Chapter 22
Since yesterday, the high fever had been making her head feel like it was splitting in two. Her body was gradually heating up as well.
Maya had been careful to avoid touching Tristan, but she got distracted by the meat and accidentally made contact.
“I almost got caught.”
She glanced back to check Tristan’s reaction, but he didn’t seem to have noticed anything.
“Guess he’s pretty dense.”
Maya let out a sigh of relief as she hurried outside.
While she was out, she started walking around the lake.
Despite it being winter and having had heavy snowfall recently, most of the snow was gone.
The abnormal climate had already begun.
Maya drew her sword and tapped on the frozen lake. When she cautiously placed one foot forward, it was more solid than she expected.
Although the ice was melting faster due to the strange weather, it seemed it wasn’t time just yet.
As she continued, Tristan, who had been observing her, asked,
“How are you going to face the wyvern sleeping in the lake? Don’t tell me you’re going in?”
“No way. I’m not that reckless.”
“….”
What does he take me for?
Maya thought Tristan’s silence lasted unusually long.
Originally, this event was supposed to happen due to the climate change. Maya was determined to force it to happen sooner—with her own power.
Maybe there was another way. But…
“If you’re not smart, use your body instead, right?”
Maya had the strength to make up for any lack of cleverness.
She unsheathed her sword.
Concentrating her energy—honed by defeating magical beasts—she swung her sword.
The first strike only left a crack. But as Maya’s gaze sharpened, the lake’s ice thinned further.
Crack! Ice thick enough to hold a person shattered, revealing the emerald-colored water below.
“Wyverns are known to be sensitive to sound.”
Maya stabbed her sword into the lake water.
Splash.
“Until it comes out.”
Splash splash. The sound of her sword slicing through the cold water continued.
Actually, the noise was more like an ear-splitting screech.
For the finishing blow, Maya focused her sword energy and stabbed it into the center of the lake.
A circular arc of force cut through the water like a crescent moon sinking into the lake.
The arc reached the bottom.
It was just sword energy, so it wouldn’t cause serious harm—but it was enough to wake something from its slumber.
“It’s coming now.”
As soon as Maya finished speaking, a thunderous roar erupted as something surged from the lake.
An enraged wyvern spread its wings. As it soared into the sky, its pupils dilated with fury.
Its eyes blazed with murderous intent, as if ready to kill whoever had disturbed its sleep.
With her arms crossed, Maya watched the wyvern scan its surroundings.
Hidden between the trees surrounding the lake, Maya and Tristan were just two ordinary humans.
“Doesn’t it kind of look like a snake?”
Tristan chuckled at the random comment.
“Looks more like a dragon to me.”
Wyverns did resemble dragons. Many mistook one for the other.
“Hmm, I guess you’re right.”
No sooner had she said that than the wyvern used the sound to locate them.
Whoooosh—
The air howled, and the temperature dropped.
“If I take the wyvern down, I’ll ride it to the mountain peak. Tristan, please climb up on the third day.”
The wyvern was flying at full speed toward them, yet the conversation continued.
“Maya.”
His voice had changed.
“When we touched earlier, it looked like it hurt—”
The wyvern dove between them.
RUMBLE! Like an earthquake, the once-barren winter ground cracked like the lake ice.
Maya dodged to the side, luring the wyvern toward her.
Enraged, it immediately gave chase.
Though her body was much smaller, Maya widened the distance between herself and the beast. She mouthed words to Tristan:
“Do not interfere.”
This was her fight now.
Maya stood in front of Tristan like a knight protecting her liege.
As if it were the most natural thing.
At times, she looked even more desperate than a knight.
Like someone putting not just their life—but something greater—on the line in battle.
Wherever the wyvern’s wings or claws struck, trees and earth shattered like glass.
A single graze would’ve been fatal.
Maya darted skillfully, avoiding each strike.
Despite the life-threatening danger, she seemed almost exhilarated.
Unlike when eating something delicious—this was the face of someone intoxicated by the thrill of battle. Maya shone brilliantly.
“No point in bringing my sword at this rate…”
Tristan repeatedly reached for his weapon, only to stop.
Maya had soared onto the wyvern’s back and was now flying further away.
“She’s still hanging on.”
As if sensing Tristan’s hesitation, Maya waved at him.
The Pendragon and Bayarden families were known to possess superhuman abilities, thanks to their dragon blood.
One of those traits was hawk-like vision.
Even while fighting, Maya had the presence of mind to keep an eye on Tristan. She still had enough stamina.
In fact, she felt alive again.
It had been a while since her blood boiled like this in battle.
There was already a rope looped around the wyvern’s neck.
She’d put it there when it was still on the ground. The wyvern didn’t seem to like it and kept thrashing.
“This won’t be easy.”
Even the knights couldn’t pull this off—so of course it would be hard.
Still, Maya’s plan was simple:
“I’ll just show it who’s boss until it tires out.”
She knew others might think her plan was reckless or thoughtless.
That’s why she hadn’t told Tristan everything.
Sometimes, saying less built more trust.
For now, she’d go with the sunshine tactic: warmth and persistence, like how the sun made the traveler take off his coat.
“Wooow…”
Of course, that had zero effect on the wyvern.
Whoosh.
Trying to shake her off, the wyvern spun wildly in mid-air.
Time for a new strategy.
“Leech tactic it is.”
She could kill it—but it had to stay alive, so that was out of the question.
A pity.
As the world spun around her, blood rushed to Maya’s face.
She had tied herself to the rope for moments like this.
She’d used it before on snake monsters—it had held up fine. The wyvern’s antics were nothing. The rope was strong and durable.
Grabbing the hilt of the sword embedded in the wyvern’s back, Maya hung upside down, enjoying the view.
Flying high like this was perfect to cool her heated body.
“Nice view.”
She spoke loudly enough for the wyvern to hear.
Even if it didn’t fully understand the words, her cheerful tone was aggravating enough.
“Maya!”
Tristan’s voice pierced the air.
“I’m fine!”
Maya shouted back at him.
He was far away now—probably only seeing her as a speck—but he still understood exactly what was going on.
If his eyesight was that good, his hearing must be too.
“Stop saying insane things! What if you fall?! Come down to the ground—I’ll attack it!”
So he had heard her.
“No!”
Dangling from the rope, Maya firmly shook her head.
“This rope will never break, so don’t worry!”
She clenched the rope tight. Veins bulged on her hands from the strain.
The heat made the world spin briefly.
“I can do this.”
Maya reassured herself, then drove her sword deeper between the wyvern’s scales.
Shhhk!
The wyvern writhed in pain.
It must’ve been in agony, disoriented and overwhelmed.
But this was a young wyvern, still regaining its strength.
She could win.
“There’s no way I’m losing to you.”
It wasn’t even supposed to be a fair fight in the first place.
Realizing flying wasn’t helping, the wyvern dived toward the forest.
It tried to ram Maya into trees and rocks, dragging its body against them to wound her.
“Ugh…”
Maya shielded her head, trying to minimize injuries.
A strong jolt sent pain shooting through her left arm. Her right ankle felt barely usable.
Still, she didn’t give up.
“…I’ll just have to ask for healing before the real fight begins.”
She needed her body in full working condition for the battles to come.
Even then, she’d only barely have a chance.
Pain pierced through her entire body.
Her mind grew hazy.
“I won’t lose.”
Maya gritted her teeth and adjusted her grip on the rope.
The regret from her past life hurt more than any injury.
There was no way she was letting this chance slip through her fingers.
She heard Tristan’s footsteps rushing below, chasing after the wyvern.
He was still assessing the situation.
Because Maya had asked him to.
“Just keep watching, Tristan.”
Maya muttered as if sending a message to him.
“I won’t lose.”
Filled with conviction, her words made Tristan lower his sword at last.
