As Fainyx stepped through the glowing spatial portal and into the Aetherium, he was met with the familiar landscape of his private dimension, but something was distinctly wrong with the surroundings today.
The pristine forest near his wooden hut was in absolute disarray. Several large tree trunks bore deep, fresh claw marks across their bark, while a few smaller saplings had been snapped cleanly in half as if struck by a massive force.
"What in the world happened here?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the clearing.
Before he could even step forward to inspect the damaged trees, a large, dark shadow came hurtling through the air straight toward his face.
Instinct taking over, Fainyx panicked and cast a chantless barrier spell right in front of him.
*Bang!
The heavy object collided forcefully against the translucent shield, bouncing off the mana barrier before tumbling onto the soft grass below.
"That is... a bird?"
He stared at the fallen creature. It possessed a pair of grand, feathered brown wings that folded instinctively over its body to protect itself from the impact. However, as Fainyx looked closer, he noticed that its hind legs were covered in dense, soft fur, while its front legs ended in razor-sharp avian talons. Attached to those feathered shoulders was the distinct torso of a predator cub.
Drawing from his memories of fantasy web novels and hardcore RPG lore from his past life, he instantly recognized the physical features.
"A griffon?!"
As he cautiously approached the creature, its body gave a sudden twitch. It unfurled its large wings and lifted its head, its striking, golden-yellow eyes locking onto Fainyx. The young beast looked immensely curious about his presence, but a lingering sense of caution forced it to scramble backward, taking off into the lower branches of a nearby tree to hide.
"To think it ran away to hide from me so quickly... I guess this is its very first time seeing a human being."
*Growl~*
A loud, rumbling sound echoed through the clearing, sounding like a creature that hadn't consumed a single bite of food in ages. Fainyx instinctively glanced down at Lumi resting in his arms, but the small spirit wasn't making a sound; it was merely watching the hidden beast with a cautious, puffy tail.
Fainyx looked back up into the canopy, realizing the noise was coming directly from the branches above.
*Growl~
The griffon's stomach rumbled again, far louder this time. Exhausted from hunger, its wings visibly drooped as it slid down the trunk, sprawling out on the grass. Even while lying down in utter weakness, its golden eyes remained fixed on Fainyx and Lumi.
Fainyx let out a soft sigh, turning his heels to head toward the clear river running through the domain.
As he walked toward the water, he quickly noticed that the starving griffon was dragging itself along behind him at a safe distance, too weak to hunt but too curious to leave.
Fainyx reached the riverbank, looking down into the crystal-clear water where dozens of plump, silver-scaled fish were swimming effortlessly against the current.
Gathering his mana, he executed a precise water magic spell beneath the surface.
*Flop! Flop!
Two powerful jets of water shot out from the river, propelling several large fish straight into the air. Before they could fall back into the stream, Fainyx caught them seamlessly with wind magic, placing them gently into a smooth stone bowl he had carved from the earth using a quick chantless spell. He then used telekinesis to float the fish-filled bowl gently across the clearing, landing it right in front of the griffon.
The young beast hesitated for a brief second, its nose twitching at the scent of fresh meat. Driven by pure hunger, it abandoned its caution and darted toward the bowl, devouring the fish in seconds.
"Kruu!"
The griffon let out a soft, delighted cry as it licked the stone bowl completely clean. Seeing that no more food remained inside, its fear vanished entirely. It picked up the empty bowl with its beak, trotted directly up to Fainyx, and set it down at his feet, looking up at him expectantly as if asking for seconds.
"Hoh~ to think a newborn beast already possesses enough intelligence to clearly differentiate between an enemy and a friend." Fainyx remarked, a faint smile touching his lips.
He channeled his water magic once more, shooting another batch of fish out of the river.
This time, as the water jets launched the fish into the air, the griffon grew far more energetic. It leaped into the sky, performing impressive acrobatic twists to catch the falling fish mid-air before landing gracefully on the grass.
Any remaining caution had completely melted away, replaced by an intense, affectionate attachment to its benefactor.
"Kruu~!"
The griffon nudged its feathered head directly against Fainyx's gloved hand, purring softly like an oversized house cat.
Up close, Fainyx could see that its body was roughly the size of a fully grown hunting hound. Its front talons and curved yellow beak were remarkably sharp, but its demeanor was entirely gentle.
"Based on its overall proportions, it is definitely still just a baby... Is this another new species that the Aetherium organically created as the domain evolved?"
"Kyuu!!"
A sudden, sharp squeak sounded from his shoulder. Lumi hopped down onto the grass, his tail puffed up to twice its normal size as he glared at the newcomer, ready to defend his territory.
The griffon immediately noticed the aggressive stance, spreading its wings and raising its tail to make itself look as intimidating as possible.
"Now, now, everyone calm down... Lumi, stop that," Fainyx said softly, scooping the jealous white spirit back into his arms to soothe him.
Feeling the warm, comforting touch of his master, Lumi gradually relaxed, lowering his tail.
Seeing that the small white spirit was no longer posing a threat—and was currently being petted by the person who had just fed it—the griffon lowered its wings as well. It trotted over to Fainyx's side, leaning its body against his leg and letting out an eager whimper, clearly wanting its own share of affection.
Fainyx chuckled, reaching out his free hand to stroke the griffon's head. The beast let out a deep, contented purr.
"Such smooth feathers on its head, and the fur on its body is remarkably soft... I wonder how big this guy is going to get once it reaches full maturity? ...Wait a minute. If this creature was generated by the Aetherium's ambient mana just like Lumi was, then that means..."
His hand froze mid-stroke. The griffon blinked its striking yellow eyes, tilting its head in confusion as if asking why the pleasant scratchings had suddenly stopped.
"Haha... I have a very bad feeling that another massive headache is brewing outside..." Fainyx muttered, an uncomfortable sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.
***
Meanwhile, far away in the floating sky city of Aelyndrithal, the ancient dragon council remained gathered inside the grand hall of the World Tree long after their official meeting had concluded.
The colossal chamber was centered around the base of the sacred tree, its massive, glowing branches extending upward through the open spire toward the sky. Standing in their humanoid vessels, the dragon lords were currently being guided by a high elven priestess.
The priestess possessed long, slender ears that extended far past those of regular elves. Her eyes remained peacefully closed, and her flowing golden hair swayed gently against her formal white ceremonial robes. A sheer veil covered her face, though her ethereal beauty was unmistakable.
"I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of our great and respected dragon guardians," she spoke softly, using the formal elven tongue. "Our Mother was profoundly delighted to learn that you have all gathered here today."
She bowed deeply in reverence.
"Hm... everything in this floating castle remains exactly the same as always~," Ignaryss noted lazily, leaning against a stone pillar, while Ruth looked thoroughly bored.
'Gosh, I suddenly miss training the little kid for some reason... I'd much rather be teaching him my secret draconic techniques right now than standing around listening to elven court manners...' Ruth grumbled internally, suppressing an exhausted sigh.
The priestess straightened up, placing a hand over her heart. "Allow me to introduce myself properly once more. I am Olivia, designated as the next high priestess entrusted with tending to the World Tree. It is an absolute honor to stand before such glorious beings."
"You flatter us far too much Lady Olivia! It's been so long since we have a new High Priestess" Vielther replied warmly, stepping forward with a gentle smile. "We simply wish to assist the Mother in any way we can. How is the current condition of the Head Priestess?"
Olivia's expression clouded with a touch of lingering anxiety. "She remains in the same state as before, resting in a deep slumber. However, her spiritual mana has shown subtle signs of movement recently, so we believe she is slowly nearing the moment of her awakening."
"I see. That is wonderful news." Vielther said softly. "We have known the Head Priestess for over a thousand years, and I know she is far too stubborn to leave us just yet."
"Indeed" Caryndral added, her dark blue hair swaying in the mountain breeze as she gazed up at the sprawling canopy above. "We shall also lend our full strength to locating the new spirit that the Mother detected."
Before their conversation could continue, the heavy double doors at the entrance of the grand hall were abruptly slammed open.
An elven scout wearing worn adventurer gear came sprinting into the chamber, carrying a heavy canvas sack over her shoulder. A pair of royal guards were chasing closely behind her, but she paid them no mind, her clothes covered in dust as if she had traveled across the entire continent without stopping to rest.
"M-Miss Olivia!!" the scout gasped out, falling to her knees from utter exhaustion. "I have found the new spirit foretold by our Mother!"
"W-what?!" Olivia gasped, her eyes opening slightly in shock. "Calm yourself Elyra! Guards, halt your pursuit immediately! I can personally vouch that she is not an intruder."
"Understood! Lady Olivia" the guards replied, stepping back and bowing.
"Sister Olivia, please call the five elemental spirits here at once!" Elyra pleaded desperately, she had forgotten to act formal as she clutches the heavy sack against her chest. "I brought back something that might serve as a cure for their condition!"
"Right now? But Elyra, please take a breath first... you look as though you are about to pass out"
"...O-okay..."
Ignaryss strolled over, looking down at the panting scout with a sharp, intrigued grin. "Oh~? Who might this frantic little miss be? And did she truly manage to track down the new spirit?"
Olivia quickly knelt down to support her sister. "This is my younger sister, Elyra. She was one of the elite trackers dispatched to search the human realms."
"L-Lord Ignaryss?!" Elyra stammered, her head snapping up. As she scanned the room, her eyes widened in utter terror as she recognized the true identities of the impressive figures standing around her.
"!?... I-I offer my humblest respects to the great and mighty Dragon Lords...!"
She immediately flattened her forehead against the polished stone floor.
Vielther let out a soft, amused laugh. "Haha! please do not mind our presence, little elf. We are merely visiting the World Tree~. But tell us, is your report truly accurate? Did you genuinely encounter the new spirit?"
"Y-yes!" Elyra exclaimed, sitting up rapidly. "He explicitly confirmed his nature to me! He is exceptionally powerful, capable of effortlessly performing chantless spirit magic, and he is currently disguising himself as a human adventurer!"
"!!??"
An absolute, heavy shock struck every dragon in the room.
Nythraxis stepped forward, his tall frame radiating a cold, crushing aura that naturally leaked out from his sheer intensity. "What did you just say? Are you entirely certain that this individual was actively casting true spirit magic formulas?!"
"Ugh..." Elyra wheezed slightly beneath the weight of the black dragon's pressure, but she forced herself to speak clearly. "It is the absolute truth, Lord Vorn! I witnessed his spirit magic with my own eyes! He is currently living in the mortal kingdom, hiding his identity beneath an adventurer's mask and communicating solely through written notes."
Ruth's golden eyes suddenly widened behind his stoic mask as his brain processed the description.
'...Wait a minute. Spirit magic? Disguised as an adventurer? Mute, writing on a notepad, and wearing a mask?! ...Don't tell me... '
To confirm his rising dread, Ruth stepped in front of the black dragon, looking down at the elf with a serious expression.
"Tell me, girl... was this disguised adventurer posing as an adult man and what did he looked like?"
"Ah, yes!" Elyra replied instantly. "He assumes the form of an ordinary adult adventurer, but he refuses to speak aloud, choosing to write everything down on a small notepad while keeping his face completely covered by a dark leather mask! and also I just caught a glimpse but it seemed he has much more paler skin!"
'Haa... it really is him... What in the absolute world has that kid been getting himself into while I was away?!'
Ruth screamed internally, massaging his temples to stop a massive headache from forming. But before he could dig any further to cover for his apprentice, Elyra turned back to her sister with desperate eyes.
"Sister Olivia! Please, you must let me see the five elemental spirits right now! I need to give them the contents of this sack immediately!"
She lifted the heavy canvas bag from the floor, holding it out with shaking arms.
"What exactly is inside that bag, Elyra, and why are you so insistent on feeding it to the guardians?" Olivia asked, growing increasingly bewildered.
"It is of absolute importance! This might be the only way to save their lives!"
"I have heard many claims of miracle cures over the centuries Elyra. Show us what is inside."
"I-I will open it right now!"
Elyra untied the thick drawstrings, pulling the top of the canvas bag wide open to reveal the contents inside.
Nested snugly within the sack were several oversized, remarkably glossy red fruits, glowing with a faint, natural sheen under the light of the World Tree.
"What... are these?" Ignaryss muttered, tilting his head.
"They are remarkably large, and they possess an unusual red shine," Caryndral observed, stepping closer.
"The scent coming from them is extraordinarily sweet..." Vielther murmured, her nose twitching.
The dragon lords and the high priestess stared in utter confusion at the strange fruit, having never seen anything like it across their thousands of years of existence. Meanwhile, standing slightly behind them, Ruth's jaw practically hit the floor as he swore violently inside his mind.
'Are you kidding me?! Those are the high-mana apples directly cultivated from Fainyx's Aetherium?! Why in the world did that reckless kid hand a sack of his private world fruit to a random elven scout?!'
Unaware of the golden dragon's internal breakdown, Elyra held the bag higher, bowing her head deeply. "This fruit was personally bestowed upon me by the spirit himself! Please allow me to offer these to the weakened spirits!"
Nythraxis's blue eyes narrowed sharply as he stepped forward, his cold aura flaring once again. "How can we be certain that this unknown substance is safe? What if it contains a deadly toxin or a high-level curse? Are you prepared to bear the severe consequences if the guardians are harmed?"
"If everyone is suspicious of its safety, I will gladly slice one open and share a piece with everyone present!" Elyra offered rapidly. "I can personally guarantee that it is completely harmless, as I have already consumed a piece myself!"
Olivia looked at her sister curiously. "And how exactly did it taste, Elyra?"
"...It was beyond delicious," Elyra whispered, a tiny drop of saliva involuntarily pooling at the corner of her mouth as she recalled the heavenly taste.
Olivia froze in sheer disbelief. Her younger sister was notorious throughout the elven sanctuary for being an exceptionally picky eater who absolutely detested consuming raw fruits, yet she was currently looking at this red object with absolute, unrestrained longing.
"I see. In that case, I shall test a piece first to verify its safety," Ruth suddenly announced, stepping past the black dragon to stand at the front of the group.
The surrounding dragons looked at him in total shock. The notorious hermit of the council, who usually showed zero interest in food, politics, or exotic items, was actually volunteering to be the first test subject.
"Oh~? If Rutherio is trying it, then I am definitely taking a piece as well~!" Vielther laughed cheerfully, stepping right alongside him, while Ignaryss, Caryndral, and Olivia quickly crowded around as well.
Elyra hastily retrieved one of the large red apples from the sack. Using a fine blade of wind magic, Ruth cleanly divided the fruit into six equal slices, utilizing subtle telekinesis to float a piece to each person standing before him.
Elyra stood back, forced to watch with a slightly disappointed look as her single apple was distributed. 'Well... it's fine. There are still nine more whole apples left inside the bag anyway,' she reminded herself mentally.
Together, the dragon lords and the priestess took a bite of the crisp red fruit.
" " " "!?!?" " " "
An absolute, mind-blowing silence descended upon the grand hall, followed instantly by a wave of pure shock.
"WHAT IS THIS EXPLOSION OF FLAVOR?!" Ignaryss roared, his eyes bulging as he violently chewed his slice in two bites. "I have lived for thousands of years and I have NEVER tasted something this incredible!"
"...It is extraordinarily sweet," Caryndral murmured, her usually stoic face breaking into an expression of pure bliss as she delicately licked a drop of stray juice from her lower lip. "I love it."
"This taste is heavenly~! I have never experienced a fruit with such pure, concentrated sweetness before!" Olivia gasped, her veiled ears twitching up and down in uncontrollable delight.
"...It is remarkably delicious," Nythraxis admitted quietly, his cold, detached demeanor completely shattering as his blue eyes burned with an intense desire for another slice.
Standing in the center of the madness, Ruth chewed his piece with a quiet smirk, secretly slipping the tiny apple seeds into his dimensional pocket. 'As expected of the fruit grown near the central mana spring of the Aetherium... the flavor is just as ridiculously overpowered as ever.' He remembered Fainyx mentioning that these apple seeds could technically be planted in the real world, provided the soil was saturated with dense ambient mana.
"Hey! Elf girl!" Ignaryss shouted, practically sprinting over to grab Elyra by her shoulders. "Do you have any more of those red fruits left in that bag?! Give them all to me right now!"
"Eh?! Um...!"
"Get out of the way, Ignaryss!" Nythraxis growled, shoving the red dragon aside as his crystal-blue eyes flared with rare greed. "Young lady, hand the remainder over to me immediately! Name your price! gold, ancient artifacts, military backing... I will grant you whatever you desire!"
"No way~! Elyra, Sweet Little Elf give those remaining apples to me instead!" Vielther chimed in, forcefully pulling Ignaryss back by his collar. "I will grant you access to my private treasury! Don't listen to these barbaric brute men!"
"Ha?! Who are you calling a barbaric brute, you old green hag?!" Ignaryss barked, his red aura exploding.
"Hoh~? Calling me an old hag? Are you actively seeking a quick death at my hands today?" Vielther shot back, her green feathered scales flaring dangerously.
"Bring it on, you ancient lizard!"
"E-Ehhh?! Please calm down, great Dragon Lords! Please stop fighting!" Elyra screamed in pure terror, getting caught right in the middle of the chaotic scuffle as the ancient hall began to violently quake beneath their bursting auras.
Standing a few feet away, Caryndral and Ruth could only let out synchronized heavy sighs at the utter absurdity of the scene.
"Haa... to think those powerful, dignified lords would completely regress into mindless children over a single piece of fruit," Caryndral muttered, though her eyes kept darting longingly toward the canvas bag. "Though... that concentrated sweetness would make an absolutely divine, high-tier wine if fermented properly... Hehe~..."
Ruth covered his face with his gloved hand, his soul weeping internally.
'Haa... Fainyx... you absolute idiot... You just caused the most powerful, sugar-addicted disaster dragons on this continent to go completely wild...'
Throughout ancient history, dragons were revered as the supreme guardians of fate and the primary protectors of the World Tree. Yet, despite their terrifying power and majestic titles, those three dragon race possessed a well-documented, legendary weakness... an absolute, uncontrollable obsession with high-tier sweets. Their craving for rare delicacies easily rivaled their famous instinct to hoard gold and ancient artifacts.
While a few dragons preferred raw meat, fine alcohol, or rare herbs, the three main lords currently brawling on the floor... Nythraxis, Ignaryss, and Vielther, suffered from the absolute worst case of severe sweet tooth in dragon history. Once they got a single taste of a high-grade sweet, they would pursue it to the absolute ends of the earth.
'Even Caryndral, who only cares about fine alcohol, is already planning how to turn the boy's apples into booze... Haa... Fainyx, how in the world are you going to clean up this massive mess once these monsters track you down...?'
As Ruth continued to massage his aching head, Elyra let out a high-pitched shriek, clutching her canvas bag tightly as she sprinted for her absolute life to escape the terrifying, sugar-crazed dragon lords chasing after her.