Dion stared at Arden, his mouth half open.
"...That shouldn’t be possible, right?" he said slowly. "Our master being a beast?"
Arden did not answer right away. He crossed his arms and looked down, clearly thinking hard.
After a few seconds, he spoke. "I think... it could be possible."
Dion jerked his head toward him. "Huh? What do you an, possible?"
Arden lifted his head and looked straight at Dion. "Think about it."
He raised one finger. "Master doesn’t act like normal humans."
Dion frowned. "He’s just weird."
Arden shook his head.
"Not just weird. He doesn’t care about politics. He doesn’t care about clans. He doesn’t even care about reputation."
"That’s true," Dion muttered.
"And he barely reacts to things that should shock people," Arden continued.
"Ancient secrets, powerful enemies, legendary beasts. To him, it’s all just... training material."
Dion’s expression slowly changed.
"And don’t forget this," Arden added. "He actually enjoys watching us suffer, as long as it makes us stronger."
Dion winced. "...Okay, yeah, that part is scary."
Arden let out a small breath. "That mindset feels closer to beasts than humans. Strength over comfort. Survival through pain."
Dion rubbed his chin. "When you put it that way... damn. It really could be possible."
Eldrin had been listening quietly. His eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
"So," Eldrin said, "your master may be a beast."
Arden nodded once. "It’s possible."
Bastor shifted heavily, his shell grinding against the earth. Varyn flicked his tongue, uneasy.
"A beast teaching humans," Varyn hissed. "That is dangerous."
Eldrin remained calm. "Or necessary."
He looked at Arden again. "If what you say is true, then I would like to et your master."
Arden raised an eyebrow. "et him?"
Eldrin nodded. "The Demon Gate has grown more unstable in recent years. The cycles are shortening. The pressure is increasing."
Dion snorted. "You can et him, sure."
Arden nodded calmly. "Yeah. It’s possible."
Then he added, very honestly, "But even if you have bad intentions..."
He glanced at Bastor and Varyn, then back at Eldrin.
"I doubt you could defeat our master."
Dion grinned. "Not a chance."
Arden finished quietly, "He’s far stronger than us. And he’s never even serious."
The clearing fell into a heavy silence.
Eldrin then turned toward Silvar, Bastor, and Varyn. "You three stay here."
Silvar’s eyes narrowed. "You’re going alone?"
Bastor rumbled deeply. "That is reckless."
Varyn hissed. "If sothing goes wrong, the seal..."
Eldrin raised one claw, stopping them. "Enough."
He looked calm, but there was weight in his voice. "Among all of us, I am the hardest to kill."
Silvar clicked his tongue, clearly unhappy. "That doesn’t an you can’t be trapped."
Eldrin smiled faintly. "If that happens, then it ans their master truly deserves our attention."
Bastor fell silent. Varyn slowly relaxed.
"...Fine," Silvar said at last. "But if you sense danger, retreat imdiately."
Eldrin nodded. "I will."
He then turned to Arden and Dion. "Take to your sect."
Arden blinked once, then nodded. "Alright."
Dion grinned nervously. "Guess we’re really bringing a legendary beast ho."
Eldrin stepped closer and lowered his massive head. "Climb on."
Arden hesitated for half a second, then climbed up onto Eldrin’s back.
Dion followed, grabbing onto a ridge of hardened scales.
"Try not to fall," Dion muttered.
"I’m not the one who trips," Arden replied calmly.
Eldrin let out a low breath. Mana gathered around his body, smooth and controlled.
"Hold tight," he said.
The next mont, his body lifted from the ground.
Wind rushed past as the forest dropped away beneath them.
Arden tightened his grip slightly, eyes focused ahead. Dion laughed despite himself.
"This is insane," Dion shouted. "Master’s going to laugh so hard."
Arden allowed himself a small smile. "Yeah. He probably will."
---
Garion was in the middle of lifting a pair of heavy dumbbells.
Then suddenly... sothing brushed against his senses and paused him.
"...Huh?"
He lowered the weights slowly and stood upright.
Garion walked out of the building and looked up.
His eyes widened just a little.
"...Well, that’s new."
High above, a massive dragon with an azure body circled slowly.
Its presence alone pressed down on the surroundings.
Then Garion noticed sothing else.
On its back.
"...Arden?" Garion muttered. "Dion?"
He crossed his arms and stared. "Did those two seriously ta a dragon?"
Garion stayed where he was, calm, waiting.
A mont later, the dragon’s head tilted. It clearly sensed him.
Arden leaned forward and shouted, "Co down! He’s here!"
The dragon nodded once and began to descend.
When it landed, the ground shook slightly. Arden and Dion jumped down imdiately and ran toward Garion.
"Master!" Arden said.
"Master!" Dion followed.
Garion nodded at them. "You’re back early."
Then he pointed at the dragon. "So. Did you ta this one?"
Arden shook his head quickly. "No. He ca with us."
Garion raised an eyebrow. "Ca with you?"
Arden stepped aside. "He wants to talk to you."
Garion looked up at the dragon again. "...Talk?"
The dragon lowered its head slightly. "Greetings to you, human."
Garion blinked.
"...It talks."
Arden stared at Garion, clearly more confused than impressed.
"Wait... Master, aren’t you an ancient beast? Why are you surprised?"
Garion turned to him slowly. "?"
He frowned. "Ancient beast? What the hell are you talking about?"
Arden stiffened. "You’re not?"
The dragon shifted slightly, its claws scraping the ground.
"Is this truly your master? The one who created that cultivation path?"
Arden nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. That’s him."
The dragon fell silent for a mont, then frowned. "Strange."
Garion crossed his arms. "What’s strange?"
"You feel completely human," the dragon replied. "There is not even a trace of beast aura in you."
Garion shrugged. "That’s because I am human."
He looked up calmly. "I’m not so kind of beast."
Arden stared at him, eyes wide. "...Huh?"
He leaned closer. "Master, are you really not an ancient beast?"
Garion raised his hand. "Do you want to hit you so your brain resets?"
Arden imdiately touched his head. "No need, Master."
Dion laughed nervously. "Please don’t test that."
The dragon stared at Garion more closely now, clearly reassessing him.
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