A Benevolent Evil Dragon

We reached the town at sunrise, yet people seemed to already be preparing for party. The large field behind a mansion was covered in tables and decorations, with people working on setting it all up. Sadly we had to stop well out of town and clear any marks of anyone other than Edith living here. Verah is impossible to hide, her height and large horns making her stand out like a beacon, and while Meruk could hide as a cloaked coachman, using thick, leather gloves to hide his feathery, taloned hands, we had nothing that could easily and reliably hide his feet. Also, his neck was covered in colorful feathers, so any close glance would have him discovered.

In the end, that all meant Edith had to handle things alone. Well, I did at least make us a nice spot to sit from where we could watch everything, hidden by grass and some simple light magic. I needed her to handle two things, first the selling of most of our wine supply, and second to see if there's any maps on Berkel here, or anywhere in the nearby towns or cities, of course aside from Zielenec, we were not going back there for the next few years… if ever…

Anyways, in the little hobbit hole, with enough food and clean water for me and my companions, and even enough books to keep me entertained, I settled in and got to reading. Meruk couldn't teach me how to read the books that weren't in Vernian, but the letters were mostly shared between Kamish and Vernian, so after some reverse engineering, using my knowledge of the words, the other half of my book supply became useful too.

Verah and Meruk spent the time working on their wooden sculptures, talking about little things from their past, laughing about this or that, crying quietly to the point where I only really noticed their labored breaths rather than the sobs. Occasionally I peeked out, seeing Edith wander about, then talk to people, then after a few hours she was part of a wedding between people she hadn't met, in a town she just now saw for the first time, and still she seemed to fit in perfectly. For being partly an outcast in her own village, she's one hell of a social butterfly when she wants to be.

I tune out most of the day, to the point where I even tune out the passing of the day. Nothing happens to make my companions draw my attention until I notice the sunset blaring into my eyes. I glance out and I see a strangely familiar scene. A classic rural wedding with big families on either side, children being tired in a corner, drunkards dancing around a fire… It's nice. The Freefolk next to me seem to agree as they hold each other in a way that makes me feel like a third wheel.

When the suns go down, Edith makes her way towards us, clearly having enjoyed her time at the wedding. I simply curl up, feeling a strange tiredness swallow me whole.

Days later I was experimenting with some of the materials we got from the smugglers. Specifically, I was interested in a certain property of iron. The fact that we had a nice, private place by a river to camp out was perfect for me.

"This is… strange. Am I simply unable to imagine it? Or is it that I don't have the strength to make it happen yet?" I frown as I look at the small, charred iron ingot in front of me, noticing the dead plants around it as the electricity stopped listening to me and instead struck the ground right after touching the iron.

"The mere fact that you have damaged it proves to be quite impressive. Your magic affects it more than it ever should. It takes magic far stronger, normally." Meruk pokes at the metal, seeming quite confused. Edith is also quite weird about it, as if I broke a rule of reality.

"I know you're strong, but this is something else… How did you even make it go through!? Actually, scratch that, if this isn't what you wanted, what do you even want to do?" I look between her and Meruk… and even Verah looks at me like I've grown a second head… or a fourth tail.

"What? I know iron reacts strangely to magic, but still it should react better than this. Hmm, ah, I forgot a few steps… Maybe if I… Hmm, could I heat this up using just fire? I could use the volcanic mana, but I sadly don't know how to be efficient with it…" I am in thinking mode when I see Edith cast a simple spell and lob a ball of normal fire at the iron, only for it to dissipate. She then tried the same thing while actively shooting out fire, and again, it just dispersed as the flame touched it, the metal not even seeming to heat up much.

"That is how iron should act. My flames, Meruk's wind, it would even weaken a strike from Verah's earth, even though it wouldn't simply stop it. The fact that you made lightning strike through it is… strange.." Again, I am confused for a moment at the display, after all despite wearing metal, I did set the knight and soldiers on fire for a bit… Ah.

I move the metal to a patch of dry earth, not wanting it to start a fire. After that I begin gathering my spells, adding direction and strength to fire while limiting its range greatly. I also made a separate spell to feed air into the flame at an unnatural rate, as if I had a blowtorch. I still didn't know how to target oxygen with my spells, but the spell plus a bit of direct manipulation did wonders. The small, blue flame rushed forward, hitting the metal and starting to heat it up. It took a lot of focus, but the fire could make the metal glow, and that's really all I needed.

Of course, my success drew interested and confused looks, though Edith seemed a bit mad that I managed to almost flash melt the iron. I do know that iron doesn't let mana pass through easily, but I didn't expect it to mess with people's spells that much. Then again, with Edith in particular I figured out quickly why her fire seemed useless.

"You use fire mana as the fire. That is the problem." Edith looks at me strangely, not really getting what I am saying. "Hmm, let me rephrase it. Iron pushes mana away. Refuses its passage. It doesn't actually resist its effects. It is why earth would only be weakened, not stopped. So if you use fire mana to start the flame, but then feed it something real, tangible, the flame itself would become normal and its heat would transfer into the metal." While Edith seemed to try and figure out what I was trying to teach, Meruk shot a sharp gust of wind at the metal.

It dispersed, at first, but then he did the same, only this time he picked up sand and tiny rocks, letting them loose and making a line that could be seen in the hot iron. Sure, it was marginally softer since I blasted it with fire that would instantly murder someone, but that strike packed some real punch. He seemed to brighten up as he spoke, not in Vernian, but in the Freetongue to make sure Verah got his drift.

"You need to throw it! Break the spell yourself so the metal will not do it and put your all into power, ignoring control. Make it like a spear thrown, rather than a thrust. Wind is hard, for it disperses easily, but stone should pierce through by strength alone!" He seemed eager, hopeful, and Verah was much the same as she managed to do just that, putting a big dent with a small stone she shot at it.

I decided to stop everyone before they ruined the ingot fully. "I do need this to be mostly intact, please." Meruk translated to Verah for me, whispering with a bit of embarrassment in his tone. "Thank you. Let's see… I can…" I channeled some fire mana to my hands, using it to protect myself from the heat and make it easier as I force the iron into shape. I feel the mana being pushed away, but be it the nature of my control or other factors, the push only lasts a bit before the mana equalizes, touching the metal through my scales but not going into it.

After that I made a small kiln from stone and started blasting the iron again, making it glow as brightly as I could. Once that was done I prepared a powerful lightning spell. I made everyone step away, while struggling to keep the metal bar upright using two stones to hold it, even as its properties pushed the mana in the rock away. It didn't matter though, I needed just a few moments. Lightning gathered and powerful plasma made from all the lightning mana I held rushed down, through the metal, and into the ground below. A moment after I dropped the metal into the river, using cold mana to make the cooling even faster.

It bubbled, steam burst, the mana left behind by my magic reacted violently, then everything dispersed. Finally, there it was. A cool bar of iron with weird patterns and discolorations on it. I cleaned it as best as I can, not certain if it worked yet, but then I bring in a second bar of iron, putting them close… then they clank together, getting stuck like that. I let out a happy hiss, shaking my body, but it seemed my happiness didn't extend to everyone else.

I separate the bars, then use the magnet to pull the other one up slightly. It's nowhere near strong enough to actually lift two kilos of iron, but it did affect it well, despite being a prototype magnet. Everyone else seemed to be stuck on confusion, though, despite the rather mundane deed before them.

"How? Is that… Are you using metal mana? Did you find a way to make it? Or to enchant something with it? It feels different… What is this?" She reached for the magnet, which I give to her freely. She moved it in close, then away, but her wonder remains. Meruk seemed similarly intrigued, while Verah just seemed confused.

"What is it that you made, great Godling of Heart? I don't think I've ever quite seen something like it… Though, even if I did, I am not quite certain what I would do with something like this…" Well, I couldn't fault him for that, it does seem like a weird, but unimpressive thing. At least if you don't know a few particular things about the physics of the world, physics that seemed to still be in play.

"This is a… I do not know the word, if there is any. I call it a magnet. Simply put, it is made of iron and attracts iron. You can find a weaker variant naturally in the world. Before you ask, this is not magic. This is something a mundane human could do if only they knew how and they were lucky with the weather. There is also a technique that could take a long time but result in a strong magnet without even needing to worry about the weather, all you need is a blacksmith with a lot of time on their hands and iron." That seemed to absolutely break Meruk's patience.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Not magic? Not magic?! How? How could something like this be done without a powerful spell? A smith.. all it takes is iron and a smith? Are you a smith? No..." He was, to put it plainly, incredulous, which I did find amusing. Laughing at him as he often did to me.

"It is a part of nature, friend. Like water flows, like stone stays strong but fractures, like iron resists blades and strikes, but shatters from strong cold or melts at the greatest of heats, it is merely an aspect of the material that needs certain conditions to happen. In this case I needed it to be hot, near melting, so that it may be molded more easily, then I used lightning to carve direction into it. Finally, the cooling needed to be swift so that the direction would be remembered for longer. As for how to use this…"

I carefully shaved a rough needle out of it, tried to smooth it out, then I rubbed the magnet against it. Next I made a small bowl of earth, put water in it, then put a large leaf over it and the needle on the leaf. It took a bit, but then the needle oriented itself. I looked over at the sun's position, then back down at the needle and carved a small N on the correct tip of it.

"This is one use for it. The needle may lose its property in time, but while it is there, it will keep orienting itself to point towards the north. It helps navigate without the suns or stars. The magnet has other uses, but none that helps out tremendously while out in the wilderness." I feel a bit proud that my experiment worked. I do wonder if magnetism is used currently. The ancient Greeks knew about lodestone and the Chinese diviners used it since B.C.E. but the compass was only made around the year 1000 C.E. , so it's really a roll of the die if someone around here figured stuff like that out. I'd think, since transmigrated people are apparently a fact of life, this should be more widespread, but I thought that about a lot of things so far.

Meruk was the one to shake me from my thoughts, having a bright and curious smile for a man so close to me in age. "I need to know more, Godling of the Heart. Your mind is an oasis and I am parched!" I laughed and nodded, starting my best crash course in electromagnetism.

To my absolute lack of surprise, they didn't seem too attracted to the mathematical side of things.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing for the most part. Edith was continuing her sorceress training the best she could, while I spent my day testing out my agility in muck and water, finally getting some use out of the abilities I stole from the anglers, even if for training. Although, I came to hear a few conversations between the Meruk and Verah… conversations that I had to address as Meruk brought in a boar for us to eat in the evening.

"Before you begin making another surprisingly tasty meal… We should talk, now that everyone is here." Verah just barely grabbed the sword I looted from Jan, ready to use it like a butcher's knife again, before stopping to look at me, nodding. Meruk looked between the two of us, then nodded as well.

"We… We hope we do not act disgraceful towards you, great Godling." Begins the man with his sing-song voice. "But after these days of thoughts, we are certain we need to do this. You showed us familiar sights, you taught us things that could change everything…" His tone turns serious as he nests himself in Verah's lap.

Edith, who had enough of being used as a pillow to show that I am doing better, decides to wiggle her way from under me, then looks between our serious expressions. "Is there… a problem?"

"They're planning on leaving." I say, finally, without much fanfare. She frowns, then looks between all of us. Meruk can only put a complicated expression and nod along.

"Why? If they get seen anywhere they will be attacked and chained all over again! Why would they…" She almost continues but I shake my head as the two let us speak, though their gazes are more focused on my reactions than Edith's.

"They have friends… family… People that didn't escape like them in the chaos. People that they are worried about. People that they owe a debt bigger than the one they owe us." That final thing was the important one. Because they already admitted that were it not for the life debt they have for me saving them, they would had rushed out the moment they were freed from their chains. "And before you say that we could go with them too… It's in the Empire."

That turns the conversation into a moment of silence. I know why Edith wants them to stick around despite her not having learnt the language yet. These are people. Despite what she may have been told, it's easy for her to see them as people when her only other friend is a literal man-eating monster. They are the solace she cannot easily find elsewhere, a small fragment of a community she was used to…

"We cannot let them rot in chains of cursed metal. Captivity under these monsters… The wild has kinder deaths." I nodded along. I understood. But I also knew that I couldn't help them. I put my life on the line to save others, even when I didn't plan to. That was simply a case of something bad happening near me… But going back into the Empire, back into the teeth of angry gods and nobles that could crush my breath if not for sheer luck… Yeah. I need to find a safe place.

"I understand, Meruk. I thank you for your teachings of languages. I also thank you for your short lessons in flight and your insight into air. I wish I could learn more, I do, but I will not hold your debt over your head when your family bleeds." They both bow their heads at my words, but then they raise them again with a complicated expression.

"We still owe you much, and we will repay. This land is far from their grace, but you have the means to reach it. You wish for lands of peace, a place where you may rest and lay your lair. Young Godling, and the land of the Freefolk is that very place, I cannot guide you, but I can leave with you a trinket and prayer to Shuvuu. Under his skies you will find solace. Any tribe that acknowledges the Father of Feathers will welcome you with open hearts." He presents me with a long feather infused by magic, small symbols clearly carved on its boney part. This one is straight from the tips of his wings.

Then Verah clears her throat, placing forward the totem she carved after making a deep cut on its left eye. "I offer you a prayer to Khouul. May the Mother of Hooves welcome you into her land, may you walk free the earth she tramples on, may any tribe that acknowledges her welcome you with open hearts. And… may your horns grow grand and beautiful, like your own heart, Heart."

I reached for their gifts, seeing for a moment the image of two amalgams of animals I didn't even have time to parse… but I felt the distinct mana of their semi-godly adoptive parents. The feather that whispered of freedom and talons in the wind, while the statue smelled of blood rushing through the veins, mixed with heavy hooves stomping the ground. Animal mana, but not really. The unique mana that belongs to each spirit and that makes Freefolk take on the traits of beasts. A symbol of friendship that they wouldn't share to anyone undeserving, something that will help us if their small enchantment lasts enough to reach their home.

"I thank you for this . I am partially ignorant to the extent of their values, but I feel your earnest wishes in your words and actions. I know it may not be enough for you, but know that I consider your debts paid." In truth I didn't even want them to feel indebted to me… I mean, not any further than to just not reveal my existence, but I also knew that they are a fair and prideful people. Ayrah spoke something of diverse tribes, but some things seemed to be shared culture.

I was almost thinking that this was it, but then I shook my head. "If this is your last day with us, then let us at least eat well and part ways on cheer and song." It may have only been a week or two together… But it was a good time. I wanted to learn more. About their culture, identity, about what Spirit each tribe follows and if there's any that aren't as loved, but I didn't want our goodbyes to be reduced to that.

Edith, after being silent for so long, nudges me at the slight smile she sees on my and their expressions. "What is it? Are they going to leave now..?" She almost whispers, but doesn't get an answer from me.

"We will leave, but not now." Begins Meruk. His voice loses some of its melody when speaking Vernian, but it can't be helped with how many consonants it has. "We leave tomorrow when the suns grace the sky. Today we eat, we sing and dance, today we cheer our long farewell. Today we pray to meet again." He offers a soft smile, which is met by a nod from Edith.

Everything needed to be said, was, so now we got to work preparing their departure. Things went quickly, we already had a good meal waiting to be cut up and cooked, we had firewood waiting to be burnt and we still had some wine leftover from the wedding. Once everything was done and the suns slowly went down, painting the sky a myriad of colors, I sat down and let myself relax.

My eyes were drawn to the large campfire, staring into it even as Verah showed her proficiency with improvised drums. Meruk's voice which joined her was also captivating, but not enough to keep me from focusing on the pit in my stomach. This might be the last time I see these two. I lost my family, dysfunctional as it was. I lost the people I came to care about, excluding Edith. I lost my home… I lost pieces of me, figuratively and literally. And now I lose the only people that I could really trust, aside from Edith.

Is anyone I helped even still alive? Did anything I did so far matter? Is there even a point in moving forward if every step I take, I take on a floor of nails and still I end up further from my goals? Do I even really have a proper goal? Find a quiet home… and then what? Will I sit still and try to grow using the pitiance of a hoard that doesn't even match the one from my days as a newborn? Will I struggle for more? Fight more? Lose more?

Meruk sings of entwined fates and strings of dry plants weaved into baskets. I look over and I see Edith doing her best to be the backing vocals for a song she doesn't understand while dancing. I see the half-eaten bits of food. I smell the alcohol that I simply cannot even stomach for it tastes like slightly sweet poison. I look on as Verah throws dried flowers into the fire, the scent of smoke changing ever so slightly to be sweeter. I take a deep breath and then I blow out a column of multicolor flame into the sky.

The singing falters, then it is replaced by laughter, then it picks up again.

I lost a lot. I keep losing a lot. But I still saved lives. Jan likely took better care of his kids and people considering he was still down to throw hundreds of golds at Edith once the job was done. The city lord probably did the same, considering just how many people were affected by his and the city guard's failure.

This world is dark and mean, but much like my old one it is still a place where people live. If everyone was cruel, there would be no nightlife, no cheers, no people crying about those they almost lost…

I dance and sing and roar. I drink in the poison, uncaring of my body's distaste for it. I fly and I use those useless magicks that I trained to be pretty, just to take my mind from things. I watch as Meruk makes leaves dance over the flames, while Verah molds earth into statues resembling people from their tribe and even some they met after being captured. I return the gesture by sharing a statue of Ayrah in all her glory as a huntress, stalking prey with me, then of my family. Edith burns butterflies and flowery shapes into the grass and we all exhaust ourselves if only to make the night more memorable.

I do not sleep, despite being tired.

I listen and watch as our two companions get up in the dead of night, taking only a spear looted from one of the men they killed back in Zielenec and some waterskins, then leaving quietly. Finally, after that I closed my eyes, and let myself drift off… only that sleep didn't welcome me anymore, no matter how long I waited.

Instead I was startled awake by the sound of thunder, which made me look up at the sky… At the perfectly clear, morning sky.