LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14: Sparks of the Rivarly
Chapter 14: Sparks of Rivalry
The forest was calm, the distant hum of wildlife broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot as Reiji, Aeris, and Lyra made their way toward the next destination. The air was thick with tension—not from impending danger, but from the simmering hostility between the two powerful entities floating beside Reiji.
Aeris, in her miniature humanoid dragon form, perched on Reiji's shoulder with an air of smug superiority. Her golden eyes flicked toward Lyra, who hovered lazily nearby, her fiery wings folded elegantly. The faint shimmer of heat radiating from Lyra's form caused the air around her to ripple, contrasting sharply with the cool, commanding aura Aeris exuded.
"You're walking too slow," Aeris said, her voice laced with mock impatience. "Maybe if you had wings, you'd move with more purpose."
Lyra smirked, her molten gold eyes narrowing. "Wings don't make you faster, little dragon. They just make you think you're important."
Reiji groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can you two stop bickering for five minutes? You're giving me a headache."
"Bickering?" Aeris said, feigning offense. "I'm simply pointing out that some people—err, creatures—lack the grace of a true leader."
Lyra tilted her head, her voice smooth and teasing. "And yet here you are, shrinking yourself to a palm-sized ornament for a human. Truly inspiring leadership."
Reiji almost choked on a laugh but quickly masked it with a cough. Aeris shot him a sharp look, her golden eyes narrowing.
"Careful, Fateweaver," Aeris said coolly. "You're aligned with my power, after all. Mocking me doesn't work in your favor."
"Aligned with your power?" Lyra interjected, her voice dripping with amusement. "Let's not pretend he hasn't already made decisions that align with my interests. The phoenix race values action over empty words."
Reiji rolled his eyes, cutting them both off. "You're both here because of me. So, for the sake of my sanity, can we focus on the bigger picture?"
Aeris crossed her arms, leaning back against his neck. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when her antics get you in trouble."
Lyra chuckled softly. "Oh, I don't need antics. I let results speak for themselves."
The trio pressed forward, the dirt path winding through dense trees as the forest thickened. Reiji's dire wolf, its crimson eyes glowing faintly, scouted ahead, occasionally sniffing the air for threats.
As they approached a clearing, Aeris straightened, her expression shifting to one of alertness. "Something's here."
Reiji stopped, scanning the area. The clearing was eerily quiet, the usual hum of forest life absent. Lyra's flames flickered as she floated higher, her gaze scanning the treetops.
"I sense it too," Lyra said, her tone uncharacteristically serious.
Before Reiji could ask what they meant, the ground trembled beneath their feet. From the shadows of the forest, a hulking figure emerged—a stone golem, its massive body covered in moss and cracks. Its glowing blue eyes fixed on Reiji, and a low, guttural rumble escaped its throat.
[Stone Golem – Level 40]
Reiji's heart sank. The golem was far beyond anything he could handle directly, especially without a leveling system to fall back on.
"That's a problem," Reiji muttered, stepping back.
Aeris smirked, her golden eyes gleaming. "Good luck, Fateweaver. Let's see how you handle this."
Lyra, meanwhile, crossed her arms, her fiery aura intensifying. "I could take care of it for you... for a price."
Reiji shot her a look. "What kind of price?"
Lyra's smile widened. "Faith Points, of course. Nothing in this world is free, after all."
Aeris scoffed, flicking her tail. "Of course, the phoenix demands payment. Typical."
Reiji ignored their banter, his mind racing. The golem took a step forward, the ground shaking with its weight. His dire wolf growled, baring its fangs.
"Let's test something," Reiji said, his voice steady despite the tension. He raised his hand, focusing on the wolf.
A small prompt appeared before him:
Would you like to invest Faith Points into this entity?
Reiji selected yes, pouring a small amount of Faith Points into the dire wolf. The beast's crimson eyes flared brighter, and its body seemed to ripple with newfound strength.
[Dire Wolf – Level 20 → Level 30]
The wolf lunged at the golem without hesitation, its claws striking with enough force to crack the golem's rocky exterior. The golem roared, swinging a massive fist, but the wolf darted out of the way with newfound agility.
Aeris watched the fight with a satisfied smirk. "Not bad. You're starting to understand the value of your power."
Lyra, however, looked unimpressed. "It's a decent start, but you're still thinking too small. If you really want to make an impact, you'll need to think beyond a single entity."
Reiji clenched his fists, frustration bubbling under the surface. "This is what I have to work with right now. Unless you have a better idea, I'm sticking with it."
The battle raged on, the dire wolf using its enhanced speed and strength to chip away at the golem's defenses. Eventually, with a final, powerful leap, the wolf sank its fangs into the golem's core, shattering it. The golem collapsed into a pile of rubble, its glowing eyes fading.
Reiji let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "That... was too close."
The dire wolf padded over to him, its crimson eyes glowing softly. Reiji knelt, placing a hand on its head. "Good job, buddy."
Aeris floated closer, her expression thoughtful. "You'll need to refine your strategy if you want to survive encounters like that. Pouring Faith Points into one entity is fine for now, but eventually, you'll need to think bigger."
Lyra nodded, her flames dimming slightly. "She's right, for once. The world is vast, and your power has the potential to reshape it. Don't limit yourself to small skirmishes."
Reiji stood, brushing the dirt off his hands. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, I'll take it one step at a time."
As they continued their journey, the tension between Aeris and Lyra remained, but for once, it was overshadowed by a sense of unity. Despite their constant bickering, they both seemed invested in Reiji's growth—whether for their own benefit or something more.
For Reiji, the path ahead was still uncertain, but one thing was clear: with powers like Aeris and Lyra at his side, the stakes were only going to get higher.