"Give that back!" Lydia's voice was dripped with venom, her face contorting into a snarl as she glared daggers at Nyx.
Nyx was unfazed by the outburst, and merely stuck out her tongue and tossed the egg to Horizon. "Hold onto this for me. I've taken a liking to it."
"That's mine!" Lydia's shout was sharp, laced with desperation.
Nyx tilted her head with a wicked grin. "Then take it back from Horizon. If you can," she said, her clawed hand gesturing lazily toward Horizon.
Horizon raised an eyebrow. Why me? he thought, but remained silent.
Lydia's fury crumbled almost instantly as she locked eyes with Horizon. The glint of his cold, serpentine gaze sent a chill down her spine.
This was the man who had just slaughtered a dragon — not some ordinary beast, but a Coatl dragon!
How could she ever hope to take something from him? He's like a dragon slayer at this point!
Her bravado quickly faded. "P-please," she stammered, her voice softening as desperation replaced her earlier defiance. "I need that egg. I'll give you everything — anything you want — just . . .
please."
Horizon's expression was stone cold as he pulled the egg from Nyx's grasp, his fingers tracing its surface with detached curiosity.
What could she want with this egg? he thought.
Lydia, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of emotions, her plans shattered. She had expected to scavenge the battlefield, looting the bodies of the fallen paladins after Horizon and Von left.
Who would have thought they would beat her to the prize?
The Radiance Church paladins were known to carry riches — rare items, potions, and bags filled with gil. Lydia had anticipated a hefty profit, but now, all her hopes clung to that one egg.
With a dramatic flair, she dropped to her knees before Horizon, her voice trembling with false tears as she begged. "I'll give you everything I have. Anything you want! Just . . .
please . . . give me that egg." Her eyes, shimmering with a calculated mix of vulnerability and seduction, locked onto his.
"Horizon! Just give her the egg. We've got plenty of loot here. This should be more than enough to start our home," Von urged, his face filled with sympathy.
"Shut up or I'll curse you, you damn elf!" Nyx snarled, baring her teeth.
Von flinched, immediately ducking behind Cappy for protection.
Nyx turned her icy glare on Lydia. "This is mine now," she said with finality, her voice like the edge of a blade.
Horizon let out a sigh, slipping the egg into his backpack. I really need to buy a spatial ring . . . or something useful like that, he thought.
"You heard her. The egg belongs to Nyx," Horizon said, his voice calm but firm. Rather, he didn't have a choice, it was part of their contract.
It was rather a good thing that Nyx's only wanted the egg and couldn't care less about the loots.
Nyx's proudly lifted her head when Horizon took her side.
Lydia's shoulders slumped in defeat. "N-no . . ." She whispered in disbelief.
This egg was supposed to be the answer to all her problems. She had fought tooth and nail to get it, gone through hell just for the chance to steal it, and now . . . now it was slipping through her fingers.
NO! She wasn't leaving empty-handed.
Lydia clenched her fists, biting her lip before straightening to her full height. "Very well, then," she said, her voice steely.
She pointed an accusing finger at Horizon. "If that's how it's going to be, don't blame me for being aggressive!"
Horizon frowned, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for what the thief was about to do.
However, Lydia only took a step back and shouted empty threats. "Mark my words, one day I'll get that egg back! Until then . . . watch your back!" she shouted before turning on her heel and sprinting away.
"Wait! My bag!" Von yelled, realizing too late that Lydia had snatched his belongings as she ran off.
Horizon shook his head, picking up a pouch from the fallen corpses before joining Von. "Should we go after her?"