Hana looked at the fox already sucking up to her. She had seen a bunch of people like that, so she could judge exactly what he was thinking.
If not for the quest, she would've let the dragon rip him apart. She didn't care.
"I'm not kind, so don't call me that," Hana said, her voice dry. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her, her eyes scanning the injuries on his face coldly. "And you aren't my servant either. You're just something I need to work with right now, so make sure to keep your hands where I can see them, or I'll let the lizard have his snack."
Raiden's green eyes flickered. For a split second, the 'helpless' look vanished, replaced by a glint of sharp, dark amusement before he resumed his shivering.
He shifted slightly, pressing his shoulder intentionally against her hand.
"Anything you say... I am yours to command," Raiden whispered, his voice coating the words with a suggestive silkiness that made Hana's ears ring with annoyance. She could see right through him; he was using his 'cuteness' as a weapon.
> [MISSION UPDATE: THE PRICE OF RESTORATION]
> Requirement:Use your Herbology Knowledge to stabilize the ninth tail.
> Current Progress: 0%
Tsk, it was annoying.
Caspian stood behind them, smoke literally curling from his ears.
"He's faking the weakness, Hana! Look at him! He's practically purring because you're touching him! He's trying to make a move with you!"
Hana ignored the dragon's tattling. If the pervert wanted to lean on her, fine, as long as the system paid up. She pulled out her makeshift flint blade and looked at the mangled, bleeding ninth tail.
"Caspian, go find some water. And Raiden, shut up. You're giving me a headache."
Caspian was clearly dissatisfied and disappointed. He folded his arms and threw his face aside, his tail lashing out.
"I will not run errands for the sake of a cunning fox," he huffed, and Hana furrowed her brows.
So, he was going to be like this, huh?
"Fine, don't go." She said and got up. "Raiden, like I said, don't move. And if Caspian tries anything, scream, and I'll come running back."
"Where are you going, Great Female?" He asked, looking as vulnerable as he could.
"I'm going to get water."
Judging from the cool air, there should be a stream around her. She couldn't trust that Caspian wouldn't do anything to Raiden, but she could stick around and let the tail fester any longer than it already had.
If she wanted to savage those points, she would have to take the risk.
"Wait, you do not really intend to go get water for the fox, do you?" Caspian asked, shocked that she was being adamant, and reached for Hana's hand.
But she shrugged his touch before he could firmly hold her, glaring at him.
"Don't touch me, Lizard. I have no use for anyone who won't allow me to use them." She gave him a look of disdain, one that unconsciously shattered him before turning away.
Hana didn't wait for his answer. She didn't have time to coddle a dragon's wounded pride. If he wouldn't move, she'd move first. Turning her back on his smoldering fury, she gripped her flint-tipped spear and headed toward the sound of the rushing water.
Caspian stood rooted to the spot. The air around him distorted from the sheer heat radiating off his skin.
He watched her retreat, his chest heaving until she was out of sight. Disdain. She had looked at him with the same annoyance one would give a fly.
This… his face immediately contorted into a mask of deadly fury as he turned to look at the fox that had now dropped its vulnerable act… was all his fault.
"What? You've angered her, not me." Raiden's voice drifted over, smooth and mocking.
The pink fox had completely dropped his trembling act now that the 'Great Female' was out of sight. He leaned his head back against the tree, a lazy, sharp grin on his face.
"A King who cannot even follow a simple command… she'll find a more obedient beast soon enough. Ah, I just might be it."
"Silence, scavenger," Caspian hissed, his claws digging out murderously. "I could rip your tongue out before she returns."
"But you won't," Raiden purred, his green eyes glinting with a dangerous intelligence. "Because then she would never look at you again. And you're already desperate for her gaze, aren't you? Fire King? Or should I call you 'Pack Mule'?"
Caspian let out a muffled roar of frustration. He slammed his fist into a nearby boulder, shattering the stone into dust. He hated the fox, but more than that, he hated the cold void Hana had left when she walked away.
The bond was like a rope, and right now, it was pulling at his gut, dragging him toward her.
He couldn't stay here. He couldn't let her go alone to the water where other predators might be lurking.
With a final, murderous glare at the fox, Caspian turned and bolted into the trees after her, leaving behind a heavy gush of wind that made the fox frown.
He had this murderous look in his eyes.
Dragons… he hated them.
Hana found the stream. It was shallow, cutting through smooth grey stones. She knelt by the bank, dipping her hands into the cold water to wash away the sticky, dried dragon blood and the pungent herb paste.
She wasn't thinking about beauty or scenery but was busy calculating.
Twenty-nine days. More than a million points. If she couldn't control a single dragon, how was she going to navigate a world where everything was bigger, stronger, and faster than her? She needed tools. She needed leverage.
She needed anything that would put her at an advantage.
A heavy crunch of branches made her hand fly to the flint knife at her belt. She spun around, crouching low, her eyes scanning the treeline, ready to attack or defend, depending on the status of whatever was coming towards her.
But it was only Caspian.