Chapter 539 Unicorn
BRRRRRRRR! The creature neighed, his eyes dripping with rainbow-colored magic.
^A unicorn, here of all places!^ Lydia slowly reached for her sword, "Who are you?"
"My great self?" The unicorn stared at her, smiling, "I'm the majestic steed guarding this forest."
"Some good protection you're doing around here," She growled.
"I advise you, maiden of the holy order," He said, slowly lowering his head and pointing at her with his horn. "You do not pull a sword in my presence. I shall pierce thee like a fish on a harpooooooooon," He walked sideways, extending the last word.
"Fine, what do you want? From what I know, your kind never shows itself to just anyone," Lydia stepped back, still ready to strike.
"I felt the great beast of earth behind the mountain," He said, lifting his head up in pride. "I was about to head there and kill it, but one of your people seems to have beaten me to it,"
"Then all well and done," Lydia glared at him.
"It is not. I seek to speak with the wind spirit accompanying you about that matter." He nodded, "The old traditions, lead me to her, or I shall find her myself,"
Zephyr's voice boomed across the forest, "Bring him to the camp. He's only refraining from coming alone since appearing in my presence without getting an audience is a sin to the fey,"
"What?" Lydia gasped, and the unicorn smiled, "Heard her, Ma'lady paladin."
"I got a bad feeling about this," She sighed, leading the unicorn back as she brought the wood for her and Jack's fire.
Once the unicorn walked into the camp, the barbarians stared at it in awe. Where did the magnificent beast of infinite glowing colors emerge?
"A unicorn!" Aella and Eris gasped, "Lydia! Where did you find that!"
"I didn't find it. It found me," Lydia sighed.
The unicorn stared at Arad, "So this is the majestic dragon that took down the beast," It bowed, "My congratulations,"
"A unicorn, they called you. Are you a fey spirit like her?" Arad pointed with his tail at Zephyr, who sat on his head.
"Perceptive as expected." The unicorn nodded, "I'm indeed that but to a far more humble beginning,"
Zephyr stared at the unicorn, "Forget that. I know the barbarians' forest wasn't under your responsibility, but you could have helped."
"I was about to help," He said, "Believe me, wind queen Zephyr. I was just about to rush out to fight for balance."
"I meant that you could have destroyed the blood crystal. Your horn is capable of that, isn't it?" She glared at him, eyes glowing green, "If you can't use it, I will pluck it out,"
The unicorn could feel tension on his horn. One wrong word and Zephyr would rip it off with her wind.
"I was doing just that," He said, "Would you allow me to explain myself?"
Zephyr sighed, "Go ahead. I don't want to waste their time with my royal duties,"
"Eight hundred years ago, a brave hero fought the tarrasque to the east, several days that way." He pointed with his horn. "The blood crystal was from that battle. In the past, I did clean all of it, but some seem to have slipped my perception."
"A whole two slipped your senses?" Zephyr stared at him.
"I have nothing to say to that," He looked down, "One mysteriously disappeared several years ago, and the second one caused this mess."
Zephyr nodded, "So, what did you come to do?"
"It's shameful, but I came to ask you to allow me to purify the blood crystal. It's dangerous to leave out in this world," He said.
Zephyr looked to the side, her eyes reaching toward Nina.
The unicorn turned as well, and he paused for a second. "A maiden..." Nina's shape darkened in his face, only saw her two eyes glowing with a golden flare as the shadow of the great beast growled behind her.
The unicorn stepped back, his eyes shaking, "The crystals!"
"She would kill you," Zephyr said, "If you want to try your luck with her, be my guest,"
"You must be joking," The unicorn stared at her, "How is that possible?"
"Even I don't understand it," Zephyr shook her head, "But it seems to be her birthright."
"A tarrasque bloodline? But I never heard of it having offspring, let alone with humans... No, how is that beast capable of reproducing in the basic sense?" The unicorn looked down, confused.
"I don't know, and don't care," Zephyr stared at him, "Nature dictates it, so be it."
"Just to be clear," Arad glared at the unicorn, "Don't even think about trying it,"
The unicorn looked back at Arad, "Her Highness Zephyr can stop me, and I doubt I can beat that tarrasque maiden." He smiled, "But, you aren't my opponent,"
"Careful," Zephyr glared at him, "You might be stronger with the base stats and abilities. You had several hundred years to cultivate your power, after all." She waved her hand, pointing at Arad's head.
"I bet my whole domain, you would end up on his plate in less than a minute." She smiled.
If the two were to fight, the unicorn would be the first to attack. Arad would dodge by teleporting away, and the unicorn would give chase. At that moment, Arad would unleash the void expansion that killed the tarrasque, ending the fight.
"If you say so," The unicorn stared at Arad, finding it hard to understand how this red dragon could beat him. In fact, he found it weird that he defeated the tarrasque and placed half of the credit on Zephyr.
"Then," Zephyr stared at the unicorn, "Shall you speak of the real reason you're here?"
"Saw right through me, your majesty," He smiled.
"I dare guess you want to rule the land Arad and the tarrasque destroyed." She stared at him with a bored face, "You would even claim it's for, repair,"
The unicorn gasped, looking away.
"Is it that obvious?" He growled to himself.
"Listen, here's my deal," She smiled, "Send me five pony unicorns. And direct this year's new pixies' queen to set colony in the forest near Alina. They would find me there."
"Trying to create a new fey forest?" He smiled.
Zephyr looked at Arad, "Having access to fairy dust and unicorn hair and tears is quite a luxury for alchemy. You can make rare potions or sell unicorn silk for ridiculous prices."
"Can you even do that?" Arad sighed.
"Don't worry, unicorns cut their hair just like humans. And pixies actively shed dust." A grin crossed her face, "With Yuwaku at home, all you need is a talented alchemist, and you will have high potions for life."
The unicorn sighed, "We aren't a commodity,"
Zephyr stared at him, "Want me to bring the lake's subject again?"
"Ah, no please," He looked away.
"What lake?" Arad looked at her.
"A bedtime story," She smiled.
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