Chapter 3067 Family Trip (Part 1)

Chapter 3067 Family Trip (Part 1)

'There's no telling which enchantments I saw in Elphyn's mind belong to the old tower and which are instead born from her fusion with the artifact. I might as well study Baba Yaga's tower like my predecessor did Menadion's.'

The previous Yggdrasil had sent their Chroniclers to follow Menadion everywhere, using the elves' breathing technique to study the tower core with the help of the World Tree.

Unlike Lith and Baba Yaga, Menadion didn't hide her presence so with time, patience, and cloaking devices, the Chroniclers had first cracked the cloaking runes of the tower and then copied its core one bit at a time. Foll0w current novÊls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m)

'Yet not only do I have no idea how long studying her hut would take due to Baba Yaga's elusiveness, but there's also no comparison between the two mage towers. The ease with which Verhen defeated Argantyr alone proves it beyond doubt.

'Sure, it was a trap and the location of the fight was set up to maximize his advantage, but Verhen still managed to match if not even surpass the might of the three white cores and their offspring.

'And that while the tower still lacks the Ears and several floors. There's only one way to get myself such a masterpiece while I still have enough lifespan to achieve my Guardianhood and it's to pry that stone ring from Verhen's dead fingers.'

***

Griffon Kingdom, Zeneka Region, city of Zalma at the same time.

Zalma was a port town built facing the Arsman Ocean that separated the Garlen continent from Jiera. The moon was slowly rising from the city bay, giving the water a silvery luster and the scenery a fairy tale look.

The waters were placid as the fishing boats returned to the harbor before the sun disappeared on the horizon. Several islands were visible in the distance, and the lights of their distant buildings made them look magical in the twilight.

The climate in the Kingdom was getting hot due to the summer but a refreshing ocean breeze carried a salty smell and made the evening air pleasant even during the warm season.

Zalma's commerce had been flourishing non-stop during the past few years of famine thanks to the abundant fishing areas of the Arsman Ocean. Even after the recent bountiful harvest had put an end to the food crisis, the city was still expanding.

Selia just needed a place to eat without worrying about keeping the kids under control and then cleaning the countless pots and pans that preparing a meal for his ravenous family required.

Nalrond had already been to the Tavern during his guys' nights out with Lith, but he could use some downtime. Shapeshifting into his old human form still felt awkward and the preparations for his marriage only piled on the stress he was already under.

Tista and Bodya were also excited. It was the first time she brought along the Nidhogg for a family trip and the event marked the new beginning of their relationship.

As for Quylla and Morok, they were a late addition but two more people were easy to accommodate.

"I can't wait to eat to my heart's content without enduring the horrified gazes of the house staff." Quylla smiled while touching her womb. "I can't believe you've been so thoughtful with us."

"Me neither." Morok replied. "I mean, you made me into a better man, babe."

He hastily opened the door for her to avoid follow-up questions and let Quylla inside. For many of them, it was their first visit so surprise made Morok's blunder go unnoticed.

The tavern was not only bigger on the inside, it was also far from ordinary. The floor and the walls were comprised of small hard wooden boards, giving the place a warm and cozy ambiance.

All the tables but those reserved were already occupied and the place was full of people of every race, merfolk included. Despite the crowd, every table and seat had been spaced so that it didn't feel cramped, leaving to each group of customers their privacy.

Equally comfortable padded chairs and barstools allowed people to choose between sitting in groups at a table or the bar counter on the top right corner with the bartender as their only company.

In the top left corner, there was a bandstand from which musicians were playing, entertaining lone customers and covering the conversations of clients so that they wouldn't be overheard from the other tables.

That night, the singer was a Siren, a lesser Garuda from Jiera. In her humanoid form, the lesser Divine Beast looked like a gorgeous woman with hips-long strawberry blond hair and violet eyes.

She wore a cocktail dress tailored from a bunch of her own feathers that wrapped around her voluptuous body like a glove.