We follow behind the other adventurers heading back to the Guild Branch at the nearby town and Lia explains a bit about what she has been up to over the past few days while I've been sleeping.
Using the Adventurers Guild as an excuse to look around the surrounding area. I had already expected it, but this is the eastern side of the Lausiel continent and of course, there are no military facilities where we can steal the guns from. The name of the nearby town is, Redinium, a seaside area the generates a good portion of its revenue from people coming to visit the beach... did I just destroy their main source of income?
Arriving at the Guild, we decide to take a simple extermination quest to kill some time and find an isolated place to discuss Lia new class change.
"What do you think we should take? I don't recognise any of these names."
"I wouldn't think you would, most of these monsters are unique to Lausiel, and some are even unique to this area. If I recall correctly, then this one should be pretty laidback. Let's take this one, the Silver Prarie extermination. Silver Prairies are small monsters that tear up farm fields and eat crops. Simply put, this quest is glorified pest control. Even at their highest evolution stage, they can be easily killed by F rank adventurers.
Taking the quest papers up to the counter, the receptionist gives us a weird look. I can't tell if it is because a monster is taking a quest to kill monsters or because a couple of mid and high ranked adventurers are trying to take a simple quest that's common for low rankers.
"Uhm, are you two really going to take the Silver Prarie extermination quest?"
Taking the lead, Lia says, "Yes, we're sure. We just want to take it easy, especially after the whole fiasco from earlier."
"Oh, I see. Very well, I've approved the paper for you, have a good time."
Papers in hand, we take our leave from Guild and Lia takes us to fields where the Silver Prairies were sighted.
Arriving at one of the fields outside of the town, we quickly find our mark. The Silver Prairies are tearing up the field eating the crops. Seeing them, I feel that they are probably the nicest looking monster I've seen so far. Nothing about them strikes me as especially dangerous, they don't have any grotesque body parts, and they don't look like they are dying. Actually, they seem kind of fluffable. Well, they're all going to be dead soon.
Both Lia and I prepare our magic and begin to rain down a barrage of Ice Bullets. I do have stronger abilities to kill off all these things but they would all cause some kind of long lasting or permanent damage to the fields. I'm sure Lia does too, but ruining the fields would defeat the purpose of this quest in a way.
With all the Silver Prairies dead we collect the bodies for proof of completion. After we gather them together we take a seat under a nearby tree to talk about Lia's new class.
"So what is this new class that you got?"
Giving me a small smile, Lia says, " According to the System it's a class, and much like my current class, it is also a tier 5 that will be upgraded to a Legendary Class once the System Quest is complete."
"Well, what is it?
"Dragon Rider. The requirements for it are having the absolute trust of a Dragon and--."
"So let's go turn in that quest now."
"Well, I wasn't finished, but I guess we can return now. But what do you think should I take it since it requires your permission to form a soul connection."
"Soul connection?"
"A Soul Bond would bind on souls together. This comes with a couple of benefits, like being able to speak to each other from any distance and we will be able to see what the other can see."
"Hmm... I'm ok with it."
"Really? Well, I figured you would agree considering the conditions for the class, but that was kind of easy. I was expecting to have to convince you and I didn't even mention the downside. There is the obvious lack of privacy and if one of us dies then so does the other."
"You should do it," I say in a hurry so I don't give her the chance to say the other conditions for the class.
"Alright," Lia turns her attention away for a moment as a notification from the System pops up.
"Subject Lia Straellum is attempting to form a Soul connection, do you agree?"
Seeing the notification from the System I agree and soon after I feel a very strange feeling come over me. But it isn't uncomfortable, the opposite actually. It doesn't take long before the sensation dies down and from the look on her face, the process has finished for Lia as well.
Taking a look at her with my Draconic Insight, the most notable change is that her level has been reset down from 60 to 1 and that her class has changed from Draconic Sage to Dragon Rider. Her stats are nowhere close to what they used to be, but they don't seem to be that low either.
Name: Lia Straellum
Race: Blue Dragonoid
Titles: Princess of the Blue Dragonoids, Scholar of History, Toxin Master, Dragon Rider
Class: Dragon Rider -Sage Variant (Tier: Special)
Level: 1
Adventurer Rank: A
HP: 600 MP: 700 SP: 400
STR: 500 (+300)
VIT: 520 (+700)
DEX: 630
INT: 650
WIS: 660
MND: 700
CHA: 64
Luck: 35
Soul Skills: Soul Connection (Cordelia Auspin), Affection of the Dragon (Cordelia Auspin)
Passives: Blood of the Ancients, Draconic Blood, Draconic Body, Low Altitude Flight, High-Speed Flight
...
Putting aside that Lia's base stats are comparable to mine when my bonuses aren't counted, I can see far more than I normally can when I look at the status of others. Not just far more, I think I can see everything. She did mention a lack of privacy, I didn't think too much about it since I liked the sound of having a Soul Connection with Lia but if I can see her full status then doesn't that mean... oh shit.
Quickly turning my head back towards Lia, I find her to be examining something. Although I didn't feel anything, I'm fairly certain that she is looking through my full status.
"Lia, you wouldn't happen to be looking at something in particular, are you?"
"I know you saw mine so it's only fair to see yours, don't worry I won't tell anyone that you somehow got some really negative titles or that you have been reincarnated. But I am interested in hearing about it, so I want you to tell me some stories at some point." Lia says while holding her usual smile.
I'm glad that the first person I've ever put trust in won't spill my secrets, but that isn't what I was really worried about.
But before I can speak again, Lia interrupts me with a deep sigh, "Your expression makes it very obvious and I know what it is your worried about. I won't ask about that one title and I will wait until you tell me on your own. No matter what you choose to do in the future, I've chosen my side. Besides, I doubt you will do anything to harm Spirit Dragons and the Dragonoids that descend from them, especially if my theory is right but this conversation can be held later," Lia says as she walks ahead of me and extends her hand towards me, "let's head back and turn this quest in."
Taking her hand we return to the Guild Branch in Redinium, but as we enter the adventurers see our actions and begin hollering out, whistling sounds I've only ever heard on TV before.
"Looks like the two new beauties in town got something going on."
Hearing the adventurers words, I realise I had actually held onto it the whole way back.
Trying to refute them I let go of Lia's hand and say, "It's not lik--"
But before I can finish, Lia takes my hand and pulls me close to her, with her face just a mere few centimetres away from hers. And before I even get a chance to do anything she puts her lips to mine forcing my mouth open. And just like that, my first kiss over two lifetimes was taken from me.
A few seconds pass and Lia parts her lips from mine. I almost try to stop her from doing so, but the little reason I still have manages to stop me.
"Since you keep avoiding the subject and interrupt me anytime I try to bring it up, I'm just going to force my answer on you."
The adventurers continue to call out and make all sorts of sounds as I am left standing in a daze and Lia moves up to the counter to turn the quest in. Despite my deep blue scales, my face is dyed crimson red as I want to go and crawl into my hole at Mount Dragspear to hide. Or maybe I can just kill all the witnesses, that would work too.
With another sigh, Lia comes back to my side saying, "You can't just kill everyone who saw you just because you're embarrassed. Ok?"
Still in a bit of a daze, I manage to slip out an ok as we leave the Guild. As Lia guides me over to the inn she has been staying at, I can't help but wonder how she knew what I was thinking of doing before.
Suddenly I hear a very nice and familiar voice in my head, {Remember when I said one of the benefits is long distance communication, it is done through telepathy and it comes along with the added benefit of being able to read each other's mind if we focus hard enough but your thoughts are honestly really easy to read for people that are familiar with your personality. So I got your first kiss, lucky me, but I also gave you mine so we're even. Oh and I suggest you check your status at soon, you got a pretty nice ability from our Soul Connection.}
... Fuck! so she knows that I wanted her to keep kissing me!
Arriving at Lia's room at the inn I immediately dive for the bed and hide myself underneath the covers, refusing to come out for the rest of the day.
I never knew I was so meek until know. I've heard that love can change a person, but I never thought it would happen to me.