From Ashes To Scales

Six months had passed, and the once-barren island of Ephiria had begun to flourish under Magnus's leadership. The capital, Bloomhaven, though still modest compared to the grand cities of the mainland, was becoming a lively and functional center. At the heart of it stood the newly finished tree-castle, a marvel of nature and craftsmanship intertwined, its towering presence symbolizing the unity of elves, dwarves, and humans who had worked together to build it.

Perched on a hill overlooking the capital, it stood like a sentinel of both natural beauty and architectural prowess. The massive tree trunk formed the core, its thick branches twisting and extending to form walkways, chambers, and towers. The upper levels were supported by a complex mesh of vines and enchanted wood, offering panoramic views of the kingdom below. The structure was a seamless blend of wood, stone, and magic, where leaves fluttered down gently from the high canopy, and sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting patterns of gold and green along the polished wooden floors inside.

Saphira had been instrumental in shaping Ephiria’s military forces. Under her rigorous training regimen, the once-disorganized militias had turned into a well-trained, disciplined army—loyal to Magnus and ready to lay down their lives at his command. They were more than just soldiers; they were protectors of the ideals Magnus had instilled. The groundwork for the nation's laws was also laid, though Magnus understood that laws often needed adjustments over time. They were in a testing phase, and fine-tuning would be inevitable. The people, meanwhile, had accepted his tax policies, which were designed to be fair and sustainable.

The introduction of paper currency had been another gamble that, surprisingly, paid off. Coins were still in circulation, and precious gems still held value, but the ease of using paper bills became undeniable. Rose’s magical seal ensured the security of each bill, preventing counterfeiting, a development that allowed trust in this new system to grow. Magnus, though, had one lingering complaint—his face was on some of the bills, something that felt oddly vain. Seeing his face on money made him uncomfortable, even if it was necessary for national identity.

Now, in the grand chamber of the tree castle, Magnus sat at the head of the table, flanked by his most trusted companions: Rusalka, Saphira, Leona, Rose, and Lydia. They were all here to discuss the inevitable—his coronation as King of Ephiria. But the conversation, to Magnus’s dismay, had taken an unexpected turn.

“Well, the time has come,” Rose said, leaning back in her chair. “We’re finally ready for the coronation. But there’s one small detail left…”

Magnus leaned in, expecting some logistical discussion, but Rose’s next words threw him off entirely.

“You need a queen.”

All eyes turned to him, and Magnus blinked, momentarily lost for words. Before he could respond, Rose pulled out the Codex of Storms and flipped to a page. “I've been studying this religion and the translation you provided. According to our faith, polygamy is allowed,” she said, matter-of-factly.

Magnus blinked, caught off-guard. “Polygamy?”

Rose nodded, her tone entirely professional.

"Why the shock? You should know this already since you translated most of it."

True enough, although Magnus was so focused on many tasked, he almost worked on autopilot on the Codex. Meaning, he did translate it, but couldn't remember much of what was written in there.

“Not just that.", Rose continued, "Lesbian marriages are also accepted, which has made many of the female populace quite enthusiastic about converting. Given the current female-to-male ratio, it’s convenient. As for you, Magnus, you’re allowed to take up to seven wives.”

“Seven?!” Magnus’s voice cracked slightly.

Rose nodded again. “One for each day of the week.

You can take up to seven wives if you wish. And, considering the gender ratio here in Ephiria, it’s encouraged.”

Magnus opened his mouth to say something, anything, but Rusalka was already chiming in.

Rusalka was the first to speak up, crossing her arms with a smug grin. “Well, I was the first in the party. So clearly, I should be the queen.”

Leona slammed her hands on the table, fire burning in her eyes. “Hubby is my hubby! We are already bound by beast laws, so I should be the queen!”

Rose sighed, looking bored. “I have no interest in this. Becoming queen would compromise my position as Grand Priestess.” She leaned back, looking completely unbothered.

Lydia, with a sly smile, chimed in, “I’m always ready to bear children. That should be reason enough, right?”

Saphira, sitting calmly through the bickering, finally spoke. “If we’re talking genetics, my offspring would produce the most exceptional heirs. That is an objective fact.” She adjusted her glasses with an air of superiority.

Magnus’s eye twitched. He looked around, knowing he didn’t get a vote in this conversation. He tried to hide his rising panic behind a strained smile as the women debated his future. It felt like a game to them. He wasn’t even sure why they were entertaining this argument—it wasn’t like anyone had asked him how he felt.

"Let's leave the jokes asside for a few seconds, though.", said Saphira as she adjusted her glasses, cutting through the tension with her usual bluntness. “While your personal desires are… entertaining, we have a political matter to consider. There is a better candidate for a queen—Naja Scalesong.”

Magnus froze. Naja? The same Naja he had once persuaded to allow the killing of Volkos? He hadn't expected this.

Saphira continued, her tone calm and matter-of-fact, “Let's be honest and admit facts. There is still some resistance to your rule, Magnus. However, Naja is the most respected individual in the region. If you marry her, any resistance to your rule will vanish. Peace will be far more achievable.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on Magnus.

Inwardly, Magnus’s mind raced. He could understand the logic. Naja was influential, powerful, and respected. Marrying her would indeed strengthen his position. But on the other hand… he wasn’t ready. The irony wasn't lost on him—back in his old life, he had never even had a girlfriend, and now here he was, being told he could have up to seven wives. Seven! And a stranger as his queen? How would he even begin to court her? Would she even be willing to marry him? He didn't want to force her into something like this. Feelings, after all, mattered. What if she refused? And how was he supposed to handle his current group if this marriage became a reality?

But before he could voice any of these concerns, Rusalka leaned in, her eyes flashing with mischief. “Marry a stranger? Over me? Unacceptable!”

Leona growled low in her throat. “I’ll crush any outsider who tries to claim what’s mine!”

Rose rolled her eyes. “Let’s be realistic here. This isn’t about feelings—it’s about securing power. He can marry all of you, but to avoid any issues in the system, only one wife can have the title of queen.”

Lydia, ever the optimist, shrugged. “Well, if it helps Ephiria thrive, I’m all for it. In a way it does make sense, however I guess I should tell you one more thing. There's one piece of information you don't have regarding Naja.”

Lydia, always eager to share more, dropped one final bombshell.

"Naja is a widow. She was married once." she said, her voice light but carrying an edge of intrigue.

The statement hit Magnus like a punch to the gut, and the implications weighed heavily on his mind. What happened to her husband? Why had she never mentioned it? No, come to think of it why would she even mention that to a stranger that just showed up? But would it complicate things further? How long has it been since her husband died? Was their love genuine?

The room fell into an awkward silence, leaving Magnus grappling with the weight of this new information.

And as the meeting continued, all he could think about was how much more complicated things had just become. The looming possibility of having to propose to Naja, a powerful but distant figure, for the sake of peace.

This coronation was shaping up to be one giant headache. This was more hassle than he could ever imagine.

"I will... take all of this under consideration. Please allow me some time to gather my thoughts for now.", said Magnus, his voice weak from the predicament he just walked into.