"The hell is that?"
Stella’s expression hardened, clearly interpreting the delay as hesitation rather than plain confusion. Pressing the blade even closer now, she inched up slowly to him. Daniel tried leaning his head back but eventually backed up into a tree.
"Woah—hey, easy!" he said quickly. "I’m serious."
Aren sighed as he dragged a hand down his face.
Why is the Senior even entertaining this?
"Students from the Imperial Mystic College don’t wander into the Wildlands without knowing what they’re looking for," she said coldly.
"And I’ve been telling you, lady! We’re here on a training trip!"
"Whatever you’re talking about," he continued. "The na sounds like sothing out of a fairy tale!"
She went silent for a while, lowering her blade as her shoulders started to tremble. Daniel lowered his hands, studying her before speaking again.
"...Alright, let’s try a different question then."
"You said you searched for it," Daniel continued. "Where exactly have you been looking?"
"The Highlands," she answered without hesitation.
"...The Highlands."
"Yes."
Daniel stared at her for a mont longer before letting out a quiet sigh.
"You do realize the Wildlands isn’t just the Highlands, right?"
Stella imdiately whipped her head up to look at him, her make-up was partially ruined but it didn’t seem like she cared.
Uncertainty passed through the small group behind her as they exchanged uneasy glances with each other.
Aren was about to step out to back his Senior up, but the creature in his arms stirred, its tiny claws hooked onto his shirt.
Right...I can’t exactly reveal this little guy.
That was when sothing caught his eye. Sitting a short distance away was Daniel’s travel bag. Aren’s eyes lingered on it for a mont.
Knowing Daniel, there was a very high chance that bag contained sothing extrely useful.
He probably does have a subspace pocket...I should go take a look.
Subspace pockets weren’t common equipnt for expeditions. They were rare, expensive pieces of spatial storage used to house contracted beasts.
But Daniel Lancaster happened to co from exactly the kind of family that would treat one as casual travel gear.
Aren waited a few seconds longer, making sure everyone in the clearing remained focused on the standoff. Stella hadn’t taken her eyes off Daniel, and the rest of her group were too busy muttering to themselves to notice anything happening along the tree line.
Perfect.
Aren slipped quietly from behind the trunk and moved toward Daniel’s pack. A few steps later, he was already crouching beside it, carefully loosening the flap.
As expected, the inside was a ss.
Daniel packed the sa way he approached most things in life—casually and with very little organization. Several rolled travel rations were shoved into one side, along with spare clothing and what looked like a half-empty flask.
Aren began quietly digging through it. If Daniel had brought a spatial container, it wouldn’t be large. Subspace pockets rarely were, with most looking like ordinary leather pouches no bigger than a fist.
It only took him a few seconds to find it.
A small dark pouch sat buried beneath a folded cloak, its surface slightly blurry with the telltale distortion of spatial implentations.
Aren lifted it slightly and opened the drawstring just enough to peer inside.
Empty.
"...Huh. That’s unexpected."
Then it clicked. Daniel had probably brought it along in case they managed to find a beast worth contracting in the Wildlands.
aning—Daniel had essentially brought along the perfect dragon container. Aren glanced down at the small drake sleeping peacefully in his arms.
"...Don’t mind if I do."
Without the slightest trace of guilt, he carefully lowered the sleeping creature into the mouth of the subspace pouch. The drake shifted slightly as it slipped inside, its tiny claws briefly clutching at Aren’s sleeve before relaxing again.
A faint ripple passed across the pouch as the spatial magic adjusted to its new occupant. Aren tightened the drawstring and tucked the pouch securely back into Daniel’s bag.
"...I’m telling you," he was saying patiently, "if that herb exists, I’ve never heard of it."
"You’re lying," Stella snapped.
"I really wish I was," Daniel replied. "It would make this conversation much shorter."
Behind the tree line, Aren exhaled quietly.
Alright. That’s enough of that.
He stepped out from the cover of the trees. Several heads snapped toward him at once, and two of Stella’s companions instinctively raised their weapons toward the newcor. Stella herself didn’t turn completely, but he knew she gripped her blade a bit tighter.
Daniel, however, imdiately relaxed.
"Oh good," he said. "You’re back."
Stella’s eyes narrowed as she studied him.
"Another one," she muttered.
"Relax," Aren said calmly, raising one hand in a mild gesture. "I heard the entire conversation."
"You heard—?" Stella began.
"Yes," Aren said, cutting her off gently. "Which is why I’m going to suggest we all take a step back before soone does sothing stupid."
"Look," he continued, his tone remaining even. "You’re looking for sothing called the Miracle Herb. Daniel doesn’t know what that is. Threatening him isn’t going to magically make the answer appear."
Daniel nodded approvingly. "Finally, soone reasonable."
Aren continued before the tension could spike again.
"So here’s a better idea."
"We’re all clearly in the sa area for the ti being," he said. "So we might as well sit down, calm down, and talk it over."
"...Preferably without threatening each other."
"...See?" he said lightly. "Much better idea."
One of Stella’s companions shifted uneasily before glancing at her. "...Lady Stella?"
The red-haired girl hesitated before she finally pulled herself together. Stella sheathed her sword and began walking back to her group.
"Fine," she said curtly.
Aren nodded slightly and gestured toward the nearby clearing.
"Good," he said calmly. "Let’s make camp."
The group slowly began moving, moving more cautiously as they started setting up their equipnt. The tension hadn’t completely disappeared, but at the very least, nobody looked like they were about to start another fight.
Aren stepped aside to give them space, stopping beside Daniel as the two watched the others begin organizing the campsite.
For a mont, they simply stood there in silence. Then Aren leaned slightly toward him and lowered his voice.
"...What was that about?"
Daniel blinked.
"What was what about?"
"The whole situation," Aren muttered. "Why didn’t you just beat them up and get it over with?"
Daniel placed a hand over his chest as if offended.
"Aren," he said quietly. "A man’s gotta have class and finesse in situations like this."
Aren stared at him for a long second. Sensing his bullshit, he sighed. "...You’re not gonna hit, bro. Move on."
"...Wow."
Aren turned and walked off toward the campfire. Behind him, Daniel muttered under his breath.
"Zero respect."
"Hey, you never know," Daniel smiled cheekily as he followed Aren toward the camp as well.
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