The human girl Leliana was causing Elowen increasingly more problems by the day. He initially tolerated them, attributing her fiery temper to her youth. After all, the Leliana in his mories was much more level headed and calm. Still stubborn, that hadn't changed, but she had definitely been more manageable in his mories.
Young Leliana didn't have this level-headedness yet. She was impulsive, curious and full of life. Elowen often felt overwheld by it. Yet at the sa ti, when Leliana said she would go to the Monster Realm, he couldn't say no.
Her eyes were so vibrant, so brilliant, that the thought of them growing dark and hopeless made his heart ache so strongly. He didn't want Leliana to beco the way she was in his mories. He didn't want her to be broken.
So instead he had to live through the ntal distress that was going to the Monster Realm together with her. Even worse, he had to bring her all the way to the Lord Eidranis and pray that the redhead wouldn't start running her mouth against him.
Thankfully, she didn't but the discussion with the Monster Lord was nerve-wrecking in its own right. Having Leliana there, only made matters worse. He was barely able to pay attention.
The way back was probably the worst part of the whole excursion. Leliana was eager to check each and every fruit plant, hoping to get their seeds. He had to pull her back to safety multiple tis and at one point even untangle her from shrubbery in which she sohow managed to get stuck into.
"I'm definitely going back to the Monster Realm! Look at all the new seeds I got," Leliana announced, showing her haul to lina.
"Which seeds did you get?" lina asked curiously.
"More feyfruit, so weird blue banana looking thing and even so plum. I'll try to grow those into a tree," she said.
"You found so dreamplums?" lina asked, looking into Leliana's sack.
"Yeah, they were near the Monster Lord's tower. I had to get so."
"Nobody tried to stop you?"
"They did," Elowen interjected. "But even the drow couldn't beat her tenacity."
"It's just a few plums. Not like they'll miss them," Leliana shrugged. "I'll go and see what I can do with these."
Leliana waved goodbye and hurried over to her ho, leaving Elowen alone with lina.
"I see you two are getting along well," lina said with a knowing smile.
"It is not like that!" He protested, but couldn't deny the heat that was creeping in the tips of his ears.
"Really?"
"Can we return to the topic at hand?" Elowen huffed in annoyance, not in the mood for her teasing.
"Sure. Tell what happened?" lina asked, her expression switching to a serious one.
"I told the Monster Lord what happened in the Human Realm after his visit. He apologizes for the trouble that he has caused, and has sent a few drow to investigate the matter. He also believes that the effects of his mana aura will dissipate with ti," he said, recalling the conversation.
He didn't say it aloud, but Lord Eidranis had looked quite disturbed by the news. He likely didn't suspect that his re presence in the Human Realm could do so much.
"I would have expected them to dissipate at least a little by now," lina said, then raised her hand in their, allowing mana to gather around it. "But the ambient mana levels have been stable for the past week."
"Perhaps more ti is required," Elowen guessed.
"Perhaps." lina nodded. "But what about the Monster Realm? Was it at all affected by his absence?"
"The only difference had apparently been the mana aura around the Monster Lord tower. It wasn't as overwhelming as normally, but it returned to normal as soon as Lord Eidranis returned to his tower," he explained.
"Yeah, that makes sense. But why isn't the mana in the Human Realm remaining at this abnormally high level," lina said, pressing her fingers to her lips in thought.
"You think it could be harmful to humans long term?"
"I don't think it's high enough to be harmful, but it'll certainly change the scenery around here dramatically. Especially if the mana levels remain this high."
"I see…" Elowen muttered. He hoped that no harm would co to the humans of Sunglow. They were the strongest advocates for human and elf coexistence. Without them it would be impossible to change the relationship between the races.
A mont of silence stretched between them before Elowen said, "What did you wish from ? I heard that you were searching for ."
"Oh, that. Sienna is evolving, and I was trying to figure out what to do. I did get so help from Etrian so it's alright," she said nervously, looking into the far corner of the garden.
"Sienna is evolving?" Elowen exclaid. "Did she fight sothing today? A monster attack on Sunglow while we were away?"
"No, it's nothing like that. She has been gaining experience by cooking pastries," lina explained with a frown. "Although I didn't realize it until today."
"You didn't notice the level of your familiar increasing?" He arched an eyebrow.
"She was Level 49 for the longest ti," she shot back.
"Ah… Yes, that explains it," Elowen nodded. "But her evolving should be a joyous occasion. Why do you look so nervous?"
"I'm afraid what'll happen when she'll erge from her evolution cocoon. Monsters usually go crazy after evolving don't they?"
"Wild monsters yes, but not familiars. She might be a bit grumpy, but I doubt she would lash out. Sienna has always been a very level headed monster in my opinion," Elowen said with a hum. "I wonder what she'll evolve into due to your connection."
"Etrian said that she could evolve into a fire dragon…" lina muttered.
Elowen looked at lina, then laughed. "Sienna? Into a fire dragon? No, I can't see that happening."
"Why are you laughing?" She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
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"I suspect Etrian isn't as knowledgeable about wyrms as a drow. They don't keep wyrms as often as we do, preferring nocturnal creatures as their companions. But a wyrm's evolution is heavily influenced by their tar and what they do in their daily life. If you were fighting on a daily basis, then yes, it might be possible for Sienna to evolve into a fire dragon."
"But we don't do that," lina concluded, relief washing over her features.
"Exactly. I suspect that her evolution will be unlike any we've seen before. I look forward to it," he said.
Elowen's declaration had helped lina to calm down sowhat. There would be no need for her to calm a rampaging newly evolved fire dragon. That would have been horrible for everyone involved. But now a new question plagued her mind. What would Sienna evolve into?
She would often go and check on Sienna, wondering if she was ready to erge from the evolution cocoon. But the whole weekend passed by without change. lina even cancelled the magic class for the week, unable to fully concentrate on the task.
Tuesday morning ca, lina getting increasingly more worried about Sienna. She had been in her evolution cocoon for what felt like forever.
"She'll co out soon," Alistair soothed her in the morning, having woken up early from all her nervous tossing.
"But it's been 3 days…" she muttered.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulder, pulling her close. "Let's go check on her now. Would that make you feel better?"
lina nodded, and the two of them dressed. The sun was already rising despite the early morning hour, illuminating the sky in light pink hues.
"Sunrise is always so beautiful in Sunglow," Alistair noted, taking a deep, satisfied breath.
"It is," lina noted, watching the skyline. "It's amazing how all the gloomy clouds disappeared along with Heiliger."
"Indeed. I do wonder how Father is doing. Heiliger and the System users should be in the capital by now."
"I suspect it'll take a while to prepare for a proper trial. The current Archbishop will likely advocate for Heiliger and other captured System users and try to get them out," lina said, then fell silent for a mont as she thought. What would happen to the System users?
Not all of them had even known Heiliger's plan and had gone along in hopes of participating in a Monster Realm expedition. However, the Sinclair soldiers hadn't made the distinction of treating everyone the sa.
"Do you think the System users will be resentful of what happened?" She asked.
"What do you an?" Alistair gently squeezed her hand.
"I an, they've all been captured and put on trial. Do you think they'll be resentful once their punishnt is over?"
Alistair smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that. My father would never let good talent go to waste. He'll find those who are willing to cooperate and lessen their punishnt. anwhile those who are against us will receive all they can get."
"How would your father know who would be sympathetic to our cause?" She asked.
"Father's class is [Duke of Grenardia], and this class isn't purely a battle class. In fact, I believe it has more diplomatic skills. In their nature they are more similar to than my or . He can get information and obedience if he so desires."
"That's sohow more terrifying than a combat class," lina noted.
"It is. In the last tiline my father was proud that I acquired the [General] class but thinking about it, it's inferior to the class he possesses," he noted.
"Maybe this ti you can get a better one."
"I will," Alistair smiled, planting a gentle kiss on her fingertips. "I'll get a class that isn't just about fighting and killing monsters. I'll get a class that can help you and the whole town."
lina flushed at the sudden kiss, but smiled. She really liked the direction their life was heading into. There were still many hurdles ahead, but surely they could overco them together.
Speaking of hurdles, Mango that had been snoozing in Alistair's grasp suddenly jumped out of his arms and rushed ahead in the direction of the bakery.
"Mango! Wait for us!" lina exclaid, running after the fox.
"Yip-yip!" She called, not slowing down in the slightest.
"Mango!" Alistair called in a warning tone, and using his caught up to the fox, catching her by the scruff. "You can't just take off like that."
"Yip-yip-yip!" Mango tried to nip at his fingers and squirm free.
"What got you so riled up?" lina questioned, but then she heard a distant growl.
Her heart beat fast as she realized, no, feeling it within herself, that it was Sienna. Through her bond she reached out to the wyrm, and heard a confused response through their bond.
"Sienna is about to co out!" lina said, and ran full speed to the bakery. Admittedly, her full speed wasn't all that impressive. Regaining her magic had done to improve her physical strength.
Thankfully, neither speed nor strength was an issue for Alistair. He hoisted lina up, holding her bridal-style, and tucked Mango safely in her arms. Next mont he was running, occasionally using to speed up. In a few minutes, they were at Sienna's enclosure.
"Sienna?" lina questioned as Alistair set her down.
The evolution cocoon was cracked in places, and it was possible to see a slight mont inside. Mango clawed at the evolution crystal as if trying to help Sienna to get out. There was a low grumble from within and the crystal cracked so more.
"What's going on so early in the morning?" Gilbert called from the house as he ca outside.
"Grandfather, Sienna is about to erge!" lina said.
Sohow everyone heard that. Knight ca running out of his stables, nuzzling up first to Gilbert then to Alistair. Roxie and Adrien must have heard the commotion too, since they ca out soon after still dressed in their pajamas.
"Is she evolving?" The boy asked excitedly, notebook in hand.
"Yes. Do keep a safe distance. She might be a bit confused after evolving," lina warned, ushering others to step back a little.
"You've already covered this whole place in pastries. I doubt she'll have much ti to be confused," Gilbert rolled his eyes, pointing at the pastries lina had brought to Sienna's enclosure during the last few days.
In her opinion it wasn't that much. Mango and Knight were regularly munching on them, so she had no choice but to bring more. After all, Sienna hadn't eaten anything in a few days. She would be very hungry once she erged.
The crystal let another crack, and a small piece of it fell to the ground. lina gasped, looking at the red crystal formation, watching it without daring to blink. More and more crystals broke off until the ca a loud, angry growl which sent the whole crystalized cocoon flying everywhere.
lina brought a mana shield in front of everyone to protect them from the flying shards. Mango yelped out of shock, rushing to hide behind Alistair as a giant dust cloud covered the area.
"Sienna?" lina asked, trying to see through the dust.
[Congratulations! Your familiar has evolved from into .]
The first thing lina saw were large wings glowing with bright orange line lines. After that ca out a long neck and the familiar snout, followed by a sleek black body and strong hind legs and a long tail. The overall impression was that sobody had taken Sienna, made her slightly more compact and replaced her front legs with wings.
Looking more carefully her wings weren't just ant for flying. At the tips she had small sharp fingers, clearly ant for gripping things. Sienna didn't waste any ti in using them, snatching the first pastry that happened to be in her way and shovelling it in her mouth.
"She has wings! That is so cool!" Adrien exclaid, furiously scribbling sothing in his notebook.
"She hasn't really changed that much," Roxie noted. "Except the wings."
"How is she going to fit in the kitchen with those giant things?" Gilbert grumbled, shaking his head.
"That is a good question…" Alistair noted.
But lina wasn't paying much attention to them. Instead she slowly approached Sienna, who was eating three pastries at a ti.
"Sienna, how are you feeling?" She asked.
Sienna turned towards her, as if only just realizing that she wasn't alone, and wagged her tail excitedly. She let out an excited chitter-growl and nuzzled up to lina.
At the mont, she felt silly for ever having worried that Sienna might lose control. She was still the sa, old Sienna. Except now she had wings and could fly.
"I never expected that you would grow wings," she said, scratching under her chin.
Sienna enjoyed the scratching, then experintally moved her wings up and down, creating a small gust that blew the last of the sand away.
"Can you fly?" lina asked.
The wyvern cocked her head, unsure.
"Well, I suppose there is only one way to find out."
Sienna beat her wings excitedly, sending waves of warmth through the air. It was then that lina realized that it was more than just Sienna's appearance that had changed.
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