Due to his injuries, the lingering effects of the poison, or perhaps the unique sleep characteristics of dragons, Zephyr dozed off for a day and was still able to fall asleep at night. However, he now had little desire to sleep. The town being eerily empty during the day became even more unsettling at night.

  As Zephyr lay on the ground, his mind wandering with various possibilities, he heard heavy running sounds. Looking towards the sound, he saw a large wild boar charging towards him with tears in its eyes, clearly terrified. This type of boar, known for its fierce temper and ability to harden and shoot its bristles with enough power to pierce trees, was also delicious but rare—Zephyr had only encountered two in half a year. Now, one appeared, looking utterly frightened. Was this really the same aggressive boar he remembered?

  Slightly tilting his head, Zephyr noticed the little girl walking behind the boar, less than ten meters away. She moved slowly and gracefully, yet her speed was abnormal; no matter how fast the boar ran, the distance between them remained unchanged.

  Zephyr felt amused rather than alarmed. Despite the boar's size and capability to easily overpower the small girl if it chose to attack, it seemed solely focused on fleeing. When the boar charged directly towards him without stopping, Zephyr struck it with his claw, slamming its head into the ground. The boar's body twitched briefly before falling still.

  The little girl approached, pointing at the boar and then at the fire, seemingly indicating that she wanted roasted meat. Scratching his head with his claw, Zephyr interpreted her gestures correctly. He skillfully skinned the boar and tossed the hide aside. Then, the girl brought over a large water vat that could easily fit her whole body inside. Zephyr was astonished—if chasing the boar was surprising, lifting such a heavy vat was beyond comprehension. Did she have magnets in her hands?

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  Looking at the vat, Zephyr noticed the water inside was slightly murky. Dipping his claw into the water, he wondered if it was poisoned. Suspiciously glancing at the little girl, he shook off the water droplets. Should he use this water? Given her mysterious identity and apparent strength, would refusing her lead to retaliation? Feeling embarrassed about doubting her, he reminded himself that he was a dragon, not someone who should be intimidated by a little girl.

  The little girl frowned at the water droplets on the ground, checked the water in the vat, and with a light hum, lifted the vat effortlessly and threw it far down the street where it shattered loudly. Zephyr wondered if this was her reaction to discovering the water was possibly tainted.

  After cleaning the boar meat with water collected from the houses, he prepared to roast it. With his claws as tools, he cut the meat into pieces and placed them on a makeshift grill. Even though his cooking skills were rudimentary, the aroma of seasoned roasting meat soon filled the air. The little girl, who had been sulking nearby, turned her head towards the smell.

  Her expression was a mix of disdain and anticipation. Despite his mediocre cooking skills, her reaction suggested both interest and hesitation. Holding a skewer of roasted pork, Zephyr offered her the first piece. Though larger than usual, considering her earlier display of strength, it shouldn't be an issue.

  Instead of accepting the meat, the girl came closer, gestured for him to put it back, and then lightly flicked his scales. The sudden sharp pain made Zephyr flinch. Realizing she might have caused similar sensations earlier, he watched as she collected some of his blood using a cup she produced from somewhere. His bleeding stopped quickly due to his rapid healing abilities.

  Zephyr couldn't help but wonder what she intended to do with his blood. Was she some sort of vampire-like creature?