The crimson tower stood prominent over Xu’s land.

The Altar Kihet activated appeared to have prevented it from spawning more monsters onto the lands. Moreover, the Blossoming World Tree in Xu spread its influence throughout the entire country, making it one of the first countries to be freed from its plague.

“Kua!”

“Kueh!”

“Kua!’

“Kueh!”

Two large wyverns roughhousing in the mud mixed from loose dirt and melting snow.

“Rorora, Lulula! Stop!”

At the beckon of their trainer, Rorora and Lulula separated and hissed at one another. Martha knew the cause was because Rorora had stolen Lulula’s reward after their training. While Martha turned around to procure another treat, Lulula angrily pounced at Rorora.

But with Martha now scolding them, they both did not dare lunge at each other. They side eyed each other.

“You two weren’t like this a few months ago. Okay, that’s it. If I catch you two fighting again, there will be no treats for a week.”

“Kua?!”

“Kueh?!”

The Wyverns were stunned by Martha’s demand and immediately put their teary puppy eyes on to change her mind. Unfortunately, their trainer was adamant though her expression was one filled of guilt. Deep down, Martha wanted to leap into their soft feathers and spoil them. She knew if her Wyverns were to play vital roles in future battles, they needed to be strictly disciplined.

Speaking of feathers, both Rorora and Lulula were covered in mud. They may appear to be fully grown Ikagas, a feathered Wyvern species, however they were mentally hatchlings.

“Let’s get you two cleaned up. The Vivirians will be arriving this evening. We don’t want to embarrass the Empress and the Prince, okay?”

“Kua!”

“Kueh!”

Rorora and Lulula snuggled their muddied faces on Martha.

“Okay, okay! You two can play a little longer! You’re getting my clothes dirty!”

Martha wiped the mud off her clothes while watching the twin Wyverns frolicking in the mud. While she tidied herself to the best of ability, she knew she would have to change when accompanying the Empress.

“Do you even know what we are looking for?”

“I saw it in my dream, but I remember someone mentioning it was made from a Wyvern’s pinion.”

“We look very suspicious!”

“But we need to stop that assassination.”

“Then we shouldn’t have left General Lazzuxui’s side! Are you sure it isn’t just a normal dream-? Priqet, hang on! Don’t just wander around by yourself!”

Martha heard two people speaking in an unfamiliar language nearby She turned around, discovering two Insectoids perusing aimlessly. This was a heavily guarded area. Those who were given approval to enter, except for Martha, would always be escorted by guards to avoid startling the twin Wyverns.

“Are you two Vivirian diplomats? You shouldn’t be here without someone escorting you.” Martha waved.

Priqet, being one of the two to understand Zuxin waved back. However, he could not speak Xu’s language and shouted back words Martha did not understand.

This grabbed Rorora’s attention. Curious, the Wyvern stood up on its hind legs and raced towards the two Vivirians.

“Watch out!”

Priqet held out his hand to stop Yixy from making sudden movements. As if predicting where the young Wyvern would stop, the Cricket Viviran took a few steps back, waiting precisely where Rorora would come to a complete halt.

Rorora slowly circled around them, inspecting the reaction and gear the Insectoids had. He had embers sparking between his beak to deter any possible retaliation from the suspicious guests.

Lulula suddenly dropped behind the insectoids, cutting off their escape.

“RORORA, LULULA! STOP! Leave them alone!” At Martha’s beckon, the Wyverns slowly stomped away but kept their eyes on the guests. “I’m terribly sorry! They’re very protective. They didn’t mean to scare you.”

Rorora and Lulula posted themselves next to Martha to protect her from the two unannounced guests.

“Look what I told you! You made the Wyverns mad!” Yixy shook Priqet. “We shouldn’t have left snuck in here!”

“Relax Yixy. Do you remember I can understand Zuxin? I can translate it for you.”

“Neither of us can speak it well!”

Martha watched as the moth hit the grasshopper insectoid on the head. To Martha, the winged Vivirian was acting though she was scolding her friend.

Martha chuckled. The sound of her laughter eased the wariness the Wvyern had for the Insectoids.

“My apologies. You two seem very close.” She cleared her throat, and her next words were in Vivirian. “Forgive. Small fluent. Messengers, Vivrus?”

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“Y-yes! I’m so glad we can finally explain ourselves to someone!” Yixy cried a little. “We got separated because of this dimwit!”

“Ouch! I wanted to see the Wyverns.”

Martha read their expressions to get by the language barrier. Realizing they were separated from their group, she had an idea to help them return and have the Wyverns be more comfortable around them.

Rorora and Lulula kept their beaks facing the Vivirians while Martha went into a nearby shed. She returned with a handful of scrubs and brushes.

“Help? Wyvern, ride, after?”

“D-does she want us to clean them by chance?” Yixy questioned.

“We’ll do it!” Priqet opened his hands, receiving a brush and scrub. “C’mon, Yixy! This is a rare chance! We get to go on a ride in the sky!”

“Ugh. The last thing I need is physical exertion. Aren’t we supposed to look for something here?”

“Oh, right!” Priqet turned to Martha. “Pardon. Stranger take, buy feathers, chance?”

“Feathers? Oh! Did someone suspicious take Wyvern feathers?” Martha thought silently for a moment. “I don’t think so. They’re the property of the Empress. The shedded feathers Rorora and Lulula are not on market. Sorry, I mean, feather not sale.”

“I see.”

“Why?”

“No, nothing. Curious. Feather beautiful. Want souvenir.” Priqet answered, now eager to scrub the wyverns.

Yixy obediently mimicked Priqet, asking for a set of cleaning utensils. The two followed Martha down the road to a lake with young Ikagas circling around them in the air.

Normally, Martha would take a ride, but with guests, she decided to take a stroll with a few questions brewing in her mind.

“How Vivrus?”

“Umm… Good, good!” Yixy also tried replying in Zuxin. “Oracle help.”

“Kihet?”

“Yes! And, Tomoe! Know?”

Martha flashed them a bright smile. “Very! Know well! Tomoe priestess. Kihet, strong, kind and…”

“I wouldn’t say he’s kind.” Priqet muttered. His antennas twitched, detecting nearby presence. “One moment. Yixy, heads up. We’re surrounded. I see ten. They’re hiding in the bushes.”

Priqet drew his machete and put himself in front of Martha. Yixy raised readied her staff, protecting their rear.

“Stay by.” Yixy said to Martha.

They heard some growling as bushes around them shook. Ten beasts crawled onto the road. They acted like packs of wolves, intimidating the travelers with their jaws as large as a hippopotamus’. Their bushy tails stood up and a few ran their stubby claws across the floor.

“What are those?”

“Li-yangs! Be careful!” Martha prepared her bracelet.

“Yixy, that one on your side is going to pounce at us first!” Priqet pointed.

“O’Wind, furious breaths of the Elementals! Typhoons shred and tear, whirlwinds scatter. Go forth, invoke your wrath and hammer down everything in front of me! Furl, Ulos, Nalus, Ruh, Dejent, Zek, Val!”

A shockwave shielded Yixy and sent the Li-yang soaring through the air. A large talon immediately swooped down, snatching the beasts and slamming it hard onto the ground. The earth violently trembled. The weight of an Ikaga crushed the Li-yang it held down.

“GWAAAAARRRRRRR!”

A pillar of raging fire aimed at the sky spat out of Rorora’s beak. The young Ikaga glared down at the Li-yangs threatening the life of his trainer, preparing to launch another fiery breath at them if needed.

Lulula silently dropped down on the other end. She strangled two Li-yangs with her talons and together, the twins scattered the remaining beasts to flee for their lives.

Priqet and Yixy gulped heavily. They wondered how a diligent lady like Martha could possibly tame such powerful creatures and be unfazed after witnessing the sheer amount of fury they possessed. The Vivirians were shaken down to their core.

They vowed to not let anything happen to Martha on the trip there and back if they did not want to invoke the Ikagas’ wrath.

It would be interesting to pit Rorora and Lulula against Vivrus’ mighty Dracalefic flies. Based off first impressions, Martha’s Ikagas were more likely to win.

“Hmm… It would be a shame to leave them here.” Martha pondered what to do with Li-yang’s carcasses. “Okay! Rorora, Lulula, let’s bring them with us. I hear Baba requested Li-yang materials at the guild. We can give these to her.”

“Kua!”

“Kueh!”

Priqet and Yixy held up their brushes, thinking it would be best to please the Ikaga and befriend them if possible.

Once they reached the lake, Rorora and Lulula dropped their trophies and dove into the lake. Martha fetched some buckets of water, mixing washing detergent to make some foam.

“Today, we need to make you two presentable. We cannot sully the Empress and the Prince’s image. Lulula, you’re first.”

“Kueh!”

Lulula shook her body of droplets of water before walking back on shore. She felt multiple hands scrub her wings, tail and neck. The Wyvern in bliss purred while her body foamed up.

When Lulula’s shape turned into a cloud, Martha sent her back into the lake.

Then it was Rorora’s turn. He launched himself like a torpedo out of the water and belly flopped onto the washing area. Right before water splashed onto them, Martha activated her bracelet. Barriers popped in front of her and the Vivirians from Rorora’s mischief.

“Is that- I mean. That, magic, equip?” Priqet inquired.

“Yes! Kihet gave.”

“Yixy, do you think the Oracle’s interested in this Devil Folk? I mean, why else did he give such a valuable item to her?”

“Could be. I wouldn’t want to get too nosey in case she tells the Oracle. He might get angry.”

“Right. You’re right. The Oracle can get really scary…”

Everyone began scrubbing mud off Rorora.

It was when Priqet move onto washing the tail, he noticed it moved. The tail lifted up and whipped towards him. Priqet saw it from miles away and crouched, dodging the tail whip.

Rorora frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Martha asked.

“Kua?” Playing dumb, Rorora cutely tilted its head.

Priqet tried to grab ahold of the tail, but Rorora wouldn’t let him. “Playing hard to get, are we? Well. I’ll read you like an open book.”

A projection of Rorora’s tail indicating where it’d move suddenly emerged. Priqet combined his swift reaction with [Foresight] to catch the Wyvern’s tail.

“SCRAAWWWW!”

“Rorora, what’s wrong?”

“Hey, hold still! I’m trying to get this patch of mud off you!”

“Woah! Priqet, what the heck are you doing?!” Yixy shouted.

Rorora forcibly stood up and spun his body. Foam dripped off his feathers and doused everything around him.

Priqet held onto Rorora’s flailing tail for his dear life. His soapy hands slipped and found himself flying above the lake.

“Woaahhh! Oof!”

Thankfully, Lulula was there to catch him. The Ikaga gently plucked him off her back and was delivered safely back onto shore.

“Thanks. Looks like I owe you.”

“Kueh.”

“Sorry! You fine? Rorora no why act this.”

Priqet raised his thumb and noticed a bit of blood on his hand. His carapace wasn’t damage, which meant it wasn’t his.

“A cut?” Martha turned to the Ikaga. “Rorora, show me your tail.”

Rorora whimpered as he curled his tail towards Martha, there was a patch of reddened foam near the end.

“The foam must’ve caused it to sting.” Martha quickly fetched a bucket and washed it off, revealing a splinter creating the wound. “It must be when you flew down to scare off the Li-yangs. Take a dip in the lake. I’ll have to dry you before I apply healing ointment.”

Yixy saw Martha take out rags and stopped her. The Vivirian pointed at her staff and a magic crystal, volunteering to use magic to help.

She chanted words of the Elemental Spirits, opening a connection to use their powers. The gentle breeze play with her wings and antennas, gathering around herself and her targets.

Rorora and Lulula felt the kind wind brush against their feathers. The Ikagas spread their wings, accepting the wind spirits drying their bodies.

Poof!

“Oh my!”

After the duration of the spell, the Ikagas resembled a ball of fluff like ducklings.

Martha’s fingers were instantly drawn to the Wyverns. Their feathers were incredibly soft to touch. Whether it was from the wash, Yixy’s wind magic or the combination of both, Martha couldn’t stop running her hands over the feathers. Her eyelids felt heavier as she rested her head in Lulula’s feathers.

“This is dangerous! I almost fell asleep!” Martha quickly snapped her hand away.

“They feel so soft… almost… as if…”

“Yixy, it’d be rude to sleep now.”

“But, it’s perfect…”

Priqet quickly pulled Yixy out of Rorora’s wings. He then saw Martha ready two saddles.

“Almost meet. You, you. Ride Lulula. I Rorora.”