I glanced around at my family, each of them showing mixed emotions as we discussed our next steps. My mom, Laussinna, looked particularly nostalgic, her eyes brimming with tears at the thought of leaving Tarvernia for many years.
Dad, always the stoic one, put his arm around her. "Don't worry, dear," he reassured her, his voice gentle. "We have the Teleportation Amulet. We can return to Tarvernia anytime."
Mom's eyes brightened a bit, but she still looked concerned. "Yes, but the amulet can only bring one or two people, and it even has a cooldown of a whole month and beyond if you keep using it or the distances are too great!"
Dad's eyes sparkled with excitement though. "I can't wait to leave guard duty behind and go on adventures with our family!" he declared, his voice full of enthusiasm.
Our housemaid, Matterinna, looked thoughtful. "I'll have to learn magic again," she said softly, "to assist our family on this journey."
My little sister, Illyanna, was brimming with energy. "What class should I take? What Avatar of Life will choose me? Will I walk the Dragon's Road like Max?" she bubbled, her voice filled with curiosity.
Mom was quick to respond. "I hope not, dear. Max alone on that path is enough," she said, her voice firm but loving.
Illyanna's excitement only grew as she began to imagine all the scenarios we might encounter on our adventures. "Will we slay monsters? Save princesses? Explore beautiful new worlds?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.
I smiled, feeling a thrill at the thought of our upcoming journey. The uncertainty, the excitement, the promise of adventure – it was all part of the path we had chosen, the path that would lead us to unknown lands and incredible experiences. Together, as a family, we would face it all.
I felt a sudden pang in my heart, my eyes drawn to Lucianna, who was no longer looking at us. Her gaze was fixed on the empty cup she was holding, her face etched with sadness. Deep inside, I knew what was bothering her. We would be separated for many years to come, our adventures on the Dragon's Road taking us far away from Tarvernia.
Lucianna had been alone for a long time, yearning for some form of bond. She had found friendship with me, and a sense of family within my own, despite spending little time with them. The thought of leaving her behind weighed heavily on my soul.
"Lucianna?" I called out to her, my voice full of concern. She looked up, her eyes glistening.
"Oh, Max," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just going to miss you all so much."
Her body started to quiver, and she covered her face with her gloved hands, hiding her tears. My family noticed and tried to reach out to her, but she quickly got up, trying to walk away.
"Lucianna, wait!" my father, Antrodos, called, but she was already heading for the door.
I knew I had to think of something, and quickly. Lucianna had been there for me during tough times, helping me understand the magic of this world and even saving my life. More than that, she had become a true friend, kind and charming. I trusted her completely.
"Lucianna!" I shouted, standing up and rushing after her. "Please, don't go."
She stopped, turning to face me. Her eyes were filled with tears, her face flushed with emotion.
"Max, I can't bear to see you leave," she sobbed. "I don't want to be alone again."
I reached out and took her hands, looking into her eyes. "You won't be alone. You're part of our family. Why don't you come with us? We can face the Dragon's Road together."
Her eyes widened, hope flickering in them. "Really? You mean it?"
"I've never been more certain about anything," I assured her, my voice firm. "We want you with us."
Lucianna threw her arms around me, sobbing with joy. "Thank you, Max! Thank you!"
As we embraced, I knew that we had made the right choice. Lucianna was not just a friend; she was family. We would face the unknown together, walking the Dragon's Road side by side.
I turned to my family, silently seeking their approval. Every single one of them nodded with a smile, acknowledging Lucianna's invaluable presence. "With her healing powers, Lucianna could be quite the asset on our journey," Antrodos commented with a knowing look.
Laussinna, always the mischievous one, grinned slyly. "And maybe, just maybe, a potential daughter-in-law?" she teased, a twinkle in her eyes.
Caught off guard, Lucianna and I both flushed a deep shade of red, still wrapped up in our embrace. But soon, Lucianna's eyes shone brightly, her happiness evident. "I promise I won't let you all down," she began, her voice filled with emotion. "And I'll try my best to be Max's... um, girlfriend?" She clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks reddening further.
Our family erupted into a heartwarming laughter, charmed by Lucianna's candidness. Trying to recover from her unintended confession, she hastily corrected, "I meant, I'll strive to be Max's dependable partner."
I couldn't help but tease her a little, "I definitely heard 'girlfriend' there."
With a playful shove, Lucianna retorted, "Oh hush! Blame the excitement. But," she added with a playful smirk, "if you really want to consider that, it'll be a long wait. Let's see where our journey takes our bond first."
Matching her playful tone, I replied, "Sounds like a promise to me."
Lucianna's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting me to play along. "You're on," she replied with a soft chuckle.
I couldn't help but laugh heartily, pulling her into a friendly hug. "Thank you, Lucianna. From today, our bond will only grow stronger."
Hours after bidding farewell to the townsfolk, and with my parents, Antrodos and Laussinna, wrapping up their jobs and securing supplies, we were all set to embark on our journey. Our excitement bubbled as we looked at our Bag of Holdings, neatly categorized and packed.
"So, what's our ride?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
Antrodos scratched his head, looking uncertainly towards Matterinna, our housemaid. My mom wore a nervous smile and called out, "Matterinna dear, could you help us with that?"
With a resigned sigh, Matterinna appeared, her face a mask of anxiety. A puzzling situation. Was she going to summon our transportation? My little sister Illyanna, Lucianna, and I exchanged confused glances, our heads filled with chatter.
"I'm a bit nervous," Matterinna confessed to my parents.
"It's all right if you don't want to do this," Antrodos reassured her quickly, "We can simply buy a horse and carriage."
"No, no," Matterinna protested, "That will cost too much, and the space will be tight for all of us."
Drawing a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. "I want to do this for our family's sake. I'll try my best to satisfy the Fiora family's needs."
Then something extraordinary happened.
Matterinna closed her eyes, and began to chant something in a language I'd never heard before. Illyanna turned to me, eyes wide, "Max, what language is that? What spell is she casting?"
I shook my head, as baffled as she was. Lucianna's eyes widened, and she began to stutter, "It cannot be!"
Before I could ask her what she meant, the area around Matterinna exploded in purple energy.
The wind howled and whipped around us, as if drawn to Matterinna's magic. A bright, ethereal light burst forth from her body, illuminating the late evening in a breathtaking display.
As the light expanded, engulfing everything around us, we were left in awe, our eyes wide and mouths agape. The glow was dazzling, casting an unforgettable impression on each of us, leaving us standing in breathless anticipation of what lay ahead on our grand adventure.
The blinding light eventually settled, leaving us in awe of what appeared before us. A giant, wingless creature loomed, its body covered in white, fluffy fur, a reptilian head, and piercing purple eyes. It was colossal, nearly the size of four buses lined end to end.
Illyanna, Lucianna, and I panicked at the sight of the creature, fearing it to be a monster. "Father! Mother! Are you okay?" we shouted to Antrodos and Laussinna, our voices cracking with terror.
But then the monster spoke, and its voice was feminine and strangely familiar. "Calm down, all of you," it said gently, "It's me, Matterinna."
"Matterinna?" the three of us stammered, our fear turning into astonishment.
"Yes, it's me," she replied, her voice full of warmth.
"But what are you?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
"I'm a dragon, just like you, Max," Matterinna explained, her purple eyes twinkling.
My eyes widened, and I blurted out, "Are you related to the Fiora family?"
"No," she said with a soft chuckle, "I come from my own family of dragons."
Excitement bubbling within me, I asked, "How can you change between your dragon form and human form? Can you teach me?"
Matterinna's expression became sad. "It's a skill blessed in my blood through my heritage. It's more of a reflex for me."
I felt a pang of disappointment, but before I could sink into sadness, Matterinna's long, fluffy tail reached out and embraced me in a gentle hug. "Don't worry, Max," she comforted, "I'll try my best to reverse-engineer the spell so you can use it too."
"Thank you, Matterinna!" I exclaimed, my spirits lifted.
Illyanna and Lucianna approached Matterinna, their faces glowing with excitement. "You're so fluffy for a dragon!" they laughed, hugging her giant form.
I nodded in agreement, telling Matterinna, "You don't look like any dragon I ever imagined. You're extremely cute and friendly."
Blushing at the compliment, Matterinna explained, "Dragons come in all shapes and sizes."
My parents, Antrodos and Laussinna, smiled lovingly at Matterinna, embracing her as well. "We've missed your dragon form," they told her, their voices filled with affection and familiarity.
The creature that had initially appeared monstrous was now a symbol of trust and family connection. Matterinna's transformation not only revealed her true nature but also deepened our bond as we embarked on our journey together, filled with wonder, discovery, and love.