and ragged children lingered in the alleys, their hollow eyes watching in silence.

The scent of roasted meat wafted through the air, mingling with the less pleasant stench of unclean gutters and sweat-drenched crowds. Drakenshire was a city of contrasts—wealth and poverty, power and desperation, all tangled together.

As the carriage rolled through the market district, I watched the scene unfold from my seat. I had always been aware of the capital's corruption, but today, it served as a perfect backdrop for my plan.

Finally, we reached a secluded alley. I signalled for the coachman to stop, then whispered, "System, enter subspace."

In an instant, I was back in the isolated realm. Ignis sat on a rock, her arms crossed, looking rather impatient. The moment she saw me, she stood up and placed her hands on her hips.

"Finally! Do you know how boring it is to sit here doing nothing?" she huffed.

I chuckled. "Well, you're about to get out. But we need to be careful."

She raised an eyebrow. "Careful? What's the plan?"

I took a deep breath. "I told the servants that I was coming to town. When I bring you back, I'll say that I found you being mistreated as a slave and decided to take you in."

Ignis's eyes narrowed. "A slave?" She scoffed. "Do I look like someone who would ever be enslaved?"

I smirked. "Not at all. But no one here knows who you are. If you suddenly appeared as a powerful being, people would start asking questions. This way, they'll assume I saved you and won't doubt why I brought you home."

She sighed, folding her arms. "Fine. But if anyone treats me like a real slave—"

"They won't," I assured her. "I'll introduce you as my maid. That way, you'll have some authority in the estate."

Ignis tilted her head, considering it. Then, a smirk formed on her lips. "So, I'm going from a legendary dragon to your maid? Interesting. Should I start calling you 'Master Rave' now?"

I coughed. "Not."

She laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll play along."

"Good." I reached out my hand. "Now, let's get out of here."

She took my hand, and with a command, we both left the subspace.

"So this is Drakenshire, huh?" she muttered, watching as a street mage casually snapped his fingers, lighting a floating lantern above his shop. "It's lively, I'll give it that."

"Lively is one way to put it," I said, eyeing a group of mercenaries testing enchanted weapons at a nearby blacksmith's forge. "Corrupt and unpredictable would be more accurate."

She scoffed, her gaze shifting to a group of street urchins watching an illusionist perform. "I can feel the magic in the air. This place is a melting pot of power—both light and dark."

I nodded. "Drakenshire thrives on magic, but it also hides its fair share of secrets. The wealthy hoard power, while the desperate use whatever scraps of magic they can find to survive."

Ignis frowned slightly but said nothing more.

As the carriage moved past the last stretch of the city, the scenery gradually changed. The tightly packed streets gave way to open roads lined with towering oak trees, their leaves shimmering faintly with lingering enchantments from passing travellers.

And then, at last, the towering gates of Gallant Estate came into view.

I glanced at Ignis one last time. "Ready?"

She smirked. "Always."