All was prepared, and the Broken Blood Knight Order set out once again.
The knights at the front were those still capable of fighting, while the injured supported each other in the rear.
At the very end, Xiao Hei followed at a slow pace, with Bai sitting atop him, casually swinging her little legs as she wove white flowers in her hands, skillfully crafting several beautiful wreaths.
“Xiao Hei, here, this is for you.”
Bai smiled as she placed one wreath on Xiao Hei’s head, but his enormous dragon head made it impossible for the wreath to fit.
“Hehe, if only you were smaller, back when you were a little dragon, I used to hold you as I slept. Too bad there’s no chance now.”
Bai said as she patted his head.
Xiao Hei turned his head and gently nuzzled her twice, his vertical pupils filled with warmth and affection.
“…Is it really okay to let him come along like this?”
Aurelia couldn’t help but say, watching the peaceful scene behind them.
Skarn smiled helplessly and said with a carefree tone, “Never mind what he is for now, he saved us after all. Didn’t you notice? Not a single Vampire Beast around anymore—they’ve all been scared off by him. Isn’t that great?”
Aurelia gave a face full of disbelief and looked back again, then turned toward Skarn and sighed, “I never thought one day we’d have a dragon walking with us. What I’m even more curious about is how Bai met him, or rather, how she managed to tame a dragon! Some people in the order even gave Bai a nickname, something like ‘White Dragon Girl.’”
Skarn didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he patted her shoulder again and said with conviction,
“He likes kind-hearted Bai. That’s all that matters.”
***
Truth be told, the dragon’s presence was a huge deterrent.
From the moment they reached their destination, they never encountered a single Vampire Beast again.
In hindsight, if they had known this, they might as well have returned directly to the Kingdom of Novalia and spared Bai the trouble.
But the Elven Alliance allies must have already arrived in the forest searching for them by now.
At the very least, they should bring them along, since the elves didn’t have a dragon accompanying them.
“Stop here, everyone rest for a moment.”
Skarn called to those behind him.
They were now at the highest point in the forest, overlooking a dense thicket of trees woven tightly like an impenetrable green net.
“Commander, should we send out a signal?”
Goda asked.
“I’ll do it.”
Skarn took a red cube from Goda’s hand—a magical device used solely for transmitting messages.
It was the common communication tool against the Vampire Alliance.
He raised the red cube, clenched it hard in his palm, and crushed it.
A red mist-like smoke rose into the air.
Goda and Skarn watched carefully, and before long, green smoke began to rise in the forest not far away—that was where the elves were.
“Looks like we’re moving pretty fast.”
Goda said.
Skarn observed briefly and said, “They should be back in about half a day. Tell the warriors not to let their guard down.”
“Yes, Commander.”
On the other side, Bai continued weaving the flower wreaths.
Suddenly, Xiao Hei softly growled, “Roar roar roar ‘Bai, are you going back tonight?’”
Her busy hands paused for a moment but then resumed.
Bai replied casually, “Yeah, if I’m late, Lady Yalbera will punish me.”
Before Xiao Hei could ask more, Bai said, “What about you, Xiao Hei? You’re a dragon wandering off on your own—won’t Yarabella-sama be angry?”
Xiao Hei just snorted in displeasure and murmured again, “I follow her because of you. Since you’re not here, what reason do I have to stay? It was you who chose me back then, not Yarabella.”
The smile on Bai’s face dimmed slightly, her eyes darkening as if recalling something.
Back then, she had naively believed it was Yarabella who had chosen her…
“Also…”
Xiao Hei lowered his voice once more, speaking with a mocking tone, “That woman hasn’t left her room for days. Even the Domain Barrier has weakened a bit. I can smell it—she’s restless, and…”
“And?”
Xiao Hei hesitated for a long moment but shook his head, “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
Sadness… he left it unsaid because he didn’t want Bai to think about Yarabella or waste her feelings on her again.
He knew that proud woman regretted it, but her arrogance wouldn’t allow her to admit her mistake.
How foolish…
Bai had already given too much.
There was no need for her to continue pouring her kindness and blood into Yarabella’s pride and prejudice.
Bai’s mood sank; she didn’t understand what Yarabella was thinking at this moment.
She never truly understood her—the pride was an insurmountable barrier that blocked all Bai’s efforts and hopes.
“No matter what, Xiao Hei, you carry Yarabella-sama’s mark. If you don’t go back, she’ll definitely blame you.”
Bai said.
Xiao Hei only scoffed with disdain and replied,
“I don’t care.”
***
By afternoon, strange noises came from the forest—a group of elves appeared.
They wore light leather armor, its surface rough and bark-like but surprisingly form-fitting.
On their backs were natural wood-and-vine bows, and each carried a somewhat worn longsword at their waist.
Leading them was a tall woman with deer antlers who concealed herself in the forest, watching carefully.
They had been sent to support the Broken Blood Knight Order, but upon arriving here, each one was dumbfounded.
“Did I see that right? Isn’t that… a dragon!” an elf beside her exclaimed in disbelief, staring at the black dragon.
“Captain Meilinya, do they really need our help? Feels like we’re the ones who need backup!” another elf asked the antlered leader.
Meilinya swallowed nervously and looked ahead.
“Look closely—there’s a gray-haired girl riding that black dragon. If I’m not mistaken, that’s the dragon’s master.”
Everyone turned to look and indeed saw a young girl peacefully sitting on the dragon’s back, weaving something in her hands.
“Humans have actually tamed the legendary Dragonkind… it’s terrifying!”
Meilinna said with a shiver.
Dozens of elves behind her nodded repeatedly.
Just seeing the enormous body of the dragon was enough to make them tremble.
And that girl was laughing and chatting like it was nothing—how bold!
“So, what do we do? Should we keep moving forward?” an elf asked.
Meilinya thought for a moment and was about to say to observe a little longer when suddenly… a familiar figure limped over to the black dragon’s side.
“Hey! Stupid dragon! Put Little Bai down right now! Aren’t you ashamed of hogging her all the time?”
That loud voice echoed through the forest.
The rebellious tone was unmistakable; Meilinya was stunned on the spot.
“Holy crap! Princess Alice!”