"How will we track down the thief who stole the Avatar of Dragon?" Lucianna asked, her voice laced with concern.
"The guild provided all the information I need," I replied, feeling confident for the first time.
Lucianna's eyebrows knitted together. "This feels like a rigged event," she muttered, her eyes darting around suspiciously.
I blinked, the implication lost on me. My confidence faltered and a wave of sadness washed over me. I remembered my previous status. "Was I really a Chimera before? Not a Dragon?"
Lucianna gave a nod. "Yes, you were. You used to be always gloomy, serious, and without mercy. But you were efficient, got things done precisely. That's why I hired you as my bodyguard in the first place."
Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. I lowered my gaze to the ground. "Would you prefer that version of me over... over who I am now?" The question came out as a whisper, my insecurity making a painful comeback.
Lucianna didn't hesitate. She walked up to me, placing her hands gently on my shoulders. Her eyes, full of sincerity, met mine. "I would always prefer a nice guy over someone with malicious intent, Max," she said, her voice soft but resolute.
Her words brought a sense of warmth to my chest, and I managed to crack a small smile. "Thank you, Lucianna," I murmured, feeling a little lighter.
Out of nowhere, a voice echoed through the room, "Look at those two lovebirds, Max and Lucianna!" It was Illyanna's voice, echoing through the room like a bell.
Behind her, Matterinna stood, a sad expression painted on her face. She nodded in agreement with Illyanna, lamenting how quickly I had apparently forgotten about them in favour of the blonde girl.
I quickly retorted, "We're not dating! This is strictly business!" But my cheeks burned a bright red betraying my flustered state.
Lucianna remained silent for a moment, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You know, before you lost your memories, we would often go out on dates," she said, her voice dropping to a soft murmur.
My face turned an even brighter shade of red and a loud, "What?!" escaped my lips. I could practically feel my heart pounding against my rib cage.
Her laughter echoed in the room as she revealed, "Just kidding, Max. You're too easy!"
Matterinna chimed in with a smirk, "I like her attitude," before she and Lucianna exchanged high fives.
I stood there, utterly mortified, my face still burning with embarrassment. I could feel the weight of their eyes on me and it took all my willpower to not sink into the floor from the sheer humiliation.
"We should get moving," I said to Lucianna, the urgency clear in my voice. "The thief isn't going to wait for us."
Lucianna nodded, agreeing with my statement. However, Matterinna and Illyanna, who were still caught up in their surprise, looked at us with confusion clear on their faces.
Before they could even open their mouths to ask about what was happening, Lucianna was already in action. From the depths of her coat, she procured a small capsule. With a swift flick of her wrist, she tossed it onto the ground.
A blinding flash of light filled the room, followed by an outpouring of smoke. As the smoke started to clear, the silhouette of a horse and a carriage started to take shape.
Illyanna and I gasped in unison, our eyes wide with awe.
"But how...?" I stammered. "I thought your magic only revolved around gaseous states and light elements?"
Lucianna only gave me a mysterious smile, "Get on. There's no time for explanations." She waved us over to the carriage.
Matterinna, as she climbed into the carriage, turned to Lucianna with a look of concern. "This mission, it could be dangerous," she warned.
Lucianna merely gave her a reassuring smile, "No harm will come to any of us," she declared.
Illyanna clambered into the carriage after Matterinna, already leaning out of the window, "Drive as fast as you can!" she urged, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Be careful what you wish for," Lucianna smirked, making her way to the horse.
As I made my move to climb into the carriage, Lucianna took hold of my hand. "Ride with me," she said, pulling me towards the horse. I nodded, drawing out the map we were to follow. Much to my surprise, it transformed into a holographic representation of our journey, which apparently was a completely normal thing for everyone else.
Lucianna studied the map and other information, a confident smile playing on her lips. "This'll be a piece of cake," she said, looking back at us, "Hold on tight!"
With a sharp whistle, the horse sprang into action, pulling the carriage at an astonishing speed. Matterinna shrieked from inside, complaining about dizziness, while Illyanna's excited cheers echoed around us.
Unable to help myself, I hugged Lucianna tightly from behind.
"Max! I can't breathe if you squeeze me like that!" she gasped out.
I shook my head, "No way!" I replied, holding on for dear life as we embarked on our journey.