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Elaria

Elaria couldn't help but think she was in a fantasy again, completely enraptured by the displays of magic from the duel. She got to see what Leo could do in a fight for the first time, but the knot in her stomach grew as it went on, because battle experience was something she knew all too well…

That wasn't helped by the fact that he wasn't taking a dragon seriously, on top of her realizing that he was lacking actual combat experience. She spotted brief slip ups all throughout the fight that could have been capitalized on by Fel, the worst of it being his partial unawareness of his surroundings. If his opponent knew this, she may have used more magic and tactics instead of brute forcing it.

But that was a dragon for you, and it may have been a moot point with how much power was being thrown around, but that only raised the stakes. Thus, for the most part, she was speechless at how powerful her lover actually was.

Until Fel used her dragon's breath.

Horror washed over her as the beam engulfed him, her mind feeling like it was being physically torn apart with how hard her emotions slammed into her. Fortunately for her, her anguish didn't last long, all those feelings receding like a tide when the attack gave out.

The joy and relief she felt from seeing him floating there without a single trace of damage was nearly as overwhelming as that pain, but in a good way. And that feeling of reassurance was bolstered even more when he restrained Fel, something indescribable within her both awed and ecstatic when he ended the fight effortlessly.

Even if she realized that he apparently could have one at any point, she was unable to shake her trembling from the near loss. And so it was when he started walking back toward her at the gate, that she began to cry once again, her body moving on its own to sprint toward him.

Tackling him to the ground, she let loose all of the emotions she felt, gripping tightly to him while sobbing heavily into his chest.

It took an embarrassingly long few minutes for him to calm her down, but they started back over to the rest of the party by the gate after the little episode, her clinging to his arm the entire way.

Elaria tried to muster some anger toward Fel, but she couldn't even be irritated. There was simply something in the way the dragoness carried herself that was a mirror of the man she'd fallen for, making her unable to help but see a part of him in her and blunting any negative feelings.

But when she commented on how similar they were, they seemed to go at each other's throats, even though they acted friendly right after the fight.

She had no clue as to why they didn't like it when it came to comparing one another, and she was even more confused when Glia irritably told them to fuck. The comment stopped their argument in its tracks, and they both stared at Glia in shock as they turned a shade of red.

The emotionally baffled selarin cocked her head while trying to discern the meaning behind the reaction. ‘So they don't hate each other… But it's just sex, right?’ Given her previous confusion on the topic, there was clearly something she was not understanding.

Her thought was interrupted when she noticed him with that uncomfortable look she irritably associated with him wanting a confirmation, again. ‘Alright, this needs to stop…’ She thought before she started to pull him away from the rest of the group, suddenly very angry with him.

“Elaria?” He asked in surprise, and nearly tripped when she began yanking him by the arm.

She continued to pull him away, determined to put an end to the bothersome behavior, but also believing that he should be scolded for a reason she couldn't quite put her finger on. “Shut up and follow me. Everyone else, I need to talk to Leo alone!” They continued to walk along the wall until they were out of earshot from the rest, and only then did she finally let go of him.

He grimaced and momentarily broke eye contact when she rounded on him with crossed arms and an irritated expression. “Um, I…” He sighed. “I'm sorry.”

The selarin's expression grew more stern. “You should be! You need to stop wanting my permission to sleep with other women. It has turned from annoying, to being an actual problem with you.” She irritably chided him, and his face instantly fell from chastised to shocked.

He shot a glance between her and the field with his jaw opening multiple times before he seemed to recompose himself. “I know, but I don't want to hurt your feelings, especially since you're just starting to experience deeper emotions. I'd feel like shit if I did.”

Elaria frowned, not at all swayed by the excuse. “Leo, if I learned anything from that whole situation, it's that sex without real feelings doesn't mean anything. It's actually why I've held off on being excessively physical with you, because I want to understand my emotions more.”

It took a moment for him to speak, as he seemed to consider her words. “Elaria, It's just that most of human society really takes commitment to a single partner seriously. Combine that with the fact that I've never been in a long term relationship, and I can't help but want to confirm it with you.” He explained while nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

Elaria sighed exhaustedly, rubbing her temple as she went on to clarify. “Well just to be as clear as I can be, you don't need to ask. So go ahead and fuck the brains out of as many women as you want, and when you want to have another genuine partner, just talk to me about it. I don't mind sharing, because as ingrained as your social ethics seem to be, just imagine how I feel. To be honest, I've been a little pissed off about you wanting permission for a while now.”

The conflicted looking human had a multitude of expressions cross his face before he nodded in confirmation. “Alright, I understand… And I'm sorry that it had to come to a small intervention for you to get the message through…” He told her while she nodded in return with a small smile.

‘Hopefully it did this time, because I really don't want to have this conversation again.’

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Leo

Leo never truly understood culture shock due to growing up on the internet, networking with people all over the world, and workshopping entire fictional worlds. He had simply been too exposed to give it much thought.

That is until Elaria's blind siding intervention.

Barring a few tiny exceptions, monogamy was probably one of the most universal things about humans, right next to death and taxes, but having his partner scold him for pestering her was not something he could internalize as well as he thought.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

‘I like how I'm more alright with the life or death magical battle with a dragon, yet the concept of polygamy and a loose sexual relationship is the thing thats fucking with me…’ He briefly wondered if that went both ways, but realized that he probably ruined other men for her, which was also something he was having trouble internalizing.

Those were the main thoughts running through his mind as Leo rejoined the group and started for the guard base, which was now becoming the headquarters for the rebels.

Glia paced up to talk to him with a slightly nervous expression. “Hey Leo, could I crash with you at the inn? You know, seeing as how I have nowhere to stay.”

The human raised an eyebrow. “Sure, but you could still stay at the base. I am the leader now, so it wouldn't be much of an issue.” He pointed out as they turned another corner, but was completely fine with letting her have the room anyway.

The selarin cringed a bit. “No offence Leo, but I kinda want to stay out of whatever initial hell the academy is going to rain down on Telnar. So sleeping in the heart of where they are going to be shooting for, doesn't do well for my beauty sleep.” She explained with a half hearted chuckle.

Now that was a very valid point. “Fair. I’ll just need to talk to… Oh, right, Kesl… Wait, the guild!” He paused worriedly while he turned to Fel. “What did you do with the merchants guild?”

The dragoness eyed him like he asked something very stupid. “Absolutely nothing. Do you really think that we would screw with a continent wide economic power? We're nowhere close to even giving them a paper cut without getting our shit kicked in.”

He cocked his head with a little confusion, noticing the back door they left open. “Won't they contact the rest of the kingdom about this though? I feel like delaying that information for as long as possible would be in our best interests.”

She shrugged and went on to explain casually. “Obviously they will, but the guild itself won't get directly involved in any conflicts. Maybe support a side financially, but that's it. And it doesn't matter if they do, because we plan to be ready within the week, and it'll take the inquisitors at least twice that long to get here.”

A moment of confusion washed over him, because the guild said that the architect would be here in a few days, and that was coming from another kingdom. “Two weeks? Why would it take them that long if it's in the same kingdom?”

“It's not like they are always on standby for an uprising, and it's partially voluntary. Plus nobles are quite lazy when it comes to travel, preferring comfort over efficiency, so we have plenty of time before they get here. And before you ask, I think we should get to the base before discussing anything further. I still don't know who could be watching.” Fel clarified as she eyed a few alleyways suspiciously.

Leo became a little skeptical of the need for secrecy, now that she had taken the town. ‘The cloak I get, but I wonder what would warrant that level of paranoia.’ He thought with a touch of concern.

When they all reached their destination, Glia said her farewells as she went to get her stuff that she snuck into the base, before she left for the inn. So the remaining four walked further into the building, until they arrived in what looked like a war room the size of a small gymnasium. Dozens of makeshift tables were scattered around the room, with groups of selarins huddled around each of them.

A dark gray scaled female selarin, as large and bulky as Kesl, was towering over the largest table in the room. She was a bit over seven feet, peppered in scars, and looked fairly aged with squared facial features and amber eyes. They were directing selarins that went back and forth between their table and the smaller groups.

The sight of so many busy and determined people began to overwhelm Leo's confidence just a bit, as the weight of what he stepped into started to hit him.

‘This is not where I thought I’d be when I woke up today…’

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Fel

Fel guided the trio to the main table in the room to inform the former army major of the recent change of leadership, one of the many conversations that she was dreading to have.

She gave Vesta a mock-salute. “Major, how is the securing of the town going?”

Vesta looked up from the table and quickly gave each member of the group a once over before addressing her. “Ve-sta, I haven't been a major for years now. As for how it's going…it's still a chaotic mess, but it's not like we didn't expect this given how hard we had to push up the deadline.” She paused to quickly address two other selarins before turning back to the group.

Vesta gave Leo the stink eye. “Speaking of deadlines… I take it this is the thorn in all of our collective ass's.” She remarked irritably.

Fel sighed heavily. “Yes, as well as our new leader.”

The large woman arched a brow in surprise, but three more selarins appeared around the table before she could ask about it. “Okay, you need to check in with Yez. I'm way too busy for whatever new crap he's put on my plate. Your new room is just two doors down that hall, all of your stuff is in there.”

Fel led everyone to her room and locked the door. “Leo, would you be so kind?” She asked with a gesture to the door.

He nodded in understanding and cast a sound barrier on the door, while Fel walked over to her pile of stuff on the bed to get her communication orb.

She wore an expression of dread as she looked at the orb in her hand, really not wanting to contact Yez, but the situation demanded it. “Best get this over with… Yez, are you there?”

The orb lit up after a few moments. “Hey Fel, how did it go? Hopefully you didn't kill him.”

Fel frowned slightly. “No he's here. Say hi Leo.”

A slightly fascinated look crossed over the other worlder's face as he stared at the orb. “Um, hello Yez.”

A faint scoff could be heard from the other end. “It's a displeasure to finally make your acquaintance. We had everything lined up perfectly with the other kingdoms and you just had to fuck it up, but at least Fel managed to finally get you under control.” She remarked bitterly, dropping the summon's face into visible irritation.

Fel let out an awkward cough. “Yeah, uh, about that…” She trailed off nervously.

“Fel…” Yez warned.

Fel explained the whole situation to Yez over the communication orb while the others passively watched. When she was finished the orb was silent for a few minutes.

The orb was dim. “Fel, I don't like when you joke about the plan like this.” Yez scolded.

Fel was unable to look directly at the orb, knowing what was about to happen. “It's...not a joke Yez… I'm bound to follow his orders.” She confirmed hesitantly.

The orb started to grow brighter with each question. “He tricked you, right? He didn't actually win against you? RIGHT?!” Yez desperately asked.

Leo cut into the conversation with an irritated tone. “Uh, he is still here, and yes I did.”

The orb was dim and silent for a few moments before Yez spoke. “Fel, give the orb to him and take everyone out. I want to speak alone with him for a moment…”

Leo smirked as he was handed the orb. “No need to do that, I'll just cast another sound spell.”

After Leo was secure in the spell, the orb grew insanely bright and he nearly dropped it trying to cover his eyes.

‘Sorry Leo, but you wanted this…’ Part of her was glad for someone else helping to ease that particular burden.

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