I delayed for a moment to collect their praises. I hadn’t done anything for these people but bring back one of their own, yet they smiled, their faces lit up. But he was just human. I had a certain contempt for them for overtaking my father’s land — this was something I hadn’t realized. In the dragons and in humans, there would always be the bad.

Well, good thing their village wasn’t close to the allocated land I’d set my mind to reclaim. That would have been their problem.

After standing in the same spot for almost a minute before the crowd of villagers, Aria was standing composed by my side, silently waiting for our departure.

"Shall we?" I stretched my hand out. Since we were flying out of here, I could grab on, but Aria passed my hand, reaching out to wrap her arms around me as an efficient way to fly out of here. But in front of all these villagers, I didn’t find it comfortable, so I stepped back, re-offering my hand. Fortunately, she grasped my intent and paused.

"Your hand will hurt if I were to hold on to you through the travel." Her voice carried a worried tone.

Well, I wasn’t going to allow her to carry me like a child in public. "No." I slipped my hand into my pocket and walked in the other direction.

"Amor?" Aria, with no other option, followed behind.

As we made our way out of the village, my mind was at rest. Having to deal with a lot of things — our tag on the baroness, who might be walking with this mysterious assassin — still, I wasn’t pausing my plan of creating the militia, or motivating the baronesses. That was still a work in progress.

Looking at the sky as the sunset, it was time to return to the mansion. All plans today were postponed for now.

"I really want to take a nap."

"Amor, you drank the blood."

Aria’s sudden statement didn’t surprise me. Of course she noticed — she just didn’t comment on it earlier. My mana signature seemed to have changed a bit.

"Yes I did, and it came with some perks which will end up really useful."

"That was a risky decision. You might have been possessed, or worse, poisoned and died instantly." Aria’s voice hardened.

I shrugged it off. "Well, the risk paid off."

---

"Oh no, it’s getting worse."

Passing by a turning point, there was a woman. She wasn’t dressed in the best clothes — an apron at her waist, a scarf around her hair. She was possibly one of the villagers. Everything about her was emerald: her dreaded hair pouring out of her scarf, her wings, including her scaly tail at her hips.

I halted to take a good look at her. She grumbled, stretched her hand out aiming at nothing, then concentrated her mana. It gathered at her palm, forming what later appeared to be sand — her magic. They formed together, grains dripping down from lack of concentration, then it crumbled. The small ball of sand poured out to nothing.

"Why is this happening?"

Is she having a problem with her mana? This instantly sparked an opportunity.

"Aria, give me a second." Without waiting for a reply, I walked to the woman. Getting closer, I noticed her beautiful face, which on second look wore bruises — dark eye circles. Her skin was tanned, so I didn’t take note of it immediately, as the bruises blended in. My mind immediately clocked the only reason a beautiful woman like her could have a bruised face.

Noticing my approach, she dropped her hand, clutching her basket.

"You didn’t go to see Joe?" I said offhandedly. Since the village loved Joe, that was the best way to start a conversation.

"No, I — I was busy..." She backed up cautiously. "Are you from around town?" She scanned my face but occasionally lowered her head, adjusting her scarf, frantically trying to hide the bruise.

"No. I was the one who brought Joe back. And I’ve already taken note of your bruises."

"It was an accident."

"I’m not here for that. If you answer my question, I won’t bother you. Is that okay?"

She nodded.

"I noticed you having trouble with your magic. Am I correct?"

"Yes, I am." She looked at her palm with a gloomy face.

"What’s the problem?"

"A curse is slowly creeping into my mana core. I’m... losing my magic."

’Exactly what I need. I could heal her using my blood — the adapting properties, plus the healing properties recently evolved, I can possibly heal her.’

But my plans weren’t for charity’s sake.

"Are you the only one with this curse? Has anyone who had previously been cursed healed from it?"

She became more uncomfortable with each question, fidgeting with her basket, delaying answering me. "It’s a wide curse — many have been affected. Many. But none healed yet. But... can I ask... why do you want to know?"

"To know how I can help." I said with an easy smile. But behind it was an evil smirk. This was it — my plan to motivate the baroness. If I heal her, the villagers would know and spread the gossip, which will eventually reach the houses of how I healed the unhealable. Then they will know my true value, beyond securing an heir.

"I can heal you."

"Really? It’s magic... I don’t think you can."

"Trust me. I can."

"I don’t trust strangers." She backed up once more.

"Well, fair point. Though I’m not an ordinary stranger." I straightened my spine, keeping my shoulders high. "I’m the Amor of Heart House."

’Yes, I chose to use the title because it’s useful.’

"Eh? I’m so sorry, I didn’t know —"

"It’s not a problem. What’s your name?"

"Madel!" A man’s voice barked her name, and Madel flinched. She desperately tried to get away from me before — slam. The door of a house close by slammed open and a man stormed out. He was their race; nothing about him was peculiar, coiled in anger.

He caught Madel just standing close to me. "For how many hours are you going to keep me waiting?" He paused, noticing a gentleman beside Madel. "It seems like you need a lesson."

"Please, wait — it’s not what you think."

"Shut up and get inside." He didn’t give Madel a chance to speak before storming back in. He paused just to glare at me.

Madel’s hands began to tremble, but she still ran to the man.

Once more confirmed — I suspected she had an abusive husband.

I scowled. ’Who does he think he is to look at me that way.’

"Can we leave now?"

I pulled my hands out of my pocket and reinforced my fist with mana. "Give me a moment, Aria. I have a fool to punch."