Chapter 152: The Oversized Lizard Has A Fragile Ego
Raiden’s mocking smirk only grew wider as Kulu delivered his calm logic, one of his pink tails twitching with smug satisfaction.
Caspian looked between the unbothered falcon and the preening fox, the low rumble in his chest vibrating through the stone floors of the den.
He looked like he wanted nothing more than to smash something, but Kulu’s mention of Hana’s stress levels hit the exact target.
Caspian glanced toward the sleeping quarters where Hana was resting on her soft mattress, then back at the fragile electronic control panels decorating the rock walls.
He knew the falcon was right. The whole reason Hana had made him handle the heavy excavation work outside while Raiden was inside fixing the inverter with her was because the fox had an intricate understanding of these foreign things and a surprisingly, annoyingly gentle touch.
With a final, sharp hiss that released a tiny, warning wisp of smoke from his nostrils, Caspian stepped back.
"Fine," Caspian growled, his slit-pupil eyes boring holes into Raiden. "The rat does it. But if I catch you filling their heads with nonsense, fox, I’ll tear your tails off one by one."
"As if you could catch me, lizard," Raiden purred, completely unbothered by the threat.
Caspian let out a final, deeply dissatisfied huff, turned on his heel, and marched toward the den entrance to check on the outer drones.
But the dragon couldn’t just leave quietly. The moment he stepped outside, his thick, heavy tail whipped around and slammed violently against a large boulder resting by the stone corner, completely smashing it into a spray of gravel and dust.
Mina flinched violently at the explosive crack, instantly shrinking closer to her brother.
Ren simply let out a low, awkward cough, offering his sister a reassuring but sheepish look. This new family was... really weird.
The power structure was terrifying, yet they bickered like cubs over who got to explain a glowing wall.
Kulu followed right after to carry out his own monitoring task from the sky.
Raiden didn’t even blink at the destruction outside. He turned his emerald eyes completely onto Ren and Mina, his tails swaying gracefully behind him in the dim fluorescent light.
"Don’t mind the oversized lizard, he has a fragile ego," Raiden said smoothly, gesturing for them to step deeper into the renovated cavern. "Now, since Hana has brought you into the den, let’s make sure you two don’t accidentally blow us up or leave us in the dark. Follow me."
He led them toward the kitchen area first, and showed them from the sleek, modern countertop which was screwed right into the stone wall, to the sitting adjacent to the large metal boxes of the inverter corner.
"This," Raiden said, tapping a claw against a glowing digital screen on the wall, "is the central power grid Hana set up. Touch this red icon, and you cut the lights. Touch it twice, and you reset the system. If you hear a high-pitched buzzing from this corner, you don’t touch anything—you either come to find me or Hana immediately. Understand?"
Ren nodded seriously, absorbing every word, while Mina looked at the glowing screens with wide, fascinated eyes. She could already tell that life in New Eden was going to be completely different from anything they had ever known on the freezing mountain peak.
Raiden spent the next hour walking Ren and Mina through the basic rules of the renovated den, his tone a mix of effortless condescension and sharp precision.
He showed them how to draw purified water from the basin taps in the kitchen, how the glowing cooling box kept meat fresh without freezing it into solid ice, and how to navigate the boundaries of the den without triggering the motion-detecting security sensors.
After all, Hana hates her rest disturbed more than anything so she made sure the entire den was demarcated with alloy walls and rocks.
"And finally," Raiden purred, stopping near the edge of the kitchen counter where they could peer into the sleeping quarters, where Hana was currently asleep. "The sleeping situation. As you can see, there are only four beds. They belong to us. Since you two are the new additions, you’ll have to make do with the pelt and furs for tonight until Hana decides what to do with you."
"That is more than enough," Ren said smoothly, his deep voice calm and entirely respectful. He was not concerned that he would not get to sleep right next to his mate on the first night. After all, they had a lifetime to dwell on that. "We are grateful for the shelter, Raiden."
Mina nodded quickly, keeping her eyes low but fascinated by the ambient amber glow of the fluorescent lights. After a lifetime of shivering in drafty hide tents, a dry, climate-controlled stone floor felt like absolute luxury.
"Anyway, that’s all for now." Raiden dropped his hand on his waist, his tails swishing lazily behind him. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I won’t bite you."
"Is it like this everywhere?" She found herself asking and Raiden looked at her. "I... I mean, the other houses. I noticed there were a few in construction and made with materials that were not wood or timber. Are they also this...cozy?" Her voice came out small, almost shy and almost afraid that she was being too forward.
"Well, for now, like you said, they are under construction," Raiden explained. "New Eden is still a work in progress but there are sectors that are completed," be rolled his eyes away for a second and then narrowed them with an amused glint. "Like the health sector and the laborers’ den."
"Ah... I see."
"Hana is incredible," Ren sang out her praise and this made Raiden feel exceptionally proud.
"Of course she is. She’s Hana." He purred.
Just as they were rounding up, a wave of agitated shouting and frantic commotion rose from the valley below.
Down at the perimeter, the boar beastmen were trying their best to maintain order. They were shouting back at a traveling crowd of outside beastmen, a rough mix of gaunt hyenas and skittish but stubborn deer beastmen, who had arrived at the border wanting to join New Eden.
However, their desperation was heavily mixed with loud skepticism, and they were aggressively arguing about the strict laws and the automated drones guarding the perimeter, calling it unsafe and a trap.
The noise cut through the peaceful afternoon, instantly causing Ren’s leopard ears to twitch and flatten against his hair. Raiden heard it too and he frowned.
Who was it that was trying to wake Hana from her beauty sleep?
Outside the den, Caspian was already standing on the rocky ledge, his massive arms crossed, his gaze boring down into the settlement.
Kulu was nowhere to be seen on the ground—he had already taken flight, hovering like a silent, crimson silhouette atop a high, jagged peak overlooking the entire valley, his sharp amber eyes scanning the perimeter like a sentinel, watching the unfolding scene with cold detachment.
Raiden strolled out of the den, his nine pink tails swaying lazily. Ren and Mina followed closely behind, stepping out into the crisp air of the Emerald Forest.
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