Warm Dragon

Chapter 3: The Mushroom Bird

Russell nodded at them, then turned to his mother. “Master Carter said you were looking for me. Is there something you need?”

“Come, sit down, let’s talk.”

“Okay.”

Russell took a seat on the chair next to them, and a maid brought tea.

His eleven-year-old sister, Lola, smiled at Russell, though she was shy, not showing her full teeth since she had recently lost one of her sharp molars.

Russell returned the smile.

His mother, looking at her now-grown son, said, “I’ve discussed with your father several times about your request to move to the Uyao Snake Manor. We think we can hold off for a while and first get the servants and your guards in order. The manor is not far, but not exactly close either. It would take about two hours on horseback.”

“I can come back every day. Think of it as training my fighting energy,” Russell replied.

Moving out of Glowing Castle was his set goal. Not only did he feel awkward when with the family, but just being under Lord Ross’s watch made him uncomfortable.

“Are you really so eager to leave home?” His mother asked with a hint of sadness.

“Uh…”

Seeing Russell hesitate, his mother suddenly smiled. “Well, children do need to leave the nest to grow. If you want to move, then move.”

“Mm.”

“Come back for lunch every day.”

“Alright.” Seeing the slight wrinkles on his mother’s face, Russell nodded seriously.

His older brother Roland was serving in the Dragon Blood Knight Corps at the Shadow Flame Castle, and his older sister, Rowena, had already married. Now, only he and his younger sister, Lola, remained at home.

Now, he was leaving too.

For his mother, Meryl Rainfall, this was another parting. However, as a noblewoman, she understood that a fledgling must face challenges to become a strong eagle, so she didn’t stop Russell’s decision.

The three of them—mother, son, and sister—talked for a while.

Soon, Master Carter walked in. “Lady, Master Russell, Miss Lola, dinner is ready.”

“What about the Baron?” Meryl asked.

“He’s been notified, and will be down soon.”

“What could be so absorbing in that study that he stays in there all day?” Meryl grumbled as she got up. “Carter, don’t tell me he really reads those thick books; I don’t believe it.”

Carter gave a polite smile but said nothing.

The dining room was also on the second floor. Without electric lights, the walls were lined with many sconces, each containing glowing gemstones that emitted a soft, lasting light. This light kept the room bright without hurting the eyes.

The sky outside had darkened.

From the window, one could just make out the tower in the distance, with the clay dragon Ross perched on its roof.

It could maintain this pose and sleep through the entire night.

Before the baron arrived, two unexpected guests appeared in the dining room.

One was a small, fat green bird the size of a palm, with patterns resembling the Glowing Mushroom family’s emblem; the other was a palm-sized, cartoonish little doll, with transparent wings on its back and a cluster of blue flowers blooming on its head.