Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Hekate bursts into Wenlianna’s private state room on the airship, exclaiming, “Wenlianna!”

The magic artisan and two maids are wholly startled in the middle of changing the young noblewoman from her lab-clothing to her dinner dress. She yelps in terror, stammering, “H-H-Hekate!? Wh-What’s wrong!?”

The feldrok doesn’t register what’s going on, instead rushing to Wenlianna quickly. The brunette tries to back away, but is cornered as the fox-eared girl closes in on her in an obvious frantic state. The two maids try to block Hekate, but the young empress is too quick and manages to dart between them. “Wenlianna! We have to go! Hurry! We’re wasting time! We have to tell, and we have to go. I think there’s a shuttle, please!”

Wenlianna tries to keep her arms free of Hekate, crying out, “He-Hekate! Hekate! I don’t- No! Please stop!”

In her terrified and apparently delirious state, she begins dragging Wenlianna by the wrist towards the open door, still urging desperately, “Let’s go! We can’t keep wasting time like this! I’m such a fool! It was right in front of me the whole time! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please, just…”

“HEKATE!” screams Wenlianna, trying in vain to escape the deceptively strong teen’s grip.

The only thing stopping the brunette from being dragged out of the door, since Hekate is able to overpower her and her maids, is the caramel-skinned elf-like woman that might stand a chance in a fight against Hekate, at least for a short time.

Doephluev places herself in Hekate’s path, making it clear that she’s blocking the feldrok girl. “Doephluev!? Move! I have to-...”

“I only take direct orders from Daniel,” retorts Doephluev as she blocks the door. She can’t physically stop Hekate, but she can brace against the door and refuse to move.

Her insolent retort also halts Hekate in her tracks, and she is stunned for a moment. “What? I order you to move, Doephluev! I’m in a hurry!”

The archoneldwyn shakes her head. “No.”

“You’re under contract! H-Have you…!? YOU!”

Hekate releases Wenlianna finally, and Doephluev’s composure breaks. She lurches backwards almost unnaturally, as if possessed, and she cries out, clutching her chest. She catches her breath, and Hekate, finally disrupted from her panic, snaps at Doephluev, “You were resisting it?”

Doephluev nods. She murmurs with her voice weakened, “The real question is… what are you… doing?” She continues panting as she tries to recover from the pain of being compelled by her magic contract.

Hekate looks behind her, and both maids are now trying to protect Wenlianna, who has retreated to the other side of her bed.

“Please come to your senses, your Greatness!”

“Her Grace has done nothing wrong! Please!”

“W-Wrong?” stammers Hekate, horrified that everyone is so terrified of her suddenly. She looks at Doephluev, who is trying to posture herself to move in some sort of defensive manner as well. She then looks at Wenlianna, who is stripped down to her silk underclothing.

The feldrok teen droops her ears and tail as she tries to recall where exactly she went wrong, and she realizes it immediately. In her haste to fix the problem she made a realization of, she didn’t explain why she wanted Wenlianna to follow or what the reason was.

Hekate says apologetically, “I’m sorry… I… Wenlianna, I… Everyone, I was too hasty. But, w-w-we… I think…” She fumbles her thoughts because she’s still distressed by what she figured out.

Wenlianna takes a breath to calm herself now that she sees how disappointed Hekate is in herself. The first daughter of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of the Stalvaltan noble family bore witness to the strongest and most fearsome mother the world has ever seen. She’s certain of it.

Recalling how her mother would respond, Wenlianna takes one more, easy-going breath, lifts her head and straightens her posture, and she approaches Hekate gracefully, not in an intimidating manner, but in an elegant and reassuring motion without a hint of anger.

Aramellianna could be terrifying. In fact, she was most terrifying when the girls expected her to be angry, but she had not yet raised her voice or her hand.

Instead, she was a master of controlling her emotions in order to instruct her children carefully and affectionately.

Wenlianna approaches Hekate and speaks gently. “You obviously have something very important to tell me, Hekate. Please take your time and tell me as calmly as you can.”

Hekate looks at Wenlianna with a child-like surprise, which is an expression Wenlianna has worn many, many times. The feldrok girl then glances at the maids briefly, seeming to be unsure.

Wenlianna says gently, “Please step outside.”

“Your Grace?” asks one of the maids.

The magic artisan-turned-empress smiles softly. “It was a simple misunderstanding. Our glorious Crowned Empress was just concerned for me. Please give us a moment.”

“As you wish, your Grace.” Both maids bow, and they step outside, passing Doephluev who stays behind. The archoneldwyn states quietly, “I would like to remain, in case my advice is useful.”

Hekate nods, and Wenlianna bobs her head in agreement. The former-assassin closes the door, and she stands by patiently for Hekate, who takes a breath.

“I figured it out, Wenlianna. I’m sorry it took so long. I feel so stupid for not realizing it right away, but… We need to go to the Citadel so we can fix it as quickly as possible.”

“Please explain, Hekate,” replies Wenlianna, taking a seat nearby. She gestures for Hekate to take the other seat at the small tea table, and the feldrok girl reluctantly sits down. Her tail swishes back and forth. She seems almost embarrassed to talk about the specifics.

“Your… Um…” Her ears suddenly perk upright, and she sits up. “You’re a dragon!” exclaims Hekate.

Both Wenlianna and Doephluev cock their heads in confusion, and the archoneldwyn remarks dryly, “Have you been drinking in secret, your Greatness?”

“I haven’t!” whines Hekate. She quickly adds, “I-I-I don’t mean,... I meant… Your great grandma was a dragon, wasn’t she? O-Or… A half… dragon?”

“Great Grandmother Gyualenestreom? Yes, but… I’m not sure I understand.”

Hekate’s expressive ears droop, and her eyes glimmer as if she might start crying. “Th-Th-The… curse…” whimpers the feldrok girl.

“Cur-...?” starts Wenlianna, halting as quickly as she starts the word. Her own face goes pale, and Hekate’s eyes truly begin to water.

“I’m sorry,” whimpers Hekate. “I-I should have… I should have thought of it sooner.”

Wenlianna touches her abdomen, her own expression drained.

Doephluev is able to read the room, so she doesn’t ask any prying questions. She knows Daniel won’t let her get away with open cruelty towards the other consorts. She has wiles, patience, and schemes enough to take what she wants without cruelty, the one thing the object of her motivation abhors.

Hekate repeats, “I’m sorry…”

Thinking quickly, Wenlianna rushes to Hekate and hugs her. “I-It’s not your fault, Hekate. It’s… If you hadn’t… said anything, I would never have known… I… It should… only affect actual dragons, though, shouldn’t it?”

“I-I-I don’t know! But, if… If it is… Then…” Hekate sniffles, adding softly, “It could have been… h-h-horrible…”

Wenlianna relaxes a little, still hugging Hekate. Doephluev finally asks gently, “I assume this isn’t the curse Daniel was hit with?”

Both of the other women shake their heads. “No,” replies Hekate. “It’s a curse that the last feldroks of the Citadel inflicted on the dragons. I-... It’s a bad one, too.”

“Some of my distant ancestors were dragons,” adds Wenlianna.

“And,... there is a cure in the Citadel?” asks the archoneldwyn.

“Yes,” replies Hekate. “We’ll have to take Wenlianna as soon as possible.” Hekate hops off of her chair, holding Wenlianna’s hands. “Let’s hurry and take the shuttle in the hangar, and we can be there in just a few hours.”

Doephluev counters politely, “While I can understand wanting to remove any curses promptly, I would like to recommend that we contact my Beloved, since our forces are currently divided for specific reasons.”

Hekate sighs. “We can take Aoloan with us, as well.”

Doephluev shakes her head. “That isn’t the whole point, Hekate, and you know it. We have to defend the airship and maintain a presence in Mattarglos until we fully have their cooperation.”

“But, Wenlianna is an Empress, Doephluev. It’s easy for you to preach patience when you already have an heir on the way.”

The former assassin is caught a little off guard and loses her balance for a moment from the awkwardness. “I… That’s… I’m not saying to delay for very long. I just think Daniel will want to handle it so that you and I remain here.”

Hekate thinks for a long time, since Doephluev is definitely right. But, it would also be an excuse to go to where he is.

As if reading Hekate’s brewing intent to dispute, Doephluev adds, “We also don’t know that Aoloan is… the one, as much as I think she may be.”

The feldrok teen thinks on the former assassin's words for a moment. It obviously doesn’t help that Doephluev is suspect number one for most people.

“I guess you have a point… But, Wenlianna…”

“I’ll survive a little longer,” replies the young brunette. “And, I don’t want to distract Daniel from what he’s doing just to tell him over the radio. If you agree, let’s tell him,... Or rather, let’s ask him when he’s returning, and express that we need him sooner than later.”

Hekate bobs her head affirmatively. “We’ll go with that, then. I’m… sorry I startled you. I-I’ll apologize to your maids, too.”

Wenlianna giggles. “It’s alright, Hekate. It’s reassuring that you’re looking after me so protectively.”

Hekate blushes, scratching her cheek. “Y-Yeah, well… If you’re sad, everyone else will end up sad, too, including me. So… It was for myself.” Hekate trails off bashfully, and Doephluev rolls her eyes while Wenlianna smiles affectionately.

***

Daniel listens patiently to the reports from the Field Marshals he assigned for each region.

“The Stalvaltan territory is now fully under control of the Fievegal, with its borders heavily protected, your Graces. It’s believed by our spies that the easterners know about our ranged weapons, as well as the iron drakes. There’s also a presence that we believe to be imperial centered around the capital, but their numbers are unknown. We don’t have enough spies to get to the heart of the area. They seem to be searching for someone or something, heading west.”

Daniel nods at the oni Field Marshal. “Thank you, Field Marshal Rostas. Now, Field Marshal Klur, please report on the bandits I was briefed on.”

The oni bows and takes his seat, while the goblin addressed stands up on his chair, lest he not be any taller than the table. “Klur report to Emperor.” The goblin salutes momentarily, and then states, “Raiders attack refugees and villages. Goblins in packs.”

“Goblins?” asks Ryuogriar.

“Yes, Powerful Dragon Empress. Klur ensure multiple reports to verify.”

“Do we have forces to spare?” asks Daniel, studying the map. The formal army of the Fievegal is spread thin, with most of their soldiers in the Grand Duchy, and the bulk of the rest are securing a trade route to Fort Peony.

The dattakorien who served under Baeka for a time before becoming one of the Field Marshals of the Fievegal replies, “We’re training volunteers as quickly as possible, your Grace, but presently, we only have two hundred troops on standby near the Citadel that can be deployed right away.”

“That should be enough, shouldn’t it?” asks Daniel.

Klur clears his throat. “Klur have request, Emperor.”

Shek starts to scold him, “Field Marshal, it is not the time for requests…”

“It’s alright, Shek,” replies Daniel gently. “Tell me, Klur.”

“Goblins attack. Hurt Fievegal goblin honor. You send goblins. We restore honor.” He seems genuinely angry and cold, clenching his fists as the diminutive green-skinned man bares his teeth.

Daniel thinks for a moment. No one says anything to encourage him or discourage him either way.

Shek once explained that there are effectively two different kinds of goblins, which even the regular demon-kin consider ‘feral’ versus ‘social’ goblins. ‘Feral’ goblins are exactly like what Daniel would expect goblins to be from all of the fantasy media he consumed in his lifetime. Having seen an anime about a party of adventurers specializing in combat against goblins, Shek and Skloe, as well as others, confirmed that feral goblins behave like those goblins. As such, even demon-kin regularly exterminate feral goblins that grow out of control near settlements.

Foolishly, Daniel neglected basic social problems of governing, even after he stole away manpower to form a central army.

“Field Marshal Klur, you have my permission to handle the raiders as you see fit. They must meet the definition of enemies that I’ve laid out before. Rescue any refugees and captives, and I’d like you to gather any treasure you find so we can make sure any captives and refugees get their belongings back. Afterwards, your troop may disburse everything remaining.”

Klur salutes again, standing proudly. “Goblins small and weak, but we not monsters like dumb goblins. Klur stake life on this mission.”

Daniel laughs lightly, while the Dragon Empresses all smile, and Shek and Skloe seem to be pleased as well.

Without any hesitation, Ryuogriar suggests, “What say you to this, Mukori? Feral goblins should be called dumgobs, since they do not deserve the honor of being known as true goblins. This will make it much easier to distinguish enemy types, since dumgobs fight differently than goblins.”

Klur nods. “Klur honored by Beautiful Dragon Empress wise words. Klur agree. Dumgobs not goblins. Bring shame to goblin name.”

Daniel smirks. He does find it a little amusing to see goblins speaking of honor and carrying themselves with dignity. They still tend to be greedy and fairly selfish, but he can understand. Shek, Skloe, Klur, and all of the others who have joined the Fievegal have been upstanding citizens, even if they have some strange customs.

“Very good. Klur, do whatever it takes to clear out the dumgobs. You have permission to show no quarter.”

This surprises everyone, since Daniel has been notoriously passive in most conflicts. He gave a fairly wide blanket permission to win any fights in the Grand Duchy, but he isn’t pressing the borders actively.

Now, he’s granting the goblins permission to exterminate enemies without holding back at all.

Daniel clarifies his position, “They’re harming our citizens directly. I said I was done playing the gentle game. If you think captives will be useful, you may take captives. However, know this; I won’t allow slavery.”

Klur nods. “Leave it to Klur, Emperor. Klur report finished.”

“Anyone have anything else to report?” asks the mechanic gently.

“Yes, I do,” declares Geirahoel as she stands up. She holds up one of her two eggs, setting it on the table. “Let everyone spread the word that the soon to be First Dragon Princess is going to hatch in the next two weeks.”

“What!?” gasps Ryuogriar as Reignleif recoils in surprise.

The orange dragon snickers proudly. “That human maid has proven useful. She said this egg will hatch first out of all of ours. And, she’ll be a princess.” She hugs the egg, which, if Daniel remembers right, is the first egg Geirahoel laid. He promised to treat the first three eggs well, even though they aren’t specifically his.

And, as if to add fuel to the fire, Ryuogriar places both of her eggs on the table, declaring overly-loudly, “W-Well, Mukori’s first Dragon child has started making noises.”

Daniel sighs. “Any military matters to report?”

“None, my Liege,” answers Neith from nearby.

“Mukori!” whine both Ryuogriar and Geirahoel as they cling to his arms. Everyone departs, with the exception of the Dragon Empresses, Gold, Neith, Shek, and Skloe.

Reignleif flops onto his back, hugging his neck. She grumbles, “It is news of Imperial princesses and princes, Mukori. What could be more important?”

Daniel sighs. “Where I come from, we have a saying; don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” He looks at the egg. “Pretty much a direct application in this case.”

“They make sounds, Mukori!” whines the young orange dragon.

The overwhelmed emperor sighs with a soft smile. “I’m just saying, we can make a proper announcement when they hatch. In some cultures on earth, the birth of royalty was celebrated all across the nation.”

He notices the two goblin queens glance at each other a little despondently. The mechanic knows immediately what troubles them.

“I’m sorry, Shek and Skloe. As I’ve mentioned, I… was very much not royalty of any kind in my homeland. It didn’t occur to me to have an extravagant birthday for the children.”

The three Dragon Empresses still clinging to Daniel glance at each other.

However, Gold is the one to blurt it out. “Isn’t the answer obvious, then? We should hold a grand celebration for all of them, since the two gremlin princesses are old enough to remember it and enjoy it.”

“They’re goblins, not gremlins,” grumbles Geirahoel defensively.

Gold grins cheekily. “If Auntie Gold says they’re gremlins, I bet they’d both happily agree with me.”

“We’ll start planning a celebration,” interrupts Daniel before a fight erupts. “Tekten and Jieka are the firstborn princesses of the Fievegal, even if we’ll retain the ranks of their mothers for successorship…” He laughs at his own circumstances as he rubs his hand through his hair. “Once we figure out the best way to handle that mess…”

Gold crosses her arms, teasing playfully, “If the Harbinger wasn’t so insatiable, it might be easier to figure out.”

“Oh ho,” laughs Ryuogriar with one hand over her mouth. “Have you finally come around, Lady Gold? Do you wish to be an Empress?”

“Hah! I’m a thousand years too young to be tied down like that again!”

Daniel looks at his companions, who are enjoying themselves. Even Shek and Skloe are amused by the conversation.

Still… I wonder if I should give her a title or something? The dragons don’t seem to care about it as much, but it should give her something more than simply being a dragon if she needs to interact with anyone in the future. I’ll have to think about it some more.

Satisfied with the outcome, Daniel simply listens to the banter going on mostly between the dragons for a moment. Geirahoel is still a little snippy with Neith when he speaks, but she has toned it down to mild insults, rather than vitriolic hatred towards him. This gives him an idea.

When Daniel and Geirahoel are walking alone for a bit after the meeting, Daniel decides to enact his plan.

“Mukori?”

“Yes?” asks the dragon as she walks arm in arm with him. The acolytes of the Unity of the Great Dragons are escorting the stroller behind them with Geirahoel’s eggs, ensuring they are present if Geirahoel asks for anything.

“I should have told you this before, but we had a word for someone like Neith on Earth.”

She instantly perks up, pressing her chest against him. “Oh!? You’re right! You have neglected me, Mukori!” She squeezes his arm, pouting up at him. “I’ll… I’ll only use it sometimes.”

Daniel sighs. “You may use it as much as you want. I told you when we met, I believe in freedom of speech.”

“Yes, but you also told me there would be consequences.”

“That’s true, but… The consequences of this term are minimal, I promise. It’s kind of like… the opposite of ‘Mukori’. The only other ones who will know are me and the readers. It’s that meaningful.”

“Well, then stop beating around the tree and tell me.”

Daniel snickers playfully. She does her best with figures of speech that he teaches her, but she’s adorable when she does.

That means it’ll be all the more perfect when his plan comes together.

He smiles sincerely as he looks into her eyes.

Oh, yes. This is going to be fun.

***

Neith studies the strange aquatic setup Daniel had made, over which Gold observes. She’s currently overseeing a handful of goblins wading in one of the large pools as they pull shells out of the water. The bivalves are simple creatures, and often found in the cleanest creek and riverbeds. The grey dragon knight has eaten them before when he was travelling, as well as similar species, but he has never given much thought about whether or not farming them is practical.

Gold notices him and perks up. “Hmm? Sir Neith. Fancy meeting you here. I figured you’d be following the Harbinger around.”

Gold doesn’t have a formal place in the Fievegal hierarchy, but Neith has been instructed to let her do what she wants, since Daniel has the golems reporting to him, and she has been rather docile in terms of not scheming anything. As Neith remembers her, she was simply a restless soul and liked to conquer challenges, but lost much of her vigor after losing several would-be hatchlings and one successful hatchling. He can tell her eyes follow him fiercely as he passes the rounded lounge chair she favors, where her egg is resting.

Daniel would have Neith tortured and killed in cold blood if anything happens to anyone’s eggs, because he is fully aware of how tragic the story is. Gold would be a red-hot inferno.

All that is to say; Neith has no interest in correcting her.

“The Emperor is within the boundaries of the Citadel itself, and he is with the Empresses and Queens.”

She smirks, relaxing a little when he intentionally walks a path that puts her between him and her own egg. He effectively walks past her to observe the workers checking and fishing out bivalves.

“I am often surprised how regularly our Liege finds ways to surprise me.”

The dragon matron scoffs, crossing her arms under her ample chest. “Right? These things stink when they die, and he wants thousands of them. And, he’s willing to gamble on them.”

“But why? And what are you doing now?”

“How should I know why? The Harbinger just said I’d know if I opened up the dead ones. So, you there, Oppok, hand me a few of the dead ones.”

A female goblin perks up from nearby her floating collection tray, and she pushes it through the water as she wades over to the two dragons, saying brightly in the goblin language, “{Yes, Madame Dragon!}”

Once she reaches them, Gold takes one of the deceased shellfish and pries it open with her fingers, inspecting the inside.

Naturally, there is the meaty, tongue-like part of the body and the much softer innards, already starting to stink rather quickly. The inside of the shell has a beautiful sheen, mostly white but with rainbow coloring shimmering in the light.

“It’s not like the chances are any higher of finding a pearl if you just crack one open and…” As Gold says this sarcastically, she tips the shellfish. Something round and hard rolls out of the shell and clacks across the floor as everyone looks. Neith picks it up, and even he is stunned by what he finds.

It is indeed a pearl, though relatively small. It is almost perfectly spherical, with a rather beautiful nacre that charms his dragon instincts with ease.

Gold reaches for it, and he hands it over. The female dragon inspects the pearl as well, turning it over in her hand.

“G-Guess I picked a lucky one.”

She looks at Neith, and she sets the first shellfish on the wall of the aquafarm. Both she and Neith take fresh shellfish out of the floating basket as Oppok and the other goblins watch in wonder.

Sure enough, two more pearls come out, one slightly deformed, and the other perfectly spherical and a little larger than the first.

“Wh-What have you been feeding them?” asks Neith, bewildered.

“I… I don’t know. Green water the Harbinger instructed me to make. I… This can’t be…”

Gold proceeds to open all of the deceased shellfish Oppok has collected so far out of the hundreds in the aquaculture. Some have multiple pearls, and only a couple have no pearls at all.

She flops down to a seated position on the floor as she stares blankly ahead, and Neith looks at the small collection of varied pearls in the female dragon’s hand. “Daniel didn’t explain what you were doing?”

“W-We made a bet… b-because I was so arrogant… He just told me what to do and how to take care of them. I… I figured he was after pearls, but…”

“What did he have you do?”

She looks up at him, replying quietly, “We just put tiny pieces of sand in each of them. Then, spread them out in the aquafarm and feed them.”

“And… How long ago did you start?”

“A-... A couple months…” She turns pale, realizing that, with thousands of these shellfish still perfectly healthy, and more being brought in every week via trade with the dattakoriens, she has already lost the bet. Pearls are rare, and therefore, very treasured on Zenkon.

Just like diamonds are.

“H-He’s… He’s a monster…” remarks Gold distantly.

Neith laughs warmly as he looks at the aquafarm. The goblins have come to a stop and are awaiting further instructions. Their eyes gleam with eagerness and a hint of greed, but they know better than to steal. The aquafarm is observed by golems, meaning Daniel will inevitably learn of traitors.

“H-... How the hell… How does he know these things?” asks Gold distantly, finally looking up at the grey knight.

He smiles and replies, “The only glimpses I have seen are through his actions and his phone artifact. His world truly is a fantastical place.”

Gold suddenly claws her hair. “Oh spirits… That’s why he was surprised I didn’t open the ones we discarded before! I’m such a fool!”

“Where are they now?” asks Neith.

“The bottom of the stupid lake! Where else?”

Neith smiles. “Well then, I think it’s a task for Dame Roeta and Sir Magnir. I’ll ask for permission to have them brought to see if they can find the dump site.”

Gold finally scrambles up to her feet. “I have to tell him! I… I… This is… I want to… expand! We can fit more in here! Look at all of this wasted space! Let’s go!” She starts to run away, but she halts. “Everyone, keep collecting the dead ones, but don’t you dare harm the live ones. The longer they live, the bigger the pearls will be, and the richer we’ll be. Do you understand?”

The goblins all cackle together as they nod eagerly and excitedly. They resume their tasks with fresh vigor, chattering with each other excitedly in their various dialects, some of which are even challenging for Neith to understand.

Gold then dashes to her lounge chair, which is being watched over by an older acolyte woman, who bows on her approach. “Your Eminence.”

“Do what you want! I’m going to the Harbinger!”

Neith laughs and jogs after her. “Don’t rush out. I brought a vehicle. It’ll be an easier ride through the checkpoint.”

“Then hurry up!”

“What about your acolyte?”

“Grrrr… Hurry up, Bonnelaede!”

“Y-Yes, your Eminence!” The woman does her best to jog after them, though Gold is already waiting in the rover by the time she arrives, and Neith holds her door open for her, assisting her inside.

“Th-Thank you, my Lord.”

Neith simply nods, climbing into the driver’s seat and accelerating away from the aquafarm.

The three return to the hangar of the Citadel, and Gold immediately asks the first sentient golem they see as she rushes up on it. “You! Uhhh… Thuirdan, right?”

The golem turns and bows, speaking in a fairly deep voice belonging to an oni in life. “Yes, Lady Gold. How may I assist y-...”

“Where is the Harbinger! I have to speak to him immediately!”

Unfazed by her urgency, the golem simply replies, “His Imperial Grace is with the imperial princes and princesses in the Violet Garden.”

“Which one is that?”

“The roof,” answers Neith. “Thank you.”

“Let’s go!” Gold charges ahead, and Neith follows right behind her, while Bonnelaede does her best to follow. Though, the acolytes aren’t allowed in the Violet Garden itself, since there are many private areas Geirahoel strictly enforces.

Once the two dragons arrive via the transporters, Gold and Neith scan the garden briefly, listening for several distinct sounds.

There are voices to the north, so they follow the paths in an unnecessary rush.

Unfortunately, the path leads them around a corner that bursts into the area where Jieka is running across the path, and she spots the two at the last possible second.

Gold tries to halt her momentum, but her egg slips from her hands. She could easily recover it herself, but she’ll likely scare or trip over the tiny goblin princess in the process.

Neith reacts within a split-second decision. He dives across Gold’s path, shoving her back to keep her from reacting instinctively as he reaches for the egg with his other hand. He manages to scoop it close to himself as he spins. From there, he is able to pass over Jieka and land on his back on the other side of her, absorbing the shock on the egg using his hands and wind magic to soften his own landing to minimize jostling the pre-hatchling inside.

Neith comes to a stop, still holding the egg as he slumps. Jieka cries from being startled, and everyone in the area comes running over.

“What was that, you fool!?” snarls a very familiar voice. Neith looks to find Geirahoel as Gold quickly tries to comfort the young princess, now that she is certain her egg is safe.

Neith relaxes. Here we go…

However, Geirahoel starts with scolding Gold, passing Neith right by. “You know the children play up here! Why were you even running in the first place!? And, with your egg, no less! If you don’t want it, give it to me! At least I won’t throw it!”

“It wasn’t intentional!” snaps Gold in reply, but Geirahoel retorts with just as much fire in her tone, “Of course not! But, you should know better!”

“Why!? Because I-...!” Before Gold says what she’s about to say, her own eyes starting to glimmer with tears, Jieka whimpers even more, and now Tekten and even the princes Daugli and Pomiel are on the verge of crying. Gold is supposed to be the ‘fun auntie’, and everyone will be hurt by her finishing her thought.

Geirahoel seems to know what she was going to say, also toning down quickly. “You know I didn’t mean it like that… I just meant… P-Please be more careful. F-For everyone’s sake. E-Especially the baby.”

Gold nods quietly, and Geirahoel finally looks at Neith. “You’re a fool, too, Onii-chan. You should have talked her down. Someone really important almost got hurt.” She pets Jieka’s head gently, who is crying into Gold’s shoulder.

“O-... Onii-chan?” asks Neith, glancing at Daniel.

Daniel murmurs, “This wasn’t what I had in mind…” He takes Jieka from Gold, and scoops up Tekten as well, hugging them both as they cling to his neck. Daugli is in Ryuogriar’s arms while Pomiel is in Reignleif’s as they approach.

“I-I’m sorry,” says Gold. “Neith… Y-You… You saved me… from lots of mistakes today.”

“You finally did something impressive… Dumb Onii-chan.”

Neith scoffs as Geirahoel looks away from him, crossing her arms. He recognizes the gesture, but he’s surprised by the name she’s calling him. She’s not as angry at him as she once was, and it was… mostly a compliment.

Regardless, he hands the egg to Gold as she approaches, and he says politely, “I did only what was expected of me. The Princess is a treasure of the Fievegal, and your egg is a treasure to the dragons, if not the Fievegal as well.”

“What were you in such a hurry to tell us, Lady Gold?”

“Hmm? OH! Right! This, you damn… Monster!”

The two empresses and all four children gasp at these words. However, when Gold withdraws the items from her pouch and presents them to Daniel, he is the first to laugh.

The dragons and half-human children stare at it just as Gold and Neith had; a handful of small pearls, most of which are quite impeccably spherical and beautiful.

The dragon matron holding the pearls softens her expression, and she says tenderly, “You’ve defeated me again, Harbinger…”

The human teases playfully, “It hasn’t been a full year yet…”

The golden-haired woman sighs in disgust. “Ugh… I know how far you’ve gotten with diamonds alone! I’m not an idiot!”

“Mukori,...” starts Reignleif. “Did you make these yourself?”

Daniel grins at her, and the three dragon Empresses stare at him in disbelief. He only corrects them to give credit where it’s due; “I laid out the instructions. Lady Gold and her workers have done the hard work.”

“We’re going to bankrupt the world…” mumbles Ryuogriar a little eagerly.

Finally, everyone shares a laugh, though Neith is still curious about where Geirahoel’s new title for him came from.

As far as he’s concerned, it might be better off left as a mystery.

If she doesn’t know what it means, Neith doesn’t want her to think he had any part in it.

***