10- After a battle

Ayi found herself in quite a different situation now.

It was actually the same situation, but with just a whole different perspective. It was a deep thought for which she did not care the least bit, all she knew is things were different.

She was not in a dream. This was not a dream, the stinging pain on her cheek was a quite unfortunate and pulsing reminder that this was not a dream. The city guard trying his best to maintain his composure as an authority figure while giving them a speech about the importance of adequate registration of poty-trained mounts? That, that she could believe to be part of some sort of knocked-out allucination.

This was definitely real, her cute little Zoey was real, Feugan was real, the entire kingdom was real. All an impossible thing to believe, a huge thing to happen to a protagonist only in light novels, mangas and animes. But, first things first.

Zoey was real!! The overwhelmingly cute wolfkin maid was real! Was she her… adoptive daughter?! This particular point was very important to Ayi at this moment. It was so very important that the troubled city guard stood for some time wondering if his recommendations and advices were just lost to this particular adventurer. He kept offering advice to the temporarily “AFK” adventurer while she pondered on the finer points of isekai/reborn parenthood/guardianship. It was a whole philosophical trip for which Ayi was not prepared to undertake in the least.

The guard stood there some good time until Zoey herself took the reins of the conversation, Thanking the guard for his services and excusing her mistress during her “deep meditation time”, while promptly making a report on the would-be-robbers that attacked them.

With the guard long gone now, Ayi still trying to wrap her own mind about what was going on, now reviewing her whole morning to this point. Trying to make a list of the most important things that she might have missed, warnings, insightful thoughts that might have popped into her mind while still in her groggy state of self-doubt thinking all was but a dream, maybe there were signs that she might have disregarded. But most important. Zoey was real.

At some point during her inner tribulations about life, reality and uncompromising cuteness, Ayi just did a metaphorical shove-off-the-desk to all her concerns to this point and focused on the cute wolfkin maid that she wrapped with her arms. Which in return yelped in surprise first and then slowly returned the warm embrace.

It was during this time that she noticed that Feugan was close, all to close actually, she noticed this not-so-subtle approach because she suddenly felt his breathing on her shoulder. When she looked to the imposing mount she realized that feugan was sort of looking to the side while having his head down at her shoulder level. The imposing red dragon kinda resembled… a cat asking for some pettings?...

“I have gallantly rescued you”

Ayi’s eyes went wide at this, did she just -hear- Feugan?!, but wait a minute he didn’t move his mout at all! So did Ayi just imagine that just now or did-- Zoey then gave a chuckle that caught Ayi’s attention due to the little girls response, which seemed a little tired as well as a tad strained somehow.

“Yes, Feugan. You have rescued us today. Thank you very much.”

At this particular moment, Ayi was again wondering if she was within a dream, maybe the punch actually knocked her out? Or could have just shaken her too much and she was hearing things?

“I am but an honorable, mighty warrio–”

“Yes, you are lightning and death…” said the little wolfkin with a defeated and slightly tired tone, letting go of her mistress embrace in order to turn torward Feugan, stroking the Dragon’s neck, making him in turn put on airs of graceful acceptance of the praise (which he obviously asked for).

Ayi was already a confused mess before any such interaction like this transpired, her head was now just frozen in a complete overload of information, possibilities, questions.

“D-did Feugan just talk?!”

“Not really-“

“Yes, to let you know I have arrived, you are safe now–”

Zoey then started scratching on a particular spot on Feugan’s neck, making him trail off as he seemed to stretch his neck and slightly close his eyes as the little wolfkin girl started scratching 2 parts of the long scaled dragon’s neck. 

What is this? Is he a cat now?!

The little wolfkin girl gave a tired sigh and then gave a weary smile at Ayi.

“He is your spiritbound Dragon, so the two of you can communicate directly by your link without the need to talk”.

Ayi nodded knowingly, arms in front of her chest, her chin resting on her hand in a deep thoughtful expression with a marked resemblance to a certain famous sculpture.

“WHAT?!¿” 

This was just like in the game!! Feugan was her unique mount she worked hard to train, level and equip, it was part of the story that they were linked. In the grand scheme of things (which made no sense right now to be honest), it would make sense that if Feugan was here with her, they would be soulbound. If things suddenly started going onto such fantasy direction it would just make the right amount of sense? Gosh was this a philosophical question? Was this a fantasy question? Was this even a question? At this point she felt like it made much more sense to accept things as they were pesented to her and just try to move on from there. She pinched her cheek again, commiting the mistake of doing it so on the side of her face where she had earlier showed a fist who is the boss.

“W-wait! But then how come you can hear him too?!”

As the little girl gave a troubled smile back at the question, with her hand busy scratching at the Dragon (that seemed to be puffing full pride each time they mentioned him).

“I cant -hear- him. I can just understand his intentions and feelings. From that it is only a matter of figuring out what he wants”

That got Ayi’s attention, she then remembered that Zoey was supposed to be proficient with beastmaster skills. She just never really paid much attention to this since she focused mostly on how cute she was, and dresses… LOTS of cute frilly dresses. Anyway, yeah... It made a lot more of sense that Zoey could “understand” Feugan then… But just what was going on right now? Ayi gave Zoey a meaningful confused look and then pointed to Feugan, who was still fully engrossed on the little girl’s attentions.

The little wolfgirls eyes seemed to glaze over as she gave a somewhat tired expression.

“Feugan, he…” the little girl took a deep breath and then said in a too monotonous voice “Feugan is a brave and strong warior who has defended us from evil and injustice”.

Ayi couldn’t help to notice Feugan puffed his chest out at such a proclamation… Was Feugan, was he asking for praise? Well it was quite obvious he was… Just… just so many things going on at the same time. So just roll with it? Weirdly enough, an overly prideful dragon was fairly normal when put side to side to everything that had transpired on this day.

And so, the blonde catgirl adventurer and her wolfkin adoptive daughter spent the rest of their morning petting and praising their -brave and valiant- Dragon companion.