Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix C.279: [Bonus chapter]Negotiations

These recent accomplishments underscored the magic people's reliance on their assistance, making the notion of seeking aid again seem less than ideal.

In any case, the group rested for a couple of hours, but they didn't rest properly since there was the fear that the fire dragon's self-destruction would attract others. Still, nothing happened.

When morning came, the group was ready to leave, but Rain and Terra were still working on his wounds. The previous wounds that Rain received from a fire dragon took a bit to heal completely, but these ones were even worse.

"I guess since the fire dragon used its vital force to explode, its hatred is also affecting your wounds," Terra explained.

"Is that kind of stuff even possible?" Rain asked. "I never heard of that."

"It is very possible curses are a thing, and throughout history, only a handful of people could remove them," Terra explained. "The dark emotions that one feels when they are about to die can create curses, but only those powerful enough can create curses that have lasting negative effects."

At its core, magic drew its power from the realm of spirits. This connection between magic and spirits meant that when a spirit harbored intense anger or resentment, it had the potential to weave curses and other mystical phenomena.

For beings with exceptionally long lifespans, such as dragons, this link between their powerful emotions and magic grew even more profound. Over the centuries, their experiences and emotions would accumulate, resulting in an anger of unparalleled depth and intensity.

This heightened rage could be harnessed and channeled into formidable magical abilities, allowing them to wield destructive forces far beyond the reach of many other creatures.

In any case, while the group was readying the horses. Some of the magic people approached them, and the black-haired woman was leading them. Terra quickly shielded Rain to protect him from her eyes, but she was a bit short for that. The others did the same. It would be bad if Rain ended up brainwashed now.

"You don't have to worry; it is taking all my might to keep that dragon under control," The black-haired woman said. "I just came to apologize for controlling your father. You don't have to forgive me for it. I am also grateful for saving me last night.'

As Rain watched the black-haired woman depart, he was left with a mix of emotions. Her words about his father and her apparent remorse left him uncertain. He couldn't discern if her apologies were genuine or a ruse to manipulate him further.

Her sudden change in demeanor added to the mystery. While it made sense that controlling multiple dragons would be a challenging task, given their immense power and individual wills, Rain couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her explanation than met the eye. Her revelation of limitations raised suspicions, and he couldn't help but wonder if there were hidden motives behind her words.

This situation left Rain in a state of uncertainty as if he were trying to solve a complex puzzle with missing pieces, leaving him uneasy and wary of what might come next.

"We should leave as soon as possible," Terra said.

"You are so mainly, Terra," Rain said. "You might win over my maiden heart at this rate."

"Stop joking around. I am not interested in kids," Terra said.

"I see you like old men," Rain shrugged. "I guess everyone has their own weird kinks."

The group hastily departed from the military post after their eventful encounters. Despite the rush, there was an underlying feeling of contentment and pride among them. They had not only survived but had excelled in their battles against the dragons, and as they made their way back home, a sense of triumph filled the air. see-more-MVLeMpYr

Rain fell into a contemplative silence for a while. His thoughts revolved around the enigmatic black-haired woman who had played a pivotal role in his past. Initially, when he had confronted her, anger had surged within him, fueling a desire for retribution. However, as he pondered the situation further, he realized that his anger had gradually waned over time.

Several years had elapsed since the distressing incident involving his father, and the intense fury that had once consumed him had subsided. He no longer harbored the same vehement resentment towards the woman, especially considering her current condition and the apparent change in her demeanor.

Time had a way of healing wounds and altering perspectives, and Rain had learned to shift his focus away from past grievances. Instead, he concentrated on the challenges and opportunities that lay before him in the present, allowing the past to gradually fade into the background of his life.

"I also know that life is too short to dwell on all that too long… I guess I lost the chance to kill her… killing her now would make me the only suspect," Rain thought. "Even if it is only an accident."

In the end, the group returned to the main military post and provided their report to Josar, the commander. As they detailed their recent dragon encounters, Josar's initial reaction was one of clear delight. The news of three additional dragons defeated and the potential recruitment of one of them was undoubtedly a substantial achievement.

However, Josar's excitement momentarily got the better of him. He began to express his satisfaction but then quickly corrected himself. His actions inadvertently revealed that such frequent dragon encounters and the successful elimination of three of them were far from ordinary events. The rarity of their accomplishments was emphasized by his slip despite his attempts to maintain a composed demeanor.

"Thank you for your assistance," Josar said. "I already sent the message to the capital to prepare the potions and the money for defeating another dragon and assisting us further."

Rain was taken aback by Josar's words. He had assumed that the body of the fire dragon would hold little value apart from the potential use of its bones. The rest of the creature's remains seemed rather useless in his eyes.