Kendrick lowered its head and Benign carefully climbed atop him. The height was a bit of a problem to him, but he wanted to trust his new ally.
He noticed his scaly neck and small feathers on his neck. This was definitely what a hybrid between a fire dragon and a phoenix would look like.
The firewing took off to the skies, not minding Benign clutching its feathers tightly. Not long after, Benign sighted two small figures trudging down a sand hill. The Firewing instinctively knew those were his targets and moved towards them.
[Legacy System loading...]
[Your profile is being arranged...]
"It is? Aren't I supposed to have two more skills first?"
[Yes. You unlocked a unique skill, Tamer, level one. This skill was bestowed for successfully taming the Firewings.]
[You just unlocked another unique skill, Father, level two. This is for naming the firewing. Survival points have been added to your account for advancing a level.]
[Rewards for completion of mission have been bestowed. Congratulations.]
Benign didn't really understand all that but he hoped to when his profile would be complete. "I am beginning to see the end of this journey now."
[Again, don't underestimate everything. You only got these skills by accidentally reviving the Firewings using Hell Rain. If my memory serves me right—and it does— that had been my suggestion.]
"Oh yeah?" Benign scoffed. "So you also mean you knew they were Firewings when you told me to burn them? Then you could've told me that and spared me having a heart attack when they started coming!"
[Tension is good for the soul.]
Benign shook his head. "Very funny, Lego. Very funny." He swore to get back at the system in the most dumbfounding way possible.
----
Vargel fell on his back after successfully climbing to the top of the sand hill. His legs gave up and his throat burned with thirst, but he was too tired to get water from his backpack.
"Ston! Argh! We shouldn't have left him behind. What will we tell Lady Lyra?" he complained, rolling to his side.
The other elf stopped trudging and caught his breath. "You... were the one... who started running first... I only followed you... and... he's not very smart for a protector."
Ston fell on his knees and hurriedly searched for water from his backpack. Gulping down the water didn't make him feel less heavy for the disappointment.
The creatures were not very known to Norians, but it was believed they breathed fire due to their name, so they were classified to be as terrifying as dragons.
He was strong, but he didn't know how to fare against dragon-like creatures, so he made the smarter choice to escape. That protector should've done the same.
Vargel also felt disappointed at his actions. He stared at the skies, thinking. Those creatures were Firewings from Karnak and were usually friendly and used as transportation by the Karnak forces.
They should've been killed by the Norian forces, after they glitched here. If one has survived, that'd be its stroke of luck. But more than ten?
"Hey!!"
A voice called to him and it sounded similar to the protector's. "Ston, I think I hear his voice." Vargel sighed. "His ghost will haunt me for what I did."
"Hey, you two!!" the voice came again.
Ston shot his head up, and his eyes widened. He fastened his back behind him. "Vargel, up. A Firewing."
Vargel sprang up from the ground so fast. His steel rod had also begun glowing. His eyes went up and he backed away. "His ghost is riding a Firewing?"
Ston rolled his eyes and walked towards the creature, descending. "How smart, Vargel. He must've found a way to tame it like the people of Karnak do. He's a protector of realms, anyway. I didn't really expect him to be killed."
Vargel clicked his tongue and ran after him. The Firewing descended and Benign jumped down from the creature. He rubbed its neck. "That was a good flight. You two—"
He couldn't finish his words when Vargel jumped on him in a hug. Benign froze. Were they that close? He patted the elf. He had also thought he'd die and not see them in a while.
"Turns out it helped us find the cave." He told Ston that cautiously watched the creature. Benign rubbed the Firewing's neck. "See, it's harmless. Without my instructions, it wouldn't attack you."
"How can you confirm that?" Vargel detached from him and wore his curious face. A book and pen materialized in his hand and he was ready to take notes.
"Firewings are used for transportation by Karnak forces, who fostered familiarity by raising them, so how did you achieve such familiarity in a short time?" Vargel asked in one breath.
"Um..." Benign looked away from him.
Should he just tell him about his system? He was only able to work with the Firewings because he had the authority to tame them as a Systemist.
He didn't know if there's a rule against it but most MCs in those web novels never say anything about their systems till much later.
"Let's say you handled it with perks as a protector of realms." Ston said, noticing Benign's hesitation. "But we're not protectors, so how do we know it wouldn't attack us?"
Benign turned to the Firewing. He'd need to ask two more Firewings to come here to carry the elves. He'd also instruct them to be careful with them. That would work. "I just tell it not to."
Ston raised a brow. "And they'd listen? Simple as that?"
"Simple as that."
Ston shrugged, and got closer to the creature. He reached his hand towards it and the Firewing stayed in place. He lowered his hand. "Let's ride it then."
Vargel looked at his partner in disbelief.
While he needed to know the details on what perks Benign used, his simple minded friend only wanted to know if it's safe or not.
He sighed. "Well, of course, ignore any minor risks and go off. You two are strong anyway."
A few minutes later, two Firewings flew towards them. They were smaller than the one Benign rode and Benign saw the difference between a named creature and an unnamed one.
He understood naming the creature Kendrick made their connection stronger and drew power from him.
"The question is, what power do I have? Is it like mana? How big is it? How did I get it? How do I get more?" Benign rubbed his face.
The questions without answers kept piling.
One thing sure was that it was his first time here, so the power must've been some perk he got from being a Systemist.