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As Nyx, Francis, and Alma explored the ruined city, they ended up talking about several things, especially Alma and Francis mentioning how they never had friends, this ended with Nyx saying she would become their friends forever.
"Then let's become friends forever, okay? It makes me feel bad that there are people out there that never had friends when they were kids…" Nyx muttered, trying to make them smile even if a little bit. "So! I will become everyone's friend if needed! And I'll always be there for them! And I'll help too! And do everything I can!"
The dragon princess felt some sort of responsibility within her brave little heart. These children in front of her that suffered through their childhoods, compared to her own, made her feel really sad because they didn't enjoy the things she took for granted, making her realize how lucky she was.
As they heard her words, Alma and Francis were quite surprised, raising their eyebrows as they heard her speaking these words that inspired their hearts. The truth was, Nyx wanted them to also be happy like her, to smile, and love their childhood like she did. So the little dragon was going to become the friend they never had and try to make them as happy as possible.
"Oh, Nyx…" Alma giggled. "Heheh, you're too energetic… You didn't really need to go that far."
"Well yeah, she's a bit crazy," nodded Fran. "But she's also great…"
"Hey! I-I'm not crazy! I'm saying the truth!" Nyx pouted again, her cute tail wagging around angrily as she heard her friends talking about her like that, she felt a bit embarrassed. "Don't be like that with me after everything I said… It was embarrassing, you know?"
Alma and Francis nodded at her, patting Nyx's head together.
"Yeah, I believe you!" Alma nodded, smiling. "Nyx, thank you for being so nice! I-It truly feels like I'm dreaming… Maybe it's still a dream at the end? A dream where I finally make friends… it's nice. A dream I wouldn't really want to wake up from."
Alma sighed, having a similar thought that someone else by her side had before.
"Hm, it feels the same to me…" Fran nodded, crossing her arms "Even more with all these fantastical things… Right? It just feels odd and too fantastical… It's like all magic, but mom always said magic doesn't exist."
As she heard the girls saying her existence was some dream, Nyx pouted, growing angry.
She might come from a very fantasy-like world in their perspective, but Yggdrasil was definitely real!
To her, this modern world with big buildings, cars, and technology was a fantasy.
"H-Hey! I already said it wasn't a dream, geez!" said Nyx, crossing her arms while sighing in disbelief. "Anyway! I can feel the presence nearby, so let's hurry, friends!"
Nyx could easily "sense" presences that exuded some lifeform from their bodies, and even souls themselves due to her enhanced senses as a powerful dragon.
This was, quite obviously, a talent these two other girls lacked as normal human beings.
"Oh, you do? Sure, let's go then," Alma nodded, walking by Nyx's side. "Uh… B-But I can't do much if a monster shows up though… Do I hide? Um…"
"Ah! That… don't worry! The Snowdragon will protect you," said Nyx, looking at her Snowdragon Familiar. "Oh right, I can also summon these guys!"
She pointed her hands into the empty air, as Alma and Fran looked at her with strange eyes, but then…
FLUOSH!
Out of a cloud made of phantasmal energy, several Phantom Dragons emerged, making Alma gasp, and even surprised Fran a bit. It seems this was the first time she saw Nyx create these out of nowhere.
"There they are, they're my Phantom Dragon Familiars!" Nyx said with a nod. "These guys will be there for you and will protect you. Don't worry."
Alma gulped saliva nervously, as she glanced at the Phantom Dragons, who seemed to intimidate and phantasmal.
"O-Oh! Ah, geez, thanks… They're a tiny bit scary though…" Alma muttered, her lips trembling a bit, as she was even sweating cold sweat, the phantasmal presences of these familiars caused more than just a bit of fear to normal humans.
"Hehehe! Don't worry, they're all good friends too!" Nyx said. "Don't scare her, you guys! Come on, be nicer. Keep your auras to yourselves."
She patted them while flying on top of their heads, as the Phantom Dragons obeyed, absorbing their Auras and becoming much less threatening.
They became smaller and cute looking, like dragon plushies!
"Oooh?! S-So cute!" Alma gasped, covering her mouth.
"They became cute?" Fran was shocked. "H-How did you even do that, Nyx? That was amazing…"
"Hehehe, that was just a good ol' trick!" Nyx smiled with a giggle. "Phantom Dragons are… I don't know, made of my own Soul I think? Or my Phantom… so they transform and take the shape of what I wish!"
"So they're part of you?" Fran wondered. "Woow! That's kind of cool right dad?"
"…" The snowman dad nodded, giving her a thumbs up.
"Even dad approves!" Fran nodded. "Let me climb you!"
She quickly sat over the snowman's shoulders, although it was a bit cold.
"Won't your butt freeze?" Alma wondered. "W-Will you be ok?"
"I'm fine… H-Heh…" Fran muttered, but her face said otherwise.
"…"
The snowman quickly grabbed her and gently put her on the ground after realizing it could harm her if she ended freezing her legs.
"Hey! Why?! I was enjoying myself there!" Fran complained.
"…" the Snowman waged his head, as if saying "no more".
It was surprisingly expressive for something that couldn't even speak a word! 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Well, let's go then, it's nice for your health to walk a bit every now and then you know?" Nyx asked.
"Ugh… fine…" Fran muttered, yawning a bit. "I'm kind of sleepy though…"
"Me too…" Alma nodded. "Ah, but we shouldn't sleep yet… this place's dangerous."
"Hmm, it is," Nyx nodded. "But if you're too tired, it can't be helped. Let's find the other person that's in here and then take a break, okay?"
"Thanks…" Fran yawned again.
"Hmm…" Alma looked around.
And then into the skies, squinting her eyes.
"It feels weird…"
"How so?"
"Like something… is watching us?"
"Huh?"
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