Arad looked at Mira, “You like someone strong?”

Mira looked away, “I guess. I should say, can I?” Her face blushed. “I would like someone to be strong enough to carry me and move around.”

Arad thought about it. “I just carried you to the room…” Something clicked in his head. “I did take Aella on a ride the first time. Want to take a tour around the mountains?”

“A ride? On Mc?” Mira stared at him, tilting her head.

***

Aella smiled, “Fine by me. Give her a good shaking.” she said, lifting a thumbs up.

A few minutes later, Mira was crying her eyes out, holding on for dear life. “SLOW DOWN! SLOW DOWN! ARAD!” Her hands clenched on the rope as she hugged Arad’s neck as hard as she could.

With tears coming from her eyes. Mira could see the clouds flying past at a blinding speed, the wind forcefully pulled on her hair, but her butt was stuck to Arad’s neck with gravity magic.

“I’m gonna fall! I’m gonna fall!”

“No, you won’t. Carrying you is easy, then how about this?” Arad said with a grin, flapping his wings across the blue sky.

“It’s scary! I have a recent bad experience with a flight!” She referred to Chuzuke.

“You displayed a lot of courage there. You can trust me here, can’t you?” Arad turned his head to stare at her.

Mira took a deep breath, “Fine, but don’t blame me if I threw on your back.”

Arad smiled, his massive opal teeth glowing. “Hold tight then.”

Mira saw the sky twist as the clouds returned to their high place. Arad dived straight down toward the mountain range.

“Don’t hit anything!” Mira cried.

Arad flew between the tight crevices of the mountains. Going below the thousand-year-old arching stones that no regular human could hope to climb. There was barely any space for him to fit, yet he clung to his wings and bolted right through.

“I’m better at flying than when I was with Aella. You’re getting a better ride if I’m honest.” Arad said, flying directly into a wall.

“Does a better ride mean more risk in your book? A wall! A wall!” She cried.

^Loci^

~Of course~

A large stone started shaking and moved slightly to the side revealing a cave entrance. “I found this when chasing the vampire. I told Loci to hide it.” SWOSH! Arad flew directly into the cave, tucking his wing on his back and running in the dark.

Mira can’t see in total darkness so Arad ignited a bright blue flame inside his mouth, illuminating the cave ahead of him like a flashlight. 𝘦𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝗇𝓔t

“Careful! I almost hit my head!” Mira cried as a stalactite almost tore her head off.

“Don’t worry. You’re sitting on my neck, and lower than my head. If I don’t get hit in the head, there is no way for you to get hit.” Arad replied with a grin, a wall approached them rapidly.

^Loci, open the wall.^

~I can’t move that one. Too heavy for my current strength.~

^Still haven’t recovered? Well, I will claw it open.^ Thud! Thud! Thud! Arad rushed straight at the wall, swinging his front claw at full force, covering Mira with his wings.

The wall burst open, shattering in a cloud of dust as the dragon lept out. CLAP! Arad opened his wings with a thunderous clap, roaring as he saw a few winged monsters on the other side of the mountain range. ROAR!

It was a warning, don’t you dare get close, or will be eaten.

Arad flapped his wings and flew to the side, heading toward the highest peak without snow. Mira seems to have gotten used to being on his back, the twists and turns stopped surprising her.

FLAP! FLAP! FLAP! As Arad flew, the monster from before flocked around him. ^I just warned them,^

Those monsters looked like the unholy child of an ape and an owl. Owlapes.

ROAR! Arad roared, opening his jaw. CRACK! He bites one, swallowing it in a single gulp. CRACK! CRACK! Arad ate about five of the monsters before he realized, they weren’t fighting back. Merely flying beside the dragon, basking in its presence.

It didn’t take Arad long to understand, it was all simple. The most dangerous creature in the mountain is him, so what would happen to them if they flew beside him? He could eat a couple, but what of the others, they will survive.

As a flock, they have a better chance of taking shelter with a dragon than spreading across the mountains. You can consider them minions.

^So I only need to show up and they will serve me?^

^You had to prove yourself as a wyrmling, but now your presence alone is enough to dominate lesser creatures. Keep in mind that creatures like the yeti from the flight with Aella won’t be affected.

Arad flew to the top of the mountain and landed there, lowering his wing for Mira to get down. The monster flocked below the edge, hiding out of sight.

Mira stumbled down, taking a deep breath and holding her butt. “It hurts,”

“The rag wasn’t enough?” Arad looked at her as he shifted back to a human.

“No, of course, it wasn’t. That’s a rag with a rope tied to it. I felt like I was sitting on a log going into a sawmill.” Mira walked toward the edge, staring at the almost endless fall and the monsters below. They ran away as soon as they saw her. No one dares to face the woman with the dragon.

“I’m not going down there,” She walked backward, moving away from the edge. Thud! She hit Arad’s chest with her back. “Not without me carrying you down.”

“You took it too literally.” She looked at his face, lifting her lips for a kiss. The moment their lips connected, Mira could feel Arad’s arms wrapping around her body like logs. She knew it, there was no escaping this grasp, she wasn’t strong enough to push his arms away.

“Say, did Aella do it here as well?” Mira whispered as their lips parted, leaving a silvery trail. “Not here, another top with snow.”

SWOSH! Mira spun in her place, facing Arad and shoving her face in his chest, taking a deep whiff. “It’s a bit chilly here, but do you mind taking your clothes off?” She looked up at him.

“If you took yours as well.” Arad smiled.

“I will freeze, I’m not a dragon.” Mira waved her hand on his chest, stopping his massive bulge.

“I will keep you warm, in a tight embrace as your mother asked.” Mira could feel Arad’s palm tight gripping her butt as he pulled her clothes down. And chill ran across her spine.