After their encounter with the griffin, the group made their way back down the mountain, heading towards the familiar shelter of the Silverheart Tree. The air buzzed with excitement as they relived the day’s events.

“I still can’t believe we actually faced a griffin!” Suli exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe. “It was massive! I thought I might faint right then and there!”

Nyx nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere. The griffin’s presence lingered in her mind, a strange mix of power and something that felt oddly familiar. “Yeah, but it wasn’t as terrifying as I imagined,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

“What’s on your mind, Nyx?” Len asked, glancing at her as they settled beneath the shimmering branches of the Silverheart Tree.

She hesitated, frowning slightly. “I was just thinking… the griffin, it felt… familiar somehow,” she admitted quietly. “It had the same kind of energy and magic molecules as Drac.”

Ryu raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern crossing his face. “Do you think Drac will be mad that we didn’t tell him about the griffin?”

Len’s expression turned serious. “Let’s keep it to ourselves,” he advised. “Drac doesn’t like to be worried.”

Once they finished their meal, the group began to say their goodbyes. “Take care, all of you,” Geurim said with a grin, trying to lift the mood. “And try not to get into any more trouble!”

“Yeah, we’ll see you later!” Suli waved, her spirits high as they started their journey back to Drac’s cave.

As they walked, Nyx couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The griffin’s words echoed in her mind, and a nagging curiosity tugged at her. Who was that creature? And why did it feel so connected to Drac? She bit her lip, hesitant to ask him, afraid of what his reaction might be.

“Are you okay?” Len asked, noticing her distracted expression. “You seem lost in thought.”

“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, though her heart pounded with uncertainty. “Just… thinking about training and stuff.”

When they finally reached Drac’s cave, they were earlier than expected. The imposing stone entrance loomed ahead, a reminder of the power that resided within.

Drac emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding as always. “Why are you back so early?” he asked, suspicion lacing his tone.

Nyx stepped forward, forcing a smile despite her nerves. “It's because I missed you so much!” she said, but her eyes flicked toward Len, betraying her unease.

Drac’s eyebrow arched, his gaze sharp. “Really? You know I can tell when you’re lying, right?” His voice was low and serious.

Nyx’s heart sank. “Uh… well…” She felt trapped under his intense scrutiny.

“I really do miss you though.” She mumbled with a pout on her lips.

Drac narrowed his eyes but decided not to press further. “Go take a bath and come back. We’ll be doing some training together,” he ordered, gesturing toward the entrance.

Relieved, Nyx turned to head inside, but Drac’s keen senses caught something in the air. He leaned closer, sniffing. “You smell different,” he said, his voice sharp. “Why do you smell like the griffin?”

Nyx froze, panic rising within her. “I… I don’t know what you mean,” she stammered, her mind racing for an explanation.

Drac’s gaze shifted to Len, who was now avoiding eye contact. “And you?” Drac asked, his tone edged with danger. “What do you have to say?”

Len swallowed hard, his throat dry. “Uh, it’s nothing,” he managed, but the tremor in his voice gave him away.

Drac’s expression darkened, his frustration simmering. “None of you are answering me,” he growled. “That’s very suspicious. Do you think I won’t find out what happened?”

Nyx felt a chill run down her spine as she realized how deep in trouble they were. “Drac, it’s not what you think—”

Before she could finish, Drac cut her off, his voice rising. “I don’t want to hear excuses. You’ve interrupted my training for this nonsense, and now you both shall be punished.”

Len exchanged a worried glance with Nyx, dread gnawing at them. They knew they were in deep trouble.

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Meanwhile, back at the griffin’s cave, the creature settled into his nest, trying to shake off the disturbance.

He closed his eyes, but his thoughts lingered on the peculiar child and her connection to the dragon. “Why did that little one smell so much like the dragon?” he mused, curiosity gnawing at him. “Could there be more to this than meets the eye?”

As he tried to drift back into slumber, a smirk tugged at his beak. “This could complicate things,” he murmured. “But it might be entertaining…”

The next day

Another day has come in the forest as life was going on as usual.

But at the dragon's cave, something different was happening than their usual perky bunch.

After breakfast, Drac summoned them with a single, stern command. His gaze was as sharp as ever, his patience clearly frayed. “You two,” he began, his voice cold and unforgiving, “since you thought it was a good idea to keep secrets from me, it’s time you learn the consequences.”

Nyx’s stomach tightened into a knot. She bit her lip, trying to brace herself for whatever punishment awaited them. Len stood beside her, unusually quiet, his usual bravado replaced by a resigned acceptance.

They had to put their hands in the air while sitting on their knees with their face facing the cave walls.

This has been happening since morning. And they both were getting tired already.

“Drac I’m sorry, I won’t ever do it again.” Nyx pleaded.

“Yeah Drac, next time I won’t put her in any trouble.” Len also pleaded.

“Drac please, my hands are hurting me.”

They both were pleading helplessly to Drac for leniency.

Despite this, Drac held on to his resolve and did give in to their pleas.

What they did was dangerous and he wanted to make sure that they knew the consequences of dangerous actions so that they won’t do it again.

“Drac please, I promise I won’t do it again.” Nyx pleaded and she started to cry a little because Drac wasn’t giving in to her pleas and she was getting frustrated and tired.

Drac glanced at them, with an unassuming expression on his face and turned back to what he was doing, which was reading some old scripts.

He never once uttered his mouth to answer them.

Just as Drac was about to continue, a deep rumble shook the ground beneath them. The flicker of a shadow darkened the cave entrance, and they all turned to see the imposing figure of the griffin stepping inside, his golden feathers catching the morning light.

“Ah, Dragon of wrath, always so stern with your pupils,” the griffin remarked, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and authority. “But I believe we have some unfinished business.”

It was the Constellation of the Griffin god of sloth, another fallen constellation.

Drac’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want, griffin? I’m in the middle of something.”

The griffon's beak curved into what looked like a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. “I’m here about a promise. Your little one,” he nodded toward Nyx, “promised me a pillow.”

Nyx’s heart skipped a beat. She had almost forgotten about the promise she’d made in the heat of the moment. Now, faced with Drac’s disapproving gaze and the griffin’s expectant look, she wished she could vanish.

Drac’s expression shifted slightly as he turned his attention to Nyx. “A pillow?” he repeated, clearly annoyed. “And just how were you planning to make that happen?”

Nyx’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I… I didn’t think it through,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. She glanced at the griffin, who seemed to be enjoying the situation.

The griffin chuckled, the sound echoing through the cave. “A promise is a promise, Drac. I’m not here to cause trouble—just to see it fulfilled. Besides,” his eyes twinkled with amusement, “I’m curious to see how resourceful she can be.”

Drac sighed, a low growl rumbling in his throat as he rubbed a clawed hand over his face. “Fine,” he relented, though it was clear he wasn’t happy. “But she’s coming back once it’s done. And no more making promises you can’t keep,” he added, giving Nyx a pointed look.

Nyx nodded quickly, relief washing over her. “Thank you,” she whispered, grateful that Drac hadn’t outright refused. She turned to the griffin, who was still watching her with that unreadable, almost playful gaze. “Can Len come with me?” she asked, not wanting to face the task alone.

The griffin shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Two pairs of hands might be better than one.”

Len, who had been silently hoping he wouldn’t be left alone with Drac, quickly agreed. “Yeah, I’ll go,” he said, trying to sound confident, though his relief was obvious.

With a final nod from Drac, the two of them followed the griffin out of the cave. The tension eased slightly as they moved away from Drac’s stern presence. But as they approached the griffin’s lair, Nyx couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at her. They had no idea how to make a pillow, and now they were bound to fulfill a promise she hadn’t thought through.

When they arrived at the griffin’s cave, they expected to be immediately tasked with crafting the pillow. But the griffin had other plans.

"Before you get started on that pillow," the griffin began, settling himself in the center of his grand cave, "there’s something else that needs attention."

Nyx and Len exchanged puzzled looks. "Something else?" Nyx asked cautiously.

The griffin let out an exaggerated sigh, as if the answer should have been obvious. "This cave doesn’t clean itself," he said with a hint of impatience. "And my feathers—they’ve been neglected far too long."

Nyx’s eyes widened in surprise. "You want us to clean your cave... and groom you?"

"Exactly," the griffin replied with a lazy grin. "Consider it part of your promise."

Len couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Didn’t see that coming."

"Neither did I," Nyx muttered, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. Relief that they weren’t expected to craft a pillow just yet, and anxiety because she had no idea how to groom a griffin.

The next few hours were spent in a whirlwind of activity. They swept the cave, carefully tidied up around the griffin’s treasured possessions, and gathered the scattered remnants of his meals into neat piles. The griffin watched them with mild interest, occasionally offering advice or reminding them to be thorough.

Finally, when the cave was spotless, the griffin stretched his massive wings, signaling that it was time for the next task. "Now, for the feathers," he instructed, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. "Be gentle. Some of them are ready to be shed."

Nyx and Len approached the griffin with a mix of awe and trepidation. The task required patience and care, and they worked in near silence, carefully plucking the loose, dead feathers from his impressive wings. As they worked, they began to feel a strange connection to the creature, as though this simple act of care was forging a bond between them.

After what felt like hours, the griffin’s feathers were gleaming, and he seemed pleased. He yawned, his beak opening wide as he settled back into his nest. "Not bad," he murmured, his voice softening as sleep began to overtake him. "You’ve done well... but don’t forget about that pillow."

"We won’t," Nyx promised, though the thought of actually making the pillow still loomed over her.

The griffin gave a contented hum, his eyes drifting closed as he finally succumbed to sleep. Nyx and Len quietly slipped out of the cave, the day’s events heavy on their minds.

As they made their way back to Drac’s cave, Nyx couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a new challenge. She glanced at Len, who seemed just as lost in thought. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together—though how they would manage to keep up with the griffin’s demands was anyone’s guess.