The wyvern killer

'How can such a thing be possible with mana, or was it something entirely different?' Orion thought. He didn't know, but he was sure going to find out. Determined not to live in ignorance, he vowed to unravel the secrets that clung to the threads of reality, for the sake of himself and maybe for many others as well.

After his bath, he gracefully employed light magic to heal severe burns before peacefully drifting into sleep. Although not as potent as his mastery in other elements, the soothing effect allowed him to enjoy a restful nap, succumbing to the embrace of slumber as exhaustion finally caught up with him.

While Orion immersed himself in well-deserved rest, the echoes of his deeds reverberated across the Empire like wildfire. His name, now synonymous with prowess and mystery, whispered through the corridors of every guild, noble house, and gathering place. He became a legend overnight, the man who killed the wyvern—the wyvern killer—a solitary figure who had vanquished a supposedly most terrifying foe of this era with unparalleled skill.

Every mage, every bounty hunter, and adventurer hungered for the lucrative reward tied to his name, the reward placed by thrones themselves; transforming Orion into the most sought-after individual in the Empire. His elusive identity became the subject of fervent discussions, each faction yearning for clues to find him, for the key to claim the bounty amidst the tumultuous times.

Notably, even one of the Twelve Thrones, Teress Silver, with her unmatched prowess, had joined the pursuit. The reasons may differ, but the conjecture all the same. All raced to decipher the enigma that was Orion.

Yet, even the Thrones weren't the mightiest contenders in this relentless hunt. Deep within the heart of the Empire, a woman of divine grace sat upon an opulent throne. Her deep brown hair cascaded around her like a river of shadows, and her piercing light gray eyes held an otherworldly wisdom.

Cloaked in a resplendent white dress, she embodied the very essence of ethereal beauty. This woman, a slumbering goddess who had foreseen Orion's arrival, contemplated his deeds with an air of serene authority. While the Empire pulsated with the fervor of the pursuit, the enigmatic woman observed with a gaze that transcended time itself.

But unlike the darkness of her prior residence, this chamber was bathed in sunlight, streaming through multiple arched windows. The unsettling gray fog that once clung to the air around her had dissipated, leaving behind an atmosphere of ethereal tranquility. Seated regally, the woman reclined in her opulent chair. In her hands, she cradled a scroll that unfolded the mesmerizing spectacle—the clash between the masked man and the fiery Wyvern, the same one thrones had watched.

As the battle unfolded on the parchment, each stroke capturing the essence of magic, fury, and frost, the woman's gaze remained unwavering. The crescendo of the struggle played out, culminating in the Wyvern's demise, dissolving into icy fragments. In that climactic moment, the scroll portrayed the lone figure of the masked man standing triumphantly over the frozen remnants of the once-menacing creature.

A subtle, chilling smile curled upon the woman's lips. Her gaze, sharp as the blade of a winter wind, fixated on the enigmatic mask that veiled the man's countenance, the same she had seen in her vision. In the hushed chamber, where sunlight danced and shadows retreated, laden with both anticipation and a hint of icy resolve, a single word escaped her lips.

"Found you."

Orion woke up from his sleep. Ignorant of the uproar he had caused, he examined the condition of his body first. Light magic could help him for quick recovery, but he wasn't good enough to completely heal himself, and going to another light mage would only quarter attention and suspicion. Not to mention all the healing facilities are strictly managed by the priests of the Sun Temple themselves.

So he had no other option but to rest and recover naturally. He had spent the rest of the day in rest, ordering his meals to his room and didn't leave the room at all. The whole day of sleep and a few potent medicines he had taken from the crypt had done their work, and he was feeling a lot better now. While he still wasn't back to his best, he had recovered well enough.

So after taking a hot bath again and feeling refreshed, he went down to grab himself breakfast. Everyone separated to give him a way when they saw him walk down the stairs. The owner himself came to lead him to the dining table. 'There sure are perks for acting as a noble,' Orion thought as he ordered his breakfast and waited.

While waiting, he observed that there was very intense chatting going on around him. Hearing more intently, he found out that everyone was discussing the same thing. Something about the legends, about a man killing the great wyvern, about the wyvern killer.

Hearing whispers about his own ordeal didn't bring any joy to Orion. He thought of it as nothing more than his lack of knowledge about the aftermath. So he called the waitress, who was standing nearby, and asked about what's all the fuss was about.

"Your excellency doesn't know?" She replied with surprised expressions.

Orion didn't mind her and asked again, "Just speak of what happened."

Hearing his cold tone, the waitress got scared that she had somehow offended this noble man and hurriedly replied, "as... as you wish, my lord."

"On the day before yesterday, the wyvern had invaded the city in its west. It had destroyed the whole west zone of Ellsmere and was ready to destroy more," she explained.

"It would have continued to do so if some unknown masked mage hadn't killed it. But after killing the wyvern, the mage disappeared again. A few hours after he left, the royal knights had arrived on the scene, but the wyvern was already dead. So they began to investigate the situation."

"The Brown Throne himself had arrived on vigil and was here for half a day. The next day, though, there was an announcement in the city. Stating that the mage's name was Scar and he was the very conspirator behind the whole invasion. That he was the one who had led the wyvern inside the city in the first place."

"Hence declaring him the criminal. They call him 'the wyvren killer' now, declaring him as the 3rd most wanted criminal in terms of reward with a bounty over 1 million gold coins. Many mages from mercenaries guilds and noble families are now actively hunting for him."

"But not everyone thinks it's true. Many people think that he had tried to save people till the very end and those royal knights just want a person to blame for their incompetence, few hunter even claimed that they were saved by him in forest, but city guards threatened them away." She continued and soon began to rumble others' opinions, speaking about the rumors that she heard in the bars, but stopped instantly when she realized who she was talking to, and immediately beginning to apologize.

"Mercy, your grace, I didn't mean to--" but shut her mouth again when Orion raised a hand for her to silence.

Without any change of expression, Orion threw her a coin of gold and said, "You can go now."

She bowed again and left in haste. Uncaring of her, Orion began to make out the ongoing situation, it was quite unexpected for him. To become a wanted criminal on the very day he stepped into the human region.

"What a mess," he mused.