Chapter 38: The Mechanic and the Dragons_Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 38: The Mechanic and the Dragons

 Daniel walks calmly as Hekate hangs from his shoulders, shaking in frustration as she tries to convince him to turn back. “Daniel! You can''t! This is treachery! Cheating! I won''t let you go!”

 “Vaergraes is returning tomorrow, Hekate. I promised to revive the dragons for her, so long as they would agree to be contracted to our will.”

 “Graaaahhh! You like her, too! You meanie! You have me!”

 “If Vaergraes was a man, would you be acting like this?”

 “Would you!?” She chews on his shirt''s cor, tugging with her jaws to try to annoy him without hurting him. Daniel sighed, “Hekate, it''s business. You''re letting your imagination run wild.”

 “Liar! You''re making an entire harem! And, you won''t even let me be part of it!”

 “I''m keeping the peace, Hekate, not a harem.”

 They find Xyreko, Ryuogriar, and Reignleif waiting on them outside of the next candidate''s cell; the young female orange dragon. The goal is to free dragons in order of agreeableness, in addition to which ones were only wounded, rather than in. At present, Xyreko only has three of the revival potions and has golems searching for the ingredients for more.

 The caretaker muses yfully, “I see Lady Hekate slept well.”

 The young feldrok girl points at Xyreko,manding her, “Xyreko! I order you to stop Daniel! He''s not allowed to talk to any more girls! Ever! Not even you!”

 Xyreko stared at her, replying dryly, “My Lady Hekate, my highest loyalty is to Master. I cannot obey that order.”

 “Graaahhhh! Then… Then send all of the girl dragons out! Quickly!”

 Daniel scratches her head, ruffling her hair and ears. “Hekate… Please, rx. You, yourself, chose Ryuogriar and Reignleif because they were kind. The rest of the dragons will likely leave with the Demon Queen. Alright?”

 She points over his shoulders at the two mature dragons in human form, “Make them leave, too! They''re evil temptresses!”

 “I thought you were past this.”

 Hekate grunts indignantly, squirming on Daniel’s back. She bites his shoulder, and he yelps, “Ow! Hekate! Come on!”

 She pouts, putting her chin on his shoulder. “I’m supposed to be your wife… You have me for anything and everything you want…”

 “Hekate; I promise I’m never going to abandon you, alright? Please just let me conduct business. Once the Devourer is dead, we can all settle down and go about our lives in peace. You and I will be stuck together for a long time after that, right?”

 She hums, “Mm-hmm…”

 “Then, what are you worried about right now?”

 “Evil temptresses…”

 He sighs. He murmurs, “Just behave yourself, please. We still have a lot of dragons prisoner, and I imagine not all of them will agree, which means we’ll have to try to keep Vaergraes happy by offering her at least a few.”

 She nods, keeping her chin on his shoulder. “I’m not letting go.”

 “Fine. Just don’t make any outbursts. That’s all I ask.”

 “Don’t flirt with her.”

 He ignores Hekate, nodding at Xyreko, and she opens the door. The five of them enter the chamber of the young orange dragon, who, like the others, tries to indignantly ignore their presence… until she notices Ryuogriar and Reignleif, instantly recognizing them as their true selves in human form.

 Daniel says politely, “Good morning, Lady Orange. I’m Daniel, this is Hekate, that’s Xyreko, and the two you know are now going by Ryuogriar and Reignleif, in order to keep their true names secret from anyone else. You probably also know me as the Feldrok Sorcerer or the Harbinger of Cmity.”

 The orange dragon twitches, but she tries not to acknowledge Daniel. It’s most likely that she’s trying to speak telepathically to Ryuogriar and Reignleif. The two simply look at each other, and Ryuogriar states elegantly and proudly, “I will not answer you, child. Daniel spoke to you. You are entirely at his mercy; mercy being the key word. Hear him out or rot in this cell.”

 Reignleif adds softly, “It’s worth it. We promise.”

 Orange snarls, “Why should I trust you!? You filthy humans are wretched beasts favoring yourselves kings. You are nothing more than insects.”

 Daniel can feel Hekate’s hands tighten on his shirt, and the other three shift to move or speak out. Daniel retorts quickly and bluntly, “I’m the specific insect that defeated you mere seconds after you attacked me. What does that make you?”

 Orange recoils in shock and disgust. She looks away haughtily, while the others look at Daniel. He didn’t take her insult that personally. Instead, he redirected it.

 “I’m prepared to offer you… about ny-five percent freedom starting today. The five percent will be a contract that enves you to my will with certain requirements, an inability to harm myself or anyone else in this room, as well as a few others, and a few other things. However, I intend to let you leave if you wish.”

 She growls in retort, “I am to believe this farce?”

 Ryuogriar snarls, “Mind your tongue, child. Reina and I are here of our own free will. You won’t be alone as long as others agree. You will only be unable to cause harm, as our former lord did.”

 “You traitors would side with this filthy human!?”

 Ryuogriar puts her hand on her rounded belly, emphasizing its new shape, and Orange studies it for a moment. Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head in disbelief. “You… How? I thought…”

 Reignleif answers, “There is a curse on the dragons the lord spread when he betrayed the Citadel all those centuries ago. We have been innocted.” She lifts her form-hiding outfit enough to reveal her own bare belly, which has started to show a curve. Daniel can feel Hekate squeeze him with her arms and legs, but she resists attacking him. She doesn’t understand, but he doesn’t need her to get any strange ideas, either.

 Orange paces in a short circle, mainly to turn around and look from a different angle, still trying to piece it all together. She shakes her head, pacing in another circle. Daniel states, “We’ll cure the curse if you agree to terms, and I’ll ensure all but the dragon lord will be revived, unless they refuse to agree to the terms and try to remain hostile. Once the contract is in ce, you may return to your home at any time. You’ll never have to see me again.”

 “We’ll be going together?” she looks at Ryuogriar and Reignleif. Both of them shake their heads. Ryuogriar remarks, “I shall remain with Daniel. He has offered me an important role in the Citadel, and I havee to appreciate his behavior.”

 Reina nods in agreement.

 “But… He’s… He’s a human…”

 “Take this how you like, child; Daniel spared us. Insulting him will get you nowhere. Leaving him is your prerogative, but following him… We will defeat the Devourer. You can be a part of it, or you can revel in our victory.”

 Orange scoffs, shaking her head. “You’re delusional! The Devourer can’t be defeated! Especially not by this… human.”

 “Then, you can enjoy your remaining years free, rather than awaiting the Devourer in this castle’s dungeon, hmm?” Orange flinches under Ryuogriar’s smug and condescending retort. “L-Lady White…”

 “I go by Ryuogriar now. You will refer to me as ‘Lady Ryuogriar’ or Mrs. Daniel…”

 Hekate growls angrily from Daniel’s shoulders, and Ryuogriar smirks smugly at her. Thankfully, Hekate redirects her frustration, hopping off of Daniel’s shoulders and approaching the barrier separating them from Orange. She points, saying sternly, “I want you out of my castle! So just make the deal and go away. If you stay, Daniel might be seduced by you, and I won’t have it! So, just ept!”

 Orange hesitates, ncing between each of them for moments. She asks softly, “Do… I have to take human form? Is that… this hu-... this Daniel’smand?”

 Daniel shakes his head, “No, you don’t have to…” “It is easier to interact with Daniel. Should the timee, it will be necessary to make love to him.”

 Hekate whirls, and Daniel groans. “Why must you antagonize each other?”

 Reignleif ignores them as they stare each other down in a fiery, surprisingly quiet confrontation. She states to Orange, “You will need to tell all of us here your true name for the contract. After, Daniel will ask you to ept a new name; one of your own choosing or one of his.”

 Orange hesitates a little longer, but she finally sighs. She casts the spell that Daniel has seen twice already, and Xyreko whispers to him, “Master, you’re good at this…”

 “Quiet… Hekate might hear you.”

 Hekate instantly snaps at him, “I knew it! You really are-...”

 They look at Orange when she emerges from her spell. She is the youngest of the dragons, and thus, the most easily influenced, ording to Ryuogriar and Reignleif, which was why they were optimistic that she would be worthy of the ‘kinder’ version of Daniel’s contract, which they were afforded. Daniel reluctantly agreed, since they were perfect examples of modest and kind individuals, and the contract still protects those he cares about.

 As such, she appears to be a teenager, older than Hekate as a human, but not by much. Her visage is every bit the feisty and fiery redhead one would picture; beautiful, spicy, and hot to the touch, so to speak. She is wearing a dress made ofyers simr to Ryuogriar’s elegant dress. Again, Daniel has to wonder how their appearance is determined when the dragons transform. It could be that they are familiar with human cultures more than they let on, or it could be that some strange automatic process is…

 Daniel looks at Xyreko, and she looks at him. “Master?”

 “I’ll ask youter.”

 She remains quiet, and he studies the orange dragon’s appearance once more. She states somewhat coldly, but avoiding eye contact, “Stop staring at me with your gross eyes, human…”

 Daniel knows there arendmines scattered all around this room now, metaphorically speaking. He avoids them skillfully bypletely letting it all pass by. “As I said, I’m Daniel. If you ept my terms, you’ll go free.”

 She agrees with a somewhat indignant nod, retorting sassily, “I’ll let you have this one, human, but I won’t forgive you.”

 “That’s fine.” He nods at Xyreko, and she steps forward, presenting her autoinjector. “First, I’ll remove the curse from you.” Orange allows herself to be innocted, briefly ring at Daniel asionally.

 Hekate, standing in front of Daniel now, asks grimly, “She’s very pretty, isn’t she, Daniel?”

 He looks down at her, not responding.

 “I SAID; she’s very pretty, isn’t she, DANIEL?”

 He smirks. “Don’t y this game, Hekate. I’ll go scorched earth on you.”

 She points up at him, using, “I knew it! You think she’s prettier than me!”

 “No one’s prettier than you, Hekate.”

 “You better mean that!”

 “Sure, sure. Now, may I?”

 She crosses her arms, huffing. “No. You’re not allowed to keep her here. She definitely has to leave now.”

 “Right. Now then, Lady Orange, may I know your name?”

 She hesitates, ncing at the others. Ryuogriar and Reignleif both nod.

 Orange sighs. “My… true name in thisnguage is… Bystuirikohn.”

 Xyreko instantly sets into setting up the contract, and she takes what she needs from each of Daniel and Bystuirikohn. Once set, the orange dragon looks away. “Are you happy? I’m your ve now…”

 “I have no orders to give you. Now, as with the others, would you like to choose a friendly name for us, or would you allow me to?”

 She doesn’t look at him, but she does nce at Ryuogriar and Reignleif. She deliberates for a moment. She mumbles something, but Daniel didn’t hear.

 However, Hekate grunts, implying that she wants Daniel to do it, like the other two.

 Daniel smiles, “Very well, if that’s what you want.”

 He ponders it for a moment. As it stands, he loosely modified names of Valkyries for Ryuogriar and Reignleif.

 “How does… Geirahoel sound? Shortened to Geira in casual conversation while you’re here.”

 She finally nces at him, and then at the other two. She asks softly, “Wh-... What does it mean?”

 “All three of your namese from goddesses of battle from my…” He sighs. “From my world.” This causes the other three to smile, and the newly dubbed Geirahoel to be newly stunned. But, it quickly resolves when she realizes that he’s the very same person that is able to fight dragons.

 Geirahoel asks, “Goddesses of battle?”

 “Yes,” confirms Daniel. “More technically, choosers of the in who would escort the souls of fallen warriors to the divine realm of heroes. They are said to be beautiful, valiant, and divine.”

 The orange dragon blushes and looks away. “I… I’ll allow it.”

 “d to hear it. Now, I have just one order for you.”

 She res at him, but he doesn’t give her time to prepare. “Your order, Geirahoel, is to without hesitation p me as hard as you can.”

 Hekate whines, and Geirahoel starts to ask, but as with the other two, her hand flies without warning, stopping on his cheek. Hekate grabs his arm, shaking him. “Daniel! You just like doing that! Cheater! Womanizer!”

 Daniel smiles at Geirahoel’s shocked face; more because he ordered her to p him as hard as she could, but also a more innocent surprise that her hand also stopped on its own. “Good. The contract is in effect. From here on out, you’re free to do what you want with the obvious exceptions. Ryuo and Reina can show you around, and Xyreko can see you to the exit when you’re ready to leave.”

 Geira looks away from him, asking with slight attitude, “C-Can I have a real meal for a change? It’s only fair.”

 Ryuogriar warns, “Geira…”

 Daniel replies chipperly without any apparent concern. “Of course. We had lunch a little while ago. Xyreko, would you please have your golems prepare a meal for Geira?”

 Xyreko bows. “Of course, Master.”

 Ryuogriar steps closer to him, murmuring softly, “Daniel… If you allow such insolent speaking…”

 Daniel replies calmly, “She’s not a ve. She can say whatever she wants.” He looks at Geira as she nces at him. He smirks, teasing, “Don’t be surprised if I respond in kind, though.”

 She huffs, retorting, “As if you could say anything that would upset me.”

 Daniel grins. “Is that a challenge?”

 “One you’ll fail.”

 “Tsundere.”

 All of the others look at him, and he whispers, “You’re hiding your love with sass.”

 Geira’s face fills with color as she stares at him in horror. She scrambles behind Reignleif, hiding behind her rtivelyrge outfit that obscures her. “R-R-Reina! Make him leave! He’s lying! Don’t let him lie! Make him go away!”

 The others are surprised, and Daniel states, “As it turns out, Xyreko and I have to go interview the next candidate. Ryuo, Reina, please show Geira to the dining hall and feel free to enjoy a meal with her, if you want. Xyreko, thank you for taking care of it.”

 “My pleasure, Master.”

 Hekate jogs into step, saying with augh, “Ha! Daniel really is the strongest sorcerer in the world! Silly dragon!” She sticks her tongue out, staying with Daniel and Xyreko as they head to the next cell.

 Of the thirteen greater dragons that Daniel killed or imprisoned and the twenty one ‘lesser’ dragons that were defeated in the Citadel, three of the greater dragons and five of the lesser dragons were still alive. Defined mostly by their magical affinities, lesser dragons are mainly dragons in appearance only. Because their numbers were so low, the dragons still treated the lesser dragons as true dragons, but they were definitely not the same in regards to the hierarchy.

 All of the lesser dragons that could ept Daniel’s contract, and two more of the three female greater dragons that weren’t Reina, Ryuo, or Geira ept the contract.

 Afterwards, Daniel and Xyrekoy out the manufacturing n for the equipment he needs. He also feeds her some moreplex material forms from Earth in order to make stic -specifically, polystyrene if she can-, because it’s an importantponent of modern nuclear weapons.

 Obviously, it’s nowhere near as important as the uraniumponents he’ll need, and he’s working on doing some tests to try to determine whether or not mithril will be useful as a sort of energy concentrator. Something that all nuclear weapons -from the first atom bomb tested in mogordo to the modern hydrogen bombs- have inmon are the fact that they need something to try to keep the fissionable materials crammed together as long as possible during the initiation phase -whichsts fractions of a second-. And, because Daniel is trying to ensure he is going to seed in the first ce, and the Citadel has abundant magic resources thanks to the many hundreds of years of ying other living things the Feral Feldrok did, he’s sparing no expense. He’ll have Xyreko and her chosen workers collect several hundred pounds of uranium-235, as well as plutonium-239, now that he has pretty well ironed out how the summoning circle recognizes elements. He would kill to have his cell phone again, but there’s no way he can involve Wenlianna and her family -or any part of the Kingdom or Empire for that matter- in what he’s going to do. Both they and the Demon Covenant are exactly who he needs to prevent from having his terrible, ideally one-time-use technology.

 Additionally, he’ll be having Xyreko produce Deuterium and Tritium inrge quantities as well in associatedpounds towards the end of construction.

 Regarding the shell, for which he chooses mithril, he ultimately decides against sharmelkolle because Xyreko insists that the metal is truly indestructible once forged.

 Compared to a professionally made weapon, Daniel is simply exploiting what he knows about fission and fusion from his days in the nuclear power industry and what little he gleaned about weapons in casual reading and asional research for storytelling. It will be sloppy in design, but because he has the advantage of magic of this world, he’s not as worried about failure, and can still gain closer to maximum efficiency if he can keep the fissionables and fusionables interacting for even that fraction of a second longer. He doesn’t really want to test if sharmelkolle truly is indestructible, as he wouldn’t know what to do with it if it was unable to release the energy of the st, nor what happens afterwards. He doubts it could withstand the st, but he’s morefortable with mithril’s toughness, which can supposedly withstand dragon’s fire ‘only for a little while’.

 What he wouldn’t give for stress tests on the metals that exist in this world. It would let him better n how to design his bomb.

 But, for now, he’ll have to make do with his already GREATLY fortunate turn of events. Without the Citadel, he likely wouldn’t be able to do anything about the Devourer.

 And, for now, all he can do is wait on Xyreko to make theponents, assembling what he can when he can.

 ***

 Treia lingers in the amplified darkness of a shadow of several dark colored shrubs near the path she and Gwenesphia have worked out for their target. The demon woman has lingered near the town for a fair amount of time, and though the vigers that witnessed Treia and Gwen threatening the merchant have warned her, she travels with her guard rather low.

 And now, as she’s heading to the home she has been staying in, she carries a small bundle containing her shopping ingredients for the evening. She sticks to thenterns lighting the way, though the Demon Wilnds don’t seem to have any magic equipment using magic crystals the way the Imperial ally territories do. Thesenterns glow a soft purple-blue color using magical glyphs, and they only stay lit up for the two hours after sunset and one hour before sunrise.

 Treia, of course, can see well in either case. She waits until Aoloan is close, and she swoops out of her cover, pinning a dagger to Aoloan’s neck, causing the demon woman to halt.

 “I don’t intend to hurt you, so don’t panic. I just have a question for you.”

 Aoloan does indeed remain calm, remarking softly, “I figured you two were still lingering around. Is yourpanion nearby?”

 “None of your business. Daniel. Where is he?”

 “Who?”

 Treia tenses the dagger more against Aoloan’s neck, not yet drawing blood, but reinforcing her position. “I’m an ally of his from Fort Peony. He left me behind to protect me, and I’m trying to catch up to him.”

 Aoloan is silent for a long time as she ponders what she wants to say.

 Treia rxes a little, saying softly, “I just want to know where he is. I owe him my life.”

 Aoloan calmly and carefully turns to face Treia, who keeps her dagger in front of her, but is less aggressive.

 With a moment longer of pondering, Aoloan states softly, “We have that inmon, then. Ist saw Daniel to the east of here. I… followed him this far after speaking to the Dattakoriens who were with us… Thest any of us knew… He was hunting the Dragon Lord.”

 “So it’s true…” It’s not Treia this time. Gwenesphia appears from the shadows, bow nocked, but rxing her draw as she approaches. “Daniel defeated a dragon.”

 Aoloan looks at her, nodding. “I would expect that you didn’t travel all this way if you believed otherwise.”

 Treia states, “You’ve met him. It would be difficult to believe. But… Why the Dragon Lord?”

 Aoloan looks around, making sure the three of them are alone. She murmurs, “Join me at my hostel room. We should be cautious.”

 Treia nces at Gwenesphia, who ponders for a moment. She nods, and they agree.

 At the simple room, like an unfurnished inn, Aoloan makes a small dinner, gratefully epting extra ingredients from their travel rations to offset the extra mouths, and as they eat, she exins her adventures with Daniel and his goal.

 From his perspective, he believes the Dragon Lord was going to be the bigger threat, since he sent his own brother to attack the northeastern fort belonging to the allied humankin.

 The vigers saw the dragons descend on the Citadel, and shortly after, the Citadel has been rumored to be up and running again.

 Gwenesphia asks, “So, that should mean, no matter where he is, Daniel should make his way to the Citadel, right?”

 Aoloan agrees. “That has been my hope, so I’ve spread word through the viges in hopes that if he does visit, that they’ll inform him that I’m looking for him.”

 “I don’t like not knowing… I’ve been worried sick about him. We both have.”

 Treia flinches. “I… I…” She more diligently eats her food, avoiding speaking.

 Aoloan smiles softly. “I see… Thest time he and I spoke, he imed that… he favored men. But…”

 Treia nearly chokes on her food, and she begins coughing as Gwen stares at the demon woman. She’s stunned for a moment, but the lieutenant sighs. “I see… I don’t think that’s true. He is not above lying to try to protect people he cares about. He tricked me into leaving him by convincing me… that we had been intimate, and that I would be with child…” She looks away, and Treia catches her breath. Her voice is a little raspy, but she agrees. “He tried something simr on me, and then tackled and hogtied me when I called his bluff.” She wipes her mouth with her wrist. “I owe him for that, too.”

 Aoloan smiles. “I see. Then, we share a lot, it seems.”

 “Can you tell us about the dragons? Do they have weaknesses that we simply didn’t know? Does Daniel have some sort of trick he used?”

 Surprised, Aoloan asks, “You didn’t know?”

 They both shake their heads.

 She smiles. “Daniel is a feldrok sorcerer. He is the most powerful sorcerer in the whole world.”

 Treia and Gwenesphia both cock their heads in disbelief. Treia remarks, “That’s impossible.”

 “It is possible. He defeated the dragon and his attack force in mere minutes. His staff inflicted instant death on the dragon lord’s brother with a single attack, and the same with a ground drake.”

 The two gatonine women nce at each other. “You’re sure?” asks Gwenesphia.

 Aoloan nods confidently. “And, I heard from mypanions in the Dattakoriens that he simrly struck down the green sage in a single blow. There is nothing in this world that Daniel can’t defeat. He might even be able to…” The demon woman trails off softly, and Gwenesphia asks gently, “Might be able to…?”

 Aoloan looks at her, saying a little bitterly, “Your people don’t care about what gues us, but if anyone can defeat it… It has to be Daniel. He is the divine hero of this world.”

 “Wh-What do you mean by that?”

 Aoloan scowls at her, murmuring, “He’s an otherworldly summon. Surely your people didn’t summon him to assassinate our Queen, did you?”

 Treia and Gwenesphia both fall silent. It wasn’t their own kingdom that performed the ritual, but the moment it was announced that two divine summons were brought forth by the ancient ritual, all of the eastern kingdoms celebrated.

 And yet, the war continued on.

 Gwenesphia admits softly, “She is the highest enemy our people speak of… I…”

 “The Devourer is why we are forced eastward, and your people refuse to help us.”

 Treia and Gwenesphia remain silent, unsure what to say. It’s not untrue, though what the Devourer is remains a mystery to them.

 “What is the Devourer?”

 Aoloan sighs. “Of course…”

 ***

 “Duchess Wenlianna.”

 Wenlianna squeaks and flinches with a start when her name is called out by a youthful, feminine voice. She faces the source, and she tenses a little and bows. She doesn’t have any of her personal guards, since she’s in the castle, but the rtionship between the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom are… awkward since the brief dissolution of the treatises before the Bromlund peacekeeping action. It’s the second princess, Princess Erimaya, who just appeared seemingly out of nowhere to confront Wenlianna after she left Ahok’sb after catching up with her sessor and sharing a secret stash of enhanced magic crystals.

 Wenlianna bows, “Princess Erimaya. It is my humble pleasure to see you.”

 “I’d like to drop the formalities, Wenlianna, and speak as friends, if possible.”

 “I-I’ll do my best, Pr… Erimaya.”

 Erimaya smiles. She trots closer and wraps her arm around Wenlianna’s, walking arm in arm with her as her two royal guards follow at a distance.

 “Rikuto and my sister are wasting time trying to ignore what they did.”

 Wenlianna replies diplomatically, since she’s no longer a Court Magic Artisan and can’t speak as candidly as she did with the royal family. “The kingdom is fulfilling all of its obligations to the war effort, and his majesty has spared no effort ensuring the safety and stability of our people.”

 “Mm… Yes. And, to my knowledge, the Grand Duchess has profited quite well out of all the turmoil caused by Daniel’s disappearance.”

 Wenlianna slows to a halt, and the Princess stops with her, still keeping her arm interlocked. “I’m not suggesting anything. I want to know where he is. I want to restore his rightful ce with all of us and help our people with his wisdom and kindness.”

 Wenlianna looks away. “We… You know as much as I know from the audience.”

 “I know. But, I’m curious what YOU are doing about it.”

 Wenlianna flinches a little. She looks at the princess, who smiles sincerely. “I’m asking because I want to help. However I can. If I have to go to him to apologize, I will apany you when you go.”

 Wenlianna hesitates, but she murmurs softly, “I’m… working on a mechanical vessel. It’s a project nicknamed ‘Iron Wyvern’. That… should tell you what you need, I hope.”

 “Really?”

 Wenlianna confirms, “Yes. Daniel gifted me a great many designs that I have adapted to our magic systems. It’ll take time, but… We’ll be testing it in a couple of months.”

 Erimaya smiles. “I pray you have great sess, Wenlianna.”

 “Thank you. H-... How have you been?”

 The young princess grins. “I’m alive. Every day is a blessing.”

 Wenlianna smiles and nods in agreement.

 Suddenly having an idea, Wenlianna withdraws something from her notebook shoulder bag. She whispers, “If you’ll allow me, Erimaya, I’d like to give you a gift.” She presents the item to the Princess, who carefully takes the small box. She nces at Wenlianna for a moment. “F-For me?”

 Wenlianna smiles and reassures her. “Indeed. It’s more useful than it looks. If you ever need it, please rely on it.”

 Erimaya opens the box, and her eyes widen. A jewelrger than she has ever seen, and the prettiest shade of blue matching her own eyes, glistens in the light. Erimaya instinctively closes the box. She looks at Wenlianna, who smiles. “It’s an enhanced water crystal. You may use it how you see fit.”

 As former Court Magic Artisan, Wenlianna knows that Princess Erimaya has an affinity for water magic. Having an appropriate crystal matching one’s affinity can allow a caster to conserve energy summoning that element to then be controlled in any way it could be needed -dependent on the skill level of the caster-. Anyone could draw water out of the crystal -other than Daniel-, but only a water mage could use that water as a shield, convert it to ice, spray it on a fire from a safe distance, and many other talents.

 Wenlianna then bows, “If you’ll please excuse me, though, I must return to my work, your highness.” She parts with the princess, who is left speechless.

 ***

AliNovel

Chapter 38: The Mechanic and the Dragons