As dawn broke, Lydia stirred from her sleep, stretching her limbs and letting out a soft yawn. Suddenly reminded of the previous night's threats, she jolted awake at the sound of Hikaru cooking over the bonfire with the ingredients she had prepared beforehand. The aroma of fresh herbs and spices soon filled the air as Hikaru deftly chopped vegetables and set a small pot of water to boil. He reached into Lydia's bag, pulling out a carefully wrapped bundle of dried meat, which he added to the pot. The sizzle and steam rose in the crisp morning air, creating a comforting symphony of sounds and smells.
Lydia rubbed her eyes. “Morning, Hikaru. What smells so good?”
Hikaru smiled. “Good morning, Lydia. Just cooking us some breakfast. Hope you don’t mind, I used some of the ingredients from your bag.”
Lydia looked surprised. “You went through my bag? Without asking?”
Hikaru looked sheepish. “Yeah, sorry about that. I thought you’d appreciate a hot meal after last night.”
Lydia sighed and then smiled. “Well, I can’t argue with that. It does smell amazing.”
Hikaru grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t be mad. Besides, we need our strength. Those herbs you had really bring out the flavor.”
Lydia laughed. “Alright, alright. Just ask next time, okay? But thank you. This is a nice surprise.”
Hikaru nodded understandingly. “Got it, next time, I’ll ask first. The meal is almost ready, you can grab a bowl.”
Hikaru and Lydia sat together by the crackling fire, enjoying their breakfast in silence for a moment. The aroma of the freshly cooked meal filled the crisp morning air as they savored each bite. Between mouthfuls, they exchanged small talk, relishing the simple joy of sharing a meal together amidst the tranquility of the wilderness.
Lydia glanced at Hikaru, noticing his pensive expression. “What’s on your mind, Hikaru?”
Hikaru looked at Lydia, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “I’ve been thinking... why don’t we just fly to our destination? I could carry you in my arms. All the nearby harvesting spots are probably crowded by now. If we fly, we can go further and find less crowded areas.”
“I’m okay with the idea, but do you have enough mana to get us there?” Lydia asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Hikaru grinned. “No worries. My flying ability is mana-efficient, so I’ve got this.”
After finishing their meal, Lydia and Hikaru quickly packed their belongings. With everything secured, Hikaru activated his [Phoenix Wings], wrapped his arms around Lydia, and with a swift leap, they took to the skies. Their journey was swift and smooth, the landscape below them becoming a blur of greens and browns in their eyes. About three hours later, they arrived at their destination, a secluded cave nestled in the side of a mountain. The entrance was shrouded in vines, giving it an air of mystery and promise.
Hikaru deactivated his [Phoenix Wings] as they entered the cave. He lit up the light crystals on his gauntlets, while Lydia used a torch to illuminate the path. As they ventured deeper into the cave, their footsteps echoing softly against the rocky walls, Lydia and Hikaru searched tirelessly for the elusive blightblossom. Suddenly, their quest took an unexpected turn as they stumbled upon a creature with similar features to an anaconda, but with elongated body broadens toward the upper part and tapers gradually towards the lower portion. And a draconic head, adorned with antler-like horns and vertical slit eyes, regarded them with curiosity, its presence both imposing and mysterious.
As Hikaru noticed the creature sneaking up behind Lydia, his eyes widened in alarm. Quickly, he aimed his palm towards it and cast a fireball spell.
[Fireball: Shoot] (L1 Fire Magic Skill)
*Boom* the fireball streaked through the air and struck the creature squarely on its face. The impact sent a shockwave through the cave, momentarily stunning the creature. Its scales shimmered from the blast, but with a shake of its head, it refocused its menacing gaze on Lydia.
Lydia turned her back as she saw the creature. She was shocked seeing the creature as she muttered: “Wyrm!!!”
Meanwhile, seeing that his fireball had barely inflicted any damage, Hikaru activated his [Phoenix Wings], intending to use his trump card to eliminate the creature before it had the chance to pounce on Lydia.
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As Lydia saw the wyrm about to pounce on her, she quickly turned to run, her heart racing with fear. Glancing at Hikaru, she saw him showing his wings, and in that moment, she thought he wanted to fly away from the danger with her. She opened her mouth, intending to shout out an order to do exactly that.
But her plea was cut short as she closed in on him. To her horror, Hikaru soared into the air, fixated on the menacing wyrm below.
“WAIT!” Lydia cried out, her voice echoing through the cavern as she caught Hikaru’s attention. She saw the determination in his eyes, ready to confront the wyrm head-on.
[Blazing Assault] (L2 Fire Sovereign innate skill)
*Fssshhh –BOOOOM* a barrage of ten fiery projectiles erupted from Hikaru’s wings, exploding on the wyrm simultaneously. Flames engulfed the creature, scorching its scales and sending shockwaves rippling through the cavern. The impact sent the wyrm reeling backwards until it collided with a stalactite, the force of the blow knocking it unconscious in a dramatic finale.
Hikaru landed on the ground near the wyrm, thinking he had resolved the situation perfectly and wanting to loot the wyrm. But Lydia went to the unconscious wyrm, looking upset.
“I told you to wait, didn’t I? Why did you still attack it?” she demanded.
“What’s the matter, Lydia? I just killed a beast that wanted to kill you. I thought you’d be glad,” Hikaru replied, puzzled.
“First of all, that creature is a wyrm, a drake, not just a beast!” Lydia corrected, moving closer to the unconscious creature to check its condition.
She sighed in relief, realizing the wyrm was only unconscious, not dead. “Let’s get out of here—”
Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed a cluster of blightblossom plants near the unconscious wyrm. Her eyes lit up as she quickly harvested the plants.
“Now that we’ve obtained the mission objective, let’s get out of here and discuss this outside. It’s too dangerous to stay here any longer!” she urged, her voice tinged with urgency.
Hikaru activated his [Phoenix Wings] and lifted Lydia out of the cave, flying until they reached a tranquil clearing. After landing, he gently set Lydia down, ready to hear her explanation about the whole situation.
Once she stood up, Hikaru looked at Lydia expectantly. “Alright, let’s talk. What was that all about back in the cave?”
Lydia sighed, her expression serious but calm. “It seems you don’t know anything about drakes. Let’s have lunch first, and we can discuss it while we eat.”
As Lydia laid out the meal Hikaru had prepared earlier, filling their bowls, they took their seats across from each other, ready to eat.
“Drakes haven’t been seen in the Bailey area for a long time. The fact that they’re in that cave suggests someone’s been breeding them,” Lydia explained.
“What do you mean, breeding?” Hikaru asked, genuinely puzzled about drakes.
“Drakes are born from the union of a deity and a reptilian beast. The deity takes on the form of their beast partner, resulting in offspring with unique constitution and potential. If we were to kill that wyrm and its deity parent found out, well, let’s just say there could be serious consequences. Deities have powers and resources we can’t even imagine,” Lydia elaborated.
Hikaru was taken aback by this revelation. “So, wait, you’re telling me this isn’t some kind of strange fetish?”
Lydia chuckled softly. “No, it’s not about fetish. It’s about creating secret weapons. Drakes are stronger than regular beasts and they usually have loyalty to their deity parents. Plus, they have the potential to evolve into Dracomen after consuming orbies, just like regular beasts evolve into beastmen,” she clarified.
Hikaru furrowed his brow, pondering Lydia's explanation. “And how do you know there is a deity involved? Maybe that drake is just a wild one, making its nest here.”
Lydia shook her head. “Possible, but unlikely. Unlike the owner of an animal who might only be a bit sad at losing their investment when their animal undergoes spiritual distortion and becomes a beast, a deity has much more invested. They must degrade themselves to copulate with a beast of low intelligence to produce a drake. So they usually see the process through until that drake evolves into a Dracoman, often providing it with the highest possible orby variant they could get to unlock its full potential. That’s why drakes are rarer to find compared to Dracomen, unlike beasts and Beastmen,” she explained.
Hikaru scratched his head in disbelief. “That sounds crazy! How can a deity produce offspring with a beast? They’re completely different species!”
“Through alteration divinity, similar to what Arael and the other Asura celestials possess,” Lydia explained. “They have the ability to mimic the traits of others, which is why their healing abilities are so effective. They don’t actually heal; they restore based on the DNA. However, their powers have limitations. For instance, they can’t change their gender. Celestials can’t reproduce because they’re genderless, but deities have that capability.”
After they finished their lunch, they chatted for a while longer before deciding to fly back to Bailey. With Lydia comfortably nestled in Hikaru’s arms, they soared through the skies, their journey bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. They landed in a secluded spot just outside the outskirts of Misty Grove, away from any onlookers.
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As they stepped into Bailey, their first stop was the adventure guild. Hikaru wrapped up his mission by presenting the requested 5 blightblossoms, along with an extra 2 in case the guild had further interest. Tiana’s eyes widened in surprise as she clearly hadn’t anticipated they would return so swiftly. The ever composed Lydia quickly smoothed over the situation, offering a logical explanation for their efficiency.
Impressed by their success, Tiana conveyed her amazement. She inspected the blightblossoms, and agreed to purchace the additional two for an extra two gold coins. With a nod of agreement from Hikaru, the deal was struck, and their business concluded on a positive note. Hikaru offered to give Lydia the reward from their mission together as she was the one who found the plants, but she adamantly refused as she told Hikaru it was her job to watch over him.
Exiting the adventure guild, they made their way back to the cozy confines of the Purple Walnut, their stomachs rumbling in anticipation of the hearty dinner made by Loyd awaiting them.
As they entered the Purple Walnut, the inviting aroma of Loyd’s cooking enveloped them, instantly lifting their spirits. They settled into their usual table, eager for the hearty meal ahead. The three of them savored the delicious dishes laid before them, they regaled Loyd with tales of their adventure, recounting their encounter with the wyrm and the unexpected twist with the catmen. Loyd listened intently, nodding along and occasionally interjecting with questions or exclamations of surprise. The cozy atmosphere of their home combined with the comforting flavors of Loyd’s cooking made for the perfect setting to share their tales of bravery and intrigue.
That night, Lydia briefed Clay on their encounter with the catmen, who turned out to be members of the Feralholt Syndicate, and recounted their surprising discovery of the wyrm in the cave. Satisfied by how she handled the whole situation, Clay commended Lydia and rewarded her with some gold coins. Unlike his usual self, this time Clay refrained from commenting, opting to analyze the situation more thoroughly before offering additional insight.