Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1503 - 517: Search and Divination

"Huh?"

Upon reaching the cavern's floor, Rein’s vision was met with a striking sight. Beyond the expected expanse of swirling, dark red lava, he noticed several metallic-hued ores embedded within the volcanic walls.

These were clearly heat-resistant raw ores; any common stone would have been reduced to liquid by the intense heat of the lava long ago.

Furthermore, Rein observed numerous creatures, several meters in length, navigating the molten lake. They possessed crocodile-like bodies of a deep crimson shade, dragon-like features, and two fan-shaped fins protruding from their backs as they crawled through the magma.

"What kind of beasts are these? Looking at their traits, do they possess a Red Dragon or perhaps some other Red Dragon Bloodline?"

"However, those dual dorsal fins seem to suggest an aquatic ancestor. It makes sense, considering this is an underwater volcano."

"With those sail-like fish fins and their preference for magma, I’ll call them Molten Double-Sailed Dragons for now," Rein noted after a careful look.

The sudden arrival of Rein, an unknown intruder, caught the attention of several Molten Double-Sailed Dragons. Their eyes shimmered with hunger as they lunged toward him, clearly marking him as their next meal.

"Swoosh!"

The Hardened Essence Gold gripped in Rein’s hand shifted into a sharp thrusting sword. With a swift motion, he impaled the skull of a charging Molten Double-Sailed Dragon, pinning the beast to the spot.

Even though he killed the creature instantly, Rein noted the significant resistance and toughness of its hide during the strike. The post-mortem muscle spasms were far more powerful than those of typical predatory species.

"Impressive power—most likely a Dragon Descendant."

Rein had suspected as much the moment he saw their draconic heads. Dragons were notorious for their mating habits, capable of siring offspring with almost any species due to their overwhelmingly dominant genetics.

Despite the swift death of their kin, the remaining Molten Double-Sailed Dragons showed no fear, continuing their relentless assault on Rein.

"If they truly are Dragon Descendants, this becomes much easier."

Rein allowed a faint trace of his dragon bloodline aura to leak out. Instantly, the creatures that had been eager to feast on him felt the bloodline suppression. They scattered in a panic, diving back into the safety of the lava.

Choosing not to give chase, Rein located a small alcove in a section of the wall away from the lava and quickly ascended. He needed to bring Menia down immediately.

Reaching Menia’s side, Rein called out softly, "Prince Menia?"

There was no response, even after several attempts to wake her.

After a moment of deliberation, Rein spoke, "Prince Menia, I must move you to the molten lava lake below."

Rein leaned down and carefully lifted Menia into his arms. The moment he made contact, he noticed how warm and soft her body felt, making her quite comfortable to carry.

The red wizard robe she wore appeared to be a high-tier witch artifact. It had automatically adjusted during her earlier transformation and remained perfectly intact, feeling as smooth as silk against the skin while clinging to her graceful silhouette.

As Rein held her gently, Menia let out a soft, low moan. Her head slumped naturally beneath Rein’s chin, and the fragrance of a mature woman filled his senses.

Her lithe frame pressed against him; her chest was pushed forward while her curved hips settled against his lower abdomen.

For Rein, who had practiced abstinence for quite some time, such proximity inevitably sparked stray, wandering thoughts.

As he walked, Rein found his gaze drifting down toward Menia.

One glance turned into several; he was captivated by her beauty and the sense of familiarity he felt. He felt a surge of pity for her and a sudden, fleeting desire to kiss her.

During their previous soul-blending experience, Rein had solved a mystery: why Prince Menia often looked at him with such a strange light in her eyes.

He also understood why she had warned him so sternly against utilizing the Multi-Headed Dragon transformation.

Back in her youth at the Imperial Royal Academy, Menia had met a young man. Though he lacked royal blood, he possessed the prestigious Red Dragon Bloodline. He was a disciplined and brilliant talent, and before long, the two had fallen deeply in love.

However, on the eve of their graduation, the young man’s intense training led to a true awakening—his bloodline was not that of a Red Dragon, but the far rarer and more specialized Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline.

Crucially, according to the secret archives of the Dragan Empire, Multi-Headed Dragons were considered aberrations—vile, foreign dragons.

The tragic conclusion of their relationship was easy to surmise.

Rein hadn’t seen every detail of her past, but he had gathered the essential truth.

It was this traumatic heartbreak that had kept Menia single all these years. Seeing Rein transform into a Two-headed Dragon in the Ferdinand Forest had sent her into a trance-like state, leading her to demand his silence on the matter.

Thus, Rein’s look toward Menia was now tinged with genuine compassion.

"A woman hailed as the Empire’s Valkyrie, always projecting an image of majestic strength—who could have guessed the agony she hides within?"

Because their consciousnesses had merged to a degree, Rein felt a natural, deep-seated bond with Menia, a feeling that was likely mutual.

Combined with the intoxicating beauty in his arms, Rein couldn't help but harbor some provocative ideas.

With these distracting thoughts on his mind, Rein leaped back into the pit, descending toward the molten lava lake. He quickly reached the spot he had scouted, preparing to set Menia down gently.