Unwoven Destinies
Yuujiki
Chapter 7: Chapter # 6 - A red scaled, violent and flying natural disaster (of sorts)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
I groggily slip into consciousness, half aware of what's going on around me. The air in the room is decidedly cold, and I would greatly appreciate a blanket. Thankfully, there is something warm just by my side, snuggled close up to me as my hand is wrapped around it. Probably a bed-warmer pillow of some kind; upper-class inns provide them sometimes, a voice explains in the back of my mind. I used to have a hugging pillow back in Japan, and I missed it on the journey. This one is just perfect — the best I've ever had. It's soft and fluffy as I gently rub my hands, and it makes soft, barely audible sounds as its breathing brushes my skin. I might just take it with me…
Wait. The strangeness of this thought shakes me awake, dispelling drowsiness, and I force my eyes to open up. It's dark. Twilight seeps through the cracks in the window, and the fire has died down, the embers barely smoldering. Despite the dim lighting, my eyes make out a figure just by me, snuggled into my chest. It has fluffy white hair, which I just rubbed, but the hair is definitely only on its head. That's not a pillow at all. That's a girl.
Realization sweeps away the remnants of my sleepiness, and I peer at the snow-white hair that hides the sleeping girl. She is still fast asleep, it seems, making a cute little sound here and there. Apparently, we didn't part at all; we were too immersed in emotions and cuddling and so fell asleep at some point, as the lack of blanket and the dressed state suggest. Despite the surprise, I quite like the thought, how it feels, and the beautiful sight of the girl I love sleeping beside me.
Last night was intense, but not in the sense I would have liked it to be. Gosh, was it a panic attack?
I've experienced something similar, albeit less intense, before. In my old shitty life, in my early days as a shut-in, I suffered through them in a state of numbness and solitude until, after an unfathomable amount of time, it would get a little better and I could take control of myself again. Eventually, I learned to escape the offending thought or sensation rapidly to avoid them. It mostly worked. Occasionally, I didn't manage it, spending some time in this or that personal hell of mine. Nonetheless, I aggressively refused any help or sympathy offered me, and, eventually, no one would offer any.
I cringe at the thought. Thank goodness Sylphie was there for me. My heartbeat accelerates when my mind goes back to the gentle touch and sweet, comforting words, and I feel a tingle go through my spine. I can't remember ever feeling so well after a panic attack, and it feels like it was the shortest one I've ever experienced. I know it's thanks to her, and I can't help but feel a sting of guilt. Did I really think she was with me out of pity? The sheer gratitude and relief engulfing my chest are so intense, but I only let a quiet sigh out of my lips and looked down at the still sleeping girl with something that must look like utter adoration from the outside.
But there is also a part of me that hates it. A stupid, prideful part, but the one that most people can never get rid of. I wanted to look good in front of the girl I love. I want to be strong, cool, and reliable for her, not some pathetic wimp to be comforted. And yet, I once again showed her that weak, pathetic side of me. I know she probably doesn't think so, and she wouldn't think badly of me. She reassured me of that, and I believe her. According to Paul, it might even be a good thing. Besides, from what little research I've done before, most sources have reassured me that there is no shame or fault on the victim's part in a panic attack. But even so, that doesn't make the doubt and embarrassment dissipate completely.
Now that I think about it, I didn't experience the same panic attacks ever since my rebirth, nor was I previously so emotionally unstable. There was, of course, that time when Roxy forced me out of my house, but there was no attack at the time. Just the irrational terror, but no bodily reaction. From what I remember, panic attacks have a subconscious nature, relying on reflexes, not conscious thoughts, to drive the body into this condition. Since it was just my conscious transferring, I probably left the issue behind when I was reborn. This means I've just acquired the same mental health problem again in a new life. Now, that's just embarrassingly stupid. As for my emotional instability… I could probably blame Eris for this. But I can't, in all honesty. It feels like I'm missing something. From what I remember, it's not an entirely new thing. My judgment here might be clouded, of course, but I remember growing more emotional, especially throughout the journey. Could it be a regular thing for a normal, socialized human being? Sounds unlikely, but if so, just what's happening to me? The older I get, the more strange reactions I observe in myself. The mood swings, weird notions, and emotions that I'd really rather not have...
Suddenly, something clicked in my head. I know exactly the condition with symptoms like this, and despite the blunt disbelief at the first moment of realization, it makes sense. I'm tempted to groan, and then I'm tempted to chuckle, but I suppress both reactions in order to not wake Sylphie up. But still, isn't that ironic? I have never considered that puberty, of all things, would actually mess with my mind. I shudder to think what is to come, but at least I'll be prepared from now on.
Back in reality, despite the warm body snuggling me, it's getting a little bit too cold and uncomfortable to just lie still. The northern weather is truly brutal, and I actually might catch a cold if I stay like this, even though it's not that much of a problem with detoxification magic available. More importantly, I can see Sylphie shivering a little as her palms and feet are in the open. It's still a little too early for us to wake up, so I carefully, so as not to wake my princess (the real one, no matter who actually has the title), got up, replacing myself with a pillow, and got to ensuring that we wouldn't freeze here. The room is getting warmer, and I get another blanket to cover Sylphie, tugging her in.
I never went back to sleep this morning. My mind is already awake and has gotten into heavy thinking. Well, as long as I've got no issues with sleeping in general, it's not a bad sign at all. If anything, getting up early is considered a sign of an energetic, capable, and responsible adult. Besides, I get to witness a delightful scene of sleeping Sylphie as I sit in the chair nearby, close to the edge of the bed. It is so beautiful in its domestic bliss and so heartwarming that I might make it a regular occurrence. Provided I'd get to sleep around her in the near future. I mostly don't. There is her puberty to consider, too, and I wish for things to progress naturally. Innocent Sylphie is a sight to enjoy, cherish, and savor for as long as it lasts.
Eventually, as the barely distinguishable twilight on the outside gets brighter, the pale light that was getting into the room gets more prominent. As I pondered whether I should wake her up, I heard the shuffling of blankets and soft, sleepy noises. Looking down, I find Sylphie looking back at me. She is still a little drowsy, her eyes blinking.
"Good morning, Sylphie. Sleep well?" I ask with a (hopefully) cheerful grin.
"Good morning, Rudy." She answered sleepily, looking around, still wrapped in the blanket. She yawned and, in a moment, covered her mouth with her hands, embarrassed and mortified at her reaction, and bashfully looked up at me, as if to check if I was somehow offended. I suppressed a chuckle at the reaction, instead just smiling encouragingly, and then got a little closer.
"Sylphie, thank you for staying with me last night. It would have been really tough without you."
"H-huh? But I didn't do anything, really. Of course I wouldn't leave Rudy like this!" She is a little embarrassed at the praise, torn between looking at me and looking the other way, scratching her cheek. This reaction is so adorable. But it feels somewhat lacking. I want her to look at me. I want her to accept it. I want her to really know how much it means to me. So I leap forward and wrap my hands around her, hugging her tightly. Maybe it's just another display of my newfound emotional imbalance, but I just feel like it. It feels important.
"Rudy?"
"No. You are with me, and it means the world to me. I love you." I quietly whisper into her ear, and it flutters in excitement. I can feel her tremble a little in my arms, but, in a moment, she leans into me and reaches her arms to hug me back. I probably overwhelmed her a little. I'm emotional now, but I still have enough composure to back out. Eventually. Just another minute.
"Thank you. I love you." I mutter at last, letting go. Sylphie, who had her eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face, opened them up and followed me with her gaze, as if asking, 'Are you alright?' I'm touched by the concern, but I don't let myself get too emotional. Instead, I give her a peck on the cheek and ruffle her hair, then let go with a reassuring smile.
Sylphie pouts a little at her hair being in disarray now, but she can't hide how the corners of her mouth twitch, and the blush on her cheeks is not gone yet.
"Don't mind me. I just like the hair."
When we part to get to our respective morning duties, her expression is still a thoughtful one, though she just couldn't conceal an excited, a little goofy smile at times.
In the early afternoon, a day and a half from Avesta, we arrived at the crossing through one of the biggest rivers out there. At its smallest, the Yoosat River was several hundred meters wide, and the spring didn't make it any better. Warmer, or at least less cold, temperatures made the ice melt, and the snow melting all around made the river even wider and even less stable.
While I probably could make a crossing by myself, it was both risky and inconvenient, causing the party to choose the normal way, meaning we had to cross the river here.
"Here" was a rocky island in the river, which made a perfect opportunity to make a stable crossing. With the help of the Magicians' Guild and hired architects, Ranoa Kingdom built a permanent series of stone bridges and other facilities to control the flow of the river and prevent flooding, among other things. This project, of course, had a sizable cost, but the positive effect on the economy and the integrity of the kingdom was quite valid as well. It made perfect sense that there was a fee for using the crossing, with an outpost of soldiers and clerks collecting it on the island itself. Of course, the constant protection and convenient location also made a trading post appear here. All in all, despite the rocky, forested terrain and lack of a permanent civilian population in the area, this place had the makings of a flourishing town. Now that I think about it, the fact that there wasn't one was quite odd.
Though the spring is in its early weeks, the trade is already at large, especially on the big roads, despite the state of the said roads. The Magical Triumvirate nations depended on trade to grow and maintain their wealth and prosperity. Therefore, the more opportunistic merchants constantly pushed their luck and endurance in order to make bigger profits. Maintaining the business in the winter or returning to it as early as possible were common ways of optimizing business and making money, but still, it was surprising for us to arrive at the queue near the crossing.
Princess Ariel, apparently interested in the facility, didn't mind the delay terribly. Besides, there was no point in making a scene or asking for VIP passage. If anything, it would be a little risky because it would all but announce the princess' whereabouts. So, the wait continued as the queue of merchants, travelers, and adventurers slowly progressed. Some party members took up the opportunity to go gather some new rumors, chat with locals, or buy themselves a thing or two.
As the clerk, a gray-haired, thin man who was not particularly interested in our party other than the fees we owed, went to check it with Victor, I was still standing on guard by the carriage. Up ahead, several merchants heatedly argued with another clerk and a couple of soldiers, with indignant exclamations like "Robbery!" and haggling being heard from time to time. A small adventurer party or two who were stuck in the queue looked more bored and annoyed than anything. Adventurers generally hate to be stuck in some bureaucratic procedure, especially when it costs them money and time.
I was tempted to go chat with Sylphie to cure my boredom, but she also stood guard by Ariel's side, and the job had to be taken seriously, especially in crowded places like this. Instead, I was stuck listening to how the merchants wanted to save themselves a bunch of coppers. Luke beside me was in no better mood, alternating between glaring warily at everyone around him and looking about as bored as I was.
"Does traveling include that often? I'm sick of listening to how these guys think they should be let through because of this stupid guild of theirs." Luke asked me.
"It depends on where you travel. It's mostly the usual sitting on the mount for the whole day. It gets a little more interesting when you encounter some monsters, but it gets repetitive with them. You get sick of fighting monsters on the second day." Traveling in this world was not exactly an unpleasant experience. But it's a tiresome one, for sure. "Is the guard job in the palace much better? "It doesn't sound so."
"There is always something useful you can find when you spend time in the palace. This guy serves that man, and those two have some mannerisms. Stuff like that." Sounds reasonable, I guess, but Luke doesn't strike me as the guy who would find watching some nobles and servants go through their routine exciting. "My position as a guardian knight means I have to actually get into conversations with people who want something other than saving themselves some coppers." Noticing my unconvinced look, he elaborated.
"Like listening to how bad that guy is and how that guy wants to get some money of privilege from the crown? Doesn't sound all that exciting, as well." Still unconvinced, buddy. I mean, I can imagine someone actually liking the social life like this, but hearing their fabricated, insincere stories and gossip all day sounds gruesome to me.
"Yeah, that one sucks too, but at least it can be useful. And change the setting to chatting with some noble's daughter or a cute maid on the same topic, and it gets better." He countered with a sly smile. I roll my eyes at his boasting, but I don't disagree. I've spent years traveling, and for the most of them, I had a cute girl I was interested in by my side. Having a cute girl nearby certainly makes everyday life better, especially if she doesn't try to punch you if you look too much. It used to have some charm of its own, though…
"If you didn't flirt off the ears of every girl in the party, you would have a nicer time, I imagine." I point out, smugly, that I have the cutest of them to flirt with all to myself.
"Nah, I don't mix the hobbies and the work." I don't even know how to comment on the sheer impertinence of this.
"So, when you were in the palace, you what? Just looked at them with chaste looks full of respect?"
"It is part of the job. Getting the information out of them, I mean. You can't use the same approach for men and women, and with a compliment here and a nice line there, you can do miracles, you know." Ah, that's what he means. Still.
"Sounds like a hard time, having to flirt with all those girls… How did you manage it?"
"All for the good of the princess, I assure you."
"And with Sara?" I mean, he does flirt with her quite a bit. Is it the job? That's just weird; if the princess is trying to lure her in, a broken heart is the last thing she wants her to get.
"That's just… a normal hobby, I guess." He looks conflicted about whether he should elaborate, but I just nod in understanding. Sort of coping mechanism, then. I know how maintaining a normal routine and getting distracted by something helps when your life changes drastically. This one is probably more… unorthodox than most, but who am I to judge? I'm sure there are worse ones out there.
"Just make sure to not make it worse, you know. Princess Ariel seemed interested, last time I checked."
"I know, I know. That's just some entertainment."
"Uh-huh, if you say so…"
"Look, I know she is… What was that?" In the middle of his reply, a foreign sound was heard. A hoarse roar echoed through the terrain. A loud one. I prepare the staff as Luke gets his hand on the hilt of the sword. Everyone around looks just as alarmed. For a brief moment, there was complete silence. Then, a cacophony of voices erupted. Some were arming themselves, and some were still in a state of confusion. That was the roar of a beast. Considering the sheer volume of it, it had to be a dangerous one. Somewhere in the back of my mind, there was a memory of a beast that sounded just like that, but I don't let this conclusion reach my mind just yet.
As I was frantically scanning my surroundings, I caught a movement at the edge of my vision. Somewhere upstream, a reddish shadow surged from the hills, getting closer to us with each second. I focused my mana into the eye of foresight and peered at it. The beast was getting closer quickly, but with the images repeating, I could finally identify it, and the thought from the back of my mind, a memory from several months ago, clicked.
I can't believe how unlucky we are.
Red Dragons are universally considered to be the strongest creatures on the Central Continent. It is said that their power is comparable to the power of the Seven Great Powers. Even Ruijerd, a warrior of legendary caliber, didn't take fighting one easily.
Because of it, the dragon attacks could almost be considered a natural disaster of sorts. No one could predict one, and it was next to impossible to defend against it. People who lived around the mountains where the Red Dragons nested accepted them as a fact of life and adapted accordingly.
From the information gathered in the towns we passed by, a couple of stray Red Dragons would come down from the mountains to hunt and stay on the lowlands, taking the territory for themselves as hunting grounds. Most of the time, they were taken down by big raid parties with the force of dozens of adventurers. Sometimes they were not, and they would eventually leave after they'd had enough of terrorizing the neighborhood. Sometimes they were lured out by the coordinated effort of the country or placated into not causing too much damage by offering them some cattle or a flock of sheep regularly.
These creatures were immensely powerful and didn't have any glaring weaknesses. They were tough enough that average magic users' and low-ranking swordsmen's attacks couldn't get through their hide and scales. They were big and strong enough that they could tear through the Battle Aura and the best armor.
What made them even more dangerous was their intelligence. It was long proven that they possessed intelligence comparable to that of human beings. While not bound by humans' morals and psychology, they made full use of both their superior instincts and intelligence, placing them at the top of the food chain as apex predators.
It was all but confirmed that a Red Dragon was in the area, and now we had the misfortune of encountering one. What a pain.
"Let the princess know it's the dragon." With that said, I rushed from the carriage to a solid boulder a few meters away.
In just several seconds, utter chaos was unleashed. The queue was scattered. Some were just trying to save themselves by running away from this place. Some merchants were desperately trying to get away with their goods. With them obstructing each other from doing it, none of them really managed to get away with their carriages. Soldiers and adventurers who were around, or at least some of them while scattering as well, weren't running away but getting shelter for themselves, making it less likely that the dragon would go for them first.
The beast was obviously flying low before the attack, expecting to ambush humans. In just seconds after being spotted, it managed to get close enough to attack the humans. The flapping of the wings kept getting closer, creating the gusts of wind around and ruffling the trees and bushes, only for it to suddenly cease as the Red Dragon lunged into a group of still not dispersed humans closer to the bridge, too far for me to attack, rampaging through the carriages, horses, and humans alike with its spiked tail and clawed limbs. It picked one of the humans in the dive into its jaws — with no intention of eating one but with every intention of killing it. It tore the body apart in half and dropped the other one within seconds.
As the beast was done, it turned our way, still on the ground, and roared again. It was deafening, and a wave of hot air pushed me back a little, despite me still being quite far from the beast. The Red Dragon clearly aimed at terrifying the enemy and, so far, did a good job at it.
The beast stopped for several seconds as it was evaluating the situation and looking for a new place to attack, probably relying on its superior speed and ability to fly to get enough prey. Thanks to this opening, I finally managed to take a good look at it.
The outer side of the beast was fully coated in crimson-red, shining scales. It looked quite impenetrable, with no visible scars or defects. The front side of it, including the inner side of the wings; its belly and neck, on the other hand, didn't have them, instead being protected by a whitish, or more like dirty beige, colored hide. Black spikes were sticking out of its limbs and tail, along with long, sharp black claws. Overall, the physical capability of the dragon was enough to tear through pretty much anything thinner than a fortress wall with its natural weapons. Jaws, full of mismatched fangs made to tear down flesh, were just the cherry on top. But the big, yellow eyes with black pupils were probably the most terrifying part of it. These eyes looked so much like the eyes of the scariest man I've ever encountered that a shiver went down my spine. There was intelligence in them. The beast clearly didn't rely on its instincts alone. When the dragon was attacking, it knew exactly how it wanted to do it. When the dragon was killing and maiming brutally, as it did just now, when it was roaring and raging, intimidating everything around it, it knew exactly what it was trying to do. If not for the danger the dragon posed, I would call the creature magnificent. However, now that it is before me, aiming for the kill, I would like for it to disappear and never be seen again.
It was when the dragon stopped for several seconds that an arrow was sent into it. It was probably aimed for the eyes, but the beast moved slightly, and the projectile only bounced off, dealing no harm and barely scratching the hide. I caught Sara with a bow out of the corner of my eye, preparing to shoot again, just before the dragon made a few steps forward and lunged forward in our direction, unleashing its fire breath. That was when I finally joined the fight, silently conjuring a thick shield of water between us and the dragon. The flame poured onto the water, evaporating it and causing a fog to shroud everything all around. It was getting hotter, but the shield, constantly supported with more water, held it off, and, in a few seconds, it stopped.
The vision was obscured now, but it was still possible to make out a figure of the dragon taking off into the air again. After flying a half circle, it landed on the other side of the group. This time, however, it was met with a valley of stone bullets that it tried to block with its wing. Most of them crashed into it, causing, to my surprise, quite a bit of damage. Some of the shrapnel-like shards even remained pierced into it.
A roar was changed halfway, from a battle cry to the enraged bellowing, full of pain and disbelief that some lesser being could actually hurt the magnificent dragon. Or so I would assume, but one thing was clear. Its full attention was on me now. I was aware that there were still people and carriages behind me, so before the thing attacked, I hurried to another boulder within a dozen meters while the beast was still shocked.
The beast came to its senses and trod forward as I was getting close to the new shelter, only for its front leg to be stuck in the mud. The beast caught itself before being stuck in the mood completely, backing out and losing its balance. Thankfully, I foresaw it with the eye of foresight and managed to make a counter-attack as the overcharged stone cannon broke free from the tip of the Arrogant Water Dragon King with a whistling sound. In just a moment, it pierced the inner hide near the leg of the dragon, tearing its flesh as reddish, smoking blood gushed from the wound.
The beast was completely enraged now, lunging forward despite any obstacles in its way, tearing down bushes and branches, and more importantly, to my disbelief, somehow dodging the quagmire laid between us. It was just not wide and deep enough for it to get bogged down in it. Abruptly finishing charging another stone cannon and letting it loose, I raised myself on the earth pillar. My train of thought, pushed into the back of my mind in the midst of the fight, suddenly reemerged as the thought I couldn't ignore made it into the front of my consciousness. If not for the foresight, I would have died just now. The cold realization, the sinking feeling in my gut, and the chilling fear were numbing. Only the impact of the dragon slamming into the pillow distracted me from it, and just before falling right into the dragon's jaws and claws, I blasted the air from before and under me, sending myself flying back and creating some distance between me and the beast. A cracking sound at the impact probably meant some of my bones shattered. After a roll, I managed to sit up despite the searing pain, muffled by the rush of adrenaline.
Through the whole encounter, more magic attacks and arrows from the other sides were sent the dragon's way, but they didn't do much good at stopping the beast, as it managed to get back on its feet. I stood up, too, shakily, despite the pain. The dragon's chest was a mess of rock shards, blood, and flesh. The place where the right leg was connected, even more so. Red scales were torn down here and there, and one of the wings that took more damage was pieced through. And now we, the human and the beast, were at a standstill, staring at each other. Another stone cannon was charging at my right, as Arrogant Water Dragon King was still squeezed between my numb fingers.
The sheer amount of loathing and rage in its yellow eyes was tremendous. However, several things stopped the beast. Those were things it had never experienced before. One of them was pain. Never, not even in the fights with other dragons, was it ever wounded that much, and it stopped the dragon from attacking. The other was a feeling it had never felt before so vividly, especially not in the face of its prey. The fear, the pure animalistic fear, was occupying the dragon's mind now, growing stronger as it sensed the amount of mana gathering at the side of the long stick in the human's arm.
The standstill lasted just a few seconds, but it seemed like hours to me. I was the one to break it, letting loose the rapidly spinning stone cannon, as overcharged as I could safely manage now. However, it didn't connect with the enemy, as the creature took off at the last moment and only crushed some trees in its way instead, tearing them down.
I followed the dragon with my gaze as it made a half-circle around us on the ground, preparing to take off and roll over bushes and small structures like a truck. Just before starting its glide downstream, the dragon looks back and gives me a long stare. It's a little chilling, in all honesty. But I stared back defiantly, starting to charge another spell. In the end, instead of attacking again, the beast chose to flee. With one last roar, it surges downstream. Its flight, or rather, gliding, is not as gracious as before, as the beast is swaying due to the damage done to its wings, and I can still see the blood and rubble falling from it at times while it is still close. In the end, it fades somewhere in the wilderness.
I just repelled an attack from the Red Dragon, the strongest monster I could possibly encounter out there. I can see why it takes dozens of men to take one down. My injured legs were about to give in under my weight, so I stumbled onto the nearest tree, slumping on it and breathing heavily. Wow, what a fight. While not as bloodthirsty as Eris, I'd sometimes enjoy fighting a beast or two. In a team. Preferably without too much blood and guts around. In a controlled atmosphere, with Ruijerd, who wouldn't let any harm come to me, around.
That one definitely wasn't to my taste. Not even the strongest monsters we fought on the Demon Continent were that powerful, and I never had to face them virtually alone. And taking down the Red Dragon would be tough even in our best days as the Dead End. And those eyes… I winced at the pain in my hip as I subconsciously tried to lean on it. No, never again, and I'd better stop breaking my legs while escaping. I should have broken my fall with the air magic, but well, that one isn't exactly pleasant either.
Well, the fearsome dragon was defeated, and I probably should go check on the saved princess. Or, well, the princesses… I wonder if Sylphie would like it if I called her that in our private time. Many girls, at least on Earth, would be on cloud nine, but the reality of being close to an actual royal princess might take away the gloss and shine of it. Uhh, I'll have to come up with something else then. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself here.
Muttering the X-healing incantation, I laid my palm on the injured leg, and it was engulfed in emerald green and glistening golden light. The involuntary moan of relief left my lips as the pain disappeared, and I reapplied the spell on the other leg. Once it looked like there were no more serious wounds on me, I hurried back to the carriage, cutting the rest short. The fog has almost dissipated by now, mostly setting down on the ground in the form of frost. The remaining people were getting out of their chosen shelters, and I caught some looks of awe directed at me. No, I'm probably imagining those. I mean, I did get rid of the threat, but… Oh, well, I guess I did help them out this time. Whatever, I was just protecting myself. Spotting the princess and her guards, my eyes were instantly drawn towards Sylphie, who stood by her side, a familiar wand in her hand, keeping her eyes on me. I made a beeline for them. Her clothes and hair were a little disheveled, but more importantly, she was unharmed. I exhaled in relief, feeling a little lighter.
"Is anyone hurt? Pricess Ariel, Sylphie, Luke?" Once I got close enough, I asked, surprising myself by being so urgent. I guess I'm still in the danger-mode.
"No, we are alright. The beast didn't get to us." Ariel looks a little shaken. Understandable there.
"That's good." I answered, not taking my eyes off Sylphie. The numb, sinking feeling is back for a moment, but I forcibly brush it away. I almost died, but I'm alive. Sylphie is here with me, too. That's all that matters. She seemed a little worn down as well, and that much is natural, but there was more to it, hard to decipher behind the sunglasses. Noticing me staring, she got a little flustered, but with a reassuring grin and murmured "Later" I turned back to the princess.
"You really saved us there, Rudeus. I can't emphasize enough how much service you've already done to me. You have my gratitude once again. I don't give these lightly, you know." There are no tricks, none of that voice, so honey-like soft and so firm, you can't refuse the speaker. The gratitude is sincere, and that's more than I can ask for. We are in the same boat, after all. Besides, my boss owing me can be quite useful, isn't it?
"I understand. Hopefully, my services wouldn't come as a dire need next time."
"Indeed. The hope is our everything, isn't it?"
"There is will." And since it's there, it might be enough. I leave that much unspoken, and I'm not sure if the princess gets what I mean. That's not important, even if she doesn't get it right now. She is a smart girl, and she is strong. She is still alive, after all.
Hope is good, and it's sweet. It might encourage a person to not give up. But it's will that walks the person through the path to their desired outcome. I know that much from my lives.
Notes:
Thank you for reading. Any feedback, including but not limited to negative, is always appreciated.
Finally updating. Once again, I'm sorry for the weekly delays guys. Got my university studies, and then there is the whole clusterfuck with the [I can't even legally call out this shit by its name under the threat of prison]. The last few days were excrutiating, couldn't stop doomscrolling for the first few days. Guess writing (and making up stupid plans) is a coping mechanism of my own. Hope it's better for you whenever you are.
Anyway, you probably aren't interested that much it the IRL staff (I'm open to discussing basically everything in the Discord though, if you are interested to hear from the other side of the Iron Curtain), so let's get into the business.
Hope you liked the chapter (like always), I've rewritten it three times to get it right. Does more emotionally serious Rudeus feel right? How is the fight with the dragon? I feel like the LN is a little inconsistent about it, between Ruijerd stating he is unable to kill the dragon and adventurers dealing with it basically every year, so I wrote it in the middle ground.
Oh, and the alternative title for the chapter is "White hair, Red scales". Just saying, I always have trouble with the names so any feedback there would be good. Or should I just make a matter-of-factly names?
The next chapter is no sooner than the March, 20 (might get some sudden inspiration, but I wouldn't hope for it). Must do some real life things.