24: Mathilda

Trudging up the hill, the noisy caws of a raven atop the roof his house caught Darius' attention. As Old Fang have said earlier, Mathilda have arrived very early in this year. The black raven, Huggin, swoop down and landed on Darius' head.

"Darius boy! Hello! Darius boy!" The Raven mimicking human's speech very perfectly, he sounds just like a man but with slighty raspy and high pitched voice.

Darius chuckled, cradling the bird on his embrace, patting the raven on its back. "Good to see you too, Huggin."

As he stepped into the living room, he was welcomed by the sight of a mature woman who looks like in her early thirties sitting on her seat, facing the hearth with a bored face, crossing one leg on top of the other.

Her long and slightly wavy hair cascades down onto her shoulders, parted sideways and covering her bountiful bosoms. The deep purple colour of her hair goes perfectly with her tanned, exotic skin. Her dazzling and yet immensely elegant face could bring any man below her feet. Combined with her curvaceous and alluring figure which tightly wrapped in a salacious black dress, she could even bring an entire kingdom to its knees!

However, she wish nothing but to freely travel the entire plain with her caravan, and visit her beloved boy who had grown into a fine young man.

Maria was the first who noticed Darius' arrival, she quickly trotted out of the kitchen. "Welcome back, Darius!"

Waking up from her daydreams, Mathilda jolted, turning her gaze onto the white haired young man who stood behind her. Without a second thought, Mathilda flung herself to embrace him.

Last year, Darius' height was right about Mathilda's breasts. He almost die due to asphyxiation every time Mathilda hugged him affectionately.

But for this year, however, Darius was only a tad shorter than the black witch, they stood almost eyes to eyes.

Henceforth, the poor black raven fell victim to Mathilda's voluptuous bosoms. It fell onto the floor with a raged breath, however, it didn't show any hints of pain and looked very satisfied instead.

"Lady Mathilda, one more time, please." Huggin cawed.

"Shut up, you pervy crow! I will send you back to Valhalla!" Mathilda step backward, raising one of her feet on top of Huggin's head.

"No! Anything but that!" The black raven ends his antics and flew to the beam structure above their heads.

"Geez!" Mathilda cursed under her breath.

Darius giggled merrily. 

"It's nice to see both of you getting along just fine. Anyway, where's Muggin?" Darius asked about the white raven to Mathilda.

"Muggin is with the caravan. They should arrive here by the day after tomorrow, maybe less, depends on the weather."

"I see."

"Let's put my fare aside. Are you okay? Do you hurt somewhere? I've heard everything from Maria. I am so sorry, I couldn't aid you and the village."

Darius waved his hands. He sighed dismissively, "I am okay. Let's talk about this while having a dinner. Gosh, I am starving."

Before he could sat on his seat, Mathilda sniffed a trace of Ancient Mana from Darius' body. Intrigued, she halted his step by grabbing his shoulder.

"Boy… Care to explain to your big sister how on earth you can obtain Ancient Mana from this barren land?"

An audibly sounds of gulped saliva resounded from Darius' neck. He smiles wryly while racking his brain to explain what had happened to him in the past week.

Therefore, Darius explained to Mathilda how he obtained a Arcane Crystal that is embedded on his chest. He told her that the crystal suddenly appeared when he was in the brink of death. The crystal allow him to forge Arcane Cells in his brain so he could conjure some magic. 

But of course, Darius didn't tell her about the fact that an unassuming old man gave it to him along with the Magical AI woman. He was still skeptical about the old man's true motive by giving him such overpowered creation. He didn't want to put the people who were close to him in danger.

Fortunately, Mathilda believed him and didn't inquired him any further. She knew for the best how Darius' father, Arthur, was always enigmatic and shrouded with mysteries. Even if somebody told her that Arthur and Selena's son is a dragon, Mathilda wouldn't surprised in one bit since there's nothing impossible for that man.

Later on, Darius speaks about his little adventure in the cave system inside the Westcliff and found a man-made structure which he strongly believed as a Dungeon Gate.

"Dungeon! Am I hearing it right?!" Mathilda cupped his face, her nose flared with a seemingly intoxicated excitement.

"Yes, that you did." Maria quipped, she glared at Mathilda intensely.

"Let's check it out! Right now!" Mathilda tugged his wrist and was about to head out.

"No can do!" Maria quickly halt the witch in black. "Dinner come first!"

Mathilda paused her movements upon seeing Maria's laddle held high in the air. 

'Better not agitate the sleeping dragoness inside her.' Mathilda suggests herself.

She knew for the best how terrifying Maria could become once the red-haired girl was angered. And she would be very angry if someone wasted the meals that she whipped together with all of her heart and love.

Darius and Mathilda decided to check the dungeon together after they finished the sumptuous dinner.

"Dungeon, huh?" Maria rubbed her chin, looking at the ceiling. "That place sounds really fun. Can I come along, I can cook and manage the loots for both of you."

"NO!" Both Darius and Mathilda rejected her plea in unison.

"Hhmmmph…" Maria pouted her cheek.

"Maria, listen." Darius cooed the red-haired young woman. "I know that you are strong and can handle yourself really well. But an uncharted dungeon is very dangerous. The Mana Field might fluctuate and kill you in an instant. According to my observation, you need to be a Rank 1 Mage for the very least."