Mira was counting the treasures that had been offered by the Eastern Kingdom over the years in her room inside the high tower.
Lance agreed that she could return the gold to its original owners. For the blue dragon, these treasures were nothing more than decorations piling up in the tower’s vault, but for others, they held a different significance.
When discussing the treasures, Lance seemed quite generous. However, when the topic shifted to the livestock from the upper realms of the library, his expression grew strange.
Mira knew what he was thinking.
Lance didn't realize that she knew he was a dragon.
Lance didn't want to return the livestock. Treasures might not matter much to him, but the livestock were his daily food. Without them, he would have to hunt in the forest.
Mira had taken that into consideration. She had used the eight hundred gold coins earned from selling low-quality scrolls to ask Maria for help in purchasing the livestock offered by the herders.
Maria, without asking anything, had silently agreed to the request.
On the day they left the high tower to head for the Eastern Kingdom, a light rain fell on the mountain.
The rain wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to create puddles along the path as they descended.
When Mira and Maria were together, it felt like they could talk endlessly, leaving Lance and Sam to follow behind them.
The blue dragon didn’t understand. As a powerful dragon, he could have used teleportation magic to take all four of them to the royal city, but Mira and Maria both refused the suggestion.
They insisted on walking to the royal city, even if it meant wasting a lot of time. Mira and Maria had chosen this path.
On the first night of the journey, they stayed at an inn in a small town.
Sam handed Mira a key.
"Just one?" Mira stared at the key in her hand.
"Aren’t you two living together?" Sam gave her a glance. He didn't have time to understand Mira’s emotions. After handing over the key, he left the inn.
Lance walked in shortly after.
He had used magic to return to the high tower to handle the food issue. That night, the four of them tried the local specialties for dinner, but for Lance, the food was a bit too little.
Mira looked at Lance, squeezing the key in her hand. Her expression turned strange, and she quietly glanced at him before shifting her gaze elsewhere.
She remembered the excuse she hastily found earlier. She had said she was watching the sunrise with Maria, but it was barely dusk at that point.
She had wandered around the tower, and that fool Lance never tried to find her.
"Only one room," Mira whispered to Lance, cautiously glancing up at him.
He could understand what she was saying, right? He could, right?
Lance’s expression remained unchanged.
He gave a simple acknowledgment, and then there was no further conversation.
"Do you want to look at the room with me?" Mira didn’t quite understand why she felt happy. Though their last time together in one room had ended with her running away, this time would definitely be different. She was determined not to run away.
Lance reached out and took Mira's hand.
"Aren’t we looking at the room?" The blue dragon's gaze fixed on Mira, gently shaking her arm.
Mira smiled and led Lance up the stairs to the second floor of the inn.
This feeling was so strange.
Mira focused on her feet, watching the steps disappear one by one.
Lance followed behind her at an arm's length—close enough to feel, but still a little distant.
Mira swore that when she had the key, she didn’t think anything strange. She only felt an inexplicable anticipation and joy.
She wondered what Lance was thinking. He seemed rather slow on the uptake.
Mira sighed.
The sigh didn’t go unnoticed by Lance, who turned to look at the girl beside him. She seemed to have something on her mind.
Lance recalled what the goblin elder had said.
The magic hub had taken away the method of refining the World Heart’s power from the goblins, and the goblin tribe's World Heart corresponded to thoughts and the mind.
Mira’s personality made her love to imagine, and the power of the mind came with imagination.
In the brief time they walked up the stairs, Lance had reason to believe that Mira had once again created a beautiful world in her mind.
But right now, it seemed that this world was causing her a little trouble.
Mira stopped in front of the only room. She took out the key and opened the door.
It was slightly different from what she had imagined.
It was a room, but it had two beds.
Mira furrowed her brow. This small shift in emotion didn't escape Lance’s notice.
Lance knew exactly what she was thinking.
He showed an expression of helplessness.
The special situation still hadn’t been resolved well. Most of the time, Lance didn’t want to be alone in a room with Mira.
She was still very young; it wasn’t the right time.
"Do you want the bed by the window, or the one by the wall?" Lance asked Mira.
Mira suppressed her emotions and said, “I don’t mind.”
She hadn’t expected that the room would have two beds.
The emotions she had been brewing as they climbed the stairs disappeared in an instant.
Mira sat down on the chair beside the bed.
She needed to do something to distract herself from the present situation.
Mira thought of her ring, and the gold ingots inside.
Now she was back to being broke Mira.
However, the brief meeting had not only reunited Mira and Maria but had also given her a good idea.
The high tower’s storage room was filled with a whole room of blank scrolls. These scrolls were of no use to Lance.
She couldn’t think about the two beds in one room right now. She needed to find a way to make money.
"Lance," Mira said, her tone turning serious again.
"What’s wrong?" Lance thought she was finally deciding on a bed.
Mira’s next words were once again unexpected.
"Let’s make a deal."
Lance was stunned for a moment before realizing she meant business.
"What deal?"
Mira thought for a moment and then asked him, "Do those scrolls have a cost price?"
"Scrolls?" Lance realized she was talking about the blank scrolls in the high tower. Those were left by the original master of the tower.
The blue dragon had no concept of money and couldn’t provide an accurate valuation for Mira.
"Those are enchanted parchment scrolls," Lance said. In the time of the tower’s magicians, paper wasn’t as widespread as it was now, and magical items were often recorded on parchment scrolls.
Stolen novel; please report.
To bear magic, regular parchment wasn’t enough, so enchanted parchment scrolls were created.
Though they were called parchment scrolls, the materials didn’t have to be sheep hide. Leather from cows, sheep, and goats was primarily used to make parchment scrolls. Scrolls that carried magic required stricter standards than those used for ordinary writing. So not every parchment scroll could become a magical scroll.
Lance briefly explained the process of making parchment scrolls to Mira. Although he didn’t mention a specific price, hearing about the intricate process, the strict standards, and the complex craftsmanship, along with the magic required, made Mira feel that these scrolls must have been very expensive.
And she had casually sold these expensive scrolls, still with magic written on them, for five metals apiece.
The idea of doing business flickered in Mira’s mind twice before almost disappearing completely.
"But fortunately," Lance continued, "although these scrolls are troublesome to make, blue dragons don’t need to handcraft them like humans do. We have powerful magic. And the materials—cows, goats, or sheep—are food for us. My mother is picky and doesn’t like the tough leather, but it’s all thrown away anyway."
Making the scrolls out of those materials was a secondary use.
"Anyway, they’re just sitting in the storage room with no other use," Lance said, looking at Mira, knowing she had come up with a new idea.
His words reignited Mira’s business idea.
Her plan was quite simple.
Lance needed enough cows and goats for food, but without the human kingdom's offerings, the livestock from the ranch wouldn’t last long.
Mira had considered letting them breed. But the animals' growth cycles couldn’t be ignored, and sooner or later, Lance would run out of food.
She needed more cows and goats, planning their breeding periods carefully to ensure a steady supply of food for Lance.
After all, it was her idea to return the money to their rightful owners. This wasn’t Lance’s responsibility; she wanted him to do it.
Mira knew her idea wasn’t fully fleshed out. To make it work, she would need systematic knowledge of farming and a lot of money.
The good news was that because of magic, the high tower had endless grass. She didn’t need to worry about food.
Lance had said that leather could be used to make scrolls, and cows would produce milk. These were all derived wealth.
Lance would get food, leather could be used to make scrolls, the scrolls could be sold for money, and the money could support their daily lives and buy more livestock for the ranch.
In Mira’s mind, this idea was perfect.
However, it would be difficult to implement.
But Mira was confident about the future. With the help of magic, she would gain more convenience.
Mira didn’t share why she wanted to do business with Lance. He still didn’t know he had been exposed.
Mira was already envisioning. Magic scrolls were in high demand. As long as she could produce enough, she could sell them through the information traders in Hero’s Town.
The lack of mediums provided a very good opportunity for her.
Mira could already see tons of gold coins beckoning to her.
The blue dragon watched the girl so close to him. He didn’t know what she had thought of this time, but her smile was full of joy, and the curve of her eyes and upward tilt of her lips clearly conveyed her happiness.
Lance couldn’t hold back.
He bent down and gently kissed the corner of her lips.
Mira snapped back from her fantasy world to reality, her eyes wide in surprise and mixed with joy as she looked at Lance.
"What are you thinking? So happy." Lance laughed.
"Secret," Mira winked at him.
Lance raised an eyebrow.
"You’ll know in the future," Mira thought the idea that had suddenly appeared in her mind seemed highly feasible. She needed to further work out the details.
The most important thing now was that she needed a lot of start-up capital.
There were still plenty of treasures in the high tower, but Mira wanted to try it herself.
She stood up to study.
In a short time, it seemed like she had thought of many things Lance didn’t know. She was now holding a book on magical scrolls, wanting to catch up on the lessons Lance had missed during his illness.
Mira didn’t know when the shortage of mediums would end. This period would be the best time to sell scrolls.
She had to write as many scrolls as possible during this time. It would help her practice and earn money.
Magic was truly the greatest thing in this world.
Her thoughts paused for a moment, and Lanster is second to magic.
Mira worked late into the night at the simple wooden table in the inn.
She hadn't brought many blank scrolls with her. Mira returned the gem ring to Maria and now carried a backpack containing a few changes of clothes, two books, and several scrolls.
When they returned to the tower in a while, she would need to find some suitable materials to try and create another spatial storage ring for herself.
Lance was already lying on the bed. Since Mira hadn’t chosen a bed, he had left the one near the window for her.
The blue dragon lay on the bed, and being in the same room with Mira made certain feelings stir inside him.
He got up and walked to the window, opening it in an attempt to let the fresh air carry away the lingering scent in the room.
Lance quietly watched Mira as she drew magic on the scroll.
In terms of spellcasting, Mira certainly had a unique talent. Her control over magic was exquisite, a skill typically attributed to innate talent.
Lance wasn’t sure what kind of experiments the goblins had conducted to imbue the power of the Heart of the World into ordinary creatures, but it was evident that such experiments would have been cruel and inhumane.
Lance loved magic, but he preferred magic that was born from nature, not this twisted form.
His gaze fell on Mira.
She was intently focused, looking down. He wondered what she was thinking.
The blue dragon silently smiled and walked over, approaching Mira from behind.
“Mira,” his deep voice had a slightly ambiguous tone. Mira lifted her head, feeling the weight on her shoulder.
Was Lance... acting cute?
She was startled by the thought that suddenly appeared in her mind, but it seemed to be the truth.
“W-what are you doing?” Mira stammered, realizing her voice was trembling.
“It’s late. You should rest,” Lance’s voice came from beside her neck, with a muffled tone.
Mira blinked. She looked down at her scroll. It was already finished.
There seemed to be no reason to refuse Lance’s suggestion.
She lifted her head and nodded, a little dazed.
Lance picked her up. The weight of a human girl was nothing for the giant dragon.
“I’ll take the other bed,” Mira quickly told Lance her unmade decision. But her answer came too late.
“Do you want to take a bath?” Lance asked.
He knew Mira was a clean girl, but the conditions in the small inn weren’t good. If she wanted to bathe, he would take her back to the tower.
“No, no need,” Mira refused decisively.
Let her be dirty for the night! After all, they had played in the mud together, so what was the point of bathing now? Talking about it seemed... well, inappropriate.
Mira lowered her head, trying to ignore the awkwardness.
Lance placed her on the bed and didn’t do anything else. He circled around to the other side and lay back down.
A single bed was fine for an adult, but with another person, it felt a bit cramped.
Mira and Lance were close, the strange scent surrounding her.
This was proof that the dragon liked her. Mira recalled the words from fantasy literature. At times like this, she both anticipated and feared the moment—such a complex emotion.
But lying in Lance's embrace, she felt a sense of security.
“You smell so nice,” Mira buried herself in Lance’s arms, reaching under him to wrap her arms around him completely.
Even through the clothes, Lance could still feel Mira’s body temperature and could sense his own rising.
Mira closed her eyes, trying not to think of strange things, but as her sense of security grew, more strange feelings started to overwhelm her.
Mira tried to move around on him.
Lance was different from ordinary mages. He was a dragon, and even in human form, his muscles were solid.
The soft touch of Mira's body felt nothing like it.
Mira couldn’t resist touching him a few more times.
“Don’t make trouble,” Lance only wanted to hold Mira, but it was clear she had developed some strange ideas.
“No!” Mira nervously denied.
The dragon opened his eyes and smiled as he kissed her forehead.
“Aren’t you scared?”
Scared? Mira smirked.
She had already kissed a dragon; what was there to be afraid of?
But still, she nervously pulled back her hand a little.
The road from the magic dragon’s tower to the royal city was a road that had witnessed the coldness and warmth of the world.
At first, Mira didn’t quite understand why Maria insisted on walking to the royal city instead of taking a more convenient route.
But as their journey drew closer to the end, Mira felt like she could understand Maria’s feelings.
Maria had once been the beloved princess of the kingdom. Her father adored her, and from childhood, everything she had was the best this world could offer.
But one day, she left her father, only to learn from others a completely different version of him.
Maria must have been heartbroken.
Even though she had spent a long time in another world, it must have been difficult for her to return here.
She had to walk this road herself, perhaps to face with her own eyes the imperfect side of her father.
Mira couldn’t fully relate to her feelings. She had never been spoiled by her father. But Mira could feel a little of what Maria might be going through, because when she learned that Carl wasn’t the person she had imagined, Mira also found it hard to accept that truth.
The chattering journey gradually grew silent, and more often, Maria would be cleaning her weapon—the heavy sword that had accompanied her for a long time.
It was Maria’s favorite weapon.
Mira didn’t want to see her use that sword against her father. She silently prayed that things would turn out for the better.
Mira didn’t believe in gods, and often, she didn’t know who she was praying to. It was just a wish, a hope that things might improve.
There was no need for a drastic change overnight. Even if things only improved a little compared to the worst outcome, it would be a difficult achievement.
Sam and Maria occasionally sparred. Perhaps this was one way for her to release her emotions.
During these times, Mira would become the best spectator.
Maria had changed a lot.
Her moves were sharp, and the heavy sword had become an extension of her arm. Each slash and block was executed perfectly, every move exuding grace.
At night, Mira curled up in Lance’s arms, enjoying the pleasant scent of him.
“Maria is really amazing,” she murmured softly, imagining herself wielding a heavy sword.
Mira couldn’t quite imagine what she would look like holding a sword. She didn’t seem suited for swinging blades or wielding weapons. But if it was about casting magic, she would appear unusually composed.
Everyone had their own strengths. Mira had told Ina this once, and now she was even more convinced—she was born for magic!
Thinking of this, Mira couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Lance didn’t know what world she was imagining. But in any case, Mira always found joy in her own world.
She didn’t dream. Perhaps she didn’t need to. The happy things for her happened in every second of wakefulness.
“I think she’s not as great as you,” Lance shared his feelings.
He didn’t quite understand the friendship between human girls, but whether in his form as the magic-wielding blue dragon or in his human shape, Lance preferred Mira—quirky, with countless strange ideas.
“I’m not that great,” Mira said with a laugh, pinching his cheek. “Come on, say something nice to make me happy.” She was clearly quite happy right now.
Lance chuckled softly.
“You’re the greatest mage in this world,” he told her.
Mira didn’t believe it. She did have some skill, but she was far from being the greatest mage in the world.
She hummed in mock dissatisfaction.
“Not sincere at all.”
Lance laughed and rubbed the top of her head.
“What would make it sincere?”
“Just tell me how long it will take for me to surpass you.”
The blue dragon playfully winked.
“Twenty years?” After all, his strength was innate, and Mira would need a long time to catch up with him through learning.
Mira bit her lip and glanced at the dragon.
She squinted her eyes. Suddenly, those strange thoughts were reignited in her mind.
It might take a long time for her to catch up with Lance. But one thing might be achievable sooner.
In many stories, Mira had heard of dragon slayers, dragon fighters, and dragon knights, but she had never heard of dragon mages.
To surpass a blue dragon in magic would mean bridging the gap between species. But to surpass a blue dragon in other aspects only required the effort to become a mage capable of standing on the dragon’s back.
It sounded pretty cool.
“Lance,” Mira suddenly called his name, staring at him seriously. “I’m curious about something.”
“Hm?”
“Can a dragon carry a person and fly?”