Five days had passed since Canna and Kael decided to stay in the domain. During this time, Canna dedicated himself to spending time with Stormy and improving the groundhog pens. He noticed that the female groundhogs were almost always in heat, and their supply of grass, which should have lasted a week more, was already dwindling.
The groundhogs' appetites were something Canna hadn't anticipated; he thought he had stored plenty, but he was quickly proven wrong.
Summoning his undead army daily, Canna turned their presence into an exercise routine for himself and Stormy. They engaged in mock battles, annihilating the undead. Although there were no experience points to gain, the sessions were immensely fun.
Sometimes, Kael joined in to stave off his boredom. Grimruk, showcasing the incredible regenerative abilities of orcs, had already healed by the second day.
Canna's bond with Stormy deepened over these days. The young dragon, though fierce and powerful, showed a surprisingly affectionate side towards Canna. It became clear to Canna that raising a dragon would require more than just feeding and training; it required patience, understanding, and a deep emotional connection.
Now, Canna was saying his goodbyes to Stormy, who was already getting sleepy. Since Stormy was about to nap, Canna wouldn't have to stay in the domain. With everything in order, Canna prepared to leave. He looked up at the yellowish-purple skies, appreciating the unique beauty of his domain, and opened the portal to where it was last used.
Upon returning to Fernwood, Canna was immediately struck by a familiar, nostalgic scent. His nose twitched, and a surprised expression appeared on his face.
"Kael! Do you smell that? It's petrichor!" Canna exclaimed enthusiastically.
"What's a petrichor?" Kael asked, confused. Unfortunately, Kael didn't get his answer because Canna started running toward the door of the Adventurer's Guild.
Canna kicked the door open, and with a loud thud, it flew off its hinges. Kael saw that it was raining outside. Canna had mentioned before how much he loved the smell of rain hitting the ground. After a few seconds, Canna spoke again.
"Kael! Let's go out of town, somewhere with a big tree. I think I saw one while we were making our way to this village," Canna shouted. "Let's race!"
With that, Canna sprinted away. Kael could only shake his head. There was no way he could catch up with Canna normally, so he started casting spells to coat his body with mana and ran after him.
From the other side, the Veiled Order's operatives emerged, their dark cloaks blending with the shadows cast by the rain. They moved with a quiet, lethal grace, clearly prepared for a confrontation.
General Alaric stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Canna and Kael. "You must be Canna," he said, his voice carrying authority and curiosity. "I've been looking for you."
Canna raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the general's presence. "And you are?"
"General Alaric of the Kingdom of Arenthia," he replied. "I've heard many things about you, Canna. Impressive things."
Canna glanced at Kael, who gave a slight nod, indicating that Alaric's reputation was well-known. "Well, General, I'm not sure what you've heard, but I'm just a traveler passing through."
Alaric's eyes flicked to Kael and then back to Canna. "A traveler who defeats great calamities single-handedly is not a simple traveler."
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At this, Canna's eyes narrowed. "You know a lot, General. What are you going to do then?"
Before Alaric could respond, a figure from the Veiled Order stepped forward, his voice dripping with disdain. "Enough of this. Hand over the Bloodfang Scythe, and we may let you live."
Canna's head turned, looking at the origin of the voice. "And who are you to make such demands?"
"We are the Veiled Order," the figure replied, his eyes cold and calculating. "And we do not tolerate threats to our plans."
The tension in the air was thick, the rain doing little to dampen the rising hostility. Canna stood his ground and without any warning did something that confused everyone present, even Kael. He sat down and slowly laid on his back, then yawned and said, "I wouldn't want to miss the rain. If you would like violence, then have it your way."