> Kira PoV

The first thing this dwarven-shaped titan did after waking up from a millennia-long slumber was swear. Well, at least she didn’t ask for a drink or a fight. So… that’s good? Yes, let’s decide that’s a good thing.

“Ah! Wait, this Umph?” (Draglael)

“Yes, Metal One. Tis I.” (Umph)

“Yeah, that pooftah-like way of talking is exactly Umph. Hmm? What’s all this then? Why’s there a bunch of me good ol’ boys gathered round?” (Draglael)

Now she finally noticed the thousands upon thousands of dwarves staring at her.

“Oi! What did you make them do!” (Draglael)

She turns back to Umph with yet another sour face. I thought titans were pacifists, right? Umph’s pretty docile, that Khamis fellow just looked scary, but this woman looks like she’s ready to throw a punch at the drop of a hat.

“I was waking de Dark One up first.” (Umph)

“And de feckin’ Calling went into overdrive… Why would- Wait, you actually did it didn’t you!?” (Draglael)

“Oh yes. De Dark One is out and about already. De Breddahs and Sistahs of Steel were a great help.” (Umph)

“You wot?! You actually got that lazy prat to crawl out of his cave?!” (Draglael)

“Well no, we just met with a projection.” (Umph)

“Ah, right. But he’s up and about? Well, that’s good! I’m just glad you didn’t cock it up like you always do!” (Draglel)

She finally stopped chatting with the bird on her shoulder and looked at the rest of us.

“Alright, you lot! Which one of you cunts broke my focken mountain!?” (Draglael)

…

Crap.

“Uhm. That would be me, ma’am.” (Kira)

I raise my hand timidly. Almost reflexively, actually… Well it’s for the best. She looks down at me with a curious face.

“Oi! Would ya look at the knockers on this one! Huh? Ah, one of those people eh? Right, I see what’s going on.” (Draglael)

‘Those’ people? Does she mean humans? The way she said it feels a bit weird, like she’s insulting me! Her gaze shifted onto Ellie.

“There’s even two of ya! Well innit great! Oi Umph. You’re fixing that mountain! Also that giant bloody ‘ole over there! This whole mess is your fault to begin with!” (Draglael)

“I understand, Metal One. I shall make amends.” (Umph)

Well… at least she didn’t plan to shove that all on me. I mean, yes, I did technically split the mountain in two, but it was indeed Umph who said we should follow as soon as possible! The fact that I was planning on doing that anyway is something this titan does not need to know. This and that are completely unrelated.

“We’ll be ‘avin a little talk later, so stick around.” (Draglael)

Draglael turned back to me and spoke in a surprisingly quiet, yet firm voice. There’s hope for the dwarven race yet! I was seriously worried at her initial outburst, but I guess titans really are a peaceful lot in the end.

Now she’s looking over the sea of meat-headedness around us. We’re finally going to see the dignity of-

“Listen up you right shits! I have three things to tell you!” (Draglael)

Nevermind. Also. Ow. My ears.

“First! You make me proud!” (Draglael)

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

*HUUOOOOOOOO*

I still can’t get used to that weird cheer. Well, at least it’s not one of those long ovations… Oh! So that’s why they love doing that so much!

“Second! Now that I’m up and about, there’s gonna be some changes! You tossers still have a Senate, right?” (Draglael)

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

*HUUOOOOOOOO*

Draglael facepalms with a sigh. I guess even she underestimated these people.

“... I’ll be taking that as a yes. Okay, third and most important! Let’s get pissed!” (Draglael)

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

*HUUOOOOOOOO*

I take it back. The dwarven people are doomed. Well, ultimately this turn of events is more or less what I expected.

* * *

The thousands of dwarves are still at it. It’s been 9 hours and the sun’s set already, yet they show no signs of stopping their drunken rampaging. At least those Senate guys had sobered up enough to meet with Draglael. Since the 50-meter titan obviously can’t fit inside their assembly hall, they’re having a little sit-down under the Sunstone.

I have to say, seeing sunlight pour down on the left while one of the moons peeks through the ceiling to the right is a really beautiful sight.

While those people are busy with dwarven matters, we’ve returned to our tower along with Kelly. I’ve made her sit at our dining table. Ellie and the kids already went to bed in our sound-proof room. Which is good, because Kelly’s about to get the tongue-lashing of a lifetime!

“So. We’ve put it off for a while, but it’s time for me to ask - have you actually gone insane!? Did you not think to try and include us in this whole thing even once?!” (Kira)

“Look, Red! You should by now know it was risky! What if the Calling-” (Kelly)

“No! None of that! If you had just calmly explained the situation instead of rushing off like an idiot, we could’ve come up with something!” (Kira)

“Oh yeah!? Like what?” (Kelly)

“Oh I don’t know. Like following you from above on a flying piece of land!? Or how about Ellie just restraining you in mid-air during one of those rampages you had you to endure?!” (Kira)

Those are just two simple and immediately effective things I came up with just now! If we had known the full details there would be no need for her to suffer like that! I’m sure Nano could’ve come up with dozens of solutions in an instant!

“But the border wouldn’t let-” (Kelly)

“You broke their gate and they still let you in! I seriously doubt it would’ve been any different if we cam with you! I let you go peacefully because you insisted! But how can I trust you if you’re willing to abandon us like that!?” (Kira)

“...” (Kelly)

She’s looking away with a difficult face, but still doesn’t want to apologize! Does she have any idea just how painful it was to watch what she was going through?! This clan and their blasted secrets almost got her killed!

“Well!? What was the real reason you didn’t include us and ran off?” (Kira)

“... I can’t tell you.” (Kelly)

“Oh! OH! You can’t tell us! Why? Are we not worthy of the Darkhand clan’s mighty secrets!?” (Kira)

“No! I mean, not that! I mean I literally cannot tell you! The words will not leave my mouth! I wanted to! I wanted to tell you everything! But it was physically impossible!” (Kelly)

“That’s it? What, because of an oath or something? Are you actually a moron? You lost an arm, Kelly! You fought a hydra bare-handed! It’s a miracle you’re even alive! What if your stubbornness cost you your life?!” (Kira)

“I would’ve lost a lot more if I let you follow me without knowing anything!” (Kelly)

“Then tell us so we can prepare! We’re adventurers! This is literally what we do!” (Kira)

“I already told you. I can’t!” (Kelly)

“But WHY?” (Kira)

“Because of the [Chains That Bind]! Ack!” (Kelly)

She her only hand against her mouth as if trying to shut herself up. Her eyes widened like dinner plates.

What are these chains she blurted out? Another titan secret? A curse? Some sort of magic seal?

“I… I said it…” (Kelly)

Hmm? Well yes, she blurted out something she clearly didn’t mean to, but just how deep did she bury it to be shocked to this extent?

“[Chains That Bind]. I can say it!? What?” (Kelly)

Wait, just the mere fact she’s able to speak about it is shocking? So it’s a curse after all, huh? Now she’s gone completely silent and closed her eyes. What’s going on?

“What are-” (Kira)

She raises her arm to interrupt me. I close my mouth reflexively.

“Red! Please! I have to focus! I’ll listen to all you have to say later, but for now please just sit there quietly and let me focus!” (Kelly)

…

She’s certainly concentrating on something. She’s sitting perfectly still, eyes closed, palm on her forehead.

I have no idea what’s going on. Maybe I should’ve asked Ellie to be here too? No, extracting those answers by force is meaningless. This is a question of trust. The lack of trust, to be precise.

“I can’t hear it. I can’t hear that bloody voice anymore!” (Kelly)

She looks at me with an oddly cheerful expression.

“Kelly… what voice?” (Kira)

“Hold on Red! I’m thinking!” (Kelly)

She gets up from her chair and starts pacing around the room.

“Darkhand will be chained… then we protect the titans which wake the Steelmother. She turns the nightmares into dreams and then the Shadowspinner will know peace and the calling will Collapse, so the Darkhand will be free.” (Kelly)

She’s mumbling something incomprehensible. Looks like she’s actually using her head for things other than headbutts! I’m so shocked I can barely respond!

“But Shadowspinner woke up first… wait he wasn’t even supposed to wake up, right? Then… that means! The order! Red! The order is wrong! It’s all wrong!” (Kelly)

“Is… that bad?” (Kira)

“Bad!? It’s bloody marvelous!” (Kelly)

Erk! Her face has a smile so wide, it looks like it’s gonna break! I reflexively recoiled a bit!

“Hahahahaha! That bloody birdbrain actually went and did it! Oh wow! I underestimated him! HAH! Hahahaha! I’m free! I’m actually bloody free! You can go shove it up your ass, Chains! YEEEAAAH!” (Kelly)

Now she’s… cheering?

“Red! I know I’m not making a lot of sense and I have a lot to answer for! But just… I’m sorry okay! I do trust you! Way more than any of those bloody titans, that’s for sure! I’ll explain and apologize later, but right now I have some serious celebrating to do!” (Kelly)

She made a bunch of noise again and left in a hurry. Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like some major burden has been lifted off her shoulders. She apologized and promised to explain so I’ll let it go for now.

Well, she’ll be back sooner than she realizes though. This place is still in the air, and she can’t use the [Flight] spell to get down on her own.

* * *

I approach the so-called Steelmother and the tired Senators. Looks like they opted to go for an all-nighter and still aren’t finished. But Draglael clearly said she wanted to speak with me yesterday, so here I am! Kelly is still off celebrating somewhere around here.

“First of all. You have my thanks for helping me, my people and my fellow titans in attaining our freedom. While you may think your part in this is small, trust me when I say it is something that would’ve been impossible without your aid. This is not a debt we can never truly repay.” (Draglael)

She bowed. A titan actually bowed to me! It was scary though! That giant body suddenly bending forward made me think that a mountain was falling on me!

“But we’re still going to try anyway! Your mate Nano said you’ll be needing a bunch of stuff, so we’ll help out with that!” (Draglael)

I stare blankly at her. Nano? Stuff? What?

“What the Steelmother means to say is that since Khamis is now awake, we expect to see a rapid decline in monster activity in the Depths beneath Ecebis. We’ll be able to rapidly expand our mining operations and expect an overflow of ores and gems and will be sharing a part of our surplus.” (Senator)

One of the dwarven senators who still seems to have his wits about him spoke up and clarified the situation a bit. I understand now. We’ll be needing a bunch of raw material for the not-yet-official Ministry of Progress, so Nano negotiated a deal of some sort on our behalf. That’s all well and good, but how do they plan on bringing it all the way to Ferseit?

“I thought this country didn’t allow open trading like that?” (Kira)

“That’s the thing, we’re going to open up the borders. No reason for keeping it closed anymore since the Calling’s gone. We’ve also prepared a few trading and cooperation agreements we’d like to make with that goofy king of yours, so I’ll be asking you bring some of these guys with you on your way back.” (Draglael)

Wow. Okay. I guess they must’ve had a good reason for closing it down in the first place. I just assumed it was shut off because dwarves like secrets. Apparently. My gaze wandered onto the gash in the sky that’s still there.

“Hmm? What about that hole in the mountain? I thought Umph was sealing it?” (Kira)

“Changed my mind. It’s bloody marvelous to have a skylight, innit? I’ll still have that poofter reinforce and mend the rocks though. Someone was a bit too rough when they split this mountain open and nearly collapsed the whole thing.” (Draglael)

“Erm. That… Sorry…” (Kira)

I obviously did not consider this at all. Why is it that every time I get a chance to use [Solar Flare] I end up going completely out of control!? I should seriously think about sealing my usage of that spell.

Well, the titan’s giving me that sort of motherly smile I use whenever Lara or Sophie do naughty things. She’s not yelling or anything, but I still feel like I was scolded.

“Actually, Draglael. I have one more favor to ask. Can you fix Kelly’s arm?” (Kira)

Kelly had spouted some line that Nano would somehow do that, but apparently Nano doesn’t have the right materials and parts to actually do it.

“Ah? What? Did she break it already? I only gave it to her a little while ago!” (Draglael)

…

“Oi Kelly! Get your sorry face over here ya ungrateful cunt!” (Draglael)

She screamed that into the crowd of passed-out dwarves. Those idiots kept partying until they collapsed. The few that wake up get right back to drinking. I see one particularly violent drunk stand up and slowly but unsteadily making her way here.

“What’d you want ya old- *urp* windbag? Can’t you see I’m tryin’ to *urp* celbr- celebr- celebrate! No that’s not it! I’m trying to find my pint!” (Kelly)

She raises an empty mug in some futile complaint. Then I realized she raised that mug with her right hand.

“Kelly!? You got a new arm! Is that… Mithril?” (Kira)

The shiny metal limb is white with a green tint, not unlike our Adventurer Cards. The surface is completely smooth, but the shape seems to mirror her flesh and blood arm perfectly!

“Oh hey Red! Hold on! This old *urp* old hag seems to have a beef to pick with me!” (Kelly)

She swings that new arm of hers in a threatening way. Okay, let’s intervene before I cause a brawl between a drunken Kelly and a 50-meter steel statue. It could go either way, but the surroundings won’t survive the encounter.

“Sorry, it was my mistake. Thanks for taking care of our Kelly!” (Kira)

I show my gratitude to the Steelmother with a small bow.

“Your Kelly is it? You know she's basically my great-great-great-... well, doesn't matter.” (Draglael)

“Oh hey Red! When did you get here!? *Urp* Do ya mind magicking up some ale for me? I can’t seem to feel my legs…” (Kelly)

Kelly shoves her mug closer at me. What am I? A magical keg?

“Guh! Kelly! Don't shove that filthy mug at me! And there’s even more blood on it than before!” (Kira)

Noticeably more! I can barely look at it! Why does she insist on keeping that horrible thing around!?

“Oh right I forgot to mention! That mug’s one of the things I made way back when! I call it the Slug and Chug Mug!” (Draglael)

…

“It took a lot of work to make it indestructible, but it was worth it! It's perfect for bashing someone’s face in! Amirite, Kelly?” (Draglael)

Umph helped make a miniature sun. Draglael made a weaponized mug. I’m going to err on the side of caution and assume Umph’s case is the exception. Let’s be sure to avoid any and all titans in the future!

“Oh yeah! Best mug ever this! Makes the ale taste like, like, like, fifteen nails on a dead man's chest! Yo ho ho and… Huh? Hey Red! Didn’t see you *urp* there! You really should stop spinning!” (Kelly)

*PLOP*

And she’s out cold. Wonderful.

We are leaving this country right now! I have my hands full just dealing with one dwarf, I can’t deal with their titan and their whole army if they wake up! My head would explode for sure!

Ellie and I were worried sick about Kelly so we couldn’t even enjoy the trip over here, let’s be sure to correct that on the way back! We’ll cuddle and kiss and make love above the clouds! Huhuhuhu, I can’t wai-

…

The dwarven delegation is coming with us, aren’t they?

“Draglael.” (Kira)

“Yeah?” (Draglael)

“I really hate you right now.” (Kira)

End of Act Six - Prepared For the Future