The jagged scar of reconstruction ran deep through Orario.
Not long after the incident during breakfast....Draco had left the familiar confines of Stardust Garden in search of the perfect setting for a date.
The city, still heaving under the weight of its recent wounds, was a symphony of hammers and saws, the air thick with dust and the determined optimism of rebuilding.
With most of its grander establishments either reduced to rubble or repurposed for the war effort, the notion of a "special" dining area felt like a relic from a bygone era.
If he wanted something truly extraordinary for Bahamut, he realized, he would have to craft it himself.
His first thought, a fleeting wisp of ambition, had been the towering majesty of Babel.
A private dinner atop its peak, the recovering cityscape laid out like a glittering tapestry below. But the image of Freya, a sly smile playing on her lips, her eyes like predatory jewels, intruding on their intimate moment, quickly scrapped the plan.
He could practically hear the insidious whispers, the subtle manipulations that would inevitably lead to conflict, not with him, but with the very peace he sought to cultivate for Bahamut.
Pondering the next best location, Draco walked along the main Northeastern road, his steps measured, almost silent despite the clamor around him.
As usual, he drew the attention of everyone.
Heads turned, conversations faltered, and murmurs echoed like a rising tide wherever he passed. The war with the Evilus several weeks ago had irrevocably altered his standing.
His actions, a necessary brutality that had saved the city, were now twisted into a monstrous legend.
While many respected him for his power, their admiration was laced with a chilling wariness. Others, fueled by the exaggerated, often grotesque, rumors circulating throughout Orario,
regarded him with outright fear.
He was the "Monster of the Bahamut Familia," a title he wore with a peculiar blend of weariness and indifference.
'I guess a secluded spot outside the city would be best,' Draco thought, his mind already sketching out visions of a hidden glade kissed by moonlight or a serene lakeside retreat, far from prying eyes and the city's restless energy.
'But before that, I need to pay a visit to a few friends.'
He deftly ignored the renewed chatter and widening gazes that tracked his every movement.
Since the captains' meeting after the war, Draco hadn't stepped out much from Stardust Garden. There were few practical reasons to.
Due to the special state of his current condition, his stats maxed out beyond the conventional limits of a regular adventurer...going to the dungeon was pointless.
He couldn't level up further until he received treatment from Io, a critical step that could take a long time.
Roaming around the city, laden with the constant scrutiny of the populace, just seemed like too much trouble.
So, he mostly stayed at home, a self-imposed reclusion that was both a shield and a sanctuary.
However, this didn't mean that he was completely idle.
Sometimes he did some light training, both physical and magic, honing his already powerful skills to an even finer edge.
At other times he chatted with Aasterinian about various topics, from ancient lore to practical applications of magic, finding her a remarkably knowledgeable goddess.
With Orario's magic item industry slowly being revived, items that he needed for making grimoires were becoming available, so he had started working on that too.
And with more and more merchants trickling into the city, and more and more dungeon drops circulating again, he had even begun dabbling a bit in alchemy.
It was something he had learned in theory but never had the time to practice due to almost always grinding in the dungeon depths.
In a way, his current stagnation was helping him take a much-needed break and think about things from a new perspective, allowing him to explore facets of his abilities and interests that combat had previously overshadowed.
This date, too, was a product of that newfound time and introspection.
............….
While his mind swirled with various thoughts, Draco soon found himself in front of the Guild.
Its sturdy stone facade, though showing signs of the recent conflict, still stood as a symbol of order and stability in a recovering Orario.
It had been a while since he last spoke to Rose, the dedicated Guild advisor who had often overseen the Bahamut Familia.
He thought to pay her a visit, albeit it wasn't a great time to do so.
Rose was currently working, her usually stoic demeanor likely strained by the massive increase in administrative tasks related to the city's recovery.
And with the Bahamut Familia having been promoted to one of the leading forces in the city, they had been assigned a more experienced….and undoubtedly busier….guild advisor, reducing his direct interactions with Rose.
Still contemplating if he should disrupt Rose's work, at the bustling front of the Guild, a small crowd had already begun to gather near him.
The hushed whispers quickly escalated into open questions, a familiar pattern unfolding.
"Hey, is that him?" someone asked, a low, awestruck tone.
"Yeah, that's him. It's the monster of the Bahamut Familia," another replied, a tinge of fear in their voice.
"Really? But he doesn't look that scary," a young female voice chirped, a note of surprise in her tone.
She took a step closer, scrutinizing him openly.
"Contrary to the rumors, isn't he… kind of handsome?"
She wasn't wrong.
Despite the harshness of his features, the dark skin, unusual draconic appendages, silver hair and scary eyes, there was an almost ethereal pull to Draco, a dangerous allure that captivated as much as it repelled.
"Be careful," another warned, a older man with a wary look, "they say the scariest monsters are the most beautiful, the ones that tempt you before devouring you whole."
The rumors about his ruthlessness during the war, the chilling tales of his power, had transformed him into a figure of dark romance for some, and a terrifying harbinger for others.
"Well, I wouldn't mind being eaten by someone like him," another female adventurer confessed, a blush creeping up her neck, eliciting gasps and giggles from her friends.
"You ladies are sick in the head, willing to spread your legs just cause he's a just a bit good-looking," a male adventurer, stout and plain-faced, sneered in disdain, his jealousy palpable. "This is the problem with ugly men, always hating on those they feel threatened by," a female adventurer whispered back, loud enough for those nearby to hear.
Before Draco knew it, the entire area around the Guild entrance was rowdy, a cacophony of whispers, taunts, and defensive retorts.
Conflict, over something so trivial as his appearance and the bizarre rumors surrounding him, seemed about to break out.
It was precisely the kind of senseless drama he found utterly exhausting.
'I don't think I should be here now, perhaps another time,' Draco thought, a faint sigh escaping him as he turned and walked away, his presence having ignited a spark that threatened to engulf the street.
He hadn't even stood there for five minutes, and it looked like a brawl was about to erupt over something stupid and entirely unrelated to him.
After leaving the Guild, Draco made his way towards the Ganesha Familia home, a much-anticipated visit to his firebirds, Vesta and Yara.
He also hoped to catch Shakti and Adi on the side, if they weren't busy.
The journey was a short one, a familiar path he had taken many times.
Within a few minutes, Draco was standing in front of the Ganesha Familia home, a sprawling compound that exuded an aura of boisterous energy even in its quiet moments.
His gaze fell upon the familiar, larger-than-life statue of Ganesha which stood proudly at the entrance, welcoming all with an open, if somewhat exaggerated, embrace.
However, his eyes were fixed on something oddly specific about the statue.
Although it was mostly intact, still radiating the cheerful spirit of its patron deity, one particular part was conspicuously missing: its crotch.
It seemed as though someone had deliberately broken it off cleanly.
'I wonder what beef was had with Ganesha's crotch,' Draco mused, a faint, almost imperceptible shake of his head before he walked past the gate.
It was a peculiar act of vandalism, perhaps a prank by a rival Familia with a strong sense of humor, or a disgruntled adventurer who found Ganesha's boisterousness too much to bear.
It certainly lent a unique, somewhat irreverent character to the otherwise imposing statue.
The guards, strapping members of the Ganesha Familia, didn't stop him, as they already knew him from his previous visits.
However, they did show a lot more respect than usual.
Their salutes were sharper, their gazes held genuine deference.
Perhaps it was because his status had changed so dramatically in the city, or because they had witnessed his earth-shattering fight with Mors, or perhaps simply because he had saved their captains sister, Adi.
It was hard to tell, but the difference was palpable.
Following a somewhat familiar route, Draco quickly made his way to a section of the massive compound dedicated to storage, where various tamed monsters were kept in sturdy cages.
The Ganesha Familia boasted many skilled tamers, so they housed quite a few powerful monsters within their home, not just for training their adventurers, but also for the spectacular Monsterphilia event Ganesha usually hosted.
The air here was a mix of earthy musk, the faint tang of magic, and the distinct, primal scent of various creatures.
Soon, he reached an area where his firebirds were typically kept.
The guards had informed him earlier that they had been moved deeper into the facility due to space issues, requiring larger, more specialized enclosures.
Making his way deeper into the monster pens, the sounds of distant roars and growls slowly faded, replaced by higher-pitched, familiar chirps.
His heart, usually a steady drum, quickened almost imperceptibly with anticipation.
Opening the heavy, reinforced door to a small, insulated room, there they were: Vesta and Yara, his beloved firebirds.
Their feathers, a shimmering tapestry of fiery reds, oranges, and golds, seemed to pulse with an inner warmth.
Immediately, they noticed his presence.
With a startling burst of flames, a brilliant flare of light and heat, they launched themselves from their perches and flew into his outstretched arms, chirping excitedly, yet with an unmistakable edge of indignation.
"Whoa there, calm down," Draco immediately scolded them, though his voice held a gentle amusement.
They seemed to be angry for some reason, their flames a bit volatile as they singed the hem of his shirt, the heat radiating off them a furious warmth.
Vesta, the slightly larger of the two, playfully nipped at his ear, while Yara nudged her fiery head into his chest, letting out a series of demanding squawks.
They were telling him off, in their own fiery way.
After spending a few minutes coaxing them, stroking their incredibly hot, soft feathers, and murmuring reassurances, the two firebirds finally calmed down, their glowing eyes still narrowed in a mock-serious pout.
But they still gave him the cold shoulder, turning their heads slightly away, as if to emphasize their displeasure.
"Hahaha, you cheeky brats. I am sorry I didn't visit often," Draco explained, his hand gently ruffling the feathers on Vesta's crown.
"There were various circumstances that kept me away."
He knew they didn't understand his words explicitly, but they could at least sense his sincerity, his genuine affection, and that was enough.
Their plumes softened, their fiery auras settling into a gentle warmth.
Draco really wanted to keep his firebirds closer to him, but that hadn't been possible for a while now.
For a Familia to hold or tame monsters, especially volatile ones like firebirds, they needed to have the appropriate facilities and, crucially, the guild permission.
The Guild would never grant permission for creatures like firebirds to roam around, even if tamed.
They were simply too dangerous.
Even if a monster was tamed, it didn't mean they inherently knew how to live amongst people. Firebirds, especially, were temperamental.
Their flames were a huge fire hazard when they got emotional or startled, capable of starting fires that could incinerate an entire city block if uncontrolled.
So, until he could create a facility specifically designed for them – a place that was both safe for them and for the city, they would have to remain in the capable care of the Ganesha Familia.
After spending some more time playing with them, feeding them special monster feed, and just basking in their presence, Draco exited the Ganesha Familia home.
Although he had wanted to meet Adi and Shakti, he was unable to as they both were currently on an expedition in the dungeon.
With a final glance back at the Ganesha statue and its mysteriously missing crotch, Draco began making his way to his next destination: Tsubaki's workshop.