“I’m not sure I understand,” Roethus said, holding up a hand to silence the room. “You say that Christoph did slay the dragon, however you are unable to provide proof due to the fact that he somehow devoured the creature’s entire corpse while you were unconscious?”

“That’s correct,” Diana replied. The council was silent for a moment before Gilder slammed his gauntlets down against the table, the heavy wood shifting with the force of the blow.

“Is this a joke?” Gilder’s armor clinked as he stood, towering over the rest of the council members. “Are you making fun of us, making fun of all the adventurers who make a living off these subjugation requests? If so, you will answer to the Crowns of Flame.”

“Calm, Gilder,” Harold said, raising a scaled hand in imitation of the guild master. Turning towards the elf, the lizard-man narrowed his eyes. “If that is true, where is this Christoph now?”

“I-” Diana faltered, keenly aware of the other council members as they stared across the table towards her. Gilder’s warrior might not care much for her presence, but the mages of the Silent Chains scrutinized her intently, and Serana seemed nearly as angry as her companion always was.”I was unable to convince him to attend.”

“This is ridiculous,” Roethus said with a sigh, feathered collar waving as his shoulders shifted. His spectacles shifted down his nose with the movement, and he frowned as he reached up to readjust them.

“I agree,” Serana replied. “Do you mean to insult the guild master and the council?”

“I have no control over Christoph’s actions,” Diana said with a shrug. “He does what he wishes.”

“And what is it he wishes to do?” Gilder asked, crossing his arms as he leant back in his chair once more.

Diana drew in a large breath. “His exact words were ‘I just killed and ate a dragon. I killed it, and then I ate it, and then I absorbed its power. I feel like… there’s just no way I can sit still for an hour while they talk about how terrible a person you are. Can’t you just go alone?’ ”

“Brilliant!” Gilder threw his head back in laughter, shoulders bouncing as he roared. “He sounds like one of my men!” His four companions stiffened beside him, eyes averting as their leader spoke.

“Please try to be serious,” Roethus said, turning back towards the elven woman. “Slaying a dragon is a serious matter. If we take your word as the truth without verifying the matter, we risk inviting the attention of the Ouroboros.”

“I understand,” Diana said. “However, I do not see how-”

The large double doors burst open with a crack of splintered wood, a short figure striding through to stand triumphantly in the center of the room.

“I’m here!” Benvolio said, arms raised towards the ceiling. “Diana! Did you miss me?”

“Lord Benvolio…” Diana rose from her chair, bowing low before him. It had been years since she had laid eyes on the city’s small lord, but he hadn’t seemed to have changed much. Or grown much. No, Benvolio was far too old to be growing still, so that was expected. He wore the same simple robes he always had, a myriad of gold and silver chains draped around his slender arms and torso. “It’s good to see you,” she said. “Have you been well?”

“Oh?” Benvolio glanced over the council, waving towards Roethus with a smile. “Am I interrupting?”

“Of course not,” Diana replied, ignoring the fact that he hadn’t responded to her question. “We were just discussing how to prove the dragon really was slain.”

“Eh, don’t worry about that,” the shorter man said with a dismissive wave. “Of course its dead, I could have told you that if you’d asked.”

“Of course, my lord,” Roethus replied. “May I ask why you have chosen to visit us this fair morning?”

“Here,” Benvolio said, beckoning back towards the wide-open doors. Had he really burst the latch open with nothing more than his physical strength? Diana frowned down at the feminine-looking man, eyes snapping open as his guests came into view.

“This is Leila, the lord of the Greater Paw, and Gideon, her faithful slave and companion.” Benvolio tapped at their arms as he introduced them, sighing wistfully as he glanced between the tall beast-woman and her companion. “Leila’s here because she looking for-

“Hello Diana,” Leila said, ears flicking up towards the elf.

“Leila,” Diana responded. “If you’re looking for Christoph, he’s-”

“You stabbed my sister,” Leila said, taking a step towards the elf. “Diana the Researcher, I, Leila of the Greater Paw, challenge you to a duel.”

“I d-” Diana began.

“Hey,” Benvolio said, tugging on Leila’s furred arm. “Are you ignoring me?”

“Ah!” Diana glanced down at the small ruler, raising a hand in an attempt to calm him down. “I’m sure Leila didn’t mean to-”

“Hey.” Benvolio stared up towards the beast-woman, and Diana sighed as she realized Leila was still looking in her direction instead.

“Lord Benvolio, please.” Roethus rose from his seat, circling around the table towards them. “It seems Leila and Diana have some unfinished business.”

“We-” Leila stopped speaking when she saw Roethus’ frantic expression, his spectacles nearly falling from his face as he shook his head. It was true that she had no wish to anger the most powerful man in the plains.

“Maybe we could hear the rest of the tale back in the comfort of your tower?” the guild master said, forcing a smile as he addressed the city’s lord. “I’m sure it’s bound to be a long story.”

“No way,” Benvolio said, shaking his head with a clank of oversized jewelry. Roethus breathed a sigh of relief as the effeminate man released Leila’s arm anyway. “I’m not going back until I get my present from Diana.”

Diana blinked as the short man held his hand out towards her, fingers wriggling expectantly. Patting down her pockets, she tried to ignore Roethus’ pleading looks as her hands returned empty each time. Benvolio’s innocent expression gave way to a frown as she searched, his disappointment warping into anger as he lowered his hand.

“Hey,” he said, tapping his foot with a clank of jewelry. “Don’t tell me you forget to bring me a present?”

…

“So it worked then?” Barry grinned, leaning forwards as Christoph wrapped up his story. Jacques hurried past in the background, darting around the store in search of products and customers.

“Yeah,” Christoph replied, leaning against the desk. “I guess it did.”

“Yes!” Larry pumped his fist in triumph, high-fiving his brother before they clapped each other on the backs.

“Oi,” Christoph said. “You told me there was no chance of failure.”

“Don’t worry,” Larry said, waving his hand. “Anything less than 5% doesn’t even count.”

“Maybe not in the workshop,” Christoph said with frown, “I was fighting a dragon, you know?”

“It’s fine,” Barry said. “Anyway, how about that gauntlet then? If you’ve got the cash, we can get started on drawing up the plans-”

“I don’t need the gauntlet any more,” Christoph replied. “Heavy armor might be useful, though, maybe a dagger… No, could teach me how to do the engraving myself?”

“Eh?” Larry made a face. “That’s bad for business, you know?”

“No, no, I mean you’ll pay us, right?” Barry said, glancing around the store. “It’ll be expensive, though. It’s not easy, either.”

“I just need the basics,” Christoph said. “This body isn’t suited to channeling mana outwards, but filling crystals seems easy enough.”

“Are you planning on carving the spells into your sword?” Barry asked, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t that part of your body?”

“Something like that,” Christoph replied. “Well, I’m not even sure I can maintain an enchantment right now, so this is more of an experiment.”

“Hmmm…” Larry frowned down at Christoph’s hands, grabbing onto his arm and pulling his ragged cloak upwards. “Well, you do have enough crystals, I guess…”

“They’re everywhere,” Christoph said, raising his left hand as well. “I look like one of the lizard-men now.”

Barry tapped a small hammer against Christoph’s left elbow, listening to the dull chiming sound the crystals made when struck. “They seem genuine,” he said, looking up at his bemused customer. “You’re not planning to sell them, are you?”

Christoph drew his arms back from the brothers’ grasp, rubbing at his elbow with an expression of distaste. “Do you really think I’d want to sell off my own body parts?”

“Well, we can teach you how to do some basic engraving, but it’ll cost you ,” Larry said. “Let’s see, a converter, and the four basic elemental magics, as well as a focusing array…”

Barry opened his mouth to continue the discussion, but was interrupted by a bang as the door to the shop slammed open.

“I’m back!” Cecilia shouted. “Did you mi-” The beast-woman fell silent when she saw who the brothers were speaking with, making a face as she approached the trio.

“Now now,” Barry said. “It’s not Christoph’s fault he doesn’t like cats and dogs.”

“It’s not about cats and dogs,” Christoph said. “It’s just-”

“Anyway, look at this.” Cecilia waved a piece of paper around in front of the twins, pulling it away as Barry tried to follow her movements.

“Gimme that,” Larry said, snatching the sheet from her furred hand. “What is this… the arena?”

“Oh, is that finished already?” Barry said. “I really didn’t think they’d have it done by Lord Benvolio’s anniversary.”

“Yeah, it’s done,” Larry said, eyes flickering back and forth along the flyer. “Uh… here, you’d better read this.”

Christoph took the proffered rectangle of parchment, flattening it out on the table the brothers were leaning against. What was it? The arena was done… a tournament…

“What?” Christoph blinked a couple of times as he re-read the list of competitors. “But….” Had he insulted the council by sending Diana alone? Or was this punishment for not being able to provide proof of their services?

“What’s the matter?” Cecilia asked, stepping forwards and swiping the flyer back before he could step away from her.

“You didn’t see it?” Larry asked.

“Nah,” the beast-woman said with a shake of her head. “I just wanted to ask if we could go.”

“What is it?” Barry asked. “They executing some pirates?”

“No, it’s Diana,” Larry said. “She’s going to be participating in a public duel against the Lord of the Forest, Leila of the Greater Paw. Christoph, too…”

“They entered me into the tournament,” Christoph said, blinking up at the twins in confusion.

“What?!” Cecilia shouted as she read over the poster once again, parchment shaking in her hands. “Oh man,” she said. “I wanted to join too, but they wouldn’t take anyone under Gold.”

“When is it, anyway,” Barry asked, leaning over Cecilia’s shoulder as she finished reading. “We can probably go see the fights if it’s soon.”

“Soon?” Christoph asked, slumping down onto the table. “The first round starts tomorrow.”

…

“Were you successful?” Cliff asked. “Or did he deny you, too?”

“It went according to plan,” Lucius said, pausing before he sat down on the bed. “Have you been out of the inn at all today?”

Cliff shook his head, walking over to peer out of the window. Manitas City… This place sat poorly with him, and he knew that Sierra thought the same. “Should we have?”

“It’s no matter,” Lucius said. “Actually, it’s probably better you’re hearing this from me.”

“So he attached a condition, then?” Sierra asked, leaning back in her wooden chair. As a delegation from the church, they could have afforded more opulent accommodations, but the siblings had decided against it. Too much wealth would draw unwanted attention in this place.

“He did,” Lucius replied, adjusting his glasses. The high-schooler had shed his blazer long ago, opting for an unadorned robe which wouldn’t cause him to stand out amongst the clergy. “Lord Benvolio rejected my proposal outright, actually,” he said, “but he also presented an alternative.”

“Should we be worried?” Cliff asked. “Lord Benvolio is not known for his generosity.”

“That depends,” Lucius said, tossing a small scroll towards the church’s bowman, followed by a pair of golden plates. “How well would the two of you fare in an arena duel?”