CHAPTER 63: SANCTUARY OF TEN THOUSAND STARS (2)

Woahh... so there are powerful beasts like this hiding within the Silvervein? Amazing!

Mimi could tell right away...

This girl wasn’t human at all—she was a magical beast! Not just any beast, either, but one so strong that she had unlocked the rare shapeshifting skill, allowing her to disguise herself in human form!

Mimi had only ever encountered such creatures a handful of times. From what she knew, a beast could only unlock that ability after its eighth evolution—at least reaching the level of a nine-star beast. And even then, not all nine-stars beasts are capable of transforming into humans.

And this girl? Judging from the terrifying natural phenomenon that shook heaven and earth, from the storm and thunder that bent the skies to her will, Mimi was sure she had gone far beyond that.

Ten stars... maybe even eleven!

The sheer pressure rolling off her was like standing beneath a thundercloud about to explode. Mimi’s fur stood on end just being in her presence.

She wasn’t quite as radiant and divine as the Divine Guardian Siamelumis, of course... but still, this level of power was nothing short of incredible!

***

"WAHAHA! I am Zephyrona, Guardian of the Sacred Sanctuary of Ten Thousand Stars! No one may enter this place without my permission!"

At that, Draco lowered his head once more, his voice firm with reverence.

"I, Draco Silvervein, Fourteenth Clan Head of the Silvervein Clan, greet the Almighty Sacred Guardian!"

Ariana and Emilia followed suit, bowing deeply.

"I, Ariana, and my daughter Emilia, greet the Almighty Sacred Guardian!"

The Sacred Guardian—Zephyrona—was no ordinary being. She was once the trusted beast companion of the very first Clan Head, Lady Anastasia Silvervein.

Many, many years ago, just right before she passed away from old age and the grievous wounds she had suffered in her battles against the forces of Abyssia, she was able to release her ten magical beasts from their contracts. Some remained in the mortal realm to pursue their own adventures, some vanished into seclusion, while others returned to serve Fauveline in her divine realm.

However... Zephyrona was different.

As Anastasia’s most loyal and loving companion, she could not bring herself to leave the Silvervein Clan. Her loyalty to Anastasia, and her love for the clan, bound her here. So, she chose a different path: to remain behind as the Sacred Guardian, protector of the clan’s most treasured vault.

And so, countless years passed. Generations of clan heads rose and fell. Yet Zephyrona remained, unyielding, never once leaving her post.

"Eh? Draco? Ariana?" the thunder dragon girl muttered, finally turning her sharp golden eyes toward the people standing before her. She blinked in recognition.

"Yes, it’s us," Ariana said with a gentle smile. "And this here... is my daughter."

As she spoke, Emilia slowly looked up.

"WUAAAAH! EMILIAAAA!"

The Guardian girl suddenly screamed.

Then—BOOM!

She shot forward, moving so fast she broke the sound barrier! She reappeared right in front of Emilia so suddenly that Mimi nearly had a heart attack. Startled, Mimi leapt off Emilia’s shoulder, her fur bristling as a sharp hiss escaped her lips in pure reflex!

"Woaaaah! Emiliaaa!" Zephyrona exclaimed, immediately grabbing Emilia’s cheeks with her massive gauntlets and pinching them, pulling them wide like she was stretching a squirrel’s.

"M-miss G-guardian?" Emilia stammered.

"Tch! Call me Zephie Big Sis!" Zephyrona pouted, puffing her cheeks out.

"B-but—"

"NO BUTS!" Zephyrona snapped. "What? Are you defying my order?!"

"Aaah! N-no! I... I wouldn’t dare!"

"Hehe! Then say it!" Zephyrona demanded.

"Z-Zephie... Big Sis..." Emilia mumbled nervously.

"Wahaha! Good girl!" Zephyrona grinned triumphantly and ruffled Emilia’s hair, her sharp teeth showing.

Nearby, Ariana chuckled softly, amused by the scene.

Draco, on the other hand, only closed his eyes and gave a small shake of his head.

Zephyrona straightened and turned sharply toward Ariana, planting her fists on her hips.

"Well? How many years has it been since you last brought Emilia to see me? Huh???"

Ariana tilted her head, thoughtful. "Hmm... thirteen years, I think?"

"THIRTEEN YEARS!" Zephyrona roared, stamping her foot so hard the ground trembled. "Every single time I asked for her, you told me she was busy! Training this, practicing that... poor Emilia! Did she even get the chance to just run around and play like a normal child?"

Her voice echoed across the mountain wall, loud enough to make Mimi’s ears flatten against her head.

Then, as quickly as her anger came, Zephyrona turned back to Emilia. Her fierce golden eyes softened, a different warmth flashing through them.

"Well? Do you still remember me?"

Emilia lifted her gaze slowly. She hesitated only for a heartbeat before nodding. "Yes."

"Hehe... that’s good!" Zephyrona said, a happy smile blooming on her face.

***

Thirteen years ago...

Emilia had only been five at that time.

One night, she managed to slip out of her room without anyone noticing, sneaking away simply because she wanted to chase a white, glowing squirrel she had spotted from her window.

But as she ran after the squirrel, she eventually lost track of it... and before she knew it, she had strayed far from home. Darkness swallowed the mountain roads, and the little girl—frightened and trembling—stumbled deeper and deeper until she found herself here, standing before the gate of the Sanctuary.

And there... It was Zephyrona who appeared before her.

At first, the dragon had been furious.

Heh? What kind of idiot lets their child wander into a sacred ground like this?! she thought.

"Shoo! SHOO!!"

"Leave me alone! Don’t cry here!"

Her voice boomed like thunder, her presence so overwhelming that poor Emilia cried even louder!

But then... as Zephyrona looked closer, her eyes widened in shock.

Because... suddenly, Emilia looked so familiar. Too familiar!

She looked almost exactly like her old master! And smelled like her too!

And not only that, when Zephyrona peered deeper, she sensed, felt it: the S-grade Silvervein bloodline blessing!

In that instant, something inside her shifted.

Zephyrona’s anger melted into joy.

She knew the child, Emilia, was by no means her master. They were completely different people.

But still... she couldn’t help herself.

And so, that night, instead of driving the child away, she brought her inside, cared for her, played with her, and even fed her all sorts of roasted meats and wild fruits.

She even led Emilia into the treasure vault itself, giving her a three-day tour of countless legendary artifacts—letting the wide-eyed child touch, play, and marvel at things mortals would never dare to dream of.

Needless to say, Emilia’s parents had been worried sick after the incident, nearly out of their minds.

But looking back now, for both Emilia and Zephyrona, those days became precious memories, ones they still carried in their hearts.