Leylo sat firmly atop Tempest's back. Before long, the few short-sighted Iron-Back Falcons were either scattered or struck down. One falcon, likely driven mad by hunger, tried to sneak up on a griffin carrying meat from below; it ended up being pecked squarely on the head, spiraling away in a dizzying tumble that drew a hearty laugh from Ed.
With these minor nuisances cleared, the group pressed on. Similar harrassments occurred several times, but the Storm Griffins handled them with ease. After nearly half a day's flight, the sky grew late, and the setting sun dyed the horizon in magnificent shades of orange and red.
In the distance, the rugged and sturdy silhouette of Blackstone Castle grew clear in the twilight. On the castle's watchtowers, soldiers had already spotted the returning formation, and the flickering of torches and silhouettes was visible.
Tempest let out a long, low cry, seemingly buoyed by the prospect of reaching home. He glided smoothly, carrying Leylo to a landing on the clearing before the castle. Dust kicked up slightly as the griffins touched down. Leylo vaulted off Tempest's broad back with agile movements, followed closely by Ed, who began calling out to the servants rushing from the castle.
"Ed, make the arrangements. Have these Caiman-Dragon segments processed immediately," Leylo said, his gaze sweeping over the meat that still radiated a thick, bloody scent.
"Yes, my Lord," Ed bowed and turned to direct the work with practiced efficiency.
Though the Caiman-Dragon's carcass had been roughly divided, fully processing it—deboning, skinning, sorting the cuts, and preserving them with special spices and anti-corrosion techniques—would still take considerable effort. These precious Tier 4 materials, whether used for food, alchemy ingredients, or rewards, held immense value.
Tempest gave a low rumble, affectionately nudging Leylo's armor before heading toward the clearing in front of the castle. There, the Dragon-Thorn Fruit tree emitted an inviting fragrance; Tempest seemed to have claimed the tree as his personal treasure to guard.
Under Ed's command, the other griffins were unloaded. After the servants brought out scraps for the griffins to feast upon, the flock returned to their woodland nesting grounds at Tempest's signal.
The Alchemist's Hook
As night fell, the study was brightly lit. Leylo spread out the stone slabs containing the Dragonblood Knight inheritance, his fingertips brushing the ancient engravings, a slight frown on his face. This legacy was deeper and more powerful than he had anticipated. It contained not only methods for tempering the physique and stimulating bloodlines but also combat techniques utilizing draconic power.
Furthermore, the slabs held recipes for creating powerful magical equipment and potions using dragon blood and scales. Fully mastering this and cultivating true Dragonblood Knights would require resources and capabilities far beyond what he currently possessed.
"Master Barnaby..."
A name surfaced in Leylo's mind. That alchemy master, hailed as a "Potion Genius"—if he could secure his help, the Dragonblood Knight program would undoubtedly succeed with half the effort. But the master was eccentric; ordinary wealth and power could not move him. "Inviting" him to the Blackstone Territory would be no easy feat.
Leylo rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.
"Awoo!"
Moonlight's voice interrupted his thoughts. Having just enjoyed a feast of "Roasted Caiman-Dragon Meat" prepared by the cook, Marlene, the cat lay sprawled contentedly across the desk. Leylo smoothed her soft neck fur, feeling the cool aura she radiated, which helped calm his frantic thoughts.
Looking at Moonlight, a thought struck him like lightning.
Master Barnaby is interested in mutant Silver Dragons, isn't he?
If he could arrange for the Master to "accidentally" discover clues suggesting a Silver Dragon's presence in Blackstone Territory—while ensuring Moonlight's true identity remained hidden—it might work. The key was "enticement" rather than "coercion." He needed to design a trap clever enough to make the Master come voluntarily and stay to serve the territory.
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He could almost see the "Potion Genius" rushing over after having his curiosity piqued. Once there, Leylo could drop the alchemical challenges found in the Dragonblood inheritance; the Master wouldn't be able to resist.
Leylo stroked his chin, pondering the details. His mood brightened, and his exhaustion vanished. He picked up Moonlight, scratching her chin. "I'll need your cooperation for this, Great Lord Moonlight."
Moonlight squinted her eyes comfortably, snuggling into his arms. After organizing his thoughts, he summoned a servant and whispered a few instructions. "Tell Ed to arrange for someone to head to the Great City."
The Arrival of the Lark
The next afternoon, under a bright sun, the knights and apprentices were training in the castle square. Assisted by the Knight Strength Potions refined by Carl, the number of Knights and Great Knights in the territory had multiplied.
Leylo watched the strength of his land grow bit by bit, feeling invigorated. Suddenly, a Pegasus Knight galloped in from the distance, circling once before landing precisely at the edge of the square. The rider dismounted and knelt on one knee.
"My Lord, during our patrol, we found a group entering the territory from the east. They claim to be the retinue of the Amber Baroness, heading for Blackstone Castle."
The Amber Baroness? Leylo understood. Calculating the time, it was indeed the day his sister, Lillian, was due to arrive. "Pass the word. Prepare to receive them."
Two hours later, a convoy of two hundred knight guards and over a dozen carriages appeared on the horizon, kicking up dust as they rolled toward the castle. Leylo stood at the gate, flanked by Ed, Thor, and the resident knights. They stood tall, radiating an aura of iron and blood.
Before the convoy had even come to a full stop, a petite figure leaped impatiently from the most luxurious carriage. Like a light-footed lark, she dashed straight for Leylo.
"Brother Leylo!"
The clear, melodious voice rang out. A soft smile appeared on Leylo's face as he opened his arms, catching the lunging figure securely. The girl in his arms wore a light-blue mage robe suited for travel, hinting at her developing curves. Her soft golden hair trailed a beautiful arc through the air.
"Lillian, slow down. You're a big girl now, stop being so reckless," Leylo said with a hint of helpless indulgence, patting her back.
Lillian ignored him, hugging his waist tightly and burying her head in his chest. "I don't care! I just missed my brother!"
Leylo felt a warmth in his heart. The two siblings had always been close. Duke Aiden had four sons and one daughter. The eldest, Elliot, was born to a princess of the Southern Saint Violet Empire, who passed away shortly after his birth. Leylo himself was born to the Duke and a singer from the manor—a status that was once awkward.
The current Duchess, Anna, was the eldest princess of the neighboring Blazing Kingdom, deeply loved by her father. After marrying into the Thunder Dragon family, she gave birth to Lillian and their youngest brother, Arthur. Many had expected Leylo's life to be difficult under a stepmother, but Duchess Anna was not small-minded; she had cared for Leylo as her own. Influenced by her mother, Lillian had clung to Leylo since childhood, and their bond was even closer than that of Arthur and Leylo.
"Alright, alright, everyone is watching," Leylo said, half-laughing as he ruffled her hair. Lillian reluctantly let go. "Let's go inside first. It's been a long journey."
Family Ties
Inside the side hall, sunlight filtered through stained glass. Lillian sipped a cup of steaming fruit tea. "Brother, do you know? I was so excited I couldn't sleep for days! I'm finally out of that 'big birdcage' in Thunder Dragon City. Mother was sighing every day and arguing with Father; I don't know what she's so worried about."
She prattled on, asking about the North. "I heard back in the city—you tamed a powerful griffin and even defeated Elliot's Thunder Dragon! Brother, where is the griffin that beat the dragon?"
Leylo shook his head; Lillian seemed to think this was a vacation. "Tempest is in the woods with his flock. When he returns, I'll take you for a ride."
Lillian's eyes lit up. "Great! Can I come visit often?"
"Of course, as long as you don't find it boring here."
"Not boring at all! If you're here, it's not boring!" Lillian shook her head vigorously. She then pulled an exquisite brocade box from her pouch. "Oh, Brother, Mother told me to give this to you personally. She said you'd like it."
Leylo opened the box to find a badge engraved with complex magic sigils, centered with a pigeon-blood ruby. "A Magic Guardian Badge?"
He was surprised. Anna was a Tier 4 Great Mage and an Alchemist, but he hadn't expected such a precious gift.
Lillian lifted her chin proudly. "Mother said you'd face many dangers out here. With this, she can rest easier. It activates automatically when attacked, creating a shield that lasts five minutes—nothing below Tier 4 can break it." She puffed out her chest, showing an identical badge on her own robe. "See? I have one too."
A wave of warmth flowed through Leylo. He pocketed the badge solemnly. "Thank Mother for me. I love it."
The siblings talked for hours. Lillian shared stories of the capital, noble gossip, and Arthur's mischief—how Arthur had tried to sneak into her carriage to "protect" her, and how Duchess Anna had locked the Duke out of their bedroom for a week for sending Lillian to the Northern Frontier. As she spoke, Lillian's eyes welled with tears of homesickness. Leylo comforted her, telling her stories of taming the Pegasi and the Storm Griffins, successfully distracting her until her sadness turned into gasps of wonder.