Chapter 162: Free Ride

Regis, Pandora, and Killian all had happy expressions as they meditated and saw the second star glowing in their hearts.

That was right, they all had advanced to the Second Star Realm through this encounter.

Looking at the three children’s joyful expressions, Alaric smiled heartily, highlighting the wrinkles on his face.

Although he didn’t say anything out loud, the expression of nostalgia could be seen well within his eyes.

He remembered his youth when he was just like them— excited at the mere thought of getting stronger and having the freedom to roam freely around the world.

’Though my talent could never hold a candle compared to theirs.’ he added silently in his heart.

However, something was caught in his peripheral vision as he was reminiscing silently about his past.

Alaric turned his head towards Aurelia— they were sitting near their companions and guarding them from any potential threats that might approach them.

After all, they were still in the midst of the Falkor Valley while being surrounded by the corpses of the demonized griffins, and the act of meditation, coupled with their exhaustion, rendered them unsuitable for combat at the moment.

Still, there was something he was curious about as he spoke, "Young Lady."

Hearing the priest’s voice, Aurelia, who was staring at her three companions with a slight smile on her face, turned towards him.

However, that single moment was enough for Alaric to notice the tinge of jealousy within the young girl’s eyes.

Even then, he continued to speak, "The Midas Merchant Organization is the wealthiest and largest merchant organization in the world, right?"

"Mhm!" Pride shone in Aurelia’s eyes as she agreed.

"Then I’m sure that securing a primer would have been a piece of cake to you. I’m just wondering what path you pursued— the path of aura or mana?"

The priest’s words made the young girl flinch, albeit slightly. Even so, it was still noticed by the former.

"W-Well— Ehem, I already awakened mana when I was 8 years old thanks to my father." Aurelia smiled as she replied.

"Oho?" Alaric smiled, interest apparent in his eyes.

Before he could follow up with a question, the young girl turned her eyes towards Regis, Pandora, and Killian once again and spoke.

"It’s just that my situation is quite special, so I can’t seem to utilize it..."

By the end of her sentence, her voice had already turned to a whisper. Her eyes inadvertently glanced at the white gloves that covered her hands up to her elbows.

Among their group, she was the only one who didn’t change her clothes.

But even then, her elegant black lacey dress, white gloves, and doll shoes seemed to be free of even a speck of dirt.

When she was once asked by Pandora regarding the matter along their journey, she blushed and explained that her clothes had been enchanted with magic that allowed for self-cleaning.

’Ughh...’ Remembering those embarrassing moments made her groan in her head.

Seeing that she did not seem to want to elaborate on the matter, Alaric chose to stay silent.

At this moment, Regis, Pandora, and Killian all opened their eyes as they felt goosebumps all over their bodies— Alaric also stood up, his eyes alert.

"What’s the meaning of this? Are they going to avenge their fallen comrades?"

Killian slowly stood up with utmost care, followed by Regis and Pandora, as all of them warily looked at the griffins that were slowly surrounding them.

Meanwhile, the griffins also carefully approached the group of humans, smelling and touching the corpses of the demonized griffins with their beaks as they did so.

Seeing this, Alaric seemed to think of something before relaxing his body.

This did not escape Regis’s perception as he asked, "Do you have an idea about what’s happening, Mister Alaric?"

Pandora, Killian, and Aurelia turned to look towards the priest.

"Yes, I think so..." Alaric nodded, albeit with a little hesitation.

He observed the griffins and continued, "I think they don’t mean us any harm— though I’m not sure what exactly they’re trying to do."

The priest’s world calmed down the sense of panic that was threatening to rise within his companion’s hearts.

"Thank goodness, because we’d really be goners if they were to attack us in this state."

Killian couldn’t heave a breath of relief along with the others.

At this moment, the largest griffin in the group suddenly approached them with careful steps.

Witnessing this sight, Alaric, Killian, Pandora, and Aurelia unconsciously tensed their bodies even though they were quite sure that it didn’t mean any harm.

The largest griffin that seemed to be the leader of its species continued walking towards Regis.

Regis, in turn, calmly gazed at the griffin before him, observing the beauty of its feathers, the sharpness of its beak, the intelligence in its eyes, and the four glowing stars on its chest.

That was right, the griffin leader was already at the Four Star Realm.

Their staredown lasted for a few minutes before the leader of the griffins closed its eyes and lowered its head.

’What...!?’ Alaric couldn’t help but gasp at what he had witnessed.

As someone who was relatively knowledgeable about griffins, he had never heard of an instance where the prideful beast had ever lowered its head towards another species, even those with more stars than it.

Thus, one could only imagine how shocked he was at the action it just did.

However, contrary to what he was thinking, Regis had an awkward expression on his face. He looked towards his companions with a face that was clearly asking for help.

Unfortunately for him, no one knew what to make out of his situation either.

It was then that—

KRRRRRRRR—--!!!!!!!

The leader of the griffins raised its head and screeched towards the sky.

KRRRR!!!! KRRRR!!! KRRRR!!!

It didn’t take long before the other griffins also followed suit.

"Mister Alaric, do you know what this means?" Regis spoke with a tinge of nervousness.

Alaric only shook his head in reply.

"Maybe they’re thanking us?" Killian guessed with an uncertain expression.

***

"Woohooooo!!!"

Killian screamed happily with his hands in the air.

He looked at the trees, animals, and beasts below that were currently all no bigger than an ant in his eyes.

Not only him, but Alaric also had a joyful expression on his face as his eyes were filled with child-like wonder, just like how he had been in his youth.

"Are we there yet?"

Contrary to the two’s enthusiasm, Pandora didn’t even have the energy to move as she buried her head on Regis’s back.

Feeling the wind caressing his face and the trembling Pandora behind him, Regis didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "Pandora, try to relax. The griffin won’t let you fall."

However, the only reply he received was her burying her head on his back deeper.

At this moment, their group was flying through the skies while riding on the back of the griffins.

Remembering how speechless they were when they saw the griffins each lowering their bodies next to them earlier, Regis couldn’t help but smile.

"To think that they were really thanking us like Killian had said..."

As he was immersed in his thoughts, Regis noticed Aurelia from the side.

Unlike Alaric and Killian, she didn’t seem to be too excited about flying on the back of the griffin. She also wasn’t scared like Pandora.

Seeing how calm the smile on her face was, Regis began to be curious.

It wasn’t long before Aurelia also noticed Regis’s curious expression, which made her giggle.

She then tapped the back of the griffin she was riding. As if understanding what she wanted, it flew closer towards the other griffin that Regis was riding.

"Woah, how did you do that? Isn’t this your first time riding a griffin?" He asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.

Aurelia giggled again, "No, my father had always taken me to ride griffins whenever I’m in the mood to ride one."

"Eh?"

Regis was speechless, but it also made sense since it indeed seemed like this was not her first time flying.

’I wonder just how rich she is...’

However, before he could think any further, he felt something familiar in the air.

"Regis." Alaric also called out to him.

Regis glanced at the priest, his eyes alert, "I know."

Seeing the two of them look ahead with serious expressions on their faces, Killian and Aurelia turned to look in the same direction.

There they could see the swamp that they were approaching at high speed.

However, the thing that made the group alert was the black miasma that they could faintly see in the air.

What was worse was the fact that the swamp in the distance seemed to be enshrouded in darkness as the thick black miasma surrounded it.

It was not strange for swamps to be enshrouded in fog or poisonous mist.

However, poisonous mists were always a shade of dark green, which was in contrast with the black miasma ahead.

As such, there was only one likely reason why they could see black miasma in the air.

"Demons..."

Regis muttered with a serious expression.