When the food grilling on the fire was nearly done, and its smell was already starting to tickle his nose, he finally found something that would fit his current needs.
[Magical Control]
Price: 500 thousand
While he had no real means of using magic, as of right now, even just a smoother magic flow in his body would help him with his Mana Burst skill.
Cassian had, of course, realized how unnatural his flow of magical energy had felt. While this could've just as well been due to the low proficiency level of the skill, he was sure that his unrefined magic control had a definite play in it too.
Besides that, he was sure that he would eventually learn either Magecraft, thanks to the system, 'real' magic, since as a fae, even as only a partial one, there should be a way to access ot, or if there existed; the magic of this world.
For all of that, this skill should prove useful.
Therefore, before even beginning to eat the finally finished food, he decided to buy it.
After the whole process of the system transaction, once again, another small pouch appeared before him, in which he found the skill card, which he quickly used, before finally eating the dragon meat skewers.
The moment he bit into the just grilled meat, a smile of pure delight appeared across his face.
For some reason, even though the meat was entirely bland, with no extra spices added to it, its taste was out of this world, or maybe very much part of it. The meat tasted like everything he could ever hope it taste like, and even more.
Cassian simply enjoyed the taste, and without even realizing it, finished the entirety of his prepared portion. A portion that was supposed to get him through at least two days.
He threw an indecisive glance at the bag with the remainder of the meat, but eventually gave up on his longings. There was no telling how long he would need, to get to land, after he left this island in the morning.
More or less content with what he accomplished today, though, not without looking at his right arm, once more, with a wistful expression, Cassian soon began to get some rest.
The blonde-haired young man did not prepare any kind of housing, and simply rested his back on one of the many trees that were closest to the shore.
There would likely be no normal wild beasts living on this island anyway, and most definitely, none that would get anywhere close to where he had fought Myriad this afternoon.
As the sun was slowly setting on the horizon, Cassian just enjoyed the view, once more, feeling thankful for having been given another life by Rob, before he eventually settled down and closed his eyes, soon dozing off to sleep.
---
In the middle of the night, a woman was floating through the air with a speed far surpassing any normal bird, and even that shown by Myriad.
"It should've been around here… I definitely felt a dragon's magic. Though, it should be too weak to warrant a visit of 'him'… A shame."
The woman stopped in mid-air, simply staying there, as if she was standing on the air. Taking in a sniff of the surroundings, her face quickly turned darker.
"It seems, there had been one of those damn lizards, hiding right here, under my nose." She mumbled to herself, only to then finally notice the island, which had apparently not been there, just a few weeks ago, when she last came to this area.
"An illusion dragon, perhaps…? ...but, the smell is too weak… has it died? There shouldn't be a dragon slayer in these parts, though…" She was deep in thought, before a slight spark of interest appeared in her brown eyes.
"If I'm already here, I can just as well take a look. Maybe the dragon slayer is still there…"
Moments later, she once again began moving through the air, now with the new island as her destination.
She did not seem to be in a rush, and therefore took nearly an entire minute to reach the shore, and land softly on the white sand.
Her every movement seemed as graceful as that of a queen, but what lay beneath that… was a lot more dangerous.
Following her excellent senses, she quickly chose a direction, and began walking there, with a small smile gracing her lips, 'He is still here…'
A few minutes later, she found the scene of the battle, and what was left of the surroundings. The woman looked around, but could not find any other trace of magic, only… nature.
'There are no traces of any magic used here, besides that of the dragon… and, what is that other feeling I'm getting? Is that… calmness? Tranquility, maybe?'
Leaving behind the scene of the battle, she continued on, only to soon be met with the sight of a small campsite, with a young man sitting close to it, with a sword by his side.
Even though, she stood there, not even fifty meters from him, the young man did not notice her presence, whatsoever.
The small grin on her face slowly turned into a smirk, and just moments later, she let go of the fine control of her magic, and let it flow out of her, for a change.
---
Dread.
Cassian's sleep was disturbed by a sudden feeling of intense dread and despair.
His eyes snapped open, and his gaze turned directly into the direction, where the absurdly strong magic was originating from.
And there, he saw her.
Illuminated by the shine of the moon, a beautiful woman, probably the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes upon, something he could say for sure, even with his missing memories.
The woman had deep scarlet red hair, under an oddly shaped black hat, with her body clad in somewhat revealing, ...tribal clothes?
Nevertheless, even if she were the most beautiful woman in the entire world, the only thing Cassian could feel right now, as he was looking at her form; was death.
Pure and inevitable death.
His face grew deathly pale, and cold sweat went down his back. If Myriad's magic had been strong, then this one was like a… a catastrophe. An embodiment of death, truly.
Following his Instinct skill, his body moved. Not in retreat, but rather went into a kneeling position.
His mind was yelling at him to run, to wherever that woman was not, but his body, and instinct were keeping him stuck in place.
Unknown to him, his own presence, at least the magical energy that was oozing out of him, was slowly changing. This, in return, also changed the energy that went back into his body.
The woman noticed this very slight change in his aura, and became even more intrigued by the young man in front of her. So much so that any prior thoughts of getting rid of the annoying pest in her territories, vanished entirely.
Following her own intrigue, she stepped forward, and came closer to the kneeling young man.
If he was already kneeling before her, who was she to not also accept it.
Sparing him from any more of the magical torture, she was so generous to take back control of her freely flowing magical energy, giving him a bit air to breath again.
Even though, the magic, which had been pressing down on him, until a moment ago, had been pulled back, Cassian still could not breath comfortably, only taking shallow breaths.
There was simply no telling what the woman in front of him was capable of, and what she might do.
He had just been granted this new chance, Cassian did not want to give up on it, just yet. And, with no attachments, whatsoever, only survival was important, right now.
By this point, the woman had gotten close enough, to hold an actual conversation. She even leaned slightly down, before she eventually spoke.
"Say, young man, where you the one to kill that dragon?"
Her voice was neither like an angels, nor that of the devil. It was simply… mature.
But, that was by no means what Cassian could think about right now. All kinds of thoughts, went through his mind, as he tried, unsuccessfully, to find the right answer to her question.
Noticing his hesitation, the woman's smile widened a little more, "Ah, don't worry. It was not my dragon, nor have I known it. You could even say; you have taken a burden of my hands."
For a moment, it seemed, as if there was hope, before her voice reached his ears again.
"So, you must be a Dragon Slayer, then?"
"I-i suppose, so. I am not very familiar, with this term, m'lady. If- if you're asking if I killed the dragon, then yes. I have killed it." Cassian answered hesitantly, while trying to remain as polite as it was possible for him.
"I don't sense any lies in your words. Do you truly not know the term, nor the meaning it carries?" she probed further.
"My apologies, but I have no knowledge of anything like this." He managed to regain his composure somewhat, by this point.
"Hmm, what to do with you… Doesn't matter, surely, his majesty will know; what to do with you."
These words did not seem to be directed at him, yet, he immediately understood that they would inevitably decide over his future.
Nevertheless, in the next moment, his sight began darkening as he was already put to sleep, by the beautiful red-haired woman, before him.
"I should've brought someone with me…"
---
When Cassian finally woke up, the entire scenery had already changed.
He was currently laying on the floor, which was covered with a long red carpet. When he slowly looked up, still dizzy, he saw a throne. A simple, but still regal throne.
And, on this throne sat a person. He did not look like much, but to Cassian's senses, he seemed like a void. A void of magic, which seemed to be the same as the end.
Or… death.
But, surprisingly, the young man was not looking at him with hostility, not even with indifference, but… melancholia.
Trying to look around a bit more, his head was suddenly pressed into the red carpet, by a hand grabbing his neck, from behind.
"Don't move, boy!" the familiar voice came from behind him, as he was still unable to move.
"Stop this, Irene. Please." An unfamiliar voice came, from in front of him, presumably, from the person sitting on the throne.
"Of course, your majesty." The woman, now known by the name of Irene, followed the order without hesitation, and immediately removed her grip on his neck.
With his freedom regained, Cassian looked around carefully, before cautiously getting up.
There were four people present, five, if he included himself.
The king, or emperor, or whatever title he may hold, then the red-haired woman, Irene, a relatively old man, with long hair, and beard, as well as a blue-haired, bespectacled, and stern man.
"You need not fret. She is just careful. Might you tell me your name, young man." The black-haired man on the throne asked.
"Cassian… eh, my name is Cassian Orlando Pendragon, ...your majesty."
"Now those are peculiar names, aren't they? Do they hold any meaning, where you are from?" The king asked with interest, before his voice turned a bit weird, "After all, you are not from this continent, are you?"
"N-no, your majesty. I am not from this continent. I come from very far lands. And my names, they have certain backgrounds. Orlando, for example, was the name of a valiant, righteous, and loyal knight, who fought until his last breath, for the kingdom he served."
"Interesting… do you wish to follow a similar path, then?" he pressed further.
This time, Cassian spoke with more firmness in his voice, "No, your majesty. I would like to become someone worthy of tales, and stories. Someone that can be remembered in the history of this world."
His words caused the elderly man, as well as the woman next to him, to raise their eyebrows in surprise, of such a foolish, and naive dream.
"Tsk… only a fool could utter such words, with such belief. Your majesty, please allow me to remove this man from your sight. Forever." the blue-haired, rigid young man said, with clear disdain oozing from his voice.
The black-haired young man on the throne, meanwhile, was completely lost in thought, 'How can they be so similar to one another, and yet be so different…'
In the next moment, he stood up from his throne, and made a step towards Cassian. "I have decided. If you dare to shake my hand, I will help you, and let these two teach you, if you have what it takes. You only need to shake my hand."
"Your majesty!" The woman bellowed out, but was silenced a moment later, by a stern look from the old man, who even raised his staff, to silence her.
"His majesty has spoken. His decision is the law. So, stand down, Irene."
Cassian was unsure, he still felt the death oozing from the young man before him, but there was no other option. He wasn't so naive to think that not following this 'request', wouldn't result in any repercussions.
Especially the blue-haired man was staring at him, as if he were the worst sinner, in all of humanity's history.
After taking one long breath, Cassian eventually stepped forward, and reached forward with his right arm, to shake the already outstretched hand of the person before him.
"…"
"…"
"Yo- you are okay?"
If Cassian was confused, and the three spectators were surprised, then it was the King, who was shocked out of his mind.
"...should I not?" the blonde-haired young man asked, hesitantly.
The next moment, the dark aura, which leaked from the black-haired young man, before him seemed to intensify for a moment, before it was seemingly quickly brought under control again.
Letting go of the hand, the king walked away, without saying anything more. Everyone present merely looked at his slowly receding figure.
Only when he disappeared into another room, did Cassian voice his most urgent thought, "So, I passed his test?"