The sun had just begun to dip behind the horizon when Star returned to Salem and by proximity, Zane. She came trudging out of the crowd, clearly exhausted.

Star yawned audibly, blinking wearily before she spoke. “Aaaalright~ I think I’m all done here you guys ready to go.” She punctuated her sentence with another yawn.

Salem gave a small, soft smile before staggering to her feet, Opal following not far behind. “Nothing to do over here either.” She turned her head to face Zane who leaned against a nearby tree.

“Right, I’ll show you the way to the manor than.” Zane straitened, “Its not to far from here, theirs still time to get a carriage to bring us back to the place.”

Salem and Star briefly looked to Opal before quickly dismissing the idea.

“Ok then, led the way magic boy.” Star agreed.

“I'm twenty eight…” Zane grumbled, but led the way none the less.

Star, Salem, Opal, and the two guards walked behind Zane at a leasurly pass, crossing through the thicket to the other lines. During the walk Salem slid the cloak back on pulling her glasses and mask off. Opting for the tried and true method rather than her slapped together disguise. The group quickly broke through to the other side of the treeline. They were greeted by the sight of a empty line and a few guards.

Zane was quick to approach, followed shortly by his guards as Star, Salem, and Opal choose to hang back a tad. It wasn’t until they were waved forward by Zane that they to approached the guards.

“Identification, please.” One said, bluntly, but politely.

Salem was quick to pull out all three of their passes and present them to the guards.

They took one good look at the passes before nodding. “Looks to be all correct, but I have to ask… What kind of dog is that.”

“Mutt.” Salem was quick to respond.

“Ruf!” Opal disagreed, disgruntled at her designation.

“Right…” The guard continued to squint at Opal, “Well, enjoy you stay.” They jestered for them to pass through the open gates.

“We will,” Star and Salem responded passing through, just behind Zane.

“That was easier than I thought it’d be.” Salem spoke.

“Well, typically that would have been a more lengthy process, but well, I’m a high mage.” Zane responded, rather cheekily.

“Well, I suppose that makes sense.” Salem nodded, approval lacing her tone. Truly the only worthy use of the amount of power he wielded.

Zane puffed up at that, no doubt elated at her praise. “Right this way then, the carriages for hire are just around the corner.” He skipped along.

Star and Salem nodded along silently. They observed the cobblestone streets and slowly decreasing crowd around them as they walked. Everyone seemed to be turning in more or less for the night. They passed by shops of all kinds on either side of them, bright displays in their windows. It took everything in Star not to stop and stare.

“Here we are.” Zane finally announced, stopping before a rather large building with a few stales holding odd looking beast within.

Outside the building were a few different carriages each with a driver and animal, seemingly waiting for someone to request there services. Zane didn’t hesitate to do so, He stalked up to the most lavish looking on and began speaking to the woman in the drivers seat. They traded a few words before Zane pushed a few coins into her hands. The lady pocketed them before hopping off the carriage and heading inside.

Zane turned back to the waiting trio plus guards. “We’re heading back with her. Once she’s back with two extra mounts for you two,” He gestured to the guards, “We’ll head out.”

The guards and Salem gave a nod. Star yawned. Opal gave a disgruntled huff, sagging as she realized her services were not needed. The lady returned not five minutes later, two different and odd looking creatures in tow.

The first one passed to the first guard looked like an odd mix between a horse, tiger, and some sort of insect. It had a horse shaped body, pincers like an ant, and the fur of a tiger. A rather odd mixture if you asked Star or Salem. The second creature was similar but different, it had a slightly bulkier build, large paws, and sharp fangs. The second guard took a hold of its reins without complaint, more than what could be said about both star or Salem if they were forced to ride the thing. It just looked wrong in there eyes.

Opal did not share the same sentiment it seemed as she walked straight up to the things and promptly decided they were they new best thing to play with. She bent down wagging her large tail happily as she tried to goad the things into playing.

“No,” Salem called sternly as Opal began to get mouthy, “OPAL NO!” She snapped finally causing the wyvern to turn his attention to her, “Bad girl, bad.” She scolded.

Opal visibly huff, “Rah, rah, rah.” She sassed, blowing a cold breath of air at Salem.

Salem did not find this funny.

Star sure did though as her face grew red with barley contained laughter. It wasn’t often Opal sassed Salem.

“They are working animals, not friends.” Salem insisted, walking forward and placing a hand on Opal’s shoulder leading him away.

“Rrruf.” Opal was still not pleased.

As Salem and Opal continued to argue, Zane, the lady, and the guards looked on it mild confusion, sharing glanced of disbelief. Interrupted only by Star’s bad whistling as she stretched her legs out.

“Should we… do something?” The lady asked, discomfort written across her face.

“Na, best to leave them be.” Star replied, “Most likely this will end with Salem having to ride Opal to your place. She’s been feeling neglected so its not entirely surprising she’s acting out.”

“Oh…”

The group watched as Opal turned her ire on Salem and pounced flopping on top of her with a sharp chirp. A low groan was heard from under him as Salem slapped her side trying to get her off of her.

“Fife I’ff ride you—” Came Salem’s muffled voice.

Opal immediately let out a happy chirp and rolled off, revealing Salem.

She huffed once before sitting up and looking at Opal, “Brat.”

“Chichi.” She chirped back.

Salem climbed to her feet, brushing her cloak off. “Me and Opal will follow behind you guys.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Zane was visibly disgruntled at the revelation, but nodded none the less. “Alright then, stay close I wouldn’t be any good if you got loss…”

“We will.”

“Do I get to ride Opal as well?” Star questioned hopping from toe to toe.

Opal huffed at her, clearly not liking the idea. “Ra ra.” She voiced dismissing her with a turn of her head.

Star slumped at the denial.

“We’ll see you soon.”

Zane gave a nod while Star pouted, grumbling all while getting in the carriage. The two guards mounted the weird not horses, and they were off. The driver lady was quick to grab the reins of the carriage directing the not-horses pulling it onwards, toward the center of the capital.

Typically when Salem traveled on Opal they were in the air, making it much easier to stay atop as he was horizontal and not vertical. Because she is a wyvern, and therefore only has two legs, riding on her was like riding a T-Rex. Not exactly comfortable. Opal stood to her full height as they walked, allowing both Salem and her to peer over the tops of several different buildings.

Salem would have been worried about fitting in the streets if Opal wasn’t so thin, honestly it surprised her that she didn’t get chunky much at all. The carriage took a right down another road, heading up a hill. She wondered what the people looking at Opal thought of her. Its not every day you see a 15 some foot tall dog at full (shrunken) height. It was probably fine.

Inside the carriage Zane and Star sat in silence across from each other. The only sounds they could hear were the click-clomping of hooves and the stomping of Opal. Who was quieter than Zane would have thought, but still could be heard. Yet he paid the dog-wyvren no mind as he couldn’t help staring at the cloaked figure before him. Staring at her, yet not quite seeing her. It was odd, nearly indescribable. It was as if someone was trying to subtly divert his attention from her at all times, obscuring her features.

If he really thought about it, Zane wouldn’t have hesitated to ask her the same requested he’d asked Salem if not for the distinct lack of mana surrounding her. If he were to be completely honest he hadn’t a clue what class she was as she was yet to reveal any class abilities to him. In addition to that she’d been proven to be highly capable, despite the bumbling, harmless facade she put on. Despite never displaying any class skills. Zane considered her an enigma, a dangerous contradictory. He wasn’t fond of enigmas. So instead of striking up a conversation he stared instead. She stared back.

“Damn it, I lost.” She spoke suddenly, snapping Zane out of his wondering thoughts.

Or perhaps, he thought to himself, She’s just an idiot. “What?”

“I blinked first, I lost.” She explained as if it were obvious what they were doing.

“...right.” Zane diverted his attention easily, staring out the window, watching the brick stores and house pass by. What was he doing again? He continued to gaze out the window for a while longer, watching the buildings pass by.

“Hey.”

Zane startled at the voice, snapping his eyes back to Star, he’d forgotten about her. Now that he thought about it, it seemed that any time he focused on something else it was like she never existed at all… “That cloak of yours, is it a magic item?” The words flowed from his mouth before he could stop them.

“Yes, you noticed then.”

“It diverts people’s attention away from you doesn’t it?”

“Got it in one. Rather useful if you ask me.”

“Is that why I can’t seem to be able to make out your face?”

“Yep.”

“Why?’

“Why, what?”

“Why do you wear it all the time?”

Zane could vaguely make out a cheshire grin from on her face.

“Do you really wish to know?”

Zane said nothing for a few, long moments before he opened his mouth to speak, “Ye—”

The carriage stopped abruptly jolting both Zane and Star from there seats.

“What was that?”

“Why’d it stop?”

The two looked at each other for a moment, before Star swung the door open, and hopped right out to get a good look at the situation for herself. Zane not far behind. The first thing the two noticed when they got eyes on the situation was that there was a rather large beast, that vaguely resembled a dog if a dog had a spiked back, half dozen eyes, and sharp, vampire-like fangs, in the middle of the road, snarling and growling. The second was a younger boy attempting to converse with the two knights Zane had brought along. The knights seemed unimpressed.

“The fuck?” Star couldn’t help but wonder.

“And here I thought giant monster dogs were a thing only we did.”

Star nearly jumped at Salem’s voice, “When—”

“The beast grew in size as soon as it saw Opal, she probably startled it pretty bad.” Salem began to explain.

“I see, is it common for people to keep pets that can randomly grow in size?” Star questioned looking to Zane.

He sighed heavily, “No, but that beast,” He gestured to the animal, “Is the second prince’s… pet. The real question is what he’s doing walking it around here.”

“I see, Opal.” Salem called.

Opal hesitantly broke eye contact with the beast before bending down pressing her head to Salem’s side, a rumbling purr coming from her. Salem scratched her chin for a few moments, calming her down further.

“Opal is a rather well behaved wy-- dog, would it be helpful to take her away from the situation until it calms, we can meet up after.”

Zane pondered her words for a few long minutes, the prince’s beast growling permeating the background. “I’d like to give the situation a few more minutes before we resort to that. Give me a few moments please.”

Salem hummed and nodded.

“Thank you.” Zane turned on his heel and walked to the beast the wind ruffling his hair and cape.

“Dramatic…” Star commented, before shaking her head, “Do you think the prince has some kind of taming ability?”

“Its not clear.” Salem continued petting Opal to keep her calm, “We don’t really have a frame of reference for this kind of thing. All we have to go off of is my summoning magic.”

“True…”

They feel silent in favor of watching the conversation between Zane and the prince.

“Zane, hey! How are you, I thought you wouldn’t be back for another week or so?” The prince chirped waving to Zane with a cheery expression on his face, “Also would you mind calling off your guards?”

Zane held up a hand as he stopped in front of the prince, the guard seeing the signal back off slightly. “Your highness, what exactly are you doing here? I thought you were prohibited from bringing… that out into the city?”

The prince gave a very nervous laugh, “Well, yes technically. BUT! Duckie been such a good boy recently and I thought well… maybe…” The prince diverted his gaze.

Zane continued to stare at the prince not saying a word.

“And he doesn’t like being cooped up all the time, he wants to explore! So a I figured a quick walk wouldn’t do any harm, yeah? I really didn’t think he’d startle like that… And look!” The prince pointed to the not-dog thing, “He’s already calming down see he’s beginning to shrink already!”

It was true the weird not-dog had shrunk a few feet.

The prince continued talking, “So really its not that big of a deal,” He looked to Zane’s impassive face, “S-so you’ll let this one go…yeah? Ha-ha.”

Zane stared at the prince for a few more long moments, arm crossed.

“Eh heh ermmmmm… please?”

The not-dog had shrunken back to the size of a great dane by this point.

Zane suddenly gave a friendly smile, “Why don’t you come with us to my parents house. I sure Duckie would love to explore the grounds while we… talk.”

The prince went ridged, a small eep escaping his lips, “O-oh, ok… ah haha… ha.” The not-dog, now the size of a chihuahua lept into the princes arms.

“… Should we be concerned?” Star muttered to Salem, confused by the princes reaction.

“...Perhaps?”