Quest with Laura and Seraphina: Starlight Blossom (4/4)

"You…"

The tension in the clearing was evident as Davon glared at Kael, his frustration boiling over. "So, you're just admitting you're weak and useless, huh?" he spat.

Kael met his gaze calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Exactly," he replied without hesitation, his tone light but firm. "I'm weak, and I don't see the point in pretending otherwise. By taking you on, I made sure my team had a better chance of winning. If you didn't consider that possibility, that's not my fault, right?"

The leader clenched his fists, clearly taken aback by Kael's audacious reasoning, while the other adventurers muttered among themselves, unsure whether to admire his shrewdness or mock him further.

Laura, standing proudly by Kael's side, stepped in to defend him. "My husband used his head instead of brute strength," she explained, her tone sharp. "He understood that your ego would blind you to his strategy. You wanted to humiliate him, but instead, he turned it into a calculated move. That's not weakness—that's genius."

Seraphina, however, remained skeptical. She folded her arms and tilted her head slightly, her tone measured but critical. "Genius? I'm not so sure about it. Let's not forget, we had greater numbers to begin with. There was no need for him to throw himself into the middle of it. If he wanted to help, he could've just stepped aside altogether. Not only they are ahead with 1-0, but now we're in a position where they might not honor the agreement even if we win."

Laura gave her sister a hard look. "You still don't understand, do you? It's not about putting himself in the front. It's about protecting us. We're mages, Seraphina. Our physical strength is nothing compared to theirs. If we got hurt during the contest, it would have been for nothing. Kael knows this. That's why he acted the way he did."

"But…" Seraphina opened her mouth to argue, but Laura cut her off, her voice growing softer. "And think about it. He proposed this competition himself. If he didn't participate at all, it would undermine his position as our husband and team leader. He might be weak, but he's not a coward. If a fight breaks out after this, Kael knows you and I, who didn't exert ourselves, will have the best chance to defend him and everyone else."

For a moment, Seraphina was silent, considering Laura's words. She wanted to argue that Kael shouldn't have put forth an arm wrestling contest in the first place, but then she understood that these guys might not even accept it when it doesn't favor them. Finally, she sighed. "I see your point. But this is exactly why our youngest sister hates him. He always puts himself in these situations and expects us to clean up afterward."

Laura chuckled softly. "Maybe. But, during the time of marriage, we took the oath to protect his wishes and stand by his side at all times, right?"

The arm-wrestling continued, with both teams giving their all. The contest was fierce, the air filled with grunts of effort and the occasional cheer or groan as each match played out.

It came down to the final round: a showdown between two swordswomen. Both were wielders of broadswords, they were physical powerhouses, their muscular builds a testament to their years of training. Their hands locked on the makeshift table, and their arms bulged as they began.

The tension in the air grew as neither woman gave an inch. Sweat poured down their faces, their bodies straining with effort. The rest of the group, both allies and rivals, watched in awe as the match stretched on.

Eventually, the contest dragged on for forty-five minutes. Neither swordswoman was willing to back down, their muscles trembling from the sheer force they exerted continuously for such a long time. Their hands remained locked, and their expressions were only becoming fiercer.

"Come on, Arianne!" one of the rival adventurers shouted, cheering for their teammate.

"You've got this, Fiona!" Laura called to her own side, her voice filled with encouragement.

Kael, standing to the side, watched the endurance of both women with a frown on his face. "This is getting dragged for too long. A battle would be better, but if our mages get involved, we would only do more damage to the surroundings and might destroy the very thing we came for. Not to mention, they weren't weak either." He bit his nail, thinking of a solution.

Finally, as the match entered its forty-seventh minute, a sudden glow illuminated the clearing. A faint, ethereal light shone from the flowers surrounding them, casting the area in a soft, otherworldly radiance.

Everyone froze for a moment, their attention drawn to the source of the light. The Starlight Blossom flowers glowed under the moonlight amidst a sea of similar-looking flowers. And in the distance, a flower suddenly grew larger to a foot in size.

The two swordswomen, still locked in their contest, hesitated for only a moment. Then, as if on some unspoken agreement, they released their grips simultaneously, their arms falling limply to their sides as they gasped for breath.

"It's here! The Crescent Starlight flower!" Davon bellowed, about to charge. However, he swiftly halted as a dagger was placed at his neck, forcing him to step back. It was Aisha, the assassin-type adventurer in Kael's party. Davon drew his weapon and his party also followed suit, weapons at the ready.

As Kael's team did the same, intending to battle, Laura shouted at them, "I knew that you are a greedy lot that doesn't care about promises. As soon as the flower appeared, you were ready to go ahead and snatch it."

Lola, the rival party's blademaster, smirked, her twin swords gleaming under the glowing petals. "But, there was no result. Hence, whatever conditions we accepted earlier is now void." she retorted mockingly, her stance shifting into a ready position.

The book in Laura's hand was opened, the pages flipped on their own, stopping on a skill page. "I summon the… Hmm?"

Before Laura could summon an elemental spirit, a low growl rumbled through the woods. The air thickened with an ominous energy as every head turned toward the sound. A massive figure emerged from the woods, its translucent fur shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

"It is a spectral wolf," Lola gasped, her eyes fluttering in fear.

The creature stood nearly five feet tall at the shoulder, its piercing, ethereal blue eyes scanning the clearing with a predatory gaze. Its aura was suffocating, a force of raw magic that sent shivers down the spines of all present. Even Davon faltered as his grip on his sword tightened and he stepped back.

"This can't be…" someone muttered in disbelief.

"It's in the same league as dragons," whispered Seraphina, her voice trembling slightly. "Even if it's young, it is still not something we can take on."

Kael stepped forward, his expression hardened. "Everyone, stand down," he commanded as he walked forward.

Laura reached for him, her voice filled with panic. "Dear, now it is not the time for false bravado. It's too dangerous."

He turned to her briefly, offering a reassuring smile as he raised his arm. The sleeve of his shirt slipped back, revealing a glowing tattoo—a runic symbol etched with mystic energy that pulsed faintly in the moonlight.

The spectral wolf stopped in its tracks, its sharp eyes locking onto Kael. A tense silence fell over the clearing as Kael approached, his footsteps deliberate and unhurried. The wolf stared at him with an almost unsettling intelligence, its gaze unblinking.

Kael stopped a few steps away and met the wolf's eyes. The creature tilted its head slightly before speaking, its voice deep and resonant, echoing in the minds of all present. "Who are you?"

Kael took a deep breath and replied, "I am Kael. I seek the Crescent Starlight flower to save my dying father."

The clearing erupted in murmurs. "His father is dead," Aisha hissed to her team. "What is he playing at?" Laura and Seraphina exchanged their looks, wondering the same.

The wolf, however, seemed unfazed by the whispers. It narrowed its eyes at Kael, studying him intently. Finally, it stepped aside, its head motioning toward the flower. "Take it," the wolf said.

"What?" Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, watching the scene where the wolf just bought his reason and let him take away the flower.

Davon murmured, "I got to say. That guy isn't as trash as I thought he was. He is brave."

Kael's face broke into a relieved smile as he nodded. "Thank you."

He stepped toward the flower, careful not to make any sudden movements. But just as he was about to pluck the herb, the wolf's voice stopped him. "Wait."

Kael froze and turned back. The wolf's gaze bore into him, its expression unreadable. "Show me the seal," it demanded.

Kael hesitated only for a moment before rolling up his sleeve fully, revealing the entirety of the glowing runic symbol. The wolf approached him, its movements fluid and silent, until it stood directly in front of him. Without warning, it raised a claw and pricked Kael's arm, drawing a bead of blood.

"Kael!" Laura shouted, her voice filled with alarm. She charged, but her arm was tightly grabbed by Seraphina. "Wait," She stopped her.

Meanwhile, Kael jumped back instinctively, his hand pressing against the wound. The wolf, however, didn't attack. Instead, it brought its claw to its mouth, licking the blood delicately. A faint glow surrounded the wolf as it spoke, its tone calm but commanding. "By this blood, the contract is sealed."

"Wha…" Before Kael could react, a surge of magic enveloped him. The glowing runic symbol on his arm projected the silhouette of a wolf's head in mid-air before it disappeared. The spectral wolf sat back on its haunches, its expression almost seemed amused.

"I am bound to you now, human," the wolf said, its tone tinged with satisfaction. "As your companion beast, I'll be responsible for your protection, and as the contractee, you will be responsible for my hunger."

The clearing fell silent once more, the weight of what had just transpired sinking in. Laura and Seraphina stared at Kael in shock, their mouths slightly agape. Even Davon and his team seemed at a loss for words. Everything just happened in a matter of seconds.

Kael blinked, trying to process what had just happened. "Wait… what?"

The wolf let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "As we are connected, I would like to check your memories to see how that seal was inherited by you. So, your name is Kael Moonstone, huh? No wonder you had that seal. Moonstone House is always… Hmm? What?" All of a sudden, its pleasant mood turned into surprise, followed by the aura of rage enveloping its body. "You lied to me. Your father is dead."

Kael paled, fumbling for words. "I—uh—well, technically—"

Before he could finish, the wolf lunged forward, its massive head colliding with Kael's chest in a thunderous headbutt. The force sent him flying comically into a nearby tree, where he hung for a moment before sliding down to the ground, groaning.

"Kael!" Laura cried, rushing to his side.

Seraphina looked at the wolf, her expression caught between alarm and wariness. "What was that for?"

The wolf snorted, its tone dismissive. "He's unharmed. Humans are more durable than they look. He'll survive."

Kael sat up, clutching his chest. "this damn wolf," he muttered under his breath.

The wolf tilted its head, feigning innocence. "Now, I am hungry. Lead the way, humans. I desire food prepared by your kind."

Kael's eye twitched. "You want me to cook for you after that?"

The wolf's tail swished lazily. "Didn't I tell you earlier? You are responsible for my hunger. I want food."

The tension in the clearing dissipated slightly as the absurdity of the situation set in.

With the Crescent Starlight flower safely secured and the spectral wolf apparently content to stay in the forest for "unfinished business," Kael and his group prepared to leave, almost clearing out the entire field of Starlight Blossoms for themselves. Davon and his team didn't even dare to touch them with the spectral wolf standing on Kael's side. Seraphina carefully packed the blossoms in an enchanted container to preserve them due to their 72 hours of shelf life while Laura accompanied Kael, couldn't hide her excitement as her husband is now the master of a Tier-7 beast, which has the potential to become Tier-10 in the near future.

As Kael mounted the carriage, Adventurer Aisha couldn't help but comment, thinking about the wolf. "I can't tell if Lord Moonstone is the luckiest guy alive or the unluckiest."

Kael sighed in response, "I too wonder the same thing." His shoulders dropped and mental tiredness could be seen on his face.

"Now, now, hubby… there is nothing to be worried about. That beast wasn't tamed properly. After we return home, I will ask Mother to hire a top-tier beast tamer to teach you how to control it." Laura said with a smile, leaning her head against his arm.

The carriage moved, journeying to the nearest town.

Kael, meanwhile, was awfully silent throughout the whole journey, wondering about the seal imprinted on his arm by his mother as its role was supposed to make him a friendly target to the monsters in the wild for a temporary period, not make them initiate a forceful contract.