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Kondra stared at the two dragons who had landed in the middle of the cavern. “You’re back already? The dwarves have been pacified?” Her head tilted to the side as Lulu and Luke peeked their heads out of their rooms.
“Nope,” Grimmy said and yawned. He sat back on his haunches and scratched his neck while closing his eyes.
Kondra frowned. “Then why are you back?” she asked, baring her teeth.
“What?” Grimmy asked as he flopped onto his belly. “I can’t see my mother-in-law whenever I want?”
“Not when you’re on a righteous quest,” Leila’s father said. There was a wet spot in the cavern, and a green sprout was jutting out of the earth.
“I was worried about you,” Leila said, blocking Grimmy from her parents’ view. “Didn’t you feel the earthquake earlier? That definitely wasn’t natural. We could even see the effects from the sky.”
“Yes,” Kondra said with a nod. “We felt it. If I’m not mistaken, it was the power of a mountain elemental, but an elemental shouldn’t be able to harness that much energy. How strange.” Her brow furrowed as her gaze wandered over Grimmy’s body. Her eyes locked onto Lindyss who was lying on the black dragon’s head. “Another righteous quest then. For the blessed warrior.”
“For me?” Lindyss asked as she sat up and pointed at herself.
“Are there any other blessed warriors here?” Kondra asked and rolled her eyes.
“Mm.” Lindyss scratched her head. “No?”
“Exactly. Recently, a massive earthquake reverberated throughout the continent,” Kondra said, her voice lowering in pitch. “The dragon matriarch believes it was caused by—”
“Are you talking in third person?” Lindyss asked, furrowing her brow.
Kondra made a face. “Don’t interrupt me.” She cleared her throat and glared at Lindyss. “The dragon matriarch believes it was caused by a mountain elemental, but under normal circumstances, an elemental wouldn’t be able to create an effect as large as the earthquake was—unless it was contracted to a being with a massive amount of mana. The matriarch suspects foul play from the phoenixes, who’ve sworn to never contract with elementals. Find the elementalist who caused the earthquake and apprehend them even if they’re a phoenix.” Kondra nodded. “Do you accept the quest?”
Lindyss rubbed her chin. “Will I get paid?”
“In honor and glory.” Kondra puffed her chest out while Grimmy snorted. “You will receive increased favor amongst the holy dragons of this continent.”
“I’ll refuse,” Lindyss said, waving her hand in front of her face as if she were batting away a foul smell.
“Excellent. I wish you luck in… Did you just say you’ll refuse?” Kondra asked, her eyes narrowing into slits.
“C-can’t I?” Lindyss asked. She inched backwards along Grimmy’s forehead.
“No.”
“…Shouldn’t you respect the choices of a blessed warrior?” Lindyss asked, her face twisted into a crooked smile. A vein bulged on her forehead.
“I heard your choice and respectfully refused your refusal,” Kondra said. “I’ll ask you again; do you accept the quest?”
Lindyss glanced at Leila, her eyes begging for help from the silver dragon. Leila shrugged and whispered, “Play along. When she gets like this, she’ll throw a tantrum if you don’t listen to her.”
Lindyss whispered back, “I think I understand why you fled to the central continent.”
Kondra exhaled white flames from her nostrils. “Did you say something?” she asked, her head swiveling back and forth between Leila and Lindyss. Leila whistled and turned her head away.
“I accept the quest,” Lindyss said and sighed, hanging her head. “As the quest giver, do you have any starting items to help me along? You know, something like a wooden sword or a cute blue slime or a weird creature that spews lightning out of its cheeks?”
“No. I just give quests,” Kondra said and snorted.
Lindyss sighed again. “And what can I do with favor amongst the holy dragons?”
“Lulu,” Kondra said, turning her head towards the silver dragon who was still partially hidden inside her room.
Lulu blinked. “Yes, Mother?”
“Take out the list.”
“The list…?”
“You know, the list. The one I asked you to make.”
“The one you asked me to make…,” Lulu said, saying each word slowly. “Does the list have a name?”
“Holy dragon favor exchange shop.”
“Oh!” Lulu nodded. “That list.” She scratched her head. “You were actually serious about that…?”
Kondra’s eyes narrowed. “Did you not make it?”
“Made it! I made it,” Lulu said and scrambled into her room. Crashing noises echoed through the cavern as everyone stared at the tunnel that Lulu had occupied. A few moments later, she appeared with a rock slate in her mouth. She dropped it into her paw and offered it to Lindyss. “Here you go.”
Lindyss wiped away the dragon slobber with her sleeve. She stared at the scribbles carved into the slate before raising her head to meet Lulu’s gaze. The young dragon was winking repeatedly at her, trying to be subtle and avoiding Kondra’s line of sight. “Wow,” Lindyss said in a robotic voice. She paused after each word. “These items are amazing. Oh my god. Who knew holy dragon favor could be so useful? Wow.”
Kondra nodded. “I trust that’s enough motivation for you to get started,” she said. “As a blessed warrior, you shouldn’t associate with dragons of darkness. I forbid you from cooperating with Grimmoldesser. He has his own quest to complete after all. And Leila shall stay here. Quests given by holy dragons are meaningless if any holy dragons have to take part in them. These are trials for the both of you.”
“Wait,” Lindyss said. “I understand why Grimmy’s under trial”—
“Hey.”
—“but why am I under trial as well?” Lindyss’ brow wrinkled as she frowned.
“Anyone who associates with a dragon of darkness has to be tested if they wish to remain in contact with us holy dragons,” Kondra said.
Who would want to remain in contact with someone as unreasonable as you? Lindyss thought. She sighed instead. “Why are all dragons so…? Ugh.” She shook her head. “Alright. Time to catch that stupid culprit to fulfill this stupid quest to appease this stu…pendous dragon so I can go home already.” Purple wings manifested behind her back, and she leapt into the air. “Bye.”
Lulu waved at the cursed elf as she left.