The first day into the Thalorian empire was uneventful, but the second day brought us into the heart of the empire. The place was a war zone, with barely any green space left. It felt like every inch of the land had been scorched by fire or reduced to ash. The kingdom itself was on the brink of implosion, as warring factions fought for control, and the once-thriving towns were now little more than charred remains.
We eventually stopped at a small town within the Thalorian Empire to rest. As we sat down to eat, I couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you just teleport?"
Yin Xie gave me a look, her golden eyes softening. "There's a rule we dragons follow. We can't teleport into areas ruled by another grade 5 unless it's a challenge to their authority."
I raised an eyebrow. "So that's why you came for Hansel after he teleported?"
"Exactly," she nodded, and that was the end of that conversation.
We spent the night there, and the next morning, we continued our journey, now into the sixth day of our travels. I was getting used to flying, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that this whole trip was too much for my poor body to handle. At least I'm not on foot. That would've been worse.
On the fourth day, we stopped in Systaor Kingdom, a peaceful place shielded from the madness of the empire by a massive wall. The difference between Systaor and the rest of the Thalorian Empire was like night and day. While the empire was a wasteland of warfare, Systaor was calm, with verdant fields and quiet, walled-off towns that felt like something out of a dream.
I asked Yin Xie, "Can't we just fly across the sea from here?"
"No," she replied with a shake of her head. "I'm used to flying, but dragons can't cross oceans by air. We have... restrictions."
"Really? You're telling me you can't just fly across the water like a bird?" I raised an eyebrow.
She sighed. "We're not like birds. There are krakens that roam these seas, and they're strong enough to injure a dragon if we cross their territory."
I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Well, I guess even dragons have their limits."
Yin Xie shot me a look, but I could tell she wasn't as amused as I was. "Let's just stick to the plan."
We didn't have to search long to find a ship that looked sturdy enough to make the crossing. The vessel was a masterpiece—its bow carved in the shape of a dragon, mouth wide open as if ready to breathe fire at the oncoming waves. Its scales, painstakingly etched into the wood, caught the sunlight and gleamed faintly like emeralds. The mast stood tall, its sails as white as freshly fallen snow. I found myself gawking at it like a kid seeing candy for the first time.
"Man," I muttered to myself, "I wish I could just flex my wealth and buy this outright. Imagine the scores I could rack up with the ladies. 'Oh, that ship? Yeah, just something I picked up on a whim.'"
But as I stood there daydreaming, my confidence faltered, as it always did when I thought about certain things. Maybe I really should consider drinking one of those elven potions. I heard they could change a person's appearance—fix all the flaws, smooth out the rough edges. Eh, let's worry about that later.
The journey was… surprisingly fun. For seven whole days, I lived like an adventurer, moving from one surreal moment to the next. Sitting on a dragon's back, crossing chaotic lands, now sailing across a sea that looked like something out of a horror story.
I glanced at Yin Xie, leaning lazily against the ship's railing. "We should do this more often."
She didn't even look up, her golden eyes fixed on the horizon. "No, it's too tiring. What's wrong with how you're currently living?"
"It feels boring," I said, sighing. "There's no joy in it. No adventure."
Yin Xie gave me a single nod but didn't bother responding. The silence was deafening, and I found myself turning to gaze at the Nelodrian Sea.
The water was… unsettling. It had a strange, greenish hue, like someone had spilled ink across its surface and let it seep in. Looking at it made my stomach churn—not because I was seasick, but because it felt wrong. It was unnatural, as if the sea itself was alive and staring back at me.
Yin Xie, noticing my discomfort, decided to enlighten me. "That greenish color? It's because this area belongs to the krakens. It's their way of marking their territory. A warning to anything foolish enough to fly over it."
I nodded absentmindedly. It wasn't exactly comforting information.
I walked to the end of the ship, the part where the dragon's head carving jutted out like a prow. Up close, it was even more impressive. The craftsmanship was immaculate. The wood was stained a deep, dark brown, and the dragon's eyes were made of polished glass that shimmered with an eerie, lifelike glow. Its mouth was open, teeth bared as if ready to devour the waves. Standing there, with nothing but the endless sea ahead of me, I felt an odd mix of peace and unease.
I leaned against the edge, the salty breeze whipping against my Kitsune mask. This mask. As much as I hated the reason behind it, I couldn't deny it added a certain air of mystery. Everywhere I went, people stared, whispering to one another. Some looked curious, others cautious, but none dared approach..
For all the attention the mask got, I couldn't shake the thought. Should I drink that elven potion? My fingers idly traced the edge of the mask. "Imagine if it worked," I murmured. "Imagine if—"
"Stop mumbling, human," Yin Xie called out from behind me. "You're ruining the moment."
I turned to look at her, leaning against the railing with all the grace of a predator at rest. Her golden hair glinted under the sun, her eyes half-closed in thought. She looked so at ease, so unbothered by the journey or the dangers that lurked beneath us.
I let out a little sigh, staring at the endless greenish horizon of the Nelodrian Sea, my thoughts swirling like the waves below. That's when I heard a voice chirp behind me, breaking through the silence like a pebble tossed into calm water.
"Uncle! We meet again!"