Shake It Up!
Its upper body was that of a white eagle, with a fierce face and powerful wings.
Its lower body combined an eagle's front talons with a lion's hind legs—a monstrous form.
It was a griffin, the beast that summoned storms with its wingbeats.
Legends spoke of its savage, irritable temperament: it tore apart massive monsters for food, yet occasionally saved lost travelers in the desert. A quasi-boss monster of the sands.
Kraaak!
Kraaaak!
The griffins arrived atop the tent in an instant, belting out roars like thunderclaps across the sky.
Then, casting shadows as they circled overhead, the three griffins descended one by one with a sharp whoosh slicing through the air.
“Whoa! They're huge! So cool!”
Unlike Heungmi, who gawked with sparkling eyes and raised hands, Baekya had already burrowed into Rune's robe.
Peeking out only its head, it blinked at Heungmi and the griffins.
We're riding those?
The griffins were enormous, their muscles rippling with power.
Larger than a carriage, they could easily carry two or three passengers on their backs.
Rune glanced at Paralium, where Jed resided.
Jed's got a fear of heights, right?
He couldn't bring up the black market here, so Rune shot a pointed look at the Dullahan climbing atop the massive griffin.
—Hoo, huu. Ha. Hwaa, haa! Ehem. Uhehe! Aigoo, not scary at all~
...That guy's gonna be okay, right?
Jed's self-hypnosis was obvious in his tense tone, but a spark of determination shone through.
The group tacitly agreed: two per griffin. They headed forward.
As Rune tucked Baekya into his arms and moved toward one with Heungmi—
“Rune. Ride with me.”
“?”
Perdikion, his brow perpetually furrowed, jerked his chin toward Rand.
Aha.
If Heungmi rode with Rune, the leftovers would be Dullahan and Rand.
The Dullahan's bulk already cramped things.
But the real issue was Jed's chatter.
Flying with that nonstop noise wouldn't be pleasant for Perdikion.
And riding with Rand? Even less appealing. So Rune was the only option left.
That leaves Heungmi with Rand, then.
Rune glanced at Rand, who lazily lowered his eyes and murmured.
“Doesn't matter to me. I like animals, anyway.”
“Me too! Take good care of me!”
Heungmi beamed and hopped toward Rand's griffin.
Rand bent at the waist, scooping her up with both hands and settling her in front.
His form looks solid. Won't drop her.
Heungmi's reflexes were sharp, but she'd never even ridden a horse—griffins worried him.
Still, Rand stroked the griffin's cheek expertly, earning a pleased rumble.
It inspired a bit of trust.
Come to think of it, Rand's their master tamer. He's probably the safest pilot here.
As if reading Rune's gaze, Rand spoke up.
“Don't trust me, huh?”
His words dripped laziness and fatigue, but his balanced perch screamed seasoned skill.
Worst case, Rune could summon Heungmi back in a flash.
“Should be fine. Bro, ride with me.”
“Good.”
Perdikion nodded and climbed aboard first.
Then Rand pulled a huge hunk of meat from his belt pouch and tossed it out.
“Feed 'em this.”
Whoosh!
Dullahan and Perdikion each caught one.
Demonstrating, Rand dangled his near the griffin's beak, shaking it lightly.
Thump!
Chomp chomp! Slurp! Gulp.
The griffin snapped it up, tossed its head a few times, and savored the meat.
“Aww, so cute. Good griffin, good.”
Heungmi reached out to pet its head. It rumbled happily, throat vibrating.
Clank.
Dullahan offered his, but the griffin just rolled its eyes, refusing.
Jed, bursting with advice, started coaching Dullahan.
—Aigoo, you silent knight. Do it like this—waft the meat's scent, tempt it gently! No, like a flower's sway, tender as a lady's touch! That's it! Shake it all soft and wavy! Never fished before?
After a few tries, the griffin—wary of the death knight's aura—finally took the meat.
—Yes! Kyaa. Feels just like landing a lunker in the lake! Miss that hand-tremble!
Jed seemed more thrilled than Dullahan.
Only Perdikion remained.
He thrust out his massive monster-meat chunk.
Grrrng!
No dice—the griffin's reaction was poor.
Perdikion's mood soured; he scowled, then tried again.
The griffin whipped its head away.
“Tch.”
Seeing Perdikion's glare sharpen, Rune spoke as if he'd expected it.
“Bro, remember when you gave Baekya that honey-glazed biscuit?”
“...Yeah.”
Perdikion recalled his immature days, feeding tiny Baekya.
A bit embarrassed, he eyed the meat and griffin, clearing his throat.
“Feels about the same.”
His movements softened as he offered it again.
The griffin, head still turned, slyly rolled its eyes toward the meat.
Gurgle. Grrrng.
That's it. It's not just willpower. Doing great.
Combat or people—lose your cool, and you're done.
Rune propped his elbow, moving agonizingly slow to keep his big brother patient.
Tease it near the beak, then pull back. Repeat.
The griffin's eyes followed, rolling hungrily.
Gulp!
Rune felt the swallow ripple through its body.
Perdikion caught on, taking over with circling motions.
The griffin twitched despite feigning disinterest.
Finally, it couldn't resist—beak wide.
Snap!
Chomp chomp! Slurp slurp!
“Good. Well done!”
Grrrng!
Perdikion praised it, petting its head like past grudges were forgotten.
The griffin ignored him, focused on gulping down the rest.
“Alright. Let's go.”
With all three griffins fed, Rand called out.
Whoosh!
One flap shot them a hundred meters straight up.
Fast.
The rare flight cleared Rune's head.
First time this high since reincarnation—he grinned naturally.
—Uwowow! Save Jed!
A faint scream faded into the wind.
Shooting forward, Rune surveyed the desert below.
Giant worms writhed here and there; cactus monsters dotted the sands.
Life clinging in this barren waste—water scarce, crops impossible—stirred something profound.
So this is the desert.
No time to sightsee during the black market visit.
Drought-dry, yet grand in nature's beauty. Stories buried beneath the dunes.
A new haven for desert-adapted monsters.
Right—used to be a lush forest.
Rune eyed Rand ahead.
Brown dragon. Earth dragon, maybe.
Dragon in name, worm in essence.
Much like Rand now.
A face that once boasted eloquence and looks, now cynical, drawling.
Languid gestures reeked of negativity.
“Hey! I see a huge tree and forest!”
Heungmi pointed—a forest shrouded in a translucent magic barrier.
The griffin's back muscles bulged; wings thrashed wildly.
Screee!
Rand's griffin banked into a diagonal descent.
Normal humans would've clutched hearts—or worse.
Rune instinctively lowered his head, bracing.
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
They looped to a hover just twenty meters up.
Unlike the dive, it descended gently.
Thud!
All three touched down.
The jolt hit, but their stances held firm.
“We walk from here.”
Despite near-sonic speeds moments ago, Rand's voice yawned with boredom.
Once dismounted, Rand fed each griffin another hunk.
Riiip! Riiiip!
Chomp! Chomp chomp. Gulp.
Griffin talons clutched the meat; beaks tore in ravenously.
Done, they looped skyward without a backward glance.
Clank! Clank clank!
Surprisingly, Dullahan trailed a few steps, eyeing them wistfully.
Liked the griffin flight more than expected.
Wild and rough—suited the death knight.
Meanwhile, Heungmi hopped down with Rand's help.
“Ow! Ground's still shaking.”
“Normal after flying. It'll pass. Drink something?”
“Hmm. I'll have... this.”
Heungmi pulled a honeyed fruit tea from her pouch.
Iced and sealed in clear glass, it sparkled tangerine in her hands.
“Want some, Rand?”
“...”
Arms crossed, Rand stared silently. Heungmi giggled and thrust it forward.
“Here!”
“...No.”
Quiet refusal; Heungmi pouted but headed to Rune.
“Rune! Perdikion! Have some.”
“Thanks.”
“Appreciate it.”
Rune and Perdikion took the bottles, gulping thirstily.
The wind had left them parched mid-flight.
Then, an elf soldier in light armor galloped up on horseback.
His stern face twisted into confusion as he neared.
The group was... odd.
Childlike kids, a bird, a hulking black-armored man, and one elf—Rand.