The Promise (1)

"Return." The Dragon Lord called us back to his dwelling. He said no word of the progress of my challenge, but my premonition told me that I probably failed. I may have spent too long with the detour for Fiona...

Lura and I glanced at each other and our soaked clothes. I wanted argue with her and deny my loss but there was really nothing to justify. "Shall... I go pick up Fiona?" I asked.

Lura chuckled and pointed to my soaking clothes. "You want to leave like that?" She placed the vial in her hands down on the ground before placing her palms together. With her eyes closed, she muttered a gentle chant and a bubble of dry air formed around me.

"Huh, thanks. You know some spells?" I ruffled my newly dry hair.

"Yeah. Took it from a wandering human when we were out on patrol," Lura answered with a nod. She stood up and ushered for me to follow her deeper into the mountains.

The windy trail was dark and misty. I could not see anything even with my enhanced spiritual sense so I focused on the blurry figure of Lura as she led the way. There were little green orbs of green that floated around, similar to my own blue stream of energy from the Frost Devil Arts. And on the ground was a murky stream of water that released the mist. It must've flowed down and fuelled the lake outside, for I found my spiritual qi slowly regenerating at a remarkable pace.

Pretty interesting. I glanced forwards at Lura whom was still walking at a steady pace and the special potion in her arms. This place was probably forbidden to visitors and probably wasn't part of the rewards as well... I didn't know how to thank both the Dragon Lord and her for this.

I snuck another glance at her but the light at the exit was blinding. I could've sworn she turned around and met my gaze but the feeling only lingered for a moment.

"We're here," Lura said. Her head was down and her voice was low. "You go fetch Fiona, I'll go and notify the Dragon Lord first."

"Erm, yeah. Thanks again," I answered, a hot flame slowing burning on my cheeks. It was awkward, both of us weren't really much talkers and Fiona wasn't here so I didn't know how to present myself. I quickly disappeared into the sky and headed towards Fiona, my only source of comfort. Why did I stare at her so much back there, it must've made her so uncomfortable...

I passed by a wandering elf heading towards the cabin who must've been Fiona's caretaker for the week. I was sure that I patted her shoulders during the challenger as well... so I didn't notify her that I was taking Fiona away.

However, I still quickly scribbled a note on the nightstand of a word of thanks for her care the past week. Fiona, whom was still sleeping soundly, flipped over on the bed at the nose. Her drool made a small stain on the sheets. "What could be so delicious to drool about in your dreams..." I muttered as I wiped the corners of her mouth with my shirt before letting her cling onto me like a panda. And before I closed the door of the cabin, I made sure to imprint the design of the kitten slippers beside the bed to my memory.

Cute. They suited her very well.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

Lura wasn't anywhere in sight as I entered the cave of the Dragon Lord. His eyes were closed and the air was a tad stale. "Is... anything wrong?" I asked carefully, sensing his disgruntled mood. He couldn't be angry that I had failed the challenge... right?

My knees almost buckled under the heavy gaze of his jewel-red eyes. "You didn't pass since you made that detour for Princess Fiona."

She shifted her position on my back almost as if she knew that someone was talking about her. I grabbed her by the hands and whispered a few words of comfort, urging her to go back to sleep before I turned to the Dragon Lord. His gaze was still one of intensity as he scrutinized the both of us.

"Yes," I acknowledged. "She's worth the time."

"You did better than I expected, but a fail is still a fail."

I had no answer to that, so I remained silent but my eyes never wavered as we held a brief staring contest.

The Dragon Lord was the first to concede. "Power. Status. Fame. Wealth," he began. "And most importantly, love. You can achieve everything in the upcoming Great War that the two of you would inevitably battle in, but at the cost and sacrifice of Fiona."

"Her 14th birthday will come and go. Seven years is nothing to a cultivator, and especially her. However, you, Vincent Idaroth Anslein. Your foundation and potential is one of the best I've seen, truly a good seedling. By my terms, even way back in the ancient times, you would've been a prominent candidate to scale the tree and ascend."

"You still have that opportunity, Vincent Idaroth Anslein. Would you like to take it?"

I chuckled as Fiona stirred behind me. She'd muttered a few incomprehensible words, silencing the two of us when I laughed. It echoed throughout the cave and remained lingering in the air as I glared at the Dragon Lord, still as lofty and aloof as ever.

A burst of killing intent erupted from me, shocking Fiona awake. She looked around in a daze before her nails dug into my shoulders.

"I didn't think that you'd have a ounce of humour in you... Master," I spat. "But don't even mention about the curse and separating the two of us. She lives how she likes, and I live only for her. Nothing else."

"No matter what happens?"

"No matter what happens."

With a stomp of my feet, I grabbed Fiona by her armpits and threw her into a princess carry. Her mouth was still in a puckered o-shape and her eyes were still in a sleeping daze when I kissed her in the forehead. "Right, Fiona?"

That seemed to awaken her for her eyes widened and her small frail body tensed up with a jolt. "D-daddy," she whimpered in her morning voice as she threw punches and kicks my way. I didn't even realize that my killing intent had retracted all the way within that second and ignored the Dragon Lord completely.

"Rise and shine, my little kitten. How was the food and treasures you dreamt of? You slept the entire week," I teased while rubbing her shoulder acupoints.

"Y-you saw?"

"You've soiled so many shirts and sheets, Fiona. Of course I saw."

"N-no! I don't d-drool...!" She buried herself into my chest.

"Now, now, go greet the Dragon Lord. I'm sure he has lots to say after putting you to sleep and after the chats we had."