News of Neill’s return to Kargryx arrived on the 20th of HarvestFest. Delivered through a wyvern when Neill and her entourage notified Loatryx of their intent to return to the empire’s mainland, preparations had been underway for six days now. True dragonkin traveling on their adulthood pilgrimage were obligated to report their wish to return to Kargryx to the Loatryxian colony on Altrust. It was so the officials could ensure the young scale had fulfilled their objectives, and if they had learned anything on their travels.

  In addition, it also served as a warning for their families so they would have enough time to get a return party ready. After all, an adulthood pilgrimage would last years to finish for most, while some would never return, either due to death or some other reason. Any good parents would naturally become nervous at this possibility, so a welcome feast was normal and part of our traditions.

  In a way, it paralleled mandatory military service. Just a bit more extreme since it required actual combat experience. Which wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary with Kargryx’s “culture of power” and reliance on hunting large monsters to level up. Many young dragonkin had the confidence of the world since they knew how to hunt. With this eagerness,

  As such, when it came to the return of the child of an important clan, it could practically be considered a holiday. Rhekk’s return, for example, was celebrated for three days straight. The first day was a grand feast with plenty of music and entertainment, the second was a showcase of his martial prowess and what his rank B form could do, and the last day was dedicated to the glory of the Thalaxarus clan and his acquisition of personal retainers.

  In the case of an imperial member, the number of festive days was decided to be five since Kahalameet’s return from his pilgrimage. These five days would be dedicated to Neill once she came back, while my two-day birthday celebration would immediately follow afterward.

  Held in Coral Beard, guests from outside Kargryx were welcomed to join the festivals, although the invitation generally didn’t extend to humans, demonkin, and the beastmen of Carmaniate. After all, the main visitors were our political allies in the elves and dwarves, and our usually amicable trade partner in Caedhul.

  Though, for the first time since… I didn’t ask when the last time an important personage from a human country came to visit Kargryx. Honestly, it didn’t really matter that much to me. This portion of history was just that—history. Outside my personal guest, Neill had brought one with her as well.

  “I can see the ship,” a loud voice boomed from below me, shaking me as if I was standing on top of an earthquake.

  I looked down, scowling a bit as I stared at the giant eyeball attached to this obsidian-scaled dragon-drake. “Phso, you’re humanongous. That doesn’t tell us anything. Are they multiple bells away, or just a few? The whole party could begin during the evening.”

  Although I was in my dragon form, my size was insignificant compared to my siblings. I could comfortably ride on the backs of the majority, while Phso and Ryra were both so titanic that I could sit on top of their heads, and they wouldn’t even mind it. Heh, frankly, it looked pretty comical when I sat on Mom’s head like a capybara sitting on top of a croc’s back, and it sure felt the same when Phso offered to give me a spot on “the highest seat” around. It felt like I was sitting on a mountain.

  “Let him feel excited, Hestia! It might just have been a year since you met our second youngest, but it has been years for all of us! Considering her personality, you can imagine how worried we were for her safety,” Wendriosa replied, flying around in the sky as clouds gathered around her limbs, keeping her afloat even though she didn’t have any wings.

  “Have my words not soothed your worries, dear sister?” Flying next to her was Kahalameet, also having assumed his dragon-leviathan form, floating alongside her on a bed of clouds. “Our second youngest has done phenomenally. She has mastered her [Battle Frenzy] and has matured, like all of us did during our pilgrimage. Even if she isn’t here yet, I cannot help but feel absolute pride in her.”

  Haa, seeing the black-red scaled Kahalameet and the azure-scaled Wendriosa flying together in the sky would have probably unnerved me in the past. Yet, the two of them were speaking so comfortably now. That bad atmosphere between them when I first met them inside Eltharion’s palace was gone. Was it ‘cause of Neill, or was it due to those rumors I heard Rhekk mention?

  Regardless, I didn’t need to think too hard about it. Just having the family together was all that mattered.

  “It has been a long time since our family had been together,” Nong added as his four mighty wings beat the air, letting him zoom around like an impatient fly. “Our family has grown by one since Fargryneill left, and now we can celebrate together once again! Only this time, with our little scamp!”

  “Father did promise to eat with us for the first time since his soul started to degrade,” the black lich dragon, Taim, said, lazily lounging on the ground. “Haa, it will be noisy. With all the other clans using this time to celebrate and plan ahead for the succession crisis, our enjoyment will feel ephemeral. The silence before the storm, orchestrated by our second youngest’s return.”

  Taim, please… I know you don’t want to enjoy the party, but don’t be a downer.

  “Ephemeral or not, let us still enjoy it, Brother. Fargryneill will most likely expect a grand reception from us, and we should fulfill her expectations as her older siblings,” Nong chastised Taim, causing the lich dragon to raise his skeleton head.

  “We can agree with that. I am… curious how her rank-A form would look. Has she finally accepted that her dragon-kirin form is just as beautiful as ours, or is that part of hers still the same before she ventured on her pilgrimage?”

  No need to fear that, Taim. Neill will show you guys how much she’s grown, I thought, keeping that part to myself.

  “Verily!” Phso’s voice boomed like an explosion. “Speaking of which, with Fargryneill’s return, our number can now be easily divided. ‘The Four Eldest’ and ‘The Four Youngest.’ Ryranakus, I expect you to spend some time with Fargryneill, yes?”

  Ryra, still timid as always, nodded, despite looking like one of the most intimidating dragons around with his gold-black scales. “She has always been more confrontational. She will most likely start the talks herself if Brother Nongramos doesn’t initiate them first.”

  “Ahh, don’t be so nervous, Ryra! You really don’t have to fear anything. She didn’t talk much about you when we first met, but she also never said anything bad either. It’s a good chance for you to remedy the fact that you couldn’t act as an older brother,” I said to soothe him. “You did a fine job with me. You can fool people with that shy look of yours, but you’re braver than most people I’ve met.”

  “Hear it well, young brother!” Phso shouted in agreement, patting his younger brother’s back with pride. “If you have the confidence to challenge a rank S dragon ruler, then you will have no issue facing Fargryneill. You finished your pilgrimage and have mastered your [Battle Frenzy] like all of us. I do not need to repeat myself, do I?”

  Ryra sighed, breathing out some fire. “I will not fail then.”

  “Good!”

  If it hadn’t been clear enough yet, I was currently playing around with my half-siblings. After dealing with some more work on Frozen Nest to prepare for my concert, my party and a few members of the digital media guild and ice dragonkin clans traveled to Coral Beard to attend Neill’s return. Arriving today, I was quickly greeted by my siblings, and we’ve been waiting around on the outskirts of Coral Beard since then, patiently waiting for Neill’s ship to arrive.

  Our mothers weren’t around, and neither was our father, although considering what Taim said, we would most likely meet each other later on. Most likely in our humanoid forms in the Kargryxmor clan’s mansion. I’ve seen everybody’s dragonewt form already outside Eltharion, so the collection would be fulfilled tonight.

  Just as we knew that Neill would arrive today, so did the rest of the empire. As such, Coral Beard was exploding with jubilation! The streets were filled with vendors, with elven, dwarven, levianewt, and merfolk merchants doing their best to sell as much as they could before the festival ended. It might be a seven-day celebration, but merchant ships were arriving every other bell to sell their goods. The competition was too high to waste even a moment.

  Diplomatically, our allies had sent their representative, similar to how the Shakaie-Narn Alliance’s first summit gathered the representatives of the alliance members before the day of the conference. I wasn’t sure if High King Fugnarus or King Elutis of Saelariel would visit us, but it would be fun to meet them again in person.

  Furthermore, concerning the former, I also had to ask for his opinion on something after we used his cannons and artificers to create that flying armada. The survivors of the battle had already sailed back to Altrust with their equipment and possessions, so I wasn’t able to ask them.

  “Hmm. If Phsothophus and Ryranakus can see the ship, and I cannot, then it seems we might have some time on our claws.” Wendriosa drew her head towards me, lowering herself until we were eye-to-eye. “How about it? Let’s have some fun in the city? Kel’Thun and Saelariel might be both elven, but they differ from each other as much as the Miononbolax Loatryx and the Altrust colony. How about?”

  “Sounds good!” I cheered, although I quickly remembered why us siblings were here in the first place. “But… your mom told us not to cause any trouble, right? Levianewts and humanized leviathans and adamantoises will be in the city. Won’t we get into trouble, especially since your faction is still aiming to draw me and Frozen Nest onto your side.”

  “That is why he will come with us.” Wendriosa nudged her head up to point at Kahalameet, drawing his attention.

  “… I do not think I am a suitable companion for such a trip.”

  “He’s right about that, elder sister!” Nong burst into laughter. “At least Brother Phsothophus knows how to smile, even if he looks just as intimidating as Brother Kahalameet. Even if a vendor cannot identify one of us as a Kargryxmor member due to our scales, anybody can recognize Kahalameet, or at least, identify that they are a prominent member of the clan.”

  “We won’t be as easily recognized,” I added. “Both of you have tints of black, but your humanoid forms are relatively colorful, and this isn’t mentioning how I lack all signs of a Kargryxmor outside my scent. But, like, that won’t stop things from getting out of hand if it does, though.”

  “Which is why we need our eldest with us,” Wendriosa stated. “Come, eldest brother. Taimatrak doesn’t look like he will come with us. Brother Phsothophus. Ryranakus. Will you two accompany us?”

  “I’d rather stick outside the walls…” Ryra said with a loud sigh, lying down next to Taim as both of them started lazing away, causing Phso to chuckle.

  “If we are supposed to not cause any trouble, then it would be better for me to stick with them until our second-youngest returns. Go. You as well, eldest. Have some fun and show Hestia around. It has been a while since all seven of us have been in the same area together, so let us make sure to use these next seven days well. For the sake of the changes, we should assure the public that the entire imperial family is behind the idea.”

  “Plan?” I voiced, causing everybody to start looking at me, before Kahalemeet descended to the ground and told me to get onto him.

  Once I did, he said, “You will learn about it once it is time for Father to announce it. Come. Phsothophus is right. We ought to display an image of unity.”

  “Well said.” Wendriosa nodded before the four of us flew towards Coral Beard. Well, I flew on the Kahalameet Airlines… which certainly would get five stars out of five for how comfortable it was.

  <[Humanize (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>

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  Landing right outside the gates, the four of us assumed our dragonewt forms before we flew past the walls and towards the sky city floating above the grounded one. However, I asked my three siblings if we could visit the lower city streets, mentioning how, during a festival, if you wanted a more authentic opinion on how your people felt about the current situation of the city, it would be best to mingle amongst them.

  The sky city had an abundance of shops catered towards the rich and influential, as it acted as a dragonkin city’s noble district. Sure, we could enjoy ourselves here, and our mansion was close by for us to rest at, but all we would find at the sky city was just a bunch of older dragonkin being all posh and stuff. All the international merchants and our people from every other Nest were walking in the lower city, so that should be the place we should go to.

  After presenting my opinion, the other three agreed, and we descended onto a rooftop. My siblings reformed their scaled clothes, using [Scale Manipulation] to change their outfits to something more casual. And by casual, I meant yukatas and kimonos. Beautiful and stylish, without being too conspicuous, as most dragonewts wear one.

  Copying how they controlled their scales, I took off my jacket and white mage robe and weaved my molted scales into a long dress as a foundation before activating [Battle Frenzy] for just a moment. Once my crimson scales started to show tints of white, I shed them to add to my dress, creating a red and white summer dress with them. Although it was autumn, Coral Beard was still warm.

  “This is the best I can do right now, hehe,” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed that I still couldn’t create more complicated outfits with detailed patterns and designs like my siblings could.

  “Nonsense. It looks beautiful on you, and that is what matters, no? Even if your [Scale Manipulation] is high leveled, if you do not practice your craft, it is like a seamstress having [Sewing Lv. 10] but the fashion sense of a dull hermit. Your progress shows with how you’re even using [Battle Frenzy] to give your outfits a little more ‘you!’” Wendriosa smiled, patting me on the back. “All right! Off we go! Don’t worry about the money, and buy lots! Let’s have some fun!”

  Figuratively melting into the crowd, the four of us started browsing through the various street vendors, trying to act as normal as possible. Wendriosa and Nong were pretty good with it, knowing how to act nonchalant but polite, whenever somebody recognized us. They could defuse the situation, especially whenever Kahalameet caught the attention of the fire dragonkin and dragoons by merely existing, making it smooth sailing for us.

  “The prince and the princess? Together? It looks like the rumors were real.”

  “Prince Nongramos is always there and everywhere, but seeing those three together with our youngest princess is a surprise. Heard my egg siblings say that Princess Hestia had visited Sacred Nest, so are Frozen and Sacred Nest on… one of their sides?”

  “Tail down, you idiot. They can hear us well enough. Not to mention, it doesn’t make any sense if Princess Hestia was taken in by one of them. Heard from the Frozen Nest sailors about this huge declaration about how she won’t run as or support a candidate. Neutral to the end.”

  Ignore, ignore, and ignore. People would always speak. Rumors were rumors, and you couldn’t stop it once it started. You had to show something contradictory or something more sensational to drown out any false rumors.

  “These are apples grown on Kel’Thun. Perfectly scrumptious, and the caramelized sugar is a feast to your taste buds! You can really taste mana inside the juices,” Wendriosa said as she handed me a caramelized apple on a stick, before taking a big bite like a glutton.

  Nong agreed as he swallowed his apple. “Ha, and nothing beats some Altrustian pork with some elven forest-grown fruits. They can fatten them up far better than our farm animals. But, no matter how much they try, even Folschreck can’t produce leather and fur as fine as ours. The deluge of mana makes our livestock produce material for extremely strong clothing, instead of prime meat.”

  “What? Nonsense. Yeos had an amazing port, but you can’t get better fish than on Frozen Nest,” I argued, prompting Kahalameet to grunt in agreement.

  “I will defer to you, younger brother, when it comes to anything involving Folschreck, as I haven’t visited them since my pilgrimage, but when it comes to prime fish, even Caedhul’s fish farms cannot compete. Lord Karydrinos is the finest fishmonger in the world, and it is not even a competition.”

  If cows, chickens, and goats counted as farm animals, then to us, Frozen Nest dragonkin, our fish farms were just as important. It was our pride, and I would defend Uncle Kary’s honor from afar.

  “Then you haven’t fully visited Caedhul, Prince!”

  Yet, this small moment of praising was immediately pounced upon by a couple of levianewts. Their serpentine body shapes were noticeable from my two dragon-leviathan half-siblings, especially with their more pronounced fins, whiskers, and shimmering fish scales.

  Three of them approached us, with one of them smirking as they presented us with a polished limestone box. “The children of Lady Gyadiosa mustn’t be ignorant to actual culinary mastery of fish. Even if Frozen Nest may produce seafood that can compete with Caedhul’s quality, knowing how to prepare the meat is more important if we talk about the best of the best!”

  “A packaged lunch it might be for us, but we have to defend our own honor when a dragon is called the ‘best fishmonger of the world.’ A fishmonger must know how to prepare what he catches!” Another levianewt said before they opened the box, revealing a dish made from rice, seaweed, and an abundance of aquatic meat glistening with a mouthwatering sauce.

  And the taste surely didn’t disappoint when the four of us tasted it, after we appraised the food to make sure it wasn’t poisoned. The citrus taste was refreshing, hiding the more pungent, fishy taste of the sauce. The rice did a phenomenal job of absorbing most of the greasiness as well, keeping our mouths wanting for more, and enjoying it enough that we accidentally ate up all of this poor guy’s “lunch.”

  “Exquisite! … Though, I presume this is more than just a small offering to change our opinions, no?” Wendriosa stated as she licked her lips clean. “Out with it. Who are you promoting?”

  “You are wise beyond your years, Princess Wendriosa!”

  This meeting wasn’t just a normal coincidence. Word of us has traveled throughout the city now, and people were swarming around us to find a good moment to promote their business to us. Like a celebrity visiting a brand shop to increase sales, having an imperial member visit your stall would inevitably create a “follow along” mentality amongst the crowd.

  And, since we were all true dragonkin, our hunger and appetite were near unending. When Wendriosa said we should “spend lots,” she really meant it. We were about to have a foodie trip with restaurant promoters coming towards us to have us sample some of their food.

  It also gave me a quick taste of how the different cultures joining this festival would prepare their food. Aside from the international visitors, we also had Marsh Nest serve us more earthy, herbal dishes that were so fragrant that the smell alone was addicting enough. Dusk Nest were big fans of fermented food and cheese types, although my body was fiercely rejecting me from eating anything with how the food carried so much dark mana in them.

  “You just have to try the chuckie breasts, little scamp! Storm Nest might not have the best culinary craft amongst our many nests, but nobody can beat us when it comes to the quality of our free-flying poultry. It might be a bit tough for a human’s jaw, but you can feel the spice explosion inside the meat’s juice once your fangs bite in!” Nong declared as we visited a stall from a Storm Nest dragonewt.

  Experiencing food was already amazing, but what brought the experience even higher was when my siblings started describing their preferred cuisine with passion. Their vivid descriptions sold me, even if some stalls couldn’t pass my expectations. Still, watching my siblings enjoy their favorite dishes and food made me glad that this festival existed.

  Noticing the difference between Saelari and Kel’Thun elves might be interesting, but it was a mere side note compared to how the two cultures prepared their meals. Food really was the grand equalizer. The catalyst for a perfect melting pot of cultures and backgrounds.

  Ah, but as a musician, I really shouldn’t just focus on the foodie talk. Instrumental, bardic tales, and even vocal performances like throat singing enriched the bustling city. It felt like every corner had a small group of people surrounding a band, drinking and eating as they listened to them. Oh, how much I wanted to join them, but my time would come later. For now, the stage should belong to the street performers.

  Eventually, we would end up at the harbor, watching as a queue of ships tried to enter the ports. While the majority of them were bringing in tourists and nest dwellers, who preferred traveling on a coastal ship over traveling the more treacherous land of Miononbolax, there were also cargo and merchant ships that were supplying the various merchant stalls who settled down for the festival.

  In the middle of Coral Beard’s lagoon, there was also a single boulder floating above it. Reinforced by the same levitational runes that allowed the sky city to float above the lower city, that place was currently prepared to become my concert stage.

  When I read that my father requested an idol performance from me, and to be one of the main events of the festival, I thought it would be a bit simpler since I knew how he thought of me, but I guess he had no plans on skimping on cost or extravagance when it came to Neill’s return party. Considering I was performing in the middle of the lagoon, that meant people from the harbor and in the sky city could watch me. Not to mention, if I could control the altitude of the floating rock, I could probably fly on it like my floating idol stage during my Ankor-Nazta performance.

  Aside from this grand stage, I was also assigned a bunch of bodyguards to keep the peace and to prevent any potential attacks. Vifi, my wyvern retainers, and my clan’s dragoons—Nordor and Kargryxmor—were all occupied with planning my safety protocol. That was why they weren’t enjoying the festival with me. A bit tragic with how amazing everything had been, but if the youngest princess somehow got assassinated… yeah, I could understand why people would want to bolster security. Mom probably had a hand in it.

  Though even if somebody wanted to kill me, doing it now when a buncha rank-S and two rank-SS had their eyes on me was beyond foolish. The success rate wasn’t low due to my security personnel; it was low due to Mom and Nong’s mother.

  In any case, I didn’t come to the harbor to simply watch my concert stage being built. No, the harbor was probably the most populated spot if you only considered food stalls. All those people recommending us their restaurants and eateries led us here, and the four of us certainly wouldn’t let this chance pass us by. A normal girl would never be able to consume everything here, but as a dragon, my greed spoke to me. “Consume all delicious food, young Hestia!” it commanded!

  ‘… Your thoughts are starting to resemble the ramblings of a drunkard. Can it with the cringe talk,’ Hikari chastised me, but I would never allow such words to stop me! How often did I have to give up on eating a specific dish back on Earth, simply ‘cause I had to watch my weight?

  Freedom. This was freedom. No matter how much I ate, I wouldn’t have any issues with my weight unless I remained a desk jockey for the rest of my life.

  “Uurrgh, this blessing is a good reason to continue our training without fail,” Kahalameet said with a content smile as we left our ninth restaurant after ordering enough to feed two four-headed families. “I haven’t eaten anything from Ankor-Nazta in two years, I believe. What a delight it is to enjoy their simple, but heart-warming delights.”

  “Haha, we’ll stick around for two more days! Come back, dear prince!” the dwarven chef and owner expressed after we paid for the food. Truly, it didn’t matter what our rank was, the dwarves’ frank nature was a welcome sight amongst everybody bowing or thanking us to the point I could imagine their jaw falling off.

  “Frankly, dear older brother, you must spend more time with them instead of all your training. Flying from Miononbolax to Altrust to visit Loatryx’s dragoon order should give you enough of a chance and reason to enjoy yourself more,” Nong said, patting Kahalameet’s back. “The pink petals showers we cannot enjoy on Miononbolax should be indulged on Altrust. Little scamp, once you get permission from Father, we should visit the colony during springtime. The petal shower is beautiful.”

  “What do you mean by permission? It’s still two more years until I can leave, and even if I ask him, considering how I still have to report to him what happened during the expedition.” I shrugged, feeling a bit nervous now at the fact that I would meet Father. Our last meeting still haunted me with how much he despised my existence. “Speaking of which, what about your side, Nong? My doctor, I mean.”

  “He’s been found,” Nong growled, his cheery mood disappearing in an instant as bloodlust started to exude from his eyes. “Though Mother and Empress-Mother Gyadiosa told me to wait for my time. The elf will be hunted down, though. Whether he escaped and seeks refuge with his allies, nothing will stop me from giving him death.”

  Brrr…

  “It is as your brother said,” Wendriosa chimed in, her mood equally dark. “No fool is allowed to threaten Kargryx’s peace. The ones who attacked Frozen Nest will face consequences as well. You do not need to worry about that, little sister.”

  I already knew that Nong supported Wendriosa as the heir apparent, but the two shared the same opinion on how to treat enemies. Although, Wendriosa was definitely the calmer of the two as she could refrain from scowling. Nong looked like he was ready to rip somebody’s throat out, if Kahalameet hadn’t placed his hand on the former’s shoulder.

  “Everything will have its time. Yet, this is not the time for such talk when we must regale our people and guests with joy, as Kargryx’s princes and princesses,” he said. “We are lucky none have noticed your fangs, Nongramos.”

  Instead of reciprocating the kindness, Nong knocked Kahalameet’s hand off him. “If not for rules, laws, and contracts, our enemies would know to fear Kargryx even in this age, with an aging emperor. To remind all why we dragons rule the skies and why drakes lord over the land. An ally we thought we had made peace with dares to covet what lies beyond their reach. Who dares to break the unity between us siblings with guile and sabotage, acting below what their pride should prevent them from resorting to?”

  “Must we—”

  “G-guys, please!” I stopped both of them, standing in between them to draw their attention to me. “I’m sorry for speaking up. Please, can we just forget what I had asked and just continue having fun?”

  My three older siblings watched me as I shuffled through them and the crowd, waving my hand to hurry them up to follow me, causing the three to sigh before nodding. Although, I said we should have fun, the three of them didn’t seem too enthusiastic about continuing our restaurant trip, so I decided that we should enjoy the sight of the lagoon from the sky city, as the sky was starting to turn orange. Understanding what I meant, they didn’t protest and followed along.

  Fucking hell! Me and my mouth. Ahhhhhhh!

  Once again, my curiosity backfired. This was a time to just shut up and enjoy the festival, not question them about something this sensitive. Though… even if I should have maybe thought of this, their response was far more explosive than I could have ever imagined. Kahalameet and Wendriosa were getting along just fine. Our family outing was going just fine, so why—

  “Neiiiiiiiigh!”

  I shot my head up as I heard that horse-like neighing reverberating throughout the city. That was the signal from the Gueillxar clan—Neill’s maternal family. The four of us turned to the sea, seeing a ship pass the island country of Kel’Thun, entering Coral Beard’s lagoon.

  Neill had finally arrived back home!

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