Eira and Kran eventually returned to the dining hall. Harrietta noticed them enter separately and sighed, choosing not to comment. She understood the situation was complicated.

  Eira sat beside Umbra, silent and withdrawn. Her mind was a storm of thoughts.

  Noticing her mood, Scry got an idea.

  “Say, Liliya, what do you know about soul magic?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. He was ready to milk her for all she was worth.

  “I know the theory,” Liliya replied, her interest piqued. “But I don’t have much talent for it. Only very specific individuals can manipulate soul energy. Why do you ask?”

  “I need an assistant to test a few theories on our girl Eira here,” Scry said, his expression turning serious. “Her soul is bound to her master. I’m thinking of finding a way to break that control, without waiting for his demise.”

  “Ooh, I’m in!” Liliya said eagerly. “We might learn something useful while helping the poor girl.”

  She didn’t realize Scry had no theories, just a desire for free help.

  Eira overheard them but didn’t put much hope in their plan. She despised her master, but she had to admit: the man was a genius in soul magic and body mutation arts.

  Breaking his hold wouldn’t be easy.

  ***

  Kran sat beside Lucius, who remained silent, seated next to Zara. She chatted with Hansen and Thorpe about hunting and stealth techniques.

  “Evening. I hear you messed up royally today,” Kran said with a grin, trying to pull Lucius out of his shell. “I’m Kran, by the way.”

  Lucius frowned. This Beastman peasant is trying to be chummy with me? I’ve truly fallen low. Sigh... fine. Let’s try to be civil. I don’t want to upset Master again.

  “Yes, I caused some issues today. For that, I apologize,” Lucius replied, attempting politeness.

  “Hah! That’s putting it lightly. You almost died, then your mage almost died, then your dragon guy and the blond dude nearly killed each other. You really messed things up, my friend.”

  Kran spoke as if they were old friends, oblivious to Lucius’s cold demeanor.

  “Who is your friend, peasant?” Lucius snapped. “Yes, I know I ‘messed up.’ Now I have to prove my worth to Master all over again. I don’t need you to remind me!”

  Kran chuckled. “Gods, aren’t you sensitive? You kinda look like a girl, so who knows.”

  Lucius’s patience was wearing thin. “What is your problem with me?”

  “No problem at all, my man. Honestly, I envy you. You’re strong enough to run with a powerful group. Me? I just hide and wait. I’d give anything to be as cool as you.”

  Zara listened quietly, smiling. She’d expected Lucius to cause a scene, but she let them talk. Something about this honest beast boy seemed to reach Lucius.

  “You think I’m cool? After everything I’ve said and done?” Lucius was stunned. No one had ever said that to him.

  “Yeah, man. You’ve got that fancy armor, a cool shield, and a shining mace. You’re a Knight, and you look younger than me. I admire that. You must’ve trained like crazy.”

  Lucius trembled slightly. “Yes. I really did train like crazy. Do you know what kind of hell Master put me through? I don’t even know how I’m still alive.”

  “Oh, do tell. I’m not sure it’s worse than what my mother did when I asked her to train me,” Kran said with a chuckle.

  “Did she ever leave you in the wilds to fend for yourself with only a barely functioning core and a dull sword?” Lucius asked, recalling the torment.

  “No, but she used to shoot fireballs at me until I learned to dodge with wind mana. I stopped counting how many times my clothes got burned,” Kran said, shivering at the memory.

  “Okay, that sounds a bit worse. How about this: did she ever blindfold you with a mana-blocking cloth and make you fight five men?”

  “Not quite, but she did blindfold me and drop me ten kilometers from home to train my wolf senses. Took me all night to get back. I tried to remove the cloth, but she was always nearby, waiting to strike me with a fire whip.”

  Lucius winced. “Gods, she sounds as bad as Master. How come you haven’t reached Knight level yet?”

  “Well, all that training made me stronger, and I’ve survived thanks to it. But we’re poor, and reaching Knight level takes a lot of resources,” Kran admitted.

  Lucius’s expression darkened. He hadn’t considered that. His master, and even his family, had given him more than enough mana crystals to train without worry.

  “I apologize. I didn’t think it through,” Lucius said sincerely.

  “No need. We live different lives. It’s hard, sure, but at least we’re free. No king or lord telling us how to live. Our elder means well and lets us make our own choices, even if we mess up sometimes.”

  “That actually sounds... nice. What was your name again? I forgot,” Lucius said, scratching his blond hair. He was starting to like this Beastman, something he hadn’t expected.

  “Kran. You didn’t pay attention earlier, huh?” Kran laughed. “And you?”

  “Lucius Vero. Nice to meet you. If you don’t mind, could you tell me more about your training? I’d like to compare.”

  “Haha, you’re a weird one. Sure, listen to this…”

  ***

  In the kitchen, Kai had enlisted Nerva to help peel spirit fruits for the compote he was preparing.

  “Well, I can’t say I’ve ever done this before,” Nerva chuckled, handing a peeled fruit to Lisa, who happily munched on it.

  “But where did you get such high-quality fruits?” he asked, inspecting another one.

  “I helped a jungle lord fight a Divine Beast,” Kai replied casually. “He gave me a full storage of these, and plenty more.

  Good thing storage artifacts keep everything fresh. Would’ve been a shame to let it all rot.”

  “Interesting. Was that in the dragon’s jungle?” Nerva asked, fishing for more details.

  “Indeed. It was a mission from Arthraxius,” Kai said honestly. He saw no reason to hide it.

  “And he gave you his inheritance as a reward?” Nerva pressed.

  “Something like that. Let’s just say he liked what he saw.” Kai smirked.

  He really is tight-lipped. Strong and smart, huh, Nerva mused.

  “Why did Xarion act like that? Aren’t Dracorious closer to dragons than people like me? They even resemble them,” Kai asked, still puzzled.

  “Yeah, that’s... complicated,” Nerva admitted, his expression darkening. “Honestly, he pissed me off today. We’ve known each other for three hundred years, and he raised a blade against me, for you...”

  He sighed, then continued. “The Dracorious were created by the Primal Dragon after Sacra was formed. They were meant to be servants and warriors protecting the young, but over time, dragons didn’t need them anymore; most had left this realm anyway, and so they let them live freely. They gained a lot for their services, mana blessings, for one.

  But your kind? You’ve got actual dragon blood in your veins. That’s far more potent, and deep down, they still worship dragons as gods. So yeah, they’ll act like that around you.”

  Kai’s face darkened. “Great. Arthraxius never mentioned any of this. I’ll have to avoid their kind, then.”

  “Haha, the old dragon probably didn’t care. Dragons can be like that,” Nerva chuckled.

  “Shouldn’t we be done soon? You cooked for the whole garrison, my boy,” Nerva said, rubbing his stomach.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Yeah, almost done. Let’s start bringing the food out,” Kai replied.

  The two carried out massive trays of roasted meat and steaming pots of soup and stew.

  Lisa helped too, carrying one or two plates she could manage.

  ***

  “Come on, everyone, help bring the food! Your friend Kai made enough to feed fifty starving men,” Nerva called out with a hearty laugh.

  Everyone stood up eagerly. Barbarians and beastmen fought playfully, competing to help more than the others. They wanted to show their appreciation; Kai had saved their lives more than once, and now he was feeding them.

  They were indebted for their whole lives.

  Kai sat at the head of the table, flanked by Nerva and Lisa.

  “Everyone,” Kai began, raising his glass of mana water, “it’s been a long few days, and today wasn’t exactly a picnic either. Let’s eat, rest, and recover. Tomorrow, we leave this cursed place.”

  Glasses lifted in unison, cheers rang out, and the feast began.

  “Wow, this is so tasty! Way better than what Aunt made for lunch,” Lisa said, wide-eyed.

  Harrietta twitched. “Damn girl. No way that boy cooks better than me,” she muttered, then tasted the stew. Her eyes widened. “What the hell… This is amazing!”

  The others dug in, sampling dish after dish, each more delicious than the last.

  Liliya chewed a piece of herb-seasoned meat, savoring every bite. He can cook like this? Hopefully it’s not poisoned, she thought, amused.

  Scry and Umbra, already accustomed to Kai’s divine cooking, were happily slurping soup and tearing into meat.

  “Hey, Lord Kai, what did you do to make it so tasty?” Zara asked between bites.

  “I used a mix of dried and fresh herbs we had stored, plus spices like rock salt and whatever else I could find. The key is balance, salt, spice, and a touch of sweetness,” Kai explained.

  “I’ll be damned. Sweet to balance salt and spice? Never tried that,” Harrietta said, scribbling notes into her trusty notebook.

  “Royal cooks do something similar,” Nerva added, nodding. “But even compared to them, you nailed the balance.”

  “Where’d you learn all this?” Zara asked, intrigued.

  “Well, back in my old country, we shared all kinds of knowledge. I picked up a few things, but I never really cooked until I came here,” Kai replied.

  “Sounds like a wonderful place,” Liliya said suddenly, blushing as she watched him explain passionately.

  “So, you didn’t grow up in the Dragon’s Jungle?” Xarion asked, surprised.

  Kai chuckled. “Nope. I was teleported there one day and had to survive. Met Umbra and Scry later.”

  “That’s incredible. For Lord Arthraxius to acknowledge you after you proved yourself in his domain… Truly admirable,” Xarion said, awe in his voice.

  Zara elbowed him sharply. “Honey, tone it down or I’ll break a few ribs. You’re making him uncomfortable,” she whispered.

  Xarion winced. He wasn’t usually like this; stoic and dependable was his norm. But meeting a Dragon King’s inheritor had stirred something deep within him.

  “I apologize, Master Kai. I’ll treat you with proper respect,” he said, bowing slightly.

  “Just treat me like anyone else,” Kai replied with a warm chuckle.

  Xarion frowned but nodded.

  “Silly lizard,” Zara teased, planting a kiss on his cheek.

  Nerva twitched at the display but sighed, letting it go.

  As laughter settled around the table, Kai leaned back, catching Nerva’s twitch with amusement.

  The warmth of the moment gave way to curiosity. “So… they’re a thing? How’s that going to work, you know, with having kids?” he asked.

  Nerva paled. “Good gods, boy. I don’t want to think about that. But yes, all species in Sacra can mate with one another, as long as they’re compatible and of similar strength. That’s how the gods set the rules of this world.” He grimaced at the thought, though deep down, the idea of grandchildren he could train into warriors wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

  Kai nodded. “Sorry, that was a thoughtless question.”

  “No, no. I need to make peace with it. They’re adults, after all. And between us… If she has to be with someone, I’m glad it’s my good friend and a truly strong warrior,” Nerva admitted.

  Kai smiled, watching the couple. Zara brought out a playful side in Xarion, while he pushed her to grow stronger. They balanced each other well.

  I wonder if I’ll ever find someone, Kai thought, his smile fading. Being from another universe… who knows how that would even work?

  Would I want to go back if I found someone here? Sigh. Who would even want to be with someone like me? I’m more beast than man now, serpent, wolf, dragon… and who knows what else down the road.

  His face betrayed a flicker of sorrow.

  “Don’t dwell on it,” Nerva said gently. “For those of us who are strong, it’s hard to find someone equal. Even after 150 years of actually looking, I haven’t found a match. We live long lives, longer than most mortals. Just keep living. Fate has strange ways of bringing people together.”

  He noticed how Kai looked at Zara and Xarion. He understood that longing. He’d felt it himself for years, but no one had caught his eye yet.

  While Kai and Nerva spoke of fate and companionship, across the table, another kind of curiosity stirred. Liliya chatted with Scry, her eyes drifting toward Kai.

  Umbra noticed. “Mage girl,” she said with a chuckle, “what do you think of our Kai?”

  Liliya scoffed. “What would I think of such a ruffian? He tried to kill me today!”

  “You tried to kill me, too,” Umbra retorted.

  “Well, actually no. That spell was meant to beat you, then I’d trap you in my Arcanum and keep you as my pet,” Liliya said with a mischievous smile.

  “Oh. Well, it felt pretty final at the time, let me tell you,” Umbra replied.

  “That spell was strong; it had to be. You were dangerous back then,” Liliya admitted.

  “Hehe, thank you, mage girl. I appreciate it,” Umbra grinned.

  “Crazy bird. Is that really something to be proud of?” Scry cut in.

  “Of course. If your enemy thinks you’re dangerous, you’re doing something right,” Umbra said confidently.

  Scry sighed. There was no reasoning with her.

  Liliya smiled. “That whole situation was a mess. I’m sorry again.”

  “Ah, nobody died. It’s fine. But if we fight again, I won’t let you trap me like that,” Umbra said, letting a hint of dark mana seep out.

  “Sure. You do know I have stronger spells,” Liliya teased.

  “Oh, you do? You’ll have to show me,” Scry said, intrigued.

  Liliya chuckled.

  And so the night went on. New and old friends talked, laughed, and got to know each other better, all while enjoying Kai’s cooking, made with high-level monster meat and spirit fruits that nourished both body and soul.

  As the last plates were cleared and laughter faded into quiet conversation, Kai rose from his seat. The night had grown long, and rest was overdue.

  He led everyone to their rooms. The Arcanum had more than enough space; it was built to house countless Chosen after all.

  “If you need to wash up, there are baths. Rest well. We’ll meet in the morning to discuss our next steps,” Kai said.

  “Agreed. But I’ll be leading this mission,” Nerva said with a grin.

  “We’ll see, old man,” Kai chuckled.

  Zara and Liliya watched the two in awe.

  “How did those two get so close?” Zara asked.

  “Truly strange. Monsters do tend to enjoy each other’s company,” Liliya added with a laugh.

  “Indeed. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad for them to work together. Imagine the bloodshed,” Zara joked.

  Xarion smiled, lost in thought. “It’s not bad. Nerva missed having someone like that after Theodor became king. He missed having a partner. Even though Lord Kai is still weaker… he’ll grow.”

  Nerva turned, twitching. “Why does it feel like you’re talking about me behind my back?”

  The rest laughed and headed to their rooms, ready to rest for the journey ahead.

  ***

  Kai lay alone in the quiet of his bed. Umbra, Scry, and Lisa were already asleep, and he could hear Eira rustling in her bed at the other end of the room.

  The laughter from dinner still echoed faintly in his mind, but it felt distant now, like a memory already fading. He stared at the ceiling, eyes tracing symbols on the ceiling, wondering if peace like this could ever last.

  So much had changed: his body, his soul, even the way others looked at him. Yet beneath the power and titles, he was still just Kai, a boy who had survived the jungle and found a family in the chaos.

  He closed his eyes, letting the silence settle over him like a blanket.

  Tomorrow, the hunt for Florian would begin. But tonight, he allowed himself to rest, not as a warrior, not as a dragon’s inheritor, but simply as someone who had earned a moment of peace.?

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