I have been abusing my new skills and letting myself adjust to Kim (and Kim to myself) till late afternoon. The effects were visible and quite significant, but the peaks of my possibilities still weren’t quite there.

My heart was pounding, my blood was rushing through my veins making my cheeks flush with bright redness of excitement. I wanted to test it in real combat, go for some low or medium rank quest – greenskin eradication, low dungeon raid, attack on bandits camp – whatever! Whatever would do! - That was just a dream form to slaughter a bunch of weaklings.

But, I already had other plans for the next few days. Much to Sins dismay, I cooled my head (literally – a bowl of cold water proved to be quite helpful) and returned to my now empty room. Girls went in their own directions, Blanka was most likely visiting shops fixing her equipment, Lanele in the library was studying works of humanity and Giselle was in one of many training rooms.

Of course, where else could they be? But that leaves me with few extra hours just for myself and these little beauties! Look at them! Prepared beforehand on the table! Dismantled, drying in the sun.

Aklora’s flower, the root of moonshade, blades of rivergrass together with pure alcohol for potion's base. And for the effect – few mushrooms that I managed to pick on my way here, as well as some body parts of animals and monsters. Bull, horse, lizard, rabbit, spider and few others.

Long time ago Madame Godamn – the Syndicate’s Shade responsible for prostitution – asked me if I could make some potion for as customers as girls themselves – enchanting stamina lust and so on. Because what’s better than going to a brothel for an hour? Going to a brothel for two hours. Or three. Or as many as you only desire.

Sex, war, and money always were, and forever shall remain people’s main motivators. And where it comes to sex at least I don’t have to get my hands dirty – quite the opposite! I am doing a favor to the whole mankind! How many relationships could have been saved with a proper... approach? Instead of hearing, or you would just mix two or three drops in water and bada-bim bada-boom we have a happy couple.

~ The true world of peace, that’s my dream. Sniff-sniff.

Oh, reeeally?

~ No, but I think I can find a use or two for that potion of yours, so I will support you with my whole heart!... uh, just imagine starting a party with a bottle or two of these… OUCHA! Envy, you bitch don’t hit me like that out of bl…

In my head sins started yelling again. I ignored them, proceeding to light the fire under glass vessels with alcohol.

The leaves have been cut, the roots mashed, petals ripped from the flower and all were mixed before being added to the alcohol. As I was slowly diving into my little own world of alchemy – of sounds, smells, and colors I lost my touch with reality.

After few hours Lanele returned to the guild, instead of going to her own room she went toward Giselle’s and Zariel’s instead. Why? In past few days that became a habit, girls appeared to be quite compatible friends and instead of returning to dark, lonely room they preferred spending the time together.

She knocked and went in, seeing Giselle chatting with Blanka on the bed and Zariel close to the table was mixing herbs and animal’s parts together.

“I hoped I didn’t miss it?” she said in quiet tone – loud enough to be heard by girls but not too much to disturb mage’s focus. “Shh! No, but it’s about to start! Come, sit! I think it will be quite a show this time!”

It’s not the first time they watched Zariel preparing potions, but each and every time it was quite a spectacle. That’s what they noticed after just a few days of traveling together. Zari tends to lose himself so much, that he has no idea what is happening around him as he prepares potions They could strip down naked and start running around him, but as long as they wouldn’t interfere with his art, he would never know!

But, there was one more thing to it. Apparently, Zariel had yet another beautiful talent he never talks about aloud. Only when he loses himself like that, his true nature blooms.

He started humming under his nose as he threw the last part of the ingredients into the pot.

“It’s starting!” Blanka clapped her hands excited “Shh!” Gisselle silenced her, even though her tail’s tip was also wiggling in anticipation.

And so, it started. The magician opened his mouth and started singing.

“Sunshine, my beloved one,

I am so-so happy, with you on my side,

With you, I feel the warmth of the sun,

Only you I can see as my bride,

The jades of your eyes are piercing my heart,

Making me speechless not knowing what’s right,

Oh love, your skin I wish to kiss forever and more,

Oh love, I wish you were in my life before.

For I never knew, what was happiness

Before I learned your heart’s tenderness,

Without you, I am nothing, but an empty shell,

So please, don’t leave me, or I shall know hell.

Oh love, you give me strength, to draw another breath,

The warmth of your body, flush my cheeks with red,

Your kiss, your touch, the words from your lips,

Their absences make soul empty and heart so very weak,

Here I stand, with vows of my heart:

I am yours, forever,

So can you be m…”

Angel’s voice stopped.

The potions were made as white-haired man woke up from his trance. He raised a yellow potion in which a “string” of pink dense material was floating, and smiled after closer inspection. Then he turned around and noticed his companions.

“Since when are you here?” “Me and Giselle? For an hour or so. Lanele just came. You were so focused on your alchemy that you didn’t notice us all this time.” Blanka responded “Well, I can’t care less about you when I have these beauties in my hands… Giselle, is everything all right? You are red on you face… Lanele, you too actually? You didn’t caught any disease I hope!? I mean, Lanele, you can catch whatever you want, but Gis, we have a date this evening! Don’t you dare getting a fever!... I have already prepared everything…” the last one was half-whispered. “I-I am fine.” Dragoness said in surprisingly weak voice. “Are you sure? I hope you didn’t overwork yourself. Babe, you have to be more careful, you hear me? I would hate seeing you hurt… What is it?” Blanka was making weird faces all the time Zariel was speaking “Nothing. I just thought you can be quite cute, from time to time.” “Of course I can. I am me. I can be whatever I want…” “Suuunshiiine… my beeeloooved oooneee…I am so-so haaappy… with yoou on my sideeee.” Blanka sang trying to tease him “… The fuck was that? Nice tune, catchy, but please, do something for music and never sing again. Someone gave his everything creating this song so don’t butcher his or hers efforts like that.” “F-fine, but, do you know who wrote this song?” “No? It’s first time I am hearing it. No, seriously! Why are you looking on me like that? Eh, whatever. I am going to deal with one more thing. Gis, love, put something nice on yourself this evening. Maybe that dress from last party? It would be lovely. Can’t wait to see you.”

He said with pure smile while leaving the room.

“… he said he didn’t know the song…” Blanka said quietly “You want to tell me that he was literally singing what was in his heart? Last time he sang quite famous song from opera, but this…” “Impossible. No one can be THIS adorable! And definitely not this little bastard! What do you think Giselle? Giselle? Gis?”

But Gis was in world of her own, sitting on the bed with knees curled to her chest, squeezing pillow in which she burrowed her face.

Soon, she collapsed with her whole body mass on the bad and started rolling from one edge of the bed to the other one, making her human and elfish friends smile widely. Eventually, she stopped and raised her face, now even redder than her hair, from above the pillow.

“D-d-did you hear the same thing I did?” “I believe so…” Blanka kneeled like a knight in front of dragoness putting her right hand on her heart and stretching her left toward her “… Only yooou… I can see… as my briiideeee…” “STOP IT!” the pillow hit war dancress between her eyes

Gis's lip was trembling, her tail was weaving to the sides with such a force, that it could easily knock down an adult male – she looked like a teenage girl having her first puppy crush.

“W-w-what do I do now?” “Giselle, you are acting as if you were afraid of asking him out on your first date… I just wish to remind you that … YOU ARE ALREADY DATING FOR AT LEAST TWO FUCKING YEARS!” “B-b-but he never was THIS sweet before… I feel… like falling for him the second time…”

Blanka groaned and rolled her eyes cringing after seeing her friend’s reaction, on the other hand Lanele was almost jumping in place from excitement.

“So pure! So sweet! That’s what love is supposed to be about!” she was clapping her hands joyfully “For fuck sake. I am stuck with two hitting puberty teenage girls. Oh woe, woe me!... Well, I am more interested in what he cooked over there”

She said approaching the table with a bunch of weird potions.

“…I have never seen anything like that.” “Leave it. It could be a poison.” “Silly you! It’s stamina potion! You can tell just by looking! Health potions are red, stamina are yellow, mana are blue. Poisons are green, eventually purple! Even kids know that!” “Blanka, I have weird hunch that you are taking your knowledge regarding potions from fairy tales for kids.” “Definitely not! It’s from… Scientific… books…” “Oh reeaaally? The one with pictures?” “M-m-Maybe? So what! Visualization is an important teaching method!” “In these books, perhaps, was a duck, that after being close to explosion, had its beak turned to the other side of his head, and in order to speak he had to pull it back?” “… Mooh! Whatever! Fine! I don’t know shit about potions!... but you are telling me the colors are really matching the potions?” “… best poisons are transparent and odorless… otherwise you could spot the possible assassin right away, don’t you think?” “… so…. Who drinks it first?” “NO ONE OF COURSE!?” “Lanele, I dare you to drink it!” Blanka chuckled “You can’t be saying that for real! He has been working for it for a couple of hours! Even if that was harmless that would be just mean to waste his hard labor! Potions are meant to be the lifesaving last resort tool!” “Bla-bla-bla you chicken you! Giselle, com’ere let’s take a shot!” “Nah, better not. I feel the same way as Lanele.” “See? Even Giselle has more brain than you!” “Ha-ha that’s rig… HEY! What do you mean by ? Since when it’s offensive to be dumber than me?!” “…since the sun was born.” Blanka whispered to herself “I HEARD THAT!” “Yeah, whatever. I thought Gis has more guts than some rat, especially that she is half dragon and poisons don’t work on her… well, if she is afraid so much that can’t be helped!” “WHO IS AFRAID? ME? GIVE ME THAT!”

She ripped the vial off Blanka’s hands and drank it in one go.

“SEE?! I AM NOT AFR…”

Her expression became weird, confused even.

“… Giiiis?” “Funny. Uh, it was a good stuff. Dunno what Zari mix into it, but damn it does kicks better than whole barrel of ale… uh..” “Gis, I thought It was impossible, but your face is even redder now…” “Why is it so hot in here…”

She unbuttoned her shirt.

Even then, a drops of sweat started appearing on her forehead, moments later dragoness started breathing loudly.

“Is… she overheating? A half-dragon? Overheating?” Blanka asked elf without taking her eyes off berserker. “Blanka, find Zariel. Now.” “But…” “NOW!”

So she ran off the room without properly closing the door behind herself, she ran to man’s part of the bathhouse, trampling the staff workers that tried to stop her, kick the door open and ran inside.

Quite a few males let out a lady-like scream after being seen naked covering their “shameful-parts” with towels.

“ZAAAARI! EMERGENCY! GISELLE DRANK YOUR POTION!” “SHE DID WHAT!?” “DRANK YOUR POTION!” “THAT STUPID SOW!”

From the water, a person jumped out grabbing the towel on the way. The two of them left the bathhouse just like that and ran back on the second floor, once again trampling the staff worker that was about to get up from the ground after the previous assault.

“How much did she drink?!”

Zariel asked as soon as he got back

“Whole vial!” “WHAAAT!?” “WHOLE VIAL!” “YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MIX A DROP OR TWO IN CUP OF WATER!” “WILL SHE DIE!?” “Worse.” “WHAT CAN BE WORSE THAN DEATH!?”

In the meantime, dragoness moaned loudly taking another piece of her clothes off.

“Why it’s so hot in here?... my body is burning.” “It’s something I made for nobles in… specific age. It’s aphrodisiac. Strong one. Not refined nor purified. The potion is not done yet, it has to be put through two or three more processes… I need to make some antidote… maybe some mix of paralytic poison? Mixed with sleep potion? Yes, that could work just fine…”

But Giselle raised from the bed, and with drunk-like step approached magician hugging him from behind.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you are?” she chuckled directly into his ear, blowing hot air ticking his neck "... especially now, in nothing but a towel, with waster all over your body... are you perhaps this wet because of me?" "Giselle said a lewd joke - end of the world, I tell you, end of the world is coming." Blanka whispered

She was pouring all the time, rubbing her body into his like cat in heat.

“Can you please keep her away as I would be preparing antidote?” “S-sure…” Blanka grabbed Giselle’s hand.

She was hot, the difference of temperatures made her moan even louder, and Blanka in shock released her.

“God damn it, woman! Why did you even take it!? Like, what kind of moron would just drink unlabeled potion!? Are you mad!? WHY DIDN’T YOU ASK ME!?” “ZaAaAaAriii… I feel funny, so fuzzy… my skin is itchy, can you give me a massage?” “H-h-h-HOW LEWD!”Lanele was once again red, this time with some-what-disgust-ish-yet-still-curios grimace. “Giselle, sweetie, hold on, I am working on something that would make feel better soon, just give me a moment and…”

He was trying to put right herbs into the pot, but…

“Zaari, do you know what will make me feel better?… a kiss from you… so stop playing with that and play with me instead…” Giselle pushed the vessel of Zariel’s hand, making it shatter on the floor.

He exhaled loudly.

“It’s done. Too late, there is only one cure for her condition now.” “W-w-what is it? If we can help…” Lanele panicked “Yes, you indeed can help…” Zariel said taking second vial of weird yellow and pink potion “… leave us, close the door, and make sure no one will come here.” “W-what are you going to do?”

He uncorked the vial and drank it himself, then smiled is most asshole-ish way

“A mouth-to-mouth therapy.” “YOU LEWD FIEND!” yelled elf slamming the door, shutting two-love birds inside.

Lanele was furious, Blanka was looking to the side with “I am absolutely not guilty” face while whistling quietly.

And then, even though the walls were soundproof, the loud moan could be heard

Few days earlier – right after Zariel informed the king about the situation in Merchant’s city

The king was just as furious as happy.

On the one hand, he was mad that even most fundamental laws that he set weren’t honored far from the capital, on the other one his position was about to improve yet again.

He decided to act. The time when he was helplessly watching as nobles, mages and merchants were tearing his country to shreds ended. He won’t be remembered as a lazy king. He won’t be remembered as the king that let monarchy lose all its power. He shall not be remembered as the puppet king.

He gathered few trusted nobles, lots of administration workers and a small group of elite knights as his guards and was about to leave – to the southwest.

As he was preparing his horses, Jericho entered the palace’s plaza.

“Arthur? Am I dreaming? You? On the HORSE!?” “Where did you expect me to travel, old fart? Under it?” “Well, knowing your skill and the time that passed since the time you actually ride one, that indeed can happen in the middle of your journey… No, I thought that you would travel in a cart, like every soft-butted nobble.” “I don’t have mood for idle talk, Jeremy. What brings you here?” “Don’t you need adventurer’s assistance? I might have a business or two in Stottegard, so I was wondering if I can take myself along.” “Of course you can… but I am not hiring you.” “Theh!” Jericho was visibly displeased “…Miser! Skinflint! Niggard!” “Such cruel words. I thought we were friends!” “Phi!” Jeremy pouted “… if we were friends we could enjoy this bottle of whiskey together… Straight from Runner’s Company cellar. Fifty-five years old – a specific, rare brand. they made only ten bottles. Do you know how they call it? Oh, irony - White Raven…” “ANYWAY! HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER DOING!? Young princess hit her thirteens. Right? Don’t ask how I know it! Friends remember such details right?! HO-HO-HO!” “… yeah, and definitely not because a few months ago there was a whole celebration involving the whole city, right?” Arthur the Wise just shook his head. Jeremy was always like that. “… horse master! Do we have a spare horse for this vagabond?” “Yes, sir! I will look for the noblest and strong breed for the dragon slayer and…” “No nono, pony will be sufficient!” “I WILL NOT RIDE A BLOODY PONNY!” “Then maybe donkey….” “AAARTHUUUR!” “Jeremy, you look so angry! What will you say about a shot or two before our departure, just to relax a little?” “I see they call you the Wise king for a reason!”

Jeremy, you old fart, never, but absolutely never change.