Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 83: The Empty Fortress

Daniel studies the two lesser dragons in human form going by the names Blue and Rose. They were serving with Choul to conquer Fort Twilight, but they were sent back to report on what was found.

Apparently, not a soul was present at Fort Twilight, the largest of the frontier fortresses separating the east from the west.

Ryuogriar remarks proudly, “It seems clear that the child Sundenelle acknowledges that she’s outmatched.” Geirahoel nods proudly in agreement, while the others remain quiet.

Daniel replies gently, “I don’t think so. Something’s not right. Did Choul immediately prepare to defend?”

“Yes, your Grace,” replies Blue. “He sent us because we can fly the fastest, and he didn’t want to chance telepathy being intercepted. It… would seem, your Grace… he is cautious of unprecedented situations.” Both Blue and Rose look away from Daniel nervously.

“Because of me, hmm?” asks Daniel warmly. They both flinch. He chuckles, “Relax. Thank you for coming to tell us, as well as taking extra precautions.”

Both of them are pleasantly surprised, and they bow respectfully. “You honor us, your Grace. Do you have any message for the General?”

“In a moment. I have a few more questions, if you would.”

“Of course, your Grace.”

“Were there any signs or messages from the Imperial forces?”

“No, your Grace.”

Hekate chimes in, “How about footprints? I assume you searched for footprints.”

Rose nods and answers this time, “Yes, your Greatness. There are footprints leaving the fortress to the east, but of course, given the large army that was driven back, it’s impossible to determine in what numbers the enemy retreated.”

“Obviously all of them, yes?” asks Geirahoel, as if it should be obvious.

Vaergraes is the one to answer her, “That is the concern. The human-kin have abandoned fortresses before, but never Fort Twilight. In fact, I estimated that it would have taken most of the dragons and the bulk of the might of the Covenant’s combined army to overtake the fortress, simply because the Empire views Twilight as too important to lose.”

“And, Morthybargaron sent Mulmonbargarnaed to attack Fort Peony precisely because it was supposedly the least defended,” points out Ryuogriar as she leans affectionately on Daniel’s shoulder. “For a full invasion, Twilight would still need to be defeated, but with the red knight on the eastern side with a strike force, Twilight could be crushed from both sides.”

“And yet, they handed it over without a fight or even a message,” ponders Daniel aloud. “I sense a trap, but as I’m sure Choul expected as well, the trap should have been tripped. So, what are they waiting on?”

Surprised, Blue remarks, “Th-That’s exactly right, your Grace. General Choul had the troops cloistering the fortress in anticipation of attack from both sides; east by the Empire, and West by the Covenant.”

“I hate to believe that the east and west are cooperating in such a manner, but it would make sense. With so many of our troops seen entering the fortress, they may believe that isolating them from us and working together to defeat them through starvation is the only way to cripple our military force.”

“So… what do we do?” asks Hekate cautiously.

“Attempting to establish supply lines for our ‘two hundred thousand’ mouths to feed could provoke the demons into acting, though they’ll expect an attempt to be made. Our actual troops should have enough supplies to last a few weeks with ease, and with the shuttles, we can airdrop supplies in. The main risk in that case becomes whether or not the demons use wyverns, or if the Empire uses another airship.”

“Which they know about our air shuttles, no doubt,” adds Ryuogriar. She and Hekate made heavy use of one during the last battle outside of the Citadel in order to capture General Jothraligus.

Daniel puts his hand to his chin, trying to think. He murmurs, “I wish I knew what they could be thinking… Our people are at risk in both directions. I never thought Sundenelle would give up the fortress so easily.”

Reignleif asks innocently, “Mukori… Do you think that could be her goal? This anxiety we’re all focused on not knowing?”

“Absolutely. When someone makes an unpredictable move like this, the worst thing to assume is that we got what we wanted. But, how and when they plan to attack become our concerns.”

“Your Grace, I have a suggestion,” begins Illianna politely.

“Please tell me, Illianna,” replies Daniel respectfully.

She nods. “Illusion magic can buy us time by using golems to look like our supply lines. While that’s happening, I believe we should also track down where the Covenant army has gathered. And, since her Greatness, Hekate, will be remaining in the Citadel for the time being, I would humbly recommend that she donate her vast stores of mana, since they will recover over time.”

“I-I’m still recovering after the sealing spear!” complains Hekate.

“Yes, but your mana pool is far more vast than the rest of us. You don’t have to drain yourself completely, but keep supplying the Citadel as much as you can to offset what we’ve been using.”

“I’ll participate as well,” offers Vaergraes. “This will leave the Dragon Empresses as our primary line of defense, but even without magic, they can be more formidable than most anyone else.”

Illianna continues her suggestion. “The boost of mana to the Citadel should allow us to produce a sizable force to attack the Demon Covenant without impacting our defensive reserves.”

Daniel ponders it, replying only for brainstorming, rather than to outright shoot it down, “A war on two fronts is risky, but Fort Twilight will be in that position if we don’t intercept the Covenant army.”

“Once we know where they are, can’t we have Twilight bolster the new forces for the attack?” asks Geirahoel.

Illianna agrees, “Even half of the golem force sent to Twilight should be enough to hold off a sizable siege from either side, especially if Choul is making the modifications reported.”

Daniel can’t help but agree. After all, Illianna and Vaergraes have commanded military forces already, and for much longer, while the dragons have been around long enough to see many of the battles. The dragons often view every battle to be won with overwhelming strength, but Daniel doesn’t want them to risk their lives with hubris. Likewise, Vaergraes was able to unify the many clans of the Covenant, which still seems to be operating as a unified force, but she also knows the full capabilities of her various battalions.

Daniel, in contrast, assumes the enemy is superior. He makes this assumption so that he doesn’t lose anyone he cares about, as well as the loyal soldiers and citizens that came to be members of the Fievegal, when they had very little to offer other than a big fortress.

But of course, the golems help with many facets of life, helping restore the villages in almost no time flat, including the farms needed to sustain everyone.

Though, Daniel has been ensuring that the ‘Benevolent Empresses’ are the ones who have directed the golems to aid in reconstruction in the eye of the public, so that the trust lies with Hekate and the three dragon empresses. Daniel prefers to remain in the background if he can.

“Do it, please. Wenlianna and I will do our best to get the communicators working in the next few days. Blue, Rose, return to Choul and inform him of our plan. We'll be staging decoy logistics, as well as preparing to attack the Covenant in the event they attempt to trap the soldiers at Twilight.”

“At once, your Grace!” confirms both dragons, and Hekate adds, “And… f-from me, tell him… good work and good luck.”

They nod, not nearly knowing the full extent of the relationship between everyone and Choul, though he is proving that he’s loyal to the cause at the very least.

Daniel looks at Wenlianna, “Let’s go. I think I just had an idea.”

The former court magic artisan grins. “Right behind you!”

“M-Me too!” adds Geirahoel. 

Just as Hekate is about to bound into step with Daniel, Erimaya clears her throat. Hekate pales at the Princess’s serious empty smile. “Hekate, I believe you agreed to join me for etiquette lessons.”

“I… but…”

“And, you’ll need to donate mana with me so Xyreko can begin producing more golems and equipment,” adds Vaergraes.

“But… Daniel! Save me!”
“Lessons are good for you, Hekate,” replies Daniel, very much not coming to her rescue. “What will you do when you meet other royalty?”

“That’s right,” teases Ryuogriar. “Daniel might be seduced by their etiquette and poise.” The eldest of the three dragon empresses straightens her posture, which emphasizes both her elegant posture, as well as her well-endowed chest.

Hekate grumbles through gritted teeth. “Using Daniel against me… Devious woman…”

“Hekate,” starts Erimaya. “Ladies don’t make that face and growl. Least of all in front of other women.”

The others chuckle, and Hekate storms off, snatching Erimaya’s hand and dragging her away.

Meanwhile, Daniel makes his way with the communications device team. They have the basics of a design, which isn’t much different than a 1980s brick phone, with a power source and powerful equipment needed to get the signal out.

But of course, this specific design is using various rune-magic, thanks to Reignleif, various conversion mechanisms thanks to Wenlianna, and Geirahoel does her best to learn both art forms alongside Daniel, who is mainly working through the idea to make it functional by connecting the two various types of magic. Mainly, Geirahoel watches him closely, mimicking his movements as he solders the carefully formed wires to the rune-magic’s painted on connection on the inside of the box. He’s using a heat crystal with a metal cap to generate the heat, though he could also have made a proper electric soldering iron with a lightning crystal. But, because the others are extremely leary of lightning crystals -for good reason-, he sticks to the less dangerous option where possible. Thankfully, the heat crystals can be made small, and they still deliver a lot of heat, especially when using diamond instead of salt. 

Daniel says gently, “No rush, Geirahoel. If you need me to slow down, I’ll slow down.”

“I-I got it!” whines the youthful dragon. “This strange metal is just frustrating.”

Daniel chuckles. “Yeah, you have to let the iron heat up the other metal for the solder to stick.”

Wenlianna, watching them solder the components together, asks, “How… did you come to discover this metal?”

“I didn’t. It’s a fairly simple mix of lead and tin. Oh, and lead is poisonous. Make sure you wash your hands after handling it. And, don’t breathe in the smoke.”

Geirahoel recoils a little, watching the small string of smoke rising. “It’s not immediately deadly, it just isn’t good for you.”

She nods, resuming her work, and Daniel waits for her to catch up before starting the next step.

“Daniel?” a new voice separate from the four present in the lab speaks up, and Daniel looks to his side, and then down. Shek and Skloe are half the height of a human, so seated on the raised lab chairs, he has to look down to see Shek.

It’s just Shek this time, and the princesses are likely with Skloe while Shek came to speak to Daniel.

“Shek? What can I do for you?” Daniel hops off of the chair and kneels down to her level so that neither of them are craning their necks.

Shek fidgets, saying softly, “Shek… I… I am not… wise like others. But, Sh-... I think… I have idea, too.”

“An idea?” asks Daniel. He doesn’t rush her, since she’s making a concerted effort to learn proper grammar for the Eastern Imperial Trade language, since the translation spell can only convert words, not grammar and sentence structure. Daniel has picked up words in the various languages of the Fievegal, but because it’s much less crucial for him to learn than the trade language was in the beginning, it’ll definitely be a long time for him to learn them well enough to hold conversations.

“I… suggest Daniel…” “‘You’,” whispers Daniel gently.

“I suggest you…” restarts the goblin queen, watching his expression and brightening when he smiles and nods. “...have goblins dig… burrow.”

“A burrow? Are the other goblins unhappy with the housing in town? Or… do you need somewhere to store things?”

Shek shakes her head, fidgeting with her hands. She’s usually happy and excited to talk to Daniel, but she gets nervous when making requests. “Goblins happy with housing. That is truth. Shek-... I just thinking, burrow would make… safe travel from enemies.”

Daniel ponders her words for a moment. He perks up. “Ohhh! You mean a tunnel connecting us to…”

Her eyes brighten, and Daniel tests his first thought; the first thing Shek might think about beyond the Citadel. “The towns?”

“No… I-I mean, yes, too, but… I want help with battle.”

“The fort?” asks Reignleif, having listened to the conversation.

Shek perks up, looking at Reignleif with a big nod. “Yes! Burr- Tunnel to fort Choul go to.” She blushes and looks up at Daniel from below her brows. “Daniel-You worry about safe travel. G-Goblins good at burrow. Burrow have defense, too.”

Daniel smiles. “That’s actually an incredibly good idea, Shek. But, it’s a long dig. Do you think they’d be able to tunnel so far?”

Shek proudly puffs her modest chest out, “Yes! Goblins born in burrow! Goblins happy to dig.” She looks aside, fidgeting. “O-Only stop when rocks or no food.”

“So, as long as we keep supplies up with the tunnelers,” starts Wenlianna. “They could dig continuously.”

“We’d need some way to track progress from above so that we can make sure they’re going the right direction.” Daniel grins as he thinks out loud. “Which, there are two things we can do to make sure the least amount of waste goes into the project.”

“What’s that?” asks Geirahoel. “Magic?”

“Nope. Magnetism.” He makes a point of looking at Wenlianna, asking playfully, “How do you feel about making more compasses?”

She gets it, quickly saying, “That’s genius!”

“How does it work?” asks Reignleif curiously. “Will you really be able to guide a tunnel underground?”

“I think it should prove quite easy,” replies Daniel.

“Yes! A compass always points in the same direction because the whole world is a big magnet, so the tunnellers should have no trouble whatsoever!”

“Actually,” starts Daniel, halting Wenlianna’s confidence. “A compass alone is too imprecise for them not to waste time and effort drifting one way or the other. We’ll use a high power cable in a long coil to create a guiding line to follow. Oh! And surveyor scopes. Nothing fancy, but good enough to keep the tunnel in line.”

The others stare at him, and he chuckles. “Sorry. The tools will be fairly simple. Let’s just say it’s magic from Earth.”

This causes them to chuckle with a hint of exasperation. Daniel gently taps the underside of Shek’s chin. “Thank you for the great idea, Shek. If you would, rally the goblins and anyone else willing to dig. The more, the merrier.”

“You-You marry all?” asks Shek innocently, having understood the wrong homophone for ‘merry’.

Daniel chuckles playfully, “No. Merry, as in happy. Not marry, as in husband and wife. It’s a… fun phrase from Earth. Nothing more.”

Her eyes widen and she blushes, nodding. “Shek… I understand. I get goblins to dig.”

“Thanks. Once we’re done with the communicator, I’ll work on making the magnet.” He looks at Geirahoel. “If I give you designs, do you think you’d be willing to make something for me, Mukori?”

Geirahoel blushes. “M-Me? N-Not… Wenlianna?”

“The surveyor scope won’t require magic, and you might have to experiment to get it to work right. I want it to have a compass alignment in the scope’s field of view. I’ll draw it as best as I can, but…”

“I’ll do it!” exclaims the dragon. “Th-that much will be easy for me.”
“I have confidence you’ll find a way, and that’ll leave me free to work on the magnet at the same time. If you have questions, you can always ask me, Wenlianna, or Xyreko.”

Geirahoel nods, pleased to be included. “Shek, we won’t be able to start right away, but if you can find some willing teams, we’ll definitely begin the tunnels, first to the nearest villages, and then to Fort Twilight. And, don’t exclude any of the other people. Even if goblins are our best diggers, you’ll need bodies to help extract the dirt and rocks, build support structure, and run supplies. And, we’ll obviously be paying for all of the jobs.”

Shek nods eagerly. For now, payments have mainly been in the form of luxurious food and drinks, including wine as well as the varying stages of rum Daniel has been developing to mirror the one he favored from Earth. Most of the demon-kin are aware of alcohol, but because it goes into potations and has a powerful smell that tends to burn the sensitive noses of races like the dragons and dattakoriens, they hadn’t developed alcohol to any meaningful extent for recreational drinking.

Daniel, on the other hand, hadn’t liked any alcohol for similar reason; until he found ones that didn’t have just a plain burn of alcohol, but actually had a smoother profile and good flavor. Even the dattakoriens like some of the wines he has successfully been able to ferment, since their alcohol content has been mellowed out.

“Shek get many helpers!” replies Shek excitedly, forgetting all about her practice speaking properly. She trots off, impeded only a little by her bulging belly, but having gotten distinctly stronger thanks to her endless state of pregnancy.

After Shek leaves, Wenlianna sighs. “Lucky…”

“What?” asks Daniel innocently.

She scowls at him, glancing briefly at Reignleif and Geirahoel. She growls, “I think you know, Daniel.”

He sighs. “I genuinely don’t.”

“Hmph!” Wenlianna resumes preparing mana crystals for the communication devices, while Reignleif continues creating and painting the magic runes onto the special river-stones, which then have to be enchanted with magic. Daniel knows that the runestones serve as a sort of storage device, as well as spell holders, which are what will serve to transmit the voices. There has to be a pair in each device; a transmitter and receiver, just like a radio. If Daniel was more familiar with transistors, capacitors, and inductors, he might be able to make a regular two-way radio. But, lacking the technology and blueprints, he has to make do with magic.

Daniel finally replies to Wenlianna’s huff, “If you want to be in charge of a team, you’re welcome to anyone who is willing to work with you, Wenlianna.”

She looks at him with an expression that surprises him a little. She’s looking at him as one might gaze upon an actual cockroach asking to urinate on one’s leg.

Geirahoel finally laughs, and Reignleif does everything she can to stifle a chuckle.

Daniel sighs, and at once, he knows what Wenlianna was talking about.

***

Choul studies everything brought forward by the soldiers scouring the fortress for any clues as to what occurred. There don’t appear to be any correspondences that were forgotten, no trap spells, and no mechanical traps. Rose and Blue have already returned and reported Daniel’s instructions, which are certainly in line with what Choul would have recommended and had already begun preparing.

He instructs Rose and blue to circle in the skies, mindful of this supposed airship Daniel mentioned, which Wenlianna was actually the pioneer of. However, the wreckage was abandoned, and there are undoubtedly people that could piece together what’s needed from having operated it, even if it won’t be as refined as Wenlianna’s model. It’s unlikely the airship could compete with the much more agile shuttles Daniel produced using the Citadel, but one airship alone was able to knock Reignleif out of the sky and endanger her, Hekate, and Daniel.

After a couple of hours, Rose and Blue return, landing in their dragon forms and bowing to Choul, even though he’s still in his human form. His horns are still little more than stubbles of their once-magnificent shape, but he’s easily identifiable, thanks to his dark grey hair, metallic grey tail, and the standout sharmellkolle armor he wears, similar to what Daniel wears, but with fewer plates for mobility. As long as he remains conscious, Choul can cast enough magic on himself to survive. It was part of his plan to defeat Morthybargaron through atrition if need be.

“General,” starts Rose. “We've found signs of the human-kin troops. They have split into three forces, one about two days east near a large town, one to the north seemingly near the large fort on the east side of the mountains, and the third to the south, approaching a similar fort.”

Choul nods as he watches Rose draw what they saw in the dirt with one of her large talons. “The north fort is Castle Northwall, if I’m not mistaken. It’s where Emperor Daniel’s comrades retreated to in order to regroup and intercept the Red Knight, while Daniel remained at Fort Peony.” He crouches and points at the drawing showing the mountains in simplified form, where Fort Peony is roughly located, directly west of Castle Northwall. “The fort in the south must be a similar interception position if the southern pass through fort is conquered or encroached by an overwhelming force.”

“Do you think they intend to flank us here?” asks Blue.

Choul nods as he studies the simple map. “That’s definitely a possibility. Though, they’ve lost a lot of time by not having mobilized their forces west of the mountains already. We’re probably looking at two weeks or more before they can coordinate a siege. It all still seems so… incompetent.”

“They are humans…” remarks Rose quietly. She flinches when Choul looks at her, looking down. “I-... His Grace…”

“Is a bit of an anomaly, I know.” Rose nods quickly in agreement, while Choul continues. “But, humans are generally weak, not merely incompetent. At least, their commanders are competent. All things considered, retreating to a stronger defensible position when you know what enemy you are facing isn’t an unreasonable strategy, even if they have to sacrifice ground to do it. But, there’s a reason we dragons never attacked Fort Twilight directly as well. You know why?”

Both Rose and Blue shake their heads.

“Numbers. In great enough numbers, even human kin can best a dragon. Fort Twilight can house the kinds of numbers that could take out five or six dragons with ease. They might lose a hundred thousand men in the process, but five or six dragons would be devastating. Even losing one is catastrophic. Hopefully, the Imperial Princes and Princesses will be blessed with the war being over by the time they’re old enough to recognize what’s going on.”

Rose and Blue are both silent for a moment. They glance around briefly, and Choul asks, “What is it?”

“General… I… May I speak freely?” asks Blue.

Choul nods. “Of course.”

“Do… you never… worry about the Emperor… and the Empresses?”

“Do you mean all four, or just the dragons?”

“O-Our lady dragons, General.”

“I see…” Choul crosses his arms as he stands up from his crouching position. “His Grace spoke to me about that very matter. He has no interest in claiming the entire harem, if that’s what you’re worried about. Empresses Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel chose Daniel of their own volition, I suspect in no small part because he trusts them more than the former lord ever did. He seeks their counsel regularly, and he trusts their judgment. He has fun speaking to them, but is never cruel or disrespectful.” Choul’s voice suddenly drops to a gentle softness as he adds a little reverently, “He loves them… Something they never experienced either.”

The two lesser dragons remain respectfully quiet for a moment. Blue finally asks, “Then… the children?”

“The first three born will be pure greater dragons, from what I have been told. They are not Daniel’s offspring. That said, I have less and less doubt about him every day that passes. Though his children will be half, they will still carry on our legacy, and certainly be free to make their own choices.”

“Do you think…?” starts Rose, before she cuts herself off.

“Speak your concerns, Rose. Trust is born of open communication.”

She looks down, somewhat slinking to the ground with her large form. She asks softly and cautiously, “Do you think… our children… would be allowed to… even… be considered dragons?”

Choul understands where she’s coming from. Lesser dragons are often a convenience at best, and considered a blight at worst. Even if Morthybargaron had produced children with one, it would always be considered less than the weakest pure greater dragon.

That said, Choul is confident of one thing. “Daniel isn’t like the former lord. I daresay, he’s unlike most people of this world. He might simply neglect to say it, but I am confident that he is hoping your children will get along with his as friends, allies, and maybe even lovers if and when the time comes.” Choul smiles genuinely as he pictures it. A future is what Daniel wants more than anything; a future for all of the people he cares about, and the people that call his territory home.

That includes the frailest of goblins to the mightiest of dragons, and everyone in between. Even a grey dragon who dedicated his life to revenge and had nothing else, save a desire to do something good to restore the legacy of those who raised him.

“You really think Daniel will let our children intermingle?” asks Blue, surprised.

“Yes. Without a doubt. In fact, I’m confident that he’ll want them to socialize and learn what his world seems to teach freely; it’s individual traits that truly define us, not how we’re born.”
The two lesser dragons are deep in thought, but all three are interrupted when one of the dattakoriens calls out, “{General! Riders at the east gate!}”

This catches Choul off guard, though he suspects it’s the first sign of smoke in the fire that will be the trap. He jogs to the east gate, and Blue and Rose take cover out of sight. It’s costly on their limited mana pools to transform, so for now, they’re staying in their dragon form, which will grant them much more presence, durability, and power than their human forms, where greater dragons like Choul can make use of his massive mana pool to match and even exceed his true form’s power in his much smaller human form.

At the gate, there is a small squad of soldiers on buckrokhs bearing a crisp white flag, as well as a flag showing two opposing hands clasped in a handshake. While the demon-kin aren’t highly learned on eastern customs, it’s fairly apparent that this is supposed to be some form of parlay, at least from what Choul can tell. He should have brought one of the easterners with him, either Gwenesphia or Treia, to verify any sort of tactics such as this are legitimate.

Choul calls out, “Declare yourself or turn back. Fort Twilight is now sovereign territory of the Fievegal.”

“We are the envoy from the Illustrious Army of the Grand Zenkon Empire, on behalf of Lord General, his Majesty, King Vubencleff. We come under the banners of Parlay to bring a message from our Commanding Officer, leader of the First Order Knight’s Corps.”

“Speak your message,” replies Choul. “I’ll not willingly invite spies behind my lines.”

This catches the leading officer off guard. He glances at his comrades, before clearing his throat. The buckrokh shifts its weight, but is relatively steady and well-tempered for now. “The matter to be discussed is best spoken in private, sir, lest rumors cause turmoil throughout your ranks. It is a safety precaution for both sides.”

“Don’t presume to instruct me on how to lead my men,” retorts Choul bluntly. He can’t murder people physically, anymore, but he can murder them with words. “I have more honor and decency at my back than your entire alliance combined.”

Surprisingly, unlike General Jothraligus, from what Choul heard, this officer remains calm and composed, even under insult. Though, a couple of his subordinates seem perturbed on his behalf. Regardless, the officer speaks again. “Very well. Then, might I request accommodations for the night, as is customary to be afforded messenger envoys? If you are so decent and honorable, of course. I assure you, there is unlikely to be anything of particular surprise to us, as this Fort and its design belong to the Grand Empire of Zenkon.”

Choul ponders it visibly, leaning on the ramparts to make a show of him simply wasting time. He knows he’s in a general masculinity measuring contest, and whoever loses their temper first loses. Choul doesn’t much care about image, so much as results. However, he is curious to see what the message is, and it seems the messenger is set on not giving it until he is allowed inside.

“Very well,” replies Choul. “On three conditions. First, you will be blindfolded before being brought to your accommodations and upon exiting tomorrow morning. Second, you and your men will remain confined to your quarters for the duration of your stay. And third, if you speak in a dishonorable or disrespectful manner, you will answer to it as individuals, not hide behind your status as messenger. I am more than happy to send my own messengers in reply to your Lord General.”

The officers discuss it briefly at a low volume, but it’s very likely they’re aware the dattakoriens can hear most if not all of the conversation.

After a brief moment of discussion, the leader replies, “Very well. So long as we have your word no harm will come to us either, we shall abide by your terms.”

“Very well,” replies Choul. He telepathically gives some last minute instructions to everyone he can, having them spread the word quickly. He instructs, “You will wait here while we prepare your accommodations and the blindfolds.” Choul then retreats from the ramparts, pondering as far ahead as he can. Most likely, the envoy will try to gauge what kind of force was brought to Twilight and respond appropriately.

But, because it has been a strange and abnormal sequence of events, he has to wonder who made the call, and what’s going through that person’s mind.

***

~Author's Note: Dear readers, I had an epiphany recently thanks to a review I received and an anime recently that I was surprised is categorized as a 'romance'. It has slavery and bdsm themes, so I found this surprising, and also, I wanted to ask if you feel it would be reasonable for me to tag my story as a romance? I would greatly appreciate your comments!

Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy!

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