Puff! Arad shifted back into his humanoid form and sat on the ground, staring at Ignis, “Don’t you have a humanoid form?”
Ignis smiled, “Sadly, I don’t. We chromatic aren’t proficient at polymorph magic by nature. You would be hard-pressed to find one with a decent human form.”
“Is that so?” He sighed, “You remind me of Claug. Said she can’t transform into a human.”
Ignis blinked, “I heard Eris speak something of that matter before. How did you even meet that monster?”
“Eris? At Rita,” Arad looked at Ignis. 𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕．𝚘𝚛𝚐
“No, I’m talking about Claug. That drakaina has a rotten personality. How did you even catch her interest?” Ignis sighed, “Her attention cannot be good.”
“I can’t see that from the times I met her,” Arad scratched his head.
“Well, Claug’s worst trait is her hobby of spying on people. And don’t forget how pitiful she can be, going all the way to spend years planning to watch someone she hates regret his life.” Ignis looked at the night sky.
“I met her once in a forest. She came once when I got attacked by griffons, and lastly in Rita when I faced a man Called Connor.” Arad looked forward with a stern face.
“She’s clearly spying on you all day long.” Ignis sighed, “Isn’t that right, Claug?” She looked around.
****
Far away, Claug turned her magic crystal off and looked away.
The kobold standing beside her sighed, “She called you out and told you it will happen one day,”
“She has no way to prove it, so it won’t count,” Claug growled.
****
“Why would she spy on me? It’s not like I have anything she wants, or should I say can’t take?” Arad asked with a puzzled face.
Ignis smiled, “I don’t know if I should call this a good trait, but she at least only watches for fun. Nothing more.” She looked at Arad, “From the centuries of her spying on people, she barely affected their lives in any way and only saw them as entertainment.”
“You have no way of knowing that,”
“She only watches important people like nobles, kings, and queens. The more intrigue and drama happen in your life. The more likely she would spy on you to watch and enjoy the show.”
“And a rare void dragon punching werewolves, vampires, and dragons is something she could enjoy watching,” Arad sighed, “I don’t really mind as she does no harm and some help from time to time.”
^I won’t lie, she saved me and everyone’s lives back in Rita. She’s like a fail-safe, a net we can fall back into,^
Arad stood, patting his shoulder to get the dust off. “Should we get back to the city?” He looked at Ignis.
“I would need to leave. I owe you and that rogue a big one. If you ever need help around the red mountain call me and I will show up.” She expanded her wings, “Farwell, little wyrm.” She flapped her wings, flying into the night sky.
Arad turned toward the city. [Void step] Thud! He appeared in front of the city, walking slowly.
“Arad!” Aella jumped from the wall and rushed toward him, “We saw the dragons fly away. How did it go?”
“The purple dragon made a run for it, and the red drakaina left since the fight ended.” Arad patted her head, “That purple dragon won’t be back anytime soon.”
Isdis and Jack who were at the back sighed in relief. They don’t have to fight anymore. At least for now.
***
Tomorrow late at night, Arad, Aella, Jack, Lydia, and Isdis were sitting in the tavern, drinking after dinner.
Lydia relaxed back on her chair, feeling the tight bandages on her stomach beneath the corset the healers gave her. She looked toward Jack with a smile. Unlike her, he had several large burns from riding the drakaina.
Aella did have two of her ribs broken when the purple dragon caught her in his claw, but she was fine otherwise.
Isdis sighed, “Since you cleared the goblin nest without letting anyone out and we got attacked by them. I think there is a second nest around here,”
“You’re right. We need to find and burn it.” Arad looked at the table. Their mission was to get rid of the goblins, not deal with the dragons.
“I do want to visit the elves after that, but I lost my head captain and some of my strongest guards.” Isdis sighed, shaking her beer mug.
“Should I send a letter to the capital? No. It will take at least two weeks to reach them, and even longer for them to mobilize some knights. I would say about a month and a half total.”
“You also need to get back to the capital afterward. I suggest you give up on visiting the elves.” Arad stared at her.
“I can’t do that. The relationship between us is already sore. Breaking a promise would be bad,” She looked around, and then at Arad with a smile, “Care to be my bodyguard on the trip to the elves. And back to the capital if possible?”
Thud! Aella grabbed Isdis by the head, “What are you up to?”
“For the elves, I really don’t want to muddy the relationship between us further. But I also want to show Arad to my father,” Isdis replied with a smile.
“I will really kill you,” Aella growled.
Isdis giggled, looking at Aella with a smile, “You would have already done that by now.”
Lydia stared at them, “You two, calm down. We need to take care of the second goblin nest first.”
“I was intending to bring the elves to deal with it,” Isdis looked at Lydia.
“The nest already agitated. They will attack the village in the time we take going to the elves and back.” Jack looked at them, “It’s goblin slaying time,”
Arad stood with a smile, “You’re right. What happened to that purple woman?”
“Still unconscious. You messed her up really bad,” Isdis stared at him.