A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 123: Drexel’s Therian Form
Chapter 123: Drexel’s Therian Form

After dinner, the three of them went their separate ways.

Scion escorted Arix back to her bedroom before hurrying off to handle legion affairs.

After watching him leave, Arix lounged leisurely on her bed, flipping through her mecha textbook while also watching a live stream about the Empire’s mechas.

”The mecha system includes inner and outer core systems, and ten peripheral systems. Combined, these are referred to as ’mecha’.

There were systems for energy transmission, for skeletal, for the plugin, for the life support system...

As the live stream detailed each part, Arix turned to the corresponding page in her textbook. The live commentary made the material much easier to grasp.

By the time the live stream was wrapping up, it was past 10 PM. Feeling sleepy, Arix yawned, sent ten virtual castle gifts to the streamer as usual, and exited the live stream.

Remembering the bloodline test scheduled for early the next morning, Arix set her textbook aside, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

Testing the bloodline is the most significant event for any clan in the Empire, so the chosen location is usually a special place for them.

Take the Tiger clan, for instance; they conduct their bloodline tests in their clan’s Holy Temple.

Today was their bloodline testing day. Many members of the Tiger clan have already gathered at the Holy Temple with their little ones.

Aside from a few locals, most have journeyed from other planets just for this occasion.

Since it wasn’t 9 AM yet, the main gate of the Holy Temple remained closed. The group had to wait outside, killing time by chatting about the children in their arms.

They debated whose child seemed to have high bloodline purity and whose seemed lower.

In the midst of these discussions, Scion arrived carrying Arix. The two instantly drew everyone’s attention.

”Who is that child in Scion’s arms? Just one look and you can tell the bloodline is very pure,” someone remarked.

”I don’t know, but seeing the golden mark on her forehead, her bloodline is certainly not low. The first Tiger Lord had a mark like that,” another added.

”Now that you mention it, this little one does resemble the first Tiger Lord,” someone else noted.

Arix, unable to understand their words, sensed they were probably praising her. Feeling pleased, she straightened up and put on a calm, aloof expression, trying her best to sit elegantly in Scion’s arms. After all, she couldn’t embarrass the admiral.

Unbeknownst to Arix, her attempt at dignity only made her look more adorable. People found her not just beautiful but also incredibly cute.

Trying to act aloof while sneaking glances at everyone, her contrast was too charming to resist.

Friendly chuckles filled the air, and even Scion’s lips curved into a slight smile.

Out of everyone, only Arix believed she looked cool. Drexel, standing behind Scion, silently facepalmed, thinking his sister’s intelligence had reverted along with her age.

Luckily, their timing was spot on. As Scion reached the Holy Temple entrance, the clock struck 9 AM.

The main gate opened, and everyone’s focus shifted from teasing Arix to the temple.

The Holy Temple is an enormous hall, ending with a grand tiger statue that gazes down sternly at everyone gathered.

Right before the statue stands a circular platform, half a meter high, placed in the center.

A long carpet runs from this platform, descending three steps, and stretches all the way to the entrance.

Lamps line the walls, casting a soft, ever-burning glow.

As Arix looked closer, she saw the walls were densely inscribed with the names of Tiger clan members. Those names must belong to the ancestors of the Tiger clan, she thought, feeling a sense of awe.

”You’ll take the bloodline test on that platform,” Scion said, holding Arix at the edge of the carpet and pointing to the platform.

Arix glanced over curiously; she had noticed it earlier but wondered what made it special.

’Will the test be like in fantasies, where a device shows bloodline purity when touched? Or maybe a crystal ball that reveals purity with a drop of blood? Surely, it couldn’t be as simple as just standing there, right?’

While Arix was still guessing, Krylak, the clan leader, entered with four elders.

They walked down the carpet to the platform and turned to face the gathered clan members.

Krylak scanned the crowd before speaking, ”The bloodline purity test is about to begin. Place the untested cubs on the carpet in the center.”

Following the clan leader’s instructions, parents began to place their fluffy cubs on the central carpet in an orderly fashion. When all the little cubs were lined up adorably, only Drexel remained standing, looking mortified and refusing to move.

Arix, noticing Drexel’s absence, turned to look for him and quickly spotted him trying to hide behind Scion.

”Pfft,” Arix couldn’t help but giggle.

Looking at the fluffy cubs in front and behind her, she understood Drexel’s reluctance—he was the only big ’cub’ among them.

But as a caring sister, she couldn’t leave him behind.

Without hesitation, Arix flew out of the line, flapping her wings, and grabbed Drexel’s sleeve, dragging him to the end of the line of fluffy cubs.

At first, the clan members were puzzled, wondering what this little cub was up to. When they saw Arix dragging Drexel to the end of the fluffy line, they finally understood what was going on.

The hall was filled with amused chuckles, making even the sternest elders crack a smile. Arix’s antics, paired with Drexel’s sheepish compliance, brought a light-hearted moment to the serious occasion.

”Mom, look, there’s a big cub!” a one-year-old exclaimed in a cute, surprised voice, pointing at Drexel. He had already been tested for bloodline purity last year.

”Ahem, sweetie, he is just testing his bloodline a bit later than usual. We shouldn’t laugh at him,” said a Tiger clan mom who had been chuckling earlier. She smiled apologetically at Drexel and gently explained to her little one.

”Oh, then he is late, huh? Did he not listen to his mom?” The little cub assumed Drexel was disobedient and immediately looked at him with disdain.

”Ahem.” The mom glanced awkwardly at Drexel. Then she quickly covered her little cub’s mouth and retreated to the back of the crowd, feeling embarrassed.

Drexel was left speechless. ’No matter what I’ve done before, I deserved more than being mocked by a one-year-old.’

Having given up arguing with the kid completely, Drexel stood stiffly at the back of the fluffy line. Only his body was standing there; his soul had already left, mortified beyond words.