The room was quiet except for the hum of machines and the faint drip of liquid from the jar that held Milly's head. The boy Ryn, the scientist's son sat in the corner, nervously watching her body through the glass wall.
He didn't understand why, but every time he looked into her eyes even separated from her body something deep inside him stirred.
Milly blinked slowly. Her vision was fogged, her strength faint.
But then she focused.
Her dragon aura, though weakened, still pulsed in tiny flickers through her pupils black and red threads of willpower.
"...You," she whispered in her mind.
The sound wasn't spoken it echoed inside Ryn's head.
He froze, staring at her jar.
"Wh–who said that?"
"Open... the jar."
Ryn looked around. No one else was there. His breathing quickened. The voice was calm, melodic but it carried weight, something ancient and commanding.
He stood and took hesitant steps toward her.
"This isn't… possible. Father said you were-"
"Silence."
Her tone shifted, deeper. A faint glow surrounded the jar. The black aura slipped like smoke through the glass and coiled toward him.
Ryn's pupils dilated. His arms trembled for a second before his expression relaxed into a distant, trance-like calm.
"...Yes, my lady."
Milly smirked weakly her lips barely moved, but her will was absolute.
Even without her body, her dragon magic was still powerful enough to control minds.
"Listen carefully," she said through the mental link. "You will help me. Bring my body here. Then… remove these bindings."
Ryn nodded, dazed.
He turned and left the room with mechanical obedience.
Moments later, alarms flickered faintly again footsteps echoed in the halls as he began his quiet mission.
Inside the jar, Milly's faint smile disappeared, replaced by cold determination.
"You wanted to cage me," she murmured softly, her voice echoing in the liquid. "Now… let's see who's truly in control."