Chapter 25: You're full of surprises...

"You wish for us to slay this Chimera?" Adrian asked as if seeking confirmation.

The queen nodded, her gaze intense. "Yes. Do this for us, and you will have our support in your endeavors. Fail, and you shall have no audience with us again."

Adrian met her gaze. "Consider it done. But know that I do so not out of a desire for reward, but because it is necessary for the restoration of Meridia."

The king, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, suddenly spoke, his voice weak but you tell he was concerned. "The Chimera is no ordinary beast, Adrian. Many have tried to slay it, and all have perished. Are you certain you wish to undertake this challenge?"

Adrian nodded, his eyes flicking briefly to the queen, who watched him with a mixture of curiosity and something else he couldn't quite place. "We are certain," he replied.

The queen's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Very well," she said, her tone almost playful. "We shall await your return. Should you succeed, we will discuss your request further."

Adrian inclined his head in acknowledgement. "We shall not fail."

Adrian nodded, though he could not shake the feeling that there was more to this task than met the eye. He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, the queen spoke again.

"Adrian," she said, her voice softer now, almost intimate. "There is something else I would ask of you."

Adrian paused, turning back to face her. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

The queen's gaze locked onto his with an unreadable expression. "Take care in the mountains."

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly before he replied, "I will keep that in mind."

With that, the queen dismissed them with a wave of her hand. Adrian and Lilith nodded before turning and exiting the throne room, the doors closing behind them with a soft thud.

As they walked down the hallway, Lilith glanced at Adrian, her expression thoughtful. "She was quite taken with you," she remarked, her tone light but laced with a hint of something deeper.

Adrian gave her a sidelong glance. "She's dangerous, Lilith. And I don't trust her."

Lilith smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Good. Neither do I. But it's always useful to have someone like her interested in you. It gives us leverage."

Adrian didn't respond, his mind already shifting to the task ahead. He knew very little about the Chimera.

And despite his confident words, he had no idea if they would be successful. But if it meant having access to Kaleb and his resources, it was a risk worth taking.

As they stepped out into the open air of the palace grounds, the evening sun bathed the courtyard in a warm, golden light. Adrian paused, his gaze sweeping over the ornate fountains and meticulously trimmed hedges.

He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind.

"We'll need supplies and information," Adrian said, his voice reflective. "There must be someone in this city who knows more about the Chimera."

Lilith, who had been silently observing him, let out a soft chuckle. "You really don't know much about the Chimera, do you?" she asked, her tone both teasing and serious.

Adrian turned to face her, his brow furrowing slightly. "I've heard the stories—fragments of tales but nothing concrete. It's always been described as a beast of nightmares, a creature of wrath and fire. But beyond that, the details are scarce."

"Well, you don't need to go searching for answers," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "I know everything there is to know about the Chimera."

Adrian turned to her, his curiosity piqued. "You do?"

"Of course," she replied, her tone confident. "You forget, Adrian, I am a goddess. The Chimera is one of the ancient creatures, born from the union of Echidna, the mother of monsters, and Typhon, the storm giant. It's a beast of legend, a creature of chaos."

Adrian listened intently as Lilith continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "The Chimera is a three-headed monstrosity with the body of a lion, the head of a goat rising from its back, and a serpent for a tail. It breathes fire, and its hide is said to be nearly impervious to normal weapons. Only something forged in the heat of a god's wrath can hope to pierce it."

Adrian's expression darkened as he absorbed the information. "That sounds even worse than I imagined."

Lilith gave him a knowing look. "It is. Many warriors have tried to slay the Chimera, and almost all of them have failed. Its hide is nearly impenetrable, except for one weakness—the throat of the goat. It's the only part of the Chimera that isn't protected by scales or thick fur. But getting close enough to strike that fatal blow is nearly impossible."

Adrian felt a shiver run down his spine as he considered the odds. "And the fire? How do we defend against that? How do we get close enough to do that without getting incinerated ourselves?"

Lilith's lips curled into a smirk. "That's where I come in. My powers can shield us from the worst of its flames, but we'll need a weapon strong enough to pierce its hide. Something with divine power, like a spear or sword blessed by the gods."

Adrian considered her words, his thoughts racing. "And where do we find such a weapon?"

Her eyes trailed down to his sword. "You have the answer in your hands, my dear," she replied.

Adrian's eyes narrowed in confusion before he followed her gaze, realizing what she meant.

"You think the sword can slay the beast?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

Lilith shrugged, a confident smile playing on her lips.

"It has my powers running through its blade, after all," she said. "I'll say you have all you need right there."

Adrian nodded, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword as he considered their next move.

"Then it's settled. We'll set off in the morning. We can gather what supplies we need here in the city, and then we can make our way to the mountains. With any luck, we can put an end to this creature's reign of terror once and for all."

"Good," she said, her voice soft.

Adrian glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well done. You've done your homework."

Lilith smirked, the playful light returning to her eyes. "Of course. I'm not just a pretty face, you know. Being a goddess of lust has its perks, but knowledge is power. I've seen creatures like the Chimera before—terrifying, yes, but they can be defeated. You just have to be smarter than the beast."

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head in admiration. "I never doubted it, Lilith. You're full of surprises."

She grinned, her expression becoming more mischievous.

"You have no idea," she teased.