I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling fingering the coins the beekeeper had given me. It was dark, but cool moonlight lit up the centre of the room and Aron’s gentle snores broke the silence occasionally.

I’d been at the beekeepers for 8 hours and minus the half an hour lunch break, he’d paid me 52.5 coppers at 7 coppers per hour. It was the first time I’d seen coins close up; they all had 8 edges with slightly rounded corners and displayed a coat of arms on one side and a blooming flower on the other. I’d gotten 3 coins; one was significantly larger than the others had ‘50 copper’ stamped across the top, whereas the other two were a lot smaller and had ‘2 copper’ and ‘0.5 copper’ across the top respectively.

I rubbed the cool metal between my fingers, feeling the smooth edges of the engravings against my scales. There was something profoundly satisfying about it. I’d never cared about money much before, even though I hadn’t been particularly rich or poor, money was important, but it hadn’t been a priority. Now though, I very much liked having money.

I disliked the idea of parting with it even more, I almost wanted to see how much I could accumulate and hoard. The ridiculous idea of swimming in a pool of gold coins like scrooge mcduck was suddenly incredibly appealing. Even though realistically that was an incredibly dumb use of money and I would obviously I would never have enough money to try it out.

Sitting up I looked at the coins, turning them to admire the moonlight glinting on them. First though, I had to pay Jak back, I disliked a debt more than I disliked the idea of spending money. Guilt was still rooted in me that I had been a burden to Jak and Aron when they’d helped me so much already.

Carefully I tucked my coins into my inventory; it took up a total of 9.7g, plenty of space left, not that I had anything to use it for. I lay back down on the lumpy mattress before shooting back up and crawling forwards to rummage around in my rucksack. So far I’d sort of used it as a mock wardrobe, but I’d almost forgotten about the jerky and journal at the bottom.

I flicked through the leather journal half-heartedly hoping I’d missed something but it was still empty. Weighing it in my hands I put both it and the dried jerky into my inventory, putting my total weight at 785.4g. I didn’t really need it, but I didn’t have anything else to store in my inventory and maybe it would come in handy.

Dried jerky would keep for a long time anyway, or would it even go bad in my inventory? It probably would eventually; I doubted the inventory froze its contents in time; that was a bit too crazy. Though I did wonder where things I put into it actually went.

Folding my clothes a bit more neatly I tucked them back into my rucksack and lay down, pulling the thin blanket up to my chin. Pausing, I lifted my bandaged hand into the air and unwrapped the bandages. Incredibly, the wounds had already sealed leaving several pink lines across my blue palm and fingers. Not completely healed but not open wounds anymore.

I traced the lines with my claws, there were no scales covering the skin there. My fingers felt stiff when I tried to extend them, but it didn’t really hurt. I probably didn’t need the bandages now, there wasn’t really an infection risk anymore and the bandage hampered my movements.

Throwing the used bandage at the bin, it slowed down mid-air, unravelling and drifting to the floor just short of the bin. I scowled at it willing it to move into the bin but it just lay there. With an irritated huff I stood up and stomped over to pick it up and throw it in the bin with a bit more force than necessary. I went to sit on my bed again.

I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath I lifted my shirt to extend my wing. I looked at the clean bandage wrapped around it's width. Carefully I slowly unwrapped the layers of bandages, hoping that somehow the hole had closed.

It hadn’t.

Something in me broke a little seeing that plum sized hole ringed in soft pink tissue in the centre of my blue wing. Breathing heavily but slowly through my mouth I tried to control the urge to cry. Even when it was fully healed with blue leathery skin covering the scar tissue, the hole would still be there. Always.

Quickly I folded my wings and lowered my shirt over them, still holding the bandages. I closed my eyes and tried to regulate my breathing. I squashed the feelings of shame that rose up at having my wings marred. I felt a bit hollow at accepting the reality, logically I wasn’t even sure why this was so important to me; its not like I’d had wings as a human.

My mouth opened a bit wider as if to laugh but the movement ended there. It was important. Opening my eyes I looked outside at the night sky, turbulent emotions settled leaving me with grim acceptance. I had a hole in my wing and that wasn’t going to change.

I bunched up the bandage in my hand and threw it across the room, this time it landed in the bin with part of it hanging over the side. That was fine though. I lay back down hugging the pillow.

I really needed to think about my long term plans here. So far I’d been bumbling around trying to fit in without being discovered and learning more about this world.

Magic. I wanted to learn magic, but that was a distant goal, I couldn’t do that here. For that I had to travel to a city and get large funds to go to a school to learn. Honestly that looked very far-fetched and unrealistic in my current situation.

[Tactician] had sort of grown on me, I hadn’t ever planned on being one, but now that I was one, I kind of liked it. It was also the only thing I could cling to that would allow me to help if we were attacked again, especially if war was brewing. I hated standing by and doing nothing while other people fought and died but there was no way I could do anything against an Orc by myself. Maybe if I was older, maybe if I was stronger, maybe if I could do magic, but I wasn’t any of those things. My tail calmly curled around my leg, the tip tapping my calf rhythmically.

Besides, right now there were so many unknowns about my situation, so many important unanswered questions that I needed to address: how had I gotten here, why was I a child, why was I a drake, how could I get home? The only clue I had to go on was the mana wave from a week ago in Sefir, and I wasn't even certain it was related. Pausing I rolled over to look at the ceiling, did I want to go home? I had no family and no one depended on me, I mean I had been doing ok, but its not like I had great prospects. I had friends that might miss me, but they would be ok without me, its not like I even had a dog to return to.

I mulled it over. In the end I was undecided; this world wasn't home and was considerably more dangerous than earth, but it was so different. I’d only seen a tiny tiny part of it, but I wanted to find out what else existed here that was only in fairy tales on earth, what magic could actaully do and what mythical creatures lived here. What things I could do that would be deemed impossible on earth.

Excitement bubbled up in response to endless possibilities. I might be able to fly. My smile dimmed a bit but didn’t disappear, I would be able to fly I amended. The yearning to explore the sky hadn’t disappeared; clenching my fists around the blanket I locked my jaw and narrowing my eyes at the bland ceiling. I promised myself then and there that no piddly little hole in my wings would stop me from soaring through the sky.

Nodding to myself in satisfaction, some of the shame at having defective wings washed away a bit, I would still fly. Anyone who looked down on me for it could go fuck themselves; my wings were still glorious, with or without the hole. I relaxed a bit a looked over at Aron, drool was hanging out of his slightly opened mouth and his arms were splayed on either side of him.

Mixed feelings of affection and gratitude welled up; I was going to protect him. Not just from the dangers of the world, but also he demons that plagued him. I sobered a bit and the smile fell from my lips as I flashed back to the look in his eyes when he said he hoped we’d kill all the Sefirans.

“Whyr yu lookin at me like that?” Aron mumbled blinking his eyes blearily, yawning and rolling over to rub his eyes.

“I wasn’t looking at you” I spun my face away from him scowling, kicking myself that I’d been caught staring.

“Were too” he retorted waking up a bit.

“No I wasn’t” why was I even denying it?

He glared at me “Fine” he fluffed his pillow aggressively and fell down on it turning away from me.

“Fine” I muttered and copied him turning my back to him.

Something hit me in the back of the head and I spun around angrily to find his stinky sock hanging from my ear as he looked at me surprised, arm still outstretched before he grinned and giggled falling back onto the pillow.

“That went better than I thought” he chortled and I scrambled to yank the sock off, throwing it at him as hard as I could. Being a sock, it didn’t land very hard but he still reflexively flinched and tried to block it.

My irritation drained away slowly as I rolled my eyes and huffed trying to ignore his giggles “Are you excited about tomorrow?”

He shrugged and the smile on his face lost its brightness “No school and lots of food, anyway I’m going to sleep, night night” he yawned and rolled over again closing his eyes.

I debated asking about the threat of war hanging over Valensir but thought better of it. Silently I watched the ceiling until I could hear his snores again.

“What’s that?”

“Shut up” Daniel glared at me, voice muffled as he had a strip of cloth fastened to his nose with a laundry peg.

A grin curled at my lips “You drank something that hag gave you right?”

He glared at me silently.

“What did it do?” I asked, straining to control my smile.

“None of you business” he turned away and I lunged for the peg but his arms came up and he blocked me. Unfortunately for him, Aron came up behind him and snatched the peg before jumping away waving it in the air.

“Give it bac-“ he lunged forward and sneezed. Purple soap bubbles erupted from his nose and rose into the air, shiny and squishy they floated before bursting with audible pops.

Eyes wide we stared in silence. He sneezed again and we burst out laughing, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you” I crowed in cruel delight that I wasn’t the only one who had suffered while Aron ran around me in circles as Daniel chased him angrily.

“Aron give him his stuff back” an irritated voice came from ahead I looked to see Jak giving us and annoyed look “Sorry grandpa” Aron came to a stop, reddening slightly and shoving the laundry peg back at Daniel who managed to stop sneezing purple soap bubbles long enough to fasted it to his nose again.

Jak looked forwards again and kept walking while we trailed behind quietly, it was around lunchtime and everyone was headed to the village square. A lot of houses had flags hanging from the windows, both the striped blue and white one and the decorative red and gold one. I really needed to find out what those were for; I assumed one was the national flag.

I leaned sideways to gloat “I told you so” I whispered to Daniel grinning.

“I’m not giving up” he retorted glaring at me.

The smile fell from my lips and I looked at him incredulously “You’re actually going back?”

“Of course; she makes magic potions. I can cough up all the soap bubbles in the world and it would be worth learning that” he looked at me determination blazing in his blue eyes.

Irrational anger surged “You’re still going to regret it” I said sourly looking away; it irked me that I’d failed and given up whereas he’d continued.

“No I won’t” he said smugly “I’m going to be the greatest archer-alchemist-adventurer in the world” he bragged.

“You’ve only got 2 Class slot idiot,” Aron added and I nodded “Yeah how are you going to get around that?”

He eyed us from the side as we walked “Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out, its got to be possible to unlock more Class slots”

Aron looked at him incredulously “Yeah possible, but almost impossible, you’d have more luck unlocking 5 new base stats. Only insanely powerful people manage to unlock a new Class slot and get an awesome epic rare Class and you’re definitely not one of those people” he looked at Daniel a little haughtily and I nodded in agreement though that was new to me.

“Yeah well I’m going to be the greatest adventurer there ever was so I’ll definitely unlock a new Class slot!” Daniel said hotly glaring at us, the tips of his ears turning a little pink. The laundry peg on his nose made it impossible to take his claims seriously.

“No you won’t” Aron sneered “Besides I already have 3 Class slots” he bragged proudly and I rolled my eyes a bit at the posturing. Daniel ground his teeth and was about to reply when the thick crowds ahead erupted into cheering.

We all turned forwards, we’d just about reached the village square, but we were stuck behind a wall of bodies and I was too short to see over the adult crowd. “Come on” Aron grabbed my wrist and darted forwards to duck and weave between bodies. Daniel quickly followed and I could see other children doing the same, just like the last time I’d been here.

Squeezing between bodies we came to an opening along the empty path down the middle of the square leading to the stage. This time the square had been decorated with numerous brightly coloured flowers. Banners in blue and white and red and gold had been hung everywhere and we’d arrived just in time to see the small parade of soldiers in ceremonial uniforms marching down the central path to the stage.

Behind them rode the man who’d given the speech and a few others, all in uniforms covered in golden tassels and fine embroidery. They waved as they passed by and people clapped and cheered.

When they reached the stage, they dismounted and walked up onto the stage. The uniformed soldiers took up places around the stage, sun glinting off the decorative sheaths and belt buckles. Their blue and white uniforms, while pristine, looked a bit impractical for battle but I was assuming this was all ceremonial get up. I clapped slowly, taking it all in.

The same man from last time lifted a hand and quieted the crowd. He then proceeded to give a very rehearsed speech about the greatness of Valensir and the honour in fighting for our country and the royal family. There were some mixed reactions in the crowd but most people nodded along though going by some of the glazed expressions, I assumed it was the same speech each year.

The man paused and looked across the crowd “And now, I would like to welcome this year’s children in their journey to adulthood by pledging their allegiance to country and crown” he made a hand gesture and the crowd turned to the other end of the central path were a group of roughly 12 teenagers had gathered; I recognized most of them from the upper class at school.

Dressed in what were presumably their best clothes, the group of 15 year olds started walking towards the stage. The crowd cheered them on too and I could see the varying expressions of excitement ranging to nervousness. One short girl near the back was looked very pale and like she was about to throw up under the pressure. In contrast, near the front swaggered a tall lizardfolk girl grinning and waving in supreme confidence as she led the rag tag bunch of teenagers to the stage.

They stopped just in front of the stage and lined up in practiced even rows looking up at the uniformed man on the stage. I noticed this time the village chief wasn’t on the stage though it was quite possible that that was normal for this ceremony.

“You’ve all learned the oath and now it is time for you to swear your allegiance. If you chose not to, you understand that you will no longer be under the protection of her majesty the queen and lose all rights as a citizen of Valensir” his sharp eyes scanned the group, some stood taller under his gaze and others stared at the floor nervously.

I shifted uncomfortably, clearly everyone knew this, but losing citizenship just because you didn’t pledge allegiance to the queen went against all my modern values of freedom. Also I assumed losing protection of the queen meant the army, village guards etc. would no longer be obliged to help you.

While it was presented as a choice, it was a pretty harsh choice to offer a 15 year old that clearly didn’t have many other options; it was basically coercion. I frowned as I watched the tall lizardgirl walk onto the stage to a podium with an enchanted stone on a deep red cloth with golden embroidery.

She confidently placed her hand on it, speaking loudly and clearly, her voice rolling over the crowd “I hereby pledge my allegiance to Valensir, the royal family and the rightful ruler; I pledge obey their rule and heed their call to arms to defend Valensir and the crown against any who seek to harm them. I pledge allegiance to Lady Trostin and her heirs” the stone lit up “I pledge allegiance to Duke Rostrik and his heirs” the stone lit up again “And I pledge allegiance to Queen Rosthal and her heirs” the stone glowed a final time before she removed her hand as the crowd clapped.

The soldiers saluted her and she grinned saluting back before she moved to take a place on stage. I watched a bit worried, the enchanted stone glowing strongly indicated that this allegiance pledge wasn’t just words, there was likely some real meaning and consequences. Also notably there was nothing about following and upholding laws, just about obeying and being ready to fight for the current ruler. I frowned, what happened if you broke the pledge? And if I remembered correctly, Duke Rostrik was the one who had recently won against that other Duke and taken a city.

The next teenager walked onto the stage and repeated the same oath the first girl had given. At some point I stopped listening, only clapping when other people clapped until they all stood on the stage; none of them had refused to pledge allegiance.

The heavily decorated soldier stepped forward again and looked over the assembled teenagers “Now, those of you wishing to train as soldiers step forward, the very best of you will one day serve in Lady Trostin’s guard” about a third stepped forward with little hesitation and uniformed soldiers walked along the rows handing out what looked like small brass tokens which they proudly pinned to their shirts.

The man nodded and cracked a thin smile “Alright, that’s it, lets celebrate” and the crowd erupted in cheers as the teenagers enthusiaticaly hopped off the stage to rejoin their parents and friends. The crowds broke as people milled about while others quickly set about opening stalls in the square, mainly selling food, toys and miniature flags along with other bits and bobs. The whole thing was a little reminiscent of a school fare.

“Come on, I want to see if Tycel is here so I can get the lute before we have to go help grandpa” Aron said urgently tugging on my wrist, eyes bright. I grinned and followed him as he dragged me through the moving crowd, ignoring Daniel’s shouts for us to wait.

Zigzagging along the lines of stalls rapidly being set up he barely slowed as he scanned them trying to find Tycel’s. Spotting her suddenly he lurched in her direction, still dragging me and I almost tripped. I scowled but didn’t say anything when I saw his oblivious expression as he fixated on Tycel, almost bouncing when he arrived at her stall.

“Did you bring the lute?” he burst out excitedly as he came to a stop and I swerved to avoid crashing into him.

“Well since you repeatedly asked me to bring it today since you would have the money, yes Aron I did bring it” she looked down at him amused as he tried to restrain himself from jumping up and down.

“Yeah 4 silver” he impatiently thrust a hand in her direction with 2 silver coins and a bunch of copper coins.

Aron didn’t seem to notice that she hadn’t even finished setting up her stall and he was holding her up but with a mixture of exasperation and affection she took his coins, looking them over briefly before pocketing them “I kept you lute separate since I figured you’d want it quickly”

She bent over behind the stall and opened a box before pulling out a medium sized wooden lute. It was well worn and the varnish was chipped in places “I had the missing string replaced for you, don’t worry I won't charge extra” she smiled down at him as she handed it to him.

He swallowed looking at it in awe “Thank you” he looked up eyes watering as he clutched it to his chest.

“But be careful with it, its not very durable” she warned him and he nodded rapidly “I’ll take good care of it” he swore and turned to me, beaming, eyes glistening he whispered “I’m really going to do it” he held the old lute almost reverently and I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face.

“If we work really hard at the stall, I’m sure Jak will let us go early and you can go try it out”

He nodded absentmindedly stroking the lute before it vanished. I curbed my surprise realising he must have tucked it into his inventory.

“Yeah lets go” he looked up grinning brightly.