Arad smiled, “An invisibility cloak for Jack, a bag of holding as a pouch for Aella. And an armor for me. That will do it, but I have something else to ask about. I still have the scales of the red dragon.”
Merlin looked at Arad, tilting her head. “You’re already wearing your scales, and you will get an armor made of them. I suggest saving the red scales for the future.”
“Hoi! Merlin, this thing is boiling. Is that okay?” Alcott pointed at the prototype heater. “AYA!” Merlin cried, rushing with her wand and waving it around.
The bubbling faded, and the heat subdued. Merlin fell on her butt, panting, “It was close,”
Ginger approached Merlin, standing beside her. “If that were large enough to heat the city, it would have caused a fire.”
“You’re right. I need to make sure it is stable so people can survive the winter.” Merlin sighed.
“Say, Can’t you teleport Alcott and Ginger to the city of Rita?” Arad looked at Merlin, and she shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t have the skill necessary for that. Long-distance teleportation isn’t my thing.”
“Well, see you later. If we survived this quest.” Alcott waved his hand as he turned around.
“You always say that. Do you know how hard it’s to kill you?” Merlin looked back at Alcott with a smile, “You’re like a cockroach.”
Ginger giggled, “Then what would I be if he’s a cockroach?” She looked at Merlin. “We will be fine. We’re going to find the sisters and return, Hopefully without much bloodshed.”
“You’re the one saying it out of everyone.” Merlin stared back at Ginger.
Arad and Alcott looked at each other. Both stand with their hands on their hips and smile. “Cut it off. Both of you.” The two said at the same time and looked at each other.
“Alcott is right. We have a quest to tend to.” Arad looked at them.
****
The three got out of Merlin’s tower, stopping by Lyla’s shop so Arad could leave the scales with her. They then headed straight to his house in the forest.
This place is strange. Ginger looked around, gently touching the trees with a worried face. “I feel like the forest is alive around us.”
“You’re right. It’s like we’re approaching a dragon’s lair.” Alcott looked at Arad, smiling, “You’re making progress as a dragon.”
“Why wouldn’t I? The whole of Alina prefecture is a part of my territory.” He puffed his chest.
Alcott laughed, “Since when did you own the place? But I guess you’re the only dragon around the city.”
“Alcott is right.” Ginger looked at Arad. “I heard you were about to be granted a noble title. Use the land granted by that to determine your domain.”
“You can’t take a land that you don’t own. Even dragons usually threaten cities and kingdoms before snatching a mountain or two.” Alcott laughed.
“Then you want a threat?” A voice boomed from the forest. Alcott pulled his sword, and so did Ginger.
The trees danced as a flower grew from the ground. A mouth opened on it, “I’m granting my back to Arad. Dispute his ruling, and I will fold your city like a book and clench the mountain on it like teeth.”
The ground started shaking violently, and the people in the city screamed as an earthquake started. “Dragon meditator, is this enough of a threat for you?”
Thud! Arad patted the flower. “Stop it, Loci. They won’t cause any problems.”
Alcott looked at the ground, “Don’t tell me…”
“The city is built on a genius loci.” Ginger looked at Arad and the flower, “You’re on my back, and I grant to whomever I wish.” Loci growled.
Alcott sighed, “I mean, we have no choice if the land itself is speaking.” ．
“In this case, shouldn’t you be talking to the king?” Ginger looked at the flower. “Last time a genius loci appeared, the king had to make a deal with it.”
“As long as the land here belongs to Arad, and he doesn’t have a problem with your city existing on it. I won’t act.” Loci replied, the mouth on the flower smiling, “But, I can throw a mountain or two if enraged.”
Loci was bluffing. She’s far from such a feat due to the fungus. But that doesn’t mean she won’t be able to when she recovers.
Alcott approached Arad, “This far than anything I expected from a dragon to achieve in such a short time. No wonder you’re growing stronger by the second.”
After a short walk, they reached Arad’s house and stopped by the garden. “Aella, I’m back with Alcott and Ginger,” Arad shouted, and the door opened.
Aella walked out, “You’re back quickly. What was the quest deal.” She looked at him with a smile. Mira poked her head from the back and looked.
“Alcott and Ginger!” She gasped. Those two weren’t the kind of people you see walking around regular people.
“The quest is more complicated than we thought.” Arad scratched his head and approached Aella with Alcott and Ginger behind him.
“I expected something dangerous since the letter came here. The guild usually only reserves such measures to S-rank and death quests.” Aella smiled.
“Death quests?” Arad looked back at Alcott.
“Quests where the guild expects to have some deaths. They don’t hang such dangerous missions on the wall, but instead, call people they deep capable of survival. This was an S-rank quest and not a death quest.” He looked at Aella.
“In short. We need him to carry us to a place really quickly. And help us find two sisters.” Ginger looked at Aella.
“I need more explanation,” Aella sighed, “Get inside.” She turned around and walked into the house.
Everyone entered and sat in the living room. Mira brought them tea as they faced each other.
Alcott explained the quest to Aella in detail, and she started thinking. “Rita? I heard of it.” She looked at Alcott, “To me, at least, I would assume the sisters are already dead if they ended up in such a place.”
Ginger sighed, “I think the same.” She then looked at Alcott, “But we can’t exactly tell the Marquess his daughters are dead when they are sending magic waves out.”