Glaaare. I shoot daggers at Kael, who is still engrossed in his little meditation party. Tsk, this bastard. Just how long does he plan to take? It's already been half a day. Seriously, what kind of human needs this much time? Maybe he's trying to grow another brain cell.
With a sigh, I hoist myself up and saunter over to the cave wall. There, a particularly juicy-looking mana stone beckons to me. I grab and yank it out with a bit too much force, causing me to stumble backward and almost land on my rear. Almost. Thankfully, my pride keeps me upright.
It's been forever since I relied on this method of replenishing energy. Holding the stone close to my lips, I suck the mana out in one long pull. But once the stone crumbles to dust in my palm, I can't help but scrunch up my face. "Yuck! This tastes worse than unsweetened Goblin ale." Why did I ever think this was refreshing?
Strolling back to the entrance, my stomach decides to perform its best impression of a dying dragon, growling and rumbling for all to hear. Ugh, this is Kael's fault. Ever since we started hanging out, I've developed a taste for actual food. Now, mana tastes bland and revolting. If I had some fire... I can't even cook, what's the point?
Suddenly, the entire forest seems to come alive with the sound of pounding footsteps and growling. Emerging from the trees are a whole troop of those weird bear-wolf hybrid creatures. What is this, a family reunion?
I stretch, yawning audibly. "Wow, did the whole family come to avenge that one guy? You know, I can't even warm up with you lot. Maybe try evolving to something more challenging next time?"
My trash talk, unsurprisingly, doesn't sit well with the beasts. But as they charge, I can't help but trip over a misplaced mana stone, sending me sprawling onto the ground. Damn it!
Quickly scrambling back up, my cheeks flame with embarrassment. "Did you all see that? Forget you saw that!" I snap, my frustration clear.
I lock eyes with the horde, channeling the full might of my dragon glare. For a split second, they freeze in their tracks, appearing to question their life choices. But then, just as quickly, I'm reminded that these aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. They shake their heads as if rebooting their tiny brains and charge once more.
This is all Kael's fault! Why did he leave me here with no food?! Ugh, these fucking creatures.
One particularly ambitious beast leaps at me, claws extended. Without missing a beat, I snatch it mid-air by its legs, swing it around, and send it crashing into a trio of its friends. "Did no one teach you manners?!" I chastise as I casually sidestep another. With a swift, effortless kick, I send it flying like a ragdoll.
Ah, fuck these bastards. In a flash, I'm upon another one, my fingers digging into its flesh, effortlessly ripping it apart. My movements are fluid, each attack more brutal than the last. "How's that feel, huh?" I mock, reveling in my power.
The creatures' pathetic yelps and cries only fuel my sadistic glee. One unlucky creature tries to sneak up from behind, but with a simple flick of my wrist, its spine is shattered. "Really? Backstabbing? How original," I scoff.
The forest soon echoes with the cacophony of snapping bones, torn flesh, and my gleeful taunting. "You're nothing but walking bags of disappointment!" I sneer at another bear-wolf, punching it so hard its eyeball pops out. Gross, but weirdly satisfying.
Curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to sample my kill, taking a hearty bite. The taste is revolting, and I spit it out, disgust etched on my face. Looking at the terrified remnants of the bear-wolf horde, I scream, "You fucking bastards! Why didn't you tell me you taste like shit?!"
Watching the remnants of the bear-wolf gang scamper off, I can't help but click my tongue in disappointment. "Tsk, pathetic. If I didn't have to stay near Kael, I would've finished you all off."
I make a futile attempt to get rid of the vile taste that lingers in my mouth, spitting and sputtering like a malfunctioning fountain. "Ugh, this shit won't go away." I ponder, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. Then, a brilliant idea pops into my head.
With my mouth closed, I harness my innate fiery ability, letting the flames lick the insides of my cheeks. It's like using fire as a mouthwash. Once satisfied, I puff out a stream of fire in a manner that's eerily similar to a prolonged burp. "There we go, much better," I muse, smacking my lips. "Maybe if I cook them, they'll taste better."
Just as I'm about to settle down and contemplate how to best grill monster meat, an all too familiar sound reaches my ears. Well, not too loud, but there's a hint of heavy breathing. I turn to find a creature resembling the previous wolf-bear freaks, but this one's different – leaner, surrounded by a shroud of mana.
I cock my head to the side, studying it. "Oh, I get it! You're an evolved version, huh? But why do you look like you've been on a diet? Starving yourself to become an elite?"
The creature, probably offended by my lack of filter, charges, showcasing a set of impressively sharp teeth. I must admit, they look like they'd hurt... if I were anyone else.
Instead of dodging, I let it push me around. It's somewhat amusing to see it try. It tackles me, gnashes at me, even tries to use its evolved skills. I keep my smirk intact the entire time. "Aw, are you trying to play with me? How adorable!"
However, after being tossed around like a ragdoll for the tenth time, my patience wears thin. "Alright, alright! Enough playtime," I grumble.
With a swift move, I grab it by its neck, lifting it effortlessly. "You know, I was hoping for a bit more entertainment from an 'evolved' creature," I sigh, rolling my eyes.
The creature struggles, but I tighten my grip, watching as its once fierce eyes now fill with panic. I might've felt a twinge of pity for it, but then it made a feeble attempt to bite my hand.
I snort, "Really? Still trying?"
My gaze turns cold, my grip unrelenting. But instead of ending it right there, a sudden urge to tease the creature overcomes me. "You know, for something 'evolved', you sure are a disappointment." With that, I casually toss it aside like yesterday's garbage. Brushing off any dirt from my clothes.
I shift my gaze to Kael, glaring at him so intently I'm amazed he doesn't burst into flames. Why is he so calm? Aren't humans supposed to struggle with circulating mana? I mean, look at him, not even a bead of sweat! He's so infuriatingly serene.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I unleash my dragon aura, allowing it to spread throughout the area. Let's see if he's so calm now. But to my chagrin, he remains unfazed. Seriously, how is he not affected?
I've always known humans to be weaker than dragons when it comes to handling both mana and aura. Father always said that while we dragons have a natural affinity to both, humans usually struggle, given their innate limitations. But this bastard... It's like he's broken all the damn rules.
I grip my head, my frustration reaching its peak. "Ugh! Why is this so frustrating?! I should be the dominant one here! I hate this human so much, and yet, there's nothing I can do about him! He isn't even afraid of me!" I mutter to myself, throwing my hands in the air. "UGhhg, so bloody annoying."
In an attempt to distract myself, I slump near the entrance and rummage through the bag Kael left for me. Inside, I find the all-black outfit that tiny girl designed – a piece that covers me from head to toe. It's... actually kind of cool. With this, I could go incognito. No one would have a clue about my identity. A smirk forms on my lips. "Not bad, shrimpy girl," I admit begrudgingly.
Determined to try it on, I fumble around, struggling to figure out which part is which. "How the hell do you wear this thing?" I grumble, frustrated once more. After a few failed attempts, and possibly wearing it backward once, I manage to put it on. The material feels snug and oddly comforting.
Taking a moment to admire my reflection in a mana stone, I have to admit, I look badass. "Mmhm, mysterious and cool," I nod approvingly at my reflection. But then a thought hits me, making me scowl. "Ugh, Kael better not say anything about this."
In the midst of my self-admiration, a twig snaps behind me. Whirling around, I brace myself for another wave of creatures. But to my surprise, it's just a squirrel. A tiny, innocent squirrel that chose the worst possible time to appear. My dragon aura flares up, startling the creature and causing it to bolt in fear.
"Stupid rodent," I huff, realizing that perhaps my temper might be a tad bit... explosive today... Tsk, who cares?
A wicked grin spreads across my face as an idea blossoms. Why should I wait for Kael to finish his boring meditation? I'm itching for some fun. I stride over and grab a few nearby trees, piling them up at the cave's entrance. "There. He can enjoy his little time-out in peace." I muse, feeling quite pleased with my makeshift barrier. But then, just for good measure, I place my palm on the stacked trees, letting my mana envelop them. "There. Let's see what moron would dare enter dragon-claimed territory." I cackle to myself, already imagining the various ways Kael might react to this.
"But...wait." I pause, a hint of doubt creeping in. "What if I get lost?" I scratch my chin, thinking. Then it hits me. "Even if I do, Kael would have to come to find me. Win-win!" Decided, I dash off into the forest, moving at only half my speed but still faster than most creatures could ever dream of.
Ah, the sheer thrill of racing through the trees, feeling the wind on my face. The sense of freedom is intoxicating. It's been so long since I've felt like this. As I go, I gleefully startle every creature I come across. It's too much fun to see their terrified expressions before they bolt.
However, the fun is interrupted when I feel a familiar aura. Before I can react, there's a sword aimed straight for my neck. But as expected, it shatters upon contact. I come to a halt and scan the area, quickly spotting the culprits.
Well, isn't this a delightful surprise? Isadora, the expressionless sword girl, and Biana, the whiny bitch, are standing right before me. What are they doing here? Kael did mention this entire forest is owned by... what's-her-face... Duchess Rosalind. Oh yeah, that's Biana's mom.
Biana glares at Isadora, a pillow still clutched in her hand. "What the hell, Isadora! I told you to cut her head off!" She yawns, hugging the pillow tighter.
Isadora remains as impassive as ever. It's Biana who addresses me, "Whoever you are, this is private-owned land! It's a violation to be in this forest without permission."
I tilt my head, genuinely surprised. I was just looking to have some fun, and now I get to toy with these two? This day keeps getting better. Thanks to these nifty clothes, they don't have a clue about my identity. And Kael, the spoilsport, isn't here to stop me from having a little... fun with Isadora.
A sinister grin stretches across my face beneath the mask. "Oh? Private land? Sorry, I must've missed the sign." I say, feigning innocence.
Biana narrows her eyes, obviously not buying it. "Leave, now, or face the consequences."
I can't help but chuckle, "Consequences? From you? Oh, that's rich."
Isadora, as always, doesn't say a word but I can feel the tension radiating off of her. This is going to be so much fun.