“How much did all of you know about this?” Words flowed out of my mouth without any consideration, making me sound like I was demanding something when I wasn’t. Stress was taking over, and I could feel it in this throbbing headache.

  “We did not know about the issues concerning the church of Danterno,” Mom answered once she and my party retired into my subspace after the three Event Quest announcement. Instead of her usual smile, Mom wore a frown that told me enough that she was caught off guard, just as I was. “After Eltharion vanquished the leviathans blocking Coral Beard’s port, we—as in all of us empresses—helped him deal with the political consequences resulting from this event. Caedhul, though they venerate their true dragonkin just as much as Loatryx does, does not follow the same foundation of rule as our empire. Instead of a dragon emperor, Caedhul—as a republic—is ruled by the Abyssal Warden, their theocratic leader chosen amongst their clergy.”

  “… Uhm, okay? Okay, this is probably leading to the answer, so I’ll just keep quiet. Though I know the Abyssal Warden is the ‘pope’ for the church of Plesia, so why is Caedhul a republic, instead of a theocracy, like Aureolis?”

  “I know you’ve been keeping your nose to your books to learn more about Kargryx, but you ought to read some more about our neighbor,” Mom chastised. “Caedhul was founded to unite the ocean and the many underwater merfolk and levianewt tribes into one ‘union’ to serve and pray to Plesia, the goddess even the horrors of the abyss fear. As such, Caedhul is a theocracy in all but name, but there is a technicality that makes it more of a republic than a theocracy. When we speak of Caedhul, what exactly do we speak about?”

  “Lecullius,” Tasianna answered immediately, before I could even process the question. “The aquapolis made in honor of God Lecullantis. The capital and its extension into the northwest of Altrust are the real ‘Caedhul,’ even if the republic should include the many tribes.”

  My first theology teacher was a real ace student when it came to anything involving Zephira’s and Plesia’s pantheon. I really couldn’t beat a Plesia follower’s knowledge on this subject.

  Mom nodded. “Yes, exactly. Caedhul directly rules over only those two areas, as the ocean is vast with too many different merfolk subraces and tribes. They are all united under the faith of Plesia, with many leviathans and adamantoises vying for her favor and blessing. Naturally, many faithful of other religions wish to become a blessed, but the aquatic true dragonkin live under the same culture of power as we dragons do, but unlike our fervor for Eltharion, they only show respect to Plesia and to whichever leviathan god they are descended from. In-fighting amongst the pantheon’s blessed was ‘normal’—it doesn’t help that those very true dragonkin gods do endorse such behavior—leading to yearly blessed casualties, but resulting in them ‘filtering’ weaklings out, leaving behind quite competent blessed.”

  I frowned, remembering I had heard this in Elyonda. “Ah, what I had heard from Tehmrayn…”

  “You are starting to understand. Champion Tehmrayn’s qualifications are written in the blood of his fellow blessed. He isn’t a direct blessed of Plesia, but of Zennithra, the God of Tridents and Divers—the pantheon’s official god of war, similar to how Yeostar is viewed as the Pantheon of Light’s god of war—meaning he has been used like a tool to fight Zennithra’s many divine rivals. To those leviathans, sending their blessed to fight each other is similar to a slave owner sending their gladiators into a colosseum for entertainment.”

  Seriously? Our culture of power could have been even worse?

  Mom continued, “Caedhul—Lecullius—is the seat of Plesia’s religion, but instead of ‘ruling in the name of Plesia’ like Aureolis for Aurena, the republic acts to control these violent outbursts similar to a muzzle. Religious battles, even if they are commanded by Plesia herself, are taboo on Caedhulen land. It is a neutral land to all Water Pantheon blessed, where rivalry must be settled with words and the pen. Tribe representatives vote for their preferred Abyssal Warden to determine how Caedhule will mediate these blessed, tribal, and dragonkin clan disputes.”

  “That’s why the role is called a ‘warden.’” I realized.

  “It’s not efficient,” Mom criticized. “But their domain is so vast that I myself cannot understand how any country can manage such an ‘empire.’ Even if the majority of the land is completely independent from Caedhul, they all serve two individuals—Plesia and their patron god. They show their respect to the former through their fealty to the ideal behind Caedhul’s continued existence. That is why it isn’t a theocracy to the levianewts, merfolk, and nagas; thus, they name themselves a republic.”

  Complicated as hell.

  “Sooo… you all talked with the Abyssal Warden?” I asked, prompting Mom to nod.

  “She explained the republic’s current situation and even mentioned two of their troublemakers approaching rank SS levels, and she was ordered by a Plesia blessed to ‘wait until you announce the war.’ I presume Plesia planned it to coincide with Danterno’s own issues. Now, why exactly was this arranged in such a manner, I do not know, yet.” Mom shrugged. “Though Eltharion still agreed to the warden’s arrangement. If Fargryneill hadn’t informed us of her arrival, you would have still had your birthday festival. Not only could it act as an apology to you, but also since a festival will attract eyes. The recorder technology was advanced enough at that point that Forminaxtrass and I recommended its usage to him for a widespread information transfer.”

  I looked up to signal that I was asking Kramps about it, but he denied knowing the exact reason. “I knew of the triple Event Quest. Though why did it all have to be announced on the same day? Goddess Aurena did not reveal,” he told me before I relayed it to everybody.

  “Overwhelming the masses with so much information could have been done to either hide something or to delay another event,” Vifi chimed in. “Who the gods are trying to trick is a different question.”

  “And a question that doesn’t need to be answered,” Shay said, prompting Mom to agree.

  “We should focus on our immediate problems,” she stated. “Which is why I asked you to come into the subspace with me. We must talk about your next move.”

  “Precisely where you will stay.”

  Interrupted by a familiar man’s voice, all of us turned around to see Father enter the subspace with King Fugnarus, King Elutis, Renee, Forminaxtrass, and Yuilengreill. Tasianna, Shay, Beth, and Vifi all stood up and kneeled down, prompting Svena, Lorena, and Haati to do the same. Although they’d never met my draconic father before, they immediately understood from my friend’s behavior who it was.

  “Greetings, Fat—uhm, Your Majesty?” I greeted him with a short bow, prompting him to raise his hand.

  “You won’t join this official meeting, so you are not obligated to be formal. Rise, my daughter’s retainers. Hestia, please send away your maids,” he ordered, to which I obeyed. Once my maids were outside the room, Father let out a small sigh. “I want you to return to Frozen Nest before tomorrow.”

  “… Are you anticipating that I will be approached by people?”

  He nodded. “You should understand your own worth as a political tool at this point, so let me not waste our time on explaining why.”

  Frozen Nest and Sacred Nest were, without a doubt, supporting me for the succession process, regardless of my own feelings due to how the rules worked. If Kahalameet and Wendriosa, somehow, weren’t able to gain two nests’ worth of support, I could, potentially, be chosen as the next empress. A real “fuck you” moment, even if such a scenario had an, hopefully, abyssmally low chance to happen.

  “Stay on Frozen Nest until I pick you up for your [Battle Frenzy] training. We will be going to the dungeon for that, and as long as you are around one of your mothers or me, you shouldn’t face any harassment from nest denizens willing to sway you to support your siblings,” he elaborated. “In any case, politically, you have a loud voice in this succession process, so be aware of what you do and say, which is why staying on Frozen Nest for the foreseeable future will be in your best interest. Your mission with Wendriosa and Nongramos, after all, can be done remotely through your subspace.”

  “Though I am still stuck on the mainland due to my punishment…” Mom complained, prompting Forminaxtrass and Yuilengreill to chime in.

  “However, both of us will come with you,” the former started. “My son will have to settle his issues since our nest will want him to become the next emperor, but he will join us late on. After all, the digital media guild requires Dusk Nest’s support for the expansion of the information tower. I wish to work with them directly, while acting as a proper mother for you since Melloxtressa still has to help Gyadiosa.”

  “In my case, it will be for the continued support to find a cure for Raffarson’s,” the latter replied. “My daughter’s chance to garner support amongst the dragon ruler is practically zero, so my clan and I are the best candidates to protect you. Even if your life isn’t in danger, it would be best if we don’t chance anything with Frozen Nest’s timeless barrier destroyed. Your patient will come with us, of course.”

  It seemed I wouldn’t be very lonely, though…

  “Are all of you expecting that Frozen Nest will be attacked by Inferno Nest?” I asked, figuring that was what everybody meant. Yet, my parents all frowned as if to tell me that wasn’t it.

  “There is a second threat,” Mom finally answered, causing me to not only confirm my suspicion but feel like I was left out of the loop. There was a “second” threat? “Don’t worry about who it is for now. You will learn their name anyway once your siblings arrive on Lecullius.”

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  So, the threat is from Caedhul?

  “… Does this have anything to do with the recent attack on Frozen Nest?” I asked, prompting Mom to nod, confusing me even further as I realized that the attack on our fish farm was done for an even more ulterior motive.

  So, where does my doctor fit into this? The WWEE’s awakening and the destruction of our blizzard barrier were done for such an event. This Caedhulen Event Quest was known for a long time; you can’t tell me this doesn’t fit into all of this. Schei?e! It feels like I’ve been left in the damn dark after that entire raid!

  “Your siblings are currently arranging what is needed to stabilize the situation in our empire,” Father stated once my mothers finished talking. “The entire family will have to do what is needed to assure we pass through the chaotic phase. Once I explain everything to the nests and my dragon rulers, a full-blown civil war shouldn’t happen. Once the true dragonkin accept Loatryx’s position in this succession, then we will know actual peace for this democratic process. I suggest you follow in your siblings’ footsteps for this—perform a speech and explain your situation to all of them, including Sacred Nest. Invite—”

  “Invite that brat and his father,” Forminaxtrass interrupted Father with a fury-filled demand, explaining why she and Taim were actually coming to Frozen Nest. “Hestia, the moment you guessed his identity, you—”

  “I know, I’m sorry, Mother,” I said to appease her. “I know our past better now, so I can understand your grievances, but I’m not the sort of person to just chase somebody away like how you would want me to do it. When the time came, sure; your spies should have heard it. I’ll be careful while speaking with anybody from Sacred Nest, but I still have a duty as an idol to not be an ass to people.”

  “Haaa, then I’ll make sure that your retainers understand it.” She glanced over to the twins and Vifi, prompting the former two to nod with full confidence. “Though… four direct retainers are too few. Your fire wyverns and your maids cannot provide the type of protection your party can. I suggest you recruit more direct retainers.”

  “W-well, the others are on Altrust. I am still waiting for Saori and my other friends to speak. It’s been months…” I sighed, but Forminaxtrass only shook her head.

  “Even more reasons to expand your circle of confidants. Use your speech as a chance to recruit people from Frozen Nest to help you, dear. Even Fargryneill is already making her move to improve her standing with how majestic she was during her arena clash. You need more ice dragonkin supporters as an ice dragon princess.”

  Yeah, but where am I supposed to find somebody I can trust? It’s not easy.

  “Perfect segue,” Mom stated. “Hestia—or to be more precise—Hikari, it is time for you to finish my challenge.”

  I turned to her, frowning a bit as my memories went back to that extremely cold basement. “You want me to reach your roosting spot?”

  She nodded. “Hikari should be able to do it. I want you to go down there and read the letter I left behind there. If you manage to complete the trial, I will uphold what I told you back then—I will give you something from my belongings. I still have Kahalantheel’s materials in my subspace, don’t forget.”

  Rank SS materials!

  “Then I really—Huh?” I jolted my head up, noticing a foreign existence suddenly entering my subspace. Somebody I didn’t know, but it seemed… Virrflax permitted them to enter the [Room].

  Mom’s brows furrowed as she showed me an apologetic smile. “From the way you react, either Kargryxmor is speaking to you, or somebody just entered the subspace.”

  “Then it is time,” Father added. “Hestia, I apologize for not warning you. We have invited the Abyssal Warden into your subspace through Virrflax’s runes. King Drangleic will be arriving soon, hopefully. We will have to leave you out of the loop, despite you being this alliance’s actual leader, but let me help you in this matter for now. The future war between the Shakaie-Narn Alliance and the Empire of Folschreck, and also the three Event Quests are topics that I must participate in.”

  “I… feels like you’re taking some control away from me,” I complained, sighing. “I want a full report, Father. The Shakaie-Narn Alliance was made under my name, not yours. Loatryx is included in it, but not Kargryx. I want you to remember that.”

  “Being possessive is normal for a dragonkin, so do not worry. For now, worry about your safety and how you will pass your mother’s trial. Finish it before I arrive, daughter.” He said before he left the room, leading King Fugnarus, King Elutis, and Renee forward.

  “I’ll make sure to give you my own report, princess,” King Fugnarus stated, followed by the other two before they left the room.

  Haaa, the world is turning without me… I complained, even if the old me probably would have loved to avoid political situations like these. Yet, accepting my role in Frozen Nest seemed to have made me slightly envious of Father doing what I should be doing.

  “We should be leaving as well. We have to prepare to transport whatever we need over to Frozen Nest. See you there tomorrow, dear,” Forminaxtrass and Yuilengreill said before they left as well, leaving the subspace room in peace once again.

  Once the tension dropped, I slumped on the table before Mom patted me on the back and stroked my tail with hers. “You had your ‘vacation.’”

  “Not funny…” I complained. “This is a real nightmare. Caedhul and Kargryx are experiencing their respective civil problems, and it’s all about to collide into each other into a real draconic conflict. Not to mention, it seems nobody has any intel on the Shiterno Quest, so I don’t even know what the heck is going on with my fri—”

  “Bladdarg, we don’t appear for a few months, and you’re already treating us as dead, lass?”

  I snapped my head up, eyes ready to tear up when I saw a familiar silhouette slowly walk into the room through one of the doors. He waved at us in his casual wear, still clean as he hasn’t started doing any smithing for the day just yet. His orange beard was longer than ever, having reached the same length it was when we first met, only that he was putting in more effort to maintain it, creating knots and braids to keep it groomed and clean.

  “Been—”

  “GRIMNIR!”I shouted before pouncing at him.

  “Gla—WAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHH!” Grimnir roared as I tackled him to the ground to hug him, causing him to, randomly, yell as if he was being eaten by a lion. “Arrgk! Your horns—Owch, my ear!”

  “Where the hell have you and others been!” I whined, ignoring the fact that by rubbing my face against his, my horns were probably slamming against his head at this point. Even if his ram horns were tough, I think my strength was still a bit higher than his.

  When I finally stopped my embrace and got off him to sit on the ground, I looked around, unable to see the others. Only Grimnir was here.

  “The others sent me ahead to notify you,” Grimnir said as Shay helped him stand up. “Haaa, looking like that makes it hard to continue, lass. Come on, smile a bit more.”

  “I am after I stopped myself from tearing up! Dude, you’ve been away for too long!” I complained, finally calming down. “You looked stronger. Long beard fits you, but I still like your shorter one.”

  “Ha, you’ll never see me with that bladdarg beard again if I can help it, lass.” Grimnir bellowed as he looked up, greeting Tasianna, Mother, Beth, and Vifi with a wide smile before he turned back to me. “You probably should’ve realized it by now, but Saori evolved into a rank A. She’s finally an ‘adult,’ you can say. And, well, I think the entire world should have seen those Event Quests.”

  I nodded, understanding where this was starting to go and why Grimnir suddenly appeared.

  “The reason why the other lasses aren’t with me is that we decided to split up. After we found that demon in that fire-freezing cold, Ellaine traveled to Yorshka and Saori’s students to deal with the empire slowly creeping towards those demonic dungeons, while I went back to Ankor-Nazta with Haruka and Daichi. We got a supplier for the ingredients for rhytilic alloy now, lass. I can start finalizing your armor,” he said, causing Vifi and me to clap. Both of us couldn’t help but cheer at the thought of gaining a full set of armor. “Which is why the three of us are now fully committing to getting our equipment sorted. Haruka got your back with the recorder, while Daichi and I will be ready to take your commissions.”

  “Brilliant,” Mom called from her table, sipping on her tea. “Then I hope you’ve leveled up enough, because my daughter will need to work with rank A and maybe S materials soon.”

  “Is that even a question? I already made plans the moment we separated in Aureolis!” Grimnir shouted, proud as ever. “Have to rebuild an entire hammer, though—two, in fact, if I want to work with ice-aligned material. Invest in me, and I will pay you back.”

  I nodded. “Just like at the start.”

  “Like we agreed when I swore fealty to you, lass,” Grimnir smiled, though his smile waned after a while. “So that’s my plan. The three of us planned to sail to Miononbolax, but… considering what is happening, I think I’ll stay in Inkoran-Tazul. Rather not risk those fish, and I don’t think it is too wise to get in between the dragons at this point. Haruka ain’t gonna enjoy it.”

  “Agreed,” Mom chimed in, and I had to agree, considering what everybody alluded to about the two threats aiming for Frozen Nest or me. “Keep the runes somewhere safe, like inside King Fugnarus’s citadel, and use the subspace as proper lodgings. Or, maybe call in your favors with the railroad guild, if you wish to be closer to the city.”

  “Exactly what I thought, Empress,” Grimnir said. “In any case, that part is settled for us. Now, concerning our wolf. Well, Saori got quite invested in the current church of Danterno issue before I left on a train. Didn’t expect it to explode like this, but… I think you can agree once you see this. The Danterno followers loyal to this ‘dissenter’ faction made a whole sketch of their leader to promote themselves and how the current ‘church of Danterno goes against what Danterno truly wants.’”

  I took the parchment from him, opening the scroll before staring at an… arvisian man? It was sketched with a charcoal pen, so I couldn’t really see what his hair color was. Though it was medium-length, going down to his shoulders like how I used to wear my hair before my dragonewt form turned 18. His face was a bit feminine, with how his jaw and cheekbones were arranged, but his neck was pretty thick, far too thick for a woman’s.

  I raised a brow, feeling a bit weird that a pretty boy managed to attract the attention of the one church I never wanted to interact with, again. Then again, beauty was an incredibly powerful tool for charisma. I myself was using my own looks to sell my more lovey-dovey songs, after all, so who was I to say?

  “… Why does this person look like you, Lady Hestia?” Tasianna suddenly asked, prompting me to turn to her in confusion and attracting Shay, Beth, and Vifi.

  “He looks nothing like me.”

  “Disagree. This sketch looks like a male version of you when we met in Elyonda, Donut,” Vifi chimed in, frowning just as much as I was.

  “I concur…” Shay growled, although he looked slightly perturbed about how he should feel about it. His sister had the same reaction.

  Hearing all of this, Mom came over, widened her eyes as she looked closer. “… I have an alibi.”

  “Of course, you do! Stop saying weird things, Mom!” I shouted, only to turn back to the parchment in bafflement; however, before I could finish my thought process, Grimnir finally spoke up.

  “Afraid it’s exactly what they said, lass. Saw him with my own eyes. Red-hued feathers that burn like those burning eagles you could find in the magma chambers of Cedaraille’s dungeon. A pretty tall, muscular arvisian who was more intimidating in his full arvisian form, until he showed his ability to transform into a human with [Humanize]. Nobody knows if he is a disguised monster bird, or just an arvisian who likes to have bare skin, but all I can say is that he has a striking resemblance to you…” Grimnir turned silent as my jaw fell. “Well, that’s why Saori stayed behind. She’s investigating that stuff when the Event Quest happened.”

  … Something told me the universe was playing a joke on me. Gel’Glariri… or the Origin Gods. Somebody was playing a fucking sick joke on me. I wanted to stay away from those Shiterno cultists as much as possible, but now a man with a resemblance to my face suddenly appeared in Carmaniate, almost as if to tell me that I should get my ass over there right now.

  I ripped the parchment apart before turning it into ash to dump it into the toilet for our toilet slimes to eat the rest.

  Shiiiiiterrrrrnoooooooooooo!

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