Chapter 7: Opal

Chapter 7: Opal

I named him "Opal." He affectionately called me "Mamma." I began his training.

He reciprocated with bites. Gradually, over the following months, I became resistant to his venom. Even more gradually, over several years, I grew somewhat tolerant of his peculiar sense of humor.

As I found my footing in my new profession, Opal proved to be of great assistance. Initially, it was minimal, but it soon grew significantly. After all, who pays any attention to another Vorgan flying around the city? But a Vorgan, on the other hand, is a keen observer.

As the days turned into months and years, I gained proficiency, stature, companionship, and wisdom.

And, true to his mother's prophecy, I became a hunter.

The symbols of Dragon ,Pardus,Fenxera,,Lurivox, Baku, Falcon Fenghuang ,Baku and vorgan swirled before my eyes. The Imperion Empire, its populace fragmented into twenty-three Great Houses, each symbolized by a unique creature, seemed to lay bare before me. This was the realm of the Imperions, and there I was, a Terran, the odd one out.

It was not going to be any simpler. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

With no divine eyes upon me, I embarked on my journey.

To the north and west of Avandryl, about two hundred miles away, a mountain stood. It resembled a colossal grey Pardus, as if sculpted by an extraordinarily ambitious artist.

The illusion of the massive feline is flawlessly captured in countless paintings and psi prints from numerous perspectives. However, what's intriguing is the left ear. Despite appearing every bit as feline as the right one, it is believed to be artificially created. Though there are suspicions about the entire structure, the left ear's authenticity is certain.

Here, according to the legends, Alyssra Volade, the Enchantress, the Dark Lady of Pardus Mountain, resides like a sinister spider at the heart of a malevolent web, ensnaring unsuspecting heroes. The legends do not explain why she does this, but then again, they don't need to.

Legends are born from such tales.

I was perusing a couple of letters I had received. One was from a human girl named Zandria, expressing gratitude for a delightful evening. Upon reflection, it indeed had been enjoyable. I mentally planned to respond and inquire if she was available next week. The other letter was from one of my workers, requesting an extension for a client who had borrowed money to cover his gambling debts owed to another staff member. As I pondered this and drummed my fingers, I heard Thorne clearing his throat. Opal, my companion, sprang off his perch and landed on my shoulder, growling at Thorne.

"Boss, I wish he'd quit doing that," Opal conveyed to me telepathically.

"Is there any possibility he was abducted?"

"I'm not aware of any method to teleport someone against their will. Are you?"

"No, I don't think so. Hold on. Auror's a Mage. Didn't he trace the teleportation?"

"Yes," Thorne confirmed.

"So? Why didn't you chase him?"

"Uh, Viktor, neither of us is keen on following him to his destination."

"Why? What's the problem?"

"He teleported directly to Pardus Mountain."

"Pardus Mountain," I echoed after a lengthy pause. "Well, I might as well become a dragon's meal. How could he know the coordinates? How could he be sure he'd be safe from... what's her name again? How?"

"Her name is Alyssra Volade, and I have no idea," Thorne interjected.

"We'll need to send someone after him."

"That's impossible, Viktor. No one will agree to go there."

"Why not? We have enough funds."

"Viktor, it's Pardus Mountain. Let it go."