I handed the earring back to Meron as we waited for the ship’s door to open. There was something strange about the first time I got onto a boat a magical ship in the middle of a desert. I wondered if you could still get sea sickness if you were in the air. I was pulled from my thoughts once the wooden walkway descended.

“Shall we?” I looked over at Zakia and smiled. Instead of answering, she strode forward.

When we got onto the ship, a short and plump man greeted us. He had dark bronze skin, a shaved head, and heavy dark brown clothes. He had a curved sword on his hip. “Hello there you must be the young lordling I have been hired to work for?”

“Yes, I am Darterrius of House Maximillian. What is your name?”

The man laughed before offering his hand. “Kidane. Afraid I am not a part of any fancy families or the like, but I can get you where you need to go.”

I took the offered hand and smiled. “Sounds good to me. I have given everyone three hours to make their decision. Is there anything you need done before we leave?”

The man shook his head. “I just need you to point out where to go. Payment for the trip has been taken care of and insurance for the vessel, just in case. I have arranged for living conditions for your people, though they won’t be too comfortable. You and your friend here can have one of the guest rooms.”

I nodded along but was only partially listening. “Sounds good. Can you direct me to the room? I have a few things I wanted to take care of before we get started.”

He gestured for me to follow before we took more than five steps before Zakia called out. “I am going to stay up here.”

I nodded my approval before following the captain. The room they led us into was adorned simply. I had to duck my head to get through the doorway. It held a bed that was nowhere near long enough for me to rest comfortably. There was a nice window. A desk and a chair rounded out the rest of the room. Once the door shut behind us, Tenebris and Sanaa leaped from my shoulders.

“Too small” Tenebris was the voice to voice his displeasure.

“Once the ship is moving, you two can fly along the sides. I will leave the window open so you two can come and go as you want.” I made my way over to the desk and took a seat. “You both just gained a level, so who would like to have their points spent first?”

Sanaa darted forward like an arrow before wrapping herself around my shoulders. Her momentum nearly knocked me over as her voice filled my head. “Me!”

I looked at Tenebris, who wasn’t as excited. When he didn’t protest, I decided to go ahead. I pulled up her status menu and placed her three free points into Soul Bond.

Notice! You have chosen to increase your familiar Sanaa’s ability Soul Bond. Your familiar can now communicate with more complex concepts and ideas. Your familiar now has access to your memories and thoughts. Beneficial spells cast on one will now benefit the other. This effect can not be combined with additional casting of the same spell. Your Radiant Resistance has increased to 25%

As soon as I finished reading the prompt, Sanaa grew quiet. It wasn’t so much a lack of noise as the connection between us became muted. A moment later, she went lax on my shoulders. The fact that I could still feel her breath was the only thing that kept me calm. I decided to let her rest while I reviewed her character sheet.

Name: Sanaa Level: 8, 26% Species: Radiant Dragonette Characteristics Health: 60 Magic: 80

Regen/min: 9

Stamina: 190

Regen/min: 3 Attributes Agility:34 Charisma:26 Endurance: 19 Intelligence:8 Luck:3 Perception: 10 Strength:7 Vitality:6 Wisdom:18 Resistances Radiant: 100% Abilities

(Free Points:0) Brilliant Frills – Lv 1, Points to next level: 1

Soul Bond - Lv 4, Points to next level: 4

Shining Breath – Lv 2, Points to next level: 2

She had grown quite a bit. Her highest stats were higher than mine, but she was very fragile. I would need another four points before I could boost her soul bond again, but it sorely tempted me. In my experience, the higher the level of the ability, the more benefits you would gain. I needed to get some more boost spells right now. I have lesser swiftness which would be clutch but more would be better. Once I finished with her sheet, I turned my attention to Tenebris. I held my arm out like a falconer. It was surprising how easy it was to support his weight. I wasn’t sure how heavy he was since I had never weighed a dragon of any kind before, but he felt fine on my arm.

Looking into his dark black and purple scales reminded me of just how strange my life had become. I was sitting on a ship with two small dragons draped around me. People were considering following me as their lord. I was in a feudal society. Everything was beyond exciting. I stopped my musing and pulled up Tenebris’ sheet. I placed his three points into Soul Bond and read the prompt.

Notice! You have chosen to increase your familiar Tenebris ability Soul Bond. Your familiar can now communicate with more complex concepts and ideas. Your familiar now has access to your memories and thoughts. Beneficial spells cast on one will now benefit the other. This effect can not be combined with additional casting of the same spell. Your Umbra Resistance has increased to 25%

Tenebris fell into unconsciousness just the same as Sanaa. I gently placed him on the bed next to me while I reviewed his updated sheet.

Name: Tenebris Level: 8,26% Species: Umbra Dragonling Characteristics Health: 60 Magic: 330

Regen/min: 5 Stamina: 180

Regen/min: 3 Attributes Agility:26 Charisma:19 Endurance: 18 Intelligence:33 Luck:3 Perception: 10 Strength:7 Vitality:6 Wisdom:10 Resistances Umbra: 100% Abilities

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

(Free Points:0) Sphere of Darkness – Lv 2, Points to next level: 2

Soul Bond - Lv 4, Points to next level: 4

Umbra Breath – Lv 1, Points to next level: 1

When did Tenebris’ Magic get so high? His magic point total was higher than mine since I had to rely on a magic item to reach 330. His Wisdom was nowhere near high enough though, so it wasn’t as big a deal. Either way, he didn’t have any spells. At least none that I had found. It looked like both of my families had potential. I looked down at the sleeping dragonling and smiled.

“I guess potential is something we three of us have. We just have to make sure we use it.” Once I was finished reviewing his sheet, I placed Sanaa on the bed. I opened the window before summoning the chest that Askander had given me. I placed the chest on the desk and opened it. There was a staff made out of solid brass. The top is made out of shining crystal that has been crafted into a winged orb. The handle was a tightly wrapped marbled patterned white cloth.

My breath caught in my throat as I slowly reached for it. Part of me felt like the staff would fall apart if I touched it too fast. When I touched the staff a prompt box appeared.

You have found the staff of the Lumomancer Damage: 3-5

Details: +10% Spell Power to Lumos magic.

Durability: 50/50

Item Rarity: Rare

Item Quality: High

Weight: 3lbs

Now that I was holding it I realized how tall the staff was. The entire staff was as tall as I was which made it a bit difficult to move. Thankfully it was very light. I gave the staff a few practice swings hoping to get a prompt about a new skill. When that didn't happen I nodded and placed the staff and the chest back into the ring. I couldn't wait to try it out but for now, there wasn't much to do with it. I then made my way back out the door. When I returned to the deck I found Zakia looking out over the desert.

I looked over at the crowd and found some of the people had left but the crowd was still pretty large. I made my way over to Zakia.

“It isn’t like you to be standing alone and staring into the distance.”

She laughed. “And I take it you are an expert on what I do?”

“Well I wouldn’t say an expert but I notice things. You strike me more as the fight through her problems type. So what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing significant. I normally make my journeys to Afrium with Angalia. Not being here with her is strange.”

“Do you only come with her? I assumed you all were a group.”

“Well, we are, but that doesn’t mean we do everything together. I like to have private time with my wife, same as anyone else.”

“Oh, I assume that the gift you mentioned earlier was for her?”

She nodded. “I am ready to get back to the cavern. Getting involved in your adventures and meeting the Golden Lion was exciting, but I miss home.”

“Yeah. I take it you are going to head back to the cavern when we get back?”

“Yeah though, if you need help with something, you are free to come and find me. I wouldn’t mind a good fight.”

I chuckled at that. “I will be sure to let you know. The captain says you have the room next to mine. Are you planning to use it?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I hope that isn’t a problem for you and your new friends. I would hate for them to think you are showing me special treatment.”

“I don’t think that applies to you. I am not sure you would do what I told you to, anyway.” I laughed as I turned my attention back to the group of potential settlers. The fact that some of them would be trusting their lives to me was so strange."

“Don’t look so solemn about it. For what it’s worth, I think you can handle it. You don’t seem like the ‘Sacrifice the kids to a demon’ type. Just take it step by step and find some people you trust”

“Thanks for the advice. Shall we go and see who is joining us? We could take a bet on how many people board the ship.”

She considered it for a moment before nodding her head. “You are on.”

I passed Zakia five silver pieces as the last person boarded the ship. 3,500 people decided to join me. I had Amara go through and doing a census of everyone. Once everyone had boarded, we took off. The process was the strangest thing I had ever seen. First, the ship began to hum, and then a bubble of air wrapped around the ship. It was a bit like being inside a snow globe. The harsh desert heat disappeared. The ship took off and into the air without any turbulence. If I wasn’t watching the city get further and further away, I wouldn’t have realized it. It was strangely silent. There was a lack of sound on the deck of the ship. I hadn’t been on a boat back in my old world, but this felt so weird. I shook off the distractions.

Being in the air, there was little for me to do. I quickly decided against casting spells. I wasn’t sure if the ship was enchanted, but it would be ridiculous for me to get this far and burn down the ship. I was about to return to my cabin when Amara came up the stairs. We exchanged a look and then she made her way over.

“I have finished doing a basic census. Most of the population is of working age. We have around 29% of the group being children for their species. 22% are elderly and either won’t be able to do manual labor or won’t be effective. We have a very diverse population. 20% are human, 15% are Serpentfolk, and 15% are elves, including a small group of dark elves. 14% are Gnuvin. 13% are Trollkin, 11% are Ishalie, 8% are Procideans and 4% are Draconians. I won’t be able to give you a level breakdown until I have time for individual interviews.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure what some of those were, but it was pretty cool that some Procideans came. I assumed the Draconians were the draconic people I saw earlier. “You managed to get all of that already? Is there anything else you need?”

She shook her head. “At the moment, there is little that we can do. If you don’t mind, I have some questions to ask you?”

I shrugged my shoulders and leaned against the wall behind me. “You may.”

“How old are you?”

I hesitated for a second before answering. “26.” It just dawned on me that I had no idea what my birthday was. I guess it would be my first day here. So forty-one days ago. “Do you know what the date was forty-one days ago?”

She tapped on her tablet for a few moments before looking up. “It would have been Kerast, the 22nd of Ixais of the year 500 in the fifth era.” I nodded and committed the date to memory while she asked her next question. “I assume that you are unmarried?” She subtly nodded toward Zakia.

“That is correct. She is a friend. Is my being unmarried an issue?”

“Not exactly an issue, but you are getting up there in age. It will become harder to arrange a marriage if you are too much older than available bachelors and bachelorettes”

“Is that something I should be worried about?” I stood up straight as the various political marriages from history class ran through my mind. Most of those weren’t exactly pleasant.

“In truth, probably. There will be expectations and a need for an heir. For now, though, you don’t have much, so it’s not as big a problem. It could be a way for you to tie yourself into a stronger country, though. That would give you access to resources. You would have a hard time getting otherwise.”

I nodded. She had made a good point. “How would I go about arranging a marriage? Would I just ask another ruler?”

She shook her head. “Ordinarily, your parents would have arranged something closer to your birth, but I assume that wasn’t done. In that case, your best bet would be to arrange a Selection.” When she saw the blank look on my face, she continued. “It's equal parts party and diplomatic mission. People around your age would come to earn the right to be your partner. Secondarily, it acts as an opportunity for meetings that would have otherwise been impossible to arrange. It is unheard of for violence to be done on anyone going to, attending, or leaving the event. Which makes it very important for diplomacy. Of course, the only way to get people to show up is to up your grandeur. No one will care out a small desert town.”

“It sounds like there isn’t anything to do about it now. I will build up the city and then deal with other issues when they come up. What do you know about the other places nearby?”

“Well, the closest places are the Free Cities. A group of six cities, including Afrium. They are loosely aligned with one another. Their alliance came together over two centuries ago to fend off the Hesata Dominion. The current state of the alliance is a bit in the air.”

“Would you be able to write up a full briefing on the cities, the Alliance, the Dominion, and any other important groups?”

She nodded. “I can get that done for you.”

“Could you also figure out who has an affinity for magic? If there is anyone that can teach me some spells, I would appreciate it.”

She hesitated at that before nodding her head. “I can look into but there will probably be very few of those. They would have to have reached ‘Expert’ level at least before they could pass on spells. It would be surprising to find someone like that amongst the settlers. If you could get to that level of skill, you would have a comfortable life in most places."

I nodded and considered my position. If it turned out no one could teach me then I needed to either find a way to convince the Matriarch to help me or delve deeply into dungeons and hope to find something useful. At least it would be exciting.

“My lord, I don’t have any more questions. If it is right, I would like to retire for the next few hours. Flying always makes me nauseous.”

“No problem. Rest for as long as you need. If I am not up here later, feel free to come to my room no matter the time of day.”

“Of course.” She stood up and made her way back below deck. Once she was gone, I made my way over to the edge of the boat. Now that we had left the city behind, it was harder to tell just how fast we were going. The landscape below looked like a rolling scroll of creatures, plants, and sand. It was beautiful in its way.

The journey back was not even half as long as the time it took us. Being able to fly over nearly all the landmarks was beyond useful. Outside of a near attack by a flying creature that looked a bit like a cross between a hawk and a hornet, we were pretty safe. The children enjoyed watching Tenebris and Sanaa fly in and out of the bubble. I took the time to meet with most of the new settlers. When we reached the dazzling sun of my domain, it was like returning home. I pulled up the interface for my spells and watched in real-time as we moved closer and closer to Radiance. It was kind of like watching the map of a video game. It only took us half a day to go from the outer bounds of my territory to the location of the city.

When we landed, I had to explain what was going on to the people already in the small town. They had already started building several tenement buildings. Thanks to the Ifrit that Matriarch Shaurianna sent. I had everyone stop working and together we got all the people and cargo out of the ship. The task only took a few hours, thanks to the light drones. Once we were done, I allowed the ship to leave after agreeing for him to return in six months with more supplies. After taking care of that, I turned to my people and we set out to build something special.