The Pegasus craned its neck, nostrils flaring, and looked at Luo Wei sideways—clearly unimpressed.

  "I'm not going to force you to be my summoned beast if you don't want to," Luo Wei said calmly. "There's no need to be so hostile toward me."

  She put away the summoning scroll and continued, "I summoned you just to see if Pegasi still had descendants. I'm not trying to enslave you. Of course, if you're willing to serve me, I won't treat you poorly."

  "Gold, silver, jewels, fine clothes, gourmet food, luxurious stables—you can have it all. If you don't want those things, there are other options. Mountains of magic stones you can use freely, and an endless plain bigger than the Wastes where you can run."

  "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." Luo Wei smiled faintly. "My name is Luo Wei. I'm from the Misty Plains, a princess of the Misty Plains Kingdom and a descendant of the Goddess of Life. I'm currently studying at Siria Magic Academy in the Western Continent."

  The Pegasus's proud expression gradually softened. Its head lowered more and more until it was level with Luo Wei's chest. Its liquid eyes gazed up at her, filled with curiosity and longing.

  "Neigh, whinny?" it asked softly.

  [Can... can I really have all that?]

  "I keep my word," Luo Wei said. "But I'm not a charity. If you want something, you have to give something in return."

  She looked the Pegasus up and down critically and shook her head. "However, your wings don't look as large as a Griffin's, and your speed probably isn't as good as my Raven's. I'm not sure what use you'd be."

  The Pegasus pinned its ears back angrily and stamped a hoof. "Whinny-neigh-neigh!"

  [Who says that?! I can fly! I'm faster than Griffins and have bigger wings than Ravens!]

  It turned in a circle, proudly showing off its strong, powerful wings and sturdy back. "Neigh-neigh-whinny-whinny!"

  [I can even carry a rider from the Wastes to the Western Continent! I fly fast and steady!]

  "Carry someone from the Wastes to the Western Continent?" Luo Wei frowned. "Do you already have an owner?"

  The Pegasus straightened its neck immediately and shook its head. "Neigh-neigh!"

  [No! Absolutely not!]

  "A good horse doesn't eat from two troughs," Luo Wei said firmly. "If you want to follow me, you need to cut ties with your old master first."

  The Pegasus pricked up its ears and looked at her guiltily.

  "You don't want to?" Luo Wei said coldly. "I'll give you one day to think it over. If you still can't make up your mind after one day, then go back to your original master."

  The Pegasus drooped its head dejectedly.

  Luo Wei felt disappointed. If it wouldn't agree even after her offer, it must have deep feelings for its original master and couldn't bear to leave.

  If it chose to return to its master tomorrow, she'd just have to find a way to recruit its master as well.

  If that didn't work, she'd sign a friendly mutual aid contract with its master. When she needed the Pegasus, it could come help her. After all, she had the summoning scroll. Even if the owner refused, she could still summon it.

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  That was the worst-case scenario. Before that, Luo Wei still wanted to try to win it over—maybe tempt this weak-willed Pegasus with some treats to give it a taste of the good life.

  Luo Wei glanced at the Pegasus and softened her tone. "I didn't get your permission before summoning you today, and I scared you. I apologize for that."

  The Pegasus raised its head and whinnied weakly.

  This princess was fierce one moment and gentle the next. It was a little scared.

  "Want some sweet malt candy?" Luo Wei asked temptingly. "As an apology, I'll treat you to malt candy. How about it? And sweet apples and crunchy carrots—you can eat as much as you want."

  Hearing there was malt candy, plus carrots and apples, the Pegasus immediately perked up. Its ears stood straight, and its eyes grew bright and clear.

  "Neigh-neigh!"

  [Yes! Yes!]

  Horses loved sweets. Even a Pegasus couldn't resist the temptation of syrup, let alone when there were also carrots—a horse's favorite—and apples, their second favorite.

  The Wastes had a dry climate and scarce resources. The barren soil could barely grow juicy fruits and vegetables, and sugar was even rarer.

  The Pegasus had only tasted honey a few times in its life, and that was when it had snuck off with its meal buddy at night to steal some from the Western Continent's coast. It didn't know how sweet malt candy was, but just hearing about it made its mouth water.

  The excited Pegasus raised its tail. Its long face somehow took on an expression of joy similar to a human's.

  It was said that horses' facial muscles were arranged similarly to humans', so horses could express complex emotions through their faces.

  Luo Wei raised an eyebrow. "Wait here, then. I'll go get you some candy from the kitchen."

  She was in a good mood. The magical creatures in this world were all so food-motivated—it was perfect for her.

  After Luo Wei left, the kitten tentatively stepped forward. Seeing the Pegasus didn't move, it grew bolder and approached.

  "Meow?"

  The kitten stared at the Pegasus's wings, its eyes full of curiosity.

  The Pegasus's wings looked so thin and light. How could such wings lift the Pegasus's heavy body into the air?

  And the Pegasus wasn't majestic like a Griffin at all. It wasn't white like the mythical Pegasus either. Its coat and mane were dark and glossy, as if coated with oil.

  The kitten was so absorbed in its observation that it didn't notice the black horse lowering its head slightly, quietly looking down at it.

  Hmph. Little thing. Why's it staring? Does it want to climb on my back?

  The Pegasus snorted through its nostrils. Confirming the little cat at its feet posed no threat, it curled its upper lip, looked away, and adjusted its posture. It lifted one front hoof and kicked outward elegantly.

  Heh—off you go!

  The kitten was caught completely off guard. The hoof, bigger than its head, sent it tumbling backward. It rolled twice on the ground before scrambling to its feet, shaking its head groggily. It was totally dazed!

  The Pegasus hadn't kicked hard—it was more like a prank. The kitten didn't feel pain, but being covered in dust was humiliating.

  "Meow-ow-ow!"

  The kitten shook the dust from its fur and yowled angrily at the Pegasus.

  The Pegasus had already lowered its hoof. Keeping its head perfectly still, it glanced at the cat, then quickly looked away, acting as if it had done nothing at all.

  Hearing the cat's cry, Luo Wei hurried over carrying a basket of carrots and apples. "Big Orange, what's wrong?"

  "Meow-ow-ow~"

  The kitten ran over to her looking aggrieved. When it reached her, it raised its front paw and mimicked the Pegasus's kicking motion, loudly tattling: "Meow-meow-meow, meow-ow, meow-ow-ow!"

  Luo Wei frowned at the Pegasus. "Did you just kick Big Orange?"

  The Pegasus's eyes widened in shock. Its ears pinned back, and it whinnied pitifully: "Whinny-neigh, neigh-neigh-whinny..."

  [I didn't! It was an accident! It suddenly ran under my feet, and I just lifted my hoof, and I don't know how it got kicked...]

  It called out for a while, then lowered its head sadly. "Whinny-neigh..."

  [I'm sorry, little kitty. I should have checked if anything was under my feet before I lifted it...]

  Luo Wei's expression softened. "So it was a misunderstanding."

  She set down the basket, crouched down, and patiently soothed the kitten. "All right, Big Orange. The Pegasus already apologized to you. It didn't kick you on purpose. It's much bigger than you, so it has blind spots. Don't run under its feet anymore, okay?"

  The kitten's mouth fell open in disbelief. Even through its fur, its face looked utterly baffled.

  It stared at the Pegasus. Did... did it really not do it on purpose?

  Seeing the kitten had calmed down, Luo Wei stood up. She placed the basket of apples and carrots in front of the Pegasus and pulled out a bag of malt candies from her pouch, pouring them over the fruit and vegetables.

  "Too much sugar causes cavities. You can only have this one small bag per day. But you can eat as many carrots as you want."

  "All right. Enjoy your meal."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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