When you dream, dream of the heavens

After all, the heavens are your future.

When you cry, lament your weakness

After all, your weakness is the source of your pain.

When you cheer, cheer for the Gran Verat

After all, he is the source of your victories.

When you mourn, mourn for the others

After all, they do not know the truth.

-From the Ideals of Ardaliana

Ignoring the sprawled form of Farahlia before me as much as the notification, the assembled keelish before me needed to be addressed. I began to channel my [True Dominance] as well as pulsing magic from my sonilphon to my throat, as I spoke to the kneeling masses. Before me stood the gathered swarm, having gone silent at the defeat of their leader and Shemira’s command.

“Your swarm’s Alpha has submitted to me! Follow me as your true Alpha!”

Around me, the previously restless members of the opposite swarm went as still as they had been silent. Again I pulsed and spoke while channeling my magic and [Skills], and I could, somehow, innately feel the submission of those closest to me. Feeling that, I now deigned to notice the submissively prostrate Farahlia before me and spoke, loud enough for every keelish in the clearing to hear me.

“Do you submit to me, Ashlani?”

“I give myself–”

I cut off the attempted seduction by reaching down with one arm and bodily lifting her by digging my claws into the flesh of her shoulder. With her tail dragging on the ground and her attempts at stifling her whimpers, I held her aloft. Once she had been raised to eye level for me, I asked, again.

“Do you submit to me, Ashlani?”

Through uncontrollable whimpers of pain, Farahlia cried out, “Yes, yes, let me go.”

I dropped her unceremoniously to the ground, where she again yelped out in pain and scooted herself away from me as I continued speaking.

“Now, follow me, keelish of what was Farahlia’s swarm. You are now mine, and I will show you how to grow to greater heights, such as you have never seen before.” While I spoke, I gestured to Vefir, who immediately understood my command. He stepped forward and the tiny injuries patterning Farahlia’s body and the openly weeping wounds on her shoulder quickly closed. “We are greater than you, and we can raise you to our level! We can show you what a keelish truly is, and we can lead to you becoming Keel!” A small part of me was disappointed that I didn’t feel the reverence of Speaking the Words of Power, but I couldn’t expect to have that happen every time I spoke.

As I addressed the awestruck swarm, I became aware of those of my inner circle falling into position behind me. Took and Brutus, with their especially imposing frames, Joral (flanked by the increasingly large Wolfstags), Foire, Sybil and the rest of my swarm stood tall, and I really took in the difference between us and them. Even including individuals like Joral, who was squatter and less upright than the rest of us, every single khatif we had was at least twice as tall and broad as the individuals that made up the foreign swarm.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I felt the influence of [True Dominance] spreading across the swarm in their entirety, and the continued flashing of the [System] message about my [Skill’s] progress remained in the corner of my eye. Without looking at it for more detail, I gestured to Sybil to approach. Without hesitation, she’d stepped from her usual flanking position to standing directly beside me. As she looked disapprovingly down her nose at the assembled keelish, I commanded,

“Take care of integrating the new swarm. Let me know if you have any questions, Beta.”

“Yes Alpha.”

Vefir walked through the crowding keelish, continuing his ministrations over the smallest wounds and worries of my new subordinates as I turned to Took and Shemira. “You two, support Sybil however she needs it.” Shemira flared her frills and exaggeratedly twirled her hips in a mocking repetition of Farahlia. I began turning away when Shemira spoke, genuine concern coloring her voice.

“Is her magic still affecting you? You obviously lost a part of your self-control before that began.” She looked down at Farahlia with distrust in her eyes while Took mirrored the look and approached the “Alpha” who continued trying to make herself look small and unassuming.

“I’ll make sure she never does again.” The massive female towered over our newest addition, and her intent was obvious. Witnessing and feeling Took’s malevolent intent, Farahlia more genuinely cowered and refused to make eye contact.

I chuckled softly and flicked my tail placatingly against her flank, the crack of my scales smacking into hers ringing through the clearing and silencing the quiet conversations that had begun. “No, I shrugged that off before it began. Thanks for your concern, but I want to get moving as soon as possible, so get moving.”

Took and Shemira nodded curtly and went off to work in their differing positions. Took, with her large stature and proven strength, quickly drew dozens of the hunters, who looked at her as she with few words established hunting packs under the khatif who had stood by my side through so much. Each of the survivors was quickly becoming a leader, and I approved. The superior khatif would lead keelish to progression, to becoming more. As a smile crossed my face, I hunched down beside the shivering Farahlia.

“Are you the only sane one in your swarm? Many of the rest seem… addled by you.”

She shrugged, “Males think if you let them rut you, then they’re in charge. I let them think that. Many think that they’re in charge because I had eggs. I am still true Alpha. Thank you for heal. You’re nice.” Her magic began bubbling out of her, and I stiffened slightly under its influence. I didn’t need any [System] notification to purge the insidious magic from my mind, though, and I brought my bared claws close to her eyes. She was confused as she huddled back, cowering again against the ground as her magic faded away.

“Try that again, and I won’t call a healer for you after I’m done. Understood?”

She shivered, possibly in delight, though mostly in complete terror, and nodded in response. “I not think. It habit. I’m sorry. Show mercy. I submit. One like you special. I try not to, so please no hurt. No kill.”

“What do you mean, ‘one like me’?”

Farahlia’s smile crooked her snout. “Male so strong that make me obey. I will obey, always. I will follow, always.”

I nodded. “Fair enough. Prove it from here on, and work with Sybil to get the swarm ready to move out. Before nightfall.”

She bowed deeply, arching her back and hips before stalking off, leaving me to finally look at my [Status].

[Skill: True Dominance; a passive Skill granted to those who have demonstrated and begun to perfect the ability to force others to obey and submit to the Skill’s holder. Those who have gained this Skill are beginning to understand the path of the tyrant, and this Skill assists them in that path. This Skill grants an improved aura that incites loyalty, obedience, and fear in others. This aura begins to force even those with the strongest will to submit their will to the holder, and allows the holder to more easily dominate those who stand before them, even without violence. This Skill can evolve. Skill evolution requirements: assert and establish dominance over five leaders of groups of at least 100 individuals. Progress: 1/5]

With luck, it wouldn’t take much longer before this [Skill] was the first of many to evolve. After all, this journey that laid ahead of us would be the perfect opportunity for me to focus on maximizing my [Skill’s] growth.