by Virlyce
“You can place any condition you want,” Tafel said, “but it won’t matter because I’m not going to lose.”
“So, I take it you agree?”
Tafel nodded. “Of course.”
Vur scratched his nose. “But wasn’t I the leader?”
Tafel raised an eyebrow before lifting her head. “Mm, I think the sun is a bit brighter than usual.” She lowered her head and placed a steak onto Vur’s plate before he could respond. “Here, eat your food.”
***
“Where’s Alora?” A sky-blue dragon poked her head out of a tunnel and looked around. The annoying trio were wrestling with each other in a corner of the cavern while their parents slept. Sera was counting a pile of glowing gems while Vernon was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling, looking for images that didn’t actually exist. “And Vur? Those two missed the curfew.”
“Vur’s not a child, Mom,” Sera said, her gaze still drawn to the mountain of gems. They clacked as she transferred them from one pile to another. “He doesn’t have to follow the curfew.”
“Not a child?” Vur’s grandmother asked, her eyes widening. “He’s not even half-a-century old yet! Of course he’s not a child; he’s still a baby. He’s even younger than the annoying trio!”
“Really, Grandma, really?” one of the dragons in the corner asked as he untangled himself from his siblings. “Even you’re calling us that now too? We’re not annoying!”
“Yeah! We’re not annoying. We’re … what’s the antonym for annoying?”
“Adorable?”
“We’re adorable, but that’s not the word. It’s, um, non-annoying!”
“Yeah, we’re nonnoying.”
“That’s not a word, stupid.”
“Don’t call me stupid, dummy!”
Vur’s grandmother ignored the trio as they resumed their wrestling match. “Whose rite of passage did Vur pass?”
“Dad’s,” Sera said. She picked up a particularly shiny gem and brought it close to her face, squinting at it and rotating it for a better look. After a thorough inspection, she nodded and placed the gem into its own separate pile. “I saw it with my own eyes. He didn’t go easy on Vur, so don’t accuse him of that.”
Vur’s grandmother snorted. “That reminds me. Why isn’t he here to visit me after waking up? It’s like he forgot about his own mate.”
“Well,” Vernon said, lifting his head off the ground. “Why weren’t you there by his side waiting for him to wake up?” Sera and her mother glared at Vernon, causing him to lower his head. He cleared his throat. “Forget I said anything.”
“I’m going to fly to the central continent to visit him,” Vur’s grandmother said. “Keep watch of my lands for me while I’m gone.”
“Sure,” Sera said, still rummaging through the pile of gems.
Sera’s mother stared at her. “And why exactly are you going through my cooking ingredients?”
“Gemstone lizard’s gemstones are great for amplifying magic power,” Sera said. “I’m going to make a staff for Vur.”
“Why would Vur need a staff? He can turn into a dragon,” Vernon said, turning his head to the side. He reached over and picked up the gem that Sera had singled out. “I don’t see what’s so special about this….”
Sera snatched the gem out of Vernon’s paw. “Vur needs a staff for his own safety. If he fights someone as a dragon, then he’ll have to get close to them. What if he gets injured? He’s a blue mage, and he should act more like one.” She placed the gem down on the opposite side of her body, away from Vernon. “It’ll be best if he can defeat everyone with magic before they can even reach him.”
Vernon snorted as his head turned back to face the ceiling, his eyes closing. “I think you’re worrying too much.”
“It’s a mother’s job to worry about her child,” Sera said, thumping her tail on Vernon’s stomach. “It’s more like you’re not worried about him enough.”
“Eh....” Vernon rubbed his belly before scratching his snout. “Mm. Alright, what’s he lacking? Armor? But he doesn’t like wearing clothes. Then why don’t I give him a sword? Swords have defeated dragons before, right?”
Sera’s tail thumped against Vernon’s stomach again. “Didn’t you hear anything I just said? I’m making him a staff to avoid close combat; why do you think giving him a sword is a good idea?”
“Right, right,” Vernon said, lifting Sera’s tail and placing it on the ground beside him. “How about a bow?” Sera’s tail twitched. “Wait! You’re really not giving me many options to work with here. He doesn’t wear armor, and he already has plenty of accessories, and you don’t want me to give him any close-ranged weapons.”
“Aren’t you two spoiling Vur a little too much?” Vur’s grandmother asked as she left the kitchen, walking past Sera and Vernon towards the exit. “How can he mature without hardship? How will he face hardship if he’s constantly protected by you two?”
Vernon coughed. “Says the dragon who places her grandchildren under curfew to keep them from getting hurt.”
Vur’s grandmother’s eyes narrowed. “They aren’t at the age where they need to mature just yet. But if you claim Vur is an adult, then he should be treated as one.”
“Ah!” Vernon sat upright, his eyes lighting up. “I got it! I’ll make Vur a staff too. Two staves are better than one, right?”
Sera’s brow furrowed. “And just how is he going to draw on the power of two staves at once?”
Vernon tilted his head. “Well, he has two arms, doesn’t he? He can use one in each hand.”
Vur’s grandmother shook her head. “Whatever you two decide to do, don’t use up all of my ingredients, alright? They take a while to replenish. I do have some ten-thousand-year-old firewood harvested from Trees of Knowledge lying around; you can use some of them for the bodies of the staves.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Sera said. “That’d be perfect.” She raised an eyebrow. “But were you really going to use those as firewood?”
Vur’s grandmother snorted. “Of course! What else would I smoke my meat with? Every meal should be made with the most perfect of ingredients—including during the preparation phase.” She rubbed her chin. “Speaking of perfect ingredients…, there’s a few I can pick up at Nova’s place. That’s one more reason for me to hurry over. If any trouble that you can’t deal with arises, ask your sister to handle it. And be careful around the human ruler living in my territory. She has a nasty sword.”
***
“Boss,” an armored man whispered to the bald merchant with the goatee. The two of them were sitting at the front of a wagon, the guard holding onto a pair of reins. “I’m not really comfortable with those five joining our caravan.”
The merchant’s already crescent-like eyes narrowed even further. “And you think I am?” he hissed back. He turned his head around, peeking beyond the goods to the opposite end of the wagon. The wagon behind him had five people sitting inside of it, their chatter able to be heard but not discerned from his position. He glared at the guard. “One of them is a skeleton, one of them has horns, another has blue hair, and one of them talks to himself all the time! The only normal-looking person is the short one, but she killed a hobgoblin in a single strike! You think I want these people traveling with our convoy? How am I supposed to refuse when my guards tremble in their boots upon confronting them? It’s your own fault that you’re uncomfortable!”
“Hey.”
The guard and the merchant flinched. Tafel’s voice had been transmitted behind them through the use of a portal. Her head and arm snaked through the portal, and she poked the merchant’s shoulder with the butt of her sword. “Why are you so stiff? Never mind that, how much longer is it going to take before we reach our destination?”
“We’ll enter Grand Duchess Apollonia’s lands before night falls as long as nothing gets in our way,” the merchant said. “But recently, bandit activity has been at an all-time high. I’ll be counting on you to take care of them if and
when the time comes.”
“Will do,” Tafel said, retreating into the portal. She waved her hand, dismissing it, and faced Vur. “Did you hear that? We’ll be there before the sun sets.”
Vur snorted. “We could’ve been there before the sun even rose if I flew,” he said. “This wagon’s too cramped, and it smells like mangoes.”
“What’s wrong with mangoes?” Alora asked.
“They don’t taste good,” Vur said, wrinkling his nose. “Why don’t we fly?”
“I already answered this,” Tafel said. “Weren’t you paying attention?”
“I want to hear a new reason because I don’t like the first one,” Vur said, making a face.
“Do mangoes really smell that bad?” Sheryl asked from Vur’s shoulder. “I wish I had a nose.”
“Did someone say wish?” a high-pitched voice asked.
“The pervert woke up!” Stella shouted, storming out of Vur’s chest. She flew into his hair, hiding behind his ear. “I couldn’t sleep in my bed for days because of him! Days!”
“There’s a bed inside of Vur?” Alice asked. “Is it an actual bed? Does he have some kind of space inside of him, or do you shrink down enough that you’re treating mana particles as furniture? I’m really curious now.”
“That’s not what’s important,” Stella said, glaring at Alice. She pointed a finger at Vur’s chest. “He’s coming out!”
A tiny head full of silver hair and golden horns popped out of Vur. The genie king looked around with his rainbow-colored irises before completely exiting Vur’s body. He hovered in the air, flapping a pair of wings that looked much like Stella’s. Yawning, he lifted his arms into the air and stretched, straightening his whole body. “Whew. That was a good nap. The bed smelled really nice too.”
“What are you saying, you pervert!?” Stella shouted, shaking her fist at the genie king from behind Vur’s ear. “Who gave you permission to inhale my scent?”
“Huh?” The genie king made eye contact with Stella. He stared at her for a moment, then his face flushed bright red. “H-hi. My name’s Mervin.” He flew up to Vur’s shoulder, not daring to get closer. “Who are you? Are you a genie? You’re not a man, right?”
Stella recoiled and shivered, crouching down even further behind Vur’s ear, using more of his hair to cover her face until only her eyes were showing. “I’m a fairy, stupid! What are you doing acting so flustered and enamored for? If genies are anything like fairies, you shouldn’t be falling in love!”
“But you’re so beautiful,” Mervin said, his eyes widening. He landed on Vur’s shoulder. “Let me sing you a song.” His eyes shut as he took in a deep breath, placing his hand on his chest.
“I wish you were gone!” Stella shouted before the genie king could start.
Mervin froze as his eyes shot open. “S-sorry, I can only grant wishes to the person who found me unless they give me permission,” he said. His eyes landed on Vur’s face. “Oh, right. You’re the person who found me. Nice to meet you. Since you let me nap for so long, I’ll grant any wish you want as long as it’s not unreasonable.”
Vur tilted his head. “Any wish I want?”
“That’s right,” Mervin said. “By changing my mana into matter, I can make anything appear. I can help you get stronger by using my mana to expand your mana channels. Or I can enhance your weapons by reinforcing them with mana. But there’s a limit to everything.”
“How about a star?” Vur asked.
Mervin blinked as Stella heaved a sigh from behind Vur’s ear. “What about a star?”
“Can I wish for a star?” Vur asked.
“…Uh, you mean like the things in the sky at night?” Mervin asked, pointing at the ceiling of the wagon. He scratched his head while letting out a low hum. “Is it possible…?”
Vur nodded, and Tafel poked his side. “Why do you want a star?” she asked.
“You don’t want a star?” Vur asked back, raising his eyebrows.
Tafel scrunched up her brow. “Why would I want a star?”
Vur blinked. “Because … you want one?”
“But I don’t?”
“You don’t?”
“I don’t think I do?”
“Think about it harder.”
Tafel lowered her head and clasped her hands together. A moment later, she sat up straight. “I thought about it, and I’m positive I don’t want a star. What would I even do with one?”
“Oh,” Vur said. He looked at his left bicep. “You were wrong, Zilphy.”
“…You’re the one who misinterpreted my words in the first place,” Zilphy said.
“So, you don’t want to wish for a star?” Mervin asked. “That’s good because it would’ve been impossible for me to make you one. What else do you want? You don’t want to become stronger?”
Vur turned towards Tafel. “Do you want anything?”
Tafel’s arm rose into the air, her hand creeping towards Vur’s face. She pressed her thumb against the nail of her middle finger and lifted her hand towards his forehead, her other fingers outstretched. Then she flicked him. “You found the genie king. It’s your wish,” she said. “I don’t want you using your wish on me, alright? If you do, I’m going to be mad. You always do so much for me, so wish for something that you want for once.”
Vur rubbed his forehead and frowned. “Something I want…,” he muttered. He glanced at Mervin, who was staring at the part of Stella that wasn’t hidden behind his hair. “Can I wish for a cake?”
“No!” Tafel, Alice, and Alora shouted at the same time, causing Mervin to fall over before he could respond.
“I’ll bake you a cake,” Tafel said. “Wish for something harder to get!”
Vur sighed. “What about bear meat? I haven’t had that in a while.”
“Don’t wish for food, Vur,” Tafel said, her eyes narrowing. “Is that really all you want?”
“Well, I’m hungry.”
Tafel reached forward and grabbed the genie king. “I’m going to hold onto him until after you finish eating. Think about what you really want. There has to be something other than food.”
Mervin struggled free and floated towards Stella. Miniature red hearts appeared and disappeared around him. His face flushed red, and he lowered his gaze while clearing his throat.
“Go away!” Stella hissed at the genie king and flew to the other side of Vur’s head, landing on the shoulder opposite Mervin.
A miniature flower blossomed out of thin air, appearing over Mervin’s waiting palm. He flew over to Stella, but she flew back around Vur’s head. Vur’s eyes flitted back and forth as the fairy queen and genie king repeatedly passed through his field of view.
“Stella, wait. I made this just for you.”
“Don’t call me by my name!” Stella said. She circled around to the back of Vur’s head, but Mervin was waiting for her there. She flinched and scrambled backwards, nearly tripping on air. She circled around to the front of Vur’s face before flying up into his hair. “Go bother someone else!”
Vur ignored the two miniature people and asked Alora, “What happens to a genie after you make a wish? The last one went back into the genie bean sprout, right?”
“That’s right,” Stella said, peeking her head out from behind Vur’s ear. She scanned the surroundings before whispering, “Hurry up and make a wish so he disappears.”
“It’s up to the genie, actually,” Alora said. Her hand flashed, and she snatched Mervin out of the air, holding him by the neck with two of her fingers as if he were a puppy. He kicked his legs and flailed his arms, but he was too small to do anything. “Some genies go back to sleep because granting a wish takes up a lot of energy. But he’s a genie king. If your wish is small enough and he doesn’t feel like going to sleep, then he’ll stick around.”
“Does that mean I can wish for another cake after the first one?” Vur asked, tilting his head.
Tafel pinched his waist. “No. You can’t even wish for the first cake.” She turned
towards the pouting genie. “But can you grant more than one wish?”
“One wish per person per genie per each time we’re awake,” Mervin said, placing his hands on his hips. “That’s the genies’ code of honor. That means if I grant you a wish and go back to sleep and you find me again, I won’t grant you another wish.”
“Oh great,” Tafel said, her voice bland. “Another code of honor.” She gave Vur and Alora a dirty look. “Did you hear that, Vur? You can only get a wish from this genie king once. He can grant you anything you want, so don’t waste it on something you can easily get, okay?”
Vur furrowed his brow and lowered his head. His gaze landed on the necklace made of souls that Lindyss had given him. He blinked once. “I know what to wish for.” He freed Mervin from Alora’s grasp. “I wish my mana regeneration was faster. Can you do that?”
A wrinkle appeared on Mervin’s forehead. “That’s a tough wish. Let me check.” His body dissolved into motes of white light that disappeared into Vur’s chest.
Stella’s eyes widened as she chased after him, entering Vur’s chest as well. “Who said you could enter my house without my permission!? Vur! What if he steals my stuff? You can’t let random strangers enter you like that!”
“Genies don’t steal things! We’re honorable,” Mervin’s voice said from a flashing white dot on Vur’s sternum. A purple dot chased after it. “We only sometimes trick people when they make vague wishes, but that’s part of the genies’ code of honor, so it’s honorable too. But it’s really nice in here, wow. Can I live here too?”
“No!” Stella’s voice said from the purple dot. “I spent so much time furnishing this place! This is my home, not yours.”
“How long are you planning on living inside of Vur?” Tafel asked the two flashing lights.
“Until he dies, which is never, so forever and ever,” Stella said.
