Lying on the ground as Amon placed his hand over her, Peculiar felt her wound gradually closing.
With her mask removed, her cute smile couldn't be hidden.
However, in the depths of her eyes, one could clearly notice the curiosity lingering there.
'Didn't he have the same gift as mine? How is he using a healing gift? Does he possess two gifts? But that's impossible, right?'
Many thoughts were passing through the little girl's mind even as she focused on healing.
Amon could read the questions on her face.
He could also sense the curiosity in Jamie's eyes.
But Amon wouldn't provide any answers to their questions. They should just keep making guesses.
After seeing that his healing no longer had any effect on Peculiar's injury, Amon withdrew his hand.
Letting out a sigh, he stood up and spoke calmly.
"I'm glad you're alright."
"Thank you for your help," Peculiar quipped, then struggled to stand.
There was still a gaping wound in her stomach, but the blood had stopped pouring, and she could faintly withstand the pain, although it was still excruciating.
"Come, let me carry you." Amon tapped his back, gesturing.
Peculiar's face turned slightly red. "W... would that be alright?"
Jamie also moved to stop him, but Amon just calmly waved his hand.
Nodding, Amon hoisted Peculiar up onto his back.
A warm, fragrant scent of sweat drifted to his nose.
With that, they both walked on their way.
...
After walking for more than a few hours, the sun was already hanging starkly in the middle of the sky, signifying that it was noon.
Amon and Jamie arrived at a normal wooden house with Peculiar leading the way.
It was her house.
Wanting to take her directly to her parents, Amon had asked for directions.
As soon as they reached the house, Jamie stepped forward and knocked lightly.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
There was silence before the rolling of wheels resounded, and the click of the door twisting echoed before it opened.
It opened to reveal a middle-aged man with a messy beard and a haggard expression.
He was seated in a wheelchair, and where his leg should have been... there was nothing.
'Her father,' Amon assumed internally.
Just as he guessed.
At first, the man was confused seeing them, but when his gaze fell on Peculiar on Amon's back, he understood she had led them here.
"Please come in. What brings you to our home?"
Hearing his words, Amon glanced at Jamie, then they stepped inside.
At the same time, the middle-aged man in the wheelchair called out to his wife, who was doing some work behind the house.
In the few seconds that Amon and Jamie took to settle into their seats, a woman finally arrived.
She had the same purple hair as Peculiar, neatly tied into a ponytail with a few loose strands hanging at the side.
On her face were thin trails of sweat, a sign that she had been working for a long while.
Her eyes shifted through the group before she greeted them warmly. "What would you like to have, gentlemen?"
Both she and her husband could sense the air of nobility that the two radiated.
Their eyes couldn't help darting toward Peculiar, whom Amon had calmly placed down.
They hadn't fully realized her injury yet.
"We'd..." Amon gently interrupted, "rather have nothing."
"How can that be? You should at least have some snacks." Harley forced a smile and darted into the kitchen to make something remarkable for them.
Meanwhile, left with the middle-aged man, Light, Amon hesitated briefly before explaining the situation to him.
The man's face remained serene, but at the point where he heard he had almost lost his daughter, his body briefly trembled, and Amon clearly saw it.
Despite his situation, he truly cared for Peculiar and her mother.
After Amon finished explaining, Light fell into deep thought.
Before long, he finally smiled wryly and replied:
"Thank you for saving my daughter."
"It's nothing. She's... my friend." Amon hesitated briefly before stating the last part with uncertainty. After all, he had never truly had a friend.
"I see..." Light thought for a moment before replying, "I'll gift you something. It'll be helpful to you..."
"I don't think that's need..."
Amon was about to explain when he felt his vision twisting and shifting out of existence.
'Wh... what is happening?' he exclaimed internally, feeling as though his mind might be destroyed at any moment.
'Relax, boy. I'm merely helping you...'
Amon heard a relaxing voice enter his mind.
He recognized the familiar voice as that of Peculiar's father.
'What are you trying to do?' Amon questioned internally, not knowing if the man could hear him.
Fortunately, he could.
'Look around you.'
Following his words, Amon shifted his gaze around, only to realize...
His perception had changed drastically, and he had appeared in a unique space.
It felt eerily familiar to something he had seen recently.
Looking below, he noticed the ice-like lake that reflected his new appearance along with the multicolored lights of the scenery and skies.
He was now a... cat?
Amon was dumbfounded. 'Why has my appearance changed?'
'You don't have much time to stay here. Using the spare time left, grow your celestial dragon.'
'Grow my celestial dragon?' Amon was puzzled.
'There are many ways to grow one's celestial dragon, however this is the easiest.'
'What is?' Amon asked curiously.
'Devouring other celestial dragons within the celestial realm.'
'De... devouring?' Amon was stupefied.
He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
He had long since realized that perhaps by some miracle or something else, he had appeared in the celestial realm where he bonded with the primordial dragon.
Previously he was worried about how to grow his primordial dragon.
Now he had received an answer... albeit a cruel one.
To devour other celestial dragons...
'There's not much time,' Light's tired voice echoed silently in his thoughts once more, shaking Amon out of his daze.
Right. He couldn't delay.
He needed to take advantage of this unique opportunity given to him to grow.
Ignoring the human emotions clouding his thoughts, Amon struggled to race on his cat's legs.
At first, he didn't know how to move freely, but knowing there was not much time, Amon had to pick it up hastily.
Picking up the pace, he noticed a few celestial dragons hanging around as though they were discussing.
Without hesitation, he lunged at them with cat-like agility.
Then... swish!
Before the celestial dragon could react, Amon bit down hard on its neck.
Although his frame was small, he could still do some damage.
The celestial dragon in his mouth had a surprisingly nice taste.
It caused hunger to rise from the depths of his being, almost overtaking his emotions.
Understanding that this was the innate emotion of the dragon trying to take control, Amon forcefully shut it down.
The celestial dragon seemed unable to stop him, and after biting repeatedly and scratching at it with his claws, Amon finally claimed the life of the dragon.
It tasted blissful, like the best thing he had ever had.
And Amon felt a mysterious energy flow through every fiber of his being.
Surprisingly, runes materialized in his line of sight.
[Your Dragon grows stronger...]