Vanagloria couldn't believe what she was seeing.
This has to be the peak of life.
The Draconic Rainforest was an absolutely incredible sight.
It was one giant valley extending out for miles, giving Vanagloria a perfect lay of the land from her perch on the hill she currently stood on.
It wasn't crowded with overgrown, ugly-colored trees covering the sky or depressing animal corpses like the rainforest she just came out of.
It was covered in healthy dark blue rivers that went on for miles, starting from beautiful waterfalls coming from the mountain range surrounding the valley.
There were trees even bigger than the ones she was surrounded by, but instead much less frequent and colors of light green leaves and the rainbow colors of plentiful magical fruits they held.
Smoke trails rose up into the sky from what looked like towns of various Demi-humans. Abandoned temples and mossy statues littered the landscape, working as staircases to the massive floating islands of Tír na nÓg, high up into the night sky. Vines were hanging across each other, connecting the islands.
The best part though…
Dragons.
Vanagloria could see the giant reptiles roaming around from her view atop the hill, making them look a lot smaller and minuscule than they were up close.
Most of them looked to be oreintal dragons found in Earth's Asian folklore, elongated bodies with no wings and two small pairs of legs, flying purely off their magical ability to levitate. The wisest and most friendly type of dragon.
A small group of juvenile oreintal dragons were flying low towards the treetops, chasing one another like they were paying tag.
Vanagloria could see two adult 'true dragons' treading together through a small patch of forest. Found in Earth's American folklore, they have the typical interpretation of a dragon with two sets of legs and two wings. A very territorial dragon, known for their greed, treasure filled lairs and impossibly-durable scaly armor.
The one that caught Vanagloria's eye the most was sleeping atop the peak of a stone pillar in the middle of a lake.
A Wyvern.
Her favorite type of dragon.
Wyverns were known for one thing, hunting.
They were absolute apex predators of the wild, capable of wiping out a whole village in minutes. Capable of going against even the strongest knights.
One pair of legs with deadly talons, one pair of eyes with the range of binoculars and one pair of massive wings. It's body was made for agility and precision in the air. The eagle of the dragon family.
Like humans, they're magical ability was elemental powers. Along with the strength, size and intelligence of a dragon, any wyvern could be one of the most dangerous creatures on the islands. Not to mention this one looked big for what she had heard. It was probably an alpha wyvern, making it all the more dangerous.
Even this far away from it, Vanagloria was no doubt in massive danger.
Vanagloria wanted to keep it.
A dream of her's was to have a pet wyvern to ride into battle with despite the fact they couldn't domesticated.
There were some people who befriended oreintal dragons or had smaller dragons like knuckers, whelps, pyraustas or dragonets as pets, but no one had domesticated a giant dragon like a hydra or wyvern.
Some people tried grabbing eggs or baby versions as pets, but dragons were extremely protective over their young, more than anything else. Just through their sense of smell, they could track down a human who had their baby from halfway across one of the islands. Especially wyverns.
It was a death wish to try. The only people who probably could were extremely powerful knights, or the champions…
"No…" Vanagloria thought, looking to the one next to her.
"Ugh. I really don't wanna have to ask 'her' for help."
Vega was probably her only chance to get one.
Maybe if she waited until she got stronger and she could do it herself.
Vanagloria did have super speed now, it might be possible.
But she wanted it now.
The wyvern was right there. It was probably laying on its nest right now.
Vanagloria couldn't really see from this distance but it was safe to say it was an adult, maybe even an elder.
She could see the little puffs of grey smoke in every exhale, the same color of its skin. Probably an air wyvern, maybe even a dark and air one.
"Wow this is crazy. I can't believe this is happening." Vanagloria thought, a feeling of giddiness sparking up within her.
It really felt like this was the moment she had been dreaming of.
Dragons, adventures, survival and a lightning element to help her along the way, this was it.
This is the life she dreamed of, finally turned into a reality.
"Hmm. Most of the dragons must be asleep, there doesn't seem to be many of them out right now." Vega was scanning the whole valley through a scope she pulled down on her bow.
"I mean, it is night." Martyr said, walking up next to Vanagloria. He didn't seem nearly as excited as Vanagloria, but he still couldn't take his eyes off the valley.
"Dragons don't really have a sleep schedule. They can hunt during the day and night." Vanagloria told him.
"Oh that's scary. We're not gonna be sleeping here? Right?" Martyr looked over at Vega for a response.
"Yeah, of course we are."
"Nah, I don't think I'm cool with that." Martyr was running his hand through his hair in stress, peeking down at the dragons trampling through the valley.
"If you want that endorsement you're gonna have to do it. Don't think just cause your cute that I'm gonna go easy on you." Vega said casually, still looking through her scope.
Martyr looked caught off guard but very flattered. He was left totally speechless.
"Ugh. Shut the fuck up." Vanagloria thought but wouldn't dare say. As much as she hated Vega, Vanagloria wouldn't be surprised if Vega threw her out in the wild alone if she made a comment like that.
Not to mention she didn't want Martyr to hear her say something like that. That would be wayyyyy too obvious.
"Goddammit I can't think like that!" Vanagloria grinded the grass underneath her with her sneaker. Hopefully Vega could feel that with her stupid grass powers.
"Maybe I should just admit to myself I like him." Vanagloria thought, but deeeeeeefinetly wouldn't say.
"Yeah…"
"I think I do."
It felt good for her to finally consider it. Even if it wasn't the biggest deal ever.
Anyways, the feelings were probably just gonna be some short little ember that would fade away in a few days.
She didn't have some big crush on him or anything. She just wanted a big hug from him or to cuddle for a little bit… or a long bit. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Plus, Martyr probably was never gonna like her back, especially if this forest champion was gonna be competition along with Blair.
But it still felt good to dream.
"T-There are like villages though. We can't even stay there for a night?" Martyr was still trying to hold back a smile from her comment. He might've even been fishing for another compliment from her.
Vega sighed like she was regretting her little flirt. "If we're gonna stay in a Demi-human village, you're gonna have to duel with their chief for my endorsement. And it would only be one night."
"I'll do that, we should do that right now actually. I feel up to it." Martyr seemed to have a lot more energy compared to when he was slugging himself up the hill a minute ago.
"Nope we are sleeping here, in this little clearing. I haven't slept in two days, neither have either of you." Vega put down her bow and layed it onto the floor, sitting down next to it.
"If you have that type of energy then take watch for the night." Vega layed sideways on the ground, pulling her hood back up and using her quiver as a pillow.
"I'll take watch." Vanagloria said, sitting and leaning up against a tree close to the edge of the Draconic Rainforest so she could get a good view. She wasn't too tired and she kinda wanted to just stay up and watch the dragons more.
"Thank you, Gloria." Vega said, genuinely. Her eyes were already closed.
"Wait, are you guys seriously just gonna sleep on the ground?" Martyr sounded worried.
"No we're gonna sleep on the bed over there." Vega said, making Vanagloria let out a quiet laugh as she pulled out the yellow hoodie she brought in her satchel.
She still didn't like her but that was kinda funny.
"Where? Oh come on…" Martyr looked genuinely sad as he awkwardly tried to find a comfortable place in the dirt.
"He is cute."
Vanagloria's heart stung again, remembering she couldn't have him.
She stuffed her hair into her hood and looked into the dragon valley.
It really hurt.
Sometimes she wished she could get guys like Blair.
Vanagloria had watched how guys swarmed Blair her whole life and sure she got jealous sometimes.
A lot of the time.
But Blair always complained about how she gets so much unwanted attention from old or creepy guys. Or guys she just didn't like.
Vanagloria didn't want that either.
Vanagloria got more than enough unwanted boy attention than she could handle now and it's not even close to what Blair gets on a daily basis.
But Blair could pick and choose who she wanted to be with.
If she found somebody really amazing, there was no doubt Blair could get with them.
She was at the top of the game.
Vanagloria was limited when somebody like Blair or Vega was around.
Vanagloria knew she was a catch for most people, but she always seemed to fall for that minority that were just a league above her.
When somebody like Martyr…
"Ugh. I hate this." Vanagloria could feel her chest swell up.
She wasn't gonna cry now.
Staying strong she pushed through it and slid a little more out of distance from their line of sight.
When somebody that Vanagloria really thought she would be great with came along, like Martyr, it was their decision.
Not hers.
Looking out into the far horizons of the valley of dragons she realized something.
These far horizons were kind of like Martyr.
The horizon was the Draconic Valley, a place of excitement for her to explore. It had dragons and deep history of the islands, it had memories to be made and fun times yet to be had.
But it was risky, it was dangerous for somebody as weak as Vanagloria. It made it more exciting because it was more ambitious, but she really could get hurt.
Martyr was exciting to think about, she had never been with a guy like him. But if she really started liking him and she got rejected, it would hurt.
"Even if we do get together, what if he leaves me? What if I get attached again, but he doesn't get that same attachment? What if I'm too below his standard for him to stick with me?"
Martyr really felt special too. It really felt like he would be great for her. Maybe she did have a big crush on him.
Although, maybe she was just overthinking it.
Maybe she needed to just calm down.
After all…
She still hadn't even known this guy for a full week.