Raylo's eyes snapped open, the fatigue from the previous night completely gone.
He felt an unprecedented power surging through his body, and his senses were exceptionally sharp.
The boost from contracting with Moonlight was even more significant than he'd anticipated.
"Mmm..."
An indistinct mumble came from beside him. Raylo turned his head and saw Moonlight sprawled out next to him, its snow-white belly facing up and its limbs stretched out, fast asleep.
Sunlight spilled onto its soft fur, creating a faint halo. It looked utterly harmless, just like a big, docile cat.
Raylo couldn't resist reaching out to rub its head.
"Mrow..."
Moonlight grumbled in annoyance, rolled over, and batted Raylo's hand away with a paw before going right back to sleep.
Raylo chuckled. 'This little guy really thinks it's just a big cat.'
He rose and stretched, feeling the power rushing through his body and the ever-clearer perception of Magic Elements in his mind.
'The path of the Magic Knight mentioned in yesterday's intel... it seems like a real possibility now.'
In this world, before becoming an Official Knight, the primary focus is on tempering the body to strengthen the Knight Seed.
When the Knight Seed is strong enough, a Knight Apprentice can break through their physical limitations to become an Official Knight.
Upon becoming an Official Knight, depending on their Knight Talent, there are generally three common paths: Bloodline Knight, Magical Beasts Knight, and Magic Knight.
Bloodline Knights focus on strengthening themselves and developing their own bloodline; this is the most orthodox path for a Knight.
Magical Beasts Knights must form a contract with a Magical Beast and strengthen their bond. When necessary, they can borrow the Magical Beast's power, causing their own bodies to take on beast-like characteristics and gaining a tremendous boost in power.
Magic Knights, on the other hand, cultivate Magic Power to strengthen themselves. They can channel Elemental Power to enhance their own abilities or use Elemental Magic to strike down their foes.
Just as he was lost in thought, the sky suddenly darkened.
He looked up to see dark clouds gathering, blotting out the sun.
"It's going to rain."
"Meeow!"
With a startled cry, Moonlight bolted awake. Its ears shot up as it stared warily at the sky.
It seemed to sense the powerful energy in the air, its golden eyes shimmering with excitement.
"Don't be scared, it's just thunder."
Raylo said with a comforting smile. He guessed the turbulent Magic Power in the thunderstorm held a strange attraction for it.
However, Moonlight's next move made his jaw drop.
It began to leap and bound around the tent excitedly, going completely wild.
"You... like thunderstorms?"
Raylo asked in disbelief.
Moonlight stopped jumping, tilted its head, and gave Raylo a look that clearly said, 'Do you even have to ask?' before letting out another excited cry.
Raylo was completely speechless.
'I've heard of dragons that love Gold Coins and dragons that love Gemstones,' Raylo thought, 'but I've never seen one that loves thunderstorms.'
'Perhaps Moonlight doesn't like the storm itself, but the turbulent Magic Elements in the air that come with it.'
Soon, huge raindrops began to fall, pattering against the ground. Streaks of lightning tore across the sky, followed by deafening thunder. The entire world seemed to tremble.
Raylo took shelter in his tent, listening to the tempest rage outside. He was glad he'd prepared in advance.
Moonlight, however, completely ignored the downpour. It bounded excitedly out of the tent and began to race around in the rain.
'This little guy…'
Raylo shook his head helplessly. He decided to just ignore it and let it play in the rain.
「Two hours later.」
The storm passed.
The air was exceptionally fresh after the rain, and the sky was a pristine, washed-out blue.
Raylo stepped out of his tent and took a deep breath, savoring the earthy fragrance of the rain-soaked soil.
The Knights began to emerge from their own tents and started to break camp.
The Thunderstorm had ignited a few of the camp's tents, and more than a dozen nearby trees had been struck and turned to charcoal.
Fortunately, they had set up camp far from the woods. So, while a few Knights were left covered in soot from the lightning fires, there were no casualties.
"Lord, the rain has stopped. When do we set out?" a Knight asked.
"Rest for a bit, eat something. We leave in half an hour," Raylo said.
The Knights acknowledged the order and got busy.
Half an hour later, the camp was packed and ready.
The morning sun dispelled the last of the dampness. The air was filled with the mixed scent of rain-washed grass and soil, mingled with the faint smell of something burnt—a reminder of the previous night's lightning strikes.
A dozen or so charred trees stood not far from the camp.
The Knights stood by their horses, ready to depart.
"Meeeow~"
A lazy cry sounded out.
Moonlight shook its soaked fur, sending water flying everywhere. It caught a nearby Knight who was adjusting his horse's reins, making him flinch and fumble.
"Hey, little guy!"
The Knight wiped the water from his face, exasperated. "Shake yourself dry somewhere else next time!"
Moonlight tilted its head, seemingly not understanding. It gave two more vigorous shakes, then sauntered over to Raylo with an elegant, cat-like gait and gently nudged its head against his leg armor.
Raylo looked down at the creature. After its wild romp in the rain, it seemed even more energetic. Its vertical golden pupils shone with a lively light.
"Let's move out."
Raylo swung himself onto his horse, his voice firm.
"Yes, Lord!"
The Knights responded in unison. Their spirits were much higher now that they were leaving this desolate place.
The road to Black Stone Town was uneven, the ground muddy after the rain. The horses' hooves made squelching sounds as they trod through it.
Raylo rode at the head of the column. Ever since becoming a Knight Apprentice, he had never felt this good.
The sense of power flowing through his body was so real it felt as if every cell was singing with joy.
Even more wonderfully, his perception of the stray Magic Elements in the air had also sharpened. Though he couldn't yet control them at will, the sense of affinity he felt filled him with anticipation for the path of the Magic Knight.
'The improvement from my enhanced talent is so tangible.'
Moonlight, however, showed no awareness of its status as a powerful Silver Dragon. It would dart ahead to scout the path, then fall behind to bat at wildflowers or chase startled rabbits, clearly having the time of its life.
"Lord, look! What's that?"
A sharp-eyed Knight suddenly pointed into the distance.
Raylo followed his pointed finger. On the distant horizon, in the direction of Black Stone Town, several plumes of black smoke were rising. They were a jarring sight against the azure sky.
'That's the direction of Black Stone Town!'
'Black smoke usually meant trouble. Either a fire or... a battle.'
Combined with yesterday's system prompt about the invasion of the Demon Serpent's Fangs, the answer was self-evident.
'The Demon Serpent's Fangs must already be attacking Black Stone Town.'
"Pick up the pace!"
Raylo ordered without hesitation.