'Go chase a flying ship moving Northeast right now!'
Rhydian paused mid-flight and scowled, hearing Mira's commanding voice in her head.
Taking a breath to push down her irritation at being forced to work, she responded, 'But… how will I even know where they are or what they look like?'
'It's a flying ship! Do you see any others in the sky?'
Rhydian's frown deepened, but she just sighed and asked, '...How am I supposed to catch them if even you and that stupid bird can't?'
'You don't have to catch them. Just find their presence and follow them!' Mira replied angrily through their connection, so much so that Rhydian could feel her frustration building by the second.
'...Fine, but I want some sort of reward.' She reluctantly agreed, knowing that it was impossible to deny Mira at this point.
'If you can follow them, we'll do whatever you want to do next.'
"..."
Rhydian's eyes widened in shock, scaring the people around her! She'd never heard Mira say something so… nice(?).
Yeah, nice. Mira was being "nice" for once in her life.
"You okay, Rhydian?" Dominique, who was sitting on the wolf's back, tapped her shoulder and asked.
Rhydian snapped out of her thoughts and nodded with a wide smile. "More than okay."
"Really? What happened?"
"I got a job from your mother."
"Mother? What'd she want you to do?"
"To chase someone."
"...Sounds about right."
"But, she said she'd let me do whatever I want if I complete it."
Now it was Dominique's turn to be shocked. Not just her, but Hana's mind was also blown.
'She actually said that? Are we thinking of the right person?' Everyone thought while looking at Rhydian as if she had grown a second head.
"...Did Mother really say that?"
"...I hope so," Rhydian responded hesitantly, questioning whether that was Mira she heard and not a figment of her imagination. "But she sounded mad, so I'm 90% sure it was her."
"It really was Mother…" Dominique muttered, a little dazed.
Out of everyone in the group, Mira treated Rhydian the worst. The leading theory amongst them was that Mira found her lazy and disliked that aspect, but they also didn't want to throw away the possibility that Rhydian was just a great target to bully.
However, the wolf in question knew that Mira had high expectations for her and didn't want someone tied to her to be left behind. She knew that Mira didn't hate or even dislike her, more that she was simply annoyed by her lack of drive.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of communication between the two. Rhydian didn't grow by normal means, yet Mira tried to enforce traditional methods of training on her instead of just feeding her countless resources and letting her hibernate.
It was because of those reasons that everyone was even more surprised that Mira would reward her "mount", as normally, she just forced the wolf to do something rather than allowing her to be free.
"Rhydian landed on the ground and shifted into a much larger version of herself, with at least a 50-meter wingspan. Dominique, Hana, Coralia, and Linnea jumped off her furry body and stared at the golden beast in awe.
"I'm going now," Rhydian stated while flapping her wings, sending gusts of wind everywhere. "Coralia, take care of everyone, or Mira will skin you alive. Literally."
Coralia shivered in fright, but the slight smile on her face told a different story. But the mermaid just nodded firmly and replied, "D-Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing happens to them."
"Maybe just a little wouldn't hurt…." She muttered under her breath, but everyone could hear her, causing them to take a few steps away.
Rhydian ignored her comment and leaped into the air, wanting nothing to do with that crazy mermaid any longer. With a sonic boom, she shot off into the distance in the direction Mira told her the flying ship was heading.
She soared through the sky, keeping her senses on high alert, searching for any sign of the flying ship Mira had described. The vast expanse of the sky stretched out before her, but most of it was completely empty.
As she flew, her mind raced with thoughts of the reward Mira had promised. 'Whatever I want, huh?' she mused, a playful smirk forming on her lips. 'This could be interesting.'
The landscape below was a blur as she passed by a mixture of snowy peaks and dense forests that spanned the Northern Continent. She increased her speed, pushing her powerful wings to their limits.
Suddenly, a faint silhouette appeared in the distance, a speck against the vast sky. Rhydian narrowed her eyes, focusing on the object. It was the ship, moving at a remarkable speed, its sails billowing in the wind.
'Found you,' Rhydian thought triumphantly. She adjusted her course, trailing the ship from a safe distance. Her objective was to follow and observe, not engage. Mira's instructions were clear, and Rhydian wasn't one to disobey, especially with a reward on the line.
The people on the ship remained unaware of its silent pursuer and continued its course northeastward. Rhydian watched carefully, noting its trajectory and any peculiarities in its movement. 'They're heading towards... the Frozen Cliffs,' she realized, recognizing the landmark from the map Mira had bought.
As she followed, Rhydian's thoughts drifted to her companions on the ground. Dominique, Hana, Coralia, and Linnea were a peculiar bunch, each with their own quirks and strengths. 'Coralia better keep her word,' she thought, a hint of concern in her mind. The mermaid's playful yet crazy words weren't lost on her.
However, she didn't know how to handle this new companion.
'I don't think Mira does either.' She thought, finding it peculiar.
Usually, Mira was someone who was incredibly decisive. When she decided to do something, only death would stop her, if that. But regarding Coralia, she just ignored her presence, as if choosing not to deal with her.
'Not like I don't understand. That woman's got something wrong with her brain. I guess it's better to just leave crazy alone.'
That's what they all did with Mira, and they were still alive and well.
As these random thoughts popped up inside her head, the ship suddenly veered to the right, heading towards a cluster of floating icebergs. Rhydian adjusted her flight path, her eyes never leaving the vessel. 'What are they planning?' she wondered, now a bit more intrigued by who was on this ship and why they made Mira so angry.
But Rhydian's senses remained alert, scanning for any potential threats or surprises. The Northern Continent was known for its unpredictable weather and dangerous creatures. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not even for a moment.
The ship maneuvered skillfully through the icebergs, its crew clearly experienced in navigating such treacherous areas. Rhydian admired their skill, even though she knew they were likely enemies.
After about half an hour of following the ship, it finally slowed down, approaching a secluded cove hidden among the icebergs.
Rhydian hovered away from the secluded cove, her golden eyes locked on the ship as it approached the hidden entrance. The icebergs parted silently, revealing a massive staircase carved into the earth, wide enough for the ship to enter. She watched in awe as the vessel glided towards the opening, disappearing into the depths below before the icebergs slammed shut.
The wolf's ears perked up as she heard Mira's voice in her head. 'Did you find them?' Mira asked, her tone icy.
'Yes, they're here. There's a hidden entrance in the ice. It looks like they're heading underground,' Rhydian responded, conveying the coordinates to Mira and Elenei.
'Good. We're on our way. Keep an eye on them, and don't let them out of your sight,' Mira instructed.
Rhydian nodded, even though Mira couldn't see her. She settled into a watchful position, keeping her gaze fixed on the entrance. The Northern Continent's twilight cast a serene glow over the icy landscape, but Rhydian did her best not to get distracted by the environment, despite really wanting to take a nap right about now.
It wasn't long before Mira and Elenei arrived, soaring through the sky with incredible speed. Mira's [Paragon Wings] froze the air around her, creating ice crystals in her trail, while Elenei's magnificent Dracophoenix form exuded a domineering aura that left any nearby beasts running with their tails behind their legs.
Rhydian greeted them with a nod. "They went in there," she said, pointing to the staircase.
Mira surveyed the area, her eyes narrowing as she sensed something unique. She wasn't sure what, but she smelled… loot. "This place... it's not just a cove. There's something else here. Can you sense it?" she asked Elenei, who nodded in agreement.
"Yes, there's a strong energy emanating from below. It's not natural," Elenei confirmed, her voice echoing with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"Good. Hopefully, whatever they're keeping down there can make up for my wasted time. Let's go." Mira decided, leading the way towards the staircase.
