Esmeria

Zafir sprinted through the charred and devastated landscape, his heart pounding in his chest as he navigated around smoldering debris and upturned earth. The air was thick with the lingering scent of smoke and ozone, evidence of the colossal battle that had just taken place. As he approached the center of the destruction, he caught sight of Milli standing alone amidst the ruins, stretching her arms leisurely as if she had just finished a simple workout.

"W-w-w-what was that monster?!" Zafir stammered, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Milli turned toward him, a hint of surprise flickering across her face before settling into a gentle smile. "Ah, you're here. Didn't I say not to come?" she chided lightly, placing her hands on her hips.

Catching his breath, Zafir replied, "Richard told me to head over here and bring you back once I saw a meteor. I had no idea what he meant... until two meteors actually appeared!" He shook his head, still trying to process what he'd witnessed. "I had trouble getting here too; my body felt really heavy all of a sudden!"

Milli laughed softly, the sound bringing a sense of normalcy back to the chaotic scene. "Sorry about that. The gravity around here was a bit... intensified during the fight."

Zafir's gaze swept over the obliterated battlefield, taking in the massive craters and shattered trees. "What happened to that dragon? Did you defeat it?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe.

With a wry smile, Milli replied, "What you saw was Xenado, one of my friends. He’s not a monster; he’s a god. He took care of Blossomwing for us."

"Xenado?" Zafir echoed, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall the name. "That gigantic creature was your friend?"

"Yep," Milli affirmed, brushing some dust off her cloak. "He's a bit intimidating, but very reliable in a pinch."

Zafir let out a low whistle, still absorbing the information. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Milli chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "As long as you don't turn into a rampaging, human-absorbing dragon, I think you'll be fine."

Relaxing slightly, Zafir's expression shifted from shock to admiration. "I have to admit, that was incredible. I didn't know summoners could wield such power."

"It's not something I can do often," Milli admitted, a hint of weariness creeping into her voice. "Summoning Xenado drains a massive amount of my mana. I was lucky to wrap things up before completely exhausting myself."

Noticing the slight tremble in her stance, Zafir's concern returned. "Are you okay? Do you need help getting back?"

"I'm a bit tired, but I'll manage," she assured him, though her pale complexion betrayed her fatigue.

"Nonsense," Zafir said firmly, stepping closer and offering his arm. "Let me help. It's the least I can do after you saved all of us from that beast."

Milli hesitated for a moment before accepting his support, leaning against him slightly as they began to walk back through the wreckage. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale light over the ruined field, while shadows stretched long and eerie across the landscape.

As they walked, Zafir glanced sideways at her. "So, how many other 'friends' do you have up your sleeve?"

Milli smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Enough to keep things interesting."

They both laughed, the sound echoing across the quiet battlefield as they made their way back toward their camp, leaving the remnants of the fierce battle behind them.

Regina wandered through a lively street teeming with all sorts of beings—humans mingled with creatures she had never encountered before, each more intriguing than the last. The air buzzed with energy as merchants called out to passersby and the vibrant crowd moved in a chaotic yet harmonious rhythm around her.

As she strolled through the bustling street, her eyes widened at the sight of all the unique and vibrant trinkets displayed at a nearby stall. There were items of every kind—pretty ones, colorful ones, and shiny ones that glittered in the light. "Woahhhh~!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her awe at the dazzling array before her.

The citizens seemed to recognize her, nodding or offering warm greetings as she passed by. Regina returned their smiles, finding it all perfectly natural, as if she belonged there.

As she approached a stall brimming with colorful, juicy fruits, the owner—a tree-like creature with a friendly, bark-covered face—called out to her. “Want a bite?” he offered, gesturing to the enticing array of fruits.

She nodded eagerly, accepting the fruit from the owner’s hand and taking a quick bite. Her eyes lit up with delight as the sweet, juicy flavor filled her mouth. “It’s delhichious~!” she exclaimed, her smile wide and genuine.

The owner chuckled warmly, pleased by her reaction. She thanked him with a cheerful nod before moving on to another stall, her curiosity leading her to explore more of the vibrant marketplace.

As Regina continued down the lively street, she suddenly noticed a drake—a large, scaled creature with sharp claws and a formidable presence—making its way toward her. Fear gripped her for a moment, and she instinctively covered her mouth to stifle a scream. But just as quickly as the fear arose, it faded, and she found herself puzzled, unable to remember why she had been so frightened.

The drake approached her calmly, giving a polite nod as if in greeting, before continuing on its way, blending seamlessly into the bustling crowd as if its presence were the most natural thing in the world.

Curiosity piqued, Regina approached a large building with glass windows. She peeked inside and saw a bustling restaurant filled with a variety of beings enjoying their meals. Her eyes widened as she noticed a humanoid figure behind the counter, resembling a dragon. The dragon-like being was busy cooking, using its fire breath to expertly heat a wok while stirring fried rice with quick, practiced movements.

Regina watched in awe, captivated by the sight of the dragon chef using its natural abilities to prepare food. The mix of flames and culinary skill was both mesmerizing and fascinating, adding to the magic of the strange yet wonderful world she found herself in.

The chef noticed her peeking inside and gave a friendly wave, beckoning her to come in. "Hey, Regina! Wanna have lunch here?" he called out casually.

Regina's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. A humanoid dragon waiter, similar in appearance to the chef, approached her with a warm smile and guided her to a table. As she sat down, the chef himself brought over a steaming plate of fried rice, placing it in front of her.

Without hesitation, Regina began to dig in, her eyes sparkling with delight. "It’s sho deflichious~!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy as she savored each bite. The chef chuckled, pleased with her reaction, and the other diners smiled at her infectious enthusiasm.

After thanking the chef for the meal, Regina headed back out to the lively street. As she walked, her eyes caught sight of another building, where snowmen were selling ice cream. Excited, she dashed inside, where she was greeted by the snowmen with a drawn-out, “Heeeeeeeyyyy reeeeegiiiinaaaaa.”

She couldn't help but chuckle at how they slowly dragged out their words. “Dooooo yooooou waaaant soooome iceee creeeeamm?” they asked in unison.

Regina eagerly nodded, and the snowmen handed her a cup of ice cream. Without hesitation, she took a big bite, the cold treat instantly making her eyes light up. “Thasfty!” she exclaimed, the words muffled by the ice cream still in her mouth.

After thanking the snowmen for the ice cream, Regina headed back out into the street, feeling content and happy. As she wandered, her eyes were drawn to a wolf with a translucent green body, staring at her from across the way. There was something different about this wolf, something that set it apart from the other citizens.

The wolf held her gaze for a moment longer, then turned and began to walk away, but not without glancing back at her as if beckoning her to follow. Intrigued and curious, Regina found herself drawn to the mysterious creature, and she followed behind, wondering where the wolf might be leading her.

After following the wolf into a secluded alleyway, it suddenly transformed into a figure who was, to Regina's astonishment, herself. The Regina before her wore a short, white garment crafted from a flowing, lightweight fabric adorned with a delicate blue wavy pattern, reminiscent of gentle ripples on water. The garment was cinched at the waist with a matching blue belt, tied neatly in a bow.

This attire exuded a relaxed and elegant charm, with the soft waves of blue contrasting beautifully against the crisp white background, lending the ensemble a serene and graceful quality. She then realized that she was dressed in the same attire as the figure before her.

“Recall… from the depth of your soul…” the other Regina said, extending a hand toward her.

Regina hesitated for a moment, then reached out to grasp the hand offered. As their fingers touched, the surroundings began to shift dramatically. The once-bustling street was replaced by a grim scene of devastation—a ruined city strewn with countless corpses. The vibrant, lively place she had been exploring was now a desolate wasteland.

She tried to escape from the other Regina, hoping the city would return to its former state. However, no matter where she ran, she was met with the same grim sight: corpses and ruins.

Suddenly, a figure clad in gleaming white armor materialized before her. Desperate for assistance, Regina rushed toward him. But before she could utter a word, he seized her by the neck, lifting her off the ground and choking her.

“NOOOOO!!!” Regina screamed, her eyes darting around in panic. She saw Richard, Milli, and Zafir staring at her with concern.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Milli asked, gently stroking her head.

Regina nodded timidly, still drenched in sweat from the vivid fear she had experienced.

“What was it about?” Milli inquired, her tone soothing.

“There was a city of monsters,” Regina began, her voice trembling. “Then I appeared, and the city turned to ruins. And then someone tried to kill me.”

Milli offered a comforting smile. “There, there. It was just a nightmare. Let’s wash your face to help you calm down, and then we’ll get moving. We need to be cautious—there might be soldiers or guards coming here after the commotion earlier.”

She gently guided Regina to a nearby river, where the gentle flow of water offered a soothing respite. Milli helped Regina wash her face, the cool water refreshing and easing the remnants of her fear.

“Let’s get ready and head north!” Milli declared, though the sudden wave of dizziness that hit her betrayed her exhaustion. She had nearly drained all her mana earlier, and it was catching up to her.

“Are you alright?” Regina asked, noticing the slight wobble in Milli’s stance.

“Yeah, I’m fine~! Just need to take it slow from here. I’ll have to leave the rest of the encounters to Richard and Zafir until I recover some of my mana,” Milli reassured with a determined smile.

Regina, unaware that Milli had gone back for a rematch with Blossomwing and successfully defeated it, sensed that her friend hadn’t fully recovered from their earlier encounter. Not wanting to add to Milli’s burden, she chose not to press further and simply nodded in agreement.

"Let me carry you," Zafir offered to Milli, noticing her fatigue.

"Ehh, it's embarrassing!" Milli protested.

"It's the least I can do. We need to get to Luo Yang as soon as possible, right?" Zafir insisted, kneeling down to offer her a piggyback ride.

Milli hesitated but eventually agreed, climbing onto his back with a sigh.

"Pft." Richard couldn't help but stifle a laugh.

"Are you laughing?!" Milli snapped, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.

"No," Richard replied in a nonchalant tone, still amused. "Let’s get moving."

As they started their journey north, Regina ran over to Richard and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly as they traveled together.