Valerian, The Legendary

148 Shocked Maid.

Valerian said his piece and then left the town with Priscilla and Mathiyus. The combat maid beside him did not say anything for a while, after all, she could sense that his heart was heavy as he left. He spent a significant part of his life in this town, the part that molded him into what he was now.

Trying to distract herself, she looked around and found that the big cat running ahead of the group was very fascinating. The clean shiny fur, lethal claws, and graceful tail. The majesty of a grade-five magical beast was unquestionable. The more Priscilla looked at him, the more fascinated she felt.

She could not help but sigh when she thought that she could not tame this big guy. If she tried, this beast will definitely counter and a magical beast was the darling of nature, making them stronger than the humans in the same grade, not to mention that Priscilla was a newly promoted grade five mage.

Valerian caught her sigh and asked, “What are you sighing for?”

Priscilla cast him a gaze and sighed again. She said, “Your Highness, your friend here is a diamond I can look at from afar.”

Valerian was smart enough to understand what she was talking about and let out a growl, ‘Mathiyus do you want to be the magic companion with Priscilla?’

Mathiyus fumbled and almost fell down, he retorted, ‘Do you think my skull is flooded with water? Why shall I give up my freedom and become a pet cat?’

Fortuna opened her eyes narrowly and said, ‘Are you looking down on cats?’

She was a cat at the moment. A proud dragon would not stand a lowly beast looking down on them. Well, if magical beasts were the darlings of nature, then Dragons were simply overlords of nature.

.....

Mathiyus shook his head and hurriedly, said, ‘I dare not, your excellency. Forgive me.’

The bloodline suppression was enough for the dragons to walk sideways in the world and not get pointed out for it. This was true among the beasts. The magicals were divided into two categories, beasts and humanoids. Humanoid magicals were divided into elemental types, and these types had one species reigning supreme in that element and could best the dragons if they wished to but they all had an understanding, that was to maintain the balance and not let the major forces collide with each other.

Fortuna said, ‘Humph, you dare to look down on me, then you have to be punished. Share the blood with her and be her magical companion. I can use someone by my side, or do you want me to do everything myself?’

Valerian could hear all they were talking about and was amused by this exchange between the two creatures. In the end, Mathiyus, who wanted to refuse was pressurized by a death stare and could only nod.

The team stopped in the forest near a small pond, while Valerian caught fish, Mathiyus and Priscilla were performing the ritual to form the bond as the beast companions.

...

While the two creatures were busy forming the bond, Fortuna sat on Valerian’s head while the latter asked, “I have nothing else to deal with in this place for now, can you tell me where to find the river of time you mentioned?”

Fortuna replied simply, “In the memories that I have inherited from the predecessors, the river is located in a different realm. A small world made up of mana, and only the dragons can access this world.”

Valerian was surprised but he did not interrupt her, after all, he was aware of such places existing from the books and the encounter with the driads. Fortuna registered his silence and continued, “The river of time is something that is held in great regard by the dragons. Only one gateway is left on every continent to prevent it from being breached.

The world humans see has four continents, but they do not see the complete picture. The world we live in is plain. You can think of it as a cloth spread on the table. In the center of this cloth is a spot that we call the dragon kingdom.

It is only visible to the dragons and the magicals who rarely surface. The reason this kingdom is kept hidden from human eyes is because of their greed for the powers held by us.”

Valerian nodded, he could digest this reasoning very quickly, after all, not every human was averted to greed. He nodded and asked, “So, where is this realm of magic located on the western continent?”

Fortuna thought for a bit and said, “The gateway is located in what should be known as Valkyria by the humans of this region.”

Valerian sighed and said, “Do I have to wage a war to get you to that location? Valkyria is an enemy to all the four countries and from what I understand, they have strict control over the borders connected to Valkyria.”

Fortuna said in a matter-of-fact tone, “If it was that easy would I have been so cautious?”

Indeed, she would have run away at the first instance to reach the place if not for the human disputes. She was a dragon but her powers worked only on the beasts because the bloodline hierarchy was undeniable, but if she was to fall into the hands of a seasoned mage or worse, an Archmage. She would have been turned into a piece of treasure they experimented on to discover more about their species.

In a way, she considered herself very fortunate to have met Valerian. The boy did not say much and tolerated her temper and pampered her a lot. She was not made of stone and felt his emotions towards her. She also shared the idea that the two of them shared a lot of things.

Valerian also lost his parents and Fortuna lost her parents as well. They both had disabilities, although Fortuna had never told anyone, she was yet to awaken her magic, she could tell that her magical source was fine, but she could not cast a spell.

This was a fatal weakness she had yet to tell anyone about. Even Valerian did not know about it. As she was pondering whether to tell Valerian about it or not, the boy yanked hard on the makeshift fishing rod and said, “Big one.”

Fortuna looked and saw three feet big fish flapping its tail in the void. Valerian carefully held the fish and took it to the side. He was going to cook it directly.

Priscilla and Mathiyus were done signing the contract at this moment and they were communicating with each other with their thoughts. When they saw Valerian and Fortuna coming they stopped and Priscilla said, “Your Highness, thank you very much.”

Valerian raised his eyebrow and asked, “What are you thanking me for?”

Priscilla replied, “Mathiyus told me that you convinced him to form the bond with me.”

Valerian chuckled and said, “Do not mention it. However, since you have formed the bond, get him to hunt some more food for us. This fish is for us three, he will not have his fill on this.”

Priscilla nodded and faintly smiled and looked at Mathiyus, who left the spot. Valerian sat down in front of the bonfire and prepared to cook the fish he said, “Priscilla, what would you do if I said that I want to travel to Valkyria.”

The smiling lady froze, and Fortuna sat up to look at the boy. Valerian looked at the girl and waited for her answer. Priscilla asked, “Your Highness, some jokes are not funny.”

Valerian shook his head and said, “It is not a joke. The trip is necessary.”

Priscilla shook her head like a rattle and said, “Valerian, give up this trip. Those people are savages, they do not allow trespassing.”

Valerian nodded and said, “I know all this, I have faced them and killed a few of them as well. However, the trip is necessary.”

The maid was scared and said, “You better give me a good reason and even then I will consult Her Excellency.”

Valerian said, “You are now following me, so let me put something out in the open. The trip is a necessity for Fortuna. If we did not complete this trip, she will not be able to awaken her talents.”

Priscilla had a strange expression on her face, she could not comprehend the reason behind going on a suicide trip for a little magical beast. Also, what kind of magical beast needs to develop her talents by traveling to a special place? She asked, “Are you possessed or something? How come Fortuna needs to travel to the edge of the continent?”

Valerian sighed and said, “Because she is the royalty of the godly beasts.”

Priscilla did not understand and Fortuna suddenly jumped into the void, and her figure changed. The combat maid felt her legs turn numb as she fell down on the ground.