A Chronometric Defect

Heh, things are going better than ever.

I cooked up all these new plans after the guard told me about his Token of Audience. First, I convinced him to uproot himself and flee to the capital. He doesn't know, but his measly house was nowhere near enough to pay for a magic carriage all the way to Fridellia. I plopped that dragon's inscription crap on the market to pay for most of it, then told the driver to take the rest from the fool guard.

So, said guard flees the city. What does he think? That the royals will listen to him?

Hah, he's a guard. What a joke! I've chatted with those magisters and officials from Tengerii ten times more than Shridenia's so-called 'leadership.' My own country can barely be bothered to reply— never mind actually communicate. Said I was 'breaking custom' or some such nonsense. No wonder The Purified Heavens conquered us so quickly.

The benefit of all this? Now it looks like I've reached out to the capital in case something goes wrong. Always gotta cover my ass. With my political standing assured, now I can take a much bigger slice of the profits for myself. The best part? I didn't need to do a damn thing! That guard— he handed me a nice sweet cherry for my dragon pie.

The next part of my plan involves screwing with Aitos some more. So, my loot bundle became more lootable? Woof, I can dig it. I did beat around the bush a little to not piss off that horrifyingly overpowered dragon, but know what?

That thing's not my problem!

I've always lived this way. If nothing can be done? I won't even try. Of course, sometimes I miss opportunities because I didn't try. Buuuut, it usually works out. It's a hundred times less stressful, yanno, manipulating people to do my bidding.

Why bother with the hard stuff? Lean in my chair and pat my hair. Hell yeah!

I move some random stuff aside to look down at my mirrored desk. Always gotta keep up appearances.

*shraaak*

Yep. I look spiffing as usual— now, for my next meeting.

I sit up super-straight and speak into Aitos' new communication array.

Aww, money!

"Send in my next honored guest, please."

I hear a young female voice.

"Yes, mayor."

Ah, she's my second favorite.

The door opens; in walks a dwarf merchant.

*krrr*

"Hello! My good man Yvilos. Has business been well? Plenty of deals and steals, I presume?"

He gives me a look I'm not familiar with, but replies as usual.

"Aye, mayor. I've gained a fair windfall thanks to Aitos. The man is a godssend."

I want to scowl. I made this happen, not Aitos. Instead, my near-permanent mayoral smile gets wider.

"Of course. Listen, I know you have your own business today, but I want to talk to you about the Charlisa deal. Please, do kindly take a seat."

"Mayor, that's what I'm here for. Not the same reason you are, though. You been stickin' your hands in places they shouldn't be goin'. Places on her, specifically."

My face twitches for a moment.

Damn— don't slip up.

I gotta talk evenly and smoothly.

"Yvilos, my friend. Whatever do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean, mayor. I know what you did to her. There's an election comin' up. I came here to tell you to pull your ticket."

I need to sound more hurt than offended.

"I'm sorry, Yvilos? Are you threatening me? I'm a duly elected official!"

"Yeah, I looked into that too. I was worried somethin' fishy's goin' on, and now I'm sure. Thanks for confirmin'."

The accursed dwarf turns and leaves my office with due haste.

*krr-chk*

Shit, am I getting blackmailed? Forget that bitch Charlisa, does he know about my dealings with Tengerii? I could be convicted of treason.

I pull my drawer open and swiftly unlock the hidden door at the bottom. As I lift up the latch, inside I see...

Nothing.

SHIIIIT! Who found my—

"I see you're having a bad day, mayor."

(tsshsh)

Huh? Why do I hear Pure Evil?

I look out the window. No.

I turn back to my desk.

"AGGGGH!"

*haah haah haah*

"Wha— why are you sitting on my desk, Aitos?"

"Your manipulations killed Aitos."

(tsshsh)

"Wha— hah? Wha?"

Aitos shakes his head.

"Aitos asked me to end him. You fucked him up so badly that he would rather die than be my friend."

(tsshsh)

Oh, for the love of... Did I accidentally get Aitos killed?!

"What?! No!"

Why is everything going wrong today?!

Inexplicably, I watch as Aitos begins to turn into a smaller version of Pure Evil.

He can DO that?!

He in leans close, his increasingly draconic teeth drawing near.

But I can't look away from his horrible red eye.

"You want to defend yourself?"

(tsshsh)

"Yes, I, I, was suspicious of you, Pure Evil—"

"Then what about the Charlisa deal? Or should I say: Charlisa herself?"

(tsshsh)

Haaaah?!

"I don't— what does that have to do with—"

"It has to do with your character, filthy human. You don't need to explain why you betrayed me. You need to explain why you betrayed them. Her."

(tsssshshhh)

"I, I just, I, I—"

He leans in even closer. I feel his scales touch my face. He speaks in a deep and slow tone, like...

Like a dragon's growl.

"Yes. You. It's always about you. Nobody else."

(tsshsh)

I instantly flop out of my chair and onto the floor, then prostrate toward his seated figure.

*thap*

*thud*

"Please, your godliness! Please spare this pathetic and lowly human! I have sinned!"

Silence.

I stay still.

Even more silence.

...

Yet more silence.

Isn't he going to—

"To think the first person to address me as a divinity would be such a vile man. Perhaps my name is apt."

(tsshsh)

Huuuh?! This isn't going how it usually does! Is it because he's a dragon? Maybe he wants praise?!

"You are great and powerful and majestic! Your endless might drowns my weakness! I pray your enviable self spares me!"

"I know."

(tsshsh)

What? What does that mean?

"I know, because you speak the truth."

(tsshsh)

Oh. Ohhhh. Thank the gods.

"Th—"

"You speak the truth, vile human, solely when you may gain benefits."

(tsshsh)

No. No, no. Nonononononono!

I press myself harder to the floor.

"Pure—urk"

"You may not speak my name. You may not speak, at all. Ever. Again."

(tsshsh)

My senses go blank. I feel something eating away at my body. No, it's eating my EXISTENCE!

Is this what he— what IT, truly is?

Was it ever really a dragon?

My final feeling, it's—

A dark shiver.