Elaris and Sylvaine walked into the grove.
Zephyron was already there—resting in the clearing, wings folded, posture calm but alert.
Its bright green eyes flicked toward them briefly, then back to the trees.
Not far from its side, Velmara stood hunched against a tree.
One hand braced on the bark.
The other pressed tightly against her stomach.
Her expression was pale, strained—and she was still dry heaving.
Elaris raised her brow, then smirked.
"Big sister Velmara… how do you do?"
Velmara's eyes twitched.
Her head turned just enough to glare.
Elaris didn't stop. She stepped forward, voice light.
"You know, for soone who said 'Thunder beasts are my calling'… you vomited quite a lot."
Velmara opened her mouth, but nothing ca out.
She clutched her side and winced.
Sylvaine sighed. "Elaris. Stop. Let your sister breathe."
Elaris lifted both hands.
"Okay, okay. Just checking if she still had so dignity left."
Sylvaine walked past her and looked Velmara over carefully.
"It seems the contract didn't complete," Sylvaine said, eyes narrowing.
"I don't feel the connection between you two."
Velmara coughed once, then laughed. "You're wrong… Mother."
Elaris blinked. "Wait, what?"
Velmara lifted her head, wiped her mouth, and straightened her back slowly.
Her legs still shook, but she forced herself upright.
"I succeeded," she said.
Sylvaine and Elaris both looked at her.
"You what?" Elaris asked.
Velmara smirked before replying.
"I don't know how, but… Zephyron accepted ."
Right after she said it, her body shuddered again.
She leaned against the tree, vomiting once more.
Sylvaine turned toward Zephyron, narrowing her eyes.
The great beast stood silent.
Then it dipped its head slightly. Not a nod—but sothing close.
A quiet smirk ford on Sylvaine's face.
"So… it wasn't just about compatibility. It accepted her because of her bravery."
Zephyron let out a low, soft exhale—sothing between a sigh and a proud grunt.
Elaris blinked again, then looked at Velmara.
"Well," she muttered, "I guess you are a thunder freak after all."
Velmara didn't even look at her. "If you talk again… I'll throw up on your dress."
Elaris backed up instantly. "Okay okay! Goddess of Storms, chill."
Sylvaine shook her head. "Both of you are impossible."
---
From behind Elaris, the newly evolved Vornis Verdant stepped into the grove.
Velmara, still leaning on the tree, turned her head slowly. Her eyes narrowed.
"So… this is another beast you bought at that castle too?"
Elaris smirked, arms folded.
"Close. I bought it, sure. But I evolved it into that."
Velmara studied the beast's shape, its rooted plating and flowing green veins.
"Looks fierce. That's new. Doesn't really scream your usual style."
"I've outgrown 'style,'" Elaris said, grinning.
"The better the beast, the better I am."
Velmara groaned.
"Okay, okay. Fine. Just leave alone and let throw up in peace."
Elaris raised her hands.
"Got it. Big Sis needs nap ti. Rest well~ hehehe."
But then—
Vornis Verdant moved.
Its heavy steps echoed as it approached Velmara.
Velmara stiffened. "What's it doing?"
Elaris blinked.
"I… don't know. It's still an unknown beast. I don't know about its abilities."
Vornis Verdant stopped just a few ters from Velmara.
Then it let out a low, resonant roar. Not aggressive—but commanding.
The surrounding trees responded instantly.
The leaves shimred and began to thicken.
Branches extended. Vines curled upward.
Everything around them grew fresher, richer.
The forest blood in seconds.
Velmara's body relaxed. Her nausea faded.
Her lungs filled with clean air, and the heaviness in her limbs vanished.
"…Huh?" She blinked.
"What just happened? I feel… better?"
Elaris stared, eyes wide. "Wait… what?"
Sylvaine stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Vornis Verdant.
"That's one of Verdanite's properties," she said quietly.
"It promotes plant growth… and accelerates recovery in living beings around it."
She looked at Elaris again. "To think your beast actually gained that ability…"
Elaris smirked slowly. "Of course it did. You gave the best ore. I fed it well."
Sylvaine crossed her arms and smirked.
"Seems like it was worth feeding it a Verdanite after all."
Velmara glanced between them.
"Wait. You fed it Verdanite?"
She looked at the beast again, stunned.
"Isn't that one of our prized materials? Mother only used it for royal equipnt."
Elaris shrugged.
"Yeah, but look at it now. It healed you. It nourished the forest. It's not just a war beast anymore…"
She grinned. "It beca a guardian of the grove."
Velmara stared at it, then let out a slow breath.
"Fine. Maybe it wasn't a waste after all."
Elaris smirked harder. "You're welco."
Elaris smirked, stepping beside her. "You're welco."
She nudged Velmara lightly with an elbow. "By the way, feel like joining us later for a show?"
Velmara arched a brow. "What kind of show?"
"A fight," Elaris said, her grin widening. "A proper one."
Velmara looked mildly interested. "Between who?"
"Beast Castle and Luxoria Castle," Elaris replied.
"The place I bought your Zephyron from."
Velmara's eyes sharpened slightly. "When?"
"It should be soon," Elaris said.
"Luxoria just wrapped up its auction. The challenge is set."
Velmara gave a slow nod.
"Then I'll join. I want to see how good they really are. If they can sell a Sovereign like Zephyron and forge a beast like that."
She motioned toward Vornis Verdant, "They're worth watching."
Sylvaine spoke up behind them, her gaze still fixed on the green-armored war beast.
"I can't say I'm patient either."
Elaris turned. "Oh?"
Sylvaine smiled faintly.
"The people who crafted a steel war beast that can channel the properties of Verdanite…"
"I want to see the rest of their arsenal."
Velmara nodded slowly.
"If they're that capable… maybe the beast world's balance is really shifting."
Elaris folded her arms, looking satisfied.
"Good. Let's watch it together. Who knows—maybe next ti, we won't just be the audience."
Sylvaine smirked. "Then they'd better be ready."
---
Elsewhere, deep within the heavily guarded laboratory of the Aurelius family mansion...
Sylvia stood alone.
Sterile lights humd above her.
The room was lined with reinforced observation tanks, scanner arrays, and a dozen different containnt systems.
But her focus was locked on three objects sitting quietly on the central platform.
Three silver boxes.
Each marked with the Luxoria crest.
Sylvia stepped closer, hands behind her back.
Her lips curled into a slow smirk.
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