Chapter 5: The Dragon God's Majesty

"Don't worry too much. Lulu's talent is extraordinary; it's only a matter of time before she reaches her potential," Sol reassured with a gentle sigh as he noticed Riveria's determined expression.

The current situation in Orario was tense, and as head of the Familia, Riveria bore much of that weight. The dark factions were still lurking, and in times like these, the emergence of a bright young talent like Lulu could attract dangerous attention. After all, there were those who thrived on extinguishing potential before it could fully bloom. Rooting out these dark forces was no small task, but Sol reassured her that their neutral stance would likely keep them out of immediate conflict.

Soon, the group returned from touring the Familia's residence, their faces alight with smiles, clearly bonding well.

"Sol-sama! We'd like to take Lulu to the guild to register her as an adventurer," one of the Familia members said eagerly.

Sol had previously put a restriction on outings, requiring members to seek permission before leaving the residence. At that, Riveria gently lifted Sol's head from her lap and adjusted her robes, mentally noting that Lulu's future seemed promising. Riveria knelt down to Lulu's level, a welcoming smile on her face. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Riveria, the head of the Sol Familia. Please take care of me."

Lulu responded enthusiastically, stretching up to look Riveria in the eye. "I'm Lulu! Let's work well together!"

Orario wasn't the safest place these days, and Riveria spoke up. "Why don't I accompany you to the guild, Lulu, just to make sure everything goes smoothly?"

As the group set off, Sol gave a casual wave from the sofa. "Stay safe out there!"

...

On the way, Lulu's eyes lit up as she tugged on Riveria's sleeve. "Riveria! Riveria! I want to try that!" she exclaimed, pointing excitedly.

Riveria had purposely chosen a busy route so Lulu could start to get familiar with the sights and sounds of Orario. Crowded places were generally safer these days, as dark, deserted alleys had become prime targets for the dark factions. But the livelier streets came with their own distractions—especially for someone like Lulu, who was easily captivated by anything new.

The bustling food stalls, steaming with savory scents, drew her in, and her gaze lingered on the vendors selling treats that filled the air with mouthwatering aromas. Despite knowing Lulu was technically much older, her small stature and innocent curiosity made her seem childlike in Riveria's eyes. With a sigh, Riveria reached into her coin pouch and bought Lulu a few treats.

"Hmm~ It's not as tasty as I expected," Lulu murmured after a few bites, her initial enthusiasm waning.

"Food should never be wasted," Riveria said firmly, her 'motherly' side emerging.

For a brief moment, Lulu fell silent under Riveria's stern gaze—until, inevitably, a new snack caught her eye.

Looking into Lulu's wide, sparkling eyes, Riveria felt, for the first time, just how far their Familia residence was from the guild. Every step of this journey seemed to stretch on.

At last, however, the guild building came into sight.

At the guild's entrance, adventurers streamed in and out, mostly those at LV1 and LV2. When Riveria appeared, the crowded hall parted instinctively, clearing a path.

"Hey, look! Isn't that Riveria from the Sol Familia?"

"No mistake—it's the 'Enchanter of the Dragon God.' Her magic is said to be incredible!"

"Orario's strongest magus, and so beautiful. Plus, she's from the elf royal family!"

"Is that tiny figure with her a new Familia member? She's so small… maybe she's here for adventurer registration?"

"Looks like it! Ah, if only I could join the Sol Familia myself!"

"Tch~ Keep dreaming. Even I won't waste my breath telling you how impossible that is."

The murmured chatter rippled through the crowd on both sides. To Riveria, whose keen senses were honed at LV6, these whispers were all too clear.

Her reputation among adventurers was high, yet when she heard mention of a certain title, her face darkened noticeably.

"Riveria! What does 'Enchanter of the Dragon God' mean?" Lulu asked, curiosity sparked by a tip-off from Pix.

Riveria stopped in her tracks, gritting her teeth as a faint blush colored her normally composed expression.

That title… it was an embarrassing part of her past, an unwelcome "gift" bestowed upon her by her well-meaning but overly dramatic god after she ascended to LV4. Despite her protests, her god had lobbied fervently for it in the Gods' Assembly, calling it a hard-won honor.

She'd had enough faith in Sol to let him handle it, his assurances ringing in her ears—"Leave everything to me." That trust, she now realized, might have been misplaced.

Riveria clung to the hope that reaching LV6 would allow her to shed that ridiculous title.

"It's nothing worth discussing, Lulu. You'll have a title of your own someday." Riveria did her best to steer Lulu away from the subject, watching her wide eyes brim with curiosity.

"Really? Then I'm going to think of the coolest, most powerful title ever!" Lulu's enthusiasm quickly returned, shifting her attention.

By then, they had stepped into the guild.

A female elf in guild attire hurried over, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Riveria-sama! It's been too long!" Her expression revealed the devotion of a dedicated fan.

"Good to see you, Saria." Riveria nodded with reserved warmth, her composure fully restored to her usual dignified manner.

Saria was an adventurer consultant assigned by the guild to liaise with members of the Sol Familia. Since the Familia was largely made up of elves, having an elf like Saria on hand made communication easier.

"This time, I'm here to have the child's information registered."

"Of course! Please, right this way." Saria guided them to a private room.

Once they were seated, Saria served freshly brewed tea, placing it before them with a respectful smile.

Typically, new adventurer registrations took place at a guild window. But as part of the powerful Sol Familia, Riveria and her companions were granted a few privileges reserved for those of significant standing.