My Girlfriends Are Hardcore Yanderes - Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Above The Sky
Within minutes, the massive tree city , once bustling with activity, shrank into a mere dot on the horizon. The speed of the creature was unlike anything Asher had ever experienced.

The Storm Eagle took full advantage of its massive wingspan and natural control over the sky. Its lightweight body, thanks to hollow bones, made it agile, allowing it to cut through the air with unmatched speed.

It was faster than his sustainable speed, although he could outrun it briefly. The catch was that pushing himself to that limit would deplete his energy quickly.

Some things were simply better suited for beasts, and navigating the sky was one of them.

Inside the wooden cabin perched on the Storm Eagle’s back, the air remained eerily calm. The protective barrier surrounding it worked flawlessly, insulating its occupants from the turbulence outside.

The technology behind it was a marvel of Dryad craftsmanship. The wooden walls were etched with intricate runes, their hidden patterns weaving together in an endless loop.

Asher ran his fingers over one of the carvings, his brow furrowed in thought. He didn’t understand the symbols; the language of the Dryads was ancient and known only to them.

Even the most learned sorcerers struggled to decipher it. To the Dryads, their language was not just a means of communication, but an extension of their connection to the natural world—living words that held power in every stroke.

He decided not to dwell on it. His mind was already crowded with enough to think about.

Lucia sat near one of the windows, her gaze fixed on the clouds outside.

A drawback of their position became apparent—the Storm Eagle’s massive wings and broad body obscured much of the scenery below.

“What a waste,” she muttered, leaning slightly closer. Though glimpses of the landscape occasionally peeked through the gaps between the wings.

“How about you go to the balcony? The barrier should work there too,” he suggested.

Lucia smiled at the idea, stood up, and extended her hand toward him.

“Come with me,” she said with a playful glint in her eyes.

He eyed her hand for a moment. Normally, he wouldn’t entertain such a gesture, but with little else to occupy his time, he figured there was no harm.

With a faint sigh, he took her hand and followed her to the small balcony.

As they stepped outside, the world stretched out before them, vast and mesmerizing.

The Storm Eagle’s steady wings carried them high above a sprawling forest, an endless sea of green that swayed gently in the wind.

Rivers cut through the forest, catching the sunlight as they flowed in different directions.

Asher leaned against the wooden railing. “I knew the forest was big, but from up here… it looks like it goes on forever,” he murmured.

“Is there no large forest in your home?” Lucia asked, resting her arms on the railing beside him. Her voice carried a hint of curiosity, softened by the gentle wind around them.

Asher shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the endless green below.

“Not like this,” he replied. “There were forests, but they were smaller, broken apart by cities and farmland. Nothing that stretched on forever like this.”

“Cities?” Lucia turned to him, her brows lifting in curiosity. “Wait, so you’re from a place where cities are near each other? Why? The world is big, the resources are limitless—so I don’t see the logic in that.”

Asher scratched his head, hesitating. How could he explain it?

Where he came from, there were too many people crammed into too little space. And instead of working together to share what they had, they just kept taking more.

Forests like this? They were cut down to make room for cities, factories, highways—anything that could keep the consumer system running.

Instead of answering, he decided to ask a question of his own.

“You said the resources here are limited, right? Then why’s Alarath so worried about war? From what I’ve seen, there aren’t any real threats nearby. The other kingdoms look pretty far off on the map.”

Lucia turned her head slightly to meet his gaze, a small frown tugging at her lips.

“There are many variables, like trading, military power, and politics. Alarath might be the capital, but it’s not even the richest in terms of exporting herbs and other fruit-bearing trades. It’s the cities near the borders that hold that position.”

Asher raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, they are worried about a civil war?”

Lucia nodded, her gaze distant as she considered the question.

“The cities along the borders are growing in wealth and influence. They’re becoming more self-sufficient, and some of them are starting to question Alarath’s authority. There are factions within the capital itself that would rather keep things as they are, but there are others who want to seize control of those resources. If things continue as they are, the royal family could lose its grip on the region.”

She paused for a moment, letting her words settle before continuing.

“When these cities choose to go independent, foreign kingdoms would step in,” Lucia explained further.

“They sell weapons, offer troops—whatever it takes to destabilize the royal family. That’s what has Nala on edge. If it were just internal disputes, she could hold its ground with the Great Tree and the Dryads’ support. But once outside kingdoms start meddling, it turns into a whole different kind of threat.”

Asher raised an eyebrow. “And one of those kingdoms is Eryx?”

Lucia let out a chuckle, shaking her head as she leaned back slightly, amused by his assumption.

“Not at all,” she responded with a small shake of her head. “Eryx is far above invading other kingdoms. They don’t see any reason for it. ”

“If they wanted to, they could conquer the entire world, but what would be the point? For them, having a bigger territory would be more of a burden than a benefit. They’d have to spend time managing it, and to them, those kinds of efforts are just unrewarding.”