Someone patted my arm. I turned my head and noticed it was Van.

"Are you okay?" the paladin asked in a low voice.

"I'm fine," I answered. I was gawking at the Gods for too long.

"Champion, please get off the stage and greet your well-wishers," Saint John suggested.

The Twelve proceeded to walk in a straight line to leave the platform. The saint was the last person among the church leaders on the line.

I followed him, and Van walked behind me.

When I returned to the ground, the church leaders stood in a semi-circle around me.

The first person to greet me was a regal looking man dressed in blue; he also wore a small circlet around his temples. He was middle-aged, and his golden hair was slick and oily; he resembled a snake. His face looked familiar, but I couldn't quite put a name to it. The nobleman appraised me coolly with his pale blue eyes. Finally, he introduced himself in a loud voice. "I am Randolph Timmons Paget, the Regent of the Kingdom of Merlin. The House of Paget pledge its support to Champion Mulligan and join the fight against the army of Chaos!" The Regent bent his knee and kissed the back of my hand.

Suddenly, I received a pop-up notification: "Follower ACQUIRED: Randolph Timmons Paget, Journeyman Fencer."

The regent stepped back, and his son and brother came forward to kiss my hand.

When the trio walked away from me, people began to line up to give their pledge and support for the upcoming war. Each person became my follower.

After a while, I was shocked to see the next person in line--Amelica! Standing next to my girlfriend was a short, middle-aged nobleman with dark brunette hair and the same blue eyes as Amelica. I had the impression that the two were related.

"Milord, this is my father Baron Godfried Kingsbury," she introduced the man.

The baron scowled at me for some reason.

"Milord, did I offend you somehow?" I inquired politely.

Baron Kingsbury strutted forward and leaned his face toward mine. "You are courting my daughter," he stated.

"Yes, I am," I admitted openly.

The onlookers gasped and began to stare at Amelica.

"If you make her cry, then you will answer to me," he grumbled. Baron Kingsbury cleared his throat. "The House of Kingsbury pledge its support to Champion Mulligan and join the fight against the army of Chaos," the baron said in a formal tone of voice. He knelt and kissed my hand.

Once the baron stepped aside, Amelica came forward and said, "I, Amelica Kingsbury, pledge my support to you, Lawrence Eugene Mulligan." She knelt and kissed my hand.

My eyes widened in surprise. In the past, Amelica had mentioned her estrangement from her father because Amelica had eloped with a childhood friend to escape an arranged marriage. In response, her father disowned her. But now, the two had made up, and Amelica's birthright was restored. How in the world did this happen?

When my girlfriend returned to her feet, Amelica turned to face Saint John the Kind. "Thank you," she said and bowed deeply to him.

"There's no need to thank me," the saint responded with a smile. "And you're holding up the line," he reminded her.

Amelica's face turned red with embarrassment as Baron Kingsbury dragged her away from me.

The procession of pledges continued for a few more hours. Suddenly, someone cried out, "Dragon!" The people in the Public Square looked up at the sky, saw the creature, and began to flee!

I looked up and saw a red dragon flying toward the city. However, something about the dragon seemed familiar.

A member of the Magic Guild began to cast Meteor Swarm, but Archbishop Wilshire interfered by knocking the spellcaster's hands aside.

"You fool! Your spell will hit us all!" the cleric admonished the mage.

However, the spellcaster was feeling the painful feedback loop of the miscast, and he couldn't hear the archbishop.

I ignored my surroundings, and I activated my Spirit Sense. I read the dragon's aura and discovered that it was Dovarata! "Don't attack the dragon!" I yelled. I cast Fly and flew up to intercept her.

When Dovarata saw my approach, the dragon flapped her wings and hovered in the air. She waited patiently for my arrival.

"Why are you here?" I demanded to know. I was SO upset with the Draco right now because she had ruined my afterparty. With all the pledges I was receiving, I gained dozens of followers, with many more people waiting to pledge themselves to me.

I glanced at the ground and saw that most of the people had scattered, and the Public Square became deserted. I couldn't blame them because the commoners were sitting ducks for either Dovarta's dragon breath or friendly fire from the city's defenders.

I turned my attention back to the problematic Draco. "Let's talk elsewhere."

"Lead the way," the red dragon replied.

I glanced at my mana bar and saw that I had less than a quarter remaining. I reached for the potions pouch to drink a Mana Potion.

But Dovarata had other ideas. She dropped under me and then rose in the air.

I landed on her back.

"Tell me where to go," she asked again.

I was shocked that Dovarata would allow me to ride her back. But her persistent question shook me out of my reverie. I looked around and quickly settled on a location: Primrose Hill. It was to the north of London, but also the site of one of the Ph'laen Ruins. I pointed north to Primrose Hill.

"Ah, I see," she answered as Dovarata recognized the hill. The red dragon flapped her enormous wings, generating strong gusts of wind. She flew across the big blue sky like a fish swimming in the water.

A nearby flock of birds screeched in alarm at her approach and immediately scattered.

Dovarata laughed out loud as she flew past the frightened birds. A few minutes later, we descended on Primrose Hill. Once I hopped off her back, Dovarata shapeshifted to her draconian form.

I folded my arms across my chest and tapped my foot on the ground impatiently. "Why did you come to London?" I asked in a stern voice.

The mercurial Draco sulked and turned her face away from me. "I need your help," Dovarata said in a small voice.

"Huh? Can you repeat that?" I demanded while putting a hand to my ear. I heard her the first time, but I wanted to knock her pride down a few pegs. Plus, I was still upset that she ruined my afterparty.

The Draco stared at me, and her eyes glowed red with anger. "I NEED YOUR HELP!" she yelled.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Tell me more," I said while casually checking my nails.

Dovarata stomped on the grass and turned around. "Forget I asked." Her leather wings spread behind her back, and the Draco prepared to take flight.

However, I grabbed her arm to stop Dovarata from leaving. "Tell me," I said calmly.

She huffed and finally turned to look at me. "It's my sister," Dovarata said softly. "She's been charmed by a human named Arthur William de Vere."

I nodded. "Yes, I saw Arthur ride a red dragon. I was so shocked that I didn't check to the dragon's aura. I didn't realize the dragon was Hleara," I admitted.

The Draco grabbed my shoulders, and her claws began to dig into my flesh.

"-2 Health." I winced at the pain.

Dovarata saw what she did and immediately released me. "Where did you see them?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'm not sure where I saw them. I was flying in a bubble while accompanied by my Patron Gods. They were escorting me from Carmarthen back to London. Arthur was leading an army and heading south," I recalled. I turned my attention back to Dovarata. "Do you know how Hleara was charmed?" I asked.

The Draco looked down and stared at her feet. "It's our dad--more specifically, it was his spirit. Somehow, that filthy human had formed a soul pact with Hleandros and their two spirits merged. Hleara recognized her father when the human entered our dragon's den. He convinced her to serve as his steed." Dovarata shook her head in anger at the memory.

"I tried to stop her, but the human intruder blasted a black beam and caused the ceiling to collapse on top of me. It took me this entire time to dig myself out of the rocks," she continued. Dovarata stomped her foot again. "If only I could stop her back then!"

"Okay," I said.

"Huh?"

"I said, 'Okay.' We're going to stop Arthur and save your sister. If Hleara is under Hleandros' thrall, then the spell will end upon his death. Arthur is the Champion of Chaos and my nemesis. I'm raising an army of Order to face his army of Chaos, and I need your help. Will you join me in battle?" I asked.

"Our interests align, human. So you have a deal." Dovarata offered her hand, and we shook to seal the agreement.

I turned my head toward the city of London. I pointed in the direction of the town and said, "We should head back before the Church sends a rescue squad after me."

The Draco laughed at my foolish warning. "If I want to kidnap you, the Church can't stop me!" she boasted and puffed her chest. Her expression suddenly turned serious. "I won't be able to carry you in my draconian form. I'll have to shapeshift to my dragon form to take you home. Stand back," Dovarata ordered.

I backpedaled a few yards.

She nodded her approval at where I stood. Her eyes glowed, and her body began to shapeshift. Ligaments and muscles bulged out of her slim figure as her form expanded in volume rapidly. Her neck became elongated, and her jaws protruded outward.

Frankly, I thought her shapeshift looked uncomfortable if not outright painful.

But Dovarata endured in stoic silence. Her unbreakable red dragon scale began to cover her body. After a minute, the transformation was complete, and a full-sized adult red dragon stood before me. "Hop on," she said as the dragon laid flat on the ground.

I used her right hind leg for leverage to reach the dragon's back, and then I walked on her back until I reached the section in front of her wings. There were bony protrusions which doubled as handles for me to hold.

Without warning, the mischievous dragon flapped her enormous wings to generate lift. Once Dovarata achieved this, she flew into the sky at a sharp angle.

"WHOA!" I cried out as I desperately held on. "SLOW DOWN!"

"Make up your mind, human!" she huffed. The red dragon turned her neck to hide the grin on Dovarata's face. It was her payback for my bullying earlier.

Because the red dragon was flying so fast, it took only a handful of minutes to reach London. When Dovarata was close to the city, she made a steep dive!

"Whoa!" I blurted out as I was forced to tighten my grip on the dragon's back.

The dragon suddenly flapped her wings, creating a strong gust of wind. Dovarata landed in the Public Square without any problem.

Dozens of knights, archers, mages, and clerics ran out of the Westminster Abbey and other nearby buildings to surround the red dragon.

I carefully jumped off her back and landed on the ground.

Regent Paget pushed aside the knights blocking his path and marched straight for us! He was livid at our antics and the property damage the evil dragon had caused. "Champion! Why are you cavorting with this evil dragon?" he demanded to know while pointing at Dovarata.

I saw the hostile expressions on everyone's faces and realized that they were prepared to attack if I gave the regent a lousy answer. "I need her help. The Champion of Chaos is riding a red dragon. I can't fight both of them at the same time," I explained.

Regent Paget took a deep breath and calmed down. "This creature is evil. How can you trust this beast not to attack you?" he persisted.

Van pushed his way through the crowd and stood next to me. "Regent, it is true that this creature is evil. But her alignment is Lawful Evil, and she can be reasoned. Besides, we will be using evil to defeat a greater evil. As a paladin, I am sworn to fight evil. If she betrays our Champion, then I will not hesitate to end her life," he proclaimed.

Dovarata snorted, earning a glare from me.

I saw the doubt on the regent's face, and I raised my hand to appease him. "I have adventured with Dovarata before," I revealed.

The onlookers gasped at my revelation. How could a Champion of Order openly associate with an evil dragon?

"How is this possible? Where can you go with such a big dragon following you around?" Paget expressed his doubt openly.

Dovarata burst out in laughter. She shapeshifted back to her original form as a Draco. "Is this form more suitable to you, Regent Paget?" she asked with a mock bow.

The nobleman ignored her taunt and turned to face Van. "I'm holding you responsible for the Champion's safety. Don't let us down," he ordered.

"Yes, Regent!" the paladin replied immediately and saluted.

"Hmph!" The regent raised his hand as a signal to the gathered knights, and then he turned away.

The would-be defenders of the city started to disperse. Nobody wanted to linger behind and associate with a known evil creature.

With a smirk on her face, Dovarata waved at the departing figure of the regent.

I half-expected her to stick out her tongue at Paget's back, but she disappointed me in this regard.

"Must you create trouble for everyone, Dovarata?" a female voice asked.

We turned in unison and saw Sister Waverly!

The human avatar of Lady Musa was wearing a traditional, black-colored sister's robe and veil. Standing behind her were the rest of the gang--Rijana, Bjoukia, Bjoukin, and Bila.

I smiled as I walked over to them. "Did you guys watch my ceremony on stage?" I asked.

"Yes, we did," Bjoukia answered. "I was surprised you were able to make your recruitment speech without being flustered," she added with open admiration.

"If Lord Mulligan screwed that up, then that pompous fool of a regent wouldn't have pledged fealty," Bila groused.

"I admit that I was surprised to see Amelica present, though. I didn't realize she was a noble," Rijana observed.

The rest of my companions nodded. Why would the daughter of a nobleman work as a waitress at a tavern? It was a great mystery to them.

I grimaced at their unasked question. "I can't talk about Amelica's family situation," I said with a tight frown.

"And we shouldn't poke into her private affairs, either," Rijana agreed readily.

Van turned his head back and forth across the Public Square; he saw too many people loitering nearby. "We should leave soon," he said quietly.

"Before assassins come out and play," Bila completed the thought. Her eyes glowed in anticipation of another fight.

"Do you want to visit the shop at the Magic Guild?" Rijana suggested.

I nodded. "That's fine. I was planning to go there, anyway."

My party headed toward the eastern part of the city; many stores and guild offices were located in the secular section of London. As we walked, I noticed several groups of people following me. They included a half-dozen knights, two clerics, three mages, a motley crew of adventurers, plus another handful of commoners.

I stopped and turned around to address them. "Why are you following me?" I asked politely.

One knight stepped forward to respond. "The Regent has assigned us as your bodyguards," the warrior said. His caption named him as "Basdeng Everheart."

A cleric answered, "We are your liaisons with The Twelve." His caption named him as "Jero."

I avoided the temptation to smack my forehead. I could not turn these people away. "What about the rest of you?" I asked gingerly.

"You are Merlin's Successor and the de facto head of the Magic Guild. We serve as your assistants and relay your orders to the guild branches," a mage explained. His name was Kyn.

An adventurer, who was dressed in boiled leather armor and carried a longbow across his back, said, "I have pledged my party, The Glorious Bastards, to serve you." His name was Alandel.

I turned my head toward the commoners. They appeared no older than teenagers. "What about you guys?"

One of the more courageous girls stepped forward. "We wish to serve you, Champion." Her name was Ophina.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Fifteen," she answered.

"I appreciate your courage and desire to protect the kingdom. But I will not take anyone younger than eighteen into the battlefield," I replied.

"But Champion!" the teenager protested before I raised my hand to cut her off.

"I need you to stay in London and protect the city. I fear that the dark elves will take advantage and infiltrate London to kidnap our children for human sacrifices to Drowsidea. It will ease my conscience if you remain in London if the dark elves do appear," I explained.

The girl was skeptical, but Rijana spoke out in support of my decision. "Our Champion has fought with the dark elves in the western frontier town of Tregome. He rescued a group of children from those elves," she attested. Rijana learned of this incident through the spy network of The Elven Nation.

The knight leader turned to address the commoners. "The Champion is right. We need you to protect the city. Please show up at the Public Square tomorrow morning. We will train you to fight," he promised.

The commoners nodded and walked away with their heads down in disappointment.

I turned toward my assistants from the Magic Guild. I checked their captions and read their names as "Kyn," "Santone Wordsmith," and "Lanvoi," respectively. "Is it okay to have so many people follow me into the mage tower?" I asked.

Santone, a green-robed mage, nodded. "Yes, Successor. You are free to invite as many guests into the tower as you wish."

It was time for me to wave the white flag. "Please lead the way," I ordered. My newly formed entourage surrounded me, and we navigated across the city jointly.