Leylo looked up at the sky and let out a clear, sharp whistle. Within seconds, a gale howled as Tempest, the Storm Griffin King, arrived. His massive body cast a giant shadow in the morning light, his yellowish-brown iron feathers shimmering with a metallic luster.
Trailing behind Tempest was another griffin—slightly smaller, but exceptionally majestic. Its plumage was primarily yellowish-brown, but its neck, wingtips, and tail feathers were adorned with clusters of brilliant gold that sparkled under the sun. It was the Golden-Feather Griffin, the former leader of the flock that Tempest had defeated.
"Whoa!" Lillian stared up at the behemoths descending from the sky, her eyes turning into sparkling stars. She couldn't look away from the one with the golden feathers; compared to Tempest, the Golden-Feather Griffin was far more eye-catching.
Tempest landed steadily beside Leylo, affectionately nuzzling his shoulder before letting out a low rumble, as if greeting Lillian. Leylo pointed to the unique creature and introduced it: "This Golden-Feather Griffin is the former leader of the flock Tempest subdued. It's a rare mutant with extraordinary talent."
Under Tempest's low growl and invisible pressure, the Golden-Feather Griffin—though its eyes still held a trace of wildness—walked obediently to Lillian and lowered its proud head.
"Lillian, this is my second gift," Leylo said, watching his sister's stunned expression. "This griffin has immense potential and will be a great help to you. Since Tempest is here to keep it in line, you can try to sign a contract with it now."
Lillian's face flushed with excitement. She reached out cautiously and placed her hand on the griffin's forehead. With her mental energy reaching out—and a little "nudge" from Tempest's aura—the Golden-Feather Griffin offered only a symbolic struggle before successfully completing the contract.
"Amazing! I have my own griffin!" Lillian jumped for joy, hugging the griffin's neck. The creature let out a youthful shriek and gently nudged her back. Lady Elena and Commander Kane looked on with envy; mutant magic beasts were rare, and a mutant Storm Griffin was of immeasurable value.
A Brother's Warning
As Lillian celebrated, Leylo's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Lillian."
"Yes, Brother?" She looked up, sensing the change in his tone.
"Tell me, what is the real reason I am giving you a Storm Griffin?"
Lillian tilted her head and thought seriously. "Because... it's majestic? And it's great at fighting? Tempest even beat a Thunder Dragon!"
Leylo shook his head.
"Because it flies high and can see very far?"
He shook his head again.
"Because it flies fast, so I can visit you at Blackstone Territory whenever I want?" Lillian stuck out her tongue and guessed.
Leylo shook his head one last time. "None of those. Remember, the greatest advantage of a griffin is speed. If you ever encounter a life-threatening danger, your first priority is to get on its back and run. Do you understand?"
Lillian froze. She hadn't realized that her brother's primary concern in giving her such a priceless gift was her escape route. A wave of warmth filled her heart, and her eyes grew moist. She nodded vigorously. "I understand, Brother!"
Leylo finally smiled and pulled an exquisite crystal box from his spatial ring. "The final gift."
Inside lay a fruit the size of a fist, crimson and covered in strange, thorn-like patterns. It radiated a faint fragrance and a pulsing energy.
"A Dragon-Thorn Fruit?" Lady Elena gasped. This wasn't something money could buy.
"This Golden-Feather is a powerful mutant," Leylo explained to Lillian. "Tempest used one of these to break through to the King level. Keep this safe. When the day comes that your griffin is ready to evolve, let it consume this. It may help it complete its metamorphosis and become a King, just like Tempest."
Lillian's hands trembled. She knew this was essentially the gift of a future King-level war asset. "Brother..." she choked out, "Thank you."
The "Stowaway" Incident
As Lillian prepared to board her carriage, a knight from Leylo's ranks stepped forward. "My Lord, I have a report."
Leylo looked slightly annoyed by the interruption. "Speak."
"My Lord, I was formerly of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries before you rescued me. I have just noticed a man in the Princess's retinue who is actually a leader of the 'Stone Crow Bandits.' I speak out of concern for the Princess's safety."
"Oh? Point him out."
The knight pointed to a handsome man in his thirties wearing leather armor.
"Princess, I am framed!" The man fell to his knees, shouting his innocence. A young woman also stepped forward. "Baron, this is my lover! He has nothing to do with bandits!"
Leylo looked at the woman. "Recently, many territories received a bounty notice from Baron Sunset. You must be his youngest daughter."
The girl looked away before admitting, "Yes, my Lord. I ran away from home."
Leylo sighed and looked at Lillian. "I'll handle this. You have enough to do starting your own territory. I'll clear this up for you."
Lillian nodded. "How will you handle it?"
"I'll verify his identity," Leylo said as he helped her into the carriage. "If he's a bandit, the law will deal with him. As for the girl, I'll send word to Baron Sunset to fetch her. If he's innocent, they can choose their own path—home or exile."
Lillian bid a lingering farewell as her convoy finally pulled away, the Golden-Feather Griffin circling above.
New Orders
Once the convoy vanished, Leylo's face turned cold. He looked at the kneeling couple. This "incident" had, of course, been staged by Leylo to remove unwanted elements from his sister's retinue.
"Take him to the dungeon. Interrogate him thoroughly," Leylo ordered. Two guards dragged the man away despite his screams. He then turned to the girl. "You will stay in Blackstone Town for now. I've already sent word to your father."
"Yes... my Lord," she whispered, realizing resistance was futile. "Don't worry," Leylo added, walking away. "My prison has no room for innocent men."
In the council hall, Leylo summoned Ed. "I am leaving for a while to attend Count Gawain's succession ceremony in the Red Leaf Territory. While I am gone, you are in full charge of Blackstone's defense."
"Especially the Emerald Marsh," Leylo emphasized. "Raise the defense level. If a large troop of Naga appear, do not engage. Retreat to the castle. The safety of our people comes first—if necessary, evacuate to neighboring territories."
"Understood, my Lord!"
Leylo didn't linger. Outside, ten Pegasus Knights were ready. Leylo vaulted onto Tempest's back.
"Ready?" he patted the griffin. Tempest screeched in response.
"Depart!"
With a beat of giant wings, they shot into the sky like a bolt of lightning, the Pegasus Knights forming a protective escort around their Lord. They flew east, the silhouette of Blackstone Territory blurring beneath them as the wind roared in their ears.