Chuzuke flew as fast as he could, sweating buckets as he looked back at the roaring dragon. He could feel the piercing roar resonate in his chest, shaking his guts.
^I have to get away! This place is dangerous.^ He flapped his wings as fast as he could. He didn't want anything to do with the dragon.
Arad flew back, transforming a fair distance before reaching the Esmeray mansion.
****
All the nobles have gathered in the large ballroom, talking about what just happened. The whole Esmeray family was found dead upstairs. That vampire infiltrated and killed everyone beforehand, taking control of the family as he stole Chuzuke Esmeray's persona.
"His true name was Dominic Edary. I will use my connection to search for his origin." Another noble stated.
Both Lydia and Mira were sleeping on beds in the corner with Jack and Aella sitting beside them. "They pushed themselves too much." Jack sighed.
"I saw the vampires' HP drop when Lydia smitten him. Even though my arrows barely took ten. She almost one shot killed him." Aella smiled, "That's an impressive power."
Jack smiled, "Some say paladin's powers are borrowed from their god. But I say they well earned it. No one beside Lydia would have stood and swung his sword while injured like her."
ZIIIT! Arad pushed the balcony door open and walked in. All the nobles gasped, staring at him. It was more than an hour since he, the dragon, and Nina flew away.
"Did you kill him? What happened to the dragon?" One of the nobles asked.
Nina approached Arad. "The dragon has returned to his den. Is the vampire dead?"
Arad shook his head. "No, he ran away. It was hard tracking him at night." He then looked at the nobles.
The nobles sighed. Women started whispering while one of the men approached Arad. "Don't think much about it. Chasing a vampire away is as great of an achievement as killing him." He then looked at Nina.
"But, I never expected you to be able to call a dragon. I guess, we have underestimated your power even with all our caution." He smiled. The nobles knew Nina was powerful, and they didn't want to anger her. But now they are more scared, thinking she can just call a dragon whenever she wants.
Arad looked at Nina, confused. He wasn't told anything about this. She smiled. "Where do you think that dragon came from? I called him." She looked at the nobles. "I once beat it in the past but let it live."
Arad understood that they were covering up for him.
Abel looked at them with a smile. "But, I won't say Arad wasn't scary. Does anyone remember that punch?"
The nobles gasped, remembering the first time Arad punched the vampire in the garden with the rumbling. They never saw a human swing that hard. It's terrifying to think he can deliver such force without a weapon.
"I couldn't even see it happen! It was like a cannon getting fired!" A noble gasped.
"You're right! What was that, a skill?"
"No way! He's a sorcerer, and I've never seen monks punch that hard!" Another one gasped.
"I believe it was a mere punch." A young woman approached Arad. "Just look at how thich his arm and back is." She extended her hand to touch his arm.
CLING! Aella and Merida appeared beside her, grabbing her hand simultaneously. "You can't just go and touch him." Aella looked at her with a smile.
"I know young ladies like you came here to look for a husband." Merida glared at her, and then at the noble ladies in the back. "You're all looking at him weirdly. Abel is over there if you want someone."
"Wait! Don't send them to me!" Abel growled. "I have my fair share of girls."
Arad looked at Merida. ^Aella is fine to get angry. But you're just like them.^
Jack laughed, "You better leave him alone." He stood and approached Abel. "Thank you for your help." He was the one to heal Lydia and Mira, and the injured nobles who barely managed to survive.
"Ahem!" The strange old man approached them, looking toward Arad with a smile.
Arad glared back at him and clenched his fist. "You said you helped them transport the elder wood."
Abel rushed to stand between them. "Stop it, you two!" He then glared at the old man. "You should take that off."
The old man sighed, closing his eyes, and his face shifted. He had a long white beard and clear green eyes. All the nobles gasped, bowing down. "Lord Alina!"
"Heh!" Jack gasped, looking at the city lord while sweating. He had stolen a lot from him.
"I've been looking to meet you for a while. What took you so long?" The lord approached Arad, looking at him with a smile.
"I did have a lot of things to deal with. Things like getting stronger or searching for the elder wood." Arad stepped forward, looking the lord in the eye.
The lord rested his fists on his hips. "I did want to grant you a reward for getting Merlin the dragon heart. But now you have helped clear a vampire from the noble ranks. What should I do? Mere gold won't do it, and you already own a house."
"I don't really need anything from you. Not something I know of at least." Arad smiled, mimicking the lord's stance. Just by nature, when faced with a real ruler, Arad's brain kicked into high gears. He saw the lord as a rival for land.
Abel started sweating, he knew Arad was a dragon, and his father is within his punching range. When dealing with a dragon, it's a golden rule to never face the beast directly, or offer something they can take by force.
Abel stood, approaching Arad and his father. "Come on, you two." he smiled. "Let's have a drink first. I'm sure you're all exhausted after such a fight."
Arad didn't want to meet his father before. Abel knew that. What would make Arad change his mind now? Nothing.
"Father, come here, rest." Abel pulled his father away. He can't have him trigger Arad and end up causing trouble.
Arad smiled, walking forward and sitting in front of the city lord.
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