After getting slammed by two brutal shocks, Yarrow stormed out of Haka's house, his stomach growling like a beast in heat. The only place that could drown his thoughts and fill his belly was the tavern. A little booze, some greasy food, and maybe the sinful distraction of a barmaid's teasing laughter—just what he needed.
Stepping inside, he was hit by the thick stench of ale, sweat, and desperation. The place was buzzing like a nest of overexcited hornets. Behind the bar, a crystal projector flickered with the latest stage play—except no one gave a damn about the acting. The only reason this play had gained traction was because the leading lady had suffered an accidental wardrobe malfunction on stage. The moment it happened, every beer-soaked idiot in town suddenly developed a deep appreciation for the performing arts.
"Yo! Yarrow! You still alive, you son of a bitch?" A booming voice rang out. It was Hans, the tavern's muscle-bound owner, his red beard framing a face scarred from bar brawls and bad decisions.
"Barely, boss," Yarrow grunted.
Hans slapped a meaty hand on the counter, his grin wide and wild. "How'd the commission go?"
"Well, I survived. My teammates didn't."
Hans whistled. "Damn. Must've been some serious shit."
"Oh, you have no idea," Yarrow muttered. And now that serious shit is sitting pretty in my house.
He leaned against the bar. "Bread, ham, and... actually, screw the cucumbers, give me an apple pie. All for five."
Hans bellowed into the kitchen, then turned back with a wicked grin. "You missed a hell of a mess while you were gone."
Yarrow arched a brow. "Yeah? What happened?"
Hans leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. "Horolog Magic Academy."
That caught Yarrow's attention. Horolog Magic Academy—the academy. The dream of every magic hopeful, the place of impossible standards, and even more impossible entrance exams. Some applicants left with spells at their fingertips. Others left convinced they were farm animals in need of a good rut.
Yarrow snorted. "What about it?"
Hans's grin stretched wider. "They held their freshman entrance ceremony last week. To celebrate, they prepped the biggest damn firework display ever. They had the old principal light it himself."
Yarrow took a slow sip of his drink. "And?"
Hans slammed the counter, howling. "And the thing exploded on the ground! Boom! Sent the old bastard flying like a cursed comet! Took a handful of freshmen with him!"
Yarrow blinked. "Holy shit."
"The guy was about to hit his hundredth birthday. Now he's getting a funeral instead! Hell of a way to go out!" Hans roared with laughter, smacking the counter until his tankard threatened to topple over.
Yarrow gave an awkward chuckle. "Yeah... hilarious."
"Hey, at least there's a silver lining," Hans added, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"They lost nine students. And guess what? They're opening up nine new slots for fresh meat."
Yarrow went still. Nine new spots? That was... an opportunity. The kind that didn't come knocking twice. He had just gained Serena's magic talent. Maybe, just maybe, he could pull it off.
Hans leaned in. "But don't get too excited. This time, the academy's not playing around. They brought in him."
Yarrow narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Hans opened his mouth to answer—but was cut off by a group of stage-play enthusiasts at the corner table.
"Oi! Hans! What the hell is this censorship bullshit? Just when the goods were out, the damn screen blacks out!"
"Shut your damn mouths!" Hans snapped. "You think I get this kind of quality entertainment easy? Take what you can get and quit whining!"
Grumbling, the men turned back to their blurry, censored tragedy.
Hans exhaled and turned back to Yarrow. "Where was I? Oh yeah—the examiner. The one running this new entrance test. It's none other than the kingdom's sacred beast."
Yarrow's blood ran cold. "The unicorn... Meng Jias?"
Hans smirked. "That's right."
The sacred beast of legend. An ancient being that had served the kingdom for centuries, watching over its rulers and ensuring its prosperity. It wasn't just a symbol of power—it was power.
Yarrow swallowed. "That means... this year's test is going to be brutal."
Hans nodded. "You wanna get in? You better prepare for war."
Meanwhile, back at Yarrow's house, Serena was tidying up with Peach Fox and Ji Xiaofei.
"Miss Peach Fox, could you pass me that towel?" Serena asked politely.
Peach Fox groaned. "Ugh, Serena, you're way too formal. Lighten up a little, will ya?"
Ji Xiaofei, sprawled on the bed like a lazy cat, nodded. "Yeah, seriously. It makes you sound so stiff."
Serena blinked, flustered. "Ah? I didn't realize..."
"We're friends now, aren't we? Just call me Peach Fox," the fox-eared woman said, tossing the towel over.
Ji Xiaofei yawned. "And you can call me Xiao Ji."
Serena hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a soft smile. "Okay. I'll try."
After spending three long years trapped in the body of a bear, Serena had almost forgotten what it was like to hold a normal conversation. Words felt foreign on her tongue, and an odd nervousness curled in her chest. But the warm, easy-going nature of the two little ones made the transition a little smoother, melting away her tension.
"Then, let's get along well in the future," she said with a gentle smile.
At that moment, Zen strutted over, holding—of all things—a toilet plunger in one regal claw.
"Hey, human, what the hell is this absurd object for?"
Serena blinked. "Uh, well, Lord Zen, that's used to—"
Before she could finish, Zen's golden eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Who the hell gave you permission to address this king so casually? When speaking to this king, you will address me properly."
Serena swallowed. "Ah… yes… Yes, Lord Zen."
"Good. Now answer this king's question."
Clearing her throat, Serena carefully explained, "Lord Zen, that is a tool humans use to unclog toilets."
Zen went rigid. The plunger slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with an unceremonious plop.
"...Lord Zen?" Serena called hesitantly.
A muscle twitched at the corner of Zen's mouth, her face a frozen mask. "Heh. This king is… fine." With stiff movements, she turned on her heel and walked away, her tail flicking like an irritated cat's.
Serena and Peach Fox exchanged glances.
"Did she… do something with it?" Peach Fox mused, picking up the plunger, turning it this way and that in confusion.
Serena sighed, rubbing her temple. "She's still impossible to deal with. I guess it's a Dragonkin thing…"
In this world, only pure-blooded dragons sat at the absolute peak of power, but Dragonkin—those blessed with draconic blood—were right beneath them. Their very existence exuded dominance, their instincts commanding and unforgiving.
And this particular Dragonkin girl… well, her name alone was enough to stir rumors. Zen. The very same name as the legendary Dragon King. Could there be a connection?
She sighed again, shaking her head. She had no idea how Yarrow had crossed paths with her of all people.
"Speaking of which," Serena said, glancing at Peach Fox, "how did you and Yarrow meet?"
Peach Fox's ears twitched with delight. Puffing out her chest, she beamed with pride. "Ah, what a fine question! This humble one met Yarrow while seeking a title! At that time, I was merely a fox, on the verge of a great breakthrough in my cultivation. I left seclusion in search of a name worthy of my ascension, and that's when I met him! And after that, I did break through! I shed my beast form and became the stunning vision of beauty you see before you!"
She grinned, tail swishing behind her. "Yarrow is a great benefactor to this humble one! His presence aided my cultivation, so I decided to follow him and continue my path beside him. Perhaps one day, through his karma, I shall attain true immortality, step through the gates of Nantianmen, and witness the splendor of the Supreme Lord Lao himself!"
Serena stared at Peach Fox, her polite smile stiffening. "…I have no idea what any of that means."
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