NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

I tried using my newly found spells thanks to the eye Stormfly placed on my left socket. Thanks to that glowing eye, I could tap the untouched powers I should have had eons ago. 

But before I could even try to use those powers, my system notified me that I needed some rest. Those windows appearing in front of me hindered my abilities from activating, as they warned me about the dangers of draining my mana. 

The situation had a different look from the one I had with Match. My system only mentioned here that my body needed to optimize itself and allow the left eye to function.

I let the point pass and agreed with the system, considering that my face kept throbbing throughout the procedure. That sensation even made me stumble my footing, which almost made me kiss the ground.

Fortunately, Stormfly caught my body mid-air before I could even slam my face on the floor. He met my gaze and spoke a few words about my condition.

"Red, your body can't handle the stress of your recent eye transplant. That left glowing eye we placed took all your stamina and mana from your body. Luckily, that condition isn't alarming unlike other complications," Stormfly explained, and offered me his hand. "It would take a few hours before you could get the hang of it and use your powers. So, for now, let's return to my place and rejuvenate your lost strength."

I took his generous offer and clasped my weakened arm around him. Stormfly took the initiative and carried me on his right body. 

"Am I heavy?" I asked.

"You are light as a feather, Red. I am just old after living for hundreds of years," the dragonewt replied, while scratching his chin.

After our exchange, we went to the other side and located a door with vibrant colours. These strokes of rainbow coloured hues caught my eyes, since it had a different design from the golden themes. Even its doorknob had a warm paint covering its surface, which made the two of us want to twist it open.

"This is a teleportation door that would allow us to enter the outside world. It's also a treasure collected inside the treasure room," Stormfly explained, while slowly reaching out for the gate.

"Why don't you just leave two doors on both sides? Isn't that easier for all of you guys when entering and exiting this place? It would also lessen the risk of waking the monster residing in this place," I suggested, while maintaining my eyes at my fore.

Stormfly shook his head and answered, "If we do that, we need to deliver this door outside. And that would anger the monster safekeeping every treasure in this room. If we allow those two passageways to exist, that would just risk robbers from breaching the area. Our kingdom has their own disciplinary rules, but not everyone would abide by the law. It is better to have one entry and one exit inside the treasure room."

As soon as we finished our conversation, Stormfly entered the door and closed it behind us. When he stepped on the other side, we arrived back inside the throne room, but the hatchet we entered stood faraway. 

It was as if the secret door towards the treasure had a separate entry from the outside world, despite its similarities.

When we arrived inside the throne room, the people outside opened the gates. As it slowly drifted, the faces of elder dragonewts and guards entered the place. All of them inspected every nook and cranny of the throne room, looking for anything oddly placed inside.

Within a few seconds of searching for these misplacements, these dragonewts went towards me and glared in my direction. Even though this event happened, the dragonewt guards did not point their weapons at me. They still gave me some freedom and respect as an individual.

"At ease, soldiers. This girl is a friend of mine."

Upon saying those words, the lizard soldiers all gave a salute at the king, Stormfly. Even the elders, who already made their way at the back, paid their respects from afar.

"This girl is named Red. We need her to accomplish our goal. Please provide her everything she needs for the time being, especially a good bed. Red is my personal player that I chose as being a merchant," Stormfly continued, and gestured his hands at the back. "And, Red! Watch out for the window inside the room! You will love it!"

"Window?" I asked, unsure what Stormfly meant with those words.

After a few moments, a couple of dragonewt appeared at the gates. Each of those reptiles wore a strange uniform that mimicked the maids and butlers in the Mainland. These three servants went to me and assisted me with everything I needed, especially a hand that I could lean on.

Those attendants offered their arms and carried me towards the gates to exit the throne room. Since I did not have the energy to retort, I let these lizards perform their jobs to carry me into my room.

These three helpers delivered me in an uncharted place inside the dragonewt citadel. I did not expect that this place had more hallways than it should have from the inside. But now that I was inside this castle, the entire area could fit a forest! 

We passed by dozens of rooms and other areas only the nobles could enter. After a moment, we met two nobles walking on the opposite side. Our group would inevitably meet these high-ranking dragonewt officials within a second, which made all my cells tremble in nervousness. 

But all my worries faded away when the nobles flashed me a smile in our direction. Since the king treated me like a princess, those nobles greeted me with respect and nodded at my figure. The servants also greeted the nobles, but in a different method. However, those nobles did not bat an eye to these attendants and resumed on their way.

I could only guess that the news spread fast inside this place. There was no way that these nobles would have an idea about the conversation we had earlier. The only plausible way that this happened was Stormfly's earlier reminder to these dragonewts.

"Something's really off….," I murmured.

It was not something that considered my life and me, considering all the things that Stormfly did to me. Those scenes just did not make sense, since I only arrived in this place for a few hours or around a day.

But I cleared my mind when the three servants announced that we were close to our destination. I buckled myself and waited for that room to appear before my eyes.

It took us a few minutes before arriving at my suite. When the dragonewt opened the door, the aromatic scent and ancient wooden furniture entered my eyes. It also had a window that could see through the miniature garden that Stormfly mentioned earlier. Well, even without that garden the place was still amazing.

It was enough to make me want to sleep all day and rest on that comfortable bed in front of me.

"We will place you now on your bed," the attendants asked, and waited for my permission.

I cleared my throat and answered, "Sure."

Upon hearing my quick reply, those three raised me on their arms and gingerly placed me on the back. As soon as they rested me on the cotton sack, the three asked once again a question.

"Do you need anything else?" 

I shook my head and answered, "I'm afraid I don't."

"If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to tell us. You could contact any servant or King Stormfly by pressing the button in your system. King Stormfly was the one who told us that about your system….." one servant said, while tilting his head to the side.

I could only assume that these dragonewt non-player characters did not know anything about systems. Only the players and elite NPCs knew this power surging through the game.

"Very well. And thank you for your kind accommodation."

After saying those words, the three left me inside the room. I had nobody else except for this comfortable bed, some furniture, books to read, and the window displaying the garden in front of me. According to my system, I could see through this window but the people outside cannot see me.

That picturesque scene was enough to please my eyes and place a spell on me to sleep. But before I could doze off, an overwhelming feeling of guilt entered my brain, followed by sadness and regret.

"I'm all alone in this place…."

Now that I had mentioned it, Match would usually be the first one to celebrate with me if something good happened. She would rush towards the cotton bed and play around before taking some rest. That girl would have also glued her eyes at the window and stared at the plants growing at our fore.

But after that fight with Alice, Match…...never returned by my side.