Leveling Up by Seducing Milfs-Chapter 77. Unwavering Protector

Hearing what Rick just said made Carmilla forget about anything that was on her mind, it made her right away kiss him, full of feelings she couldn’t put into words. She was desperate and relieved.

Rick was shocked and didn’t expect Carmilla would kiss him like that. "Holy shit...! Her mouth and tongue...!"

"I can tell she’s experienced...!" Rick kissed her back and held her close, not caring that they were surrounded by prisoners and a battlefield.

Natasha cleared her throat and said, "Ahem."

"This is very touching, but we should probably make sure the prisoners are secured before they start thinking about escaping."

Rick and Carmilla broke apart, and both of them felt a little embarrassed. Rick carefully stood up, holding Carmilla in a bridal carry since she couldn’t walk.

"I—I can walk, you know..." Carmilla said weakly.

"Lies," Rick said. "You were just kidnapped and held in magical restraints for hours, so let me carry you."

When they were halfway up the quarry path, a HUGE shape blocked out the stars. It was Sylvia, and she came down in her real dragon form, with red and gold scales shining in the moonlight and wings that were wide enough to make hurricane winds.

She was beautiful and scary, like a force of nature that had flown hundreds of miles at speeds that should have been impossible because her partner was in danger. She hit the ground with a force that shook it and quickly changed into a human form.

Her hair was messy from the flight, her armor looked like it had been thrown on quickly, and her amber eyes were full of barely contained rage as she took in the scene.

"You didn’t wait for me," Sylvia said in a tight voice.

"I couldn’t," Rick said simply. "Every second counted."

Sylvia looked at Rick, who was holding Carmilla in his arms, then at the battlefield around them, and finally at the prisoners that Natasha’s ice magic was keeping in check. Then she let out a sigh, which made some of the stress go away from her shoulders.

"Careless. Courageous. I approve of that for now..." She looked over at Carmilla. "Is the knight okay?"

Carmilla was able to look the Dragon Queen in the eye even though she was worn out and still in pain. "Thank you for asking, Your Majesty. I’m fine."

"Good to hear that." Sylvia got closer and looked at Carmilla with a critical eye. "Rick cares about you, so that means you matter to me too."

"Even if we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye about sharing him"

"I... appreciate that," Carmilla said, and then her eyes got bigger as if she had seen something. "Wait, you flew all the way here from the Northern Peaks? That’s more than a thousand miles!"

"Why not use your teleportation magic?!"

"Fifteen hundred, actually," Sylvia said with a small smile. "I got here very quickly and can’t use that magic because of how exhausted I am after training."

Natasha said, "You’re crazy. That should have killed you from being too tired."

"I’m the Queen of Dragons. I don’t do things halfway." Sylvia knelt down, and her face softened. "Rick, I want to see Carmilla. I can help fix some of the damage."

Rick carefully put Carmilla down and held her up while Sylvia’s hands started to glow with red and gold healing magic. It was more basic and aggressive than Liora’s divine healing, but it worked. Carmilla gasped as her broken bones healed and her ripped muscles reattached.

Sylvia warned, "This is going to hurt."

"Dragon healing makes the body heal itself quickly, unlike the gentle divine magic that priestess has to offer."

"I can handle it," Carmilla said through gritted teeth.

Carmilla could stand on her own three minutes later, but she was still weak and needed Rick’s help. Sylvia stepped back and looked happy.

"That should hold until the right kind of healing can be done."

"Shall we go back to Valdris now? I think there are prisoners to question and a guildmaster who is very confused and has probably called up half the city guard."

Sylvia changed again, this time making sure her wings didn’t blow everyone away. She told everyone to get on her back.

Rick said, "Um," as he looked at the huge shape of the dragon. "I’ve never really ridden a dragon before."

"There’s a first time for everything, Consort. Get on. And hold on tight. I promise not to do any barrel rolls."

"That did not sound reassuring at all!"

...

The flight back to Valdris was both scary and exciting at the same time. Sylvia flew lower and slower than she had on her frantic trip to the quarry, keeping her passengers in mind. Rick held Carmilla tightly, and as the adrenaline wore off and she started to feel safe and tired, she relaxed against him.

Natasha was walking the prisoners below them with magical bindings. She said no to the dragon ride because she would rather keep her feet on the ground.

Rick felt through the bond network as they flew. Carmilla was back, warm and steady, but she looked worn out.

Natasha was calm and clear as she worked. Liora’s soft worry from the city while they waited for them to come back. And Sylvia’s fierce protectiveness was happy now that the immediate danger had been dealt with.

Four bonds. Four incredible women. These women represented four distinct forms of love and support.

Sebastian appeared on Rick’s shoulder. "That was very dramatic."

"Did we get any experience points from this?" Rick asked.

"Of course. It was a heroic rescue, defeating many enemies, protecting bonded partners, and showing incredible bravery even when it was clear they were in danger."

"The system is pleased." Sebastian looked at a screen that wasn’t there. "Two hundred points for experience. You are now level twenty-one."

[HEROIC RESCUE COMPLETE]

[+200 EXP: SAVED BONDED PARTNER]

[LEVEL UP: 20 → 21]

[CARMILLA’S AFFECTION: 10/10 (MAX - REINFORCED)]

[TITLE GAINED: UNWAVERING PROTECTOR]

"Twenty-one already," Rick thought. "Less than two months in this world and I’m already so strong."

Sebastian said, "Maybe strong in level, but you still need to learn how to use that strength wisely."

"You were lucky tonight. The enemy didn’t think you were strong enough, your backup was perfectly placed, and Sylvia got there just in time to help with the aftermath."

"You might not be so lucky next time, especially with getting the next one of the Seven Major Powers."

Rick said quietly, "I know, but I couldn’t just leave her there. Carmilla is everything to me. All of them are."

"I know. That’s what makes you the Hero of Mature Hearts. But Rick?"

"Don’t give your partners heart attacks as often as you do. Stress wrinkles are starting to show up on them."

Rick laughed, and the sound could be heard in the night air. He was happy, even though there was danger, fear, and close calls.

His partners were safe. The immediate danger was dealt with. And he had four and a half months at best to bring together the other major powers and save the world.

No pressure at all for our gooner hero.

...

When they got to Valdris’s main square, they found it full of worried citizens, city guards, and a beaming Guildmaster Roderick. Liora was waiting, and as soon as she saw Carmilla, she rushed over with healing magic that made Sylvia’s rough treatment look like barbarism.

The interrogation of the prisoners lasted through the night. They revealed that Shadow Covenant had multiple cells operating throughout the world, that Dr. Valen had been just one agent among many, and that someone with significant resources was funding operations targeting the Seven Major Powers.

Fredrich said grimly as dawn broke, "This is bigger than we thought."

"Well-organized, well-funded, and specifically targeting those who might unite against the coming darkness."

Rick, who was worn out but determined, said, "Then we should work faster."

Carmilla stood next to him, clean and healed. Their hands were linked, and the Spirit Bond was stronger than ever after being broken and then fixed.

"Together," Carmilla said with a lot of force.

Rick said, "Always together." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The Hero of Mature Hearts had passed another test. But the hardest parts were still to come, and time was running out.