The wait was not long.
In about an hour, as the sky began to darken, a cluster of black dots appeared in the distance, expanding rapidly.
"They're here!" Leylo's spirits rose.
Soon, Ed's familiar face came into view, followed by over twenty Pegasus knights in tight formation. When Ed saw the massive herd—at least fifty wild Pegasuses—even his usual stoicism crumbled. His eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face, nearly reaching his ears.
"By the Gods! My Lord... so many!" Ed's voice cracked with disbelief. He stared at the magnificent creatures as if seeing an invincible legion beckoning him. The Blackstone Pegasus Knight Order was finally about to become a true force!
Leylo laughed. "Ed, don't just stand there. These Pegasuses are spooked and exhausted from the flight; it's the perfect time to catch them. Get the men ready and move out!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Ed waved his hand and shouted, "Brothers, you heard him! Get your lariats ready. Today, we bring every single one of these beauties back to Blackstone!"
1. The Aerial Roundup
"Master, we'll hold the flanks to prevent any from breaking away," Leylo said to Barnaby.
"Leave it to me," Barnaby chirped, guiding his Wyvern to a higher altitude to oversee the herd.
"Tempest, you go too. Drive back any that try to stray." Leylo patted the griffin's neck. Tempest let out a low cry and began circling the perimeter with predatory grace.
"Action!" At Ed's command, the twenty-plus knights scattered. Specialized lariats cut elegant arcs through the air, precisely snagging the necks of the startled Pegasuses.
"Ha! Got one!" a knight yelled. As his rope tightened, the wild Pegasus surged upward in a panic, but the knight held firm while his own mount pulled in unison, slowly dragging the wild beast toward the ground. Once they landed, the rope was secured to a sturdy tree trunk.
The valley became a chaotic symphony of neighs, shouts, and the whistling of ropes. Some Pegasuses were docile, accepting their fate after a few struggles, while others were fierce, bucking and diving, giving the knights a run for their money. Below, Alex arrived with the Moonlight Knights to help secure the captured beasts on the ground.
2. A Massive Success
The operation lasted four or five hours. By midnight, under the glow of torches and the high moon, the last Pegasus was subdued. Ed wiped the sweat from his brow and reported excitedly, "My Lord, fifty-three in total!"
"Excellent! Truly excellent!" Leylo was overjoyed. "Let the men rest, then lead them back to Blackstone. Be careful; don't spook them again."
As he looked at the fifty-odd white steeds, Leylo could already envision a grand Pegasus Knight Order soaring over his territory. Barnaby flew down, marveling at the haul. "Kid Leylo, your luck is truly something else. A casual trip and you stumble upon a treasure trove like this."
"It's our shared luck, Master. Without your help, it would have been much harder."
Barnaby waved it off but added with a touch of regret, "I suppose the dragon nest is off the menu for tonight."
"It's too late, and everyone is drained," Leylo agreed. "Why don't you rest at the castle tonight? We'll set out first thing tomorrow specifically for the nest."
"Deal!" Barnaby's eyes twinkled. "I want to see how that little mutant silver dragon plans to escape me this time!"
3. The Eye of the Mountain
The next morning at dawn, the two met in the courtyard. Tempest and the Wyvern were both restless and eager for flight.
"Ready, Master?" Leylo vaulted onto Tempest.
"Been ready!" Barnaby grinned, scrambling onto his Wyvern.
They took off, heading deep into the northern Blackstone Mountains. After several hours of flying over the stark, iron-gray peaks, the landscape grew increasingly primal.
"Kid Leylo, look there!" Barnaby suddenly pointed to a jagged peak.
In the middle of the mountain, a massive scar from a recent landslide was visible. Rocks and earth had collapsed into a trail of debris extending to the base. Halfway up the slope, a dark cave entrance—seven or eight meters high—had been revealed, looking like a giant eye staring into the heavens.
"It looks like the landslide exposed this entrance recently," Leylo observed, guiding Tempest closer.
Barnaby brought his Wyvern alongside, sniffing the air loudly. His expression turned thoughtful. "Interesting... there's a very faint trace of Draconic Aura lingering here."
Leylo's heart skipped a beat. Barnaby clapped his hands. "Let's go down! Tempest, and you—you lazy dragon—stay outside and guard. Don't let any pests interrupt us."
Tempest gave a low growl of agreement, while the Wyvern snorted in annoyance at the "lazy" comment, but both stayed at the entrance as sentries.