Chapter 505: Wyvern Loyalty.

Chapter 505: Wyvern Loyalty.

I could feel their aurae. The twin wyverns Mom took under her wings as her retainers were ready to fight. The lung-burning air of these magma cavern tunnels was slowly disappearing under the power of icy white mists exuding out of the twins’ bodies like the opening of an ice cooler.

My initial thought was that this was a mere joke, or perhaps some kind of intimidation towards some fire wyverns. Shay was usually quite dutiful and conservative, always keeping a frown on his face when he was nervous or whenever he had to keep a watch over his highly-energetic younger twin sister. I did remember a few times when he was aggressive and angered, but it was usually in a defensive manner.

During our first meeting, he used his body to save his sister’s life from my lightning spells, and despite my mistake, he didn’t really condemn me for it. Sure, back then, his former boss Asterios kept him on a tight leash, and it didn’t help that wyverns have this toxic mentality that they had to serve true dragonkin with respect, but it did make me feel sympathetic towards the wyverns.

I guess that was when our “relationship” began. I felt guilty for hurting them when they were trying to not kill their supposed escortee. I felt flabbergasted when we reunited in Griffonpeak, only this time, they were serving under Mom. After some months together, the awkwardness disappeared, but I still couldn’t say that I was close to either of them, unlike with my party or with the students, or even Master Kush and the saurians.

To me, they were still “friendly acquaintances.” I would consider ourselves friends, aside from our relationship as their liege’s child and them being my mother’s retainers, but it was the sorta respectful and inclusive type of friendship you would make inside a forum or chat room over an interest or experience.

... Which could explain why their loyalty hadn’t resulted in them acquiring [Hestia’s Imperial Guard], unlike Tasianna. They were working under Mom’s orders to keep me safe and we weren’t close enough. Then again, the requirements for the title was still a total mystery to me, since Saori, my best friend and first party member, hadn’t received it either.

... So, why are they acting like this?

Why were the twins acting so hostile towards these fire wyverns after they asked to serve me? Was there something suspicious about them?

[“Uh, you can deal with this,”] Ryra said to quickly escape from the situation, charging deeper into the tunnel with a floating earth discus. [“I’ll wait for you at the entrance!”]

You damn brat ...

Unlike Neill, who was the best big sister ever, Ryra was a sorry excuse for an older brother ... I believe I was starting to understand why some people were saying how having siblings wasn’t always sunshine and sparkles.

In any case, I should—

[“Donut, let’s let this develop, first,”] Vifi stopped me.

Turning on [Telepathy], I said, [“Why? This looks like it will escalate into a fight.”]

[“It will, but I don’t think this is the time for you to intervene. Sometimes you have to get involved and those words will change the outcome, but I also know you have to know when to do that. Not everything said will always be helpful, right?”] Vifi explained. [“Trust them like you do with the rest of Aurora. Trust them like how you did me. This conflict is theirs alone to solve; your job is to encourage them afterwards, General.”]

Hearing Vifi seriously shoot my planned intervention down gave me some whiplash. I knew I shouldn’t always interrupt my friends from dealing with their own business, but this felt like something I should contribute to. Six wyverns versus two? Each side was weak to each other, so a fight erupting from this would be an issue for both sides.

‘Four rank B and two rank C,’ Hikari reported. ‘I know they’re training under Mom, but this feels a bit one-sided.’

Yeah, let’s just hope for no fight.

I have chosen the third choice—silence.

“Krrgh? Kiiesha—” The leading wyvern, the one who prompted the proposal to join me as a retainer, was growling in Draconic, only for Shay to interrupt him.

[“Speak with telepathy. If you wish for Princess Hestia to become your lady, you speak so she may understand!”]

Thank you, Shay.

With how weak my grasp of Draconic still is, it would be best to convey everybody’s words through their minds to avoid misunderstandings.

[“Ahem, I apologize, Princess Hestia,”] the spoken wyvern bowed his head. [“Please, allow me to speak with your guards. It seems I may have caused a misunderstanding.”]

[“Your name?”]

[“I am a no-name, your highness. Like the rest here. Like the many master-less wyverns,”] he said. [“However, all six of us have been training under faithful wyverns who have served clan Kargryxmor and the many other fire dragon clans of Inferno Nest since the beginning of Emperor Eltharion’s rule.”]

No-names? Right, right, the wyverns did express excitement about their names. As well as Asterios.

[“We may only be fledglings compared to dragons, but we have the ability to protect you from most threats on Miononbolax, your highness. We can adapt and survive on Frozen Nest, as well! Allow us to show you our potential as guards!”] he pleaded.

Huh? Wait, this isn’t that bad. Some extra help here wouldn’t hurt anybody.

Yet, the moment I thought of this, Vifi spoke to me, [“There is a procedure to decide on the next Warbringer whenever one dies or steps down. The Prince of Wrath—who generally becomes Bole’Taria’s supreme commander—may decide on candidates and, ultimately, is the sole person with the right to promote someone to become a Warbringer. Yet, it is expected of them to ask their other Warbringers for their opinion if the candidate will contribute and synergize with the rest of them.”]

[“What are you trying to say?”]

[“This is similar to how you invited me into your party despite your party’s begrudging acceptance. You have the ultimate deciding vote, but my inclusion still made people like Tatsuya and Nishio uncomfortable. Now, I personally think their opinions don’t matter a bit compared to yours, but I know you think differently,”] she explained. [“These wyverns are not here to become part of your party, though they are here as potential imperial guard candidates. They are here to become your retainers. Aurora serves as your imperial guards, all things considered, and four of them aren’t here. I am, and I wish to voice my opinion as to how you should conduct yourself here, if I am allowed to be so bold, General.”]

[“And this ties together with what you told me just now, right?”]

[“Astute, General. To know when to put on your different personas is something I admire about you; you know when to switch from your bubbly self to your princess side, yet you still hold onto your core values. Something I still find hard,”] she mumbled that last part, a neat trick when we’re speaking telepathically, although I disagreed with her there. [“Every person has some sort of pride in them, whether a hobby or responsibility. To slight this would cause an emotional response. I believe it is paramount for Shayatierus and Bethlieranha to solve this situation. Even if they are your mother’s retainers, they are assigned to be your guards. There must be some wyvern-specific cultural thinking we are not aware of which I believe you should watch first before speaking your mind. ”]

In other words, I should commit to my choice to stay silent for now. Vifi could be lackadaisical in private, but I knew I should listen to her advice whenever her eyes started “looking alive.” Not to mention, she had a point. I wasn’t sure why the twins were acting so aggressively here.

While Vifi and I had this discussion, the argument between the wyverns kept escalating.

[“We only wish to prove ourselves! Serve her as many other wyverns do for her siblings, and you would deny us for no apparent reason? Is this how you treat your elder scales, scale-kin?”] the “no-name” snapped. I wasn’t sure how this argument began, as my talks with Vifi had occupied my mind just a moment ago.

[“Age matters not here. This is about your origins. We need no spies within our midst. Begone!”] Shay rebuked, snarling even louder than before.

[“Her Highness is the one who chooses her companions, not you! Do not think you can just slither your way in with some excuse when we don’t know you!”] Beth growled. [“She is our mistress’s daughter. We will protect her! She is our —Aurora’s—duty, not yours!”]

[“What is this insolence and arrogance? You receive names and are bestowed the honor to serve even an empress, and now you act as if you are true dragonkin?”] the fire wyvern snapped. [“Your youth is showing, fledglings!”]

... The two of them are 59 years old; 60 in about a week, even. This guy just said he isn’t an adult in dragon terms either, but he calls somebody else a fledgling? How old is he exactly?

While I was confused with how dragonkin viewed age, the argument continued.

[“This is Inferno Nest!”] the fire wyvern emphasized. [“You are ice wyverns who have entered our lands; not to mention, you are foreigners from outside Miononbolax. You have been in the empire for only a year, and only been in Frozen Nest for that entire time. This is tradition; for lesser dragonkin and dragonewts to serve true dragonkin. It is our honor, it is expected. We only wish to show her we have the potential to do so, yet you deny us even a trial?”]

[“Because we cannot trust strangers around our princess,”] Shay argued.

Beth slammed her tail, roaring, [“We shall protect her. We do not need help from fire wyverns!”]

[“Protect her how? Your ice armor is melting from the heat,”] the fire wyvern sneered, prompting me to notice some water droplets forming around the flash frozen armor on the twins. The moment they notice this, though, the droplets were instantly frozen again, causing the fire wyvern to scoff at them. [“Keep wasting your mana to keep yourself from overheating. Inferno Nest is not your place to be in, ice wyverns. Similar to how Her Highness must have issues in the cold of Frozen Nest.”]

This statement silenced the twins, groaning a bit as they probably remembered how troublesome my [Ice Resistance] training was.

That’s how it happened?

[“I’ve been causing you trouble ever since we were born, I know. Your weaker egg-sister. Your less thoughtful sister, that forced you to act strong so we could survive. Your little sister you found the heart to protect, despite her being a runt that even our parents disliked. I’ll always be thankful for that, and maybe that is why you can’t become stronger. Because of me.”]

[“Bethlieranha, please, no—”] Shay was about to object, but Beth kept speaking.

[“You have always decided on things on your own. You decided to speak with Yorshka about the letter, you decided to become messengers to speak with the empress to atone for our failure to escort Princess Hestia, you were the one who bravely accepted Empress Melloxtressa’s offer to become her retainers.”] She sighed, lowering her head. [“Even if we aren’t worthy. We were taken in to protect Her Highness, yet we are still so weak. You could have monopolized everything to yourself to become stronger. I am holding you back. Just admit it, Brother.”]

[“I am not trying to say that! You are my family—my sister—I need to make sure we su—”]

[“It’s as Princess Hestia said, you always think about what you have to do. I have been a fool. I always rely on you. I don’t think ... I’ve ever chosen anything myself outside of my wish to be a ‘humanoid woman.’ I follow you everywhere, never thinking about it seriously. What am I but a leech on my proud, strong brother? Am I even worthy of serving a dragon?”]

[“If you are a leech, then what am I? An incompetent brother that could not teach his sister how to survive on her own. I only taught you how to fight and train, not how to think. Do I even have the right to speak up to those wyverns when I can’t even educate you? Am I worthy of any of this?”]

Siblings were still siblings, especially so with twins.

Hikari.

‘Yes. Sorry about that; it hasn’t even been a month yet and I already broke our first rule. I didn’t mean to take control like that.’

Eh, happens. Sorta thing we have to deal with since, you know, we kinda live together. Let’s just keep the rules in mind for the future, and ask me before taking over. That was a real shocker, you know?

‘Yes ... I guess, I myself have some maturing to do despite my ranting.’

She might have broken our rules, but I didn’t feel too bad about it this time. I think her feeling bad about it now, in this situation, was better than in a more precarious one.

[“You both are worthy, considering you stayed with me until now. I trust you two,”] I said, finally in control of our body. [“I understand you both have misgivings with these wyverns, but I think we should set it aside first to see how they act.”]

[“Yes, my lady,”] both said. That little heart to heart seemed to have helped them cool down.

[“Honestly, I probably should have approached this topic earlier, but I don’t think we talk enough about matters other than whatever the current plot or plan we have going on is,”] I admitted.

[“I have not acted very warmly, myself, my lady.”] Shay sighed. [“I did not wish to bother you with my issues, nor could I possibly give you the image that I was unworthy of this position.”]

[“You do not have to feel threatened by them. I don’t think Mom would kick you out.”]

[“How could I not?”] he asked, eyes filled with confusion. [“Even if the empress won’t, I have my own pride in serving her as a wyvern, my lady.”]

Is this what Vifi meant by ‘pride?’

He continued, [“I will remove myself if I feel as if I am a burden to you, my lady. That I swear. You heard the wyvern and you’ve seen what the wyverns under Prince Kahalameet could do. If these six can show years of proper training, then they will beat us two wild born wyverns. We’ve only had two years of servitude under Empress Melloxtressa. Yes, I feel threatened, that I am unworthy and they might take away my honor to guard you.”]

[“You are a friend. I won’t kick you out, you know that.”]

[“Yet, I would insist you do,”] Shay shook his head, followed by Beth agreeing with him. [“We grew up with knowledge of God Kargryxmor, with wyvern priestesses worshipping him and spreading his name in the Avitor Peaks. We knew serving a dragon was the greatest honor a lesser wyvern may receive. Asterios was an ill egg, but he too worshiped strong dragons.”]

[“We do not take offense to other wyverns serving you, my lady. I think the two of us understood instinctively that those six would be better servants than the two of us ...”] Beth added. [“Despite a year of training, the two of us still are unable to turn our aura into a Territory. We can’t mentally do it, according to the Empress, and neither of us understand why. What else would this be but weakness?”]

[“Neither has Tasianna.”]

[“She has no issue with it mentally,”] Shay denied. [“Her issue is that she can’t think of a Territory that would synergize with her abilities, especially her [Tor Eiclere’s Finulaflei]. It is a creative block, similar to being unable to create a custom spell. She can still expel her aura to create a Territory-like effect, unlike us.”]

Hmm ... this is hard.

Sadly, we were unable to resolve the matter here, as I noticed the seven signals approaching us. Vifi and the wyvern soon arrived, rejoining us on our way to meet Ryra. The fire wyverns seemed quite obedient as they were quietly walking behind the twins, looking neither annoyed or bothered by the fact I was helping the two stay cool with my temperature manipulation.

Eventually, we made it to the end of the tunnel where the view of bright, bubbly magma came into view. A humongous lake blocked our way forward, requiring us to fly over it as we explored this place.

When we did, we noticed the magma lake led off a cliff, revealing the lake to be a giant fiery waterfall, part of the actual magma chamber. A wild area so expansive, it should put Cedaraille dungeon’s chambers into shame. Imagine that same ecosystem I witnessed back then, but with its mushroom forests, large brown-rock prairies, and magma swamps increased in size by 100% and have actual dragons roaming the place.

Where is Ryra?

I looked around, unable to find my brother. Sure, the place was large, but Ryra was too conspicuous in his dragon form.

Sadly, we have to deal with something else, first.

[“Lady Hestia!”] Shay shouted just as I noticed multiple signals coming at us.

[“Fly! Protect the princess!”] the “no-name” added as they began to fly into position around me.

Meanwhile, Vifi and I eyed the approaching opposition, noticing something very strange.

Aren’t those ... hippogryphs and griffons?

It seemed, even under a mountain, the mortal enemies of wyverns would still make their appearance.

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A note from AbyssRaven

Speaking of retainers ... Here we go, the demonkin of donuts! "Voltaic Red" Vifi'Yok, the demonkin with the sweet tooth! Armed with a mechanical crossbow, a rapier, and the red lightning gained from her past adventurers, she now wields this power in the pursuit of Hestia's safety so she can continue eating donuts. Well, hopefully you guys enjoyed the chapter! I'm hungry for donuts now.

Big thanks to Nuraproject once again for this great visualization of Aurora's sixth member. Keep up with her on /people/nuraproject!

If you guys want to support me, Hestia and "A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale" (or just read up to 20 advance chapters + any Patreon-only chapters) please check out my Patreon: Rawr!

For two dollars, for the cost of a coffee, you can read up to four chapters! You will have my eternal gratitude for any support you can give me! Please.

Thank you for reading this chapter.