“You can take it. I can even get some people to deliver it safely to any location you want.” Sara said with a smile, shaking inside.
^I rode on his back, and I know how fast he can get.^ Sara looked at Arad, grinning to hide her nervous face.
^At this distance, we’re all inside his striking range. He could kill us before we could fight back.^ Sara could feel a hard lump in her throat as her stomach felt as heavy as a stone. ^His hand might as well be choking my neck,^
Arad smiled, approaching Sara, “Do you know where I live?”
Sara stayed frozen. ^He never told me where he lives. Is this a trick question? He would expect that I heard from brother, won’t he?^
Arad saw her silent. He looked closer at her face, “You look a bit sick. Go rest a bit, and send the basilisk to my house in the forest, the danger zone. Abel should know the way.”
Sara snapped back to reality and nodded, “Of course. Is there anything else I could help you with here?”
“Not really. I was only looking for Roberta.” Arad smiled.
[There is one thing you can ask her for.]
Sara was about to leave, but Arad stopped her. Grabbing her by the wrist. “Wait, there is something I was looking for.”
Sara almost pissed herself at the sudden touch. “W-what is it?” she couldn’t help but stutter.
“There is this cursed metal I was looking for. It glows green and kills people who get close to it.” Arad started explaining, and Sara quickly calmed down. But she got worried.
“It had many names, and most scholars quickly dismissed it.” Sara looked at Arad with a stern face. “Cursed Iron, green death, unholy steel, or even the rot stone. Even dispelling magic, curses, or holy purification couldn’t make it safe to handle.”
“Can you get it?” Arad looked at her, and she made a hard face.
“I can, but it’s not easy,” She would say impossible to anyone else but won’t to Arad.
“The problem is?” Arad tilted his head.
“Finding it, having someone willing to sell, and then transporting it.” Sara looked at Arad, “It isn’t easy to move something you can’t get close to.”
“Won’t magically enchanted things help?” Arad could imagine them keeping the thing in a magic box or a bag.
Sara shook her head, “No, people tried, and it ended badly.” She looked at Arad, “There was a scholar who put the metal in a bag of holding to transport it. That was successful, but guess where the problem started.”
“Where did it start?” Arad looked around.
“That death thing the metal has, it accumulated and got released at once when he opened the bag, causing every living being in a one-mile radius to rot alive.” Sara looked at Arad, “I would kill all of Alina if I did that,”
“So, our only solution is to slowly move it traditionally.” Arad scratched his head. “Then we should find a large quantity and move it at once.”
Sara looked at Arad, wishing she could laugh without him killing her. “Sorry, but that would be a bigger problem.” She closed her eyes, “Another scholar gathered a bit too much and was experimenting with it, around two kilograms.” She looked at Arad again, “Guess what happened.”
“A lot of people died,” Arad replied, guessing it was like the last time.
“It exploded, throwing the whole city into the sky. And after that, a black rain of ash and dust fell, carrying the metal’s curse. Till this day, life cannot start in that place.” Sara approached Arad, “I don’t know who is angry at that metal, but if it isn’t god, I don’t know who. It’s better to stay away from it forever.”
Arad sighed, “Fine, just tell me where I can find it. I do need quite a bit for something.”
“Listen. I will do my best to get you at least a tenth of a kilogram sample. Please wait, and be patient.” Sara looked at Arad, smiling. She can’t let him bring a lot to the city, and end destroying it.
“You will bring some? Are you sure?” Arad looked at her, worried she might kill herself or someone else.
“Don’t worry. I can get a team of experts on board to safely get you what you asked for.” She smiled.
“ARAD!” Roberta cried, finally catching up to him with her father Gerald.
“Roberta! You followed me,” Arad looked behind Sara, seeing Roberta panting.
“You suddenly ran off. Why did you interrupt the fight?” She sighed, barely standing straight.
Thud! Arad patted the basilisk behind him, “I took a liking to this one,”
Gerald stepped before Roberta, glaring at the basilisk, “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“It won’t attack anyone. None of you has turned into stone yet, right?” They all looked at each other and smiled. “You’re right,” Sara sighed in relief.
Everyone relaxed except Roberta who started sweating buckets. ^Dragon are high lizards. They could dominate lesser ones like basilisks, drakes, and more. He’s a true dragon, and there is no other explanation!^
Arad rubbed the basilisk’s head, and looked at Sara, “Please deliver it to my house safely and quickly. But let it finish eating this first.”
Arad then walked away, letting the two girls stare at his back. The moment he walked around the corner, Sara fell on her knees, sighting. “That was stress full,” ．
Roberta sat beside her, “You better do it,” She looked at Sara.
“I know. I saw him fight first-hand. I’m not going to risk making him an enemy.” Sara was scared as she knew how powerful Arad could get, while Roberta became more certain Arad was a dragon.
***
Aella walked into the guild, approaching Nina’s desk, “Nina, is what Jack said right?”
Nina nodded with a serious face, “Yes, we got a message confirming it. The goblins raided another elf village five days ago. You have to hurry,”