VBNWDW - Chapter 59
Chapter 59
"Have you heard? The Atl Kingdom suddenly declared war on us! Their army is already outside Nia City."
"Nia? Doesn't that mean they could break through at any moment?" another person replied, their voice filled with terror.
Someone nearby with better information cursed, "The war started two days ago! Who knows what the Temple and the Council are doing, only sending troops now. I swear, those noble lords won't know fear until the Atl Kingdom's blades are at their throats."
"Stop cursing, stop cursing. Who could have expected the Atl Kingdom to suddenly go mad? Her Majesty the Queen is already personally leading the troops…"
"What! Her Majesty the Queen?"
"That's right. It was the result of discussions between the Council and the Temple. They're having Her Majesty lead the troops to Nia City to boost morale."
"Isn't Her Majesty a normal person? She can't even use the lowest-tier magic, how can she go to a battlefield! I think the Council and the Temple have lost their minds!"
"Her Majesty might be a normal person, but her contract partner is a dragon!"
"Right! If the dragon makes a move, what does the Atl Kingdom amount to!"
"But the dragon hasn't taken action in a long time, and it's not accompanying her on this expedition…"
"That's where you're mistaken. Contract partners don't need to be physically present. Even from a thousand miles away, they can appear by their partner's side with just a thought."
"But…"
Before they could finish their discussion, they were sharply driven away by patrolling soldiers. The crowd was angry but didn't dare speak out, so they could only leave in frustration.
A thousand meters away from Anthelia, iron-clad soldiers were arranged in an orderly line like a long dragon. At the head of the column were Knights of Light on warhorses, their lances faintly shimmering with the element of light as they moved. Behind them were dozens of carriages carrying the main force of this support mission—exceptionally skilled Gifted.
Further back was an ordinary four-wheeled carriage, its decorations far plainer than those ahead. Only a few cavalrymen surrounded it. Occasionally, a gaze would linger on it for a moment before moving away.
That was the carriage of Her Majesty the Queen, the subject of their earlier discussion.
Behind it were endless ranks of common soldiers and heavily guarded supply wagons. All told, there were over a hundred thousand people. Yet, due to the urgency of the war, they had been marching nonstop since their departure, with no rest in sight.
The wheels pressed deep ruts into the ground, only to be trampled and erased moments later.
Metis lifted the carriage curtain and then let it fall. Across from her lay a suit of armor that had been crafted overnight, seemingly still radiating a scorching heat from being pulled from the forge just last night.
Beside her, the little black dragon was sleeping on a soft cushion. Its small, horned head rested on its paws, its bony wings folded away. The most amusing part was its hind legs, stretched out behind it in a completely undignified manner.
Unaware of what it was dreaming, it smacked its lips, and its tail swayed behind it.
Seeing this, Metis, who had been feeling anxious, was influenced by the sight and couldn't help but relax slightly.
This war had come out of nowhere. She had still been immersed in the joy of becoming one of the Gifted when she was suddenly summoned by the Council and the Temple for a discussion, only to be ordered to accompany the army the next second.
If she wasn't certain these people wouldn't collude with a neighboring country, Metis would have started to think that her aura leaking out yesterday had alerted them to something unusual, and they were now frantically cooperating with the enemy to have her "accidentally" die at the border.
"Ngh…" Halfway through its nap, the little black dragon suddenly rolled over, its belly facing the sky and its four paws sticking up with abandon.
Metis caught sight of this and found it amusing.
Right now, not a single one of these hundred thousand people was without tension. Even the elite cavalry wore stern faces and worried expressions, to say nothing of the others.
But the dragon had been sleeping since last night. Even when Metis told it they were leaving, it had simply shrunk down, climbed onto her shoulder, and continued to sleep, not once opening its eyes.
Seeing the dragon sleeping so soundly, Metis couldn't resist reaching out a finger to touch the little black dragon's paw.
The giant claws that looked incomparably sharp when it was large now seemed rather plump, smaller than one of her knuckles.
Metis poked it a few times, growing bolder. She even thought about touching the little black dragon's belly…
Just as her delicate fingertip neared the spot, before she could press down, she saw the little black dragon suddenly twitch. It immediately flipped over, its hind paws kicking wildly at its stomach, moving so fast they almost left afterimages, as if it were incredibly itchy.
Metis instantly retracted her hand. Her light gray-blue eyes subconsciously glanced out the window, then her peripheral vision darted back inside.
She looked like a child who had been caught doing something naughty.
But the dragon paid her no mind. It groggily opened its eyes and mumbled, "Metis, where are we?"
Then it answered its own question, "Oh, right, we're going to Nia City. Those old geezers are forcing you to go to the front lines."
It tried to stand up, but its legs gave way, and it nearly toppled over. It scrambled to steady itself and sat down, grumbling, "I'm just so sleepy."
Metis's hand, which had been about to help, froze in mid-air. Just as she was about to pull it back, a dragon claw hooked it and tugged it closer. The little head then rested in her palm as it said again, "So sleepy. Metis, let me lean on you for a bit."
The hand that was about to be withdrawn stayed put. In this scorching weather, the black dragon's body remained cool, creating an extremely comfortable sensation in her palm.
Humans often have a strange destructive urge toward cute things—for instance, the impulse some people get to just sit on a puppy.
Metis's knuckles tensed, then suddenly stopped. The black dragon wasn't even rubbing against her, yet her entire hand suddenly felt tingly and numb.
Her lowered, light gray-blue eyes softened. Her gaze scattered for a moment, like a clear lake being shattered, sending out ripples of light.
The black dragon squinted for a while before lifting its head again. It pawed at its face a few times and finally opened its eyes fully.
"Metis?"
"Lord Yueqing," came the calm and serene reply.
This was the dragon's request: when not in class, there was no need to call it Teacher.
Now fully awake, the black dragon reverted to its usual demeanor and immediately asked, "Where are we now?"
"We've been out of the city for a long time. The Knight-Captain said it's still a long way to the next city, so we'll probably have to make camp on the spot tonight."
The black dragon nodded, then pattered over to Metis's lap. It stood on its tiptoes to look outside and muttered, "So many people…"
Before Metis could say anything, it shifted its feet again, then looked up at her. Its gilded eyes were pure, without a trace of impurity, as it asked, "Can I lie on your lap, Metis?"
"Ah?" Metis was taken aback, blinking in confusion.
The black dragon's spirits immediately drooped, its voice weakening. "I can't? The carriage is so bumpy…"
"Of course you can," Metis said at once. She placed the soft cushion on her thighs, sprinkled some gold coins and gems on it, then patted the pillow and said, "Please, come here."
Her features relaxed into a gentle expression, and her tone was inviting.
The dragon, which had been looking pitiful just a moment ago, climbed onto the cushion, rested its paws and head, and lay down with a look of utter satisfaction.
Metis raised her hand, then lowered it, gripping the edge of her seat tightly.
It buried its head, nuzzling the gold coins, and then said, "Metis, tell me about the Atl Kingdom."
It seemed to be getting down to business.
Metis's expression turned serious. "The Atl Kingdom is one of the Roy Kingdom's neighbors. The two countries are separated by a high mountain range. Although there is frequent trade, border skirmishes are constant. This is mainly because the Atl Kingdom worships the God of War, and everyone from the royal family to the commoners is extremely belligerent. They have conquered many small surrounding countries over the years."
"The God of War, huh…" Yueqing nodded. "Is the situation very serious this time?"
"Yes. In the past, there were skirmishes, but they were minor affairs involving no more than ten thousand people. Although the Atl Kingdom has always coveted Roy, they never dared to truly declare war. This time, they sent a hundred-thousand-strong army directly over the mountains toward the border, as if they are determined to take Nia City."
The black dragon frowned slightly, also sensing that this matter was rather strange. It then said, "Do you have a map?"
Metis immediately took one out and spread it on the table.
The black dragon stretched its neck and squinted at it, only then realizing the gravity of the situation.
If this continent were a basin, the Roy Kingdom would be on the flat area in the middle. The Atl Kingdom and another country shared the rim of the basin, surrounding the Roy Kingdom.
In the past, the three kingdoms were of equal strength, creating a balance of power through mutual restraint and suspicion. But now, with the Atl Kingdom's sudden aggression, Roy was embroiled in conflict. This was manageable in the short term, but if it dragged on, it would inevitably attract the attention of the other kingdom. If they were to suddenly interfere…
Seeing that it had finished looking, Metis added, "The Roy Kingdom's borders have always been guarded by Duke Ander in the north and Duke Gael in the south. Duke Ander is currently in Nia City, awaiting reinforcements."
"So, what are your thoughts, little Queen? Although the situation is serious, it's also an opportunity," the black dragon said, suddenly rolling over. Its earlier solemnity vanished, replaced by its usual laziness.
Metis was about to speak, but the dragon interrupted her, adding, "You can think about it more. I'm not just asking about this war. For example, do you want to become a true queen?"
As the words fell, Metis's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously glanced to the side, and after confirming no one was outside the carriage, she pressed her lips together, her breathing quickening.
The gilded eyes took it all in but didn't speak again. Instead, it picked up a gold coin in its mouth, looking extremely pleased.
Outside the carriage, the sky was a clear blue, and the red sun still hung high, radiating intense heat. Occasionally, a magical beast would charge, only to be quickly dispatched by the Holy Knights at the front. The soldiers at the rear would complain for a moment before falling silent.
Metis could hear her own heartbeat, pounding rapidly and heavily in her chest. As a descendant of the Roy royal bloodline, how could she be content with being controlled by her subjects? She recalled the cheers of the commoners as she stood on the dragon's back, looking down upon the city-state.
She took a deep breath and said, "Teacher Yueqing, please help me."
The black dragon looked at her, not at all surprised, and chuckled. "That's going to cost extra, little Queen."
It spread its front paws, and as if that wasn't enough, it raised its hind paws as well, stating firmly, "This time, I want twelve gold coins."
And Her Majesty the Queen, completely unaware that she was falling into a trap step by step, nodded emphatically, agreeing to the deal. "What should we do?" she asked.
"Wait for night to fall…"
The red sun fell, and darkness swept in. The army, having marched all day, finally sounded the horns to make camp. Bright bonfires appeared along with the aroma of hot soup. A few wolf howls echoed from the distant woods before being swallowed by the night.
The carriage representing the royal family had its curtains drawn and its lights extinguished, as if its occupants were already asleep. Someone who had intended to approach saw this and turned away.
But a person and a dragon had already appeared a hundred meters away from the army, deep within a dense forest.
Her Majesty the noble Queen had changed into practical attire, her face full of vigilance as she faced her opponent.
Across from her was a lone first-tier Wood-elemental magical wolf. Its cold, beastly eyes were also locked on her, its body coiled in an attack stance. The moment Metis showed the slightest weakness, it would pounce.
The human and the wolf remained in a standoff for a long time, until a small stone suddenly flew out from the woods and struck the magical wolf on the head.
It instantly let out an enraged howl, kicked off the ground with its hind legs, and lunged straight at Metis.
Seeing this, Metis took several steps back while a ball of fire appeared in her hand. The next second, she shouted, "Fireball!"
The fireball in her hand shot directly toward the magical wolf, the scorching flames sizzling through the air.
The magical wolf immediately dodged to the side. The fireball landed next to it, blasting a crater the size of a basketball, but it was completely unharmed.
Before Metis could feel disappointed, the magical wolf ran to her side, trying to circle around behind her.
How could Metis dare to show it her back? She immediately turned to dodge, but the magical wolf was far more cunning than she had imagined. The moment Metis moved, it lunged with its mouth wide open.
Metis retreated three steps, flames gathering in her palm. Just as she was about to chant the spell, her foot caught on a branch, and she stumbled.
The sharp fangs were already in front of her face, the foul stench from its mouth washing over her. Just as it was about to bite down, another pebble shot through the air and struck the wolf directly in the eye. The magical wolf fell to the ground and died without a sound, blood pooling on the forest floor.
Metis wiped away her cold sweat, her expression growing even more solemn as she looked at her opponent—a sign of her dissatisfaction with her first battle.
From the side came the dragon's voice. "You still need to work harder, little Queen."
"I won't help you next time."
As its voice fell, they moved to another location.
This time, it was a first-tier magical tiger. Before Metis could even prepare, it charged at her with a roar, as if it had already been provoked.
Metis gritted her teeth. A dagger appeared in her hand, and instead of retreating, she advanced, rushing straight toward the fierce tiger while forming a ball of fire in her other hand.
"Fireball!"
Several ice pillars suddenly appeared around the fierce tiger and collided with the flames, creating a massive explosion.
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