Chương 346: The Expedition Begins

"You're stupidly optimistic." Ivor's voice cut through the quiet morning breeze. Vale glanced sideways at the old butler and smiled as he adjusted the heavy leather pack slung over his shoulder.

"Of course I am," Vale replied.

"If I weren't optimistic, this whole expedition would just be extra miserable." Ivor stared at him for several long seconds, looking utterly baffled before burying his face in one hand and releasing a weary sigh.

"Could you at least pretend to take this situation seriously?"

"No." Vale shrugged.

"Can't do. Sorry."

"You could at least pretend!" Before Ivor could continue his lecture, the sound of polished boots echoed across the stone bridge behind them.

"That is quite enough, you two." Both men turned as Drago approached at his usual unhurried pace, his hands folded neatly behind his back. His expression carried the same quiet authority it always had, effortlessly silencing the conversation before another word could be exchanged.

"Vale is about to leave," he continued.

"You won't have to put up with him for the next three months, so I'd suggest enjoying the silence while it lasts." Ivor straightened, resting one hand over his chest while the other folded neatly behind his back as he offered a respectful bow.

"Of course, sir. Forgive my behavior." Drago gave a small nod.

"It's fine. Head back inside. I'll take it from here." Without another word, Ivor obeyed, his footsteps disappearing into the library almost as quickly as they had arrived. Vale watched him go with an amused whistle.

"Damn... he listens to you perfectly, yet the guy can barely tolerate me."

"He dislikes your talent," Drago answered plainly, "and the way you behave because of it." Vale blinked in genuine confusion, pointing at himself.

"Is... is there actually something wrong with how I act?" Drago shot him a flat look from the corner of his eye.

"You're an insufferably cocky teenager who refuses to take anything seriously, yet you're capable of defeating nearly everyone in our ranks. Before recovering your memories, people could at least blame your arrogance on ignorance. Now your combat ability has improved dramatically, yet somehow your attitude has become even worse." Vale folded his arms, actually considering the criticism.

"Well..." he admitted after a thoughtful pause, scratching the back of his head, "you've got a point." His expression became slightly more uncertain.

"But I'm not that bad, am I? Most of the time I'm just sarcastic." Drago sighed once more.

"That is exactly the problem." Before Vale could attempt another defense, Drago reached into his robes and produced a weathered satchel, extending it toward him. Vale caught it with both hands, nearly dropping it under the unexpected weight.

"What's this?" Curiosity replaced his confusion as he pulled back the flap. His eyes widened almost. Books. Dozens of them. Carefully organized journals, historical records, field manuals, exploration logs, and several old tomes bound in faded leather filled the satchel nearly to bursting. Drago answered before Vale had the chance to ask.

"I spent some time in the royal archives. These were the most useful volumes I could find regarding unexplored regions, ancient civilizations, and forgotten phenomena." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

"There are also a few records concerning the Father of Flaws. I should warn you, though, we know almost nothing about him. Most of what you'll read is speculation rather than fact." Vale's face lit up like a child receiving an unexpected gift.

"Seriously?" A broad grin spread across his face as he eagerly began packing the books away.

"Damn... thanks, old man. I owe you one."

"You don't." Drago dismissed the gratitude with a casual wave.

"You've been curious ever since hearing the title. It seemed worthwhile." As Vale finished securing the satchel, Drago's gaze drifted toward the emerald pendant hanging beneath his collar.

"The necklace." Vale instinctively touched the cool green stone.

"The one you recovered from that collapsed tomb?"

"Yeah."

"Any progress?" Vale's shoulders sagged.

"None. I've searched through everything I could find, but I've learned basically nothing about it."

"A shame." Drago folded his arms once again.

"Perhaps you'll uncover something during this expedition. You're heading farther into the Ancient Forest than any documented exploration has ever reached." Vale frowned thoughtfully as another question surfaced.

"That actually raises something I've been wondering." He looked toward the distant horizon.

"Why has so little of the forest been explored in the first place?" Drago followed his gaze.

"Because there was little strategic value in expanding through that region. Our resources were better spent elsewhere." He paused briefly before continuing.

"And because unexplored territory is unpredictable. We don't know what sleeps beneath those forests. If an undiscovered Category Seven beast happened to reside there, an expedition would disappear before anyone realized what had happened." Vale raised an eyebrow.

"You mean your explorers would disappear." A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I doubt a Category Seven would cause you much trouble." Drago looked entirely unimpressed.

"Perhaps." A brief silence settled between them.

"But I'm not the one who does the exploring." Vale snorted.

"Fair enough." Just then, Drago's eyes shifted toward the bright morning sky.

"They're here." Vale followed his gaze. Three enormous shadows swept across the sunlight overhead. The first descended like a streak of bronze lightning, a colossal eagle whose wings were broad enough to cast an entire district beneath its shadow. Every powerful beat sent gusts racing across the bridge.

"Tachyon," Vale murmured. Korin's mount. The second creature circled gracefully before descending in a shimmering spiral of gold. A sleek four-winged wyvern landed with elegant precision, sunlight dancing across every polished scale.

"Nova's." Then came the third. The instant Vale saw it, his breathing faltered. Inferno. The colossal crimson wyvern blotted out the morning sun as it descended. Scarlet scales gleamed like molten iron while every slow wingbeat carried enough force to make the ancient bridge tremble beneath their feet. His heartbeat stumbled. The memories surged back without mercy. Illu's desperate cries. The fire. The blood. The overwhelming helplessness. His hands trembled before he even realized it. Drago noticed.

"You know," he said quietly, "it's acceptable to show weakness once in a while." Vale forced out a nervous laugh, though it sounded hollow even to his own ears.

"Yeah..." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"You saw straight through me."

"That wasn't particularly difficult." Drago regarded him with faint amusement.

"You're about as subtle as a monkey trying to hide in a flower garden." Despite himself, Vale laughed.

"I'll... choose to take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn't." The three beasts landed atop the bridge with enough force to shake the ancient stone beneath everyone's feet. Korin jumped down first, followed shortly afterward by Nova. Nym remained seated atop Inferno for several moments longer. Neither she nor Vale spoke. Neither seemed to know what to say. The silence stretching between them carried far more weight than words ever could. Vale adjusted the straps of both satchels before beginning to walk toward them.

"Looks like that's my cue." He had barely taken a few steps when Drago called after him.

"Vale." He stopped and turned.

"What?"

"Come here." Confused, Vale retraced his steps until he stood directly before the older man.

"What is it?" For a brief moment, Drago simply looked at him. Then, without warning, he stepped forward and pulled Vale into a firm embrace. Vale froze. His mind went completely blank.

"I..." Drago released him just as suddenly.

"No great speech," he said quietly.

"Nothing profound." He met Vale's eyes with unusual sincerity.

"Just survive." His calm voice carried more emotion than any grand declaration could have.

"I've only just become your father, I refuse to bury my son this soon." A faint smile touched his face. For several seconds, Vale simply stared at him. Then he laughed.

"Alright... alright." He wiped at one eye before extending a clenched fist.

"You've got my word, old man." Drago answered with a fist of his own, their knuckles meeting with a quiet tap.

"Then it's a promise." A faint grin crossed his face.

"And if you break it, I'll make sure to give you the beating you deserve." Vale rolled his eyes dramatically as he turned away.

"Yeah, right." He waved dismissively over one shoulder.

"Good luck beating me up when I'm already dead."

"You'd be surprised," Drago replied calmly.

"There are far more things within my reach than you realize." Vale didn't answer. He simply continued walking, raising one hand in silent farewell without ever looking back. Ahead waited Korin, Nova, Nym... and the vast, uncharted wilderness beyond Irea's borders. Behind him remained the only home he had ever truly known. Without another word, Vale climbed onto his mount. The expedition forced upon him had finally begun.