Chapter 42: The Dragon Scale and a Desperate Hope

Meeting the flying dragon’s gaze, Elara’s breath hitched.

Yet, Elara did not falter. Should the dragon attack, she could always retreat into the spatial interlayer, at least for a while.

Ten meters from the cave entrance, then eight, then five…

Closer and closer she drew, but the dragon merely watched, utterly still.

It was only when Elara slipped into the cave entrance that the flying dragon closed its eyes once more, as if nothing had transpired.

Elara emerged from the shadows, her black hair whipping wildly in the forceful wind that permeated the space.

The cave was shorter than she had imagined, barely ten meters deep. Numerous small, luminous crystals illuminated the shallow cavern.

At its far end, a conspicuous scale lay upon the ground. It was palm-sized, a dull azure, remarkably similar in color to the dragon’s own scales.

A flicker of suspicion crossed Elara’s mind. ‘Could this truly be the source of the wind?’

Her hand slowly approached the scale, and she distinctly felt an incessant, powerful gust emanating from the small piece.

“Identify.”

[Name: Dragon Scale of Wind]

[Effect: Permanently emits strong winds.]

Upon seeing the identification results, Elara couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment. This scale was clearly not the key to breaking their predicament.

All that effort had been for naught.

She bent down, picking up the scale to examine it closely.

Yet, the instant her hand brushed the scale, the ceaseless wind abruptly ceased, without any warning.

‘???”

Elara froze, quickly tossing the scale back to the ground. It was futile; the scale did not resume blowing wind as she had hoped.

She hastily identified it again.

[Name: Dragon Scale of Wind]

[Effect: No effect.]

‘It wasn’t supposed to blow wind permanently? Is this some kind of scam?’

Outside the cave, Hilvyn was observing every movement of the flying dragon, along with any black shadows that might appear nearby.

Just then, the last wisp of wind brushed her cheek, and the air fell into a profound silence.

‘The wind… it stopped?’

What followed the cessation of the wind was a change in the flying dragon itself.

To Hilvyn’s terrified gaze, the dragon slowly rose to its feet, then turned its head, peering into the cave entrance behind it.

Inside, Elara, having just tossed the dragon scale to the ground for identification, suddenly felt a tightening sensation in her back. Trembling, she slowly turned her head, meeting the flying dragon’s icy, majestic gaze.

The dragon’s eyes were cold, radiating an innate authority. It remained motionless, simply staring at Elara, its draconic face devoid of expression.

“I put the scale back on the ground for you, ahaha…”

Elara let out two awkward laughs, pointing to the dragon scale on the floor to show she wasn’t lying.

‘Oh, crap, why am I talking to a dragon? Can it even understand me?’

Elara was filled with regret. Why had she been so reckless as to touch that scale? Now that the wind had stopped, the damage was done.

One breath of dragonfire, and this shallow cave would be engulfed. She was now mere ‘fish on the chopping block,’ or rather, ‘meat for the dragon’s maw.’

Seeing that the flying dragon remained still, Elara swallowed hard, summoning her courage. She cautiously observed the dragon as she slowly edged toward the cave entrance.

The dragon seemed to have no intention of attacking, allowing her to reach the opening. Just as Elara thought she could leave, the dragon extended its massive head, completely blocking the entrance again.

‘What the hell? It won’t let me go?’

A heavy feeling settled in Elara’s chest. She mentally replayed the cave’s interior—there was nothing but glowing minerals.

‘Could it be that the wind from this scale was the dragon’s daily, perhaps even lifelong, amusement? Now that I’ve broken the scale, will it keep me captive in this cave to entertain it? No, please—’

She couldn’t defeat it in a fight, and if she tried to escape, there was no telling if she’d provoke it, resulting in a fiery breath sending her to her next reincarnation.

“Let… let me go, please.”

Elara said, her voice laced with trepidation.

Standing beneath the dragon’s eye, she suddenly realized its gaze wasn’t fixed on her, but rather leveled over her head, falling upon the scale behind her.

She turned, glancing back three times as she went to retrieve the scale.

Only after she had picked up the scale did the dragon shift slightly, creating a narrow path at the cave entrance.

Clutching the dragon scale, Elara slowly approached the flying dragon.

Upon reaching the entrance, she held up the dragon scale, offering it to the beast.

The dragon gave her a deep, searching look, then moved its head aside before curling up in its original spot.

It was just as she had first encountered it.

Elara’s chest heaved. Everything that had just transpired was utterly bizarre, yet the cool touch of the scale in her hand felt undeniably real.

‘Its meaning… is it telling me to leave with the dragon scale?’

In the distance, at the cave entrance, someone was waving vigorously at her.

Elara returned to the rock cave from which she had come.

Hilvyn immediately grasped her hand, her breathing still ragged, her forehead beaded with sweat. Her grip on Elara’s hand was clammy and trembled slightly.

“Master, it didn’t do anything to you, did it?”

“I’m fine.” Elara glanced back at the flying dragon, which was still sprawled in its spot.

“I saw it blocking you in the cave, I was absolutely frantic.”

Elara’s gaze softened, and she gently wiped the sweat from Hilvyn’s brow.

“It’s alright. At least we’ve confirmed it’s not hostile.”

Next, Elara meticulously recounted everything to Hilvyn: how the dragon had watched her before she entered the cave, how she found the source of the wind, and how her touch had rendered the scale inert.

“So this is the source of the wind?”

Hilvyn turned the dragon scale over and over, examining it. Aside from being a dragon’s scale, its appearance and color were unremarkable.

She then handed it back to Elara.

“But this won’t help us get up.” Elara placed the dragon scale into her spatial ring.

Exploring the cave had been for a glimmer of hope, and this scale was likely the only thing they would gain from it.

As for the other branching paths in the cave, Elara had no desire to waste their precious remaining time gambling on even more elusive possibilities.

She took a deep breath. “It seems we can only ascend the vertical shaft.”

Hilvyn would have to build an ice pathway along the rock face. The challenges involved whether the ice could firmly adhere to the wall, and the threat of the subterranean bees above.

Mostly C-grade worker bees, B or A-grade guard bees, and A-grade queen bees.

This would undoubtedly be a monumental undertaking, a bitter struggle. If they were to fall again…

They would truly die. Their high-grade life recovery potions were all used up; they had no means to treat severe injuries.

Hilvyn remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ground, and the atmosphere grew somewhat somber.

“If only that dragon could carry us up.”

Hilvyn’s comment was merely an idle thought, akin to a pauper fantasizing about sudden riches.

But Elara didn’t see it that way. She looked at Hilvyn, then turned her gaze back to the flying dragon.

“Perhaps it truly can!”

“Eh?” Hilvyn hadn’t quite registered it. “Let the dragon carry us?”

“Yes!”

Elara knew the dragon wasn’t hostile, and without hostility, it truly might be possible. From the current situation, it seemed the dragon might have been waiting for the scale to be taken. But if it was taken and couldn’t be brought out, wouldn’t that thwart its wish?

Dragons possessed intelligence; communication might genuinely be possible.

This time, Elara stood openly before the flying dragon. After their initial encounter, her composure had greatly improved.

Hilvyn, however, was far from calm. Seeing the dragon up close, she realized its immense size and oppressive presence. Her legs felt like jelly, and it was only Elara’s steadying hand that kept her upright.

“Uh…” Standing before it, Elara found herself at a loss for words. Should she wake it first? And what should she call it?

“What should I call it?” Elara whispered, seeking help.

“Master, I don’t know either.”

‘Never mind.’

“Dragon!”

Hilvyn sharply turned her head. ‘Is that the right way to address it?’