The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 424: Wyvern Riding is the OG amusement ride

Chapter 424: Wyvern Riding is the OG amusement ride

Speed is fun. But you know what is more fun?

Speed with obstacles.

Without the need to follow a slower griffin, Vrida sped up as much as she wanted, going through mountain tunnels and moving below stone bridges. There were paths that were so narrow she had to fold her wings and flip around.

Ignis was letting out inaudible noises that sounded like curses, but Jade and I were busy screaming in excitement as if we were on a roller coaster.

Of course, none of us knew what it would feel like to ride a roller coaster, but who cares?!

[Papa, it’s so fuuun!]

"I knooow!"

And I also knew Natha would not approve of this, but somehow, that made this even more fun, hahaha! An added thrill if I must say. Vrida too, had fun as I let her fly in whatever way she liked. Low or high, through narrow space or open sky--she screeched happily sometimes, challenging Jade into a screaming contest.

Thanks to that, we arrived at the border of Alnin forest--that one place with the underground waterway leading to the watchtower--before the sky darkened. One of the staff came up to register our visit and supposedly gave us our pass plaque, but when I showed the tribe’s bracelet, the staff bowed and apologized profusely.

Hmm...it seemed like the bracelet acted like a premium passport plus a visa, and it seemed like there was no need for us to register or anything with it--since it showed that I was essentially just ’coming back home’.

Damn, Aunty--shouldn’t you tell me about it before I made my journey?

But anyway, whether or not we needed to register, we still stayed in the outpost for a bit so Vrida could have another rest and drinking time, while Ignis took a breather from the ’accursed flying adventure’--according to the Salamander. I too, had a chance for late afternoon tea in the outpost’s tavern.

As I took out a jar of candy for Jade’s snack, we heard a familiar voice. "Your Hi--"

I turned my head swiftly and glared to stop Halurean. He froze, and blinked, and finally corrected himself. "Young Master, it’s nice to see that you’re well."

I took a deep breath and fixed my facial expression. "I didn’t think I’d see any familiar face here," I smiled to lower my tension.

"I was waiting for you," he said in a lighthearted tone. "I see that it’s a good decision to stay."

"Huh? You are? I didn’t say the exact time of my arrival, though?"

"I’ve been here for a few days," he said. "I thought you’d take this route if you anyway, and tried my luck. It seems the forest does not lie."

Could...a forest do that?

But then again, it was a magical forest that could make people vanish forever if they weren’t careful, so...what did I know about what they could do?

"It’s going to be dark when you continue, so even with the bracelet, you’ll still need a guide. Of course, it’s still possible to find the way, but you’ll probably get lost for a few hours first," Halurean added with a laugh.

"Oh, no--I didn’t think about that!" I clasped my cheeks.

Right--this wasn’t Earth, or even the Demon Realm. This was the land of nature with no lamps or torches on the way. Once the night came, it was going to be dark--and I mean, really dark. Especially since we’d be flying above a dense forest. The only source of light was probably the few watchtowers in between the forests, which was...not really helpful.

"Oh, then you’ll ride with us, right?" I looked at Mr. Guide with expectant eyes.

"I won’t, Young Master. That would be inappropriate."

My eyes widened in confusion. "Huuh?"

"You are my Prince, and someone else’s betrothed," he explained politely with a quiet voice. "It would not be appropriate for me to ride in the same wyvern with you."

"Oh..."

Wow...that made sense. Gods--wake up, Val! You are a bride! I patted my cheek to put some sense in my head. Haa...this was why people kept worrying about me. It was good that Halurean was a strict, wise man--I mean, druid. But then...

Before I could ask, he already told me. "There’s no need to worry. I could fly on my own."

...oh! Oh! I clapped my hands. Of course, he was a druid! And a guide at that! Of course, he would be able to fuse with animals like Amarein!

And that was also the new skill I came here to learn.

* * *

"That’s it, Vrida. Follow that falcon," I pointed at the handsome falcon above us, who had become further and further away.

Vrida took off immediately, and perhaps because it was a fusion falcon, it flew sooo fast. I had thought Vrida would have to slow down before, but it turned out there was no need for that.

Now that I thought about it, Amarein also traveled fast even though the bird form she took was small and elegant. When I focused a bit more, I could see the air elemental mana around the falcon, which answered the mystery.

Ah...if I fused with Vrida, could she become even faster?

How exciting!

"Whoa...it really is dark," I whispered while looking at the spread of dense foliage beneath us. From up here, it was almost like looking at a sea. Even Jade, who was so excited the whole day, came to tuck itself inside my cloak from how dark and quiet it was.

Halurean was right; we would get lost without him. Sure, the bracelet pointed in the direction of our destination, but it was no google maps. It was more like a compass that showed us the way, but in this massive sea of trees, we would need a whole radar system to find a small village hidden with an illusion barrier. We would probably fly around the area trying to figure out our bearing if it was just us.

Once again, thank Mother for Halurean! Yaay!

At one point, my bracelet let out a soft vibration, which seemed to tell me that the destination was near. But I guessed the navigation was a bit off because it kept vibrating like that for around five minutes--which was like...took us a few kilometers already. It probably started to give a signal once we were out of the forest area, but thanks to the illusion barrier, everything still looked like the forest from up here, even though I clearly remembered the vast meadow where we called out the fairies before.

And then, suddenly, the falcon made a dive. Faithfully, Vrida followed--even though there was nothing but beds of trees down there. I knew that it was an illusion, but seeing the trees get closer and closer still made me flinched and close my eyes, until...

I felt a slight vibration in the air, and for a second, everything seemed to slow down--the feeling of passing through a barrier. I opened my eyes after yeo seconds more, and voila! The glittering settlement was beneath us, and the Great Tree welcomed us like a faithful gatekeeper.

[We’re here!!] Jade screamed loudly, perhaps out of relief at seeing lights again. Or perhaps, it just wanted to wake up the whole settlement.

"Let’s land there," I patted Vrida’s side and pointed at the waterfall--more precisely, at the cliff where Natha and I took a walk before.

Halurean had already turned into a druid again and helped Vrida land safely in a dry space with his hand signal. This place should be good, right? Vrida could drink from the river up here and hunt some games in the forest.

"Phew--to think we managed this in less than a day," I slid down Vrida’s back and stretched my body, before turning back to hug the hard-working wyvern’s head. "You’re so fast, Vrida! What a good girl, who’s a good girl? Whose girl are you, hmm?"

She let out a deep purr; both satisfied and proud. Indeed, she could be proud of how well she performed today. With only two shortstops, no less! I didn’t even have to give her any rejuvenation spell--although I gave her one now, just a little dose so she could sleep easier.

"I thought you’d be spending the night on the way, but it seems Halurean’s hunch is right once again."

I turned around with a big smile and ran toward Amarein, who just arrived at the top of the steps.

"I don’t really like stopping," I said. "And I wanted to get here as soon as possible."

She stroked my cheeks and gave me a gentle smile. "I know. That’s why I didn’t object when Halurean said he would wait for you at the border. Did you start this morning?"

"Uh-huh."

"That’s fast," she looked at Vrida. "I don’t know if you picked an exceptional one from the start, or it is because of your care, but she doesn’t lose to the wild one."

"Maybe both? Vrida has always been smart," I stroked the purring wyvern, who nuzzled my side as if asking for another praise. "Although...the one who picked her was Natha, and the one who cared for her was a keeper."

I scratched my neck awkwardly, but Amarein pinched my chin and smiled. "That might be true, but the bond between the owner and the beast is just as important, so good job."

Is...is that so? I should be praising Vrida but...I got praised too in the end, which made me shy.

Amarein laughed at my expression and held my arm, cocking her chin to the settlement. "Let’s go down, now; you haven’t eaten dinner yet, right?"