Dragon King's Harem Chapter 398. Corrupted Mana?
I looked at her, nodding slightly as I felt the same lingering tension. "Yes, it does," I replied, glancing around the room. "But surreal or not, we could use the break."
Evelina's gaze fixed on me. "What happened with the Sky Serpents? Why did they go after our convoy?"
"They weren't after to attack us," I said, watching their faces shift from confusion to intrigue. "That creature chased us because… it needed our help." I paused, letting that sink in. "We found this old structure, hidden in a remote area. One of the serpents had been trapped inside, and the leader was desperate to free it. I think they saw a convoy of dragons and assumed we were their best chance at getting help."
Jyne's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. "They… thought we'd help them?"
I nodded. "As odd as it sounds, yes. They're creatures of instinct, not intelligence like us, but they could sense that we had the strength to do something about it."
Evelina pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "So, someone tried to trap the Sky Serpents?"
I shrugged. "Maybe. It's a possibility, but I don't know for sure. The structure is ancient, abandoned for what looks like centuries. It's the only one we found in the area."
"Scary…" Jyne whispered, drawing her knees up and hugging them slightly. Her eyes darted to me, and she looked like she was trying to make sense of it all.
I nodded, a serious expression settling on my face. "They were lucky we were around. I'm not sure how long that serpent would have lasted otherwise."
Jyne tilted her head, curiosity mixing with worry in her gaze. "But… something's still bothering you, isn't it?"
"It is," I admitted, feeling the weight of that worry settle again. "The structure was infused with corrupted mana. It was old, but somehow still active. That sort of power doesn't just linger on its own."
Evelina's face paled slightly.
"That's… bad, isn't it?" Jyne said, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Corrupted mana doesn't just cause problems for the creatures around it. It can damage the balance of the land itself," Evelina answered.
I nodded. "Right. It can seep into the soil, spread into the nearby areas, warp the environment." I paused, trying to gauge how they were taking it. "But with the structure destroyed, the land should slowly recover. We've disrupted the source. I just… haven't found whoever created it."
Jyne's eyes widened slightly. "So… they're still out there?"
"Possibly," I said, frustration edging into my tone. "If this was a trap, it was set by someone who understands mana at a high level. It takes skill, maybe even years of experience, to create something like that. And if they're still out there, they could try to build it somewhere else."
Evelina frowned, her expression thoughtful. "But you said the structure seemed old, right? Do you think… maybe it was part of an ancient ritual or an abandoned plan?"
"Could be." I looked away, my mind going over the details again. "It's possible it's a relic of a time long forgotten. But usually, structures like that fall apart or lose their potency. For this one to remain active…" I let my voice trail off.
Evelina nodded, understanding where I was going. "So, someone may have been keeping it… alive, in a sense?"
"Exactly," I replied. "Structures like that don't just power themselves indefinitely. Someone, or something, was either feeding it mana or preventing it from deteriorating. But I have destroyed it, so it should be fine."
Jyne looked down, her face drawn with concern. "Will the land around it heal over time?"
"Yes," I said reassuringly. "The land will eventually recover, and the balance will return. But without knowing who set it up, it's impossible to predict where they might try to build something like it again."
Evelina leaned forward, her gaze hardening. "So we'll have to be on guard. If whoever did this is still out there, they'll likely want to replace what was destroyed."
I nodded, meeting her gaze. "That's the fear. But for now, all we can do is stay vigilant. And if I find anything, I'll destroy it before it has a chance to cause more damage."
A brief silence settled over us, each of us lost in our thoughts. Finally, Jyne spoke up, her voice hesitant. "Do… you think they were targeting the Sky Serpents specifically?"
"Maybe," I said slowly, considering the idea. "It's possible they wanted to ensnare any creature strong enough to wander close. But the serpents were likely drawn to the power, sensing something they couldn't understand and got too close."
Evelina's expression darkened. "It's unsettling to think of someone using creatures like that for… who knows what purpose."
"It is," I agreed, feeling the weight of that truth settle over me. "And until we find the person responsible, I don't think we'll ever know their full intentions."
Evelina placed a gentle hand on my arm, her expression softening. "Then maybe, Your Majesty, it's time to let us handle things tonight. You've done enough for one day."
Jyne chimed in, nodding in agreement. "She's right. You haven't had a moment's rest since we arrived, and from what I've heard, the food will take at least another hour or two. The inn doesn't have any preparation time, so the cooks need extra time to set up."
I sighed. "I expected as much," I admitted, glancing around the room. "But as much as I'd like to rest, I need to make sure everything's secure. We didn't come all this way to lose anyone now. Some of our injured are from other tribes, and keeping them safe means more than just good will. It could help us to bond a new alliance."
Evelina gave me a nod. "Of course. But please, take even just a short rest afterward. You're right, keeping them safe is essential for us, for the alliances, but so is keeping you in fighting condition."
Jyne cast me a small, pleading smile. "So we'll watch over things while you check around. But please, try to take it easy."
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