Chapter 73

Okay, it's just a resemblance. Our mages don't Dou Qi, and although he's rather thin, he's well-proportioned and fit, with an extra layer of muscle compared to our mages.

"Xipei, stop praising other people in your head!" Mel had been silently maintaining the protective shield, suddenly said to me.

I couldn't help but chuckle. The paladin probably thought I was smiling at him, so he returned the salute in the standard, dashing Temple Knight manner.

I wonder if all paladins are this easygoing; he wasn't nearly as serious as Lusien. He waved to me, then smiled very warmly and said, "I rarely get to go on vacation, but I still can't completely relax."

"The Temple must be very busy most of the time," I replied casually. "But I didn't even know the Temple had dragon knights before."

He corrected him, "I am a paladin, only a part-time dragon knight."

His white dragon let out a roar, and even though I don't understand dragon language, I could guess that it was protesting, because the dragon started flying up and down erratically, turning and standing upside down, refusing to walk in a straight line.

The paladin had no choice but to kneel down again to steady himself, but this time he said with great helplessness, "Even if you cause a huge commotion, I'm still a paladin, and a part-time dragon knight."

The dragon protested even more fiercely.

"Besides, you're the one who's clinging to me. If you don't start flying high, then I'll have to consider whether we should break up—"

Before he could finish speaking, the dragon immediately flew with unparalleled grace and elegance, as if he hadn't been the one who had gone mad just a second ago.

The dragon opened its mouth, and this time it spoke in the common language of humans, "I have always flown very steadily; there is no other dragon in the world as steady as me!"

"Yes, yes, you fly the most steadily." The paladin looked all smiles, so I think his talk about breaking up with the dragon was just a bluff; he practically had "I spoil him" written all over his face.

The paladin steadied himself again and said to me, "I am Paladin Goliath, and this is my battle partner, White Dragon Xuefeng."

The white dragon immediately turned its head in displeasure and roared, "Hey! Why did you just blurt out my name like that!"

Paladin Goliath kicked the dragon head back without hesitation. "This is an archmage. Your dragon name, which sounds like a cat food brand, might not even be pleasing to the archmage!"

"I am Ciprins." I watched with amusement as the paladin reprimanded his dragon, which was prone to bristling and grumbling, as the paladin ruthlessly suppressed it.

Goliath suddenly pointed downwards. "Hmm, Your Excellency Archmage, I suggest you begin to draft your speech."

Um?

I was stunned, and quickly looked down—oh my god!

Should I ask Goliath if it's too late to shout the name of the God of Light?

The dragon boat descended smoothly, but my heart was pounding—this was clearly an open field, when did a bunch of reporters suddenly appear? Did they sprout mushrooms from the ground?

Click, click...

I heard Moli next to Mel reading aloud, word by word: 'Terrorist forces attacked the dragon ship, committing heinous acts; a mysterious mage bravely intervened, turning the tide!' Wow, teacher, you seem to be at the top of the trending topics list again! Your ability to make headlines is now legendary!

I...

Don't you think these reporters' speed in grabbing news is legendary?

I solemnly cast an Invisibility Spell on myself, and glanced at Goliath, who had already dashed up into the clouds and pretended to be a cloud themselves...

I should learn this unparalleled escape technique from the Temple clergy if I get the chance!

Chapter 73

To prevent casualties, the smooth landing of the dragon boat requires my full control, but I can let go after landing. I'm just a mage, not a rescue team from the Holy Dragon Empire.

I saw them. A group of shadows flying in the air appeared in our field of vision, but it seemed that only two of them were dragon riders, and the rest were riding hovercars... Dragon riders who could only ride motorcycles for fun since they didn't have dragons.

... But this speed... tsk tsk, I couldn't help but shake my head. They almost didn't arrive as fast as the reporters? Well, to be honest, these reporters arrived way too fast. I even wondered if my colleagues were reporters, all of them using Teleportation to get here. It seems there's a reason why information is so readily available these days.

But now that the rescue team has arrived, we can run first. Otherwise, being surrounded by a bunch of flashing lights would be terrible... um... should we go back to the ship and get on as regular passengers or...?

"I saw it! The mage who saved us flew out of the ship!"

"He's so handsome!!!"

"There's another person on the boat... wait, where did they go?"

"It's definitely Invisibility Technique! Quick! Everyone, feel around!!!"

"I think I just saw a dragon knight, and he flew off in a flash!"

"Where? Are you seeing things? A dragon that big can't be hidden! We'd better find a mage quickly..."

Then, to my horror, I watched as the rescued passengers, like children playing blind man's bluff, tried to find the invisible sorcerer hiding beside them. Reporters followed them around, and I even saw several passengers with minor injuries refusing to rest, their faces covered in various colors as they excitedly searched for the hidden sorcerer... Fortunately, Mel Teleportation, and the two apprentices were able to do it on their own, without Mel or my help.

The way those reporters looked around reminded me of a demon from the abyss eyeing its Abyss.

Run, run! I feel like if I had a few reporters chasing me every day, my Flight Spell would be faster than a dragon's.

The altered weather I just controlled has dissipated, and now a few white clouds are floating in the sky. I can vaguely feel the pressure from the dragons above. Goliath and the white dragon haven't left; they must be waiting for us to go up and talk. However, because they are far away, the ordinary people below can't sense them. The dragons, deliberately concealing their aura, are as pure and harmless as white clouds.

We flew into the air and saw the paladin Goliath sitting leisurely on the dragon's back, even raising Holy Light Shield for himself... to block the wind. As soon as we dispelled our Invisibility Technique, he beckoned to us, gesturing for us to get on.

The white dragon glanced back at us. I wondered if Goliath had said something to him, because this time he didn't resist at all and let us sit on his back—given the proud nature of dragons, allowing us to sit on his back on our very first meeting showed this paladin was truly adept at managing dragons. Moreover, as far as I know, white dragons are the smallest of the dragon race. Dragons' bodies expand with age, and this white dragon looked like a three-story flying building. I'd conservatively estimate he was five hundred years old, not like those child dragons reported in the media who were tricked into selling their blood after joining cheap tours abroad.

"I haven't seen such a powerful mage in a long time," said Paladin Goliath.

However, Bai Xuefeng immediately turned around, staring with his big, round eyes, and very seriously nibbled at the hem of his knight's robe, demanding with imposing force, "Is my magic not strong enough?"

Goliath stared silently at the row of dragon fang marks on his knight's uniform.

I wasn't just returning the favor; it was a genuine exclamation from the bottom of my heart. "I haven't seen such a powerful paladin in a long time!" After saying that, I thought for a moment and quickly added, "Of course, such a powerful white dragon is also extremely rare!"

Bai Xuefeng snorted and turned his head away.

"At least they have some discernment."

... And so, I feel like I've won the friendship of a white dragon just like that?

Mel thought for a moment and asked, "Are you the Grand Commander of the Temple Knights?"

Goliath smiled. "Yes, it's me. I recognize you too, Archmage Mephistopheles."

Now, Mel's expression softened slightly with pity. He shook his head. "You're... the paladin who didn't become the Holy Lord because you refused to dye your black hair."