"Hahaha! Val, catch me!" Adam ran through the crowded, cobblestoned streets of the South Ward with a bright smile on his face. Behind him, the young dragon took tiny steps and excitedly followed after him.
"Rawr~" Valerian had a menacing look on his face as he ran with all his might. But everyone on the sidewalk who saw this 'menacing' look, instantly had their hearts melted.
Seeing that the little fellow was breathing raggedly and struggling to catch up to him, Adam slowed down. Then, he pretended to stumble over something, allowing Valerian to pounce on him.
"Oh no!" Adam dramatically fell to the ground as Valerian agilely climbed over him. "I've been caught!"
"Raaawwwr~" Valerian raised his tiny paws into the air, drowning in the monumental feat of taking down a Magus. Then, he lowered his head and looked at Adam with his topaz eyes. Following that, he began licking the youth's face.
Adam laughed out loud, finding Valerian's 'attacks' very ticklish. After playing with the little fellow for a while, he got up to his feet. He placed the young dragon on his head and walked toward his villa.
"Val, what do you wanna eat today?"
Meat! Valerian excitedly sent a mental transmission.
Adam chuckled and made a sarcastic remark. "Of Course, why on earth did I not think of that?"
Classes for the day were over and Adam was going to head back home and begin his herbalism experiments. But before that, he was going to hand over Valerian to his butler, Barry, who at this point had become the young dragon's caretaker.
The youth entered his neighborhood and walked on the sidewalk while whistling in a happy mood. Ever since Valerian was born, Adam felt that his life was suddenly filled with colors.
As he was walking under the shade of the palm trees planted throughout the sidewalk, Barry rushed toward him from the distance. His face was filled with anxiety as he called out, "My Lord!"
"Hmm?" Adam was puzzled. "What're you doing here?"
"My lord, you have a guest waiting for you at home," he replied urgently.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Guest?" Adam frowned. "Why did you let them in while I was away?"
Barry hurriedly bowed down and sincerely apologized. "Please forgive me, my lord. I couldn't let them wait outside. I didn't dare to."
Adam had also never expected Barry, who was a professional and took his work so seriously, to allow people in during his absence. So he asked, "Who is it?"
Barry gulped nervously. "My lord, it's my former employer, Lord Viktor Turner."
"What?!" The youth was stunned. "What's Uncle Viktor doing here?"
As the two hurriedly made their way into the villa, Barry replied. "Lord Viktor did not state his reason for coming. He's been here ever since you left for the academy in the morning."
Adam was once again taken aback. "What the hell? He's already been waiting for so long?"
"Here." He handed Valerian to Barry. "Feed him while I meet Uncle Viktor."
"Yes, my lord." Barry gently grabbed onto Valerian and watched Adam enter the guest room.
Valerian waved his tiny paw, saying his goodbyes. Then he looked at Barry and called out. "Myu!"
"Ah, yes." Barry looked down and saw Valerian pointing at his little tummy with a tearful expression. "I shall feed you right away, Master Valerian."
"Myu~" Valerian beamed. The two then straightaway headed for the kitchen.
…
Adam entered the room and saw Viktor sitting on the couch by the fireplace. The man was reading a magic textbook while waiting for him.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Uncle Viktor!" Adam called out to him. "What brings you here?"
He figured that something really important must have happened for Viktor to wait for him for more than six hours at his villa.
Seeing Adam still in his academy uniform, Victor asked, "I reckon you're done with your studies?"
"Yes." Adam nodded. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Follow me." Viktor got to his feet and walked out. "We're going to my house."
Adam hesitated. He had planned to do some experiments in his underground laboratory. But now, all of a sudden Viktor was asking him to go to his house. He couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter?"
Viktor turned back to look at him and asked, "Didn't you want to take a look at Elia's illness?"
"Huh?" Adam was speechless. Last night, Viktor had scolded him for the same reason, but now all of a sudden, the man's attitude had changed a hundred and eighty degrees. He couldn't help but wonder, Did he hit himself in the head or something?
Seeing the youth's incredulous expression, Viktor sighed. "Look, kiddo. Initially, I didn't think a brat like you could do something that even experienced Herbalists couldn't. But after talking to Old Berger, I've decided to give it a shot."
"Besides." The man smiled bitterly. "At this point, I don't think I have much to lose anyway."
Seeing the man's defeated expression, Adam involuntarily clenched his fists. He asked, "So the old man convinced you, huh?"
Viktor nodded.
"Okay," Adam spoke confidently, "I will do my best!"
Seeing the youth's determined expression, Viktor smiled warmly. "Okay, let's get going."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"Alright, let me get my stuff first." Adam headed to his laboratory and quickly readied all the tools he would require.
Then, he went upstairs and instructed Barry to fill Valerian's stomach until the latter passed out. After bidding the little guy farewell, he hopped onto the carriage with Viktor and left for the North Ward.
While they were crossing the Lunar Bridge, Berger suddenly appeared inside the carriage out of nowhere, scaring the living daylights out of Adam.
"Uaah!" The youth was taken aback and fell from his seat by the gnome's sudden arrival. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling his wildly beating heart, and then looked at Berger with shock. "Old man, d-did you teleport here?!"
POW!
Berger smacked Adam in the forehead. "Fool! Do you think space magic is so easy that just anyone could cast it?"
"Ah, true, true." Adam massaged his swollen forehead and nodded. "Why are you here though?"
Berger replied as he smoked from his pipe. "This is your first time diagnosing a patient, is it not? Or are you confident enough that you think you won't require my supervision?"
Adam clenched his fists and said with certainty, "Of course, I can—"
POW!
"Don't get cocky!" Berger scolded the youth. "When the seed of arrogance sprouts, that marks the beginning of one's downfall. Always remember that!"
"Yes, sir…" Adam replied with tearful eyes.
Seeing that the gnome had also decided to join them, Viktor was very grateful. "Thank you for coming."
The gnome nodded and continued to smoke from his pipe as the carriage slowly made its way across the bridge.
