Galen Vesa

Fluffy. Yup. Hugs are fluffy. And smell nice too. At least those my guild master dispensed at her own discretion. So, a ferru indeed smell nice. Kind of difficult to describe that smell by any other words aside from pleasant. I wonder. Do I smell like that to others as well? Some people did say I had a unique scent but, I can’t really feel anything. Not even my armpits. Come to think of it, this body doesn’t even sweat. Given other changes, it is a neat one.

Hey roomie, I’ve been wondering. Do dragons sweat?

*Another tactful question I see. Yes dolt. Dragons did sweat, poop and stink no less than other creatures. Unwashed body reeks regardless of age, race or gender. Although, in our case, dragon skin does not secrete water like human skin does. Dragon sweat was… how did your people called it? The liquid that can eat metal. *

Acid. That does sound troublesome. Why do You always speak of your kin as if there were no more of them?

*There are no more dragons. As far as I can tell, I am… was the last one. I have not met or sense a dragon for more than a thousand years. Not since Eacleria opened the path in the sky. Those who could left with her. *

Left? Why? Where did they go?

*To the promised land of forever after? You ask as if only the humans were allowed to have prophecies and happy endings. No. Ever since we were born, we knew of a world meant only for us. We waited for one that would take us there. Eacleria found the path. *

But you stayed?

*Some had friends and family that could not go with them. Mixed blood would not survive the journey. Humans, even less so. *

Forgive me, I didn’t want to…

*I know dolt. I know. I stayed because I wanted to. Love can blind the sharpest eye. I hoped it would never end but… humans are such fragile creatures. I did not expect life would rob me of him so soon. I thought we had at least half a century more. Then perhaps with my magic… It never goes the way we want it does it? *

Supposedly. I’m not the best statistical sample to try that hypothesis on. I’m sure in the end at least some find what they wished for.

*I thought we could. Me and my child. How blind was I. The more I tried to protect her from my pain, the harder she yearned for it. One day I went too far and broke her trust. The only thing that bound us at that time. She had enough. She demanded her freedom. We fought in anger… she would not yield. What was I to do? Kill my own child? I let her go. I let her run. This one time I let her attack reach me. *

*I mourned for many years wishing for an end that never came. My body would not give up so easily. One night, I saw the path open in the sky and remembered. It was time. Time to move on. I resolved myself to begging her for forgiveness. If possible. If I could find her that is. After that I would leave like the others did. Now, it matters not. Or so I thought. Why do you ask? *

You’re far more interesting company than the noise in my head. Since we’re locked up in here, I thought… Eh. You know, sometimes, when you're asleep, your memories are leaking. I just don’t know what to do about it. I have no control over what I see and… feel. It tends to be personal.

*For a dolt, you are quite the gentleman. Think nothing of it. It is bound to happen. Eventually, the border between our minds will vanish and we shall become one. Or at least one of many. *

I see. Speaking of many, I hope Logic have not been bothering you? She can be, difficult.

*Not the words I would use. She wanted me to set up some barriers against outside influence. I have reasons to doubt a mind control spell would work on you, but I made several additions to your array of permanent charms. May the odd one return, she will not have an easy way with you. *

A key rattled inside the lock and the door once more opened. Leana came about the fifth time to check on me. Ever since my miraculous recovery been made public, orders came to isolate me for questioning. As if I knew anything. Nevertheless, they kept me locked in my room and under constant guard. Just in case the healer came every hour or so to check upon me. Always accompanied by a guard and under strict orders not to talk with me. Erta had to suppress my healing enchants so the poor girl wouldn’t go mad watching my wounds fade away before her eyes.

In the evening they brought me some watery stew that ‘wouldn’t upset my intestines’ and watched as I slurped it in silence. The spoon I used had more taste the that soup. It still wasn’t that bad though. I remember evenings at the institute when we sat famished around the table, our stomachs growling, yet not a soul touched the yellow sludge they feed us. It says something about the food quality when forty teenagers preferred to starve for five days instead of touching the food.

“How do you feel?”

Leana surprised me with her voice. Her eyes were full of worry. Or did I just imagine that? Not that I can read into people.

“Better than I look. I think.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Better than I ever felt. Water must have done something with my body. Again.

“That I hope for.”

Whatever her thoughts were, I am sure the prince will get a very detailed report of it. TO me she said nothing. But that did not interest me, my eyes were locked on Chuko standing by the door with a bundle in her arms. Not waiting any permission, she entered and stopped beside me.

“You, in pain?”

Her nose twitched. Almost as if she cared.

“Not really. No.”

“Good. “

And that was that. Chuko’s world consisted only of two colors. Black and white. Yes and no. with no care for any in between, she unfolded her bundle on my bed and inspected my self-made ponytail.

“You suck. “

Ah, the praise. And I thought I did it so well this time.

“Much.”

She flicked it with her finger, and it fell apart, spilling my hairs around my shoulders.

Armed with a brush fetched from her bundle, her arms whipped my mane into a fancy hairdo. She packed most of my hair into two hair-buns held in place by braids. Fascinating. I always thought such hairstyle belonged only in videogame but, hmm, oddly fitting.

The addition of several expensive, ornamental hairpins made me wonder.

“Imperial judge magister Verriz arrived not long ago. He wishes to see you immediately. As much as I am against putting you through his enquiries, there is nothing we can do. As your healer I have made my objections known however, he speaks with the voice of the emperor. It is in his right to demand immediate compliance, regardless of hour. “

Not a request one could refuse, if I were to guess form her tone.

“Hands. Stretch out.”

Chuko waved a bathrobe before me. I let her dress me then sat in the wooden wheelchair they brought.

Just in case, The healer said carting me off into the hall.

***

“Why is it not bound?!”

It?

*He is speaking of you, well, us. *

A dark-skinned man of grey hair and black eyes awaited us in the study. His black uniform bore some official looking insignia. His armed companions wore masks of similar displeasure.

Not a fan of pointy ears, is he?

*It does not appear to be the case. How odd, I cannot sense your wolf, the prince or his bride. They are beyond my range. *

“Sir?”

Leana moved forward in the absence of her master.

“I don’t think I understand…”

“Enough.”

Darkness.

I think I saw his wrist twitch just before my world sunk into darkness. Did I hear screams in the distance? Was I the one screaming?

Light returned once more to my eyes when they tossed my bound and bleeding body over some beast’s back. I caught a glimpse of a hooded face. My jaw caught a fist adorned with brass knuckles.

Fenella Tirsten

The local clerk guided her through the double door of the scribe office then selected one of the several crystals and tuned the apparatus for the upcoming session. He checked the ink in the bottle. Sharpened the quill and adjusted the tension on the scroll he just placed on a steel roll.

Prompted, Fenella sat behind the iron pulpit and waited, listening as the locks clanged behind the clerk. She hated this part. Waiting. She hated waiting.

But not this time.

Almost instantly, the scroll turned, and the iron hand mounted to the crystal, grabbed the quill and wrote.

~Report. ~

It placed the ominous dot and returned the quill into the bottle, marking her turn to write. She took it, shook off the excess ink and begun.

Sixteen warriors, four accolades, nine civilians and one body minced beyond recognition. Probably Verriz. All stripped bare. No uniforms no insignia. No documents. They cut off their faces.

She paused. They pulled out half decomposed bodies out of the swamp.

A rushed job. They just dumped the bodies in a swamp and some farmer found them.

No sign of struggle. They were overpowered in an instant. Possibly one or more cult lords were involved.

Verriz had his age but she would never call him a weakling. If someone took him out, unprepared or not, that someone would have to be even more powerful. And desperate. There were safer ways to gain notoriety than going after an imperial judge magister.

The iron hand tapped the bell, a signal for her to return the quill.

~The mansion? Any witnesses? ~

It wrote.

A maid. They pulled her out of the rubble. Heavy internal injuries like those found in the victims discovered in the swamp. She has yet to regain consciousness. If ever.

All that attempted pursuit were killed. Judging by the bodies left in their wake, the attackers separated into two or more groups. One heading north to the coast, the other south-west into the mainland.

After that the trail vanished among the most traveled routs of the empire. They could be anywhere.

The heir is furious. It was a second attack against his house and those in his care. Now under the guise of the empire. He has voiced his displeasure to the Emperor. He demands answers. They were lured out of the mansion under summons bearing imperial crest. Supposedly impossible to counterfeit. Then during their absence, the attack happened. An impersonator walked into the mansion and threaten the servants into submission by waving the imperial insignia. Not a moon after a massive attack against the right hand of the Emperor, light of the empire.

~Have you seen the summons? ~

Yes. They appear authentic. I’ve arranged for them to be sent back to the capital…

The iron hand grabbed her wrist and stopped her before she could continue. Fenella swallowed the bile gathered in her throat, not sure what creep her more. The fact that the hand of the iron scribe grabbed her or the fact that the old man could do so over such distance.

But she understood the need for secrecy. The scribe while convenient and reliable, did not provide a secure way of relying their messages. Even though the crystals were regularly exchanged, making one that could attune to their conversation was possible. Difficult but possible.

She let the feather drop back into the ink bottle.

~ Good. We shall investigate how someone could produce such faithful copies. Perhaps a word of caution to the local lord would be appropriate. Retrain his servants before you return. ~

Like hell somebody would make a copy. Those were authentic. The realization struck deep in her mind. Not only that but, someone from within the order had betrayed them. If people would catch wind of this, the unity of the whole empire would be at stake.

~ The missing one. What have you learned? ~

It took her a moment before she dipped the feather wrote.

Female. Age unknown. Place of origin or family unknown. Wounded. Affiliated with the Emerald Hall guild. Possible high-spirit user. I’ve spoken with the guild master, but she was of no use. They are under the spirit contract. Aside from that she is physically unable to answer any question regarding the kidnapped. Not from the lack of trying. I had to stop her before the oath choked her.

~ Did they give you the name? ~

Karin.

The iron hand visibly shivered after she copied the runes.

Does that mean anything?

~ No. Not anymore. ~