“I’m sooo bored,” I whined, stretching and yawning as we sauntered through the city. “You got any plans for the adventure?”

We were touring the city of Wesclim, planning out our next adventure. However, the local monsters here are far too weak. Besides, the adventurers guild aren’t too pleased with purchasing charred monster corpses with their hide riddled with holes reminiscent of swiss cheese.

“Hey Ajay, why are you still following us?” Yuki called over her shoulder without turning around. “You know Eris told you to leave right?”

His voice trailed off. “I have nowhere else to go….” Pausing for a moment, he continued. “My village was destroyed, remember?”

“I stifled a laugh. “You don’t have anywhere to go because you are utterly useless.” I replied with a smirk. “If you make yourself useful, I might consider it.”

Tentatively, he offered, “I can…. Cook?”

Yuki pursed her lips. “A cook would be nice, I’m tired of eating rations all the time. Fine, I guess you can come along, at least for now.”

“Yes, thank you!!” he exclaimed, pumping his fist and giving Yuki a tight hug.

“Alright, don’t get too cozy,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Well, in the worst case scenario you can be my meat shield.”

In the end, our plan was simple—to cross items off our bucket list that we have not gotten a chance to do in our previous lives. Yuki was particularly excited, since the palace acted as a prison for her, chained to her responsibilities.

“Let’s head in that direction,” I said, pointing at the distant peaks. “Besides, I want to meet up with an old friend.”

Although the dragon I’ve killed was of exceptional lineage, I’ve never had a chance to visit the country due to a small issue—It’s a bit hard to sightsee as a fugitive.

“Try to keep up,” I ordered, turning to Ajay. “This will count as part of your physical training too.”

“C’mon I thought we were just going to do some sightseeing… And why does Yuki get to ride on your back?” he complained.

“First off, we can afford to,” I snapped. “You’re just a nobody. Second off, ew,” I said, scoffing, shaking my head.

We decided to travel by air to dragon country. He is, indeed, useless. After several weeks of travel including pitstops for meals and rest, we’ve arrived at the outskirts of dragon country.

Dragon country is a colossal crater—a vast basin encircled on all sides by jagged, towering mountains on all sides. For convenience, dragons here choose to remain in their polymorphed humanoid forms, seamlessly integrating into the bustling marketplace attracting people of all races. Dotting the mountainsides, massive caverns serve as their homes.

Dragon society is separated by the size and elevation of their dwellings. Nobility and ancient dragons reside in the highest peaks, their vast cavernous homes resembling palaces adorned with ancient relics, murals, and treasures of unspeakable value. The common folk along with the people who choose to serve them reside in the base of the mountainside, where sprawling trade cities thrived. With millennia of history, the country remains firmly as one of the continent’s superpowers, though opting to stay out of most conflicts.

We arrived at one of the outskirts villages, the landscape a patchwork of golden grain fields cut with winding gravel pathways. Farmers are hard at work, toiling in the fields.

I scanned the area, then announced, “You guys go on without me. I will meet up with you guys at the same spot tomorrow morning .”

Yuki tugged on Ajay’s hand. “Let’s go,” she said softly. “Stay safe,” she added, turning to me with a smile. “See you soon!”

“See you soon….” I murmured, as their figures faded into the distance.

I wandered the fields, passing farmers in straw hats who threw quick, curious glances before returning to their work. Eventually, I discovered a small, quaint home at the edge of the village. A elderly man in black priest robes was squatting beside a row of crops, carefully making a cut on his palm, letting his blood drip onto the soil.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“The blood of a holy man enriches crops,” he explained, without looking up. “Tell me, how can I help you?”

I paused for a moment before speaking up. “Father, I am lost and seeking guidance,” I began, approaching him. “May we talk?”

He healed his wound with practiced ease, offering me a warm smile. “Come inside,” he beckoned. “It’s chilly outside. My home is the home of the goddess, and her home is open to all.”

Inside the humble dwelling contained a small kitchen area, a modest bed, and a worn table with two stools carved of wood.

Father Eleazar. He travelled the world to spread the gospel of the goddess, helping the poor and downtrodden along the way. He sheltered me from my pursuers before, for which I am eternally grateful. He poured me a cup of red tea, stirring in a spoonful of honey.

“Speak, child. Share your worries—nothing here will leave these walls,” he said in a soothing tone, sitting in the stool across from me.

I stared at my reflection in my tea before taking a careful sip. “Is everyone truly a child of the goddess? I am seeking the meaning of my life, for I have no home to truly call my own.”

We stared at each other. His gentle eyes framed with crow’s feet offered a sense of reassurance, as he thought in quiet contemplation.

“Whether you are a commoner, noble, or even a slaver, everyone is equal under her gaze,” he said softly. “Every life has a meaning, so cherish yours. Help other people. For the one you save may be the one to save you.”

He paused, then asked, “Would you like to stay the night? You don’t seem local, and some dragons will attack you for something as simple as staring into their eyes.”

The younger ones regard other races as “lessers” and treating them accordingly. The country has the law of survival of the fittest. By now, they should've had an encounter with a dragon. I'm not too worried though, as Yuki's magic is especially effective against dragons.

I shook my head. “I’ll have to decline your offer. But thank you, I must be on my way.”

“If you pray earnestly, the goddess will respond—even if not in words. Have faith, my child, and safe travels,” Father Eleazar said as I stepped out into the now deadly quiet of the countryside. I squinted at the sky, watching dragons soaring overhead.

Following my [Bond] skill, I eventually reconvened with my party. They lay prone, hidden among shrubs and bushes.

Hey what’s u-” I started, surveying the carnage of the landscape. A few dragon corpses lay strewn about, with a raging fire in the distance.

“Shhh be quiet!” Yuki hissed, pressing one finger to her lip. “Can’t you see we’re trying to hide??”

A group of dragons flew overhead to investigate the disturbance. A trio of dragons then settled nearby, their wings flapping in the air. The man in the lead swiftly polymorphed, resting his palm on one of the fallen corpses, then muttering something to his escorts then pointed in our direction.

“I don’t think I can be of much help,” she admitted, shaking her head. “I think I used a bit too much ma-” Yuki abruptly threw up, hacking and coughing.

“Fuckk,” I cursed, exasperated. “Ajay, stop shitting your pants, protect Yuki!”

Ajay’s eyes grew wider, his already pasty skin turning ghostly white. “Get your act together,” I chided, smacking him on the back as I scanned our surroundings.

Before long, two dragons—one red, one green—descended rapidly. “Were you the one that killed our comrades?” barked the red dragon. “Whatever—you’re going to pay for your offense!” He shared a laugh with his green companion.

“Hm, might as well gain the dragon slayer feat,” I mused. ‘Could he be a divinator?’

“Are you done?” I interrupted. “Savor that laugh, for it’ll be your last.”

They turned their heads, in surprise and confusion, as I stepped forward, slamming my fists into their stomachs. The red dragon staggered back slightly, while the green dragon stood firm, glaring at me in contempt.

“A futile attempt,” he snickered, as flames flickered around him. “For your attempt, you will not be granted a painless death.”

A bead of sweat rolled down my face. ‘Is the current me still too weak to face even juvenile dragons?’

It was a bad matchup. Dragons, even juvenile ones, have high physical capabilities. Aura, which is used to augment your physical strength, is ineffective. I had originally planned for the party to gain some quick experience by hunting dragons, but it seemed that we flew too close to the sun. I slammed my foot on the ground, sending cracks snaking through the ground and debris flying in the air.

“You are not a coward for running away; only a fool throws his life away.”

Casting a wind spell, the impact sent me reeling, as I tasted the metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils. Wiping my mouth, I staggered to my feet, dazed.

“Ugh,” I groaned, brushing the debris off my bloodstained robes.

They finished charging up their breath attacks of fire and earth, swirling to create magma. Getting slammed into the ground from the impact, I felt my flesh sizzling as my bones were crushed. Nearly passing out from the pain, I heard a system message in the midst of the chaos.

[Borrowed Time activated], five second countdown starting.

My lips twisted up into a thin smile. I felt blood and bile rising up in the back of my throat. I had spat out a mouthful of blood—-and perhaps a tooth. Taking a shuddering breath, I casted [Aura Conversion] to restore my mana by sacrificing a portion of aura. Despite my body’s screams of protest, my willpower refuses to allow me to die. Filled with adrenaline and desperation, I casted [Beserk] alongside a previously prepared spell : [Dimensional Rift] in quick succession.

My body screamed in pain, reeling from mana backlash. I still hadn’t built up my mana pool enough to cast higher-tier spells. Tasting a mixture of dirt and blood, I created an opening to breathe by punching out in front of me. A violent, bloody retch ensued.. However, I’ve succeeded in casting my spell.

Unlike me, she had the luxury of having access to elixirs and medicines worthy of the future ruler of her country, allowing her to quickly build up her maximum mana pool. As spells danced in hues of every color—flaming boulders, infernos, violent tempest winds, and icicle spears descending like divine punishment, I managed to cast a simple first-aid healing spell to stem my bleeding, bringing me back from the brink of death.

Though rattled and still buried under quickly moltening magma, I casted [Frozen Grasp] to momentarily halt the seeping magma. [Borrowed Time] lasted just enough for me to heal myself albeit slightly. Using [Predation], I spat out a pouch of emergency first-aid equipment.

My fingers clumsily grasped for the burn medicine, with each dab of cream soothing my battered body. Gasping for air, I gulped down several of our limited supply of high-quality recovery potions, allowing for my condition to rapidly stabilize. Although I’ve long gotten used to the bitter herbal taste of potions, it caused me to nearly spit them out. Inspecting my injuries, I noted that I’ve taken heavy blunt damage. My aura shielded me from the worst of the burns and debris. Small patches of pink skin patched my body, though my robes remained fine as always.

Nausea washed over me as the smell of my own burned flesh filled my nostrils. After a few moments to catch my breath, I burrowed upwards and emerged into a wasteland. A once pristine field now reduced to ashes. The bodies of our pursuers now a pile of smouldering remains. In the distance, their leader watched with furrowed brows.

“I didn’t expect you to survive,” he remarked, slowly clapping his hands. “Well done.”