Hikari held the dark pulsating shard in her hand. It had the smooth hard texture of a crystal and yet it seemed to be constantly shifting even in its dormant form, releasing faint pulses of dark energy. She felt as though her veins were being pricked by needles.
Slowly, she lowered it into a rectangular steel crate the size of a coffin for a normal man. The thick layer of insulating Illenium coating on the interior glowed in response.
Whispers in a cryptic language, just like when she first met her wyvern kin companion, surrounds her, coming from all directions.
Donk! Hikari dropped the lid on the crate.
Silence.
Then, the clicking sound of hooks as she telekinetically criss crossed the tungsten cables over it. A pull of a level installed onto the side, the tungsten cable tightened, fastening the steel lid in place.
She picked up the crate with one hand. It was about the size of a thick book to her lady as it is to her.
Illenium is a very effective insulator of mana. Her bare skin could feel only the cold steel and the annoying unevenness caused by the tungsten cables.
Holding the crate in her hand, she opened the curtain to the golem hanger she spent the night in. There was the wagons of a convoy waiting for her in the hangar hall.
The scoutmaster and her Lady along with a group of RazenHeir troops and stablehands watched from behind a warding barrier.
Click! She placed the steel crate onto the wagon.
The RazenHeir knights in full protective gear, complete with masks and goggles entered through the barrier. They tugged away at the riggings and scanned the exterior with a device containing a crystal of sorts.
There were six wagons in total, containing Hikari's exquisite armory and the artifacts she recovered in the wyvern raid.
A knight waved a hand signal, the warding barrier was lifted. The stable hands brought their horses into position before each wagon.
"Ah, it's finally time to return to the estate." The RazenHeir knights formed up to either side of the wagons.
"Have a good rest, scout master, you deserved it."
"I wish for it too. But I have received reports of the red mist rising from port Carla."
"That's quite the bad news. It's been a decade since the last time that happened. It appears our stay here is cut short.
"Quite unfortunate. But on the bright side, the Lord RazenHeir expects you back in a week which affords you a few days to spend at your discretion."
"Much obliged."
The scout master turned and walked towards Hikari who was still standing before the golem hanger.
"Ahem… Hikari… A word if you will."
Hikari nods.
The scout master walks past her and disappears into the neighboring golem hanger.
As Hikari walked into the hanger, Ella lifted her head and smiled at her. She uncurled herself, crawled to Hikari on all fours and licked the tip of her shoe. Her tail standing up on its end in a constant state of wriggling.
"Well, that's quite the find I must say. Relics are one thing, but a living ancient creature. I'm woefully short of applause."
Hikari scratched her cheek.
"Thank you"
"No, No, No. Thank you. And thank you triple for the report that I am obliged to write. For I have a strong inkling that this is a matter that will be raised to his Lordship himself."
"I'll speak to him."
"I hope so. His lordship has always been oddly warm to you. Though, for the short term, how do we even feed this, ahem, your companion."
Hikari thought for a bit.
"Sand worm meat and ivory berries?"
Ella's tail wagged excitedly.
"Well, that could be arranged. Could you make sure she doesn't eat any of my scouts?"
"Ella, don't eat people."
"(Yes, Hikari)"
The wyvern kin nods excitedly, her long tongue extended out and licked the sides of her giant mistress's shoe.
The scout master grunts and joins his convoy.
Hikari closed the curtain on the golem hanger hiding her wyvern companion. The columns of troops began moving out, marching past her knee socks.
She saw Ria speaking with a scribe, the latter bending over and whispering into her ear.
Hikari could hear them whispering with her heightened senses.
"My lady, I have bad news from our branch office in the Herdial capital. It appears that the payment for our part in the queen wyvern raid has been delayed."
"That's not a surprise. What about the sale of our bond holdings?"
"The Herdial royal exchange is on festival break several days in a row now. There has been no announcement even now."
"This is bad news indeed. What of our finances?"
"Sustainable for the moment due to the surge in trade with Herdial, though to speak nothing of raising the funds for Hikari's enrollment. And I fear-"
"I get it. Just do what you can."
The scribe bowed and left.
Thud. Thud. Careful steps. Hikari approached Ria.
"My Lady."
Ria was startled as Hikari's massive presence suddenly appeared behind her.
"Ah, Hikari. Looks like it's all settled. We still have a bit of time in Herdial to celebrate your return."
Hikari leaned her head forward, allowing Ria to see her face.
She quietly observed her lady's content smile.
"Oh that reminds me." Ria walked briskly towards a wooden crate. She lifted the lid off and carefully pulled out a string of flowers. A light green base of fresh leaves, the petals were of a mix of light colors. Pink, lavender and very shallow blue.
"Umm… Hikari… could you slide your… foot over?"
Hikari nudged her left foot forward until the shoe tip was just touching Ria's skirt.
Ria pulled the string of flowers, going around Hikari's shoe, under her skirt and around the other side, wrapping the flowers into an ankle bracelet.
She turned to check her handiwork, blushing at the sight of beautiful flowers decorating the feet of her giantess knight.
"The festival of flowers. Your timing couldn't have been more impeccable."
Using her tiny fingers, she snuffed through the leaves, unfolding the flowers that were buried beneath the leaves.
"Oh, and that Herdial bird I promised you. I was surprised it wasn't that difficult to order one during the festive season."
Hikari bent over, lowered her hand and opened her palm. Her lady fit nicely onto it.
She lifted Ria onto her shoulder, allowing her to hold onto her collar and several strands of her silver hair.
"Off we go?"
Ria put on her own flower necklace and snuggled up to Hikari's neck.