9.2

The chances of Calen's warning dissuading the kid were pretty slim. Bryce was young, and stupid. He'd jump in headfirst with little hesitation. Just watching me use my spatial abilities would stop him from even thinking of going back. He'd want to put that same power into whatever he created.

Just suggesting that he could would have him wrapped around my finger for a long time. The thing I really needed to think about was how to introduce the idea of bonding to his own dragon. I knew he wasn't a good fit for Aurora. I thought he might be a good fit for me, but I wouldn't be needing another bonded for a while. Plus he didn't feel like a perfect fit for me either.

A new drakeling might be a better fit for him. I'd have to rely on instinct on this one. I couldn't just rely on whatever egg I revived first. I had a feeling that I'd know what to do once I got Bryce in the cave with the eggs. I went back to the warehouse quietly.

More purpose in my step. Crossing the guild in a few minutes. I relayed the good information to my bonded. The plan was in motion. I smiled to myself as I thought of it.

A messenger knocked at the warehouse door announcing the arrival of a party of lizardmen looking for me. It hadn't been long since I'd last seen them so I was kind of surprised they were already here. I left the warehouse quietly. People always looked my way whenever I stepped out in dragon form. As if they were still stunned a beast like me could act so calmly.

I kept myself civil for them. Never eating my meals outside of the warehouse if I ate within the walls of the guild at all. My wings shifted in tighter when I spotted the reporter. Lowering my head to snarl his direction as I walked. Everyone that direction flinched back as if I were about to attack them all.

I didn't like that everyone flinched since I only wanted to threaten the reporter, but progress couldn't be made in a day. Drawing my head back from the snarl back to my usual cautious composure as I walked. It didn't take me long to get to the gate they'd approached. My long strides carrying me far without much effort. It was a large convoy.

There were dozens of the odd beasts the lizardmen liked to ride dragging sleds behind them. On those sleds were large stitched together skins draped over the rounded surfaces of multiple dragon cores. Two were nearly as large as I was. Then there were four that were about half the size of the first two. Followed by one last sled that contained several smaller cores.

This would mark the completion of one of my oldest quests. I almost smiled.

*"How did you bring them here so quickly?" I cocked my head curiously.

*"The priestess always insisted on bringing these cursed objects with her," A winged lizardman stepped forward to speak.

He was vaguely familiar. I'd probably met him before at some point.

*"Then you will be glad to be rid of them," I strode forward to pull the skin off one of the really big ones.

It was large, and red in color. I placed my hand on it, and made it vanish as it was stored wherever the system sent dragon cores. The lizardmen all looked at me in astonishment. I watched the quest updated in the corner of my vision without reacting. Moving on to the next core without hesitating.

Pulling off the next tarp, and placing my palm on the other massive core. Making it vanish as well. Now that the lizardmen had seen it once they weren't as surprised that I could do it again. The other four large ones were the ones I was going to go after next. Completing this quest had been little more then a dream for a very long time.

It was hard to believe that I would finally be able to complete it. I made another core vanish into thin air. Three left until the quest was complete. I snorted as I made a fourth core disappear. Two left until the quest was complete.

I ignored the lizardmen's reverent looks as I made another core disappear. One left until the quest was complete. I hesitated at the last of the large cores. That mystery reward seemed almost dangerous, but I was dying to know what it was. Waiting any longer was pointless anyway.

I made the last of the large cores vanish. The headache that hit me after that was intense. Like having a dozen nails rammed into my head at once. I shook my head as I resisted the urge to show more of a reaction. They might not let me take the rest of the cores if I showed an obvious negative reaction.

You have completed the Bloodline quest Pieces of the Past.

Complete Crown of horns has been granted. User now has Gravity affinity level 1. The crown of horns is proof of your superiority over other dragons. Aura abilities have been unlocked. An aura can be used to suppress or empower those around you. Aura abilities do not require mana.

Then what do they require?

Divine energy.

What is divine energy?

User must concentrate mana densely. 100 mana to create 1 divine energy. Divine energy cannot passively regenerate. It must be created.

Great. More work. I looked at the new Divine energy stat under mana. The system wasn't even nice enough to give me some to test out. If one divine energy was the same as a hundred mana then it had to be incredibly powerful.

My wings twitched as I raised my head back up. Now I had to finish what I started. I moved on hoping that I hadn't been idle for long. If they thought something was off then they might try to stop me from taking the rest. I couldn't let that happen.