Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Daniel wakes up with an absolutely pounding headache to the simple word “Yaulwembor…” from an all-too-familiar matriarchal voice. He looks through groggy vision in his left eye, feeling the grating burn in his right eye that is only partially drowned out by the hangover-like migraine he has thanks to the faormyr’s efforts to claim the promise Daniel made her.

A deep, alligator-like growl rumbles against Daniel’s chest. Yaulwembor is already looking at the dragon as well, protectively and possessively laying across Daniel as she scowls at the platinum-blonde matron.

Ryuogriar hands Samael to Reignleif, who tries to urge, “You should probably…”

“Just keep Samael safe.”

The highest-ranking Dragon Empress stalks closer, and Daniel starts to say, “Mukori, I can…”

“Shh, Mukori.” Ryuogriar approaches calmly and with her head held high, but this is enough to provoke the the faormyr to lift her torso with her hands on either side of Daniel. “You may wish to cover your ears, my love.”

Yaulwembor lets out a ferocious snarl, warning Ryuogriar back.

However, the female dragon simply pitches her own torso forward and returns a terrifyingly loud and sharp blustering roar, which causes Yaulwembor to recoil for a moment. Ryuogriar straightens her posture and holds her head high, letting out a deep growl of her own that is distinctly of her draconic nature, not the human vocal chords she currently possesses.

Yaulwembor all but launches herself off the bed to a standing position between the dragon and Daniel, and she roars as loudly as she can, but Ryuogriar holds her ground, again, matching the same aggressive tone and pitch, but with the voice of a dragon instead of a faormyr. The best comparison Daniel has would be a lion and a tiger challenging each other with their voices alone.

For now…

Daniel yelps in pain as he tries to shield his ear, and Reignleif does her best to protect Samael and Gyualen from the sound using her body and the silencing spell.

The mechanic overcomes his pain, though, looking at the two desperately. Yaulwembor is the most dangerous person in the entirety of the Fievegal right now, rivalled in sheer power by Hekate alone, but with far more experience fighting and killing enemies than the feldrok teen.

Regardless, Ryuogriar is fearlessly facing off with her, and it all breaks apart without warning.

Yaulwembor lunges at Ryuogriar with her jaws, going for the neck. But, Ryuogriar swiftly ducks back and to the side, narrowly avoiding the faormyr’s reptilian jaws, while using her hands to block and swat her right arm up and aside. This allows the dragon matriarch to swoop outside of the faormyr’s swing. She doesn’t have any time at all to hesitate, and she swoops behind and over the more reptilian anthropomorph’s tail when the latter swings it to try to interrupt Ryuogriar’s attack.

The platinum blonde stops her own momentum to lunge after Yaulwembor’s tail, desperately scrambling to stay behind her, and she grips the more-ancient false-dragon’s shoulder to ride the Faormyr’s momentum.

Yaulwembor manages to get her claw around Ryuogriar’s tail, but slips free when the more human-like woman yanks it away with brutal force, gaining just enough leverage to cling to Yaulwembor’s back. Before the feral archfiend can fully respond, Ryuogriar latches her jaws down on the base of the faormyr’s neck, causing her to shriek in anger and rage.

It is only now that Daniel’s efforts have had time to formulate and begin. Daniel shouts at the top of his lungs, “Yaulwembor! Ryuo! Stop!”

This startles the dragon, particularly, and Ryuogriar immediately releases her vicious bite on Yaulwembor. Ryuogriar kicks back away from Yaulwembor to get away from a follow-up attack, but she glances at Daniel with worry. She is utterly shocked that the human yelled so angrily at her, and Yaulwembor shakes her head with a snarl, whirling to go back on the defensive and prepare to retaliate.

The mechanic yells as he stands up wearily, wincing from the combined pain in his head from the hangover of dehydration and exertion from the night prior, as well as the unhampered searing burn deep inside his skull behind his right eye. “Hey! Yaulwembor!”

The faormyr glances at him, but she keeps turning her gaze defensively back to Ryuogriar, as well as everyone else that has come into the room to investigate, including Jeavana and Emerald, Neith, Treia, Veiranoei, and Vaergraes. Yaulwembor continues growling angrily, and she lets out sharper barks of anger. A smoky sweet smell starts to fill the air.

Ryuogriar protests, “Mukori! You can’t keep spoiling her!”

“Look at her,” retorts Daniel. He is still weary from his pain-addled recovery, but he gestures at the Faormyr. It takes a moment for everyone to figure out what he’s referring to, but it becomes obvious when the positioning of everyone in the room is considered.

The ancient archfiend is keeping herself between everyone else and Daniel.

The mechanic explains what he confidently believes is true. “She’s not… being completely reckless. She’s guarding me. Everyone, please calm down, and she’ll calm down.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that she can’t get away with taking advantage of you while you’re bedridden, Mukori. You think the rest of us haven’t wanted to spend time with you in bed? Do you think we have suddenly lost all desire for intimacy with our beloved?”

Daniel sighs. “Then, let’s all talk to her the same way I’ve been.” He taps his head, and the dragons glance at each other. Reignleif, who was ready to join the fray if needed, nods once. Geirahoel peeks into the room, saying sternly, “Mukori! If you are trying to choose her as your favorite, then just say so.”

The mechanic sighs. “That’s not it at all, Mukoris. She wanted me to keep my promise, and I was feeling… fit enough to oblige her. I’m sorry. This is ultimately my fault.” The mechanic stumbles back and catches himself on the bed as he resists the urge to touch the right side of his face. Several of the other women start to move, including all of the dragons, both gatonines, and Vaergraes, but Yaulwembor snaps sharply at them with a deeper hissing snarl.

Daniel moves quickly to stumble over to Yaulwembor, placing his hand on her shoulder. This is enough to get her attention, and he says as gently as he can manage through the combined, messy pain beating on his brain like a bunch of monkeys with gong beaters, “Yaulwembor, shh, it’s alright now.” He clicks his teeth to grab and hold her attention, since she’s still aggressively on guard against everyone else in the room.

The mechanic pulls her gently back towards the bed, and he pats the place they were just sleeping until a moment ago. Wanting to go a bit further, he gestures at everyone before doing the sleeping gesture to indicate that he wants Yaulwembor to take them all into the dream together. She keeps glancing at the others, while Daniel says calmly, “Everyone calm down. Lower your guard. Please.”

Ryuogriar noticeably licks her teeth in irritation, crossing her arms as she relaxes her posture from combat to mere aggravation. Treia asks, “Daniel… Are you alright?”

“My head feels like it just rolled all the way down a mountain, but I’ll be alright now.”

“You know we can’t do anything about her if she really does attack, right?” asks Veiranoei. “If she’s going to get this defensive about you…”

“She would have been fine,” replies Daniel as he coaxes the faormyr back onto the bed, now placing himself between her and the others to help disarm everyone. By some miracle, the weakest person present is the one that can stop Yaulwembor because of her affection for him. Daniel clicks his tongue on his teeth again to continue calming her down, and she relaxes enough to pout more than defend.

The faormyr puffs air through her mouth, which possesses the very distinct odor of the smoky-sweet bio-fuel capable of melting pretty much any known material, and Daniel is thankful no flames were lit during this entire confrontation between all of his draconic companions.

The Second Empress of the Fievegal relaxes her fists and sighs. She regains her normal composure and sweeps her hand through her hair to straighten it out a bit as her tail finally lowers from a combat-ready tool for balance, and instead looks like her normal, regal self. “Veltawa, please take Samael back to his crib. Please inform Grand Duchess Senior Aramellianna that I will have to postpone our meeting for tea until after lunch.”

“Of course, your Holiness,” replies the succubus Keeper of the Unity of the Great Dragons. She was the one handed a sign during the hatchings of the first four five dragon children because too many of the Keepers and votaries would immediately crawl on the ground when they saw the dragon Empresses seated on cushions on the floor, terrified of standing taller than their gods.

Many of the Keepers treat the dragons the way characters are often depicted interacting with Hercules or other demigods of mythology; they give them divine reverence, but manage to hold a more composed, casual level of interaction day-to-day, even if they view the dragons as divine heroes in their hearts.

The votaries are, of course, far more zealous, vehemently insisting that the dragons are gods in mortal form. But, all of them are functional adults that are more than happy to serve as inexpensive babysitting for Imperial children…

… So long as those children are dragons, of course. They are more tolerant now thanks to the Empresses demanding they respect all children of the Fievegal’s Imperial family, but they cherish and worship the dragons above all others, including Daniel himself.

“Come, Mukori. Let us convene with this… fiendish woman and set the rules if she intends to continue to live with this family.”

Daniel nods. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

Everyone starts to make their way to Daniel’s bed, and he looks at Jeavana, specifically. “What are you doing?”

“What?” asks the dragon facetiously as she hands her own hatchlings off to be babysat by the nearest Keepers. “I deserve to give her my thoughts, too, don’t I?”

“Why?” asks Daniel skeptically.

The busty, mischievous blonde recoils in shock. “What? Obviously because I’m going to be your next…”

“Neith, drag her out.”

“Apologies, Daniel. I intend to join this time as well so I can speak with Yaulwembor myself. I have a great deal to speak to her about aside from this issue, if that’s alright.”

“Yes! Thank you, Neith! Your fiancee’s wedding dress is on me!” Jeavana cackles deviously as she jogs over and bounces onto the bed with Daniel. The faormyr scowls at her as she immediately tries to cuddle with the exhausted human, and Daniel does his best to hold her at bay while everyone else takes a seat.

The apparently-cursed Emperor looks at Emerald, who has also approached. “And you?”

She bashfully replies, “I don’t want to enter the dream. I intend to protect everyone and cast dispel if need be.”

The mechanic sighs. “Fine. But, if Hekate finds out…”

Just before Daniel can make one last-ditch excuse to restrict who enters the dream with them just to prevent it from turning into a verbal battle royale at some point or another, which it almost certainly will, he loses all excuse in a simple flash of light.

Hekate arrives via teleport and says, “Don’t start without me! Daniel, you butt!”

The mechanic massages his forehead, mindful of the damage to his right side while Hekate rushes in. She scowls at Jeavana, saying, “Someday soon, Jeavana…”

“Why does everyone direct their ire at me!? Baeka doesn’t get treated like this!” She pouts as pitifully as she can manage as she glomps onto Daniel, “And, the Harbinger promised…”

“Why don’t you call him your real name for him?” growls Hekate in reply with her ears folded back.

However, Jeavana simply blushes bashfully. She glances at Daniel to see what he has to say, but he doesn’t pay it any mind.

“Emerald, if anything comes up, feel free to cast dispel. I’ll inform Yaulwembor as soon as we’re inside, so she won’t be caught off guard.”

The green dragon nods. “Understood. Please take your time.”

“Daniel, don’t ignore me!” snaps Hekate.

“You’re just trying to bully someone hundreds of years older than you. Let’s hurry up and get this over with. I can tell Yaulwembor is going to get feisty again if we delay any longer…”

“Right!” Hekate pounces onto Daniel, sitting in his lap. He’s crosslegged right now to remain sitting up for the moment, since it’s relieving the headache a little, and he doesn’t want a bloodrush to refresh the pain further.

“Careful, you little dummy…” scoffs Daniel. “Everyone ready?”

The group agrees, and Daniel signals to Yaulwembor to start, writing a short note to give her the idea.

She casts the spell once more, since she seems to have no trouble with complex-seeming spells.

“So… this is why her scales are all over the lower flyway…” remarks Reignleif as they find themselves at Yaulwembor’s nest all at once.

“Danny has given me permission,” states the Faormyr’s voice telepathically, and it surprises about half of the group, since they haven’t yet heard her speak like a person yet. Her voice is deeper than Ryuogriar’s slightly ‘smoky’ and maternal tone, but not nearly as monstrous and reptilian as Yaulwembor’s when she currently tries to speak with her vocal chords.

Vaergraes asks, “D-Danny?” So far, she is the only one Daniel has given permission to call him that, though he has never forbidden anyone from doing so.

“Wait!” interjects Hekate as she jumps in between everyone and Daniel. “Did she just call you ‘Danny’!?”

Daniel chuckles softly, and Yaulwembor replies for herself, “That is correct. Danny has given me permission to call him Danny. It is a nickname. Just as Danny now calls this one ‘Yauyau’.”

Everyone scowls at Daniel. It’s not that they’re angry that Yaulwembor now has a pet name of her own. It’s that he has done it for very few of his mistresses so far, other than Hekate, the dragons, and Treia, who he calls ‘Kitten’ sometimes.

“I’ll work on it,” replies Daniel, knowing exactly what they’re going to demand of him.

“You can just call me ‘Mukori’, Danny,” teases Jeavana flirtatiously.

“Before this devolves into chaos, tell me one thing, Yaulwembor…” interrupts Treia, stepping towards the draconic woman.

The pearlescent humanoid looks at the gatonine, replying, “One thing.”

Treia is taken aback by this reply, but Daniel interjects, “She’s being literal. Just ask her.”

“Ah…” Treia looks to the faormyr again, and Yaulwembor cocks her head curiously. The brunette gatonine sighs. “Alright, so, you were able to tell that the curse monster is attached to Daniel, right?”

“I don’t know what a curse monster is,” replies Yaulwembor with a calm tone in her deep voice.

“The mana film that was stuck on me. The thing I think I called the ‘Lurker’ with you.”

“I see.” She looks at Treia. “The magic has no means to spread by contact between people.”

“Is it still there?” asks Geirahoel a little impatiently. “It plagues and harms Mukori… um, Daniel, so we need to find a way to remove it.”

Yaulwembor cocks her head curiously again. “It is gone. Can you not tell?”

The orange dragon’s teeth spark, but of course, it’s a dream. Regardless, Yaulwembor doesn’t like being threatened, and she glares at the orange dragon before Daniel steps in between them. “Geira-Mukori, please stay calm and have a little patience. She doesn’t mean any harm. And, if you can’t take this…” He scratches his cheek, murmuring, “When the children…”

Geirahoel twitches, shocked by this thought. Jieka and Tekten are absolute angels compared to the children Daniel knew in his life on Earth, namely the children of his friends and coworkers, who he met on rare occasions.

Even adults can go from zero to one hundred without warning.

For children, it can be an hourly occurrence. And, thinking back to his own childhood and his younger siblings, he sometimes wonders how their parents didn’t smother him and Michael in the night. Selena was the precious baby, and she was, at least in Daniel’s opinion, a bit favored by their parents.

This text was taken from NovelPhoenix. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Enya can already breathe fire without knowing how to do it. When she does end up figuring it out, and Willow starts producing ignityal as well, Daniel will be praying to all that is holy that baby dragons are fireproof at least against other baby dragons.

“I’m sorry, Yaulwembor,” apologizes the orange dragon in a surprisingly humble display. The faormyr does have power over their current state, but Geirahoel generally doesn’t get as embarrassed dealing with women as she does when being teased about Daniel or Neith.

Neith decides to ask, “Is there any risk of it returning, Lady Yaulwembor?”

The reptilian woman looks at him, and she replies with a bit of a colder tone, “No. Not unless it is cast again.”

“What broke the spell, then?” asks Veiranoei. “Was it Lucy? Or the anti-magic waves?”

“I don’t know. It was present, and now it is not,” replies the ancient archfiend.

“Either way, we can’t just do it to anyone else,” replies Hekate. “And, I don’t want to do it again to Daniel.” Her golden eyes somewhat instinctively dart to Daniel’s right eye, which is functional and normal in the dream world. Her ears and tail droop a little as she saddens, but Daniel gives her a gentle smile.

“At least Mukori is safe for now, but Yaulwembor,...” starts Reignleif. She faces the faormyr and requests, “Please continue to check. If, for any reason, you detect that spell or the creature associated with it, you must inform us. It is our enemy and wishes to harm all of us, Daniel, our children; everyone.”

Yaulwembor replies, “If it is our enemy, I will kill it.”

“Don’t kill me in the process, if you would,” replies Daniel playfully.

This seems to shock Yaulwembor, as if it’s unthinkable. “You are my mate. Unless you become my enemy, I will never attempt to harm you.”

The mechanic notices Ryuogriar’s face turn from a passive, relatively neutral expression to a smile that even Auðumbla wouldn’t be able to lick anyone free of the primordial ice it could cause.

“I’m glad you brought that up,” states the dragon with a comparably icy ‘friendly’ tone. Daniel knows better than to try to get in the way this time, since he knows Ryuogriar is one of his most fair and mature allies. She just has a strong personality that is unafraid to speak her mind to others, particularly when it comes to Daniel.

The dragon matriarch faces Yaulwembor, saying, “Mukori, Daniel, is recovering from his wounds and is in constant pain. What you were doing until I dispelled your spell…”

“Danny made me a promise long ago,” retorts Yaulwembor fearlessly while holding her head high. “It is only because he asked me to that I will not harm his other mates nor their children.”

“That should go without saying if you want to be a part of the family, but don’t you think the rest of us have been wanting to spend time with him?” Most of the other women present nod, especially Hekate.

“Then, you should have done so,” retorts Yaulwembor, as if it should be the most obvious thing in the world.

“I have respect for Daniel’s health and well-being! You exhausted him and likely delayed his recovery even longer for your selfishness!”

“I care most about myself! As anyone reasonably should! But, I have helped people who are not my mate or my children a great deal since the promise was made!”

Both of their voices are starting to be scored with their draconic growls, both standing just outside of arm’s reach of each other.

Most of the others start to give them space in case it turns into a battle, but Daniel hopes it won’t matter, being a dream and all.

Hekate asks, “Why couldn’t you wait until Daniel has recovered?”

“When Danny is healthy, he becomes distracted with more of these strange journeys all over the world. The chattering little micro-dragons did not wait.”

“Mu-Daniel wasn’t wounded at the time!” snaps Ryuogriar. “And, they were helpful… mostly… to Daniel and Magnir.”

“All of these rules are meaningless when Danny agreed to keep his promise!”

“You should have known better!”

“Or, you should have refused to be so hesitant and weak!”

Yaulwembor refuses to budge from her stance that she took what she wanted because Daniel was willing to accept, and a flesh-on-flesh slap silences any and all possible words anyone could say.

It may only be a dream, but Daniel knows for certain that the sense of touch still applies, at least in how Yaulwembor’s abilities are transmitting everything as ‘real’ to their otherwise sleeping minds.

Ryuogriar just slapped Yaulwembor, and the faormyr is stunned for a moment. Daniel is a bit thankful that she didn’t immediately retaliate like an alligator or a tiger might have. Animals tend to have immensely faster reflexes than humans, and this difference is plenty evident in the mana races of Zenkon, with gatonines being the only ones Daniel has seen so far that not even the dragons can match without significant magical bolstering.

“You struck me…” states Yaulwembor, as if it really is a dream, and one she can’t believe.

“I did,” replies Ryuogriar without any regret. “You speak recklessly of someone I love. My mate. My Mukori. I will not be shamed for putting his health before my own desires.”

Yaulwembor growls, and when Daniel starts to step forward, the blonde dragon holds up her hand, stopping him. “Stand down, Mukori. You may spoil whoever you wish, so long as you do so to me as well. But, I can handle my own battles, here or out there. I am not afraid.”

The faormyr continues a long, low growl like an alligator, and she doesn’t stop as her telepathic reply comes without her vocal chords needing to relent from the deep intimidating sound. “You are protected by my promise to Danny. If I thought you were a threat, I would kill you.”

Ryuogriar holds her head high, crossing her arms under her voluptuous chest. “Our sentiments align. So, I’ll make you a deal…”

Yaulwembor’s growl fades, but she continues to scowl angrily at Ryuogriar. “You would attempt to barter a promise out of me after striking me because of your own weakness?”

“Yes,” replies the dragon without any shred of discomfort. “Unlike you, I am not afraid to admit when, where, and how I am weak. Doephluev, too, is very much in my poor graces, yet I cooperate with her all the same for the betterment of the Fievegal.”

Yaulwembor’s gaze tilts to Daniel for a moment, and he scoffs. “The ‘evil elf’.”

This fills the gap for the faormyr, and she nods, looking at Ryuogriar in time for the dragon matriarch to look at Daniel in turn. “E-Evil elf?”

“That’s how she knows Doephluev.”

“She stinks of deceit and betrayal…” growls Yaulwembor in her own defense.

Jeavana asks, “Then, you can simply ‘smell’ the betrayal? Can you tell what she’s going to do?”

Yaulwembor shakes her head. “She exists with a faked kindness in every movement. I was witness to such disguised movements when I was small. They used it to attempt to kill me.”

Everyone looks at Daniel, who is Doephluev’s biggest defender, even when she seems to be working against him, specifically.

“I am confident that I know what she wants and why she behaves the way she does. My mind won’t readily change unless she does something I can’t forgive.”

Ryuogriar sighs, turning back to Yaulwembor. “‘Evil elf’ indeed.” She smirks, saying with amusement in her tone. “I will be sure to keep such a noble title in mind.”

“Be nice, Mukori…”

The dragon ignores Daniel’s request, saying to Yaulwembor, “Be that as it may, I will make a promise if you, in turn, keep a promise with me.”

“What promise would you have me keep?” asks Yaulwembor suspiciously.

“Please promise me that you will learn to behave as one of us. Not an aggressive, feral woman of the woods, but a lady of the Fievegal; a part of our family. If you wish for Daniel to help care for your children, then you must do it here, at this stronghold where we all will help care for them. This means wearing clothing, holding your words back when needed, and being kind to all children, even if they are not your own.”

Yaulwembor doesn’t say anything right away. She doesn’t seem entirely pleased at some of Ryuogriar’s terms, but it’s possible she just doesn’t understand them.

Veiranoei steps up to try to be diplomatic. “You don’t have to be perfect. If you’re willing to be patient and learn, you can be the person you were always meant to be; special and respected by the world over, rather than feared.”

“‘Respected’ sounds like a great deal of effort for very little…” grumbles Yaulwembor. “If fear keeps my enemies away, I would rather be feared.”

“Fear is why we tried to kill you,” replies Treia bluntly, but sincerely. “I’m sure we’re all glad we didn’t, since you’re a very strong friend to have. But, if you keep being feared, people will continue to want to kill you. And, if they think it will hurt you, they will go after your children. All of our children.”

“That’s why it will be best if we all work together,” adds Reignleif. “Our children should be friends, and perhaps, when they are adults, they will find mates for themselves among those they can trust. And, while we all watch our children grow, it would be… nice if we can all be friends.”

“I promise to help protect you and your offspring, Yaulwembor, if you promise to behave as a woman of the Fievegal.”

“I’ll help you, too!” declares Hekate as Yaulwembor considers all of these words. “I have a lot to learn as well, so we can learn together! And, I want you to help me when the time comes for me. Heeheehee!” The feldrok teen rubs her hands together as she grins wickedly at Daniel, and he smiles dryly.

“I do not… know what it means to be a friend…” replies Yaulwembor quietly.

Daniel explains, “Even if we understand it, you won’t fully know the feeling until you feel it in your heart that you want to protect everyone here, and everyone you consider a friend, in the same way that you want to protect me. They’re offering you that protection first, and they’re hoping you’ll agree. It shouldn’t be transactional, because you like us.”

Yaulwembor looks around. Hekate was one of the first to make great efforts to communicate with her, and she essentially made the promise that Daniel was to keep, though Daniel agreed to it. For all of her antics and words against the idea, Hekate is one of Daniel’s most effective wingmen in expanding his harem.

She’s hoping Daniel will absolutely give her anything and everything as a reward when her own time comes, and every time Daniel gains a family member, she does as well, which she is happy about. It may be a completely messed up situation, but it’s functioning for now, which is why Daniel doesn’t mind being the bargaining chip in many of these agreements, since he benefits in just as many ways as well.

“I will agree… If you will keep your promise and let me and my offspring remain here with Danny,... And you will help protect them… I shall continue to learn how to live here properly…”

“Excellent. Then, we shall have Aramellianna bring in her best seamstress at once. Geirahoel, will you help choose a fashion for our newest sister Yaulwembor?”

The youngest of the dragons present nods in agreement. “I suppose so. But, Mukori, if she becomes your favorite, I’ll never forgive you!”

“We’ve done it once,” grumbles Daniel, while Treia jokes sourly, “A peculiar choice of words… coming from the current favorite.”

This causes Geirahoel to lock up, stammering. She looks around, only to find her own scrutinizing looks from everyone, especially Hekate.

“You know, it has been a long time since I’ve played the Hekate game…” says Daniel. “Veiranoei. How do you feel about becoming…?”

“Do what you want!” shouts Geirahoel as she huffs, flying away instinctively. She seems to forget, because of the apparent reality of the dream, that they are in fact trapped in a sort of illusion.

“She won’t be trapped in here when the spell ends and we wake up, will she?” asks Neith.

“Worried for your baby sister?” teases Jeavana.

“Of course. I’m an uncle now. Such things bring me great joy. Ah, er, ‘your Grace’.” Neith grins as he bows at Jeavana, and this inflates her ego.

“Thank you, Sir Neith. Hear that, Harbinger? Just like Doephluev, it all starts with people acknowledging me. And, now that you’ve kept your promise to Yaulwembor here, you can keep your promise to me…” She tugs at her own dress and sways her hips in a sexy dance that swings her tail back and forth.

Treia, Veiranoei, Reignleif, and Vaergraes all sigh, while Hekate asks sourly, “Daniel, if I chew her face off for real in here, will she die? Because I really want to chew her face off.”

Daniel laughs and pets her head. “Go ahead, Sweetpea.”

The feldrok teen needs nothing more, launching herself through the air like a cat, and Jeavana whines, “Wha-ha!? Daniel!? Ah! Hekate! Wait!”

The golden dragon is caught by the ravenette, and they topple to the ground as the dragon matron tries to hold Hekate’s attack at bay.

Meanwhile, Vaergraes asks, “So, is Yaulwembor to become an Empress as well?”

“For now, she will hold a visible, but silent role, since she cannot yet speak to our citizens and guests. Most will likely mistake her for a dragon, which will all but emphasize our growing unity and strength.”

“All of which is gathered around Daniel,” points out Magnir. “Forgive me, your Grace, but is it wise to so openly demonstrate that our Emperor is the fulcrum of the Fievegal?”

“Would you like us to have Yaulwembor pose as your wife?” asks Ryuogriar in turn.

His expression shifts to one of nervousness, and he glances at Yaulwembor, who is simply listening for the moment.

Reignleif answers more sincerely, “Having our strength focused around Mukori is a weakness, but it is also a deterrent. The very next time he is harmed or threatened in or out of battle, the retaliation should be disproportionately high to show them just how much we value him. Killing Mukori will only slow the Fievegal. It will not break us.” She blushes and looks at Daniel sheepishly, “No offense intended, Mukori. I would not wish to live without you now.”

“I know, Mukori. And thanks.” Daniel adds for Vaergraes, “If you have objections, you are an Empress as well, Vae…”

She smiles a little bitterly. “I hope my turn is coming to be treated like one…”

“Give me today to rest, and tonight…”

“Mukori…” growls Ryuogriar in disapproval.

“Yaulwembor helped me more than you realize, Mukori. In here, the pain is essentially gone. And, letting my body suffer without waking up will help my brain start to filter out the pain, probably in the way that Emerald doesn’t notice her finger much anymore, I assume.”

This seems to make sense to everyone, particularly the over-protective dragons, and Daniel continues, “The laugur decoction was a necessary evil, and we absolutely should keep the formula around to make more of it. But, pain medications, particularly, are almost always extremely addictive, even if they are ‘safe’ from a toxin standpoint. If they aren’t addictive, their effect is usually limited. I can’t risk becoming addicted to pain medication.”

Ryuogriar counters this with, “I thought you trusted that evil elf, my dear, overly-trusting Mukori.”

The mechanic scoffs. “And, I’m still alive after taking her poison, aren’t I? I just mean that if laugurs go extinct for any reason, or I run out of the decoction out in the field… lots of reasons become problematic if I’m addicted. All the more strength to me, what little I have, if I can overcome the phantom pain.”

“Emerald does sometimes mention an itch where her finger used to be…” remarks Reignleif.

Hekate walks back up to Daniel, and she is surprisingly not bloody, as he mostly expected. Jeavana is feigning death on the ground, though no one pays her any mind after a simple glance.

Suddenly, Daniel is rammed into from above and behind by a heavy weight that startles everyone else, and he coughs from the impact. Hekate yelps and manages to catch him by holding up his torso.

“Mukori!” snaps a familiar youthful voice. “Why did you let me fly off!? We’re in a dream still!”

“No crap!” retorts Daniel. “You damn near killed me!”

“Do you know how embarrassing that was!?” whines the dragon as she clings to him piggieback, shaking him by his shoulders with her body weight.

“Why are you blaming me!? Your precious Onii-chan didn’t stop you either!”

Geirahoel turns her fiery gaze on Neith, and the dragon looks exactly like someone who was just betrayed by his brother. He glances between Daniel and Geirahoel with horror, and the younger orange dragon shouts, “That’s right! Useless Onii-chan! You fool!”

“Me!? You’re the fool that flew off!”

Everyone turns surprised looks toward Neith. He realizes it too late, since he never snaps at anyone, let alone Geirahoel of all people.

Geirahoel’s expression is utterly appalled, with her mouth agape. Neith’s eyes search around nothing in particular, and he finally looks directly at her once more. He approaches and puts his hand on her shoulder, which is next to Daniel’s neck on his right side. He trusts all of the dragons present at this point, and he notices Yaulwembor watching the whole scene curiously. It’s probably good for her if they resolve things peacefully in spite of the angry tone, and Daniel holds Geirahoel’s thighs to keep her on his back for the moment.

“I’m sorry, Geira… If you were lost or trapped in here, I would stop at nothing to retrieve you. I hope you can forgive me in time. For this and everything that came before.”

Daniel can feel his youthful dragon mistress’s tail shift her weight as she stammers. “Y-Y-You think I’ll forgive you because you asked me to!? Dummy Onii-chan.” Daniel catches a glimpse of her blushing cheeks as she tries to hold her head up high haughtily, but her own arms snug around Daniel’s chest and neck. He feels relieved, since it means she’s hearing him and accepting his words and feelings.

Neith smiles, seeming to sense this same thing. “Not just words, my precious little sister. But, if I did chase after you, would you not have told me to go away as well?”

Daniel laughs, as do a few of the others, including Hekate and Ryuogriar. This causes the orange dragon’s face to turn bright pink, and she shakes Daniel again as she snaps, “Mukori! Command him to walk with his forehead on the ground for the rest of the year! Make him announce himself as…”

“So, is everyone satisfied?” asks Daniel, ignoring the young dragon. She instantly complains.

“Mukori!? How dare you ignore me!? You and stupid Onii-chan are getting more and more insolent by the day! You’re both Onii-chans!”

“Ooo! No, no I’m not… Hmm…” Daniel starts to object, though he stops himself. Trying to explain would reveal the truth, and Geirahoel is pretty much the only one who doesn’t really know what it means. And, technically, it is suitable for use with other boys and men acquainted with a person, but typically for ones who are older.

But, that’s a button Daniel doesn’t need or want to push.

That is, until Veiranoei inadvertently ruins it.

“I don’t understand. Isn’t that a word from those moving illusions on your phone, Daniel?”

“What?” asks Geirahoel as both Neith and Daniel turn pale.

“Yeah… Now that you mention it, I think I have heard it before,” replies Jeavana with an absolutely evil grin.

“Is it secretly like ‘Mukori’ or something?” asks Hekate. She probably didn’t pay it any mind and had no idea why Geirahoel is using it, believing it to be a special kind of insult reserved for all of her fiery feelings toward Neith, good and bad.

“I see…” grumbles Geirahoel, undoubtedly making note of the fact that both Daniel and Neith are no longer laughing, and are, instead, quite afraid. “What does it mean, Mukori?”

“It was Daniel’s idea.” Neith’s counter-betrayal is seconds faster than Daniel, and it is said with absolute seriousness.

The mechanic winces as he feels fingernails dig into his chest, and Hekate points at him and taunts him. “Hah! Rip bozo!”

Daniel now gives Hekate a strange look. “How the hell did you…?”

“Mukoriiiii…” growls Geirahoel directly into his ear, and he can distinctly smell ignityal on her breath.

“Wait… Why can I smell it right now?”

A grin spreads across the dragoness’s face, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Idiot old man; what does it mean?” She looks at Neith with fire in her eyes moments before it’ll spark in her mouth.

“Neith, run!” jokes Daniel, but the dragon kneels as he tries to suppress his chuckle.

“I had no say in it, your Grace…”

“Tell me what it means, or I’ll light you both on fire.”

“To my understanding, it means,...”

“Big brother, right?” asks Veiranoei curiously.

Everyone, including Geirahoel, glances at the Empress at Arms, and she smiles gently. Whether she knew initially what she was doing, she’s certainly not making enemies of Geirahoel now.

The orange dragon’s cheeks fill with color, and she turns her scowl on Reignleif. The blue dragon nods with a quaint smile that doesn’t pity Daniel or Neith at all.

She latches onto Daniel’s neck in something closer to a sleeper hold as she takes a deep breath, and Hekate shouts playfully, “Everyone, run away!”

“Run away!” adds Treia as she takes Vaergraes’ hand and runs. The whole group other than Yaulwembor, who doesn’t understand what there is to be afraid of, Ryuogriar, who can likely withstand Geirahoel’s worst and knows she isn’t the target, and Jeavana, who uses the moment to her own ends.

“Don’t worry, Harbinger! I’ll protect the most important parts!”

Daniel laughs as Geirahoel sparks her teeth, and before he knows it, he’s awake, still laughing, but down an eye and in a dull, aching pain as he’s cuddled by a bunch of unconscious bodies, and Emerald is standing nearby, watching him curiously.

“Well… uh… That was certainly a way to wake up…”

“Did something happen? Um, your Grace.”

Daniel scoffs. “Just a friendly kiss from my apparent favorite… Though, I’m kind of surprised everyone else is still asleep…”

“Should I wake them?” asks the green dragon curiously.

Daniel looks at everyone still asleep. “Nah. I need all the time I can get to make my escape…”

The American fancies himself a relatively smart person. Far from a genius, certainly, but he does his best to pay attention to things.

If he had to guess, and he would be pretty close to right in this case, everyone is having a much more candid conversation with Yaulwembor now that Daniel isn’t there to defuse.

And, ‘conversation’ is doing a lot of generous heavy lifting.

***