The Monster King's Legacy

Aelyndra stepped forward, her presence adding to the gathering's strength. The Wyvern King's gaze shifted to her, and recognition sparked in its eyes. "You…" it rumbled, its tone shifting from curiosity to surprise. "You are the young dragon I encountered a few years ago during your travels with a human."

Aelyndra nodded, her voice confident yet respectful, a faint smile on her face. "I am, Your Majesty. And this—" she gestured to Lance, "—is the same human. Though, as you can see, he is far from what he once was."

The Wyvern King's eyes widened slightly, its gaze returning to Lance with renewed interest. "So, the frail human boy has become… this."

Its words carried a mix of admiration and disbelief. "You are a special existence in this era, it seems. Few could withstand the changes you've undergone and emerge stronger for it. Hahaha, truly a blessing."

Though his remarks were a little bit puzzling, the tension in the square dissipated greatly as the Wyvern King's tone "softened"… for those who could tell the difference.

"To think you weren't merely an elder, but the king of Wyverns." Lance said with a faint chuckle.

The wyvern king shook it off, as a lighthearted moment swept past.

Turning serious once more, the Wyvern King addressed the gathered leaders. "I did not come here for pleasantries after all. Two of my children's eggs were stolen from our nesting grounds, and I have reason to believe the culprit is hiding within your city."

The words hung heavily in the air, drawing shocked gasps from the gathered crowd. Lance's expression darkened, his mind already working through the implications.

Rynne and Lia exchanged glances, both aware of the potential fallout if the Wyvern King's accusation proved true.

"Your Majesty," Lance began, his tone calm yet firm, respectful yet unyielding. "I assure you, my people would never commit such an act. However, I cannot rule out the possibility of an outsider hiding among us. After all, my kingdom is open to all to visit."

The Wyvern King studied Lance closely, his sharp gaze searching for any sign of deceit. Finding none, he nodded slowly. "I did not expect such honesty. Surely, you have are still the same human I saw back then. I sense you are not the type to harbor thieves."

The Wyvern King's acknowledgment sent a wave of relief through the gathered leaders and all who heard his voice, though the gravity of the situation remained.

"I will personally see to it that the culprit is found," Lance continued. "No one will leave this city until the eggs are returned to their rightful place. I give you my word."

The Wyvern King regarded Lance with a mix of gratitude and respect. "You are a rare leader among your kind, one who values honor and justice. If you can resolve this without bloodshed, you will have my gratitude."

"We will see this through. There has been enough violence already."

As the Wyvern King stepped back, its massive wings unfurling slightly, it rumbled a low, approving growl. "Very well. I shall await your success, Lance of the Monster Kingdom."

…

Following the meeting, the atmosphere in the Monster Kingdom's capital buzzed with tension. Lance had issued clear orders: the thief and the stolen wyvern eggs were to be found before sun down. They had already started the search, and now, it was going to be even easier.

Lance summoned the scouts to take the lead in the search this time specially. They possessed those with heightened senses and tracking expertise, they were going to be indispensable for the task.

A tall, feline beastkin with sharp eyes and even sharper claws stepped forward with a bow. "We'll find the thief, Your Majesty," she said, her voice a low growl of confidence.

The scouts spread out across the city, sniffing and tracing for a particular scent and scanning for suspicious activity. Their coordination and efficiency had been improved, now that they had a scent to follow, which had been provided by the wyverns to aid the search. After all, though the wyvern king could sense the presence of the eggs, he could not pinpoint it, otherwise, it would have been easy.

By midday, the beastkin traced the scent of the stolen eggs to a modest inn near the market district.

Inside the inn, the human thief, now visibly panicked, clutched the two eggs close. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he muttered to himself. "They'll find me soon... They find me soon." Repeatedly. After all, all his bravado almost disappeared when he heard the thunderous voice of the wyvern king, and its massive size. That was the first time he had seen one that massive.

Realizing he might have had been discovered, he activated an invisibility magic skill, disappearing from sight just as the beastkin breached his room, breaking down the door after knocking several times without answer.

"He's gone!" one of the beastkin snarled, sniffing the air. "Damn, the scent is so strong. He couldn't have gotten far."

The chase began in earnest. The thief darted through alleyways and climbed rooftops, his invisibility giving him a significant advantage. However, the beastkin's sharp senses and the beast people's keen instincts kept them hot on his trail.

Though they were way faster than he was, they were significantly slowed by the man's wits. He was quick to understand how he had been tracked, and used it to his advantage, utilizing various means to spread his scent and that of the eggs everywhere as much as he could manage.

Lance soon joined the pursuit, sprinting through the city streets with astonishing speed and even better maneuverability, his eyes scanning the surroundings, tracking even the faintest disturbance in the air and sounds.

The thief used every trick at his disposal, but the combined efforts of the beastkin and Lance made escape impossible.

As the chase neared the marketplace, the thief collided with a fruit cart that had been left unpacked, shattering his concentration. His invisibility flickered and failed, revealing his panicked form to his pursuers.

The beastkin swiftly pounced, their claws pinning the thief to the ground. "Your tricks won't save you now." The beastkin restraining him sneered, snatching the bag from him and handing it over to the other close to her to inspect. Confirming that there were indeed eggs in them, they handed it to Lance promptly.

The thief glared at Lance but made no further moves, realizing the futility of resistance.