Dragonlord

Ep 139. Of Course Not. (1)

“Hmm.”

After having climbed down the snowy hillside, Serenis scanned around Chell’s rear gates – the very gates she’d stepped out of not too long ago.

Or at least, what remained of the demolished wooden structure.

“Is everyone alright?”

“Yep! Fortunately…”

Hearing Ilias’ sheepish, guilt-filled reply, Raizel threw down the wolves over her shoulders with a demeaning snort.

“Got your asses handed by a pack of animals? They couldn’t even scratch me.”

“…That’s because the gate’s made out of wood. Unlike your iron head.”

“What’d you say?”

“What? I only said the truth! And besides, there was a monster in that pack too, you know!”

“Wow, a monster? Must’ve been SO scary for a fully-grown dragon like you. Since when did those scums become a threat to us?”

“…”

For a moment, Ilias felt a pang of fear from behind. But when the youngling turned around, the feathered monster behind her thankfully didn’t seem to have been paying attention to the dragons’ conversation.

Instead, it was Urgus who curiously tilted his head.

“I’ve been hearing that word then and there…what is this ‘dragon’ that you speak of, exactly? Does it refer to retainers of the divine?”

“Absolutely not.”

Cutting into the conversation with a near-reflexive answer, Serenis awkwardly cleared her throat. After another few seconds, she quickly added on to her sudden response.

“…The word merely refers to our race. Perhaps you’ve never heard of it due to the distance between here and our nest.”

“Ahh, a race from afar! So, you lot are like…what were they called now…elves? Yes?”

“…I suppose that’s a better comparison than the previous.”

Serenis wore a dissatisfied look as she gave her answer. But even so, being perceived as elf-like entities were at least a thousand times better than being perceived as a divinity’s underlings.

And when their little misunderstanding(?) came to be resolved, Karas finally approached the dragonlord with Aymeia in tow.

“Serenis. As I’ve mentioned, this attack was not comprised solely of animals. A parasitic monster called ‘parworm’ was leading the pack.”

“I suppose that explains the presence I felt earlier. I did think it rather odd that an animal possessed so much mana.”

“Precisely. Now, while foreign to us, the warriors have told us that these parworms are quite common throughout Asarda. They hold a yearly hunt to decrease the monsters’ numbers, but they were unable to hold their tradition this year due to the threat of the empire.”

“…I…see?”

On the surface level, the explanation was nothing out of the ordinary. It could’ve simply been a lecture like any other, delivered by a professor to their student.

However, Serenis couldn’t help but notice the directness of Karas’ current attitude. None of what he said was information she needed or asked for – and yet he was eager to explain, at a distance notably closer than usual.

Finally, the dragonlord curiously began to inquire the professor before her.

“…Is there a particular reason you’re explaining this? It almost feels as if there’s something you wish of me.”

“Spot on. I’ve actually made arrangements for us to join Asarda’s warriors in their yearly hunt.”

“…”

“It sounds to be quite the long tradition in Asarda. Also, their ‘Frosthunt’ apparently takes root in Aymeia’s own teachings: I believe that her participation will be of aid in reclaiming her memories. She’s also expressed her own will to help Asarda’s people.”

Hearing the professor’s unsurprising answer, Serenis’ eyes then locked with the former deity’s standing behind Karas. And, as if guilty of the role she’s played in facilitating the current situation, Aymeia hurriedly avoided the dragonlord’s gaze.

‘Not that it matters.’

At this point, Serenis truly couldn’t care less about Aymeia’s presence in all this. Whether the former deity was her son or not, a kin or not…none of it mattered as much. After all, helping an individual in distress was nothing to feel ill or concerned about.

Rather, what concerned Serenis most was the feathered monster standing before her.

‘…He’s being oddly enthusiastic. Even when we set out to find Aldrid, his eyes weren’t gleaming as they are now…’

Even though the professor had previously claimed to be helping Aymeia from a pure academic standpoint, Serenis’ mind couldn’t help but fall back to the conversation she’d overheard the other night: a conversation Karas had seemingly shared with someone who should rightfully have passed away.

If what she’d heard was true, then Karas was merely carrying out an end of a contract he’d made: for something he’d receive in exchange of restoring Aymeia back to normal. The ‘something’ that was ridiculous beyond words, that is.

‘But even if I were to ask, I don’t suppose he’d return an honest answer…’

After simulating how such a conversation would go, Serenis let out a heavy sigh.

“…If you believe so, then I shall trust your judgement. I suppose we’ll be joining the warriors in their hunt then?”

“Ah, well…not quite. You see, I plan to recreate the past as closely as possible: it’s said that Aymeia had personally led these yearly hunts to help her people in the past, protecting and teaching them all the same. Towering entities like yourself would actually be a hindrance in recreating such circumstances – monsters would evaporate at the flick of a hand.”

“…Meaning?”

“I mean to split our group into two. There are two other notable settlements in Asarda that the Frosthunt aims to protect: Volkorn to the west, and Axle to the south. I plan to move westward with the Aymeia and Light towards Volkorn, alongside a handful of Chell’s warriors. In the meantime, could I entrust you with Raizel and Ilias to handle the monsters near Axle?”

Instead of an immediate answer, Serenis looked around to study everyone’s response to the professor’s proposal. But aside from Raizel who’d just arrived with her, the others already seemed aware of Karas’ plan.

“…I suppose others have already agreed to this.”

“They have, yes.”

Serenis then turned her attention towards light, meeting the half girl’s gaze midair.

“Light, will you be alright being apart from Ilias?”

“…I am a little worried, but…I mean, what’s the worst that could happen with a group like that? It’s like the professor said: the safest place in Asarda right now is probably right by your side.”

“…”

Even considering Asarda as whole, there were hardly any dragon-level threats within the snowy region; in contrast, Serenis’ group was comprised of two of the strongest dragons in the entire kin, as well as their lord.

But with that thought in mind, Serenis’ expression twisted into a frown as she turned back to face Karas.

“…If it’s as you say, Karas…why are you taking Light with you? Surely being with Ilias would be the safer option.”

“Ah, well…it’s not every day we can afford to travel such foreign lands. I plan to teach Light what I can of Asarda’s environment, fulfill my role as her teacher and all.”

“…Fulfill your role, you say.”

“You’ve nothing to worry about. While I may not be as capable as a dragonlord and two dragons combined, protecting Light from a handful of monsters is a perfectly doable task.”

Even though Serenis’ frown deepened further, there was little she could say.

It didn’t seem that Karas was weaving deceit into his words – if that were the case, then Light likely would’ve noticed it.

But even so, the dragonlord couldn’t shake off the ill feeling gnawing at her intuition.

“…Karas.”

“Yes?”

Approaching the professor a step closer, Serenis looked into the feathered monster’s eyes with a solemn gaze.

“Light is a friend of mine, and a dear sister to one of our kin. As the lord of dragons, I’ve a duty to protect her as well.”

“Why, that’s quite reassuring. But really, you’ve nothing to worry about in this instance – I will be with her, in addition to Aymeia and Asarda’s warriors. Wild monsters couldn’t hope to accomplish much.”

Another sigh escaped the dragonlord’s lips. Even though she trusted the crow to act in his student’s best interest, his lingering words and the Reaper’s name were viciously tearing that reassurance apart.

Then, she took yet another step towards Karas, staring down at him eye to eye as she whispered in a low, barely audible voice.

“…Karas. I will only ask this once.”

“? By all means.”

“Are you hiding something from me?”

“…”

The silence that followed only lasted a handful of seconds, but a million thoughts brushed past Karas’ mind within that tiny timeframe. Hesitation comprised the majority, while regret and purpose filled the rest.

And finally, the professor gave his answer with a warm, reassuring smile.

“Of course not.”