As soon as we stepped into the village, every pair of eyes turned toward us, filled with doubt, suspicion, and just a pinch of fear. Nyxis’s sheer presence didn’t help ease the tension—silver-scaled dragons tend to have that effect on people. Not that I blamed them; a Skyrend wasn’t exactly your neighborhood dog.

I kept my hood up, cloak wrapped tight around me like a security blanket. No need for them to know who—or what—I was just yet. Better to let Lucy do the talking while I stayed in the background, looking mysterious. Or intimidating. Either worked.

The village itself was exactly what Lucy had described—a quaint cluster of homes filled with old folks shuffling around, their faces lined with years of knowledge and stress. A few younger people darted here and there, clearly trying to keep things together, but it was obvious that the place was holding on by a thread.

“Hot springs and scholars, huh?” I muttered under my breath, glancing at the steamy pools in the distance. “Not exactly the fortress I was expecting.”

After some whispering and curious stares from the villagers, we were escorted to what I assumed was the chief’s office. The building was simple but sturdy, a small beacon of authority in this otherwise crumbling village.

Nyxis, ever the drama queen, carried me straight inside. She didn’t bother to wait for permission, shoving the door open with a swipe of her claw. The guards flinched, their hands darting to their weapons, but Lucy quickly stepped in to calm them down.

“It’s fine! They’re here to help!” she said, waving her hands like she was trying to shoo away a swarm of bees.

Nyxis came to a halt in the center of the room, and with a huff, she crouched down, letting me slide off her back. I landed on my feet, a bit wobbly, but I quickly straightened up, keeping my cloak tightly wrapped around me. Gotta keep the mystique alive.

The village chief sat at a desk in front of us. My first thought? He’s young. Too young for what I’d imagined. Maybe mid-twenties, with a calm expression that clashed with the subtle fierceness in his eyes. This wasn’t some frail elder; this guy looked like he could hold his own in a fight if he had to. His posture was relaxed, but there was an edge to him, like a blade just barely sheathed.

“So,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a weight that demanded attention. “You’re the ones Lucy brought back.”

I tilted my head, letting a small chuckle escape. “Depends. Are you happy to see us, or are we about to have a problem?”

Lucy shot me a nervous glance, but the chief didn’t flinch. Instead, his gaze shifted to Nyxis, lingering for a moment before returning to me.

The chief leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied me and Nyxis. “Hmm, is that so? Well, you’ve certainly brought us... unconventional help. A Skyrend, no less. If what I’ve heard about these creatures is true, you may have brought us salvation. I assume.”

Then his gaze shifted to me, his brows knitting in suspicion. “And who might this big, hulking man in the cloak be?”

Before I could answer, Nyxis, in all her childlike enthusiasm, piped up, “This is my Papa, Alex! And Nyxis loves her Papa!” She punctuated her declaration by rubbing her massive, scaly head against me like a giant, scaly cat.

I sighed, patting her snout. “Nyxis, you’re not exactly making this easier.”

The chief’s expression shifted, amusement flickering across his face. “A human as the father of a Skyrend? That’s... certainly unique.”

I gave him a shrug, trying to play it cool. “What can I say? She’s a good kid, and I’m a sucker for adoption cases.”

The chief’s tone turned formal as he inclined his head slightly. “Regardless, thank you for saving our village. For now, at least. The demons may attack again, and we’ll be relying on your protection.”

That’s when I decided to put the brakes on this whole grateful village savior vibe. “Hold up,” I interjected, raising a hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m not exactly the charity type. If we’re going to stick our necks out for you, I’ve got a few conditions.”

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The chief raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “Oh? And what might those be, Sir Alex?”

I crossed my arms, letting my demands roll out casually. “First, I need access to someone who knows anything about Chaos Magic. Lucy mentioned your village is packed with retired scholars. Surely one of them’s got some knowledge on the subject. Second, no one meddles in the fight unless I explicitly ask for help. You leave the battlefield to me and Nyxis. And third…” I paused for dramatic effect. “We want our own private hot spring. I’ve heard good things, and frankly, I could use the relaxation.”

The chief stared at me for a long moment before his shoulders shook with quiet laughter. “Oh my, how bold of you. But I suppose beggars can’t be choosers. Very well, your terms are acceptable. Lucy, take them to the library. Edward will assist you with your first request. As for the third...” He chuckled again. “Consider it done. You’ll have a private spring by nightfall.”

Nyxis perked up, her tail swishing excitedly. “Papa, we get a hot spring! Can we splash around later?”

“Later,” I said, ruffling her head. “First, we’ve got some work to do.”

The chief gave us a polite nod. “Until then, Sir Alex. Miss Nyxis. I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

With that, we exited the chief’s office, Lucy leading the way. The villagers still cast their wary glances, but I could tell that under their suspicion was a flicker of hope. They were counting on us.

Well, mostly on Nyxis. But they were going to get the full package.

The chief was definitely one of a kind. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something about him made me feel like there was more to his calm, collected demeanor than he was letting on. He was hiding something, I was sure of it.

I glanced at Lucy. “Man, that chief… he’s unlike any character I’ve met. What do you think, Lucy?”

Lucy shrugged, her eyes thoughtful. “To be fair, you’re not wrong. He’s mysterious and all. But then again, we’ve been through a lot, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s keeping things to himself.”

I muttered to myself, “Yeah, he’s definitely hiding something. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Hey Lucy,” I said, deciding to focus on something else. “Before we hit the library, how about I check out the walls around your village? Could probably beef them up a bit.”

Lucy blinked, a little surprised, but she nodded quickly. "Okay! We could use all the help we can get."

She led me to the walls, and I immediately got to work. I placed my hands on the stone, feeling the pulse of Earth Magic surge through me. The wall responded, cracking and groaning under my power, but soon enough, it was reinforced—tougher, sturdier. Wouldn’t break so easily now. At least, not without a serious fight.

“Alright,” I said, wiping my hands on my cloak. “Should hold up for now. Let’s go to that library of yours.”

We moved on to the next part of the village—one of the most impressive parts, actually—the library. It was a freaking fortress of knowledge. I stopped in my tracks when I saw it. “Woah, woah, this library is huge.”

Lucy grinned. “Yeah, it’s one of the things we’re known for around here. All the scholars who’ve retired here, they’ve written their entire life’s work and stored it here. It’s pretty impressive, huh?”

I was still processing how massive this place was when a voice interrupted us.

“Hey, if it isn’t Lucy! I heard from the chief that your companions need something from me.”

I turned to see a man approaching us. He had the typical scholarly look to him—glasses perched on his nose, robes that looked way too clean for someone who actually spent time around books, and a kind but serious demeanor.

Lucy smiled brightly and waved. "Hey, Edward. This is Alex, and his daughter Nyxis."

Nyxis, ever the bundle of energy, bounced forward, a big grin on her face. “Nice to meet you!” she chirped, with those big eyes and that killer cute factor. Edward’s eyes softened, and he gave her a warm smile.

“The pleasure is mine,” he said, voice deep but pleasant. “I’m Edward, and I manage this library. Thank you for deciding to help us.”

"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving a hand. "We’re here to help. But first, I need to ask you something."

“Oh? What can I do for you, Sir Alex?”

"Well," I scratched my chin, “I’ve been looking into this whole Chaos Magic thing. Heard it’s a real pain in the ass, but I need to know more about it. You wouldn’t happen to have any info on that, would you?”

Edward’s expression shifted. "Chaos Magic... that’s a rare and dangerous topic. But I think I may have something. Let me check.”

He moved quickly to one of the bookshelves, his hands sliding over the spines of ancient tomes like he was reading braille. I glanced over at Lucy and Nyxis, who were having their own little conversation. Nyxis was telling Lucy about something that probably didn’t make any sense, but I didn’t mind. I was already lost in my own thoughts, running over the possibilities of what Chaos Magic could actually do.

Edward finally brought out the book on Chaos Magic. The thing was ancient—like, it had probably been sitting around since the beginning of time itself. The cover was cracked leather, and the edges of the pages were frayed and yellowed. Edward gave it a little blow, sending a puff of dust spiraling into the air.

“Here’s the file on Chaos Magic,” he said, carefully placing it on the table in front of me. “It’s... a bit old.”

“Yeah, no shit,” I muttered, watching the dust settle. “It looks like it’s one good sneeze away from falling apart.”

Edward didn’t dignify my comment with a reply. Instead, he squinted at the cover and read aloud, “Written by... Mordekai Malpharix.”

The moment the name left his lips, Lucy gasped audibly, like she’d just seen a ghost. “Mordekai? Are you serious? Can we even trust this book?”

Edward adjusted his glasses and looked at Lucy with a resigned expression. “Lucy, we don’t have the luxury of choosing. This is the only book in our collection that even mentions Chaos Magic.”

Reluctantly, Edward handed the book over to me. “Here it is, Sir Alex. I’ll leave you to it—I’ve got other matters to attend to. Good luck.”

I nodded, taking the book. The damn thing felt heavy, like it was carrying more than just paper. Maybe it was guilt, or insanity, or whatever craziness Mordekai had poured into it.

As Edward left, I turned to Lucy, who still looked spooked. “Alright, spill. What’s the big deal with this Mordekai guy?”

Lucy crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Mordekai Malpharix... he was known as the Mad Scientist. He performed the kind of experiments that even demons would call unethical. Audacious doesn’t even begin to describe his methods. He ignored every boundary of conventional magic, mixing science and magic in ways that made everyone uncomfortable—dangerous, reckless ways.”

“Sounds like my kind of guy,” I said, smirking. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Lucy gave me a deadpan look. “The worst? You lose your mind, or your life, or both.”

“Well, that’s just a regular Tuesday for me,” I shot back, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

Lucy sighed. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Then an idea hit me. “Hey, Lucy, why don’t you take Nyxis and go have some fun? You’ve been through a lot, and Nyxis could use some fresh air. I’ll stay here and see what this Mad Scientist has to say.”

Lucy blinked, then smiled. “Alright, if you’re sure. Come on, Nyxis, let’s go.”

“Yay! Let’s go, Sister Lucy!” Nyxis cheered, grabbing her hand and skipping off with her.

As the door closed behind them, the library grew eerily quiet. It was just me and this creepy-ass book now.

I sat down, placing the book on the table. The leather binding creaked as I opened it, revealing the first page. The handwriting was jagged, almost chaotic—fitting, I supposed.

“Alright, Mordekai, show me what you’ve got,” I muttered and started to read.