Chapter 25: A Legendary Encounter
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the bustling marketplace of Rionna, the capital city of their state. Rudra, Nand, and Raina strolled down the cobblestone streets, marveling at the array of stalls displaying everything from vibrant fabrics to rare mana-infused trinkets.
"Bhaiya, buy me this!" Raina squealed, tugging on Rudra's sleeve as she pointed to a glittering necklace with a small gemstone that glowed faintly.
Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know what that is?"
"Does it matter? It's shiny!" she said with an innocent grin.
Nand burst into laughter, leaning on Rudra for support. "She's got you pegged, bro. Just hand over the coin and accept your fate!"
Rudra rolled his eyes. "I'm not made of money, you know. Let's keep looking."
As they walked, Nand's attention was caught by a food stall. "Whoa, is that spiced mana kebabs?" His eyes sparkled with excitement. "I've only heard legends about these!"
"Legends about food? Sounds like something you'd come up with," Rudra teased.
Nand ignored him, darting to the stall. "Three kebabs, please!"
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The Wounded Wolf
They wandered deeper into the market, away from the crowds and into a quieter section filled with oddities and artifacts. Rudra's system suddenly pinged, and a faint, golden glow caught his eye near an alley.
> System Alert: Unknown Bloodline Detected.
Curious, Rudra turned to Nand and Raina. "You two stay here for a second. I need to check something."
"Why? Found something cool?" Nand asked, chewing on his kebab.
"Something like that," Rudra muttered, slipping into the alley.
At the end of the narrow path, he found a small, injured wolf lying on the ground. Its silver fur shimmered faintly, and its golden eyes, though filled with pain, burned with an intense light.
"Whoa," Rudra whispered. He crouched down, activating his Appraisal Eye.
Appraisal Result
Name: Unknown
Species: Legendary Moonshadow Wolf (Juvenile)
Bloodline: Lunar Primordial (Sealed)
Condition: Critically Injured
Abilities (Sealed):
Lunar Surge: Harness lunar energy to enhance physical and magical power.
Shadow Meld: Blend seamlessly into shadows for stealth or ambush.
Rudra's heart raced. A Moonshadow Wolf with a Lunar Primordial bloodline was the stuff of myths, often associated with ancient guardians of balance. He reached out carefully. "Hey, buddy. Let's get you fixed up."
The wolf growled weakly but didn't resist as Rudra gently picked it up.
When Rudra returned, Nand nearly dropped his kebab. "What in the world? Where did you get that?"
"It was injured in the alley," Rudra explained, cradling the wolf carefully. "We need to find a healer."
Raina's eyes sparkled as she ran up to them. "It's so cute! Can we keep it?"
"Keep it?!" Nand exclaimed. "Do you even know what kind of trouble that thing could bring?"
"It's just a wolf!" Raina said, pouting.
Rudra sighed. "Not just any wolf. This one has a legendary bloodline."
Nand choked on his kebab. "Legendary?! Bro, do you have a magnet for crazy things or what?"
Raina ignored him, patting the wolf's head gently. "Don't listen to him, little wolfy. You're safe with us."
The wolf let out a soft whimper, its golden eyes locking onto Rudra's as if it understood his intentions.
The Healer's Hut
They found an old healer at the edge of the market, a grumpy woman named Asha who begrudgingly agreed to treat the wolf.
"You kids always bringing me trouble," she muttered, examining the wolf's wounds. "This one's got ancient energy. You sure it's safe to keep around?"
"We'll handle it," Rudra assured her.
Asha snorted. "Sure you will. That'll be 20 silver."
Nand groaned. "Do you know how many kebabs I could buy with 20 silver?"
"Focus, Nand," Rudra said, handing over the coins.
As they left the healer's hut, a group of older teens blocked their path. At the front stood a sneering boy dressed in expensive robes, flanked by two lackeys.
"Well, well, if it isn't the academy's rising star," the boy drawled, his gaze fixed on Rudra.
Rudra recognized him instantly—Rajan Desai, a spoiled noble from a lesser clan who loved to throw his weight around.
"What do you want, Rajan?" Rudra asked coolly.
"That wolf," Rajan said, pointing. "Hand it over. It'll fetch a good price on the black market."
Nand stepped forward, wiping his hands on his pants. "You must've taken a wrong turn, Rajan. This isn't your daddy's estate."
Raina giggled, adding, "Yeah, and your fashion sense is terrible!"
Rajan's face turned red. "Watch your tongue, little girl!"
Rudra's eyes narrowed. "Leave her out of this."
The wolf growled weakly in Rudra's arms, and Rajan's lackeys shifted uneasily.
"This isn't over," Rajan spat, retreating with his cronies.
Back at the Kairous Estate
That evening, Rudra, Nand, and Raina returned home with the wolf. After settling it in a safe corner of the estate, Rudra opened his system interface to check its progress.
> Mission Unlocked:
Protect the Moonshadow Wolf and Unseal Its Bloodline.
Reward: Lunar Artifact and XP Boost.
As the system faded, Nand sat down heavily. "Bro, your life is a magnet for trouble. But hey, at least the wolf likes you."
Raina grinned, holding a bowl of water for the wolf. "We'll take good care of it!"
Rudra smiled. For now, the wolf was safe. But deep down, he knew that Rajan and others like him wouldn't give up so easily. The challenges ahead were only growing more dangerous.