The trading route to Herdial. The gap between two rail heads for steam trains that cannot be bridged across the mountainous terrain. It would have to be bridged by horse convoys through ravines on the edge of wyvern territory.
Hikari drew her bow, a deep draw, holding it steady. Wyverns circled the skies above the caravan, raining down fire from above. Ria hugged her boot tightly, the fire harmlessly grazing the surface of Hikari's barrier before fizzling out.
As for the rest of the caravan, mercenaries and merchants left the carts strung out along the main road, and proceeded to hug the stone protrusions on either side, dragging their horses along and entrusting their wares to their fire proofing preparations.
Hikari releases her bow, the shockwave kicking up a thin layer of dust. The flaming ballista bolt soars into the sky, missing its target by a wing span. The wyvern, although unscathed, was thrown into confusion, sending it into a confused flight path, throwing the flock of wyverns into disarray.
"Now, my lady!" Ria ran towards the road under the cover of a knight holding up a steel shield.
Hikari slung her bow and casually walked empty handed along the main road, exposed on both sides, goading the flying beasts to attack her.
The stare down continued for a few tense minutes. The constant hail of fire balls petered out after having done minimal damage. One by one the wyverns broke off their attack. The caravan heaved a sign of relief as they slowly made their way back to their carts.
As the last wyvern turns, Hikari leapt high into the air and drew her bow. she tilted backwards, laying horizontal with the ground. The grey skin of a wyvern's underbelly came into view.
A clean hit. The wyvern let out a deafening screech, thrashing around in the air before tumbling onto the ground, falling completely silent.
"Good work Lady wyvern bane!" Several rugged men, armed with carving knives swarmed over it. Like a well oiled machine, they took apart the wyvern like a piece of furniture. The wings were first chopped off then the front and back claws, incisions were made at even intervals, followed by straight line cuts resulting in a grid.
Ria stood behind Hikari and watched the show. "Fans of yours? Lady Wyvern bane? I didn't hire them."
"They just follow me."
The skin was removed, in equal sized sheets. And then the fat, scrapped into jars. The lean meat, the blood drained into jars. The bones were broken apart with hammers, they were to be ground into powder anyway. Then the organs, each into a jar and then filled with salted water to preserve them.
Finally the core of the wyvern, a warm red crystal and a pile of smaller grey ones.
The foreman, tanned muscles, a rugged grey tank top fraying at the sides, both arms tattooed. He walked up to Hikari with the sack of crystals, his helper pushing the cart of lean meat.
"Good work. Please sign here." He held up a paper and an ink press the size of his palm.
"Hold on. Let me see that." The hulky man was taken aback at the sudden, soft invisible high pitched voice. After a few moments, he noticed the short and skinny Ria staring up at him.
"That's not for children, run along now." He dismissively waved his hand at Ria. Then one of his henchmen walked up to him and whispered in his ear. His expression changed.
"Ahem forgive my rudeness, Lady RazenHeir. Shame on me for forgetting that the esteemed lady of the house has a modest stature."
Ria held out her gloved hand. "I'm actually of marriageable age, I'll have you know. The paper please."
The man rolled his eyes, pulled his collars with his finger, visibly sweating.
"The price of their services need not conform to the exchange rates in a place several dozen miles from here."
A smartly dressed young man, whose build is not unlike that of Ria, only half a head taller than her.
Ria turned to face him.
"So you admit that their unilateral claim on the share of the spoils is actually far more favourable than that of the exchange rates in that faraway place which I presume you are referring to as the center of all commerce in the region."
"I merely state a guiding principle, we have yet to appraise the goods."
"I already have. The cart of skin is worth 2000G on the Herdial grand exchange, perhaps 1500G at least on the Moradale exchange. The fat, conservatively, 2500G. The horns, 1000G. The fresh organs, 4000G at least. On the other hand, the meat would have to be consumed tonight so lets say 50G, a full meal for an entire convoy. while the mana crystals could fetch only 5000G max anywhere on the continent. I have done many transactions by the way to ascertain that number."
"I stand by my point. You don't seem equipped to carve up a wyvern and transport it yourself. And if you leave it, it would just become salvage. Free for any passerby to claim."
"Not equipped to transport it you say. Bring it out!" The RazenHeir foot soldiers removed the riggings on a cart and removed the tarp covering it. There were gasps amongst the onlookers as a huge bag carved with the symbol of the spire tower.
The boy took a few moments to recover from his astonishment.
"Pptttttffff" he let out a mocking laugh.
"A subspace pouch? Please. That is the stuff of legend."
"Oh? Yet you know of it. You don't believe the RazenHeir house has the connections to obtain such an artifact?"
The boy rolled his eyes uncomfortably, glancing back at the angry glares of the carvers.
"Even so, the cost of maintaining its enchantments would far exceed the sale of the wyvern parts. You would be taking a hefty loss just to prove a point."
"What could I do, the negotiations are breaking- aaahhh!"
Hikari pinched the back of her cloak and lifted her up. The armour pieces on her torso opened up, swallowing Ria before sealing themselves back together.
The carvers and onlookers were silent, their jaws wide open at what they just witnessed. Noses were bleeding, pants were under pressure. None could utter intelligible words at the sight they just witnessed.
"Good sir, have you really been ripping me off?"
The foreman flinched, sweating profusely.
"Uh.. I suppose… I haven't been quite forthcoming with you…. "
"We'll discuss this at the town"
The rest of the journey was uneventful. They reached the town at the end of the ravine. The guards took several glances at Hikari and allowed the RazenHeir convoy through without incident.
The town was bustling with activity. Herdial troops in their light brown uniforms everywhere. One might get the impression that an invasion is being prepared.
An officer walked up to them as they entered the town.
"The hearthstone emblem" Ria whispered.
"Ah, you must be the RazenHeirs. Please, allow me to show you to your allotted campsite."
"Could we see the sealed letter?"
"Of course." The officer took out a sealed envelope and handed it to Ria.
"Lead the way."
They reached their camping area. It was little more than an opening marked out by wooden stakes.
"I guess they were serious about us bringing our own tentage equipment."
The RazenHeir troops unpacked their equipment. A mobile forge, kitchen, triage tent and rune workshop. All to support Hikari along with a dozen scouts, another dozen riflemen to guard the encampment, and three knights as Ria's personal body guard.
Once her tent was set up, Hikari sat down and began meditating. She still needs to stabilize her mana flow from the titan shard.
An hour later, she heard Ria's voice coming from outside.
"Hikari! Shall we cook the wyvern meat?"
Hikari's stomach growled.
"Sure"
The wyvern meat cracked and sizzled over the fire. Hikari sat in front of it, laser focused on every minute change in texture. The smell of spices, the dripping fat. Her mouth watered as she impatiently poked the meat with her throwing dagger.
"So this is the town of Thaffae, I believe. Seemed to have turned into more of a military outpost. I saw very few shops in town. The merchants just want to get on the train and leave."
Ria sat down beside Hikari who was still focusing on the wyvern.
A few minutes passed.
Suddenly, a hissing sound could be heard. Hikari immediately snuffed out the flames. Using her throwing dagger, she carved out a piece and dropped it into her mouth. Ria had yet to see such a blissful expression on Hikari's face.
"It's ready."
Ria started fumbling around searching for a bowl. Hikari telegrabbed one and placed it in Ria's hands, along with a slice of wyvern meat.
"How embarrassing. I'm too used to having my meals served to me. I guess I should come out here more often. Experience the great wilds outside the estate."
"It's not safe here."
"It is. The RazenHeir house hardly has any business or enemies in Herdial. Plus the fact that I'm the last daughter makes me a rather unattractive ransom target. Also, the queen wyvern raid was commissioned by the royal house. Which means, they'll protect me. So, I think I'm pretty safe here, especially with you around. Hehe."
Hikari takes another bite at the wyvern meat.
"Besides, good thing I came along. Those wyvern carvers, what a bunch of sneeze bags. All I had to do was get them on record and that forces them to be honest. But anyways, you are amazing. The wyvern parts could probably already cover our expenses here. If you keep shooting down wyverns like you did just now, we'll pay off the debt for the titan shard ritual in no time."
"Really?"
"Yes. Of course, Lady Wyvern Bane. Oh, does that make me the wyvern bane's secretary? The best prime broker of wyvern parts in Herdial?"
Hikari nudges Ria with her finger. Ria sleepily snuggled up against Hikari's leg.
"You know, I like that expression you make when you swallow the wyvern meat. I wish I could provide you with such a meal everyday. So rest well. Tomorrow, our work begins."
Hikari gently caressed her with her finger.
"Ria. The pouch-"
"Shh!" a sharp whisper. "The ruse won't work anymore if you tell."