Cherreads

Chapter 175 - When Fellow Countrymen Meet, Someone Gets Stabbed in the Back

Faced with the oppressive gazes of all four people, the black dragon chose a very simple response.

She lowered her head and calmly licked her paw like a perfectly ordinary kitten.

As if nothing had happened.

No dignity whatsoever.

Not even a trace of draconic pride remained.

Lewis's sinister voice drifted beside her ear.

"So."

"Since you enjoy being a cat so much…"

"Why don't you stay a cat forever?"

"When we get back, I'll take you to a pet shop."

"After that, we'll have you spayed like a proper housecat."

Spayed?!

The little black cat shot into the air.

"I dare you, meow!"

Then she met Lewis's expression.

The dragon immediately wilted.

"Wow!"

Tonks gasped.

"The cat can talk?"

Lewis rubbed his forehead.

"You're only noticing that now?"

"You already know she's a dragon."

"If she couldn't talk, how exactly do you think she manipulated Kapak?"

"Well…"

Tonks tilted her head.

Her hair turned bright yellow with curiosity.

"Dragons talking still feels weird."

"I know dragons can be intelligent, but I've never actually met one that speaks."

"That's because she's not native to this world."

Lewis casually revealed the truth.

"She comes from another world."

"You know I'm from another world, meow?"

The cat froze.

Meanwhile Tonks nearly jumped.

"Another world?!"

Lewis glanced at Ciri and Jaina.

After receiving their nods, he turned serious.

"Tonks."

"The next part is important."

"We're telling you this because we trust you completely."

"You cannot tell anyone."

"Not your parents."

"Not your friends."

"No one."

Tonks instantly understood the gravity of the moment.

She nodded solemnly.

"I swear."

"Whatever I hear next will remain my secret."

"Good."

Lewis smiled.

"Then here's the truth."

"Not just the dragon."

"Ciri, Jaina, and I all come from other worlds."

Tonks stared.

"You too?!"

"You're all from different worlds?"

"That's incredible!"

Lewis shrugged.

"Not really."

"None of us chose it."

"We were all dragged here by circumstances beyond our control."

"Until we find a way home, all we can do is adapt."

The realization immediately softened Tonks' expression.

"That must've been awful."

"Being alone in a completely different world…"

"You must've felt so lonely."

Her voice became gentle.

"Don't worry."

"You can think of me as family."

The sincerity in her words struck all three of them.

"Thanks, Tonks."

Jaina smiled warmly.

"You really are too kind."

Ciri hugged her immediately.

"You've been my big sister for years already."

Even Lewis couldn't help smiling.

The Hufflepuff's greatest strength had never been combat.

It was her warmth.

The ability to make people feel welcome.

The little black cat watched from the side.

Her expression became complicated.

Part envy.

Part disdain.

"Hmph."

"A mighty black dragon would never cry over loneliness, meow."

"Besides… Father, Mother, and my brother are all…"

She stopped herself.

After giving Tonks a brief explanation about worlds and dimensional travel, Lewis turned back toward the cat.

The real interrogation could finally begin.

"Let's start with the basics."

"Which world are you from?"

The black cat immediately looked offended.

"Why are you asking questions when you already know everything, meow?"

"Because I want confirmation."

Lewis leaned forward.

"After hearing Kapak's story, I already have a good guess."

"This is merely verification."

"If you lie, I'll know."

"If you stay silent, I'll figure it out eventually."

"And if you make things difficult…"

His eyes drifted downward.

Toward certain delicate areas.

The cat instantly covered herself with her paws.

"Stop threatening me with spaying, meow!"

Then she reluctantly surrendered.

"Fine."

"But even if I tell you, you might not understand."

She puffed out her chest proudly.

"Listen well."

"This dragon comes from the world blessed by the Titans!"

"The glorious world of Azeroth!"

"Have you ever heard of it, meow?"

To her surprise, Lewis simply nodded.

"Azeroth."

"As expected."

Then he turned toward Jaina.

"Looks like she's your fellow countrywoman."

Jaina blinked.

"Honestly, I suspected as much."

"But hearing it confirmed is still…"

The black cat froze.

"Wait."

"Fellow countrywoman?"

"Jaina?"

Suddenly realization struck.

The kitten nearly exploded.

"Don't tell me you're THAT Jaina?!"

"Jaina Proudmoore of Kul Tiras?!"

"No wonder your spellcasting felt like Dalaran magic, meow!"

Jaina looked equally shocked.

"You know me?"

"But how?"

"Why would a dragon know who I am?"

Lewis answered before the cat could.

"The answer is simple."

"Azeroth's five dragonflights generally don't care much about mortal affairs."

"Except the black dragons."

"Red dragons occasionally interact with mortals too."

"For example, Krasus."

Jaina's eyes widened.

"Krasus?"

"Exactly."

"His real name is Korialstrasz."

"A red dragon."

Jaina nearly dropped her staff.

Lewis continued.

"As for black dragons…"

"They've spent thousands of years hiding among mortal races."

"Especially humans."

"After the other dragonflights united against Deathwing, black dragons became experts at disguise and infiltration."

"They learned everything about human society."

"Compared to the other flights, they know mortals far better."

Understanding dawned on Jaina's face.

"So that's why."

The revelation left her speechless.

She had spent years in Dalaran.

Studied under Antonidas himself.

Yet in a single day, she'd learned more dragon secrets than in her entire life.

Even the black cat nodded approvingly.

"You know an awful lot about black dragons, meow."

"Which black dragon told you all this?"

"Maybe I know them."

Lewis laughed coldly.

"Sorry."

"My source isn't a dragon."

"In fact, I'm not even from Azeroth."

"I know these things because I can observe information from other worlds."

The cat's jaw dropped.

"You can WHAT?"

Even for a black dragon, that sounded absurd.

She'd met powerful beings before.

Dragons.

Ancients.

Titans.

None of them possessed anything that ridiculous.

Lewis ignored her reaction.

"Now."

"Since you understand that lying is pointless…"

"Let's continue."

His gaze sharpened.

"What is your identity?"

"Specifically."

"Who are you?"

The little black cat stared at him for several seconds.

Then lowered her head.

Her voice became much quieter.

"If you know black dragons that well…"

"Then you've probably heard my name before."

Lewis waited.

The cat took a deep breath.

Then said:

"Onyxia."

Silence.

For the first time since the interrogation began, Lewis's expression changed.

He stared.

Then immediately shook his head.

"Onyxia?"

"That's impossible."

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