Book 2: Chapter 42 (1/2)

Kondra stared at the two dragons who had landed in the middle of the cavern. “You’re back already? The dwarves have been pacified?” Her head tilted to the side as Lulu and Luke peeked their heads out of their rooms.

“Nope,” Grimmy said and yawned. He sat back on his haunches and scratched his neck while closing his eyes.

Kondra frowned. “Then why are you back?” she asked, baring her teeth.

“What?” Grimmy asked as he flopped onto his belly. “I can’t see my mother-in-law whenever I want?”

“Not when you’re on a righteous quest,” Leila’s father said. There was a wet spot in the cavern, and a green sprout was jutting out of the earth.

“I was worried about you,” Leila said, blocking Grimmy from her parents’ view. “Didn’t you feel the earthquake earlier? That definitely wasn’t natural. We could even see the effects from the sky.”

“Yes,” Kondra said with a nod. “We felt it. If I’m not mistaken, it was the power of a mountain elemental, but an elemental shouldn’t be able to harness that much energy. How strange.” Her brow furrowed as her gaze wandered over Grimmy’s body. Her eyes locked onto Lindyss who was lying on the black dragon’s head. “Another righteous quest then. For the blessed warrior.”

“For me?” Lindyss asked as she sat up and pointed at herself.

“Are there any other blessed warriors here?” Kondra asked and rolled her eyes.

“Mm.” Lindyss scratched her head. “No?”

“Exactly. Recently, a massive earthquake reverberated throughout the continent,” Kondra said, her voice lowering in pitch. “The dragon matriarch believes it was caused by—”

“Are you talking in third person?” Lindyss asked, furrowing her brow.

Kondra made a face. “Don’t interrupt me.” She cleared her throat and glared at Lindyss. “The dragon matriarch believes it was caused by a mountain elemental, but under normal circumstances, an elemental wouldn’t be able to create an effect as large as the earthquake was—unless it was contracted to a being with a massive amount of mana. The matriarch suspects foul play from the phoenixes, who’ve sworn to never contract with elementals. Find the elementalist who caused the earthquake and apprehend them even if they’re a phoenix.” Kondra nodded. “Do you accept the quest?”

Lindyss rubbed her chin. “Will I get paid?”

“In honor and glory.” Kondra puffed her chest out while Grimmy snorted. “You will receive increased favor amongst the holy dragons of this continent.”

“I’ll refuse,” Lindyss said, waving her hand in front of her face as if she were batting away a foul smell.

“Excellent. I wish you luck in… Did you just say you’ll refuse?” Kondra asked, her eyes narrowing into slits.

“C-can’t I?” Lindyss asked. She inched backwards along Grimmy’s forehead.

“No.”

“…Shouldn’t you respect the choices of a blessed warrior?” Lindyss asked, her face twisted into a crooked smile. A vein bulged on her forehead.

“I heard your choice and respectfully refused your refusal,” Kondra said. “I’ll ask you again; do you accept the quest?”

Lindyss glanced at Leila, her eyes begging for help from the silver dragon. Leila shrugged and whispered, “Play along. When she gets like this, she’ll throw a tantrum if you don’t listen to her.”

Lindyss whispered back, “I think I understand why you fled to the central continent.”