I Only Tame Dragons

Lydia's eyes gleamed with excitement as she took stock of the noblewoman's valuables.

This haul alone could easily fetch her at least 50 Bullion on the market—enough to not only dine at the finest restaurants but also to buy herself some luxurious new dresses.

Lydia didn't mind blowing it all in a single day. She was the kind of girl who lived like a "one-day millionaire," reveling in the thrill of instant gratification.

Why wait for tomorrow when you could have it all today?

To her, happiness was something you grabbed in the moment, not something to save for later.

After all, who knew what the future held? If she could taste luxury now, she'd savor every second.

Lydia smirked to herself, imagining the glamorous outfits she could flaunt after selling this loot. But for now, she relaxed, enjoying the spoils of her craft, while Silphie savored her desserts without a care in the world.

She was on cloud nine when she noticed something . . . or someone.

"Uhm . . . , Silphie, enjoy your dessert, okay? I'll be back in just a moment," Lydia said with a casual wave.

Silphie, already lost in a mountain of sugary treats, nodded absentmindedly, her doe-like eyes wide with excitement of the next bite.

Lydia slipped out of the dessert shop, her demeanor shifting as she moved down the bustling street and ducked into a shadowy alley.

At the far end stood a figure, draped in a dark robe, his posture rigid with impatience.

"Lydia," the robed man greeted, his voice a low rasp. "I knew I'd be seeing you here."

She sighed, crossing her arms. "It's not like I'm running away, Robert."

"Where's the egg?" Robert asked sharply, skipping the pleasantries.

Lydia's expression soured. "Still working on that," she replied, her tone strained.

Robert's eyes narrowed beneath his hood. "You mean you don't have it? After everything we went through to acquire it?"

His voice tightened with frustration. "I knew something was wrong when you didn't show up at the rendezvous."

Lydia ran a hand over her waist, fingers brushing the concealed weapons she kept hidden there. "Relax. I've got it under control. Just a minor . . .n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

complication."

"A 'minor complication' like getting involved with those guys?" Robert's voice dripped with irritation. "Do they have the egg?"

Lydia scoffed, her lips twisting into a smirk. "Of course. That's the only reason I'm sticking around them." Her words were laced with confidence, but inside, she felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

Robert clenched his fists, his frustration palpable. "You'd better not mess this up, Lydia. We've lost men helping you steal that damn thing from the Radiant Church. We can't afford another failure."

"I know, I know," Lydia snapped, waving him off. "I'll get it back. I promise. And when I do, you'd better have my money ready."

Robert's lips twitched in a half-smile, though there was no warmth in it. "Just make sure you retrieve it before we decide to take matters into our own hands. We're still laying low, and licking our wounds from the Radiance Church, but once we recover, don't think for a second we won't come for it ourselves. And if that happens, our deal is off."

Lydia forced a confident grin, but her heart was racing. "I told you, I've got this."

"You'd better." With that, Robert turned and melted into the shadows, leaving Lydia alone in the alley. She let out a long breath, finally able to breathe again.

For a moment, she stood still, her mind racing.

The egg was worth more than just money—it was power, prestige, a ticket to freedom.

But getting it meant playing a dangerous game, and with Underworld breathing down her neck, the stakes had never been higher.

"Time to step up, Lydia," she muttered to herself. She adjusted her coat and headed back to the dessert shop, slipping on her carefree smile like a mask.

No one could ever know just what shit she was in.

=== 🐲 ===

Meanwhile, Von was on his own personal errand, slipping silently through the dense, shadowed forest like a wraith.

The towering trees swayed gently overhead, their leaves rustling in the wind like ancient whispers.

The forest of Crownjade Wood was thick and foreboding to most, with its gnarled roots twisting beneath the earth and the occasional glowing flora casting an eerie luminescence.

But to Von, it was as familiar as the back of his hand.

His movements were fluid, graceful, his boots barely making a sound as they pressed against the soft underbrush. He ducked under low-hanging branches, side-stepped rocks and thickets, and avoided the larger creatures that made the forest their home with ease.

He had grown up here, after all. Every path, every hidden alcove, every dangerous turn was ingrained in his memory.

As he moved, his thoughts were focused on one thing: the Elven Castle.

It loomed in the distance, barely visible beyond the thick canopy of trees, but Von knew it was there.

The towering spires of alabaster stone, shimmering with a faint magical glow, seemed almost otherworldly. The castle was an impregnable fortress to most, guarded by powerful wards and enchantments, not to mention the elite Elven sentinels who patrolled the grounds day and night.

But Von wasn't "most."

He had lived in the castle once, back when his name meant something here. Back when he was part of the royal household—an Elven prince who had renounced his throne and vanished into the world.

Now, the castle was merely a memory, a place he had once called home. But it was also the key to his next mission. He needed to get something there at all cost.

Von paused at the edge of a clearing, crouching low as his sharp eyes scanned the area.

The outer gates of the castle were heavily fortified, as expected. Armed sentinels stood tall, their long, elegant blades gleaming in the moonlight. Behind them, the shimmering aura of the castle's magical defense flickered faintly, a reminder that no one could enter without permission.

No one, except for him.