They wandered out of the domain and through into the main hall of the association to find the guards in position by the door.

"Is everything okay?" their former escort asked as he looked through the door behind them. "Where are the others…" his question trailed off as he saw the portal to the domain covering the back wall.

"They're hunting. Expect them to return in an hour or two, when they have filled their bellies and sated their curiosity. We would wait for them, but we have other plans," Syl said in her matter-of-fact tone, as if the dragons and their riders running off into what was essentially their personal version of Narnia was completely normal.

The guards and their escort said nothing as they just looked past the group to where part of the building seemed to open up to a strange new land.

Kai looked over his shoulder and chuckled, "To be clear, that's an association secret; tell no one that is not a member in good standing."

"We will continue to guard this door

"No, pretend this is like any other door. That portal has its own defences, no one can enter unless they have permission or wish to make themselves vulnerable. Having this door guarded twenty-four hours, seven days a week will arouse suspicion," Kai said.

They looked at him strangely.

"He means six days," Syl said, correcting his mistake.

"No one native to Alea could maintain their power through that portal unless they were allowed. Even I am not so powerful that wouldn't be at Kai's mercy if he wished to take me in hand," Talious warned. "But to be clear, he would not be safe out here if he chose to assert his dominance over me in such a way."

Alicia stepped up the escort. "William, we only got so far with our enrollment. But Krasus has said our membership is just a formality at this point. I've taken the liberty of looking at what historically happens. By all means, wait for Krasus to return and inform the guild that we are officially joining the association. If you need us, you know where to find us."

William's shoulders slumped for just a second before he straightened like a man on duty and nodded. "I will see you back at the inn."

"No need, we have seen you use a communication crystal," Alicia said as she pulled one of their communication crystals out, "We want you to be our official go between. Just contact us if we need to pop by. We will do our best to not keep anyone waiting from now on."

William hastily patted himself down to find the crystal Alicia had mentioned. As he pulled it from an inner pocket he said, "It would be my honour… but this was assigned to me temporarily while, while I was sent to wait quietly at the inn." He sighed. "It was a punishment for my brashness when we first met."

Alicia tapped her crystal against his, and they both pulsed with a dim light.

"I'm sure the association will have no problem accommodating us."

"Yes, thank you," William said with a well-practiced bow.

"I suggest you close the doors and pretend they are having a private meeting. If any issues arise, communication crystals still work.

"Yes, every rider has one given to them upon completion of their initial training, though it remains association property. Each outpost mans a private relay that allows riders to stay in contact over great distances without using too many of the limited-

Talious held up a hand. "We don't need the details right now, I'm sure this will be part of their training. Now if you'll excuse us, we have plans," she said as she made for the door.

The group left William and the guard staring through the door.

Kai had some time before he had to make his way to some high ranked guilds private training Yared.

He intended to help everyone flesh out Mira's gear and wardrobe, lending the insight his armour skills afforded him, and look for a gift for Niamh while he was at it.

If he were lucky, they might even get a chance to pop into a shop that sold magical items.

But for some reason the first thing they did was stop for a drink at some open-air cafe they passed.

Kai thought it was a dumb idea and reckoned they should head to the shops and try to escape the crowd.

That's when he was told there would be no escaping the crowd if they just ran away from it.

Castiel and Fayriel made a game of warning off anyone that got too close to them while basking in the attention of those that were polite enough to ask if they could say hello to them. But mostly cherishing their newfound ability to receive scratches from wide-eyed children who were brave enough to approach.

Many had witnessed them enter the riders association, and even more had witnessed them when they left. When that was combined with the circulating rumours from the time William and showed up at the inn and made his declaration to all that was present, there wasn't much point in asking Castiel and Fayriel to maintain their vigilant stealth.

They were loving their newfound freedom to roam as they peered through windows and approached curious children with a friendly bounce and flick of the tail.

Most kept their distance, content with the rare sight, and few pushed the limit of propriety to ask a polite question.

but it wasn't long before Talious had to remind one entitled woman who approached their table that the purchase and sale of dragons was strictly illegal when she had the gall to ask what Gift's price was.

The warning didn't deter the woman as she continued to make an outrageous offer for the gold one.

Gift even snapped at the woman when she reached out for him.

somehow seeing him bare his fangs and flare the cobra like hood of his neck as he hissed at her only emboldened the woman further as she doubled her price.

When Gift asked what her problem was and told here leave them all alone, the offer tripled.

The odd thing was, Syl, Alicia and even Talious all seemed entirely too calm about the situation.

When the woman took another step forward, Kai decided he would step in.

Only he didn't need to.

As if teleporting into position, a guard from the association, a new one Kai didn't recognise, appeared right in front of the woman.

The woman's eyes went wide and tried to step back, only two city guards blocked her retreat.

"Per section one one a of the anti slavery pact, you are remanded in custody without trial."

"What!?" the woman spluttered.

"Per section one one b, you were warned that the act you were engaged in was illegal, yet you persisted, that alone carries a possible ten-year sentence. However, per Section thirty-two clause d, you continued to make an offer without duress, in front of witnesses, that is another thirty years. You will come to us at the law office, if it is confirmed you had sufficient knowledge of these laws, your sentence will begin immediately. If you did not know or significant cognitive dysfunction is detected, you will go to trial. Do you understand?"

"No, this, I-"

"If regardless of guilt, you will forfeit the offered amount."

The woman's eyes bulged. "Do you know who I am!"

The guard grinned as she put her gloved hand on her shoulder. "Yes."

The two of them vanished, leaving behind the two city guards.

The guards turned to the onlookers, and one of them barked, "It is city law that all residents have a respectable level of privacy. Anyone found to be harassing another resident of the city without cause as seen by the law will be fined. If you do not have business here, please disperse."

The crowd seemed to grumble, but they followed the guards' request and moved along. Many of them suddenly became very interested in what the local shops had to offer or decided they too wanted something from the cafe.

"You were waiting for the guards," Kai said as he let himself relax.

"Yup," Alicia said.

"Have to admit, it was fun watching the woman dig her own hall."

"Yeah, the guards knew what they were doing. Really sent the message that we were guarded and the punishment would be swift."

"Some people have no sense, her mother is going to be pissed, there's an election for city council coming up, and this might just cost her seat if she doesn't come down hard on her own daughter." An older woman said from a nearby table. "Clever of you lot to wait for the guard. Confronting her directly would have complicated things."

Kai turned her, if he wasn't mistaken, this woman hadn't been with the crowd but actually sitting at the cafe

"So that's what the whole, Do you know who I am, was about. Should we be worried?"

She waved her hand dismissively, "That girls been a thorn in her mother's political career for a while now. Taking a hard stance now will actually improve her position if she see's sense. Ill tell her what happened when I see her later."

"You know her personally, or?"

"I'm on the council. While I dont know her personally, I was waiting to meet with the girl to give her a warning about her recent attitude." She shrugged. "I have to say it is so good to see new riders out in public. It is good for the city, makes people feel safe. May I?" the woman said cheerfully. Her question was left lingering as she turned to address Gift directly.

Gift slinked over and planted himself beside the woman's seat. "Scratch here, here, or here… please."

"My, my, so polite." The woman said as she leaned over to give out a generous amount of attention.

Castiel and Fayriel saw the attention Gift was getting, yipped in complaint and appeared on either side of their larger sibling. Sicily appeared next to them a moment later, her twin tails swishing eagerly.

"Oh my, aren't you clever… the councils discussed you once or twice, by the way. No one could work out how you kept them out of sight. The assumption was that you were relying on the abilities you displayed during your guild assessment. I believe that assumption might be wrong."

"I did not think we were that interesting," Kai chuckled.

The woman let out a short, ugly snort.

"There is a lot happening in the city these days, even more beyond its walls with the rise of Dawn and the Tower. We are haemorrhaging competent adventures and their guilds, whilst we gain swaths of untested ones in their place. But you, and groups like The Sages, give us hope that we can stay ahead of things. Expect the city to be accommodating. Now, if you would excuse me, I have an emergency meeting to attend. There is a fresh young party in town, and they keep making a spectacle of themselves."

"Do tell?" Alicia asked with a smirk.

The woman downed the last of her cup and shook her head in frustration. "Don't get me started. Did you hear about the tin dungeon that upgraded? The Guild manages them so carefully that something like it has not happened in centuries. Luckily, the initial reports indicate a profitable return on the changes despite there being one less low-level dungeon for new adventurers within the city limits. Worse, the Guild is in breach of contract by letting the dungeon upgrade, and they have never breached their contract, not without warning the city first."

"I'm sure the party didn't intend to cause problems." Syl said sympathetically.

"They are lucky to be alive from what I hear… but not all problems are bad problems," she said as she got up and made to leave, only she stopped. "The guards' scrutiny will only be temporary. At least until the novelty wears off and people respect the peace. I hope you enjoy your time in the Cibiale and that your stay is a long one."

They finished their drinks and moved on to the shops themselves.

Whenever people started to gather to follow them, a guard would appear and warn them off.

One of the areas they passed through was full of tailors and other boutiques touting affordable fashion at affordable prices. Most of the stores, unsurprisingly, targeting the feminine figure.

The few stores they decided to check out were all packed with choice in a range of accommodating sizes at what Kai had to assume were the current trend or season of clothing.

Much like back on earth he half expected to find a far-flung corner of each shop carrying limited stock for the more masculine body type, but he found nothing upon searching.

When he asked one babbling, awestruck clerk, who couldn't take her eyes off Castiel's head as she peeked out of his top, if they had a men's section, they gave him a confused response about that being a different quarter of the cities fashion district.

He soon discovered what clerk meant when they passed through a collection of shops that flipped the script as s number of high end tailors and boutiques targeted exclusively men.

He couldn't believe the choice on offer as he stepped into one store to find it was three times larger than any store they had checked so far.

It was great seeing a store that didn't think of male clothing as an afterthought.

There was one issue, however. The price.

Even with its fiscal, Kai knew the prices were insane compared to what he saw in the other stores.

He was even more blown away when a clerk approached, straightened his tie, and then promptly turned to Syl and Alica to ask them both what it was they were looking for today.

As if what Kai wants and needs fell secondary to the ladies at his side.

Alicia rolled her eyes and explained that, while the clerk had correctly assumed they were married, and despite his carefully tailored appearance, Kai was in fact a kept man.

They didn't say anything about Kai having the two of them approve his choice in attire each day.

At first he thought it was maybe just this one store. But that assumption didn't pan out in the end when the next two stores he wondered into treated him in much the same way.

He even tried going in to one alone only to be told his ladies outside were more than welcome in the establishment.

Kai gave up after that, suddenly grateful for his raiment more than ever as it seemed the days of t-shirts and jeans seemed long behind him.

They didn't buy much in the end.

Mira was too self conscious to try anything on as she was already content in the new clothes Syl and the dungeon had provided.

Syl however took copious notes of anything that caught Mira's eye, no matter how slight that little of attention was.

Kai thought Mira might still be a bit self conscious of her eyes and was withdrawn because of it. But few people looked her way more than once, while others even complimented the craftmanship and requested details of how or who she got it from.

Their go to response was that it was a dungeon item she was gifted. That seemed enough for them, and they were on their way, often complimenting Mira on her daring fashion choice before they left.

Realising they weren't getting anywhere in the general fashion district they decided to head someone that catered to adventurers next with Ester directing them to a high end textile store she knew about where they lost an hour selecting materials based on their resistance to the elements and overall durability.

The idea being that Syl and Ester would join up and make something together.

A few shops later, and some high-quality leather ordered to Ester's specifications as well as one mana sowing machine arranged for delivery to the houses for Syl, they found themselves in a back alley shop looking at monster cores and other nick naks.

"None of these cores will work," Mira said as she stepped back from the counter.

"Your looking for cores with single elemental aspects. I have higher quality ones in the back. ," the store clerk cried and dashed off before they could say anything.

The woman had seen the young dragons and had been bowing and scraping ever since.

Kai, for his part, was looking at hair beads of all things. Ester at his side, smacking his hand whenever he picked one up that looked pretty to him but apparently sent the wrong message to others.

He picked up a little dragon bead made of silver, and he got another smack.

"Are any of these suitable, I'm going on a whim here.

"For Niamh? From you? By crusty beard bits, not on your life. These are terrible.

"Then why are you helping me look through them?"

"I like how your willing to adopt a dwarven custom for a young El'viairen woman… that and smacking your hands is fun. Dont get me wrong, there are plenty here that might work as a gift to say, friend, companion or even new lover. The problem is they're just pretty to you, they don't mean anything to you."

"Isn't it the thought that counts?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ester started laughing as she picked up a bead, "Pretty?"

Kai nodded as he looked at the pretty green stone that matched the green of her eyes.

"Favourite sister-in-law… which on Alea where sisters can often share partners…"

"I get it. Steer clear of gifting anyone hair beads."

"I'm not saying that," Ester said as she rifled through the draw and puled another out. It was made of silver with what looked like a sprouting flower. "Blossoming love."

Kai stood up and took a step back.

"Too soon," Ester dropped that bead, pulled another bead out, "Friends with benefits... though this one also mainly implies lady friends with benefits. It's not normally the fella giving the beads, so it's complicated. Not saying it doesn't happen, just that the mans usually seen as madly in love or desperate for a lady's attention if they do. I might keep this one for Saoirse."

She dug back into the draw, mumbling something about it being a travesty that they were all dumped together like this.

"What are you looking for?" Kai asked, hoping she might find something he could give Niamh.

She pulled out a deep red bead and grinned. "This, this is what I would give you."

"You would give me that, I thought I wasn't your type?"

Ester let out a breath, "Do you really want to know why I say you're not my type?"

"I would be lying if I said I was not a little curious."

"Your too focused on the emotional connection. This bead, if I gave it to you, it would mean anytime you want, no commitments. Clean and simple passion. You're not the type to separate the connection from the dead. So in short. Not my type. "

"Anytime… I want?"

"Sure, drop one of your temporal distortions right here and take your time. If that's too public for you, drop into the workshop sometime, and if I'm not in the middle of something, you can throw me over the anvil, and we can have some commitment free fun."

Kai didn't know what to say, but he could feel both Syl and Alicia's amusement clear as day through the bond.

"You're winding me up," Kai said slowly.

"I'm really not. You know I'm not one for beards already. You're cute, in a tall, muscly, limber kind of way that makes me wonder if it will be like climbing a really sexy tree." She chuckled as she scratched the back of her head and grinned. "That, and you have the added bonus of equipment I've only ever helped someone put on."

Syl laughed, but when Kai spun round to look at her. She barely repressed a smile as she pretended not to listen while she helped Mira look through piles of monster cores.

Ester nudged him to get his attention back to their conversation. "I say this openly because we all know that's not you, and I don't think it ever will be. Maybe in a few centuries we will change our minds. But we both know things won't change so soon. So for now I would settle for something that says good friend and be happy with that. Only those beads are usually seen as a snub to ones unwanted advances. Mother makes Dad hand them out like candy at large gatherings."

Ester put the bead back, and Kai let the tension go with a chuckle of his own as he said, "You're telling me there are beads for friend zoning people."

"Not sure what the friend zone is but the customs interpretive. So there is something for everything, including the friend zone. Dont forget placement matters just as much as the bead. That and when it's given, how it's given or even who it's given to. For example, that red one would have to be given to Alicia and Syl for them to pass on to you to show they approve. It's complicated."

Kai thought for a moment. He didn't want to snub Niamh on her birthday, and he sure as hell wasn't going to do anything to lead her on.

"I guess jewellery is out of the question." He sighed. "What do I do? I could get her gear or armour, but that feels too much like all I'm saying is all I know about her is she is a mage or adventurer."

"Armour implies you want her to be safe and come back to you… but I'm already working with Syl to make her a tough, leather corset with pockets. It's actually to help her gain someone's attention… so I'm telling you to avoid armour for now. Better to wait for the higher levels when she needs something more arcane, durable or both."

"What about a skill book, there has to be a store selling skill books in this town?"

"Skillbooks usually go to auction."

"Well, what then? I would rather ask her than get her something stupid that she doesn't want or need. Niamh's rational and straight to the point. She would probably prefer I ask her."

Ester put a hand on each hip and looked up at him.

"What?"

"And you're worried you don't know her."

"What, ask her?"

"If you can't think of anything, or she already has everything she might need. Then ask."

"Fine, I will," Kai said as he pulled the communication crystal from storage.

He paused.

"You've never used one of those, have you?"

"No."

Alicia wandered over from where she was looking at an assortment of arrowheads with Gift, took the stone from Kai and handed it back to then returned to her shopping.

It pulsed in his hand, "thanks dear."

"No problem."

A moment later, Niamh's voice came through loud and clear.

"Hello? Everything okay, Syl? Alicia?"

"Actually, it's Kai. You got a minute?"

"All the time in the world, just got back in the domain from our morning dungeon run. Did you hear, There are cute little dragons in the city," she giggled.

"Well… yeah, it's been interesting, you might see some new guests in the domain."

"Yeah, they flew bye… it's Kai, yes I know. Shush… fine, it's off private, he can hear you."

"Hi Kai," Aoife's voice called from a little further away.

"Hi Aoife, anyone else there?"

"Nope, just us two at the moment, it's not like you to call like this, everything ok? Want us to come out and help deter anyone harassing you?"

"No were fine, it's not actually that bad. I'm just calling to ask Niamh something."

"Well, I'm all yours, Kai. Just ignore that Aoife is currently stripping out of her sweaty dungeon gear in the background."

"Niamh!" Aoife complained.

"Right, well… I'm out shopping with the team, here with Ester… Ester, you want to say hi?"

"They won't hear me, the stones on private. That's why I can't hear the delightful side to the conversation that's making you blush like that. I can't hear them, and they can't hear me. Just the person holding the stone."

"Kai, are you still there?" Niamh asked.

"Yes, just learning to use this thing, Ester said It's on private and- and she is walking away from me."

"That sounds about right. Is everything okay? You said you were out shopping?"

"Yes… well… it's your birthday soon, and-"

"And you're stuck wondering what to get the woman you've already given so much?"

That caught him off guard, "I don't think I've given you anything?"

She sighed, "Where do you think we would be without you? Don't answer that. I'm sure it would take both Syl and Alicia to explain everything you have done for us. Our home, the opportunities, the skills… honestly, Kai, just being around you changes things."

"I don't-"

"She's not wrong," Aoife chimed in.

"Now, Kai, you want to get me something for my birthday?"

"That is the plan."

"Now, I have everything I need practically handed to me from you, Syl , Alicia, The Sage and everyone else. And the things I want seem to be coming my way on their own."

"So you're saying you can't think of anything right now? Not even a hint."

"I can think of one thing I want."

"Niamh! You can't mea-" Aoife said in a sharp whisper,

"Ssh…" there was a moment of muffled talking between the two on the other side of the crystal before Niamh came back and said, "To be clear, Kai, what I want is a pretty big thing. And I wouldn't ask if I didn't think…" she sighed.

"Just ask. If it's reasonable and within my means, I'll see what I can do. That's the whole point of this call."

"Kai, it's what you would call a date."

Kai didn't reply.

Alica walked over, looked at Kai's distant expression and asked, "What did she want?"

"A date."

Alica took the stone from him "Alicia here… yeah, the crystals still on private…" she looked at him and smiled, "You fried his brain… both of you, that works… he will be free tonight… yeah I understand, we meant what we said the last time we got together. But remember, it's up to him." Alicia paused for a moment. "Just checked with Syl. She says, and I quote, took you long enough… stop, you'll make me blush." She giggled. "I'm handing the crystal back now."

"Kai, don't think too hard, it's for her birthday," Alicia said and handed the stone back to him. Patted him on the shoulder and then just walked off as if arranging a date for her husband with another woman was commonplace.

"Hello, Kai, you there?" Niamh asked after Kai didn't say anything for a long moment.

"So, a date for your birthday… I can do that."

Kai tried to hold the stone away from him to mitigate the sound of two shrieking women on the other side of the crystal, but it didn't affect the volume at all.

The sound abruptly ended as Niamh gathered herself and shushed Aoife, "So glad you called, we'll see you tonight."

"Tonight! Wait, we?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

"They hung up," Syl said as she moved to bring him into a hug from behind.

She just held him for a while.

…

"I don't understand why this keeps happening to me."

Talious scoffed. "You need to accept that your traditional values aren't exactly this world's traditional values."

"I'm trying," Kai said a little too sharply as he turned the corner.

"My bond, my rider… he was a handsome man, a powerful man, a man in a political position. He founded the Dawn Empire by chance, and his life escalated and evolved in ways he could never predict," Talious said softly, "He had many relationships over his long life. I think at one point he technically had over thirty wives, concubines and consorts. And this was before the taint changed things."

Kai slowed to listen.

"Now, I'm not saying he loved them all. Many were political. Some even betrayed him. But there were many that I cared for, I member them fondly. And honestly, it is only now in this form that I think I actually understand most of what happened. "

She went quiet.

"Did it work out? Was he happy?"

"Oh, exceptionally, but he was also sad at times, confused at others. The point I was trying to make was that what you are going through is normal, as normal as it was three thousand years ago and the population wasn't so skewed."

"You need to understand that living so long will invite change, not every decision you make needs to be so certain. Many of those he loved came into his life as their hearts grew fond, only for them to leave and move on as they grew distant. It's not like when you live a short life and it's best to find something that will last for the limited time you have. Growing old together is a rare thing."

"You've been speaking to Syl about Earth."

"You are not the only curious one."

Sicily yipped in agreement.

Kai sighed and let Talious's advice ruminate as they made their way to his appointment.

"You remind me of him. Well, he was more of a father figure, an el'vei, more component with traditional magic and not so clueless. But still there are similarities."

"Must have been a great man," Kai said jokingly. "Especially if he managed to raise someone like you."

Talious just nodded as Sicily patted her with a comforting paw from when she sat on her head.

A few streets and one crazy redhead that wasn't worth mentioning later, Kai was being escorted through some well-known guild's compound as Talious flared her aura and flashed her gold adventurer's badge to keep any curious guild members at bay.

Kai didn't think Talious guarded behaviour was at all necessary as the guild clearly knew what It took to maintain a positive reputation and it was clear that whoever it was that Kai had an appointment with warranted a certain level of respect and caution that was extended to them.

When they got to a side section of the compound, they were let into a corridor that was lined with doors. Then, directed to use the only door with a small dim light glowing above it, before being left on their own with no further explanation.

The door was just a little ways down the corridor and when Kai went open it he saw it lead into a small martial yard where when the door was wide enough for them to enter Kai came face to face with one of the last people he expected to see.

"Kardai-"

"Crap, you're early. This is the last thing I wanted to happen," Kardain groaned.

"Step aside, young man, and let them through," a woman's voice called from behind Kardain.

Kardain's look of defeat was immediate.

"What's wrong?" Kai asked, warning bells going off in the back of his mind.

"He is worried I might spill his secretes. Now, everyone stop being shy, come in and close the door. The wards won't work properly unless the woods in the hole." A short Gnomel woman standing in the middle of the hall said with obvious satisfaction.

Talious stepped through the doorway without a concern in the world, her approach forcing Kardain to step aside to let her through.

Kai looked at him, his brother in laws mind looked like it must have been racing a mile a minute as he looked past Kai.

"Young man, if you want that favour, you will not run away from me."

Kai stepped into the room, and Kardain closed the door with a heavy, resigned sigh.

The moment the door clicked shut, a ring of red lights that circled the small domed courtyard dimmed and went out.

"Good, we can talk freely. The two of you come over here. This dragon is looking at me curiously, and if I didn't know better, I would think she was planning on eating me. She's contemplating it now that I have mentioned it, that's for sure."

"What's happening?" Kai whispered to Kardain. "I thought Temra was with you today."

"She was, but when I found out who you were meeting, I needed to come and make sure-"

"He needed to make sure I was aware of your security level so that the vows I swore to the union could take full effect," the short pink goblin woman standing in the centre of room said with a toothy grin.

"Now come here, I don't bite," She glanced at Talious. "This one, however, would be completely unphased biting me…"

"Truth reader…" Talious hissed, her lips curling back into a toothy smile.

"A bit more than that… oh my it is true what they say, curiosity really did kill the dragon," the woman said as she took a reflexive step back

"But satisfaction brought it back," Kai finished the saying, once again surprised a proverb had translated like that.

"Yes, I like that," Talious said as her horns crested her head and her fiery scales accented her face and everywhere else that was visible the in her casual attire.

"Talious?" Kai asked, confused by Talious abandoning her full El'viairen guise.

"You heard her, she knows I'm actually a dragon. Which is surprising when you consider Normal truth readers simply hear the truth of your words, they have to question you carefully to determine perspective from reality. This… bite size morsel is clearly more attuned to the truth than normal."

"its good that we abandon pretence. I'm actually glad things worked out this way. I don't have to pretend I'm less than I am."

"This is Mistress Kortrel. While she works as a renowned consultant for well know adventurers and the like who may be struggling with skills, abilities, martial techniques. In reality, she-"

"I'm a spider, I spin webs, form connections and make observations and pass that information on. This boy's clearance is indeed high if you're spilling my credentials…" She looked at Kai for a long moment before saying, "Noble, Lord, Barron, King… Oh my, this is interesting."

Kardain just sighed as she spun on him, and you, you like him, wait no maybe a little more than that you respect him… and he's your brother-in-law. Kardain, this is new. You have a brother-in-law you actually like!"

"We have worked together a few times in the past. She reads everything and finds the truth in it. She can rattle of conjecture and narrow down the truth hidden in how you react."

"Yes, I work primarily for the union, but I know so many secretes they're frightened to rein me in. They usually only as me to work when they find someone who is trained to hide the truth from the common reader."

"Still, you need to know what to look for, figure out what questions to ask."

"Precisely, Kardain here tried to pull a fast one on me. He needed to make sure I knew what vows of mine would be in effect and foolishly thought his visit wouldn't put things together because of it."

"I-" Kardain tried.

"He didn't think I would see a young man, two dragons and some young spiritual being and do the math. Men can be so stupid sometimes."

Kardain did his best not to reveal more.

"Yes, yes, doing your job… protecting the boy? That makes sense, I suppose."

She turned to Talious and Kai.

"Do you have any idea how many people from your little show at the palace are begging me to find a way around the system contracts they signed? Just so they can better engage the bureaucratic system, as if I can't read the lies in the letters on the page. They so obviously so they can release the information on who exactly the Trinity of Dawn is."

"They're being watched," Kardain said to Kai.

"As if The Sage of all people doesn't know an ironclad contract. What's the count now, Kardain?" Mistress Kortrel went on.

"Six," Kardain said.

"Six people have up and forfeited their memories of the event by trying to break the terms. Arrogant fools compromise the union. I'm due to head out of the city just to confirm the latest one isn't an outright traitor."

Damn, there was a lot going on that he didn't know about, Kai felt like he should be doing more than just running dungeons and arranging dates.

"Your not out of the loop because you're incompetent or anything like that, so don't beat yourself up. You're out of the loop because that's where you need to be right now. Concentrate on levelling up. You put a boot up the union's ass at a crucial time. Angered a lot of people by taking power the way you did. Instead of having a puppet and access to a small portion of the territory they thought to claim through you. You have opened access to a whole land long lost while they're clambering to stay relevant."

"I-"

"You did it to protect your family, not because you wanted. Which is one of the reasons Kardain here is so rough with you in your training. Honestly, Kardain, this is so unlike you, you usually trust only in yourself."

She turned to look at Talious, "You will kill me if I say one wrong word about you."

"You are a bite sized risk…"

"That's why Kardain tried to get in and out before I knew what questions to ask. I know I'm dangerous to be around. Kardain's mother, for example, only allows me in her court when there is trouble afoot."

"Yes, thank you for your assistance in rooting out Caradin's influence," Kardain said with a bow of his head.

"It was no bother."

"It's good that her love for old Thanric is finally out in the open. Which I guess she has you to thank for that."

She curtseyed, "Talious the Red. Kai, Eminence of Dawn. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hear good things, and what I see confirms it. Now besides Kardain's favour, which I can not on the system divulge, I was paid a rather healthy sum to help a rather promising young adventure find his path."

Kai couldn't help but shift his stance. This wasn't at all what he was expecting. "My path? So, you're not a sword specialist who going to insist I learn their sword style. Some truth seeking blade or something like that?"

"Oh, Spirits no, I've never lifted a sword in my life. Now what do I call you, don't think you're one for titles when you can avoid it."

"Kai is fine… So how's" this going to work?"

"Run through your kata, she will tell you what you need to know." Kardain advised, and Mistress Kortrel nodded.

Castiel scrawled out of his shirt to go perch on Kardain's head, where she had a good vantage point.

Mistress Kortrel smiled at the little white dragon but otherwise focused in on Kai as he did as he was asked and started the training kata he learned from the adventurers on the Spirit of Exploration.

Remembering all the times he had been told he was doing it wrong by the different sword masters around the city, he kept it traditional and avoided any additional flourishes he had learned when trying to make it more comfortable.

The moment he was done, he was asked to do it again, but this time lean into it.

He finished with a flourish of his spectral blade and was told to do it with a normal short sword that Kardain had at the ready.

Again and again he repeated the kata with one sword after another until eventually he was waved over to the bench everyone was observing him from.

"How many skill books did you use exactly?"

"I think it was three, short-sword, longswords and great sword, They then combined into basic swordmanship, buts its not advanced from basic despite all the training I've been doing."

"Swordman ship has a high peak, the system won't acknowledge a change until you hit a milestone. Show me the skill."

Kai did as he was asked, and a little card appeared just in front of Mistress Kortrel.

She hummed a bit and then said, "This is deceptive, it should say physical sword style weapons. That blue sword you make from your mana is clearly not a normal physical sword. You learned to make it after you learned this skill, but you've been using this swordmanship skill to wield it."

"I-"

"I'm not done." She flicked the card, "Despite what this skill says, your swordmanship is broken, flawed. It's like each skill you learned was significantly different from the other. Each of them works on its own, but they aren't meant to blend together. It's like the different styles are fighting with each other instead of assisting each other. You would need an epiphany to advance it further."

Kai thought about it, everything made sense, each sword skill and been provided by the system because it suited him, not because it was good. Maybe… "If I stick to one sword?"

"Focusing on one would help, but please stop thinking and listen for a bit. The compounding issue with what you're hoping to achieve is that the arcane blades you create don't suit your basic swordmanship skill at all. And you're having to adapt to make things work. You are effectively creating a whole new style while mimicking what you already know and complicating the process with what others try to teach you."

And it's all fucked up because of it, Kai thought.

"Exactly."

"You remind me of a mentor I had who could read my mind."

"I thank you for the high praise… Honestly, where did you get so many swords based skill books?"

"I er…"

"Can't… no, you think you shouldn't tell me… and how the hell do you have more of them."

Kai looked to Kardain. "Is she going to be allowed near the dawn palace?"

"That's up to you. I wouldn't recommend it."

"Oh, spirits, please. I hate political intrigue. I avoid high court like I do thrush. The skill books, can you show me one? I vow to give it back once I have confirmed my suspicions."

Talious leaned forward, "Trust me, I'll eat her if she tries anything."

"I dont know what's worse. That I know that's a joke, but that you have actually eaten people for testing that joke."

Talious shrugged.

Kai summoned one of the melee for dummies and handed it over.

Mistress Kartel looked over the book and handed it back to him. "Just as I thought, styles that suits you is dangerously ambiguous."

"You could read the cover?"

"It's a system item intended for the many languages of a different world, of course it translated itself," she said as she studied Kai.

Kai wondered how her ability worked, it wasn't like he was being examined

"Your my first alien. And a lot of its body language, that and I get a feeling if my interpretation is right or wrong.took a lot of work to get where I am, and no, I don't take on apprentices, no matter how much you just want to get better at reading social cues."

Talious chuckled.

"And you were my first dragon in humanoid form. Today's just full of surprises. Imagine if I did teach him and he could read you better."

Talious lower jaw snapped shut, and there was an awkward silence.

"His swordmanship. What should he do?" Kardain asked after a moment.

"The way I see it, there is no wright answer. He's already working hard to improve his skills, but learning from a master who thinks only of their style. It won't work. Kai will be forever chasing someone else's perfection. Kai would have to abandon everything he knows and go back to basics. Wich with his age and level, normally wouldn't be a bad idea. But with the tower opening and the political climate…"

"That's not an option," Kai sighed.

"No, it's an option. You have what, only been wielding your sword for a few months now? It shouldn't take you too long to catch up to where you are now with all your experience; it's just about breaking old habits. Wich your going to have to do anyway with my recommendation."

"And that is?"

"Simple as that, yes. You make your own perfection. Keep doing what you're doing and push yourself towards that epiphany I mentioned," she said as she summoned a red notebook and handed it to Kai.

He flipped the book open and was surprised to see it was completely blank.

"Kai, do you know what a martial manual is?" she asked as he looked at the blank pages.

"I think I do."

"I hate I think I do… find your truth and use that. Uncertainty is a bitch to read."

"It's a manual with instructions on a martial technique, style or skill."

"See, you knew. I suggest you make one. Take that mana sword you created and define the style yourself. Write it all down as you go along, and learn from your mistakes. When you feel the manual is full or needs refining, do it. Don't be afraid to make corrections. If in ten years' time you feel you're getting nowhere, use the skill book. It should fill in the blanks.but for now, ill see you in, let's say, five years time to see how you have progressed." Mistress Karter said as she got up.

Kai looked at the empty book and sighed. He didn't know where to even begin.

Mistress Karter reached up to pat Kai on the arm, "Don't worry, with you being banned from dungeons, you should have plenty of free time to get you started. Even better, you have friends and family like Kardain here to keep you on track. Now, don't you have something after this that's been stressing you out since you walked in here… ooh, a date. To be young again." She sighed wistfully.

"Didn't know you had a date planned, is it private time with Alicia? Syl? or both?" Kardain asked as he got up, the movement making Castiel return to Kai.

Kai froze. How could he possibly answer that?

Mistress Karta chuckled as she glanced between Talious and Kai, "it's neither of them."

"Pardon?" Kardain asked in a threatening tone.

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