350 Years Old!
"Can it really be that even the gods are reduced to rubble?" she mused aloud, skepticism lining her voice.
"Are there truly such formidable beings amongst us mortals? Do they not fear the wrath of the gods, should they overhear such bold claims?" she questioned, her tone laced with awe and a hint of fear.
"It seems the legends of invincible supernatural entities are not just myths," she continued thoughtfully. "Yet here I am, a mere imperial princess, who dares not claim even the power to vanquish a dragon, much less challenge a deity."
"Would a human, even one transcendent, truly dare to declare they could shatter the divine?" she asked, her eyes wide with incredulity.
"The gods likely dismiss such boasts as mere bravado," he explained calmly. "Claiming to 'crush the gods to pieces' is surely hyperbolic, meant more to convey an unyielding spirit and boundless confidence rather than actual capability."
"What they really mean is that with the right resolve and sufficient resources, no adversary is too daunting, no endeavor too perilous," he elaborated, his voice firm with conviction.
"Don't think the gods so petty," he chuckled, referencing a well-known tale. "Consider the God of War's reaction to Bruder Donahue's audacity. Despite the affront, humanity still reveres him without consequence. If the gods were truly vengeful, Donahue would have vanished at the mere mention of the deity's name. Besides, the gods aren't poring over every mortal utterance."
Lucia nodded thoughtfully, finding logic in the dragon's reasoning.
"But would you, then, dare to claim you'd 'crush the gods to pieces'?" she probed.
"Hardly," he replied with a wry smile. "I'd rather not tempt fate and end up shattered myself."
Her expression turned contemplative. Perhaps it was wise to take the dragon's words with a grain of caution. Believing too freely might lead one down a perilous path.
Switching topics, she inquired about another daunting challenge. "Lance, hell itself acknowledges the lich's might. Do you think someone from our realm could truly vanquish such a creature in a bounty mission classified as 'death' level?"
His response would reveal much about the limits of human bravery or folly.
"The lich may seem formidable, but its powers hardly merit Hell's full attention," Lance explained, his hands deftly handling the Death Scythe. "Hell has classified this mission as 'Death' level, specifically targeting those who aspire to become Apprentice Death Gods."
"Don't underestimate the resources at Hell's disposal. A mere lich is trivial compared to the might Hell wields. Should Hell choose to intervene directly, the lich named in the bounty would be eradicated from our realm in mere moments."
"In the grand scheme of things, such a lich doesn't even catch Hell's eye. This level of threat is typically handled by a novice Shinigami, not a full-fledged deity."
"The title of Apprentice Death God is reserved for necromancers of significant potential, yet still mortal. Confronting an undead like a lich poses a genuine risk to their life."
"Hell's power is immense, its depths unfathomable. Only those spirits that manage to escape its confines truly draw its gaze and prompt a response," he continued, his tone deepening with the gravity of the subject.
Lucia's eyes, a striking shade of purple-gold, widened in realization, a faint trace of naivety lingering in her gaze. "So, the mission is indeed meant for someone like an Apprentice Death God. I had thought the lich posed a challenge that even Hell would struggle with."
"That's not the case," Lance reassured. "Many beings among humanity possess the prowess to dispatch liches of this caliber."
"If the evil dragon decides to outsource this task," Lucia pondered aloud, "would it also involve traveling to the human world to post the bounty in the guilds? Maybe even beyond the usual circles to other guilds?"
She harbored a hope to accompany the dragon on such a journey to the human world, though she wasn't sure if she would be invited.
"When do you plan to venture to the human world to issue these bounty missions?" she inquired, curiosity tinting her voice with excitement and a touch of urgency.
Lucia fidgeted with the pen nestled between the dragon's formidable claws, trying to appear casual as she looked up at him.
"You don't need to travel to the human world to post bounty tasks?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "Can you really manage that from here on the island?"
Lance gave a knowing smile, "Indeed, I can use projection calls to send bounty tasks directly to the human world, just as Hell Death sends them to me. There's no need to leave our island sanctuary."
Lucia's brow furrowed, puzzled. "Projection calls? But who would you contact? It's just Marly, Turtle, you, and me here."
"Projection technology allows us to bridge vast distances," Lance explained, his voice reflecting a touch of pride. "We don't need a middleman like Marly for this task. I simply direct the call to the relevant parties in the human world."
She remembered then, having seen the spectral forms of bounty notices appear via the Death Scythe before. "Ah, of course! Why didn't I think of that?"
Lance chuckled gently. "Projection calls are quite common in the dealings of Hell's Death God sector and are increasingly used in the human realm. Though they're costly for ordinary folk, nobles, entrepreneurs, extraordinary beings, and major powers find the expense trivial."
His gaze softened as he continued, "When you're older and venturing on your own, I'll acquire a state-of-the-art projection calling device for you. That way, if you ever miss me, we can still converse across the land."
The conversation took a sudden turn as a thought struck him. "Speaking of growing up, it just occurred to me, I've never asked how old you are, Young Dragon."
Caught off guard, the dragon stuttered slightly, "I—I think I am over 350 years old this year."
Lance nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds about right for a dragon of your stature, about ten meters tall, doesn't it?" His tone mixed curiosity with a mentor's attentiveness, eager to learn more about his young companion's heritage and age.
Lucia wanted to claim that she was 1,500 years old, but hesitated, fearing that the formidable dragon Lance might then see her as mature enough to be considered for a more permanent role in his life, perhaps even as a mate destined to bear his offspring in the decades to come. She quickly adjusted her statement. "More than 350 years old seems more appropriate," she thought, acknowledging that among the giants of dragonkind, she was still but a fledgling, even at 350 years.
"Hundreds of years of being raised as a mate," she mused with a mix of awe and apprehension. Could she even live that long, under the watchful, sometimes intense, guidance of Lance?
"More than 350 years old?" Lance repeated, raising an eyebrow as he scrutinized her.
"Hmm, you don't quite look it," he remarked thoughtfully. "When I was your age, my scale was much larger. I can't quite recall the exact size, but it was definitely more imposing than yours. Are you sure you've been eating properly? Just subsisting on field mice isn't adequate for a growing dragon."
Lance continued, "The first three hundred years are crucial for a young dragon's growth. It's a wonder you've managed so well on such meager fare."
His gaze then shifted towards the fields, "Speaking of which, I noticed some voles in the corn and vegetable fields this morning. They were burrowing around, quite the nuisance."
With a slight smirk, he suggested, "If you're up for it, why not hunt some of those voles tonight? If you catch a few plump ones, I could grill them into kebabs for you."
Lucia recoiled slightly, her royal dignity affronted. "Voles? In the cornfields and vegetable fields? Why, I've never! A princess such as I, dining on field mice? That's absurd!" Her inner voice rose with each word, a clear note of indignation threading through her protest but she knew could not say those words in front of Lance. The very idea seemed to clash starkly with her regal upbringing and the image she maintained as the princess of the Faloran Empire.