Because of the Infected Monsters, traversing on the ground had became difficult. This forced humanity to find another means of transportation. Since the Flaming People had affinity to fire, it was ease for them to fight and tame dragons. One for the first time, two next, then a horde of them until dragons became like houseflies in their realms.
The ones used in transportation field were labeled Floating Fleet, their bodies under a spell that weakened and restrained them from breathing fire. Simply, they were just porters, not fighters.
It was even these dragons that supplied the Drumline Castle with daily neccesities, returning to Flaming Realms with porcelains and many other products made by the artisans at the castle.
They were just a Floating Fleet.
Harmless.
However, Dragon Foodies was made of mostly by the Blessed and Priests, had a few Saints and a God within their leadership, and was known for it's scary dragons. They had been slaves in the Flaming Realms, some of them riders of those dragons, not those labeled Floating Fleet, but the ones labeled Fighting Fleet.
Air force to be exact.
That's why, though Peony was strong, it would be foolish to think that she and Byron would fight any of the Dragon Foodies dragons, let alone defeating their riders.
The reason Byron allowed her to drag him to a group of large stones nearby to hide. This was of no use If the dragons were going to pass above them. However, better try than wait for being slaughtered like a lamb.
The sky soon became colourful as the massive creatures approached, one of them pristine white, another yellow, green, blue...
'Oh my! What a spectacular view!'
Byron watched the creatures grow larger and larger. It would have been a good experience to witness their parade if death was not involved.
As they crouched near those rocks their hearts racing, Byron thought of the Drumline Castle. It was his home now. Where was he going to live if these vile gangsters were going to kill every male there and take every woman with them?
Gillian?
He could not bring himself to accepting such a thing happening.
Gillian was the one he lusted for first. It would be a pity if those monsters took her before he could quench his lust for her.
'Stop stressing yourself!'
Nothing had happened yet. Why was he creating worst scenarios? What if it happened? He was still weak. He could do nothing about it.
That's why he calmed himself down and started thinking of what he would do next instead.
'I can return to Peony's cave, spend a few days there and resume my hunt for the Venomous Beauties.'
As simple as that, the problem was solved.
Peony's grip on his hand kept tightening as the dragons approached, coming directly toward the rocks as if the riders of those dragons had saw them.
'That's impossible, you fool!'
'They were several meters away when you went for hiding.'
Byron kept telling his mind to feel at ease, that nothing bad was about to happen, but his heart could not calm down when the dragons were approaching with tremendous speed.
Not long after, the massive figures reached within 30 meters from them, then 10 meters and then...
Byron almost jumped.
"You're hurting me!"
Peony's grip had tightened so hard that Byron could feel his finger bones cracking.
This was too surprising. Peony was stronger than him. She should have been the one to not feel frightened yet she was as frightened as a kitten. Was it because she had lived in peace, drawing and eating rabbits without having to fight or...
The massive figures were now a meter away, which made Byron stop pondering and focus on them. This time, he was confused. If the dragon riders had saw them, dragons would not have kept their height. Maybe Byron had been frightened for nothing because the dragons didn't show any sign that they were going to land soon.
Like he was thinking, Byron found himself in their shadows, sun lays landing on him from time to time as the dragons passed past above his head one by one.
...And just like that, they disappeared behind the hill Byron and Peony had been circling.
...No one was about to kill him and take Peony away.
This reminded him of something and, as Peony drew in a deep breath, Byron burst out laughing as loud as his voice could reach. How could he be so stupid to ignore his memories?
'I'm an idiot!'
He laughed at his foolishness until he fell on the ground.
This startled Peony and painted a confused expression all over her cute face.
"Husband, what are you laughing at?"
"That's a Floating Fleet. It's a team from the Flaming Realms that supplies Drumline Castle with neccesities and transports porcelain products made by my people back to Flaming Realms."
It had been in his memories all the time. Perhaps he ignored that fact because Peony had already poisoned his mind by telling him that it was Dragon Foodies.
Dragon Foodies were real and everyone feared them especially a small settlement like Drumline Castle. However, the guys were too arrogant to fly all the way to the Drumline Castle when it didn't have any food storage.
They would instead attack one of the realms in the Flaming Realms where the food transported to the Drumline Castle was from.
"A Floating Fleet?"
Peony asked in low voice, almost as if talking to herself.
"I've never heard about it."
Byron was done laughing.
"Like you've never heard of the Drumline Castle."
"Yeah! I really don't know outside world."
Byron grabbed her hand.
"Your husband will show you around," he promised as he dragged her with him.
This time, there was no stopping until they reached the Drumline Castle.
***
"Up there?" asked Peony, her neck craned to look at a two-hundred-meter cliff.
Byron's neck was craned too, once again mesmerised by the landscape on which the Drumline Castle was built on. It was as if some deity had unceremoniously trimmed off Mountain Everest's sides and peak, turning it into a mammoth square brick and placing it in a deserted area afterwards.
"Yeah! Up there!"
Peony shifted her gaze at him.
"Why is it moving?"
"It's not moving. Because it's too tall, you're seeing the cloud move and think it's the mountain that is moving."
Satisfied with the answer, Peony asked another question.
"How do we reach there then?"
Byron grabbed her hand.
"Come!"
They disappeared between the rocks on the foot of that cliff, finding themselves inside a large circular chamber where it was so bright as if it was not inside a cave.
If one could look above, he would see an opening 200 meters above. It was like finding yourself at the bottom of a well on a sunny day.
Peony stared in the air mesmerised.
"Are we going to use this rope?"
There was a thick chain traversing down the hole, tied on a cart that was resting in front them.
"Of course!"
With that, Byron grabbed the chain and shook it. A bell was heard ringing far above, followed by two silhouettes of human heads appearing in the circumference of the hole.
No one else had gone out of the Drumline Castle recently. The guards instantly realized it was Byron and hurried to pull the chain attached to the cart.
Byron hopped into it, extending his hand for Peony.
"Come!"
Reluctantly, Peony stepped inside the cart and hugged Byron hardly as if afraid that she would fall off the cart once pulled upward.
"Don't worry! It's safe."
Nevertheless, Peony tightened her grip on him, the warmth from her boobs reminding his mind that she was a female.
With his mood uplifted, Byron reflected on his expedition. Though the journey had made it difficult for him, the expedition had been nothing but a blessing. If only he could meet the Ruby Wolves again and thank them for forcing him to jump into the canyon.
'What a weird thought!'
Not long after, they found themselves standing with the guards. Though they were trying to hide it, he could see them ogling at Peony as they stole respectful glances at him. The looks of disdain which shroudered their faces the day he left for his expedition were now erased.
"Uh... Young master, who is..."
Byron had left alone and they were in charge of security. It was normal for them to ask him who Peony was. However, given how Byron's reputation was now something different, the guys were hesitating thinking maybe they would offend him.
'I should answer them!'
Before Byron could tell them it was someone he befriended on the way, a siren voice, so sweet and alluring answered in his place.
"I'm his wife."
Byron was like...
'What the...? Not so direct, dammit!'
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