Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Hekate paces around in front of a specific room that is the private quarters to a very important person. She is one of the wisest people Hekate knows, but also someone who doesn’t have any vested interest whatsoever in making Hekate feel like a fool, for humor or otherwise. If she’s being honest with herself, of course, she could ask anyone, and they would help her, but she did also promise to meet with this particular person.

Baeka watches the young feldrok teen pace back and forth. She finally asks, “Are you afraid to knock?”

“Wha-!? No! Of course not! It’s… I just… I don’t know if I should bother her, since they probably need rest, right? But, if I don’t ask, I might be too busy to talk to her tonight. And, I also don’t know… what I should be doing… as an Empress.” Hekate’s big ears flatten down expressively, showing her insecurities once more. She took her true form in order to help Daniel, because her fur is apparently immune to the mana fire embers, and it made her smaller for Zuzia to throw.

Baeka has experience as a tribe leader and a sort of assistant to Morthybargaron as his ‘concubine’, though calling herself an actual ‘assistant’ would be a bit generous.

But, because the Fievegal is entering the global stage not as a collection of tribes, but a nation that will engage in diplomatic relations with other nations and ideally sustain an economy, Hekate’s position is definitely beyond Baeka’s understanding, even if she does convince Daniel to accept her as well. She knows that Daniel’s harem is rather large and unwieldy already, but even if his time is largely consumed by the higher-ranking Empresses, he still ensures to elevate everyone he cares about and protect the things they care about by extension.

Regardless, Baeka understands why Hekate wishes to seek Erimaya’s advice, the owner of the room that they are standing outside of. The Princess has been receiving training to be a royal for a moderate, if small, kingdom, meaning she has reasonable understanding of managing assets and personnel. And, her elder sister is the current Queen. Aramellianna has far more experience, but even for a mature adult like Baeka, the Grand Duchess Senior can be intimidating, even though she’s an extremely respectful, honorable, and kind woman. She simply has a commanding presence, high expectations, and a sternness that makes her juniors behave almost instinctively.

Erimaya is less threatening, and she likely makes Hekate feel more comfortable while learning with her, because she makes learning fun.

Just as Hekate is seemingly coming to a decision, the door opens, and Erimaya steps out, halting with a start when she sees Hekate suddenly. “Oh! Hekate! And, Lady Baeka!”

Heralesse follows her younger sister out, and Erimaya explains, “We were just going to request a snack and some tea. Would you like to join us?”

Heralesse makes no objections, and Hekate, who was also startled by the door opening, replies, “Ooo! Wait, no! Not yet. I, um… I wanted… your help with something. If that’s alright.”

“My help?” asks Erimaya with surprise.

Hekate nods. “Daniel asked me to make a special box to protect everyone from Fal’s power, and I wanted to ask if you can help me explain it to the kobolds and the others we’ll need.”

“Why Eri?” asks Heralesse, a little confused. “You know these kobolds far better than either of us, as well as the capabilities of the Fievegal.”

Baeka answers when Hekate hesitates for a moment, “We were hoping Erimaya may have kept track of enough information from her time here, as well as the research she was doing, to help us choose the right materials in place of our two chief Magic Artisans, who are on bedrest right now.”

“You mean Ahok and Wenlianna?” asks Erimaya. “Are they alright?”

“Yes,” replies Hekate. “They used all of their mana, and Wenlianna got sick doing it. But, they were doing well. Though, we chose not to bother Ahok yet, since she was sleeping.”

“I see. That’s good,” replies the blonde princess with a gentle smile.

“But, if you want to get a snack, don’t let me hold you up!” insists Hekate. “I’ll figure it out…” Her expressive ears move all over the place, generally in tune with her hands, as she tries to reassure her friend.

Heralesse sighs. “If you’ll accept our help, then I see no reason to refuse. What do you think, Eri?”

“Hekate is my friend, so of course I intend to help her!” Erimaya grins and takes Hekate’s hands. “I know you’d help me if I need it, too, right?”

“Of course!” replies Hekate. “I feel the same!”

Erimaya grins, and she shifts to walk alongside Hekate. “Then, let’s get this handled for Prince Fal!”

“Right!” The two girls take the lead, and Heralesse and Baeka fall into step behind them, walking alongside one another.

Baeka says softly, “Thank you, your Majesty. For all your help.”

“My pleasure,” murmurs Heralesse. “I… don’t often see Eri this happy anymore… And,... You know they didn’t know each other very well, right?”

“Those two?” asks Baeka quietly, not trying to disrupt the two girls.

“No… Her and… him.”

“Ah…” Baeka smiles. “I can only speak as someone who was once a young lady, of course. The heart is often tempered by that which we have held and been subsequently denied.”

The elder sister lets out an exasperated breath. “I know. The spirits know well that I have had the same. But, as a Princess…”

The young Queen trails off as she watches the two talk, and Hekate tells Erimaya what happened at the mana fire from her perspective. She takes another breath and exhales to reclaim her composure. She says quietly, “A princess’s hand in marriage is an asset to her Kingdom; a responsibility on behalf of the people we are trusted to support.”

“You’ll find none of us will force our friends and family to do anything they don’t want to do. That includes your sister,” replies Baeka sincerely.

“Yes… The problem is… The best ‘deal’ that can likely be made for her… actually is the one person I don’t want it to be… and only because…” Heralesse pinches her nose, finishing even more quietly, as if her breath is going to vanish from her. “Reinforcing a good relationship with the Fievegal… is undeniably a prudent action…”

“None of that has to play out right now,” replies Baeka gently. “There’s a long time before Daniel will accept her, and if a better situation arises, she’ll be free to pursue it instead.”

Heralesse nods in agreement, not completely satisfied, but admiring that her young sister is genuinely happy to be helping her friend. Even if that friend is a rather crass and uneducated young woman with as much nobility as a rusty sword.

While they’re walking, Erimaya decides to present Hekate with the surprise that she received from Balamae shortly after heading to Erimaya’s reserved private quarters within the Citadel. Other than for cleaning, Erimaya’s room was preserved for her, and it easily possesses plenty of room for Erimaya and Heralesse to share the space.

The blonde presents a seemingly innocent handkerchief to Hekate, saying, “By the way, I made this. Daniel gave me permission to submit ideas, so I thought this would fit.”

Heralesse has seen the handkerchief, but Baeka curiously cranes her neck to peek as Hekate and Erimaya each hold one side to spread the piece of fabric out without releasing their interlocked hands between them.

The handkerchief has a rather elaborate design, which is easily recognizable to the dattakorien Mikadresselle, because many of the human-kin companies would present banners and adornments with distinct, yet seemingly random designs representing the family they fight for, their kingdom, or some other grouping that unifies or otherwise identifies them.

Erimaya’s creation has a centerpiece made of a trio of flowers, and from their colors and shape, Baeka is rather confident that they are the laugur flower that only just recently came up in conversation. The left laugur is a very deep, blood-red color, the center one is a blend of that same deep red as well as a dark violet that seems ‘borrowed’ from its righthand companion flower, which is a solid purple. The center flower possesses the rumored rarest trait of laugur flowers with the dual-tone to begin with, but it also has black, swirling stripes on its petals as well. Each flower’s ‘stem’ is a sword, intersecting in the middle with intricate, flowing patterns running down the blades. The outer flowers possess their counterpart’s colors down the blade, while the middle flower possess a swirling stream of gold instead. Above the laugurs rests a green arc of leafed foliage with three black birds tinted with color, one at each end and the third at the center with its wings fully spread.

The bottom of the crest has a more simple banner pattern in a downward arc, with text that reads in the Eastern Imperial Trade language, “Outlast the Mountains”.

Erimaya explains proudly, “This is officially my submission for my future family’s… uh… family crest.”

“Flowers?” asks Hekate curiously as she glances at Erimaya.

“Hee hee hee!” laughs the young Princess. “I’m so glad you asked. These flowers are laugurs, and I thought it would be a good pick because it starts with a similar sound as ‘Lawson’.”

“Laugurs? Like the flowers Doephluev used?” Hekate glances over her shoulder at Baeka, who nods in agreement.

“Indeed, Hekate. Though, it is a poisonous flower.”

“Poisons are meant to protect the flowers,” explains Erimaya a little urgently, worried that it might be taken the wrong way. “They are a powerful defense mechanism to preserve the beauty of the laugur. And, further representing the Fievegal are the three blades, as well as the ‘Watcher Crows’. Daniel said he didn’t want to just use his military crest, since it wasn’t necessarily his family, but I wanted to honor his bravery and time as a soldier-sailor on Earth.”

Hekate’s eyes have widened as she really takes in the explanation of the crest. The Fievegal’s sigil is basically a silhouette of Hekate, though she does think it could be better. Now that she’s seeing a real family crest made by someone familiar with the process and intended meanings behind every little thing, she has a greater appreciation already for the concept; a concept she has barely given any thought to.

Erimaya adds, “I didn’t want it to be too complicated, and I thought the laugur would be a beautiful, and a tiny bit dangerous, touch to represent the Fievegal’s dangerous power, but beautiful dreams.”

“I love it,” replies Hekate tenderly. She immediately hugs Erimaya, catching the Princess off guard as their momentum is suddenly halted, and she’s suddenly being hugged by the fox-eared girl. Hekate’s big tail also swishes happily behind her, and she repeats, “I love it, Eri! It’s beautiful, and so thoughtful! Thank you!”

“I’m so happy you like it, Hekate! I hope we all get to wear it with pride, and outlast the mountains!”

“Heh heh heh!” cackles Hekate as she keeps hugging Erimaya, now even swaying both of them as if her tail is acting like a counterweight. “Yesss. Forever and always!”

Baeka looks at Heralesse for a moment, and the young Queen meets her gaze. The elder sister takes a breath and gives a defeated smile, but one full of pleasant satisfaction. She seems ready to accept that she won’t be able to change her younger sister’s mind, and the longer it goes on, the more certain it seems set on becoming.

Fortunately, for now the advantage to being friends with the Fievegal does admittedly outweigh the disadvantages of letting Erimaya ‘go rogue’ in making that friendship take root in pursuit of her own desires and whims.

***

Moelka watches a magic-powered machine known as an ‘MDM’ as it carefully moves a piece of mithril to carefully carve perfect shapes at precise sizes. She’s not sure what this one is making at present, but there are several such machines, each making different parts and being monitored by one of a handful of dattakoriens, oni, and an Uhl’tall, who all work as operators swapping in raw blocks of metals or other materials, and gathering the completed parts into crates to be used in assembly of Fievegal weapons and devices.

Kobolds are, by their nature, curious and crafty. They desire better means to make traps and tools to further their means of survival. They loathe being idle almost as much as they detest starvation and isolation.

Tulztame asks dozens of questions of the manufacturing operators, following the nearest one around and avoiding falling underfoot as she tries to somewhat obviously demonstrate such a high degree of interest, that the operators will offer to teach the kobolds how to use the machines present.

In addition to the MDMs, there is something that is described with another simple collection of letters, a ‘CNC’, which uses tiny, fast-moving tools to automatically produce parts in a similar way to the MDM, but with cutting, drilling, and grinding.

Moelka has used a simple hand drill once, and it’s a tedious process. The machine is doing in seconds what would take a skillful kobold half a day.

On soft wood or weak stone.

Glizumi, Levvikami, and Sodenizia are likely still in the village figuring out where they’re going to live and establish their own kobold-led village. Functionally, the culture of the reptilian women allows for them to live in a pre-established settlement, but the goal is to create their own village where their authority is primary, so that they can preserve the drive and passion of the kobolds. Moelka could take it or leave it, personally, but she has been friends with the other four for a long time, and they survived together before Daniel and Magnir stumbled across them.

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However, living with the more powerful dragons, and the terrifying woman known as ‘Yaulwembor’, it would be akin to living with the great spirits themselves, who are supposed to be larger than life, not beings to be met for multiple meals a day. It’s intimidating, and no amount of exposure has diminished that fact much at all.

Moelka’s not sure whether or not she wishes to live permanently in the new village, wherever it ends up being, or if she wishes to follow the boat that is the Fievegal down the river and enjoy the comforts and luxuries as quickly as they are produced.

Even as relatively “simple” as kobold culture was on their island, the kobolds quickly adapted, developed and mastered the creation and use of whatever simple tools washed up on shore, whatever the other races possessed when they settled on the island, and when they could, they developed their own, new equipment to try to keep an edge.

Naturally, the island was limited in resources, and kobolds are small and relatively weak. Moelka could probably bite Daniel’s arm or leg in half… if he allowed her to get close enough to bite him, assuming they were enemies. But, if he were to simply knock her down and pin her down with his boot, his bodyweight alone would defeat her.

“Molga, right?” asks a young female mammalian voice, and Moelka recognizes it as close enough, turning to see who it is. She flinches slightly, since the beings approaching aren’t entirely familiar to her, yet, but she’ll never forget the powerful little girl that can understand any language, and possesses enough power to shatter any enemy on her own.

“Your Greatness! Greetings. Though, my name is Moelka, if it pleases you.”

The fox-eared teen nods, “Ah! My apologies. I still have to get to know the five of you.”

Hekate, two human women, and Baeka, the dattakorien all approach Moelka as she watches, unsure what to do. She’s not afraid, per se, since Daniel holds the true sway over the Fievegal, it seems. But, Hekate holds some influence over Daniel, it seems, at least in her own way.

Nooo. This is perfect, actually.

Just before Moelka can speak up to make a request, Hekate says politely, “I was hoping to enlist the help of you ladies.” Hekate glances at the younger human next to her, and the blonde girl nods in approval with a smile.

She introduces herself, “I am Princess Erimaya kos Mornistae, Lady Moelka. And, this is my elder sister, Queen Heralesse kos Mornistae. As her Greatness has said, our goal is to make use of your talents in order to help Emperor Daniel and Prince Fal.”

“Ahh,” warbles Moelka. She knows of the infant with dangerous mana, who hasn’t been seen since around the time Daniel launched his mission in the east. “The containment, bed, yes?”

“That’s right!” exclaims Hekate.

Erimaya asks, “Has it already been explained to you?”

Moelka shakes her head. “In meaningful detail, no. Only that such a thing would need to be made. Though, to my knowledge, it was the human Empress Wenlianna and the myneler… er, um… goblin woman that would be leading that project.”

“Those two are on bedrest after depleting their mana,” replies Hekate. “Daniel said that you are fast to figure things out…”

“Mine-ler?” asks Erimaya quietly as Hekate was speaking, wondering why they would have a different name for the goblins, and one that doesn’t make much sense.

“Myneler comes from the fact that they mine,” remarks Tulztame as she approaches the group. “The ones you call goblins sometimes showed up on our island, and they always dig. We couldn’t understand each other, so we came to calling them ‘mynelers’. Though, we’ve always known them to be aggressive brutes, but easy to lure into traps…” She looks a little suspiciously at a few of the goblins that are mainly working as laborers, carrying crates of stock material or finished parts to and fro.

“They’re very bloodthirsty,” confirms Baeka playfully. “Daniel just decided to give them better weapons and meaningful jobs to do that slake that thirst.”

Tulztame nods in understanding, and she asks, “So, what can we help you with? Idle hands grow curled claws, after all.”

Hekate and Erimaya both cock their heads cutely in confusion, and Baeka and Heralesse glance at each other to see if the other understood.

Tulztame clears her throat, focusing on the goal. “Nevermind. Please tell us how we can help, Empress Hekate.” She bows her head respectfully.

The feldrok girl replies, “R-Right!” She does take a moment to look at her own fingernails, but she quickly snaps out of it. “Daniel told me some things that should work, so we just need to make a box that captures Fal’s magic and sticks it into the Citadel.” Hekate nods proudly at her own explanation, which has all of the relevant information… for someone that knows fully what she’s talking about.

Erimaya clarifies when the kobolds glance at each other, “Ideally, it’s a bed for the baby Prince, Fal, the feldrok, who is in Empress Ryuogriar’s care right now.”

Both lizardwomen perk up, and Tulztame replies, “Ah! Yes. Though, we know very little about magic, let alone capturing it.”

“If you just need us to build things, we’ll need designs,” adds Moelka. “And, though it may be a bit insolent, we’ll need something in return for our services.”

Hekate’s ears fold back in slight irritation, though she doesn’t necessarily know what they mean.

Heralesse does, though, and she asks, “You want to be paid?”

“Yes, though not in anything unreasonable,” replies Moelka. She has caught Tulztame off guard as well, so she simply makes her request. “In exchange for helping deal with Prince Fal’s dangerous magic, I would like to humbly request an area of land for we kobolds to form a village.”

This confuses the others, and Hekate asks, “Aren’t you happy living in the Citadel? I’m not an idiot. I know things happened with you and Daniel and Magnir. If you want…”

“If I may, your Greatness, we don’t value filial piety in the same way you do. We value the betterment of ourselves and our village. So, the village raises the children, and the children, in turn, become productive members of the village. That is how we do things. We will remain loyal to the Fievegal, and our village will provide many soldiers and workers to the Fievegal. We simply ask to live and practice our culture our way.”

Hekate looks to Erimaya, who shakes her head, and she turns to the dattakorien next.

Baeka replies, “Kobolds are rare on our continent. Probably swimmers or boaters who crossed the sea gap. But, she’s asking for permission to rule over their village as they see fit, so long as they adhere to the Fievegal’s strictest laws and serve the Fievegal’s needs, militarily and economically. If I have to guess, they wish to be a vassal territory to the Fievegal, not just a district of the Fievegal’s direct sovereignty.”

Hekate again looks at Erimaya, asking, “What’s that mean?”

Heralesse is the one to reply, though. “She means they’ll be technically separate, but legally a part of the Fievegal’s sovereign territory. In a sense, what the Stalvaltans are to you now. They retain their own borders, laws, and rulers, but agree to answer to the Fievegal’s higher laws and calls to action.”

“They’ll help, but want to be left alone as much as possible,” clarifies Erimaya gently for her inexperienced friend.

Moelka adds, “They speak truth, but it’s not like we want to be isolated. Just… For our cultural needs,... we ask for leniency.”

Hekate thinks on it for a moment. She holds out her right hand at Moelka and Tulztame, declaring officially, “As Sovereign Empress of the Fievegal, I declare all five of you will be named as nobles of the Fievegal. And, with that authority, I’ll give you some land to build a village on. So long as your minds are dedicated to making the Fievegal stronger.”

Moelka bows her head, and Tulztame mimics her. The younger kobold replies, “Thank you, your Greatness. We shall not disappoint you.”

Hekate grins proudly, feeling like she got to be a real leader for a change.

Moelka then adds, “So, the idea is easy. But, what do we need to use to make it work? Like I said, we know little of magic, and his Highness, the Prince’s condition is outside of… mmm… reverse construction and trapping.”

Erimaya explains, “We’ve identified several materials that can absorb mana, not least of which, apparently, is…” The young human gestures at her feldrok friend. “Hekate’s hair and fur…”

The addressed ravenette perks her ears up, and her tail wags slightly from excitement as a realization hits her.

“Ooo! Yes! Take as much as you need, Eri!” The feldrok teen twitches her big fox-like ears and her puffy black tail. “Well… As long as it doesn’t make me bald… M-Maybe just half or so… Or a few hairs… Just a teensy bit from my tail… M-Maybe like… one hair…”

The others laugh, and Moelka replies with a jovial tone, “We shall make do with whatever you grace us with, your Greatness. Though, if this humble little kobold may reiterate, the more resources we have at our disposal…”

Hekate sighs and holds up her hand. “Yes, I know… Let’s… Let’s start with the carbon plates Daniel gave to Floria… He used them because… something.”

“Carbon is the best known mana storage material,” replies Erimaya. “It’s why diamonds work as enhanced mana crystals; they are pure carbon in a specific… mmm… form.” She sighs. “Daniel explained this to me once…”

“He said something about the special pillars we discovered to be powering Kernuules, yes?” asks Baeka. “That it was another form of this ‘carbon’.”

“That’s right!” exclaims Hekate. “He and Wenlie also asked for my tail fur because of it. Though, Daniel only took a little bit… And made Serrentuk’s staff and some other things… I think…”

“I think something about ‘starfall powder’ came up,” remarks Erimaya. “Daniel was excited about it when he learned it was a thing, at least a little, right?”

“Great! We’ll find some of that too, then!” declares Hekate happily. The young Empress takes Moelka’s and Erimaya’s hands dancing in a circle. “With this, we can help everyone, and Daniel can finally rest!” She suddenly halts, saying as Moelka stumbles to keep her balance, “Oh! We’re also still supposed to do stuff for the Fievegal, huh?”

“You are the Empress…” retorts Heralesse a little sarcastically. “And, a city was nearly destroyed.”

“Baeka! Take Heralesse and figure out what extra supplies we can and should be sending to Mattarglos to help. We’ll handle the cradle thingy.”

“Wha- Why me?” asks Heralesse. “I need to make sure Eri is…”

Hekate approaches the elder blonde and takes her hands for a moment, folding her ears down cutely as she makes her plea. “Please, Heralesse? I want to help those people, but I need to help Ryuo and Daniel right now. So, with Baeka’s help, you can… I dunno… spend my money or something! Whatever way of saying it makes you feel good. I’ll join you once Fal’s taken care of. And, Eri will be safe. I promise. She’s going to be… uh… my Co-Empress soon enough. So… please handle supplies for me?”

Heralesse tries to resist, but Hekate is undeniably cute, and her amber eyes shine with an innocence that’s hard to match. The young queen sighs with an exasperated, long groan. “Fiiine… Eri… If anything does happen. Run away and find a safe place to be. We’ll figure it out from there.”

Erimaya hugs her sister, saying, “It’s fine, Heralesse! I trust Hekate with my life. Almost as much as I trust you! And, I won’t go near Prince Fal until we know his power can be safely contained.”

Heralesse nods in agreement. “I’m counting on you… Lady Baeka?”

“Yes. Hekate, if you have any trouble, you may summon me at any time. I… won’t deny that I’d like… to be considered an Empress Consort before long, but… Ahem! Before that, we have to get everything under control.”

Hekate points slowly at the dattakorien woman, saying softly and a little coldly, “Don’t push my buttons, Baeka. I like you, and I won’t really put up that much of a fight. But, just because you met Daniel before me doesn’t give you any special privileges. Remember that.” She points at her eyes and then at Baeka a couple of times each as she takes Erimaya’s hand to lead her towards the supply station they need to go to in order to retrieve parts.

Baeka simply smiles and waves, and Heralesse asks softly as the groups gain distance on each other, “You just… openly tell each other you want to share Daniel?”

“If Daniel was explicitly bound to only one person, and the expectation was that he would not be shared, I would never bring it up,” replies Baeka. “Every woman deserves the man they love to love only them… unless the situation is already… what it is. I admired Daniel after he helped my people and slayed a dragon to protect us. He never once judged us. If anything… I felt like he… found me at least a little attractive, which was… flattering. For the dragons, it is simply natural, since there will always be more females than males for… one reason or another. I wouldn’t have wanted to share Daniel if I was the first one to claim his heart. But, I don’t mind sharing if it means safety and comforts for the children I hope to have, a good environment for my people, and safety against the worst things in the world. Besides, who doesn’t want to be family with that little fluffball?” Baeka subtly gestures at Hekate, who is excitedly trying to take her responsibility seriously. Heralesse does give a slight glance to the dattakorien woman, who is more noticeably beast-like than a gatonine would be, in the way that Yaulwembor or the kobolds are more obviously reptilian than the Dragons when in their human forms. Baeka calling Hekate a “little fluffball” is interesting, though the feldrok teen’s tail rivals the rest of her own body’s entire profile in size due to how fluffy it is. And, in spite of how durable her tail fur is, it is undeniably soft.

Heralesse sighs, saying gently, “It’s definitely not something I would be willing to do, but it wasn’t really a concern for me. Not to mention… regardless of what Eri wants… I doubt our parents will allow it.”

“Maybe, but… the political leverage should always provide room for argument, at least. I… know the Fievegal doesn’t have a strong presence on the global stage yet other than the sheer military force we have behind us… without the thing Daniel just used… But, I think… everything that has happened will shift our priorities back home, so we should be able to focus on bolstering our economic and political presences.”

“You don’t have to sell me on the Fievegal,” jokes Heralesse as they walk. “You’ll either succeed, or like a flame, burn brightly before flickering out. N-No offense.”

“No, you’re right. At times… it feels like the Fievegal itself could evaporate at any moment if… a very specific person disappears.”

Heralesse nods, knowing who they mean.

He doesn’t pretend to be the most powerful man in the world, because he knows that he is nothing without everyone and everything around him as assets and advantages he needs to make use of. He is brave, but reckless with his own life. He is boorish towards aristocratic processes and etiquette, and he enables Hekate, who isn’t ‘spoiled’, but she certainly shows her own lack of education openly without shame.

Not that anyone can really do much about it if they wanted to, since the Fievegal is growing stronger much faster than any other country, and because of the golems supporting them, self-sustaining resources are easy for them, let alone the relief supplies they’re apparently sending out.

Suddenly, a flash of light appears, and Hekate materializes in front of the two women, startling them for a moment. “Baeka!” exclaims Hekate before the two can even steady themselves from their reactionary recoil away from the sudden appearance.

“Spirits, Hekate! You startled us!”

“Oh… sorry…” murmurs the fox-eared girl a bit cutely as her ears and tail droop together. She then flicks her ears back up, adding, ‘But, listen! We also have to make sure supplies are being sent to the Selkethians on that island. I promised I would, and if I need to take it there myself, let me know. Just set aside some meat and fruits and stuff. Oh! And a couple heating devices and cooling devices for them to use.”

“Do they know how to use those things?” asks Baeka, simply falling into step with the energetic teen’s pace, rather than nitpicking her startling arrival.

Hekate pauses for a moment. “We’ll send someone to help them learn. So long as they promise not to eat him or her.”

The others chuckle, and Baeka replies, “I’ll set aside a shuttle’s worth. That should be enough to start with for now,”

“Thanks Baeka!” Hekate starts to cast her teleportation spell, but the dattakorien grabs her arm swiftly but gently.

“Hey! Hekate, you can’t just appear in front of people like that. Please? You’re going to give someone a heart attack.”

“A-Alright…” Hekate’s ears droop back down cutely. She adds tenderly, “S-Sorry…”

Baeka replies gently, “It’s fine. It’s just… If it’s not an emergency… Please try not to startle everyone else.”

Hekate nods in understanding, returning her ears and tail to their more energetic posture. “Right! I will! Thank you Baeka! And, thank you Heralesse!”

With that, Hekate vanishes in a teleport, and Baeka sighs. Heralesse remarks, “I can admire her earnestness… at least.”

“Hekate has the potential to be a good leader,” replies Baeka, who is a leader in her own right as the Mikadresselle. “But, Daniel’s greatest weakness is that he holds her back.”

“Maybe… But, I get the feeling having him is better than not,” murmurs Heralesse as she glances back. Hekate, Erimaya, and the two kobolds are near one of the Uhl’tall foremen explaining their needs.

Hekate and Erimaya are smiling now, but Heralesse saw.

She saw it when she found Hekate and Daniel, as well as the others.

The feldrok girl was glowing shades of colors that could only be mirrored by the mana fire itself.

She hangs dangerously close to the edge when Daniel is on Death’s door. And, the young Queen feels absolute dread at the thought of what might come after, should Daniel slip away from his mortal shell.

***