“Luluhawa Island, huh? Not too shabby,” Lector commented, stretching his small wings as he hovered beside her, surveying the surroundings. His fur fluffed a little in the island’s humidity, and his tiny face wrinkled with a mix of disdain and curiosity. “I heard the food’s great here though. Maybe we can catch a bite later?”
Rhea smirked, her black dragonic claw weapon strapped to her side. She wasn’t here for a tropical getaway or to try the local cuisine. “Later, Lector. We’ve got a job to do first.”
As they approached the island’s village, Rhea could see why people compared this place to a paradise. The huts were lined with ornate carvings, surrounded by flowering plants, and the locals seemed friendly enough—except their gazes carried an unmistakable wariness. Clearly, word had spread of Herman Schwarz’s mercenary buildup, and tension was in the air.
Kohana, the chief’s daughter, had been the one to hire Rhea for this job. Kohana was the island’s adventurous spirit—practically the island’s tomboyish heart—and Rhea admired that. From what she’d heard, Kohana wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, training with the men in combat, hunting, and basically doing everything a traditional chief’s daughter wasn’t expected to do. Rhea had a soft spot for women who defied expectations. It felt like looking in a mirror.