Leylo's eyes snapped open, the exhaustion of the previous night completely swept away. He felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through his body, and his senses were preternaturally sharp. The enhancement brought by his contract with Moonlight was far more significant than he had anticipated.
"Mnh..."
A muffled grumble came from beside him. Leylo turned his head to see Moonlight sprawled out next to him—belly up, limbs outstretched, sound asleep. The sunlight bathed its soft fur in a gentle halo; it looked utterly non-threatening, like nothing more than a harmless, oversized cat.
Leylo couldn't help but reach out and rub its head.
"Meow-wu..."
Moonlight gave a dissatisfied hum and rolled over, swatting Leylo's hand away with a paw before falling back into a deep slumber.
Leylo let out a chuckle. This fellow truly seemed to have fully embraced its persona as a housecat. He stood up and stretched his limbs, savoring the rushing power within him and the increasingly vivid perception of magical elements in his mind.
The path of the Magic Knight mentioned in yesterday's intelligence seemed like a viable option to consider. In this world, the stage before becoming an official Knight is focused on honing the physical constitution and strengthening the "Knight Seed." Once the Seed is sufficiently powerful, a Knight Apprentice can break through physical limitations to become an official Knight. Generally, there are three common paths depending on one's talent: the Bloodline Knight, the Beast Knight, and the Magic Knight.
The Bloodline Knight focuses on self-strengthening and developing one's innate lineage; it is considered the most orthodox path for a Knight.
Beast Knights must contract with a magical beast to strengthen the bond between rider and creature. In times of need, they can borrow the beast's power, manifesting beast-like physical traits to gain immense strength.
Magic Knights, on the other hand, cultivate magical power to bolster themselves, channeling elemental forces to enhance their bodies or unleashing elemental spells to strike down their foes.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the sky suddenly turned dark.
He looked up to see dense, obsidian clouds blanketing the heavens, blotting out the sun.
"It's going to rain."
"Meow!"
With a startled cry, Moonlight snapped awake from its slumber. Its ears perked up as it stared warily at the sky. It seemed to sense the immense energy gathering in the air, and a spark of excitement flickered within its golden eyes.
"Don't be afraid, it's just thunder," Leylo said with a reassuring smile, guessing that the turbulent mana within the storm held a peculiar attraction for the creature.
However, Moonlight's next move completely caught him off guard.
The little creature began jumping and scurrying frantically around the tent, looking for all the world like it was having a localized "zoomie" fit.
"You... like thunderstorms?" Leylo asked, somewhat incredulously.
Moonlight stopped jumping and tilted its head, giving Leylo a look that clearly said, "Is that even a question?" before letting out another excited cry.
Leylo was utterly speechless.
He had heard of dragons that loved gold and seen dragons that craved gemstones, but he had never encountered a dragon that enjoyed thunderstorms. Perhaps Moonlight didn't simply like the rain itself, but rather the chaotic agitation of elemental mana in the air that a storm provided.
Soon, raindrops as large as beans began to pitter-patter down. Moments later, bolts of lightning tore through the vast sky, accompanied by deafening peals of thunder that made the entire world feel as though it were trembling.
Leylo hunkered down inside his tent, listening to the tempestuous wind and rain raging outside, feeling a surge of relief that he had prepared in advance. Moonlight, meanwhile, completely ignored the storm; the creature dashed out of the tent in a fit of excitement, sprinting wildly through the downpour.
"This little fellow..."
Leylo shook his head helplessly and simply let it be, allowing the creature to frolic in the rain.
Two hours later, the thunder ceased and the rain subsided.
The post-storm air was exceptionally crisp, and the sky had been scrubbed to a brilliant, crystalline blue. Leylo stepped out of the tent and took a deep breath, savoring the fragrance of damp earth. The knights also began emerging from their respective tents to tidy up the camp.
The thunderstorm had been fierce; several tents had been ignited by lightning strikes, and over a dozen nearby trees had been blasted into charred husks. Fortunately, they had chosen a site far from the woods when setting up camp. Although a few knights looked bedraggled and soot-stained from the small fires, there were no casualties.
"Lord, the rain has stopped. When do we set out?" a knight asked.
"Take a short break and have some food. We depart in half an hour," Leylo replied.
The knights acknowledged the order and busied themselves. Half an hour later, the camp was packed and ready.
The morning sun dispelled the lingering dampness. The air was thick with the scent of rain-washed grass and soil, tinged with a faint, acrid smell of ozone and charcoal—scars left behind by the lightning. The dozen or so blackened trees stood like silent sentinels not far from the camp.
The knights held their horses' reins, fully geared and ready to depart.
"Meow-wu~"
A lazy call drifted through the air. Moonlight gave its damp fur a vigorous shake, sending droplets flying everywhere and causing a nearby knight, who was busy adjusting his horse's bridle, to scramble in a fluster.
"Hey! Little fellow!" The knight wiped the water from his face, stuck between laughter and annoyance. "Watch where you're shaking that next time!"
Moonlight tilted its head as if it didn't understand a word. It gave two more deliberate shakes before trotting over with an elegant, feline stride to rub against Leylo's leg, gently butting its head against his armor.
Leylo looked down at it. After its revelry in the rain, the little creature seemed more energetic than ever, its golden slit-pupils shimmering with a vivid, intelligent glow.
"Let's move out," Leylo said, his voice steady.
"Yes, My Lord!" the knights responded in unison. Their spirits were noticeably higher now that they were leaving this desolate place.
The path to Blackstone Town was far from smooth. The post-rain ground was muddy, and the horses' hooves made squelching sounds as they trotted along. Leylo rode at the front of the column; ever since he had become a Knight Apprentice, he had never felt better than he did at this moment.
The sense of power flowing through his veins was palpably real, as if every cell in his body were cheering in celebration. Even more miraculous was his heightened perception of the stray magical elements in the air. Though he could not yet manipulate them at will, that newfound affinity filled him with immense anticipation for the path of a Magic Knight.
The transformation brought about by his enhanced talent was surprisingly intuitive. Moonlight, however, lacked any sense of dignity befitting a formidable Silver Dragon. It darted back and forth—one moment scouting ahead of the column, the next lagging behind to swat at wild blossoms or chase startled rabbits, thoroughly enjoying itself.
"My Lord, look! What is that?" a sharp-eyed knight suddenly pointed toward the distance.
Leylo followed his gaze. On the distant horizon, in the direction of Blackstone Town, several plumes of black smoke were rising faintly, appearing jarringly stark against the brilliant blue sky.
"That's Blackstone Town!" Black smoke usually signaled trouble—either a fire or... a battle. Coupled with yesterday's intelligence regarding the incursion of the Magic Snake minions, the answer was practically self-evident. It seemed the serpent vanguard had already launched their assault on Blackstone Town.
"Pick up the pace!" Leylo commanded decisively.