Chapter 505: Wyvern Loyalty.
I could feel their aurae. The twin wyverns Mom took under her wings as her retainers were ready to fight. The lung-burning air of these magma cavern tunnels was slowly disappearing under the power of icy white mists exuding out of the twins’ bodies like the opening of an ice cooler.
My initial thought was that this was a mere joke, or perhaps some kind of intimidation towards some fire wyverns. Shay was usually quite dutiful and conservative, always keeping a frown on his face when he was nervous or whenever he had to keep a watch over his highly-energetic younger twin sister. I did remember a few times when he was aggressive and angered, but it was usually in a defensive manner.
During our first meeting, he used his body to save his sister’s life from my lightning spells, and despite my mistake, he didn’t really condemn me for it. Sure, back then, his former boss Asterios kept him on a tight leash, and it didn’t help that wyverns have this toxic mentality that they had to serve true dragonkin with respect, but it did make me feel sympathetic towards the wyverns.
I guess that was when our “relationship” began. I felt guilty for hurting them when they were trying to not kill their supposed escortee. I felt flabbergasted when we reunited in Griffonpeak, only this time, they were serving under Mom. After some months together, the awkwardness disappeared, but I still couldn’t say that I was close to either of them, unlike with my party or with the students, or even Master Kush and the saurians.
To me, they were still “friendly acquaintances.” I would consider ourselves friends, aside from our relationship as their liege’s child and them being my mother’s retainers, but it was the sorta respectful and inclusive type of friendship you would make inside a forum or chat room over an interest or experience.
… Which could explain why their loyalty hadn’t resulted in them acquiring [Hestia’s Imperial Guard], unlike Tasianna. They were working under Mom’s orders to keep me safe and we weren’t close enough. Then again, the requirements for the title was still a total mystery to me, since Saori, my best friend and first party member, hadn’t received it either.
… So, why are they acting like this?
Why were the twins acting so hostile towards these fire wyverns after they asked to serve me? Was there something suspicious about them?
[“Uh, you can deal with this,”] Ryra said to quickly escape from the situation, charging deeper into the tunnel with a floating earth discus. [“I’ll wait for you at the entrance!”]