Thus, the debate among the team members was settled, and they resumed their journey toward Arka, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Arcadia. However, the road to their destination was long, so they had to find a place to stay for the night.
Along the way, there was a town they had passed through before, so they decided to spend the night there.
Carlos: We don't have much distance left. We should hurry a bit before night falls.
Carlos looked exhausted from the journey, and the same was true for the entire team—except for Teel, who had wings he could fly with. Because of that, he didn't have to cover the entire distance on foot like the others.
But Ryan saw this as unfair.
Ryan: Hey, Teel, it's not fair for you to fly above us while we're exhausted from walking all this distance.
Ryan was irritated and jealous of Teel at the same time because of his wings.
Teel replied to Ryan, saying: If you had worked harder, you might have wings like mine by now. Don't forget—you're a dragon and are supposed to have wings, so don't blame anyone but yourself.
That was the very point that bothered Ryan more and more; he still hadn't reached the stage where he could manifest his dragon wings.
However, despite Ryan's frustration, Teel had reached his limit as well. Maintaining his transformed form required high concentration and control over aether, so he descended after reaching his limit and landed on his feet, just like the others.
Raven, on the other hand, was the least tired among the entire team. The reason was his transformation abilities—he could reorganize his body and eliminate fatigue, which was part of the Chimera power he possessed.
This only made Ryan even more resentful; if only he could manifest his wings and fly.
At that moment, Carlos spoke in a questioning tone:
Isn't it strange that you're still unable to use your wings? You've already reached the third stage of transformation. That's really strange.
Ryan: Are you mocking me right now?
Ryan believed that Carlos's question was merely sarcasm, but Carlos explained that his question was genuine and not a joke.
Isn't it strange that there are no signs of your wings developing, considering that you're a dragon?
At that moment, Tala broke her silence and said: There's nothing strange about it. Not all dragons have wings—some dragons don't possess wings at all.
Upon hearing Tala's answer, everyone was shocked and stared at Ryan in disbelief.
Carlos: Ryan, could it be that you're a wingless dragon to begin with? All we know is that you carry the genes of the Crimson Dragons—that's what the Teacher said. But in truth, I've never seen a Crimson Dragon myself. They're said to sit atop the throne of power in the Dragon Continent, the lords of destruction. That's why it's impossible to see one wandering the human continent.
But if those dragons don't have wings—
Ryan: Aaaaaah! Shut up! I don't want to hear this kind of nonsense!
Ryan's inner thoughts echoed with anxiety: What if Crimson Dragons are wingless? I was the one who had been eagerly waiting to gain wings like theirs.
Yet, judging by Ryan's expression, he hadn't completely lost hope. He looked at Tala and asked:
Hey, Tala, can you find this out? Do Crimson Dragons really lack wings? Are they wingless or not?
But Ryan's question was an annoying one for Tala.
Haaah… how would I know? I've never met one, and I don't want to meet them in the first place. What kind of idiot would want to be near a Crimson Dragon?
Besides, they're few in number and rarely leave their lairs. Even in humanity's records of the War of Races, a Crimson Dragon was only sighted once or twice. Information about them is scarce. Don't ask me about them again. When we return, you can ask the Teacher—he must know about it.
Haaah… fine. Ryan looked discouraged. What if he truly was a dragon without wings? That would be a disaster for him—he had always dreamed of having wings and flying above the clouds.
While the team continued their conversation, they finally arrived at the town. The sun was already about to set, and they now stood before the town gate. Judging by their clothes and appearance, it was obvious they were travelers, so before entering the town, the two guards stopped them.
Guards: Hold it, boys. Are you travelers?
Carlos replied: Yes, we are. We'd like to stay the night at one of the inns here.
Guards: That's fine, but you'll need to pay a passage fee.
Carlos: A passage fee?
Alright then. How much is the fee for five people?
Guard: It will cost you two silver coins.
Carlos handed over the coins, and they entered the town. However, Carlos was surprised—Ryan didn't try to interfere or cause trouble. Instead, he looked sad and absent-minded.
Haaah… he's still thinking about the wings.
Carlos ignored it for now. The team split into two groups: one stayed in the center of town with the luggage, while the other went to search for an inn.
Tala volunteered to go with Teel to find a nearby inn at a reasonable price, while Ryan, Carlos, and Raven stayed near the bags.
As the three waited, Raven spoke up:
Raven: Could one of you tell me who the Teacher is? I've heard you mention him several times on the road. Is he a member of the organization or something like that?
At that question, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The irritation faded from Ryan's face, and he answered:
Haa… actually, I forgot to tell you about him. The Teacher is my teacher. I met him by chance two years ago. He's a smart and powerful cat. In fact, he was the only one who realized I was a shapeshifter at first glance. He's also mastered powerful combat techniques. He may look like nothing more than a small black cat, but in reality, he's incredibly strong—so strong that I always fail to defeat him.
Raven was shocked:
A cat? Are you saying the Teacher is a cat?
Ryan: Yes, yes. He's amazing.
Raven: Wait a minute—this doesn't make sense. A cat? How can a cat be that strong? And are cats even intelligent animals?
Ryan's explanation wasn't convincing, so Carlos stepped in:
Hey, Raven, don't overthink it. The Teacher is a good person—and also a legendary beast. Don't treat him as just a normal cat. He can even take on a humanoid form. You'll understand once you meet him. I'm sure he'll like you, and you could become stronger by training under his guidance.
Meanwhile, Tala and Teel found an inn after asking an old shopkeeper who sold weapons and adventuring gear. They rented two rooms.
Later, Teel returned to the town center.
Teel: Hey, Carlos! We found a suitable place. Bring the bags and come over.
Each of them picked up what they could and followed Teel to their lodging for the night.
End of Chapter