Hikari woke up with a warm tail squeezing around her midsection. Despite having slept with the dragon a few days, the elf already started feeling comforted by the appendage. She hugged the tail in her arms as if it was a big warm plushy.
Within a few seconds, the dragon's arms wrapped around the elf's chest. Hikari's face heated, knowing that her dragon had awoken in this situation. To Hikari, there were two ways out of this. Pretend to be normal or put on a confident facade. Do I even need to act a certain way? It's just hugging a pet's tail.
Hikari cleared her throat and sat up. "What time is it?" She looked at the window, already having streaks of light filtering in.
Kurayami gave her a knowing grin. "You were so cute sleeping that I didn't want to wake you. It should be pretty late in the morning, Master."
Hikari leapt from the bed, abandoning the comfort of a dragon's tail. She summoned her staff, tinking it against the wooden floor for good measure. Even with these movements, the bells wouldn't toll without her will. She beckoned her dragon, and the two made way to the reception.
The two were served a late breakfast, but the elf couldn't eat much. Despite knowing the food was good, there was also the thought that it could have been better. The red-eyed mistress seemed to be absent in the morning shift. What replaced her was a middle-aged man in a tuxedo, a few grey hairs adorning his head.
As Hikari finished eating, she started thinking. She had know idea what she wanted from this world. If it were the game, exploration would be the best thing. Do I want to delve into dungeons? Do I want to conquer the land like an evil skeleton? Do I want to be some benevolent healer?
She knew out of all of the options she could check of benevolence. While she didn't want to let everyone die, there was a limit. If she started healing every single person, she'd really be revered as a goddess. Walking among the people would become impossible.
"What's the matter, Master?" Even if Hikari didn't explicitly state it, the dragon was adept at reading her face. "Did I do something to displease you?"
Hikari shook her head, waving her hands in tandem. "You didn't do anything. I was just thinking about our plans going forward. I summoned that fairy to investigate, but beyond that, I have no idea what I want."
"Whatever the master wishes, I will deliver it without fail." The dragon paused to gather her thoughts. "If you don't know what you want right now, we can take things slowly."
Hikari sighed. "Is that really okay? What would happen if there are people stronger than me? I can't sit around while I have no idea. It makes me uneasy."
The dragon moved in front of Hikari's chair, kneeling before her master. If there were onlookers, the intimate gesture would look more like a proposal. Kurayami placed her hands on Hikari's. "There is no one in this world who can rival you, Master, and if you need assurance, you can look towards me."
The elf gave her dragon a smug smile and said, "hmph, in that case, I will rely on you. You better be prepared."
Kurayami's face brightened. "Master, I swear to uphold this promise. I will never let you down."
The sound of hooves against stone interrupted their moment. The elf's aloofness returned as she pointed her staff towards the window. "It looks like our friends have come to pick us up."
The two walked outside and bright sunlight greeted them. It glared against the smooth stone leading out of the establishment. The carriage they arrived in awaited them.
Two excited girls jumped out, rushing over to the healer.
Esalda wore more formal attire. "Miss Hikari! I have a letter for you!"
Hikari took the letter and glanced at the unfamiliar girl next to Esalda. It seemed they were trying to hide something, but they were doing a poor job. The other girl had an elegant frilly pink dress, matching her eyes and hair. A tiara wrapped around her head.
The elf quickly skimmed the letter, her eyes landing directly on the words "Queen Summons". Hikari looked towards the princess and sighed in her heart. Deny whatever they offer you! Don't accept anything.
She wondered why a princess was sent to greet her. Normally, it should have been a prince, right? The elf had seen these settings numerous times. The kingdom tries to offer some land or rewards to quickly tie down someone of skill. If that person was a girl, wouldn't it make sense to send a handsome prince? Did they already catch onto her proclivities? Impossible!
The pink haired princess spoke in a light and endearing tone as she curtsied. "It's my greatest pleasure to meet you, Miss Hikari. I am First Princess Alfa Arianna Amelia of Amalin."
Hikari resisted the urge to laugh. Princess AAAA seemed like a cry for help. Though, another question appeared in her mind. "How can you have the last name Amelia? Isn't that the Goddess's name?"
Alfa looked bewildered. "Are you from somewhere far away? Anyone set to inherit the throne gains the Goddess's name and favor. Anyway, it will be safer to talk on the way… Come, you are honored guests."
The dragon glared at the mortal who dared to command her master. Her actions were suppressed by the elf's small hand.
"Don't worry, Kurayami." Her hand reached down and grabbed the dragon's. "They won't be able to sway me so easily."
The dragon's smile returned and her thick tail wagged as they followed the other girls to the carriage. She looked in contentment at the small hand gripping her own.
As they sat across from Princess Alfa, the pink haired girl raised an eyebrow at Hikari. "Are all elves so small?"
The first words spoken in the carriage made veins temporarily bulge on Hikari's head. "Elves live a long time, so I am still growing."