After our private lesson, Aefina led me back near the campsite. Before leaving, I deliberately picked some brown fruits to carry—gotta cover up that little lie I’d told earlier.
Back at camp, Viter asked why we’d taken so long. Truth was, I’d been too absorbed in feeding Aefina, but obviously, I couldn’t say that.
In the end, I blamed the darkness for the delay. It sounded a bit dumb, but at least it made sense.
While the fire still glowed, I hurriedly pulled out my diary. The Wind Spirit Pen’s tip had a faint light, barely enough to write in the dark—but brighter was just more comfortable.
Viter’s team handled night watch: Ilan and Leo took first shift, Viter and Norma the second. Granst, being night-blind, was exempt. They’d worked together for years; rearranging shifts would only unsettle them.
As the employer, Gray naturally didn’t stand watch. My night-blindness made me useless for guard duty anyway. Aefina sitting watch was no different from her sleeping beside me—and she disliked talking to others, so it was fine.
The adventurers showed no resentment. In fact, they seemed pleased we trusted them. Handing night watch to near-strangers wasn’t common; sleeping without guard left you utterly vulnerable.
The night passed peacefully. No Monstrous Beasts troubled us. For one, we were still on the forest’s outskirts—fewer and weaker beasts roamed here. For another, Aefina’s rampage two nights prior had scared most away. This area would stay quiet for days.
After morning wash-up, I started brushing Aefina’s hair. Truthfully, her hair needed no brushing—I just wanted an excuse to touch those silky strands again. The texture was heavenly.
“You two are so lovey-dovey,” Ilan remarked, watching us.
“Mhm! They even sleep cuddled up,” Norma added with a nod.
I pulled Aefina into my arms and grinned. “Of course I love my Aefina.” She squirmed slightly in my embrace before settling quietly against my chest. Who’d have thought I’d be flashing couple vibes with a dragon girl? Another world really is the best!
“Eh—you’re already married?!” Norma stared, shocked. Probably because I’d said “my Aefina.” In Oranda’s language, “my” could mean “my family” or “my possession/slave.” I’d used the first meaning.
“Why so surprised…?” Norma’s reaction was stronger than I expected. Aefina, though, just accepted it silently. I’d thought she’d deny it—or at least whisper something via Mind Speech. Given dragon courtship standards, I shouldn’t even qualify.
“Because you’re not wearing necklaces!” Norma tilted her head. Huh? Necklaces? What did they have to do with anything?
“You speak Oranda so well, yet you’re not from Oranda?” Leo quietly joined the conversation.
“Oranda?” I’d never heard that word.
“This country is called Oranda. How did you even get here? Did you get lost?” Granst, just waking up, chimed in. *Yeah, try “I transmigrated from another world.”*
After a month here, I still didn’t know the country’s name. People don’t randomly shout it on streets—just like back home. As for how Aefina arrived… I’d ask her later.
“…What’s the deal with necklaces?” I changed the subject.
“Deal?” I’d used the Chinese word “geng”—no one understood.
“…I mean, what do necklaces signify?” I corrected myself.
After a chorus of explanations, I finally got it.
In Oranda, married couples exchange necklaces. Like the one from the Prayer Festival confession. Similar to wedding rings, but mutual—call them bond-chains. Their quality reflected the giver’s status and strength.
Ordinary adventurers hunted the strongest Monstrous Beast they could handle, using its core as the pendant. Mages crafted magic crystals. Non-combatants like nobles or commoners used gemstones.
After exchanging necklaces, couples visited an enchanter to sync them with identical magic marks—like a marriage license. The wedding itself was personal preference. The sync-mark had no practical use.
“Enough chatter. Finish breakfast and pack up. We move out.” Viter cut in flatly, already dismantling tents.
As captain of Silverspike, his word was law. His team snapped to action—packing tents, cooking meals. The chatting group scattered instantly.
We set off after breakfast. With the forest outskirts still cleared by Aefina’s earlier rampage, the journey stayed peaceful. Everyone relaxed. Norma and Ilan chatted together, having tried—and failed—to include Aefina.
After crossing the river, Monstrous Beast tracks finally appeared. Aefina hadn’t strayed far. Still, the beasts we spotted—solos or small packs—only watched from a distance before retreating. Eight armed travelers weren’t worth the risk.
Our luck ran out by afternoon. Six ambushes struck after a quiet morning. Like some cursed pilgrimage, they insisted on hitting the magic number…
The attacks shattered the team’s easy mood. The girls stopped whispering together. Though Aefina made short work of every beast, the constant fighting grated on everyone—even me, who hadn’t lifted a finger.
Only Aefina seemed delighted. Her steps floated lightly. Her delicate frame tore through beasts like a veteran in a tutorial zone. No Monstrous Beast could resist her pale hands—not even a scratch marked her skin.
After each fight, blood-splattered Aefina waited happily for Ilan’s cleaning spell. Crimson streaks on her porcelain skin, paired with her faint smile, radiated an eerie, feral charm.
She wasn’t bloodthirsty—her joy had little to do with the gore. Well… not *nothing* to do with it.
Here’s why she was happy…
At lunch, I noticed Aefina stealing covert glances at Viter. So subtle even he didn’t notice. Only my constant attention caught it.
After a while, her gaze shifted to me—and met my eyes.
*Let’s link minds… I mean, use Mind Speech.* I tried conveying it with my eyes. Complex, but she understood. She blinked, then placed her hand over mine.
“…Aefina?” Since she controlled the Mind Speech link, I couldn’t tell if it was active. I had to confirm.
“Mm…” Her voice echoed in my mind. Good.
“What’s wrong? You kept staring at Viter.” I got straight to the point.
“Why did Viter give us gold yesterday… but not today?” Her eyes held pure confusion. Gold always caught her dragon attention.
“Oh. Yesterday’s wolf pack loot was partly ours. Viter converted our share to coin.” We had no use for cores; Aefina preferred gold. I’d asked for cash instead.
“Cores can be traded for gold?” Her eyes gleamed with draconic avarice.
I explained the basics.
To Aefina, every attacking beast became a walking gold coin. That’s why she fought so eagerly. She even grew careful in battle, preserving cores instead of crushing them. Oddly, she never hunted beasts proactively.
At dinner, Viter tossed me a heavy coin pouch—our share from the afternoon ambushes. I handed it to Aefina. She cradled the bulging bag against my side, utterly content. After a long, blissful moment, she reluctantly tucked it into her pack. Best not reveal her storage space in public.
That night, I noticed something… off about Aefina. Not wrong—just different. Usually, she slept with her back to my chest. Tonight, she faced me. Like our first night together, but this time she burrowed *into* my arms instead of clinging.
Just a change in position. I didn’t overthink it. After wishing her goodnight, I drifted off as usual. Holding Aefina always brought deep, peaceful sleep.
I had no idea her mind was churning.
Aefina replayed this morning’s words on loop. My casual “I love my Aefina” had shaken her far more than I realized. She nuzzled my chest, her expression tangled.
*Luo Sa.* Her Mind Speech carried her name like a fragile prayer. Two syllables thick with emotions I couldn’t decipher—joy? sorrow? something else?
*Was Luo Sa telling the truth?* Marriage. Spouses. Family. Love. *I’m a dragon. I’m evil. Is that… still alright?* She whispered to my sleeping form, too afraid to expect an answer.
“Mm…” I shifted in sleep, mumbling. My arms tightened around her. Startled, Aefina severed the Mind Speech link. Trapped in my sudden embrace, she froze.
“……”
She didn’t try again. The girl buried her face in my chest, lips pressed tight. Thoughts swirling in the dark.
*Is it alright… even if I’m a dragon?*
Who could answer that?
