The Glorious Evolution

Drayven’s ashen scarlet wings opened above the garden, catching the air as his girlfriend’s startled protest followed them off the balcony.

Whoosh!

A powerful beat sent a gust through the nearest lounges... Fabric screens flapped against their frames, and a nobleman interrupted his conversation to glare after them.

Drayven glared back, and the baron lowered his head, not daring to offend a noble from the Scarlet Dracara Kingdom.

Drayven angled his wings and glided toward the lower walkway... the guests and attendants moved aside to clear his landing while irritated remarks followed; though no one stepped forward to confront him.

They knew why Dracara Trueborns acted so brazenly across the Expanse... their kingdom held sway over the Eighth Sky Province and ranked among the twenty most powerful forces in the Boundless Expanse.

Few guests would risk a confrontation with someone from such a background over poor manners.

So, if his manners required correction, their host could handle it.

...

At the table near the garden entrance, Levi finished introducing himself and Jasmine to Viscount Rusk.

The Viscount was a small Moon-Hare Trueborn with four arms and a face resembling a rabbit’s.

He had smooth, jade-green skin, long ears curved like crescents, and a white beard divided into two neat braids. A dark plum coat fitted his slender body, with a separate sleeve for each arm.

One upper hand welcomed Levi and Jasmine to the table while the smaller hands below carefully closed a vial’s case. He spoke slowly and calmly, giving them time to settle before discussing the trade.

Fortunately, Melisande’s message spared Levi another round of explaining what he needed.

Rusk presented the nectar’s preservation record, then placed a sealed vial inside the table’s examination enclosure.

Levi checked the quantity and preparation details.

Unrefined Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar... enough for his formula.

’Finally.’

Four months of searching... and the nectar was finally in front of him. Levi resisted the urge to reach for the vial before they even agreed on a price.

”I looked through your list after Melisande contacted me,” Rusk said. ”The Ancient Scarlet Dragon Scale interests me.”

”You’d exchange the nectar for it?”

”Provided its condition matches the description.”

”That’s fair.”

Levi summoned the scale’s case and placed it beside the enclosure... Rusk moved his vial to one side, leaving enough room for Levi to open it.

Just as he was about to do so, his Harmonic Spine registered the rush of wings over the garden, followed by an annoyed voice from a nearby lounge.

Then, something large landed on the walkway and approached their table.

Levi let out an exhale, hoping it was merely another guest passing by... but then, his Harmonic Spine traced the backward-sweeping horns, the long tail, and the wings folding against a broad back.

’Drayven... the hell is he doing here?’

Of all the people who could interrupt him now...

The Scarlet Dracara approached with a woman beside him, his heavy steps leaving little doubt about which table he intended to visit.

Jasmine turned toward the newcomer... a dimensional message appeared before Levi.

’Isn’t he the dragon you defeated in your game?’

’Unfortunately, yes... be cool; he can’t find out about my Celestial’s identity.’

’Oki.’

Levi opened the case anyway, even when he already smelled trouble brewing.

Rusk leaned close enough to examine the exposed scale, but before he could ask his first question, Drayven stepped into the space beside the table.

”Stop right there.”

The Viscount looked up.

Drayven barely acknowledged him even when the Viscount outranked him... his eyes fixed on the scale, following its breathtaking curved surface all the way to the intact root.

He stopped just short of the case, careful to keep his claws away from its contents... even when he had no manners and acted like a hooligan, he knew better not to mess up with the Cauldron-Fey gathering’s rules.

”Is this still yours?” He asked Levi, his voice stern and rugged.

”We’re discussing an exchange,” Rusk answered.

”I asked him.”

The words came bluntly, without the slightest attempt to soften the interruption.

Levi rested one hand beside the open case.

”Yes. It’s mine.”

”That scale comes from the age of my Ancestor... It means something to my people.”

Drayven’s voice grew firmer as he glanced toward the examination enclosure. ”I won’t stand here and watch someone buy it just to grind it into an ingredient.”

Levi understood why the scale mattered to Drayven, but he couldn’t care less... he came here for the nectar and wasn’t leaving without it.

Though, at the same time, he knew it was foolish to offend him carelessly... after all, he wasn’t fighting him in the Nocturnal Ring; this was the Boundless Expanse, and background authority mattered a great deal.

Worse... Dark Sun’s businesses operated in the Eighth Sky Province, where the Dracara Kingdom held enormous influence. His company was only beginning to grow, and he had enough enemies without adding another powerful background to the list.

Fortunately, Drayven wanted the scale... who supplied him with it mattered much less.

Levi didn’t hesitate to pass the hot potato to Viscount Rusk.

”All I need is the Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar,” Levi replied politely. ”If you can provide it right now, in the same quantity and condition, I’m willing to exchange the scale with you.”

Drayven glanced at the vial beside Rusk.

”What would you take for it?”

The Viscount regarded him without answering at once... apparently, the dragon now considered him worth speaking to.

Drayven opened his collection and shared the display.

”Choose anything.”

Levi examined the entries with some interest. An intact Amphisbaena Nerve Knot, a Captive-Tide Beryl, a preserved Serra Sailheart... judging by the submitted records, Drayven brought a respectable collection.

He even brought a whole Leviathan’s heart, its appraisal placing it above everything else on the list.

Drayven enlarged its details.

”Even this.”

’He really wants that scale.’

Rusk checked the heart, then read through the remaining entries before closing the display.

”Your materials are valuable, but not to me... I’m researching a perfect evolutionary formula that requires an Ancient Scarlet Dragon Scale.”

Drayven’s expression turned cold, realizing that it wasn’t going to be easy to convince him to trade the nectar... Evolutionary formula research took priority over anything else, especially if the research was one’s own.

”Take the heart and another material.” He negotiated, offering much more than the nectar’s worth.

The offer surprised Levi... Drayven was willing to suffer a loss to preserve the relic... if he wasn’t in such need of the nectar, he would have taken advantage of his desperation and stripped him clean.

But he refrained from taking part in this mess... sadly for Drayven, the Viscount came here with a particular need, too.

”Not interested... neither will help me complete my research,” Rusk replied, his tone stern.

”You can find another scale.”

”Where?”

Drayven couldn’t give him an answer.

An intact remnant from an extinct Ancient Dragon was incredibly rare... Rusk had just as much reason to seize the opportunity.

His girlfriend moved closer.

”Dray... perhaps there’s something else he needs outside of the...”

Before she could finish, Viscount Rusk spoke calmly. ”I’ve explained what I need... Baron Dark Sun and I were discussing it before you interrupted.”

Picking up on his tone, Drayven realized that his previous disrespect might have been the reason Rusk was so adamant about letting him have his way.

”Is that what this is about? You’re offended?” He sneered.

”Your manners haven’t helped... however, even an apology wouldn’t change my formula.”

Drayven clicked his tongue in irritation and turned back to Levi... he understood that if Viscount Rust wasn’t moved or scared of him, then his house was backed by a powerful Patron... who would ensure his house’s safety if he tried to do anything foolish.

Meanwhile... the scale still belonged to Levi, who was a mere Baron... perhaps he was wasting his time with the wrong person.

A quick search brought up Dark Sun Beast Trading... a young company in the Eighth Sky Province, with no connection to a powerful house that he could find.

Just an unknown Baron trying to establish himself.

”Your business operates in the Eighth Sky?” Drayven asked with a small grin.

’So much for staying out of it.’ Levi sighed inwardly, not fond of his grin.