Chapter 242: Wiggins's Proposal
Chapter 242: Wiggins's Proposal
Under the cover of night, Roning took Lulans and soared into the sky on Carlos's back. The dragon's powerful wings beat steadily against the cool night air.
From above, Wushan Fort gleamed brightly, its lights spilling into the surrounding city. The scene below sparkled with life, a stark contrast to the quiet nights in Shanlin Town. Here, the vibrancy of civilization created a sense of festivity that felt alive with the essence of fireworks.
"Your dragon, Carlos, seems slower than a griffin," Lulans observed as they glided through the air. He had ridden several griffins and was familiar with their exceptional speed.
"Griffins are that fast?" Roning asked, genuinely surprised. He had assumed dragons outpaced them in all respects.
"Most griffins have wind attributes," Lulans explained. "Some even wield wind magic, making them natural flyers. Carlos, while about the same size as a griffin, is clearly much heavier. That's likely why he's slower. However, I'd wager Carlos can fly longer distances without tiring."
Roning nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that both Carlos and griffins had their own strengths and limitations when it came to flight. Still, his faith in the potential of dragons was unshaken. When Carlos matured, he was certain the dragon would surpass griffins in every way.
After a brief test flight, Carlos descended gracefully onto the mountainside. Lulans dismounted and turned back to admire the dragon, his gaze filled with a mixture of envy and admiration.
As a Meteor Knight, Lulans was formidable on the battlefield but remained bound to the ground. The freedom of the skies was a privilege he could only dream of. Securing a flying mount capable of carrying a rider was no small feat, and even the most skilled knights often failed in the endeavor. Lulans himself had spent years attempting to contract beasts such as dragon eagles and giant falcons but had failed each time.
If only he had moved to Wubei Territory earlier, he mused wistfully, perhaps he would have discovered Carlos's cave instead.
Watching Carlos stretch his wings and take off again, Lulans snapped back to reality. "Dragons may be powerful," he began, "but they're not invincible. Magic cannons, magic spears—like the ones I showed you earlier—or even coordinated attacks by griffin knights can pose significant threats."
Roning nodded, fully aware of the dangers. He wasn't arrogant enough to think he was untouchable just because he had a dragon.
"Also," Lulans continued, "try to keep Carlos's existence a secret whenever possible. As far as I know, there are no records of a real dragon appearing on this continent in recent history. His presence will attract attention—some of it unwanted, especially from eccentric researchers."
Roning shuddered at the thought, recalling some of the strange mages he had encountered in the past. "Don't worry," he assured Lulans. "Only my trusted follower and you know about Carlos. I have no intention of revealing him publicly."
Lulans smiled approvingly. "Good. But remember, having a dragon isn't enough. To wield true power, you must grow stronger yourself and gather capable allies."
With that, Lulans mounted his Thunder Chaser, the beast now uncharacteristically respectful toward Roning after experiencing Carlos's intimidating presence.
As they descended the mountain path lit by rows of flickering candles, Lulans suddenly remembered something. "Oh, one more thing," he said. "There's a water magic spell called Bending Light and Refraction. It manipulates the water element to distort the surrounding vision, effectively concealing the user."
Roning's eyes lit up with understanding. If Carlos could master such a spell, it could greatly reduce the risk of exposure.
"But I don't think that magic is in the books my grandfather left me," Roning admitted. "And the water magicians in Wubei Territory are too inexperienced to teach it."
"You'll need to visit the Silva Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce," Lulans advised. "They should have what you're looking for. Just remember, the spell has limitations. If the movement is too fast, the effect will break. Also, sharp-eyed individuals might still notice light distortion."
"That's fine," Roning said. "Carlos doesn't need to be invisible—just hidden enough to avoid unwanted attention."
"Good," Lulans replied with a grin. "Now, maybe you'll spend less time reading knight novels and more time studying useful books."
As they approached the base of the mountain, Most awaited them, carrying a lantern. "Master, the dinner is ready. The Count and Countess are waiting."
Lulans, in high spirits, dismounted. "Let's go," he said.
The dinner that followed was lively. Diane was as warm and welcoming as ever, though Wiggins couldn't resist teasing her about her unusual enthusiasm. This earned him a sharp glare from Lulans, which quickly turned into a hearty laugh when Wiggins raised his glass to Roning.
"To be honest," Wiggins said after a sip of wine, "I thought you'd never recover in Shanlin Town. But you've changed so much since moving there. It seems I chose the perfect place for you!"
Roning laughed and clinked glasses. "You've always had great foresight, Father."
As the meal continued, Wiggins leaned in conspiratorially. "I've prepared the supplies to transport to Chishan Town. We'll send them off in two days. However, I still need someone to escort the convoy and deliver our greetings to the Fifth Knights stationed in the southwest. Would you be willing to take on this task?"
Roning hesitated, caught off guard by the request. He had only come to Wushan Fort to celebrate Wiggins's birthday, yet here he was, being handed an important mission.
"Chishan Town," he mused aloud. "I've never been there before…"
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