Chapter 49 : Return to the Homeland

The armed riders spoke in low tones, turning their horses’ heads, hands gripping the reins tightly, ready to lash their mounts into a gallop at any moment.

Aurina sniffed the air and muttered, “The stench of frightened little bugs.”

Half of Richard’s armor was stained with blood.

He glanced at the riders’ sky-blue cloaks and raised a hand.

“You’re with the Roadguard, aren’t you? I’m Richard, from Seaside City. Is my hometown near here?”

“So, the renowned Richard!”

The riders relaxed their guard, nudging their horses closer.

Their steeds were towering warhorses, taller even than Aurina perched atop Richard’s shoulder.

She frowned, displeased, her hands curling into claws, ready to unleash her draconic majesty and scare them off their mouths when they drew near.

The leader, a man with a half-white handlebar mustache and a pale yellow silk feathered cap, dismounted with a creak of his stirrups.

He led his horse toward Richard, the others following suit.

Aurina crossed her arms, satisfied, certain these “little bugs” had felt her dragon’s aura.

“It’s an honor to meet the pride of our homeland,” the mustached man said.

“Riding up so boldly would be far too rude.”

He gave a slight bow to Richard, whose armor was still smeared with grime and blood from crushing a gnoll moments ago—unfortunately, a broken bone had pierced an artery, soaking his chainmail skirt and thighs in crimson.

“Greetings,” Richard returned, mirroring the bow.

“No need for that, not in your armor,” the man said with a warm smile.

“Paying respects to you is my privilege.”

Richard wasn’t fond of such overt flattery.

“You’re Roadguard, right?”

“Indeed, Lord Richard. To be remembered by you is a stroke of fortune.”

“How far is Seaside City from here?”

“Not far,” the mustached man replied.

“A day’s ride, two at most.”

He paused, then added, “We heard a merchant caravan was attacked by gnolls and rushed over, fearing they’d gorge themselves and turn into full-blown gnollmen. Seems we were too late…”

He glanced at the gnoll corpses strewn around Richard.

“But fortunately, it appears you’ve unleashed the righteous fury of the God of Justice and burned them to ash.”

“It was Aurina’s doing,” Richard said, pointing to the dragon perched on his shoulder.

Aurina, impossible to miss, sat proudly, yet not one rider dared mention her.

The mustached man acted as if she didn’t exist.

“What a charming child,” he said at last.

“Could she be the legendary dragonling?”

“Word travels that fast?”

Richard asked.

“Oh, you’re a hero!” the man exclaimed.

“The whole city knows you’ve claimed a true dragonling, defeated that vile Fat Pig Noble, and seized a fortune in treasure.

They say you even slew another dragon, earning the earl’s favor, with its hoard overflowing with gold…”

Aurina rapped her knuckles against Richard’s iron helm, her voice sharp with indignation.

“Richard! You sly dog, hoarding all that treasure and not sharing a single coin with me!”

“There’s no hoard,” Richard said.

“It’s not much. I’ve got about two thousand gold coins to my name.”

“Then nineteen hundred of those are mine!”

Aurina declared.

“Plus taxes, which brings it to twenty-one hundred gold coins!”

“Quite a sum,” the mustached man said, eyes wide.

“Soon enough, you’ll be back home, wedding Lady Sophia.”

“Speaking of which,” Richard said, “Seaside City’s only a day away. How are there so many monsters around?”

“Monsters are rampant these days,” the man replied.

“Last week, trolls attacked a family. Only a boy escaped, saying his mother mistook a troll by the roadside for a tree. The Knights of Tyr’s Hand can barely keep up. But now you’re back, thank the gods.”

“Isn’t Sophia protecting the city?”

Richard asked.

“It’s just a day’s ride.”

Though Sophia, as a shield priestess, lacked raw combat prowess, her support and healing spells could amplify a small elite force tenfold in strength and courage.

“We’ve asked her for help,” the mustached man said.

“But your fiancée prefers tending to the poor.”

“Fiancée?!”

Aurina’s tail shot up, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“We’re finally meeting your fiancée?”

“Yes,” Richard said.

“I hear she’s got a massive chest,” Aurina said, fixing the mustached man with a stare.

“True or not?”

The man glanced at Richard before answering.

“Lady Sophia is kind and merciful to the poor, radiant with holy light. It’s hard to notice anything else about her.”

Aurina’s tail drooped, tapping Richard’s backplate with a metallic clink.

“Must be flat, then. Pity.”

“Anything else you need?”

Richard asked.

“I want to get back to my hometown.”

“We’d be honored to assist.”

They met at noon, and by the next midday, Richard, now on a borrowed horse, reached Seaside City.

He stopped briefly at the modest outpost of the Knights of Tyr’s Hand, too pressed for time to linger with his comrades.

After a quick bath and having his armor polished by a squire, he set off with Aurina, who insisted on tagging along, straight for Sophia’s home.

“You seem more eager to see your fiancée than I am,” Aurina teased.

“What else would I be doing?”

Richard said, baffled by her draconic logic.

“Is it because it’s been so long, and you’re dying to tumble with her in bed?”

“Aurina, don’t be crude,” Richard snapped.

“We’ve only ever kissed.”

“Then why the rush?” she pressed.

“It’s noon! You should be celebrating my glorious return to the city with a feast of local delicacies in my honor.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about Sophia,” Richard said.

As he spoke, the trio—dragon, man, and horse, one riding the other—arrived at the grand gates of Sophia’s estate.

The gates, carved from white stone, loomed three stories high.

The estate stood by the sea, backed by rolling hills lush with olive trees, close enough to the cliffs that the crash of waves against stone echoed in the air.

Richard knocked.

The heavy door creaked open a sliver, revealing a single eye peering through the gap.

“Who might you be—Lord Richard?”

“Please inform my fiancée that I’ve returned from my travels,” Richard said.

“I can’t wait to see her.”

“Come in, come in.”

Richard pulled the gate open with one hand, striding inside, his armor clanking.

White stone paths cut through the manicured lawn, one leading straight to Sophia’s chambers.

“Please wait in the hall,” the servant said.

“No need,” Richard replied.

“Last time, I went straight to her.”

“Er, the lady is… indisposed. Please wait in the hall.”

“Fine,” Richard said.

“Everyone’s entitled to their privacy. Aurina, don’t touch anything, or I’ll actually spank you.”

No response.

“Aurina?”

He turned, only to find the dragonling had vanished without a trace.