Chapter 228: Reaching the academy

He silently gazed at Vlad for several seconds. The latter didn’t show any reaction.

’Everyone has their secrets,’ Lucas sighed inwardly, deciding not to probe any further than what Vlad had already revealed.

"You’ve had it rough for the past few days," Lucas said, rising to his feet. "Have some rest."

He turned around and moved towards the neck of the wyvern. He stood there, his eyes fixed on the scenery ahead.

’Th-that was easier than I thought,’ Vlad mumbled inwardly. Lucas hadn’t even asked a single cross-question. Somehow, that only made Vlad feel more restless.

"Relax yourself," Seraphina’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She gently moved his head and rested it on her shoulder. "Father isn’t going to eat you or anything."

The only reason she managed to place his head there was because of the uneven surface of the wyvern’s body. She was sitting atop its backbone, which allowed her to make up for their height difference.

"Easy for you to say that," Vlad replied sarcastically.

"Oh, I never thought you would be scared of anyone," Seraphina gasped teasingly. "So even you aren’t immune to the Pyro Tyrant’s aura."

"Well, that’s only part of the reason," Vlad murmured, shifting his head on her shoulder. "The main reason I’m nervous in his presence is because he is your father."

Vlad’s words made Seraphina’s heart skip a beat.

A brief silence fell between the two.

"Once we return to the academy, visit my room at night," she murmured, a shy blush spreading across her cheeks.

Vlad understood the reason for her invitation. "Sure."

"Vlad..." Chloe whimpered in her sleep, a tear forming at the corner of her eye as she shifted in Vlad’s lap, her knees bending.

Vlad’s hand gently stroked her head and cheek. "I’m here, Chloe. Don’t be afraid."

His calm words helped her fall asleep again. Seraphina’s pink eyes closely observed how gentle Vlad was with Chloe and how his mere words were enough to make her completely relax.

"Her whole world revolves around you," Seraphina remarked, wiping the tear from Chloe’s eye. "She was ready to leave the academy without a second thought when the Vice Principal denied her permission to go to the Forest of Death to find you because it was against the academy rules."

Vlad could completely imagine her arguing with the Vice Principal, which only made him release a sigh.

"She has been following me everywhere since we were children," Vlad explained, a smile lingering on his lips as he affectionately pinched Chloe’s cheek. "I want her to become more independent and find her own path. But I can’t force her to do that. I tried once, and she thought I was trying to abandon her. This little cutie has no idea how much I really adore her."

Vlad’s jaw tightened as he continued, "I will make sure she never suffers such pain again as she did today."

Seraphina’s arms wrapped around Vlad’s waist, her cheeks puffing into a cute pout.

"I’m jealous," she whispered, loud enough for Vlad to hear her clearly.

"Eh?" He raised an eyebrow, straightening his head from her shoulder to look at her adorable, sulking face.

"I also cried so much," Seraphina complained in a mosquito-like tone. "You wouldn’t do anything for me? Or is she the only one you care about?"

Vlad’s lips parted but closed again. He was at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected her to come out so strong and confront him.

After a few seconds of gathering his thoughts, he replied, "Of course, the same goes for you as well."

He pressed her puffed cheeks with his fingers and continued teasingly, "After all, I don’t want to see your ugly crying face again."

"Waa... I’m not ugly," she whimpered, tightening her arms around his waist, which only made him chuckle at her cuteness.

In a couple more minutes, the wyvern moved past the Great Wall that separated the Argentum from the Dark Continent.

It was already quite late in the evening. Vlad and Seraphina’s gazes shifted to the beautiful scenery in front of them. The sun was painting the hundreds of hills on the other side of the Great Wall in a golden hue.

Once they reached the vast open ground beyond the hills, the wyvern descended to the ground.

"I will report your safe arrival to the academy," Lucas told Vlad as they moved down from the wyvern.

Chloe was still fast asleep, being carried by Vlad in a piggyback.

"Do I also have to come with you?" Vlad asked the obvious question. It was natural that the academy would investigate him thoroughly and even inquire about the Genesis Artifact that he possessed.

"No need," Lucas replied, his tone firm. "The explanation you gave me will suffice. I will handle the rest."

Vlad wasn’t stupid. He knew Lucas was covering up for the loose ends in his explanation.

"Thank you, Lord—Uncle Lucas," Vlad said with a slight bow.

"Haha, it’s no big deal," Lucas chuckled, tapping Vlad’s shoulder. He leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "I can do that much for my future son-in-law."

Before Vlad could even react, he had already climbed onto the wyvern.

"I will meet you later, Sera." He waved his hand as the wyvern took off.

"Stupid," Seraphina scoffed. Just as the wyvern was about to move away, she called out in a loud voice, "Take care, Father."

Lucas’s face bloomed into a bright smile. No matter how tough his little girl acted, she always melted when they were about to part.

He decided to give her a parting gift.

The wyvern suddenly flapped its wings, causing a storm before rising into the sky.

The sudden air pressure pushed Seraphina into Vlad’s arms. He immediately grabbed her by the waist with one hand, his other hand still holding Chloe on his back.

The last thing Vlad saw was Lucas winking at him as the wyvern vanished at an incredible speed.

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A/N: Enjoying the story? Motivate me with power stones and tickets ; ]