> Galen Vesa

A parade of heavy construction vehicles went rumbling through my scalp. The whole world swam and skidded with the lightest move of my head. So that’s what they call a hangover? Well, a new experience it is but not a one I would want to repeat.

My guts still had some bile left, so… I retched my ass out like a drunken cat.

“Hey roomie? Still in there? What’s up with all that noise?”

I asked when my body decided it had become empty enough to tolerate my movements.

*Why, how kind of you to take notice.*

Oh. An annoyed dragon. Way to start a morning.

“I assume we’ll live. Did I miss much?”

*Not much. One of your friends came and threatened the spirits into submission. Now instead of one we have to deal with four unpredictable, disaster class elemental spirits. So yes, nothing much..*

Ah, that.

*Galen, would you like to talk about…*

“No. I'll pass. I've talked that matter to death with at least nine professionals. Including a priest and a rabbi. No change whatsoever.”

As long as you don’t count my wallet. Its content shrunk visibly with each visit.

“Let whatever dwell the mist, stay within the mist.”

*And what exactly is that?*

My arm trembled.

“Nothing you wish to know. And definitely nothing I wish to remember.”

I had spent the better part of my childhood trying to forget that and I will not risk it resurfacing.

“Can we change the subject? Please.”

A bone shattering screech made me collapse on my butt.

“What is going on in there?”

*Our new companions are remodeling your inner estate and bickering with each other.*

Her tone felt so bland it hurt.

“Huh? Who are you and what did you do with my dragon?”

*Galen, four spirit Queens are widening a breach in reality around a tree of life that is connected to enough mana to destroy this whole world.*

* I have long ago crossed the border of panic and now I no longer care. This is simply what happens when you get involved. Whatever I had done for the gods to entwine our fate is a mystery to me.*

“Not your fault. Probably.”

I should have known the job was jinxed when they didn’t even care about my mental health when I applied for the position.

Erta fell silent while I sat with closed eyes, waiting for my nausea to pass.

“Did the spirit saved them?”

All those people. The diary didn’t describe everything but from what I found, Allynna’s mother had on several occasions contested the power of a local elven diva. A local stand in for their Empress. It didn’t bode well for her. Their diva, apparently of a lesser clan, came to loathe her and a lot of backstabbing ensued. Including the murder of Nafira's soulmate. A short lived war with humans and turning half the village into walking zombie-servants.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Not a particularly pleasant person.

*Yes. All those enslaved had recovered.*

That’s good I guess?

“Was this a good choice?”

*I am not the right person to ask that. My own conscience drowned in blood ages ago. I have lots count how many I have slain or brought to ruin.*

“You don’t seem the type. Alas, I’m not the best judge of character.”

Erta let out a long sigh.

I had a witty remark ready when something broke within me and burning pain snuffed my consciousness.

*Ah, the dolt lives.*

The face looked familiar and tired yet the angle at which I saw it did not seem right. And those mountains of bounciness hanging above me…

*One more word dolt and I shall send you back to the Dreamland.*

Somehow I managed to stop the urge to pat what I saw.

“Naaah, you wouldn’t. You like me too much.”

I tried to get up but couldn’t.

“Oh-khey. Can’t get up. Why can’t I get up?”

*Because those four good for nothing meddlers shattered your soul a month ago and I’ve been putting it back together ever since.*

A month. Yay. I should panic, should I? I am panicking. Panic. Panic. Panic…

*Please stay still. Soul magic never been my forte.*

“No thumb twiddling. Got it.”

I relaxed and let her do whatever she did. Her lap felt awfully pleasant to rest upon and the view ranked as one of the… Erta raised her eyebrow at me.

Okay, the best one I ever saw. Better?

She rolled her eyes at that remark and focused on her magic.

Well, stop reading my mind if you don’t like it.

*And get bored to my second death? No. Thank you.*

She stuck her tongue at me. A centuries old lizard acting like a nine years old… I said nothing. No need for that fancy looking spell. I give up!

She still hit me. Then picked me up again and continued her recovery work.

“Should I be concerned I can’t sense the spirits?”

*Thankful perhaps. Logic kicked them out after they tried to put you back together. Bits and pieces went missing. I had to use… some of mine.*

Putting back together sparkling Lego blocks that made me, Erta waved a golden thread out of her own soul and stitched me up.

“Stop. You are killing yourself.”

*Death does not matter to me anymore dolt for I am dead already. Besides, I am a dragon and you are not. That much will do me no harm.*

“Lizard, you are a shitty liar. Enough. I can manage as I am now. If you kill yourself before we find your daughter, I’m gonna be very, very pissed.”

*You? Angry?*

She chuckled.

*I see that even a dolt such as yourself can have a cute side.*

She put her palm upon my check.

*I am almost done anyway. Go, they are waiting. I have promised them a wish when you recover.*

“Haggling with four perverts that almost erased me? Somehow I don’t see this as a good idea oh my mighty lizard.”

*It is that or we walk to Fenira. And besides, I cannot leave this place.*

She flicked my nose.

*Also, stop calling me that. It is annoying.*