CHAPTER 255: MAGUS SYLRISSA AND DRAGONS

"All of this is the strength of Soulbearers and Magus as well. Besides, before we leave this place, we’ll have to strip it of what we can. It should last us a while, at least until we deal with Umbracrypt," Vacuse pointed out.

The group was silent for a while, and then Harkon said, "Then when are we going to move? We need to break the binding as soon as possible, and we don’t even know how difficult it will be to break it."

Vacuse shifted. Indeed, they didn’t even know what they would be meeting in Umbracrypt or how things were going to turn out, but he was still sure of something. "As soon as possible. Captain Amros, what do we have to deal with here? I want to leave as soon as I can."

"There isn’t much. First, we deal with Magus Sylrissa and then the Bloodoak Union. They want to see you."

Vacuse thought about it and then nodded. "What’s Magus Sylrissa’s deal?"

"She’s interested in Dragons. On this side of the world, Dragons are like fairytales to them. They see them as some kind of mystical beings, and to be honest, almost everyone is curious about them. But Magus Sylrissa is known as the mad researcher, as she always obsessively tries to study one thing or another, usually in the most violent way. This time she’s set her sights on Dragons."

Vacuse grunted. The image he had of that Magus left him skeptical, as he could only think of her as a brute who should only know how to use her fists. What was her deal doing research? Maybe all Magus had some screws loose.

Just like that head supervisor, Sivan.

"Fine, I’ll see her. But I won’t become her worm to experiment on," Vacuse warned in a low tone. "If she becomes too demanding, then we’ll have to deal with her. But even then, I’d prefer that we still keep her alliance.

"After all, she did kill that other fifth circle Magus—Magus Valthorne."

Harkon shuddered. "My lord, be careful when dealing with her. That woman is truly mad."

Vacuse couldn’t help but smile at that. "Then it will be as you said. Come, let’s see her."

Vacuse decided not to see her alone and instead sent Kagerou to call her while the others waited behind.

It didn’t take long at all for her to appear, as if she had been waiting around the bend of the hallway, waiting to be called.

She rushed inside, a whirl of different colors and a mad grin. "You are Vacuse Vorrakyn! Your people have told me so much about you. Wow! Look at those red eyes! They’re even deeper than the others!

"Is this because when you became the Dragon heir, the bloodline in you thickened? Or did you undergo some rituals? Or is it that the bloodline in others recognized you as the sole authority apart from the Dragon Lord?"

Vacuse was left speechless. In just a minute, he had been subjected to so many questions that he didn’t even know which one to answer. He could only stare at her blankly. "What?"

She took a deep breath. "I’ve been searching for lots of mystical creatures, and you’re the first one I’ve found! Well, you’re not an actual Dragon, but you’re closely related to one. In fact, you’re the only family that’s that closely related to one.

"How fortunate of me! How fortunate of you! Now I can fill my books! Tell me about the Dragons! What do they eat? How do they poop? Is their blood hot? Cold? Or just like we humans? How’s their level of intelligence? Can they truly fly?

"Wait! Wait! I saw the stone dragon! How close a replica is it? Can they only breathe fire? Is the fire from their stomach or from their lungs? How heavy are their wings? No, how light are they to be able to fly?

"How sharp are their claws? Can they tear through stones easily or not? What of their fangs? How sharp are they, and...!!"

Vacuse raised his right hand while rubbing his head with his left. "Alright, enough. Am I really expected to answer all of your questions?"

She smiled sweetly. "Of course. That’s the deal we made, right? And the deal was made in your name too."

Vacuse looked at her and suddenly thought of another reason he needed to get really strong—so that he could break any deal and not answer any questions he didn’t want to answer.

He frowned. "Harkon, tell me what questions I can’t answer."

"My lord, any question that would harm you, the Vorrakyn family, or the Dragons is forbidden. But you can answer what’s already general knowledge about us back home," Harkon explained dutifully.

Vacuse sighed and nodded. "Good. Then let’s get on with it, Magus Sylrissa. I’ll answer your questions. Lay them down one after the other."

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It took a while before the questions and answers session was over, and Vacuse was finally free. At the end of it, he was left with a massive headache, but he also came out with some gains of his own.

Magus Sylrissa had agreed to follow them for some time and help them with any troubles they faced that she could handle. Vacuse had to continue to tell her about Dragons and any of his family history related to them.

"Well, that went well," Kagerou said after she was long gone. "I already ordered some food to be brought up. I’m sure you must be hungry again after all of that."

Vacuse was hungry, and he nodded at Kagerou. "Good thinking. That woman is strong. I’m sure lots of people would have tried their best to get her on their side."

Captain Amros nodded. "Yes, but she’s too wily and doesn’t like to be held down for long. She doesn’t belong in one place and instead moves from one place to another."

Vacuse sighed and couldn’t help but think what it would be like to have her as one of his attendants.