His Breeding Obsession

The winds swayed the ankle-high grasses of the plains.

 

As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, the ruddy air cracked like paper tearing.

 

Malandor emerged from the gap, his expression somewhat hardened.

 

His eyes were bloodshot and fatigued.

 

‘I’m going to faint at this rate.’

 

In such a short period, he had used up so much magic that an ordinary mage would have died ten times over from cardiac arrest, and his magic flow had dried up like a drought-stricken valley.

 

But Malandor did not care, for he would recover as if from a trip to the Netherworld.

 

His gaze was fixed on the carriage in the distance, rushing across the plain.

  The Plains of Razhl 

The wagon was about to cross the boundary of the plain.

 

Malandor quickly realized why his slave had given the signal.

 

Behind the wagon, a group of humans followed.

 

There were only a dozen or so of them, but they were expert chasers, and they followed the carriage at a certain distance.

 

They were cautious, as if their goal was to chase the carriage rather than intercept it. At that moment, a red flare shot into the sky.

 

The pursuers shouted to each other.

 “The Knights are here! Don’t let them go any further!” 

The words served as a signal, and the pursuers increased their speed.

 

The humans rushed forward, blocking the carriage’s path.

 

The coachman clenched his thin, trembling lips and asked calmly.

 “Whose will is this?” “You already know. You dared to flee with a national treasure, and you deserve to die. Give me the Mirror of Adensha.” “The Crown Prince and the Empress have joined hands… the Empress is not one to allow the Crown Prince to turn away an army.” “What difference does it make if a soon-to-be-dead sinner knows it?” 

Malandor suddenly realized that the coachman pulling the carriage was Alice.

 

‘Where is Mirania, shouldn’t she be here?’

 

All his attention was on Mirania, not Alice, though she was interesting as a rare slave.

 

‘I can feel Mirania’s aura.’

 

Malandor centered the carriage, expanding his vision to take in the entire expanse.

 

His calm eyes darted about, searching for Mirania.

 

I could see the humans blocking Alice’s path, the confronting carriages, and the army of humans closing in fast, forming several layers around the carriages.

 

Soon, I find a spot where the air warps.

 Bang! 

With a huge thunderous rumble, the tension on the ground shattered like broken glass.

 

Malandor threw his sharp gaze to the source of the disturbance.

 

It was the rear of the army, the side with the mages supporting the knights.

  

Before Malandor’s arrival, Mirania had arrived in the Plains of Razhl.

 

She had already spotted Alice’s carriage, running frantically like a hare in pursuit.

 

She also saw the army moving swiftly, like hunters on their prey.

 

‘They’ve sharpened their swords.’

 

All the yellow canary had heard was that Alice was being pursued, but that was enough for him to understand the situation.

 

Adensha’s mirror had drawn the Crown Prince, his anger at the Emperor had drawn the Empress, and their council had raised an army.

 

The only thing I didn’t quite understand was why Alice would run away with the Mirror of Adensha, but it was easy to infer that it was the life of her lover, the Prince, that was pushing her.

 

‘Do you feel like Adensha’s mirror is a lifeline?’

 

Mirania clicked her tongue.

 

‘Foolishly…’

 

A choice that could mean death.

 

The will to keep her lover alive, even as she chose to put herself in harm’s way, was almost overwhelming.

 

‘I’ve never met a fairy so stupid.’

 

I said sourly, but I didn’t blame her.

 

‘I’ve grown quite generous myself, seeing you want something so badly, a wish so badly to be granted.’

 

If I could, and perhaps I should have some energy left, I would see to it that Alice’s lover, Evan, was given the chance.

 

Her heart was beating slower.

 

Mirania tapped her chest and swallowed a ‘mmm’.

 

She could feel it.

 

‘The end is near.’

 

Her mind raced.

 

‘We’d better hurry. I must return with Alice at once.’ 

 

The standoff between the carriage and the human army was about to break. Mirania fixed her broom and grabbed it.

 “Grecan, we’ll set off again.” “…” “?” 

There was no answer.

 “Grecan?” 

Turning around, Mirania was surprised to see him breathing heavily with a blank face.

 

His body was hunched, as if he was struggling to stand.

 

He was so tall that he resembled a stooped scarecrow, but his hot breath was coming out of his reddened lips in an almost comical way.

 “Grecan, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden?” 

Mirania cupped his face in panic. Her hand was as hot as a scalding sun.

 

Well-fed and well-cared for, Grecan was no longer the strong, frail creature he had been when he was younger.

 

Wondering if he was ill from wandering in a strange place, Mirania examined him closely and realized the cause.

 

Surprise flashed through her mind.

 

‘You’re not sick.’

 

A strange force was stirring near his abdomen.

 

Feeling around the area, Mirania flexed her fingers.

 

‘It’s burning hot.’

 

Mirania turned her attention back to Grecan’s face.

 

He gasped and locked eyes with Mirania, then shook his head as if to clear it.

 “I… what’s wrong with me?” “…” “I don’t feel right.” 

His voice, slower than usual, sounded like the popping of bubbles in boiling lava.

 

Mirania clicked her tongue at the questioning stares.

 

This was awkward. Embarrassing.

 “Prepare for your awakening.” “Awakening?” 

Grecan blinked slowly, his eyes clouded over.

 

Mirania was speechless, unsure of how to explain.

 

Awakening was an uncommon, if not rare, concept among non-humans.

 

And from what she remembered, the power Grecan gained from his awakening was immense.

 

Judging by the way his body was already shaking from the premonition, he wouldn’t even be able to move today.

 

It was strange that his awakening should have happened years ago, but what was the point of awakening at this point?

 

Mirania’s mind became even more frantic. She had more work to do.

 

‘Grecan is probably not at full strength right now.’

 

Grecan’s current state made him vulnerable to external stimuli, such as a human soldier finding him and piercing him with a spear, for example.

 

Of course, it’s a joke that Grecan, the beloved lord of the gods, would die so easily.

 

‘What can I do? We can’t keep moving like this.’ 

 

After a moment’s consideration, Mirania staggers to her feet and nudges Grecan’s shoulder as he tries to climb onto the back of her broom, her palm burning despite the contact through his clothing.

 

Grecan grimaced, ruffled his hair, and locked eyes with Mirania. The heat was making it hard to focus.

 “Why?” 

He shrugs, his voice feverish. It was actually a lump in his throat, but he looked pretty childlike anyway.

 

Mirania clicked her tongue once more at the dark eyes staring at her stupidly, but her heart softened strangely.

 

The awakening of a beast was akin to a coming-of-age ceremony for humans.

 

‘It’s a shame, because under other circumstances, I would have seen to it that he made it through the Awakening safely.’

 

Dropping her broom, Mirania wrapped her arm around Grecan’s shoulders to support him.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

She felt like she was going to collapse under the weight, but the heat of his body gave her strength.

 

He shook his head, but followed Mirania’s lead and walked obediently.

 

Despite his sometimes unnecessary stubbornness, Grecan tended to do whatever Mirania asked.

 

She made him sit down under a tree, and this time she placed her hand on it.

 

The tree shook its leaves to express its joy, as if floating at the touch of one of the closest things to nature in this land.

 Swoosh— 

Mirania whispered a few words as she caressed the tree with a gentle expression.

 {Will you protect this child…}

 

Her voice was crisp and muffled, like a soap bubble popping.

 Swish, swish— 

The tree shook its branches in response.