Continuing from the last scene:
As SinRung, Raphael, and Seraphina—with her guard behind them—walked toward the main gate of the city, preparing to leave before nightfall, a mysterious figure suddenly stepped in front of them.
"Wait... don't leave so quickly," said a young man with a calm smile. He wore simple but neat clothes, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity as he looked at Seraphina's horns and deep red eyes.
Seraphina froze, her tail flicking nervously. "Eh!? So... it was you! Why are you following us?"
Seraphina's guard interrupted, pulling out his sword. "Step back, Princess. I'll deal with this man."
The young man knelt down in front of them.
"Please don't kill me. I'm not here to harm you. I'm just curious because you three are unusual visitors to Azel Kingdom—especially these two dragonkin."
The guard calmed down and stepped back to his position.
SinRung stepped forward calmly. "Curious, huh? You've been following us all this time?"
"Yes," the young man admitted with a small laugh, still kneeling. "But don't worry, I won't cause you any trouble. I just wanted to see these two dragonkin." He glanced politely at Seraphina.
Seraphina blushed slightly and crossed her arms. "Hmph... I'm not that interesting! And I'm not a child either!"
SinRung smirked. "Do you really need to say that you're not a child, Seraphina?"
Raphael narrowed her eyes, standing protectively in front of SinRung. "Hey, whoever you are, how did you know they're dragons when most people assume they're beastmen?"
The young man stood up confidently. "Well... once, during my visit to the mountains—people warned me about dangerous dragons. While I was inside a cave collecting a rare gem for magic purposes, I slipped off a cliff and got injured. Before I lost consciousness, someone with horns and red eyes helped and healed me. When I woke up, I saw four large footprints and realized it must've been a dragon in human form."
SinRung nodded. "I see. So, you were saved by a dragon."
"I've heard that story somewhere... but I can't remember where," said Seraphina.
The young man stepped closer to her, and the guard instantly raised his sword in warning.
"Dragon Seraphina," the young man said with a gentle smile, "can we be friends?"
The guard relaxed slightly. Seraphina's eyes sparkled. "Sure, why not? And you can just call me Seraphina."
The young man smiled brightly. "Thank you so much, Seraphina!" Then he turned and began walking away. "Bye-bye, Seraphina! We'll meet again—I have to go!"
Seraphina shouted, "You didn't even tell me your name!"
The young man called back, "My name is Areo!"
Raphael exhaled softly. "Well... that was interesting."
Seraphina muttered, flicking her tail. "I got a human friend today—yep, peee~."
SinRung smiled faintly. "Aren't we your friends too, Seraphina?"
"You're my master," Seraphina said proudly.
The trio turned, leaving the city behind. The bustling streets faded into the distance as the forest came into view again. A mysterious figure watched them from afar, smiling faintly.
"We'll meet again soon," he murmured before disappearing into the crowd.
The Road to the Village
SinRung, Raphael, and Seraphina slowly walked out through the grand gate of Azel Kingdom. The city behind them glimmered under the fading afternoon sun.
Behind them, Seraphina's royal guard followed quietly, keeping a respectful distance. He had promised to escort Seraphina safely, but it was clear he had no intention of interfering with the unusual travelers.
Seraphina yawned and stretched. "Hmph… walking for so long… my legs are tired already."
The guard cleared his throat politely. "It's a long walk ahead, Princess. If you wish, I can speed up our pace."
Seraphina's tail twitched. "Hmph… I don't need anyone's help! I'm not a child."
The trio laughed quietly as they continued down the forest path, the guard keeping a careful eye on their surroundings. Fireflies began flickering as night fell, casting a soft light over the path.
SinRung slightly turned his head toward the guard. "Hey… you didn't tell us your name yet."
The guard replied calmly, "I don't have a name, sir."
"What! You don't have a name? I thought everyone did."
"It's true, sir. Only humans have names. Beastmen like us don't—only special ones are named."
"Why is that?"
"Because naming a beastman takes some of your mana to help them evolve. If someone with low mana, like a human, tries to name a beastman, they'll die."
"Really? And what happens after naming one?"
"They become your servant and are bound to you. But in rare cases, they become kin—like me—and can grow very strong depending on their master's mana."
"But you don't have a name. How did you become a kin?"
"Actually, I wear this white gem necklace. It contains a large amount of mana. Thanks to it, I can remain a kin for two weeks."
"That's amazing," SinRung said.
Raphael glanced toward the village lights twinkling in the distance. "My Lord… look. We're almost there."
SinRung nodded. "Yes. We'll reach safely. Nothing disturbed us tonight."
Raphael smirked. "Yes, my Lord. This village keeps its lights on for safety. Let's find someone to help us."
SinRung smiled faintly. "Alright… little dragon, let's see how helpful the villagers are tonight."
Seraphina puffed her cheeks. "I'm not a child anymore, Master! Hmph!"
As the trio entered the village under the soft glow of lanterns, a few catfolk villagers peeked from their homes. Their fur twitched, tails swished, and ears perked up at the sight of the travelers. Even in the dark, they could sense something unusual—a faint but powerful aura, though it was mostly suppressed.
Seraphina whispered nervously, "Master… why are they staring at us?"
SinRung chuckled softly. "Relax. Let them stare. Tonight, we only need food and a place to stay. That's all."
"Oh… our saviors—it's you!" exclaimed a young catman, rushing forward with excitement. Others followed, bowing slightly but watching with wide eyes.
SinRung gave a calm smile, suppressing his aura even more.
The village chief, a middle-aged catman with orange fur, stepped forward, his whiskers twitching. "It is indeed you! You saved us from that dragon earlier! Please, allow us to offer you food and a place to rest tonight."
Behind the trio, the royal guard stayed quiet, keeping a respectful distance. He shifted uneasily as the villagers sensed the aura around them. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword—though he didn't need it. His presence alone kept things orderly.
Seraphina whispered, her deep red eyes wide. "Eh… Master… they can sense us somehow?"
SinRung nodded faintly. "Yes… their senses are sharp. But they don't know everything. Let's just accept their hospitality for tonight."
Raphael's eyes narrowed slightly. "My Lord… they can sense some of our power. We should remain careful, even while resting."
Seraphina muttered, flicking her tail. "Hmph… cats are strange. But the food smells good… so I'm fine."
The chief guided them to a modest house near the village center. Lanterns glowed warmly, and other villagers bowed politely, whispering excitedly among themselves. The royal guard stood silently near the door, his ears twitching.
Raphael whispered, "They sense your power, my Lord… but they don't fully understand it. We should keep things balanced."
SinRung nodded. "Yes. Tonight, we rest and regain our strength. Tomorrow, we'll decide the next step."
Seraphina sighed happily. "Finally… food! Hmph… this village is strange, but at least food is food."
SinRung said, "Let's eat first. After that, we'll talk about how to earn money tomorrow."
Both Raphael and Seraphina nodded. Everyone began eating while the guard stood outside.
SinRung glanced at Seraphina. "Hey… don't you think you should invite your guard too?"
"I asked him, but he said he'd guard the house. He said he can live for months without food."
"If he says so, then alright."
After dinner, SinRung, Raphael, and Seraphina sat together in the living room.
Seraphina asked excitedly, "Hey, Master, what should we do next?"
"Let's sleep and rest for now. I already have an idea about the money."
"What! When did you plan that?" Raphael asked. "You were with us the whole time!"
"You'll both know in the morning. For now, get some rest."
The trio went to their rooms.
SinRung looked out the window from his bed.
'I never thought I'd have a second life… For now, I'll rest. Tomorrow will be interesting.'
As he lay down, his body suddenly felt heavy. "Ahh… why do I feel so heavy?" He looked down and saw Seraphina sleeping on him.
"Hey… Seraphina, what are you doing here? You have your own room!"
"Yes, Master, but I wanted to sleep with you."
"Don't be silly, go back to your room."
Just then, the door opened.
"My Lord, I wanted to ask something—" Raphael froze. "My Lord!? Why is Seraphina on your bed!?"
"No—no, Raphael, it's not what you think!"
"You let Seraphina sleep with you but not me!?" Raphael's eyes teared up. "Fine! I'll sleep here too!"
"Ahhh… both of you, go back to your rooms!"
They both left with pouty faces.
SinRung sighed. "What happened to them suddenly?"
The night grew quiet.
Seraphina knocked on Raphael's door. "Miss Raphael, can I sleep with you at least?"
"Why, Seraphina?"
"Because I don't like sleeping alone."
"Fine… come in."
They both slept together, and the night passed peacefully.
The Morning
SinRung woke up, stretched, and walked to Raphael's room.
"I'm coming in, Raphael," he said, opening the door—only to see both of them sleeping peacefully together.
"Ohh… I guess I should let them sleep for a while. They look happy."
He smiled faintly and went downstairs to the living room.
"Ohh… you've finally come," a voice said.
To be continue...