Daniel walks calmly down the hallway after parting with Geirahoel and Reignleif. He passes through the prison block, observing the golems dragging or marching new soldiers in. Hekate is rounding up everyone outside, it would seem, which is fine. He ultimately knows his concern was more or less unwarranted. Even if they fought ferociously, there was very little chance of the attackers defeating the golems as a whole. Daniel has read in the past, when technology levels were relatively close on both sides, it took three times as many soldiers to win a siege against an average defending fortress. While the invaders had no way of knowing, the three dragons close to Daniel alone could likely easily outweigh the twenty thousand troops they brought, especially on defense. The golems, on the other hand, number in the hundreds of thousands, if what Xyreko has said is true. And, Daniel has no reason to doubt her.
Daniel’s not sure there are enough soldiers in the Imperial Alliance to actually win against the Citadel now that it’s up and running again, and he’s skeptical that they could defeat the demon army. Vaergraes and Thymeria sent word to the Uhl’tall to begin migrating to the Citadel town if they choose, as well as anyone else that would side with her over the rest of the Demon Covenant. It’s slow going, and dangerous for them while the siege is taking place.
But, if Hekate unleashes on the attackers, it’ll be over in mere moments. Daniel wanted them to lose morale and turn back on their own, but if they were prepared for a true siege, even if undermanned, then they could stay on station for months.
Daniel enters the cell containing the familiar captain of the Stalvaltan Guards that had visited before; Muindis.
“Captain,” says Daniel coldly.
Muindis looks up from his seated position in the corner, where he has resigned himself to captivity -at least until his mana replenishes-. He recognizes Daniel’s armor, no doubt, and almost immediately loses interest in talking to him. However, he does a double-take. “I-It can’t be…”
He climbs to his feet, and Daniel puts his hand on his pistol’s grip, which halts the captain.
Muindis continues to stare. “Y-You’re… You’re him, aren’t you? It was you all along…”
“And, who do you mean by that, Captain?”
“Daniel… The… the one we’ve been searching for…” He shakes his head. “I… I don’t understand…”
“No? Seemed pretty clear to me. Either you’re after my weapons, or you’re after my life.”
“No!” cries out Muindis. He glances around, whispering, “No… Listen, I don’t know why… A-Are you… Are you a captive, Daniel?”
“Captive?” Daniel cocks his head. “What gives you that idea?”
“I-... It’s a show, right? I-I mean, c’mon. You killed a dragon. If you’re still alive… Is Hekate keeping you as a trophy?”
Daniel sighs. “Empress Hekate, mind you. And, no. I’m not a captive. I did what I had to in order to survive. Wasn’t particularly easy for me at Fort Peony.”
Muindis tries to step forward, but again, Daniel tugs on his pistol, reminding Muindis that they aren’t friends or allies right now.
“W-We came to retrieve you. I don’t know all of the circumstances, but the Grand Duchess herself dispatched us. She was certain you were still alive when we presented your jacket.”
Daniel finds this surprising. I figured someone pieced it together, and Aramellianna would play it safe. But, she figured it out? How?
“How did her Grace determine that I was still alive?”
“Your jacket was too clean for you to have been brutally murdered and fed to goblins.”
Huh… That… makes sense, unfortunately. I hadn’t thought of that.
“Very well. I have no desire to return to the Grand Duchy.”
“Wh-...!?” Muindis is stunned, and he can only gape like a fish, trying to form words but not finding a fluid thought to convert into sound. Daniel can understand. After all, these guys risked their lives for whatever their mission truly was.
“I’m aware of the airship. We brought it down before it could pose a threat to my friends.” This causes Muindis to pale and tense. “That’s right, Captain. It was armed with an apparent anti-dragon weapon. It almost cost me someone very dear to me.”
“But, th-the dragons… To get you out of here…”
“I told you I have no desire to return. Did you intend to kidnap me if I refused to go?”
Again, Muindis stares at him blankly. His brain is struggling to process the information. It seems his plan assumed Daniel WAS a prisoner, and they were rescuing him. They didn’t have a contingency for if Daniel refused to be rescued.
“But… Grand Duchess Aramellianna… No, Duchess Wenlianna… She… She has asked for your return.”
“I know you’re just a soldier following orders. You’d have to be to come all the way to the depths of the Demon Wildlands to retrieve a commoner and take such a task seriously. But, Wenlianna herself made it very clear where we stood. I was happy enough, but I was just an assistant. Nothing more. Here… I have a family. People that care about me for nothing more than being me. People that would die for me and welcome me home. I have nothing against Wenlianna or even the Grand Duchess. But, I’m not a tool to be used and put back into the toolbox when they’re done with me.”
Muindis is quiet for a long time as he hears what Daniel had to say and absorbs his words. “If… you stay… You’ll be branded a traitor.”
Daniel scoffs. “I was banished to the frontier for a hell of a lot less. And, I know execution was discussed for that very same thing. Speaking of, is Princess Erimaya doing well?”
Muindis cocks his head, but he nods. “Yes. She has been in good health, to my knowledge.”
“Good. I’m glad. It was all worth it, in the end.”
“Is… Are you sure you want to do this, Daniel? We’re prepared to do anything to return you…”
“I’m sure. I actually already swung by the Grand Duchy for personal business. Besides, I made Hekate a promise.”
“A promise? So it’s true. You’re really her ‘Darling’?”
Daniel nods. “Yes. And, if she wanted to, she could have her way with me. She’s far more powerful than I could ever be. But, she’s more interested in earning my affection, which I’m grateful for.”
“Doesn’t that… make you the Emperor?”
Daniel hesitates. He’s always known the implication was obvious, but he never really gives it thought. He calls the shots when he’s confident about the best answer, but generally, he tries to defer to letting Hekate make the decisions. He’s perfectly content with being her knight and offering support, encouragement, or advice when needed. But, he certainly has no desire for the title or responsibility of being an ‘emperor’.
“I suppose in a sense, that would be true. But, I’m just a commoner, and she’ll long outlive me.” Daniel crosses his arms, explaining in a more business-like tone, “Hekate will keep her word. You’ll be given the option to accept a magic contract that will prevent you from ever returning here before being returned to Twilight. If you refuse, you will live out the rest of your days in this cell. I wouldn’t expect those days to stretch very far.”
Muindis scoffs, reminded of his current situation. “I almost wish you didn’t reveal yourself.”
Daniel chuckles in a sympathetic way. "I feel for you. The Grand Duchess is… a serious person."
Muindis chuckles in disappointed defeat, hanging his head. "Do I have you to thank that the Empress is showing us mercy?"
"Partially," admits Daniel. "But, if any of you had hurt Shek, I'd have killed you all. Or, if Reignleif was killed by the airship,..." Daniel clenches his fist as the feelings of anger and fear finally have time to breathe. "I have a lot to lose now. You’re lucky I didn’t lose anyone.”
Muindis is respectfully silent, and Daniel turns, leaving the room.
He walks for some distance alone. He turns when he’s certain that he’s being followed. True to his suspicions, he can’t see anyone. However, he has a few options for that. Daniel pulls two objects from his regular bag; both look like little more than metal cans each with a metal clasp and ring on it, but their functions are very different. Daniel pulls the rings, removing the pins from both canisters without releasing the clasps just yet. He ponders for a moment, and he tosses the one in his left hand towards the center, just a few yards ahead of himself. He looks away while closing his eyes at the last possible second, covering his left ear with his newly freed left hand.
A burst of bright light and disorienting sound erupts from the deceptively small can, illuminating the whole of the gigantic hallway that he’s in for a short moment. The sound itself is too loud to be able to hear the echo, as it washes out even Daniel’s covered ear with its volume.
What he just threw is a flashbang grenade; a type of grenade that does exactly what its name implies; a bright flash and loud bang to disorient and momentarily stun those in proximity.
Even Daniel is momentarily disoriented from the sound, specifically, since he wasn’t wearing his helmet, but he has enough sense to toss the other canister from his right hand towards the left wall, where a recess provides cover to someone that might be hiding just in case their stealth spell is no longer functional.
This canister immediately begins billowing thick white smoke, and Daniel puts his helmet back on before the cloud reaches him.
Two distinct fits of coughing rise out of the smoke. They managed to stay quiet after the flashbang, even if they are likely still mostly blinded by the light. Daniel’s hearing is only barely recovering, but he can see swirls in the smoke as the two figures struggle to limp out of the cloud they probably can’t clearly see.
Daniel fires two more non-lethal bullets, one for each person, toppling them. The combined assault finally drops their focus, desperate as they were, and a gatonine and human become visible, clutching their respective injuries on the ground.
Both Reignleif and Geirahoel appear soon after, high above them in flight, and they land carefully next to Daniel. He can tell they’re both trying to speak, but he can’t make out any words.
Daniel replies as calmly and normal-volume as he can, since he can’t currently tell, “I’m fine. Sorry about that. I can’t hear right now.”
Geirahoel crosses her arms and glares at him, and Reignleif holds a hand towards him. It becomes clear when the magic circle appears in front of her hand that she’s attempting a spell on Daniel, but even his armor will likely interfere, assuming it could work in the first place.
And, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t help, to which he says gently, “I appreciate you trying, Reina, but I’m still me. I’m immune to magic. My hearing will return shortly. If you would, please help me subdue these two.”
Daniel approaches and withdraws a rope from his magic bag. He begins tying each of their hands behind their backs, then putting sacks over them and cinching down with drawstrings, The sack will help keep them from slipping anything into their reach to cut the ropes, since Daniel hadn’t thought to have Xyreko make handcuffs yet.
Daniel’s hearing starts to feel normal again, and he asks, "Reina? Geira? Are you two okay? Sorry I couldn't warn you."
Geirahoel crosses her arms, huffing. "I'll forgive you this time."
"Ohh? I feel especially blessed."
Reignleif, who is finishing tying up the gatonine soldier the same way as Daniel, adds softly, "Thank you for what you said in the cell, Mukori." She blushes, keeping her eyes on her task. "I'm alright." She gives him a gentle smile, and then follows his lead as he stands up with the human soldier.
The human coughs, "D-Daniel? I-is that you?"
“Yeah. Are there any more of you guys?”
The soldier tries to ignore him, growling, “We were supposed to retrieve you for the Grand Duchy…”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Daniel doesn’t respond, and Geirahoel steps close, prodding his injured chest with her finger. “Daniel asked you a question, scum!” The soldier cries out in agony. “Speak! Or I’ll add fire!”
The soldier shouts, “P-Please! Mercy!”
Daniel asks again, “Are there any more of you guys in stealth?”
“N-No!”
Fire flares from Geirahoel’s hand, swirling around her finger as she hisses. “Liar!”
The soldier screams, and the gatonine shrinks back against Reignleif, who stoically observes.
Daniel touches Geirahoel’s arm, and she cuts off the attack. The human soldier catches his breath, grunting and groaning. The young dragon becomes defensive. “D-Daniel! He’s lying!”
“I’m sure you’re right. It’s always going to be the first counterintelligence option. I wonder if that torture will work here.”
Both dragons cock their heads, while the two soldiers tense. If they know who Daniel is, they know he’s referring to something from his world; something they likely can’t fathom.
Reignleif remarks innocently, “Torture is quite widely spread in this world, Mukori. It has varying levels of success, as far as I know. Especially if the soldiers are trained against it.”
Daniel nods. “Yep. No one method is perfect. But, now I’m curious. And, this one isn’t that gruesome. I won’t feel so bad using it if they don’t want to talk.”
“Why would they be afraid now, Daniel?” asks Geirahoel disbelievingly. “You just told them they don’t have to fear it.”
Daniel chuckles. “Oh, I didn’t say that. I meant that I can stomach it.” He looks at the two soldiers with a smirk. “These two won’t need the magic contract to never cross the mountains willingly again.”
The other four glance at each other, in spite of their opposing alliances, unsure of what he means. Of course, the dragons aren’t in any danger, and they’ve likely been party to much worse forms of torture thanks to the former Dragon Lord and his brother, as well as the green sage.
Daniel leads, guiding the human soldier from behind with the threat, “If you don’t want to die, walk.”
The soldiers are reluctant, but they’ll likely bide their time for an opening.
Daniel finds an open cell and brings all four of the others in. He withdraws a bench from his magic bag, and then lays the human soldier on his back on it.
“Hot irons or rats, huh? I’ll die before I talk.”
Daniel scoffs. “How ancient. Why would I do that to the poor rats?” He ties the soldier firmly to the bench, and then he withdraws a towel from his magic bag. He lays it over the soldier’s face, and he is surprisingly still. Of course, he has no idea what he’s in for, and if he believes it’s hot irons or rats, then not seeing the bucket with the rats would reduce the effectiveness to a degree.
Oh, how he’ll likely be wishing for the rats in a moment.
“Can either or both of you use water magic?” asks Daniel.
Both Geirahoel and Reignlief nod. Geirahoel admits softly, “Reina is likely better at it, though.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t need much.”
“I hope you’ve got time to wait,” retorts the soldier.
“Don’t you worry about us. Even for us humans, twenty seconds isn’t that long.”
Both soldiers are awkwardly quiet, and Daniel guides Geirahoel by the shoulders gently to stand beyond the human soldier’s head, and he whispers to explain her role. She blushes the whole time, as if she’s a young lover being confessed to via sweet nothings whispered in her ear. She becomes surprised, though, once she hears the explanation. “That’s it?”
Daniel nods. “That’s it. Can you handle it?”
“I… I thought you were going to encase his body with water.”
“Nope. He’d be able to hold his breath for quite a while, I’m sure. This will work better.”
She nods, still surprised. She glances at Reignleif, who shrugs.
“Ready?” asks Daniel.
“R-Ready,” answers Geirahoel. She begins casting, and Daniel states, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now, what I want to know since you lied to us is how to get around your stealth spell.”
“As if I’d tell-...” Water begins raining down on him in a steady stream, not much more than a garden hose, but it’s a lot of water and relatively quickly, pouring across the towel over his face. He begins coughing and shaking his head, spitting and puffing, gasping and crying out. Within seconds, his facade of composure crumbles as his body dry heaves and gasps, inhaling water, but not sensing enough to force him to hold his breath, coughing to expel water from his mouth and lungs, but not quite to the level of drowning yet.
“Princess Erimaya survived drowning after being supposedly dead for about three minutes. Are you telling me you can’t last twenty seconds?”
“S-ST-AHHC-STOP! P-PGH-PLEAGJS!” The human soldier cries out in agony, writhing on the bench as he fights the sensation of drowning, helpless as his body genuinely convinces itself it is fluttering between drowning and finding air to take in. Daniel gestures at Geirahoel, and she stops the falling water.
The human soldier pants and cries softly, sobbing as he coughs liquid out of his lungs and tries to catch his breath. Daniel pulls the towel away, while the soldier continues to pant desperately. He looks directly at the gatonine. “How do we counter the spell and find the others?”
The gatonine glances at his comrade, and then at Daniel several times. Daniel knows that waterboarding was banned in many of Earth’s countries for good reason. It’s highly effective at traumatizing the victim, but like any torture, has dubious reliability about fishing the desired information out. Both strong and weak-willed victims can give wrong information simply by virtue of trying to say what they think the torturer wants to hear.
Daniel also knows there can be long-term psychological effects from doing it, so he doesn’t plan on doing it again. He can tell the human soldier is already disoriented, pleading and panting.
Hopefully, the threat of round two… Daniel begins moving the towel back over the soldier’s face, and he cries out.
Somewhat surprisingly, it’s the gatonine soldier that screams, “We use a vision spell!”
The three look at him, and he adds, “There’s a spell we use so we can see each other. Please. Have mercy.”
Daniel makes a show of pondering, and the human soldier pants from his position as he pleads at a near whisper, while the gatonine watches nervously.
Daniel sighs. “Very well. But, if you lie to us, you’re next.”
The gatonine nods vigorously, and Daniel unties the human soldier. He looks at Reignleif. She asks, “What is it?”
“I’m wondering if I should summon Xyreko. I’d like to cast an amnesia spell on these two, if possible, after testing his supposed spell, of course. Oh, I expect that you’ll tell us the stealth spell as well, right?”
The gatonine glances at his comrade, and he nods reluctantly. “Good. No harm done. I just want to round up the rest of your allies.”
Reignleif offers gently, “I can do both. I don’t mind.”
Daniel shakes his head. “Xyreko can test spells without risk of being cursed. However she does it.”
“What about Ucahote?” asks Geirahoel. “I can’t imagine he needs his full focus to fight mere human kin. N-No offense…” She looks away from Daniel in embarrassment.
“None taken. Let’s see. Ucahote? Are you monitoring the prison cells?”
Reignleif adds via telepathy, “I’ll inform Hekate via telepathy, Daniel.”
Daniel nods at her. A moment later, a male voice enters Daniel’s helmet. “Master Daniel, I am at your service. What can I do for you?”
“Can you safely test spells with potential for curses?”
“I can. Chief Caretaker Xyreko utilizes soldier golems for the test, which I am the immediate next in command of after Xyreko. I’ll be there momentarily.”
The door opens, and Ucahote’s golem walks in. It bows, “Your majesty.”
Daniel looks at the golem, but he can only sigh. “You there; tell the spells to my companion, Ucahote.”
The gatonine nods, and Reignleif releases him, allowing Ucahote to teleport away with the gatonine soldier. They’re gone for a few minutes, and Geirahoel asks, “What if something happened?”
“It’s fine, Geira.”
“You should call on Ucahote, and…”
“Geira…” murmurs Daniel warningly. She fidgets, looking away from him.
“The soldier may be resisting passively,” adds Reignleif. “If that is the case, then Ucahote will likely return to request further action.”
Daniel nods in agreement. But, it isn’t quite satisfactory for the impatient orange dragon. “It’s taking too long! I… I want…” She blushes, whirling away from them all as she crosses her arms. “Nothing! Shut up!”
“We weren’t saying anything,” teases Daniel.
“Don’t talk to me like we’re friends!” Her tail sways back and forth in irritation, fluttering her dress lightly.
“My darling lo-” She glares at Daniel as he starts another teasing phrase, and her eyes nearly shoot lasers at him with how passionately she glowers at him. He puts his hands up in surrender.
She straightens and relaxes a little when Ucahote returns with the gatonine soldier. “I have confirmed the effectiveness of both the stealth spell and the vision spell. I will establish a sweeping team and begin searching the Citadel from top to bottom. I’ll relay the stealth spell to another of Xyreko’s subordinates and my colleague to be deconstructed for a more direct method of disabling it.”
Daniel nods. “Thank you, Ucahote. If you would, please send a pair of soldiers to police and imprison these two until we’re ready to send them home. Oh, but if you can, please use amnesia magic on both of them to erase the last couple hours, specifically so they forget my method of fishing for information from them.”
Ucahote nods. “I will reach out to the Spellmaster.”
“I feel bad that I didn’t know about you or the Spellmaster until now.”
“Do not fret, Master Daniel. We need no accolades nor attention. We exist to serve.”
“I’d like to meet you and treat you like you’re still regular people all the same. For now, I’ll leave the tasks to you, if that’s alright.”
“Of course. And, thank you, Master. I shall begin at once.”
Golems enter the cell and begin stripping the soldiers of their armor and any hidden weapons, separating them into their own cells as Daniel, Reignleif, and Geirahoel step out into the hall.
“Thank you both for the help and watching over me.”
Both dragons smile softly. Geirahoel responds first, “Of course. If someone doesn’t look after you, you’ll do foolish and dangerous things.”
He chuckles, adding softly, “Thanks.”
“I’m glad it worked…” murmurs Reignleif, smiling at him. “I’m surprised there was a spell capable of fooling us all.”
“The Stalvaltan Guard, if I recall what I heard correctly, are supposed to be among the best of the best. They combine rigorous magic and sword training. I never met the late Grand Duke who apparently started the training, but I’d guess that he had hoped to be able to defend against dragons.”
The three of them are quiet for a moment. Given what happened with the airship, which was entirely crewed by Stalvaltan soldiers, they aren’t far off from that goal. In fact, if Reignleif had been alone, it’s very possible she wouldn’t have survived.
“Reina… I’m sorry.”
The two women look at him, and Daniel adds softly, “The airship and that weapon… they were only possible because of me.”
Reignleif doesn’t hesitate. She hugs him instantly. “Mukori… You have nothing to apologize for. If you had not walked the path you walked… we wouldn’t be together. And,... you wouldn’t have saved the world.” She looks up into his eyes. Her blue eyes glitter a little, all but entrapping Daniel in a trance. “I’m alive. We defeated their weapon. And, now we know about it. If they developed it on their own, I might not have been able to survive such an encounter.” She finally breaks eye contact, fidgeting with his armor a little. She then lowers her arms, retreating under her droopy dress and mantle. “I’ve been alive a long time. But… no one has ever risked themselves to protect me. Th-Thank you… Mukori.”
Daniel takes his helmet off so he can smile at her. “Thank you for telling me so. I meant every word I said to Muindis. I… I was worried sick. And, it was almost worse after the fact.”
She smiles. “Thank you for worrying about me.” She flutters her wings gently, lifting herself up a little as she reaches out to grip his collar. She hovers to kiss him, and both of their cheeks fill with color.
Geirahoel adds sheepishly, “I-If you didn’t stop it, our children would suffer as well. I’d rather have you make things to protect them than not have you at all.”
Both Daniel and Reignleif chuckle, and Daniel says softly, “Thanks, Geira. That means a lot.”
She blushes, nodding without looking at him.
“Now then. Shall we go find out how Hekate is doing?”
They both nod, and they begin walking. Xyreko has been installing transport circles for Daniel, specifically, since he’ll never be able to teleport himself. Similar to the magic bags, he can select a destination on a control crystal and then arrive at the location almost immediately after stepping onto the sending circle.
He sets the destination for the control room and steps through, followed by Reignleif and Geirahoel.
There, they find the gathered group of everyone close to Daniel; Hekate, Ryuogriar, the goddess Ryukana, Vaergraes and her sister, Thymeria, Illianna, Treia, Gwenesphia, Aoloan the succubus, and the goblins Shek and Skloe. Shek cries out, “Master!” She runs to Daniel, hugging him instantly as she cries. “Th-Thank Master for saving Shek! Shek happy!” She whimpers as she looks at him, and Daniel crouches, hugging her. “I’m glad you’re safe, Shek. Are you alright?”
She rubs her abdomen, replying with a nod. “Tummy hurt, but Shek live. Is Master hurt?”
Daniel smiles. “No. I’m fine.” In truth, I’ve been ragdolled enough times today, that I could use a nap, and I’m gonna be sore tomorrow. Good thing I’m not as old as I was.
Suddenly, Daniel is reminded of something he has been meaning to ask Ryukana. “Lady Ryukana, I just remembered a question I’ve been meaning to ask.”
She perks up. “Of me? If I can answer, I shall.”
He nods. “Yes. Something that’s been odd has been my age. On Earth, I was thirty three, but I know I got around ten years younger coming here. Do you know why that is? I’d assume it has to do with magic, but…”
The others chuckle, and Hekate instantly cuts in, “It’s fate! We were meant to be closer in age. You! Ryukana! Make him younger, please!”
Ryukana smiles at Hekate, but she replies sincerely to Daniel. “I’m unsure of the cause, as you know Rikuto was my intended transfer. My guess is that, during the transfer when I was modifying him for this world, some of that magic synchronized your ages, but any magic that should have been naturally present in you was drawn to him in exchange, since my focus was on him.”
Daniel nods as the others look at him.
“Does it disappoint you, Lord Daniel?” asks Thymeria gently.
He chuckles. “No. I would be fascinated to be able to use magic, since it only existed in fiction in my world. But, I’ve still been able to experience things I never would, and humored even things I never dreamed I’d have the resources to tackle in my world. So, I may not be able to chuck fireballs or fly on my own, but I was able to make diamonds and destroy a giant monster with a weapon my world achieved during a high point in our technological development. And, I’ve met all of you.”
Hekate immediately rushes in, ‘guarding’ Daniel. “But, he’s mine, first and foremost! I’ll fight anyone who tries to take him away.”
The others simply chuckle. It’s becoming clear, no matter what Hekate says, she’s a kind and sociable person. She just doesn’t know how to express both friendship and romance at the same time, since she never had friends before Daniel.
“I have a question now,” remarks Ryuogriar. “Where does the family name ‘Lawson’ come from? Did you find a history of your parents, Hekate?”
Hekate’s grin spreads wide across her face, and Daniel is confused for a moment. “What’s this about ‘Lawson’?” he asks.
***