Chương 40: Chapter 39 - Red Cross Earrings

The sky darkened as the dragon descended, making the wind more chaotic. Multiple spell circles lit up behind its back. Snow began to blow sideways and lightning coiled from the wings of the orange dragon above. The ground shook, pebbles rattled, and cracks formed on the bricked road where it hovered right at the centre of the square. A growl formed from the throat of the orange dragon.

"Where is he?!"

"Itzae, who!?" Marine shouted.

"WHERE IS HE?!" the dragon named Itzae roared once more. Lightning struck at buildings, large pieces of rubble fell down onto the road. Panicked screams everywhere sounded all at once. People ran left and right to their homes not thinking that the stone provides no semblance of protection against the being in front of them.

"Heroes. Run!" Pavlina shouted. Allen sprinted towards Vivian, grabbing her by the hand and sprinting away from the square.

"Hey! What gives!" Vivian shouted, being dragged. Kevin grabbed Justin just as hard. His vape fell and then was promptly stomped on by a running civilian.

"Hurry!" Mira shouted, heading for the entrance of the city where their carriage was.

"Itzae! Calm down!" Marine shouted at the top of her lungs. However, it seemed the dragon couldn't even hear her cries.

"ITZAE!!"

"Marine! Run should you value your life!" Pavlina shouted, trying to take her by the wrist. Marine shook her off. Without even responding to Pavlina, she dashed to the side of the square. Her sword arc'd multiple times at the falling rubble, saving a woman from being crushed.

"Emma, Run!"

"Thank you!" the woman, named Emma, ran. Marine dashed off to another street, disappearing from view, to save more citizens. Meanwhile, Pavlina caught Allen's eyes and ran towards the group. Allen gritted as he looked back at the chaotic scene. There was nothing they could do. They could probably save a couple of people from the falling rubble, but the risk was too high. Their safety came first.

Just as his thought came to an end and before he could look away, a woman with a dark blue tunic wearing a plush white fur overcoat wielding a large pure white lance charged towards Pavlina.

"Watch out!" Allen shouted from a far. It was too late. The lance pierced through Pavlina's right shoulder. Her scream was interrupted by the woman taking her by the hair and bashing her head down onto the ground, knocking her unconscious. Before they could round the corner, Allen saw another woman beside her with pure white hair. Her mouth moved and the lance woman replied with a nod. The last thing he saw was the woman dragging Pavlina by the hair into a different street.

"Shit! Fuck! Shit! Shit!" Mira shouted. The group arrived at the entrance of the city to see all of the carriages were gone except one.

"Where the hell's our ride?!" Kevin shouted.

"Who cares! Just keep running!" Allen shouted.

"I twisted my ankle," Vivian said.

"Justin, heal."

"My vape's back there, bro. I gotta go back, that was my last one!" Justin shouted.

"No fucking way you're going back there!" Mira shouted.

"Suck it up!" The dragon roared, causing the ground to tremor wildly. Pebbles rattled and the snow on tree branches fell. Allen's leg shook as he felt an unbearable weight press in on him. Fear coursed through his body. Sweat dripped down his temples even as the cold and snow harassed his body. His hands tremored as did his breathing. It finally dawned on him, what the fuck did they sign themselves up for?!

Vivian suddenly fell onto the ground, unconscious while the others were about as uncomfortable as him until finally the roar subsided. Quickly picking up Vivian, Allen nodded his head towards the flat lands.

"Let's get the fuck out of here."

"Where's Pavlina?" Kevin asked.

"She's gone." Allen said as he started walking forward. Kevin's hand caught his shoulder.

"The fuck you mean gone?"

"Someone took her out. Don't know who. Ain't no fucking way I wanna found out who can wreck a ranker," Allen said, almost growling at this point.

"Ok, bro. Chill." As much as he wanted to lash out at Kevin right there, that train of thought wasn't going to be productive. Allen shook off his hand.

"Let's go." No one else complained, not even Justin with his left behind vape. All of them ran forward with the snow crunching under their boots. They ran eastward grounded by their known bearings. To the sides of his eyes, he even caught a glimpse of a couple beasts running away from the city. None of the giant wolf like beasts looked like they were interested in fighting as something wet dripped between their legs.

"You think Pavlina's ok?" Mira asked. Allen didn't answer. If being stabbed through the chest and being dragged off meant she was still alive, then the only answer he can say is 'maybe'. ☕︎ ☼ ☕︎ ☽ ☕︎ Alex thought today was just going to be another day. In front of her were the two new recruits, training to be baristas of Star Cubs. They worked hard since the morning, screaming something about the grace of the light path or something.

Honestly, the culture of the company has been evolving into a direction she did not expect… but it made money, so let it be. But now, what the hell was happening in front of her? A princess and her body guard running for their lives while dragging a bloodied woman by the hair for some reason. Five little shits screaming their lungs out as they ran, who, by the way, were clearly college kids from Earth.

The Lighthouse of Lois, the too kind Marine Fontaine, saving a bunch of people from falling rubble while shouting at the dragon who's name was apparently 'Itzae'. A Witch, dressed in all black, casually yawning, and her pets nowhere near her. Above the city was an orange scaled dragon slowly descending from the sky, throwing up a whirlwind of snow everywhere. Alex's right eye twitched at what the hell she was watching. Back on Earth, this would've just been Sunday. But today wasn't just any ordinary day.

Today was a sacred day holier than the first day of the week. A day in which capitalism takes its first steps into new lands. It was Star Cubs' grand opening day in Villipente.

"That's one hell of a scene," Raven said as she took a seat beside Alex behind the small pop-up kiosk.

"Where's Greenie and Snowy?" Alex asked.

"Playing with each other."

"You serial?"

"Very serious."

"You gonna do something about that?" Alex's eyes pointed to the dragon, causing havoc. Rubble fell down from buildings that were too high. The kiosk and all of its contents held down only by her telekinesis. Raven quickly pulled out her phone. The screen said 17: 01.

"Boss, it's after 5pm already."

"I hate you so much right now."

"Boss, did you ever talk to Greenie before?"

"It talks?"" He's just a young dragon."

"Well shit. I'm guessing that's its mom."

"Yep." Suddenly, the dragon transformed into a woman, wearing what looked like adamantite armoured bracers and greaves. Her skin was pale, adorned with intricate tattoos that radiated Late-Mystic energy. Her eyes with pupils slit like a cat's shot around scanning everything. The expression she wore looked to be more weary rather than combative, eyes almost looking to cry. She wore a flexible material on her chest with orange scales, but curved in a way that, most importantly, showed her massive bust.

Alex quickly looked down on her own, noticing the difference in size that made her grit her teeth. She could probably show some if she didn't have layers on. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. That's right. Regardless, this woman, dragon, or whatever she calls herself was just walking R-rated nightmare. Itzae's eyes locked onto the kiosk, specifically at Witch Raven. Her nose flared a couple of times.

Moving slowly forward, she stopped right in front of the Star Cubs.

"Do you know where my boy is?"

"So. Dear customer. How may I help you?" Alex stood up, forcing a smile on her face while also forcing herself not to look at the cleavage in plain view.

"I smell my baby boy's scent on the black dressed woman." Itzae growled, her voice amplified by her mana shook everything in the vicinity except the kiosk.

"Where is he?"

"I'll suggest a Cafe Mocha to calm down your temper, dear customer. It's as low as 7 copper pieces, you won't regret it. It's like the stars twinkle whenever you take a sip!" Alex said with her customer service voice.

"I heard a flock of birds came to this territory." Itzae's eyes looked at Witch Raven (who was on her phone) up and down.

"A woman in full black dress that looked of feathers, lips as dark as her dress, skin as pale as snow, straight hair that fell down to her elbows. Little Adric said she was a demon, a witch."

"Ma'am, we don't accept discrimination against our employees in Star Cubs. Please just look at the menu and order a drink," Alex continued smiling.

"Shut up!" Itzae shouted.

"Witch! Where's my baby boy?!"

"Ma'am, I suggest you order the Arabelum refresher to chill your head," Alex said, chuckling.

"Get it? Because your head is hot right now?"

"Boss, that's lame." Alex clicked her tongue at the b(w)itch behind her. Itzae put her hand on the kiosk, gripping it tightly. She tried to push it away, but nothing seemed to happen. The veins on her temples bulged enough that Alex could see she was trying to put in the effort to desecrate her holy assets. No one, and Alex meant no one would ever desecrate her holy equipment of the sacred morning ritual and the holy afternoon cup coffee… caffeine water.

"You dare!" Itzae let go of the kiosk and then walked around it to stand in front of Witch Raven, towering over her.

"Witch! My boy's scent is all over you!" That got a reaction from Raven as her head turned up to the woman. Her eyes somehow locked in at the humanoid dragon's cleavage, then she too looked down at her own before looking back up at Itzae.

"You're not that much bigger than me if I had less clothes on," Raven said, completely deadpan.

"Tell me where he is, should you value your life!" Itzae roared, but then stopped. Stepping forward, she knelt down to sniff around Raven's whole body. First the neck, then the hands, then her thighs.

"Ma'am, that's sexual harassment," Alex said. Itzae stepped back.

"Don't tell me… you've done something to my boy?!" Raven and Alex exchanged glances at each other, giving a mutual nod.

"Ok. That's enough." Alex clapped once stepping forward, landing her arm on the dragon woman's shoulder.

"I'll tell you what happened to Greenie if you buy 5 cups of Cafe Mocha."

"Who is Greenie?" Itzae said in a threatening tone.

"My baby boy is a majestic orange dragon!"

"That's besides the point." Alex smirked.

"We have information you want. For a measly price of 5 Cafe Mochas, you can get the information you need. How about it, Greenie's momma?" Itzae sucked on her teeth. Stepping back in front of the counter, her head craned up to look at the menu just above the kiosk.

"I heard of the sweetness of Arabelum berries. What is this Cafe Mocha you speak of?"

"I'm glad you asked, dear customer." Alex quickly headed back to her post.

"The Cafe Mocha is the ingenuity of Star Cubs that shines a beacon of light to the masses during their darkest time (quite literally). It is made with Hadstead Stalk sugar syrup, Caffeine water, Latia extract, and piker beans. It boasts complex chocolatey notes with the sweetness that one would remember during days of struggle as you work to burn oil through the deepest of nights.

The Cafe Mocha is the one drink you will remember when the stars twinkle above you, showering you with praise to push you through the rough times."

"Uh… ok… then give me 5 of them," Itzae mumbled.

"Do not try petty tricks on me, human. Live up to your end of the bargain, otherwise, you shall not see the light of day tomorrow."

"5 Cafe Mochas coming right up!" Alex grabbed the ingredients and started making 5 cups of Cafe Mocha, just the right amount of caffeine for a big lizard with fake cleavage. While she was making it, her eyes saw Marine peeking her head out around the corner of a building's wall. Fear not, lighthouse of this territory, for everything was under control, financially of course. The big lizard had scared away customers, and it was only right to recuperate some of the business' losses.

Putting exactly 5 cups on the table, Alex said, "Here you go, ma'am. 5 cups of our finest Cafe Mocha." Itzae didn't bother looking at the cups. She reached into her clothes' pocket and pulled out a pouch. It clinked as she opened the string. Inserting her slender fingers inside, she took out exactly 35 copper coins and placed them onto the table. The copper coins promptly disappeared with one swipe off of Alex's hand still with the wide customer service smile.

"Thank you for your patronage."

"Now, where's my boy?" Itzae growled. Alex's eyes sharpened. It didn't matter whether the customer didn't touch their product as long as it was already paid for.

"This way's Greenie, ma'am."

"Stop calling my boy Greenie!"

"No can do. That's his name in the company contract." … … … In front of all 3 of them, Greenie, the orange dragon, laid down by the shoreline just a couple hundred meters away from the sanitation facility. Beside him was a mountain of fishes. His stomach bulged, and even though he was a dragon, Alex could tell the smug, satisfied look of a baby boy who had eaten good. But, she wasn't one to be happy. Technically, this thing was part of her company, and it's not even 19: 00 yet. How dare this employee slack off!

Beside the dragon was the three eyed snowy, also sleeping with its tail covering its nose. Usually, dogs were always alert of their surroundings. But since they had just eaten plenty of fishes, it looked like it was unresponsive.

"Itzli!" Itzae roared. The whole mountain shook as the clouds above parted from the shoreline, instantly making it a sunny day. Greenie, apparently named Itzli, snapped up, startled. Same with Snowy. Both of them darted their heads left and right, finally catching the three by the treeline of the shore.

"Mom!" Greenie shouted as he ran forward, or at least that's what it looked like it was doing. On the other hand, snowy quickly snuggled up to Raven, rubbing its giant snout on her legs.

"Holy shit, it does talk," Alex mumbled.

"I told you, boss…" Raven mumbled. To Alex, it looked like it was waddling. By its ragged breath, it would seem that Grey was right. OSHA be damned, this young baby dragon needed exercise.

"Itzli! What have they done to you!" Itzae shouted, catching the baby dragon by the head. She telekinetically pulled her son closer to her, feeling his body all around. She lifted up her arms and legs to see if he was hurt anywhere. Lastly, her hand felt through his skull to see who knows what. Greenie stepped backward once, exiting Itzae's hug.

"Mom. I'm a grown dragon now. I have a job, good pay, and health insurance… I'm not sure what the last one is, but they said its good for me."

"A job?" Itzae asked.

"You're a dragon! How dare you let yourself be captured by puny humans!"

"But mom. I like it here! It's fun and I get to spit acid all day!"

"Are you going to talk back to your mom like that?" Itzae growled, causing Greenie to shrink.

"But mooom, you're the one that told me to find—" Itzae shushed him.

"How dare you talk back to your mom."

"I'm not the naive young dragon you knew last Ter, mom." Greenie growled.

"My name is now… Greenie!" That earned Greenie a quick flick on his large forehead.

"You're a majestic orange dragon." Itzae roared.

"Who dares name you this name?!" While rubbing his forehead, Greenie pointed one finger to Alex. Itzae turned around and shouted, "You!"

"Ma'am, might I interest you in some Arabelum refresher to chill your head?" Alex laughed.

"Boss… seriously?" The world trembled once more. Itzae took one step forward toward Alex and Raven. Multiple spell circles of differing colours from orange, teal, and yellow lit up behind her back, creating the silhouette of wings. Orange for acidic elements, teal for water elements, and yellow for plasma elements. A crater formed at each step she took. Clouds reformed back in the sky. Lightning webbed everywhere in those dark clouds, then striking the ground all around her. Pressure radiated from her.

Snowy ran away further into the trees. Greenie closed his eyes and covered his head. Trees behind Alex and Raven bent away from them. Even as a Late-Mystic, the dragon in front of them would be counted as a 'Divine Beast' back on Earth. This meant it would take at least two of her C-Suite members to take down this dragon. Or take at least four squads of Harmonic levelled individuals (24 individuals at 500 prowess), fully equipped to the brim on Divine Beast hunting equipment.

And still, her energy continued ramping up as if her signature kept increasing due to her growing anger. Although Raven was an Early-Arcane, it would take her quite some time to hunt this beast. Add to that fact it was one of her employee's parent. It all added up to being bad for business, especially near the sanitation facility. Ocean waves violently crashed against the shore line as Alex smirked while deciding what to do. Thunder continuously roared in the sky.

The light snow turned into a blizzard where anything beyond 10 feet could barely be seen. Marine suddenly burst forth from the treeline, her arms spread open to block Itzae from proceeding further toward Alex and Raven.

"Itzae! Calm down! Please!"

"Move, Lighthouse of Lois."

"No! You musn't do this, Itzae! Let us all just have a peaceful talk!"

"I said move."

"Please! Itzae! It's for your own—" Marine's word cut off before she could finish her words. A force launched her away, her back hit one of the bent trees.

"Mom!" Greenie shouted from behind, waddling forward to his mom.

"Stop!" A sudden kinetic energy blasted Greenie away from her. He skidded along the beach and onto the violent water. Knocked out, his form became barely visible through the white out.

"Oh… shit." Raven muttered. Oh shit was right. Alex frowned for the first time since she came to this back water dump of a world. It wasn't even after work hours for Greenie, her head of sulfuric acid production. She wasn't one to judge what mother and son do after hours. Discipline, after all, was the source of major mental development of a child's early growing stages. But that point was moot. She just almost crossed the lines of OSHA by potentially injuring her one and only sulfuric acid producer.

Greenie was already injured by his unhealthy weight. Adding another injury could potentially put him on a mandatory medical leave according to Grey's bureaucracy. Hell the fuck no. Alex wasn't going to let that happen.

"Look, Greenie's mom," Alex said.

"HIS NAME IS ITZLI!" Itzae shouted. Multiple spell circles lit up. Waves of acid, lightning blasts, and giant spears of ice, all crashed onto a telekinetic barrier.

"Whatever." Alex stepped forward to her, unbothered by the pressure.

"I don't care what you do at home or how you discipline your child. In fact, I encourage it. I know how it feels to be a mother. I love children, you see." Itzae stepped backwards, eyes squinting with effort as she launched more spells, yet none seemed to work.

"What are you!"

"But if HR ever saw you hit your child in the workplace, that would be on me." Alex stopped. Her hand reached for her right ear where a red cross earring was. Slowly, she took it off, ignoring Raven gasping behind her. The moment the earring left her ear, reality trembled once and everything froze in mid air as if time had stopped. Each and every single snow flake in the air was clearly visible. Itzae's breathing stopped. The sway of the bent trees against the wind stood still.

Even the fog in front of Raven's mouth looked like it was a paused video. Only Alex moved. Slowly, her steps marred the snow beneath her feet until she was face to face with Itzae.

"Discipline is for when you are home. Not at the workplace. Do I make myself clear?" Alex asked, knowing full well the humanoid dragon couldn't respond.

"Now, since you are Greenie's mom and he is technically underage for a dragon, you are to be recruited by the Path as his guardian until he's come of age." Circling around the dragon, Alex saw the wings still present on her back even in her humanoid form.

"Will you sign or do you want to test what happens if you don't?" Alex put back her red cross earring onto her ear. Suddenly, once again, time moved forward. The blizzard softened into a light snow and the ocean waves reverted back to its soft landings. Raven audibly let out a deep exhale as did Greenie and Snowy from a far.

"What… what are you?" Itzae asked.

"That doesn't answer my question, does it?"

"I'll sign! I'll sign!"

"Good."

"Will I also have a job?"

"Yep." Alex materialized the notorious standard North American job contract and a pen, extending it to Itzae.

"Welcome to the Path, Greenie's mom."