Logan smiled to himself, feeling a step closer to his dream of owning a dragon. Rubina, however, was quick to point out that Drakes were not dragons—they were a weaker subspecies, smaller in size and far less powerful.
Despite her comment, Logan was satisfied with the creature he had acquired. He was confident it would grow into a powerhouse, capable of rivaling even Scorch and Zephyr in strength.
Climbing onto its back, Logan chose to conserve Zephyr's energy to ensure the group could maintain their top speed. The four of them waved to the king and the entourage gathered to see them off.
Two knights on wyverns accompanied them, ready to guide the group through the canyon that would lead them back to Megyeszorosz. From there, they planned to head south, traveling as far as possible until they reached a city where they could finally rest.
Logan was the last to take flight, with Wyver following close behind. The drake's massive wings stirred up a powerful whirlwind as it flapped a few times to get airborne.
Instead of reacting with fear, the crowd below broke into applause, impressed by the display. They knew that soon the king would have a formidable creature like the one causing such powerful winds.
Logan couldn't help but laugh at how much this kingdom adored wyverns. They seemed to worship everything about them—even their flaws.
He patted Wyver's tough scales, silently letting the creature know how proud he was. As soon as they entered the passage leading to the canyon, Zephyr activated its magic, creating a strong tailwind to propel the group forward. The boost helped everyone maintain their speed, even Wyver, whose large size made it slightly slower compared to Zephyr, leading the formation.
The sight of Eagles, Griffons, and Wyverns flying together was nothing short of breathtaking. Those who witnessed the grand procession could only stare in awe, especially as the group emerged from the canyon and soared over towns and cities.
With his enhanced eyesight, Logan could clearly see the people below straining their eyes, their excitement palpable as they watched the flying caravan pass overhead.
The sight filled him with a sense of satisfaction, lifting his spirits and making the journey all the more enjoyable.
They soon passed through Megyeszorosz and continued heading south without stopping. The journey was going smoothly, and they even managed to pass the small lakeside village where they had rested before.
By nightfall, they had reached Encszent and proceeded to stop for the night in Nyirmat. Logan already knew where they would rest, as Lord Henrik greeted them warmly from afar.
"All right, let's rest for the night," Logan said, beginning his descent. Wyver barely needed rest, as the drake didn't feel Logan's added weight. Even the griffons, comparable in size to Oras, managed the journey without much strain. As for the eagles, they carried no passengers, allowing them to focus entirely on using wind magic to assist the group.
The smooth ride made it easy for the flying creatures to conserve energy. If one of them needed a break, they could simply glide along, letting the tailwind carry them while maintaining their altitude.
As they landed, they immediately noticed that most of the townspeople had gathered around the lord's castle. Their excitement was palpable as they eagerly admired one of their nation's treasures. The drake's appearance, more dragon-like than anything they had seen before, added to their awe.
"Guess you'll be making a change to their culture…" Kai whispered with a smirk as he removed the saddle from his wyvern. Although his mount hadn't yet evolved into a drake, it was strong enough to carry him with ease.
Kai then approached the wyvern he had chosen for Chloe. Its scales were a lighter tone compared to both Wyver and his own beast. Similarly, Wyver's partner, who also had a lighter tone, stood patiently beside Logan as he patted her. While feeding her crystals, Logan considered how the creature might one day be used by either Marie or Ruri, should they decide to join him on his journey.
"It is great to see you again, King Hero Logan. We have been eagerly awaiting your return," Lord Henrik greeted warmly.
"Sergei passed through here yesterday to inform us of your arrival. He has likely already reached the war front and should soon be making his way back to your town with his knights."
Logan nodded at the Lord and thanked him for the update. "So, have the problems with the demons been solved?" he asked, gesturing for the caretakers to guide the beasts to their shelter. The wyverns and the drake, accustomed to the cold, didn't need to hide from it. Instead, they seemed to embrace the snow, resting on it as though it were a comfortable blanket.
"Yes, we've had no trouble here, fortunately," Henrik replied. "It seems the demons only intended to damage our forest. I heard the king dispatched wyvern knights to hunt down the remaining demons wherever they could be found." As Henrik spoke, he waved to the gathered crowd, then turned to lead Logan and his group inside the large home.
Before stepping inside, Logan glanced back to check on Wyver. He had already commanded the drake not to harm anyone, but he hadn't expected it to display its power so boldly. The crowd's reaction was one of delight—cheers and applause erupted around the drake, as if it were putting on a grand performance.
Wyver seemed to revel in the attention, its confidence and charisma drawing even more admiration from the townspeople. Logan couldn't help but smile—his companion's presence was proving to be a remarkable asset.
It wasn't long before they had eaten and bathed. As usual, it now seemed normal for Rubina and Lisa to show up in his room. Logan couldn't help but wonder when this had become a regular occurrence, but this time, he decided he wouldn't go to sleep without having a proper conversation with both of them.
He knew he needed to take Rubina out tomorrow and silently hoped the town had at least one good spot for a stroll, with great scenery to make the outing special.