Chương 30: Chapter 29 - A Teeny Dragon

Astra's POV Astra watched the departure of her strange new friend for a moment before shaking her head with a huff of amusement and turning back to Mira. She decided to give Mira a moment to process what just happened as she stared after Elias with a vacant expression lost in thought. Once a minute or two had passed Astra cleared her throat with a smirk, jolting Mira back to the present. It's good to see I am not the only one he has that effect on.

Mira narrowed her eyes at my smirk before snapping her fingers with a snort of amusement, dropping the privacy dome back around us. Mira sighed, " All right my Lady, I agree your suspicions are most likely correct." Astra pumped a fist and crowed in victory, " I told you Mira, I knew it! He has to be Godstouched." Mira rolled her eyes, " Yes my Lady, those keen eyes of yours miss nothing." Astra scoffed, " Don't give me that, you thought he was some strange hermit."

Astra looked up at the sky, " I would never downplay the weight of a life debt, but trust me when I tell you Mira. That first night when he told me about his realm, they were not the ravings of a madman, the stuttering rambling of a liar, or devious ramblings of a trickster spirit."" Damn me to the Abyss if I lie Mira, even though I thought he might be a changeling until he let me identify him, the man still has a child class, whatever a child of the void may mean.

Your skill is much higher, was it the same result?" As Astra looked at Mira she nodded with a troubled expression." Aye just as you said [Child of the void - Lv 10]." Astra gave Mira a moment as she gathered her thoughts as Mira turned back towards her, " Ok my Lady, what are your orders?" Astra scoffed, " What orders?" Mira looked back at her with a complicated expression, " How would you like to proceed?

Godstouched can vary wildly in temperament and condition, the man could be a national asset or the greatest threat the Empire has ever known. It's impossible to tell." She shivered, " Thank the Ancients that it's just one man and not an open portal. Billions? If such a world were to invade, they could drown us in a sea of bodies, even with all my power I could easily be born under a tide of millions even if they only had child classes."

Astra softened her gaze taking Mira's hand, for all the love I had for her she came from a different time, a time when men fought titans, fire rained from the sky, and the cities of humanity found their streets awash in blood. When you live through such an age, everything looks like a threat. Oh Mira, I wish you could see the world the way I do, I always promised I would make a place for you to finally lay down your sword. Giving Mira's hand a gentle squeeze Astra brought Mira's attention back in her direction."

Look at me. That man is my friend. He saved my life when I was a stranger, and fought hard to free you and the others simply because I asked him too. I do not care what nebulous thing he may become in a possible far future, only what his actions have proven himself to be right now."" A good man, and a good friend." Astra made sure to hold Mira's gaze for a moment to convey the seriousness of my answer at this moment.

After a few moments the shift in her expression told me she understood, so she flashed her third best smile, the one that really showed off her dimples, that one was Father's and Mira's favorite." Besides, the other option was a national asset right? Let us put our best effort in that direction instead. What did you think of your little trial? I could tell the man had some real talent." Mira rolled her eyes although the small smile she sported told Astra she was well used to her tactics and didn't mind.

Besides, my bullying hardly counts as Elder abuse if she likes it. Mira gave me a deadpan expression as she replied in a droll tone." Frankly my Lady, if the knowledge he carries around in that head of his is as broad as it is deep on such a small subject I doubt talent will really matter much. After all, what in the infinite Abyss is a photon?" She shook her head as Astra laughed, it was rare to see the endlessly confident, vastly experienced Miralda Blackhall so speechless.

"Just ask the man if you want to know, he seems the type to be more than willing to answer your questions for a song." Astra was having a little too much fun with this, but decided to cut her a break." You should have seen his face after you released your Aura, trust me Mira, he was suitably impressed. I doubt he will think less of you for your questions." Astra gave her a sly look, " I can ask for you if you wish?" Mira gave her a constipated look, " No my Lady, I can manage.

To answer your question, yes he definitely has talent, shifting a skill that much in an afternoon after one conversation." Mira sighed, " You may finally have met your match my Lady, but only time will tell." Maybe for you Mira, but you didn't see him slaughter a tier three assassin with a grand total of 2 levels under his belt, you didn't hear his song drumming through the ether. No, I finally found someone who can keep up. Astra stood up cracking her back, before giving Mira one last look."

Well I'm off to make my rounds. Cheer up Mira! Think of all you achieved with one star pupil, imagine what you could do with a second? One still in his child class of all things, especially one with" Astra wiggled her fingers in Mira's direction while affecting a haunting tone, " oth-erwor-ld-ly know-ledge!" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

As Astra took her leave to be about her duties, she caught the hungry look on Mira's face out of the corner of her eye and cackled to herself, Oh, poor Elias, I swear I did it for your own benefit, my counterpoint.

Elias chuckled to himself thinking about Mira's reaction as he swung by to check on Coop and the Gang. I'm guessing the schools around here are a little different, it sounds like they're using the feudal system, just more advanced due to magic, I guess they skipped the enlightenment period? Eli paused for a moment, wait, didn't they execute a lot of the nobles right around industrialization?

I mean they sounded pretty shitty, maybe the threat of some random guy getting phenomenal cosmic power kept the corruption in check around here. After all it was the fact that a peasant with a gun can kill a knight in armor that brought it all crashing down, and if you have people like Astra running around they'll be a lot more dangerous than a gun. Eli shrugged before continuing on, Eh what do I know I've been here a week, it's not worth postulating without knowing more.

Elias found Cooper standing over a massive stockpot hanging over a fire taking a sip of the broth as Sasha stirred with an equally massive ladle from the far side." How's it looking, still need a hand?" Cooper held up a hand for Eli to wait as he rummaged around a crate before popping upright, tossing in a handful of herbs, and sprinkling a dusting of salt from a sack. Wafting the fumes from the pot under his nose a smile spread across his face and he turned back to Eli." Perfect.

No, we have the rest handled, we'll ring the bell once it's ready, otherwise check back in a little after sunset." The rest of the squad was portioning out dough to heat over the coals for dinner rolls, but appeared to have everything in hand. Eli nodded, " Well I'm looking forward to it Coop! Any chance you have something to snack on? I'm still starving after the workout yesterday." Sasha snorted in amusement, " Aye, I bet.

To hear the Lady tell it, the two of you ran almost five leagues yesterday before slaughtering all those bandits, I'll be hungry too." Eli cocked his head and looked at her with a confused expression, " Sorry could you try that again, the translation magic must have been a little off, how far again?" It was Sasha's turn to be confused, " Translation magic? Um 15 miles?" Eli nodded, " Yeah it can be a little off sometimes, I caught it that time. Close, but no it was a little under twice as far."

Sasha gave him a weird look," You ran ten leagues. In one night. You're sure." Eli nodded, " Yeah, long distance running was a popular sport in my hometown, and that sounds about right for the pace we set, the system helped a lot. Snacks?" Sasha stared back at him for a moment before shaking her head and pointing at a crate, " Try the purple ones, they're delicious, just don't eat the rind."

Eli ducked into the crate to grab a half dozen of what looked like purple oranges to stuff in his pockets before sauntering off, "Thanks, see you all at dinner!" As he strode off into the forest Sasha turned and looked at Cooper over the fire with an incredulous expression, " You hear that Coop? Even farther! The Lady even said he was barely breathing hard, cracking jokes and such! How high do you think his level is?

A wry grin crossed Cooper's face as he worked on a dessert he hoped would lighten the mood around camp, only to snicker at the expression as Sasha gaped at the strange man wandering off into the depths of the Verdant Reach like he was out for an afternoon stroll." No idea Sash, no kenning the wild ones. Leave the weird stuff for the Ladies, they're good with stuff like that." He waved his knife non-chalantly, " He's a friendly one, that's all that matters."

Elias took in the refreshing evening air as he watched the sunset from a perch up in a tree on the edge of a meadow a little ways upstream from camp. Stripping the rind from one of the purple fruits, it exposed a set of purple wedges just like an orange, only to groan in pleasant surprise at the taste of a sweet juicy plum instead of the tart citrus he was expecting. Man, something new and wonderful at every turn, this place is really growing on me.

Also I'm adding Sasha to the list of people who know where the good stuff is. He smiled to himself as a refreshing breeze swirled down from the forest foothills, bringing a sound of a babbling mountain brook that sounded every so faintly like laughter. Even the breezes here are strange and fantastical, this world is amazing. Humming to himself as he enjoyed his snack while watching the sunset, a faint clicking noise caught his ear in the pleasant silence.

Eli looked down in the meadow and had to suppress a rather unmanly squeal of excitement as he spotted a familiar face flitting through the meadow. Eli shuffled in his seat at the thrill, the teeny dragon is back!! Not wanting to miss out on the spectacle, Eli quietly dropped to the ground while quickly peeling the rind off another one of the fruits and tossing a couple wedges out in its direction.

The motion caused the little creature to snap its head in Eli's direction, eyes narrowed in suspicion, before cocking it once it caught sight of him. I wonder if it remembers me, I haven't seen another one, albeit there could be tons in this part of the forest and I would never know. Eli tossed out another couple wedges, next to the first two before settling back on his haunches to watch the beautiful little creature.

The shimmering emerald green scales were almost iridescent in the setting sun, and the cobalt blue edges almost seemed to glow faintly on the sides that were in shadow. After a moment of contemplation while it warily gazed in Eli's direction, the little guy seemed to decide he was harmless for now and extended his snout towards the offering snuffling to catch its scent.

The creature let out a couple soft chirps before swooping over with a flap of its brightly colored wings before dropping and crossing the last couple feet with a couple sideways hops to get a closer look. A few whiffs later it must have made up its mind as it snapped up a wedge and scarfed it down like a scaly little seagull, and puffed out a muff of scales around its head giving of an iridescent flash of its shimmering scale and producing a satisfied trill.

This time Eli absolutely did let out an unmanly giggle, before tossing the rest of the wedges in its direction and working on stripping the next piece of fruit, Who needs the old man laser show when they got teeny dragons around here! Eli wasn't sure who was having more fun, him or the little creature, but the diminutive reptile could eat, and pretty soon Eli ran out of snacks to share.

The little creature had drifted closer while Eli fed him, so when he ran out Eli held out his empty hands to show he didn't have any more while quietly whispering." Sorry little guy, fresh out. If I knew how much you liked them I would have saved you more."

After a few plaintive chirps it seemed to get the message, and gave Eli's hand a few good snuffles to double check, and Eli tested the water by running a finger down the top of its neck, which it seemed to like, arching its back pressing into the touch like a cat enjoying a good pet. Just like a cat, after a few pets and a couple chin scratches it was done and hopped back, Eli gave it a little wave before rising to his feet."

It was a pleasure to see you again little one, next time I'll have to keep a few treats in my pocket just in case. Hope I see you again!" The creature fixed Eli again with that oddly intelligent look of his, before hopping a couple times and taking off into the canopy. Eli smiled after the creature for a few minutes before turning to head back to camp with a fist pump, Hell yeah teeny dragons, this place gets better all the time.