“So? Why were you following me?”
Kael questioned, wanting to know more.
“I was sent by the Kingdom to ensure your safety.”
“Oh?”
Kael raised his eyebrow, and soon, a translucent screen appeared in front of him.
[Name: Kieran Raza]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 66]
[Level: 68]
[Strength: 87]
[Agility: 130]
[Speed: 120]
[Stamina: 100]
[Defense: 90]
[Mana: 35]
[Intelligence: 85]
[Charisma: 80]
[Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Skilled Tracker]
[Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Weak in Melee Combat]
…
‘An agility-based warrior, huh…’
Kael noted.
A Level 68 meant that he was a Seventh Stage Warrior.
‘An Assassin maybe?’
Kael wondered in his head.
He could only make a guess considering the stats he was seeing.
“Now that you have assessed me, do you think I am strong enough to protect you?”
Kieran questioned, clearly, he didn’t like being assessed, it felt like he was being judged.
“I apologize, it’s a force of habit.”
Kael replied as his eyes turned back to normal.
Kieran nodded in understanding.
“Does this mean I was never in actual danger?”
Kael questioned with a curious look on his face.
“Do not take Marshal Therian’s words for granted, Hero Kael.”
Kieran shook his head.
“I was given strict orders to not get involved no matter what happens in Estwyn. We were told to ensure that you reach Estwyn safely and no external threats unrelated to Estwyn harm you.
The rest was up to you.
The moment you entered the town, I stopped following you and waited for the test to end.”
“I understand.”
Kael nodded.
“What about now? What’s your mission now?”
“I am to ensure that you reach the Royal Capital safely.”
“You talk as if there are people out there wanting to kill me.”
Kael chuckled casually, as if laughing at Kieran’s mission.
“Hero Kael, you are Lord Feraos’s blessed one, the hope of all Nerathis.”
Kieran spoke in a solemn tone.
He didn’t like Kael’s casual attitude.
He had seen Estwyn’s condition after the Hero left, and from their faces, he could understand how exceptional the Hero’s performance was.
He had already heard about the Hero’s talent, he knew how quickly he had grown, and after this test, he knew how good of a leader this man was.
The Hero had what it took to save Nerathis.
The Hero had what it took to… be a Hero.
Kieran could see how important the Hero was to Drakthar and to Nerathis.
The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to fall because he became overconfident and took things too lightly.
So he decided to voice his thoughts.
“Do not forget, while there are people who love you, rely on you, and see you as the hope, there are also people who would do anything in their power to crush that hope.
Hero Kael, you can never be too careful.”
Kieran warned.
At his words, however, Kael smiled.
“I was under the impression that the Kingdom ensured the test’s secrecy and that only the higher-ups, people who are absolutely loyal to the Kingdom, knew about it.
I thought that was the logical assumption, but I guess that was not the case, huh…”
Then, Kael looked into Kieran’s eyes and,
“Or maybe there is something I am failing to consider…”
“…”
Kieran turned silent, unable to say anything. His mind, however, had started racing.
“Anyways, thank you for the warning,
I will be careful from now on.”
Kael smiled, acting like he didn’t notice the change in Kieran’s expression..
“Right…”
Kieran nodded.
“I will take my leave now, you two can continue your dinner.”
He turned towards Sylas and nodded.
Sylas however, lowered his head with a guilty look on his face. After all, he couldn’t possibly impress the Hero now that it was established that he had lied to him. The Hero wouldn’t trust him no matter what he said now.
He had failed.
“Lord Sylas.”
Suddenly, Kael spoke up.
“Y-Yes?”
The City Lord turned towards the Hero.
“Please do not feel down.”
Kael smiled.
“I understand that you kept his secret because you were told to. I was glad to see how you didn’t break someone else’s trust even though it meant that this might strain your relationship with the Hero.
Only people like you can be trusted as a true ally, not the ones who would jump sides the moment the other side offered more.”
Hearing those words, Sylas’s face brightened up.
“R-Right! I am grateful for the Hero’s understanding!”
Kael smiled at those words,
“We should continue our dinner, I do not wish to keep my allies waiting.”
“I understand.”
Sylas nodded as the two continued the dinner, serving the Hero with an even bigger smile.
Kieran, who saw how the mood shifted, didn’t fail to notice Kael’s ability to read the room.
‘I underestimated him…’
He noted before he finally decided to disappear.
The dinner continued, Kael and Sylas chatted a bit, Sylas continued to offer more and more delicacies, and Kael didn’t reject, he was tasting everything for his Igni so he could choose the best ones for him.
Once the dinner was over, Kael shook hands with the City Lord and returned.
Sarah and the others were given their own rooms, he went there and chatted with them for a while before he finally walked into the room that was allotted to him and heaved a big, tired sigh.
It was a long day…
But it wasn’t over yet.
‘Igni, is he around?’
He questioned.
‘Kyu.’
Igni nodded.
‘Is he observing us?’
Igni shook his head.
‘Is anyone else noticing us?’
Igni shook his head again, and once Kael was sure about this, he took out the ‘stone’ he had bought today.
“I still have no clue how this thing is an egg.”
He muttered as he stared at the ‘thing’ in front of him, and a screen appeared in front of him.
[Ding!]
[Cloud Dragon Bloodline Detected]
[Skill <Draconic Awakening> can be used.]
[Would you like to use <Draconic Awakening> on the selected target?]
[Y/N]
‘Yes.’
Kael nodded and he then felt his energy moving inside his body in a specific flow. Then, a faint, golden light came out of his palm, enveloping the ‘Egg.’
Bzzz
The egg reacted instantly.
The reddish-white hues of the stone trembled, its petal-like ridges curled inward, as if alive. Beautiful golden veins spread all over the egg’s surface and its glow strengthened. The white now overpowered the red tint, it was as if it had become… much much purer.
Slowly, the rigid, stone-like texture softened, the stone now looked like an actual flower.
However, the transformation didn’t end there, no, this was just the beginning.
Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz
Golden Veins continued to pulse all over the surface, making it more and more soft to the point its very nature seemed to have changed.
From solid, it turned into a fluid,
And then, it turned into Mist.
A White Mist with light red hues floating in the air.
“What the hell…?”
Kael, of course, had no idea what was happening.
‘Did it fail…?’
He wondered, but then,
[Ding!]
[Draconic Awakening completed]
The System informed.
“This… is an… Egg…?”
Kael wondered as he stared at the strange Mist in front of him.
[Ding!]
[Skill <Blood Pact> can be used.]
[Would you like to use <Blood Pact> on the target?]
[Y/N]
‘It really is an Egg!’