LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 171
A basin formed in the crater of a giant dormant volcano. This is the place known as the Dragon’s Cradle. The fact that I can see it clearly from a distance indicates just how immense the mountain is.
When gauging the distance by sight, it seemed to be about a day’s travel at full speed for a Nightmare.
I know there are many people waiting. However, I couldn’t seem to pick up the pace.
Normally, I would have returned the Nightmare to its original size and hopped on its back. But right now, I couldn’t do that. An inexplicable sense of unease was blocking that option.
As I walked, I thought to myself. What a strange area this is.
The surroundings near the Dragon’s Cradle appeared to be a chaotic mix of various terrains.
Suddenly, there were random ice pillars sprouting up across the vast plains, along with traces of withered plants and the soft sands of a desert.
The stormy winds that had blown strongly earlier had now turned into a gentle breeze, and the torrential rain that had rushed in transformed into snowflakes floating down.
I frowned and gazed into the air. Typically, mana is influenced by the surrounding environment. But here, it was the opposite.
A massive flow of mana constantly alters the environment around it. As if it were expressing the emotions of something immense.
Phew—
Whether or not the Nightmare knew of my feelings, it seemed oblivious to any crisis. The spirited Nightmare happily lapped up the white snow piled around.
“Are you that excited…?”
As the distance decreased, my steps felt heavier. If there had been a monster nearby, I could have engaged in a fierce battle to shake off this unease.
But in this area, I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of a monster’s tail.
The terrain I had passed through during my long journey had continuously resembled the preceding landscapes. A white-coral zone, a fiercely burning land, and a deceptively icy road had revealed a tall, rocky mountain.
It wasn’t just the terrain that was peculiar. As if replacing the empty monsters, there were plants I had never seen before sprouting up.
Trees pulsated as if they were breathing, vines waved their tendrils like octopus arms, and flowers with sharp teeth came into view.
Just as I hurried through this bizarre place, the surroundings suddenly darkened, and in an instant, I realized I was standing in the middle of a forest where sunlight barely reached.
A cold sweat broke out as I placed my hand on my sword. I possess a much sharper sense than regular people. The fact that I hadn’t felt a thing while the environment changed indicated that a massive force must have acted to move me here.
Who could it be, and what purpose did they have in moving me?
Pushing those rising doubts aside, I held my breath and scanned the surroundings.
Light streamed faintly through dense trees, with small insects flitting around, flickering softly.
The wind blowing steadily from afar carried the rich scent of the forest. The moss covering the tree bark and dark rocks was evidence that this environment had been here for quite some time.
Indeed, the mana here felt exceptionally calm, and the forest was incredibly serene. As if it were just me and the Nightmare in this place.
The entire forest seemed to be in a deep slumber.
Suddenly—
With a faint presence perceived from afar, my body instinctively responded. The unsheathed sword reflected a faint glimmer, scattering a cool backlight.
Phew—
The Nightmare, now returned to its original form, had also readied itself for battle. It nestled close to me, panting heavily.
As time passed, the presence drew nearer. Slowly, but surely. The closer the presence got, the greater the tension became.
Rustle—
I could sense the presence closing in. What emerged from the rustling underbrush was a tall woman.
Her white dress fluttered in the wind, symbolizing purity, and her bright green hair cascaded down as if it carried a fragrant aroma.
In her hand, she held a bouquet of flowers. Instead of picking them for someone else, it seemed purely for her own satisfaction, wildly assembled.
Leaves protruded haphazardly, roots were poorly trimmed, and even broken stems were evident. The moment my gaze shifted from the bouquet to her, our eyes met.
I could assert without a doubt. The woman whose gaze met mine was not human. The shimmering light in her calm eyes was vibrant with intrigue, curiosity, and considerable affection.
Though it was clear she was seeing me for the first time, she appeared to hold affection for me. The feeling was mutual. At that moment, I found myself inexplicably drawn to her.
It felt as if we had known each other for a long time. It was natural. I sensed no abnormality and felt no need to.
As if it was always meant to be.
“What a pretty child.”
The woman’s voice was as beautiful as her appearance. In that moment, I realized—this woman was the one who had summoned me here.
A dragon.
Without a doubt. The woman before me was a dragon. Unlike any fragments I had encountered before, she was the real deal. A complete form of a dragon.
“Th-thank you…”
My late gratitude earned me a faint smile from her lips.
Phew…
The always brave Nightmare dropped its tail and hid behind me. This creature, undeterred even before the Sea God, seemed intimidated in the presence of a true dragon.
I shrank the Nightmare and tucked it into my bag.
“W-ere you the one who called me here…?”
While she seemed fond of me, I didn’t know how long that would last. I chose my words carefully as I posed my question.
The woman nodded and replied.
“I called you here because I wanted to say a word about humans wandering recklessly. But…”
Trailing off, she observed me closely. Then she smiled again and continued.
“You are not human.”
Thud!
Suddenly, I recalled a tale the blacksmith had told about Eos. Words from a dragon hold special power.
That statement was true. The mana surged uncontrollably, spreading throughout my body. With no time to respond, the mana transformed my entire physique.
My teeth sharpened, my eyes began to widen to see more around me, tough scales covered my hands, horns grew from my head, and finally, a fluffy tail rapidly sprouted, resting on the soft blades of grass.
It happened so swiftly that I couldn’t even react. I tightened my cloak and took a step back.
“Child, what is your name?”
“C-Ceris…”
The woman seemed pleased with my immediate response, beaming brightly. Then she continued speaking.
“What a pretty name.”
As her gentle voice flowed out, time seemed to slow.
“My name is…”
The world focused in. The air flowing past my skin, the gentle movement of the trees, the flickering lights from insects gathering around the woman before me.
[Ronabes]
Merely speaking a name. Yet, everything around responded to her name. The mana that had been in deep slumber stirred, and the gentle breeze transformed into a fierce storm.
This was not magic. It was just a subtle revelation of her name, her existence in this world. Cold sweat trickled down my back. My decision to come here, to face such a presence, felt utterly foolish.
Heavy breathing ensued. When I aimed my sword at Ronabes, how many seconds would I have to live?
One second. I couldn’t even fathom that brief moment. The instant I revealed malice toward the figure before me, I could only envision a future where my existence was erased.
“You carry many nice items. Did your parents give them to you?”
“Ah…”
I covered the two swords strapped to my waist with my cloak at Ronabes’s question. Ronabes chuckled softly and continued.
“I won’t take them from you.”
“Ah, it’s just that…”
“Based on the direction you’re walking, it seems you’re trying to return to the cradle. I will accompany you, so follow me.”
With that, Ronabes turned and began walking deeper into the forest. Watching her movements, I found myself lost in thought.
Could it be?
Did she really mistake me for a dragon child?
No, that can’t be. Dragons possess the ability to see through the essence of everything in this world. The moment she laid eyes on me, she would have discerned my true identity instantly.
Yet despite that reaction…
I lowered my gaze to my small hand, covered in red scales.
“Ceris?”
“Y-yes!”
Startled by Ronabes’s call, I ran towards her. I couldn’t even think of rejecting her words. Like a child following an adult, I closely stuck to her side.
The mana around responded naturally to Ronabes’s movements. Where her feet struck the ground, vibrant flowers and grass sprung up.
At that moment. Without warning, the environment changed in an instant. The shimmering lights and verdant foliage vanished. What began to take their place were the blackened, scorched earth and the bubbling hot lava.
The wind blowing toward us carried immense heat, enough to have scorched the lungs of an ordinary human.
The surroundings kept altering. We passed through the searing lava fields and arrived at an ice valley where snow fell. As Ronabes stepped across the vibrant foliage that flourished there, the location shifted once more.
With each change of setting, the distance to the colossal mountain shortened. After walking for about ten steps, I stepped into a basin covered by clouds.