In the heart of Dragon Light City, the market was a bustling hive of sellers and buyers. The aroma of artisan cheese mingled with the scent of toasted bread. Amidst the crowd stood an ancient dragon statue; Ashviera glanced at it briefly, a flicker of familiarity surfacing in her mind.
Ashviera followed Mina toward a butcher stall, accompanied by the rhythmic melody of an accordion played by a street musician.
"Mina. I'm going to look for some supplies for a moment," Ashviera said.
Mina turned and nodded. "Don't be too long. I'll wait here."
Ashviera pushed through the crowd, finding a potion shop that looked modest and quiet. The scents of lavender, cinnamon, and sharp herbs immediately assaulted her senses.
"Go home. I won't give you a single drop of potion, even if you grovel at my feet." A deep voice echoed from a silhouette at the far end of the room.
"I'm not going home until I get the Hydra's Blood, most honorable Master Jima," Ashviera retorted.
"Last time you bought dragon potion to end your life. Is it the same today? Go home now or I'll kick you out!" Jima threatened, pointing at the exit.
"I'm not going to kill myself. More accurately, I'm going to survive," Ashviera said, her eyes scanning the wooden shelves.
Jima, a man with a thin beard, fell silent. Ashviera reached for a green liquid on the bottom shelf.
"That's vampire blood," Jima said, his gaze turning serious. "If you want the Hydra's Blood, promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't die a foolish death. If you are gone, I won't be able to hold the city's defenses against those mythological creatures." Jima tossed a small bottle of purple potion, which Ashviera caught deftly.
"I won't die before they are wiped out." Ashviera's calm smile as she spoke the word 'die' only added to the worried creases on Jima's face.
She's too confident, he thought. Jima could only sigh as he watched Ashviera's slender figure wave and disappear behind the door.
Inside the potion shop, a red-haired man with green eyes emerged from the shadows. "Captain, reports of an attack from the village."
"Ready the guardian squad. We head there now," Jima ordered, his face hardening.
At the Train Station, Mina waited anxiously for Ashviera, her eyes never leaving the market. She tried to brush off visions of her sister being kidnapped or eaten by mythological beasts.
"Mina!" Ashviera shouted cheerfully, running toward her.
"Where have you been? What if you were swallowed by a Werewolf or drained by a Vampire?" Mina's worry was uncontrollable.
"That's impossible. Don't say such negative things," Ashviera calmed her.
Before Mina could respond, a hysterical scream tore through the air from the city center.
"A Basilisk!"
The market-goers scattered in a frenzy, shoving one another. Debris began to fall. Mina immediately grabbed Ashviera's hand to run. The city center turned into instant chaos.
"What was that?" Ashviera asked, running alongside Mina.
"A Basilisk! Don't you dare go near it. Its deadly power lies in its eyes and the venom in its breath!" Mina explained, stopping at a safe distance.
Suddenly, a woman's hysterical cry rang out. "My son is still in there!"
Other citizens held her back, assuring her that city security would arrive soon. Mina tried to comfort the woman. "The city security will save your child. Ashviera, give me the drink from my bag—"
Mina turned around, but Ashviera was already gone.
"Ashviera! Come back!" Mina screamed in panic, her heart nearly stopping as a resident pointed to the girl running back toward the center of the chaos.
Ashviera dodged through the rubble, searching for the source of the crying. Beneath the ruins of a destroyed clothing shop, a young boy crouched, clutching his mother's shopping bag.
"Come here. Let's go," Ashviera said, smiling and offering her hand. "It's okay, you're safe now."
As soon as the small hand grasped hers, Ashviera quickly carried the boy in front of her and ran with all her might.
Two glowing eyes ignited behind the dust to Ashviera's left. Time slowed. Her breath hitched. There it was. The creature Mina had described.
Ashviera changed course. The Basilisk spotted its prey and began to give chase. Holy mother of—! Ashviera thought.
Her legs felt weak from carrying the child. They nearly reached the exit gate, but the Basilisk was gaining speed. Ashviera's foot caught in a gap in the debris, sending her sprawling forward. She shielded the boy behind her back just as the Basilisk lunged.
"I'll hex you, you overgrown chicken!" Ashviera threatened, pointing her index finger.
The Basilisk responded with fury. Its eyes glowed red, its beak opened wide, ready to release venom from its gullet. Ashviera closed her eyes. Is this what death-panic feels like?
Thud!
"Well, well, someone's about to become rotting meat here," someone mocked.
Ashviera opened her eyes. A man with a long silver earring in one ear stood before her, straightening his leather gloves. The Basilisk, whose eye was now injured, roared in pain and glared at its savior. Two other men, one red-haired and one brown-haired, were already in position to block the creature's movement.
"This could get dangerous," the man with the earring said. He abruptly hoisted Ashviera up like a sack of potatoes while the little boy was tucked against his chest.
He leaped over the rubble, pursued by the Basilisk. His two subordinates skillfully held the creature back. Upon reaching the outskirts of the city center, the man set Ashviera down on the ground so roughly she winced.
What is this guy's problem with me? Ashviera thought, glaring at him. In stark contrast to how he treated her, he lowered the boy gently and patted his head softly.
Mina and the boy's mother rushed over. "Thank you, Muller," Mina said. She didn't forget to pinch Ashviera's ear until the girl winced.
"Just doing my job," Muller replied with a smile. "Get back to safety. My team and I will finish cleaning up this mess." He dashed back into the city center.
The situation gradually came under control. Before long, the residents cheered as the three city security members—Muller and his team—raised their hands, signaling that everything was clear.
On Lume Island, the center of the Luminar Council, a Light Elder named Weil watched his men secure the day's catch. Jima approached him.
"Ten injured and two dead in the village," Jima reported briefly.
"These creatures are becoming more aggressive by the day," Weil said sadly. "By the way, there was a Basilisk attack in the city as well, wasn't there?"
Jima nodded.
"I heard there was a reckless girl who was willing to die to save a little boy," Weil continued, noticing Jima's surprised expression. "It seems you know who that girl is."
"Ashviera Honesty," Jima clarified.
"Achoo!"
Back at her location, Ashviera rubbed her nose. Who is gossiping about me?
Back in Lume, Jima scratched the back of his neck. "Lately, she's been unpredictable. Her recklessness shocked me. Honestly, it's the first time she's ever acted like that."
"What about her fighting style? Or her intellect?" Weil asked, now intrigued.
Jima sighed. "She's terrible at fighting; she relies more on her wits. But she's not exactly a genius either." His face remained stoic as he recalled Ashviera always failing her self-defense training.
"Hahaha! You're sounding like her father, Jima," Weil laughed. Jima scowled in annoyance. "Quiet. Something will surely change when the time comes."
I'm sure she was the same way…
Next.....