Chapter 13: Strange Girl

“Lord Lucia.”

Inside the cave, Fratina sat in the living hall, looking at Lucia seated nearby, and spoke slowly.

“Hm?”

“I’ve noticed you enjoy reading. What kinds of books do you usually read?”

Lucia’s expression stiffened at the question.

As expected, Fratina had seen the book she left in the hall yesterday.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she gave a measured response.

“Well… in the past, I read mostly spellbooks and skill manuals, but I’ve pretty much mastered those.”

“Oh… so what do you like to read now?”

Fratina’s follow-up made Lucia inwardly groan.

She’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?

But reading novels wasn’t shameful, so Lucia replied coolly, “Now, when I’m bored, I read things to pass the time, like various novels.”

“I see…”

Fratina nodded knowingly.

Lucia, watching her reaction, found herself momentarily captivated.

Perhaps because they’d spent so much time together, Lucia was noticing Fratina more often.

The Hero’s beauty was striking—her nod, paired with her lovely face and cool expression, tugged at Lucia’s heart.

Noticing Lucia’s hooded gaze lingering, Fratina paused and asked, “Lord Lucia, are you staring at me?”

“N-No, not at all.”

For once, Fratina caught a hint of panic in the voice from under the hood.

The hood itself was odd. It didn’t fully cover the face, yet Fratina couldn’t make out Lucia’s features.

It was as if a black mist shrouded her, leaving no lasting impression.

After lingering in the cave a while longer, Fratina went out to hunt.

Feeling restless, Lucia decided she was tired of staying indoors and wanted to stretch her legs.

Though weak for a dragon, she was still safe in the empty valley—small animals posed no threat.

With Fratina gone, Lucia left her cloak behind, transformed into her dragon form, and flew out of the cave.

Her human past made her uncomfortable as a dragon, but since she’d reincarnated as one, she felt she should adapt to her true form.

Hovering briefly in the sky, she tested her stamina’s limits.

She flew toward the distance.

As a dragon, her wingbeats stirred powerful gusts, startling birds from the trees below.

After about five kilometers, Lucia felt her strength waning.

Nearing her limit, she turned to fly back.

But her stamina drained unusually fast. After a few wingbeats, she could no longer maintain flight.

Forced to land on a flat clearing, a flash of white light enveloped her, and she reverted to her human form.

“Strange…”

Leaning against a tree, Lucia sat down.

“My dragon form is my true body, so why do I revert to human when I’m out of strength…?”

Even searching her inherited memories, she found no explanation.

After resting for half an hour, her energy partially recovered, and she stood.

It was nearing dusk.

A sudden wolf howl pierced the air.

Lucia tensed instantly.

Wolves were common in the forest.

Normally, she wouldn’t fear them.

But now, barely recovered and unable to shift back to her dragon form, she was vulnerable.

Sure enough, after the howl, several gray-brown wolves appeared in her line of sight.

Usually, they’d flee at her presence, but seeing her weakened state, they bared their fangs, eyeing her as prey.

Lucia backed away slowly, knowing turning her back would only provoke them.

But the wolves didn’t retreat. Their eyes gleamed with predatory intent, marking her as their target.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind her, and a familiar figure darted past, charging at the wolves.

In a blink, the lead wolf was slain, and the pack scattered in fear.

Fratina sheathed her long-unused sword and turned to Lucia.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the delicate girl behind her.

She had never seen someone so beautiful.

Perhaps due to the near-attack, the girl’s purple eyes were filled with fear, her entire being radiating a fragile, pitiable aura.

“Who… are you?”

Fratina snapped out of her daze and approached.

Lucia, however, was too nervous to speak.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to—she was exposed without her cloak, her true form laid bare.

Fratina, assuming the girl was frightened, softened her voice.

“Are you lost in the forest?”

Lucia nodded.

“Do you remember where your home is?”

Lucia shook her head, and Fratina frowned, conflicted.

She had come out to hunt, but earlier, she’d felt an unusual surge of energy and focus.

Hearing the wolf howl, she rushed over.

Now, should she return to cook for her master or help this girl?

The girl wouldn’t survive the valley alone, but escorting her would delay her return.

Fratina felt torn.