Chapter 326: Retail Ascension

It was most definitely a good day to go to the mall. Great weather, just enough hours for dining and shopping, and a bunch of excited companions who definitely weren’t late today.

So surely it should be fine.

And for the most part, it was. But what do you know? For some reason, it was as if half of Eryndra thought it was a good day to go out today!

Because just what was this level of traffic?!

There could possibly be nothing more ironic than having a van full of beings with wings while being stuck in one hell of a traffic jam.

And yet there he was, Riley Hale Dravaryn, seated in the passenger seat of said matchbox, wondering why he allowed for such a disaster to happen.

See, traffic had never been a good thing, but people didn’t really know what that meant because they had likely never been in such a small space with a bunch of dragons who had waited practically all their lives to visit the mall, only to be told they had to wait because others also wanted to visit said mall.

As one could expect, Orien had been particularly vocal about his displeasure. He was in human form now, so his impatience translated into the unmistakable energy of a young child whittling away at everyone’s life to keep entertained. It didn’t help that his own husband was an intimidating driver who partially worried all the other passengers.

Kael’s hands were steady on the wheel. Too steady. The kind of steady that suggested he was one honk away from committing a felony.

Riley cleared his throat in a bid to save the city.

“You know what, with the mall being so big, maybe you ought to take a look at a few things in advance?”

He didn’t particularly say it loudly, but one could be certain several twitches happened in succession.

“How?”

It came from a very particular dragonling whom Riley could see from the rearview mirror. He had that look on his face, and while it was clearly filled with indignation, it was also a look that Riley just enjoyed seeing.

But in truth, what he enjoyed seeing was how it would morph into a different expression as soon as the child understood the assignment. So he lent him his phone so he could do a little bit of research.

Only this time around, said ex-mortal faced karma as Orien suddenly said, “Huh?”

“What’s this?”

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A disaster.

That’s what.

Apparently, Riley should have known that there was a reason why everyone seemed to be out and about today, of all days.

But as someone who hadn’t really ventured out recently or had the opportunity to regularly check social media, he completely forgot about a small bit of shopping tradition he hadn’t had the time to enjoy in the last few years.

And what do you know? That was today.

So when today’s golden duckling showed him what had those wide eyes sparkling, Riley almost got shivers down his spine.

The great day of lucky bags.

Apparently, it wasn’t enough that the ad took up the entire screen. No. It also had to be animated with shimmering golden letters that most definitely existed to mock Riley’s existence.

For when he looked up from the phone Orien had shoved back into his hands, he was certain he could see clear intent in those eyes: participation was mandatory, and failure wasn’t an option.

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But for one golden dragonling, it was just common sense. Instinctive. Logical. The additional excitement definitely had nothing to do with the giant structure he could see from the small matchbox they were riding.

Orien leaned forward as much as the seatbelt would allow, golden eyes pressed to the window. Buildings slid by in slow, agonizing increments, each one taller than the last. His fingers curled against the glass.

“…What’s that?”

The question slipped out, soft and almost reverent.

Riley glanced back just in time to catch the way Orien’s pupils widened. The child clearly had a guess. He just was not entirely sure.

The last time they went somewhere like this, Orien had been stuffed into a duffel bag with two very strategically placed eye slots. It had been dark. Confined. He had smelled things and heard things, but he had not really seen much of anything. Certainly nothing like this.

And the thing looming ahead of them now was far, far bigger than the place they had visited before.

The structure rose higher the closer they crept. Wide. Massive. Layered with glass, light, and moving panels that reflected the sky itself. Enchanted signboards scrolled endlessly across its sides, flashing images of food, clothes, glowing words, and symbols Orien could read but not fully comprehend. And yet somehow he understood they were important.

His mouth fell open.

“That’s the mall?” he asked, voice cracking just a little.

Riley smiled helplessly. “That’s the mall.”

Orien gasped.

Not a quiet gasp. Not a polite one. It was the kind of sound that came from deep in the soul, like someone witnessing a miracle for the first time.

Heck, the child had even more of a reaction upon seeing this than when Riley informed him about wearing the golden dragon clan’s treasured heirloom.

But Orien would argue that this was a far more monumental moment.

And he wasn’t even kidding.

The mall looked nothing like the temple he knew, and yet it felt like one. An even greater one.

Multiple entrances arched upward like grand gates. Light spilled from within even in broad daylight, warm and inviting. Layers upon layers of floors were visible through the transparent walls, packed with moving figures, glowing signs, and colors that shifted and shimmered as if alive.

To Orien, it wasn’t just a building.

It was everything.

Rows upon rows of stores stacked high into the sky. Places filled with things. Things to look at. Things to touch. Things to eat. Entire sections devoted to food alone, if the swirling images on the walls were to be believed. Fruits. Sweets. Drinks. Mountains of packaged wonders lined up in perfect order.

Temples.

Plural.

So much for ascending to another plane of existence. This time around, the young golden dragonling was practically reborn.

In fact, there were even soft chimes when the gates of heaven opened to welcome them. Him.

No wonder that dubious place called a parking lot was so packed.

Orien had complained the entire time they were inching forward. They were already so close, yet so far. And he truly didn’t understand why they had to stop for that frail guard who blocked each and every vehicle like some kind of unnecessary obstacle.

Why were they being impeded at the threshold of paradise?

But the moment they actually stepped inside, the young dragon had a newfound respect for the unfortunately malnourished temple guard.

He wasn’t an obstacle.

He just happened to be a filter.

He was there to decide who was worthy enough to enter the great temple.

And today, they were found worthy.

The wondrous temple guard took payment from his uncle, which Orien generously decided didn’t matter. Mortals had their rituals, too. In the end, the barrier was lifted, and they were allowed passage.

Of course, there was that bit about parking, and how his aunt could be said to be keeping it together as his uncle did that thing called parking. It was a challenge, but they survived the insignificant moment and made it to the critical bits.

Like getting out of that deathtrap of an elevator that was clearly the last challenge before they could get to their destination.

And finally, they made it.

They were allowed to witness the greatness of—

Sniff. Sniff.

The great golden dragon didn’t even last a whole minute.

His head snapped sharply to the side, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. His expression shifted from awe to intense focus.

Something smelled good.

Very good.

He tugged urgently at his aunt’s pants. “That.”

Riley blinked. “That what?”

“That,” Orien repeated, pointing vaguely in three different directions at once.

“…”

“…”

Clearly, the problem was which one.

The air was thick with competing scents. Sweet. Savory. Fried. Warm bread. Sugar. Meat. Something buttery. Something spiced. Something he didn’t even have words for yet.

Orien stood there, frozen, eyes darting wildly as his brain tried and failed to process it all at once.

Just beside him, Riley, who had asked such an impossible question, could already see it.

Inside the great mall, on their first outing as a family, their little mascot was having his first existential crisis for the day.

The black dragon swallowed.

Forget the swimsuits and the floaters. At this rate, just what time would they be able to get to the supermarket?

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But if the little golden dragon had found several things alluring, it could be said that he wasn’t the only one. For in the space that probably housed the excited population of Eryndra today, another being found something similarly interesting.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep