“A Code can deal with only so many situations. While the Emissaries helped us in forging the best possible set of laws, the harsh truth of this plane is that no rule can remain unchallenged. Doubts and hesitation are good, in some measure, because they simply prove that you possess enough wisdom to understand that you can make mistakes. When in need, invoke Alka’s name, and she will guide you.

But, above all, remember laws should make our people shine brighter. Should a law suffocate a light, break it without regret.”

-First page of the Flaming decree, Alka’s sacred text.

Nashariel pov

The dragoness flew over the walls, ignored by the underlying patrols. This is definitely no Andriel. She mused, perfectly landing in the empty central square.

From her height, she could easily see the ugly scar left by Asha's flames. The black soot marred an entire street. At least the building melted by the inferno had been rebuilt. Just need some power-washing now.

/Let’s do that before leaving/ Asha murmured.

Don’t feel bad about it. That Tamer needed to… go. And if a Paladin recognized the Cleanser…

Nashariel didn’t need to finish the thought.

On the positive side of things, the Infirmary was almost empty. It seemed that the Templar’s efforts had been way more useful than they had thought. Or the Doctors were that good, once rested.

Nashariel transformed back into a dragokin. “Do you guys know the people in charge?” Her father, Thalom, had told her that Paladins disliked having a single leader. She was pretty sure that they liked to have three at the same time, at the very least.

Dorel nodded. “Right now, only Garran is here. The other leaders left to help the smaller cities.” He pointed at a rather stocky building nearby. “He should be in there, together with the Stronghold’s mage, Callen.”

“Let’s give them a visit, then. But first, give me a moment.”

The group knocked on the thick wooden door. No one answered.

“Perhaps it’s too early? Maybe they’re sleeping still.” Veliel said.

“I haven’t seen them on the wall either…” Dan sent some of his copies around. “There we go. I’ll ask around.” He also walked away.

“Wow, that’s impressive. Can he control them at the same time?” Nashariel asked, scrolling the last water drops off of her wings.

“He followed your suggestion regarding [Dual mind]," Dorel replied, shrugging. “He’s enjoying it.”

“I might pick it later, but… I’m fine on my own too.” Vel added, giving her an apologetic smile.

“Well, I didn’t order you to buy it. If you don’t feel like buying it, then don’t.”

Veliel smiled sheepishly. “Thanks…”

“Should we wait for his return? I’m pretty nimble myself.” Arthur said, inflating his chest.

“Found them!” The original Dan reappeared just behind a corner.

That was quick.

Arthur deflated. Literally, his body lost a meter in height.

Veliel patted his back. "We have trained years for these things. Give yourself some time!”

Arthur straightened himself back to almost two meters. “I sure will, lady Voice.” He said tipping his hat. “My thanks.”

She chuckled.

What a Gentleslime.

The group moved.

Garran was handling the rebuilding of a fallen tower nearby.

“And when did that happen?” Nashariel asked. She understood that a dirty street was at the bottom of everyone’s priorities, but a tower?

“During your fight against the Tamer. You destroyed it with your tail, and they rebuilt the other houses first.” Dorel replied with a hint of amusement.

Nashariel’s check burned red. Whoops. “I… I’ll apologize…” She remembered fighting through the exhaustion, standing directly in front of the Infirmary. It must’ve been one of my last strikes.

/Yes. You already fainted/

Dang.“Let’s give them a hand.”

The group approached.

“Hello there!” Dan announced them. “Need some help?”

The closest people, not Paladins for once, gave them some friendly waves. “It would be appreciated.” A few of them said.

Garran noticed them, nodding a moment later. “Don’t overwork yourselves, Comrades.” He commanded, picking up a stone larger than a cart like nothing. “But your help is more than welcome.”

“Need some [Light’s refuge]s?” Nashariel asked. At the man’s nod, she and Veliel powered their restorative auras. I neglected this skill for far too long.

/Upgrade time?/

Nah.

…

On second thought, tho… I'm sure that lots of people might need it. Damn, so many things to buy, so few points…

/C’mon, stop saying that! You have a bunch of skills, and many of them are either merged or in their third Tier. Isn’t that a good thing?/

I guess… Yeah, yeah you’re right. Sorry.

While Nashariel talked, she personally hauled a large piece of wall on her back, supporting it with her tail and wings. Thanks to the broken window in its center, she found that holding the debris was kind of awkward. She transported it toward a red-clothed, bronze-skinned human.

He kept grumbling while levitating each piece back into its original position. As soon as he noticed her, he narrowed his eyes. “Thanks for destroying my home.” He grunted out.

Nashariel blushed. “Apologies, it was not my intention.”

“I know, but please, avoid fighting inside the city from now on." The man extended a hand toward her, and Nashariel felt the weight on her back quickly decrease.

Ignoring the man’s rightful remarks, she decided to wait a bit before asking about the Core.

Arthur happily strode past her, proudly planting a cracked door near the man. Then he went back for the smaller debris.

/It seems that strength is not his… forte/

Nashariel chuckled.

Less than an hour later, the mage had his home more or less repaired. Nashariel heard him complaining about his furniture or, to better saying, the lack of it. She threw a glance at Dorel, who shook his head. I wonder at which Tier conjured items start to become permanent.

/… Don’t you already know it?/

For the first time, Nashariel noticed that the sudden flashbacks, alien thoughts, and the like… weren’t there. She had felt something tingling in her head, but nothing that she couldn’t control. Perhaps Astral journeys… aren’t that bad.

/What do you mean?/

I'm more… stable, more centered. Perhaps it's Darklight, but… I think that there's more to those journeys than we thought. I need to see my notifications and that status again.

/Are you thinking about making one more go?/

Nashariel shivered. Astill’s mercy, no, not before I do an extensive shopping session dedicated entirely to improving my chances. And when we’re not facing an emergency.

Resuming the normal speed of the world, Nashariel noticed Dan joking with Arthur. Those two are bonding quickly. She mused, before seeing Garran coming toward them. “Your Inquisitor said that you needed to talk with me.”

Nashariel nodded. “Yes, about our departure. Unless you prefer talking about it some other time…?”

“It’s fine.” He let out a brief smirk. “Let’s bother Callen some more. Go inside the house with your team.”

Nashariel called her friends, who had watched over her, and they all went into the irritable man’s house.

Callen had conjured enough chairs for everybody, and a table. He was currently making some tea, one belonging to the varieties able to restore mana. If I remember correctly, it should be Purple radish. I wonder what breed is this.

“Well, spill it. What did you want to talk about?” He asked, rather bluntly.

Nashariel… was not used to that tone. Still, her intuition didn’t think that the man’s speech was hostile. Irritating as it is. “We had originally come here to ask for a teleport, before the Tamer. We want to go back home as quickly as possible.”

Callen shook his head. “I used most of its mana to repair and protect the city. The Core’s almost empty.”

“Can’t we fill it quickly?” Asked Veliel.

The mage gave them an exhausted chuckle. “Unlike that,” he said while pointing at Nashariel’s Core. “a city’s Core is much bigger. The bigger they are, the more… complicated they become. It’s going to take weeks to refill it back, considering the monsters’ frenzy.”

Nashariel swished her tail, thoughtful. Now that I think about it, my minor Cores gave me almost nothing. I wonder if it’s an exponential difference.

/It seems so. Even Fel looked at the Core that you gifted her with reverence, despite being a fae. Omnia or not, it wasn’t that big/

True. “Can you make a rough estimate of how much you need?”

Callen let out a thoughtful huff, closing his eyes for a moment. He tapped his fingers against the cup. “Fifty-sixty thousand mana? It might have grown a bit since it’s exhausted.”

Holy duck, that’s double my health bar! And considering that charging them isn’t efficient… “Three-four times that, right?”

“Learned that the hard way, uh? It’s closer to three, I have skills for that, but that’s a good estimate. Now you have to add the constant drain to keep up the conjured material and an emergency for very bad times. I was this close to using the reserves when you showed up. Good timing by the way. Thanks to the Sacred Flame…”

“Just to be curious,” Dan asked. “how much mana would you need to send us to the Bastion?”

“Twenty, with your leader in her dragokin form. Double that otherwise.” He gently took a sip of his brew. He sighed in contentment.

Nashariel noticed that the brew made him less grumpy. Drinking it herself, she understood why. Bitterness aside, the tea seemed to flow in every angle of her body to leave a deep sense of relaxation. Mountain. The plain’s tasted a bit sweeter. I wonder if Dan can brew us something like this. Cody’s maid definitely would.

“Is there anything that you need, or that you can help us with?” She asked, once a few moments had passed.

Garran shook his head. “You’ve helped us back onto our feet, so we should be able to send reinforcements to our less lucky Comrades.”

“On that note,” Callen interjected. “could you join them? A Templar’s touch is needed everywhere right now. Even a single more capable member in each place would make a big difference.”

Sometimes, I hate being right. Nashariel sighed, putting down the now empty cup.

Before she could reply, the old Inquisitor frowned. “We have bent the Code long enough. Asking a team of recruits to participate separately in distant, possibly deadly, rescue missions? That’s too much.”

“Garran, everything has gone to shit! They have proved their abilities; they're hardly at the skill level of a recruit. By the Holy Flames, they're probably stronger than a rookie Paladin!"

Garran didn’t reply, but neither lost his frown.

Nashariel glanced at her friends, asking a mute question with her eyes. They nodded, a determined expression on their faces. “Point us where we’re needed.”

“Wonderful! What are your specialties?”

“I sing. My songs and spells can do pretty much anything.”

“I’m a defender and a crafter that can retaliate.”

“I can copy myself and make some decent potions. My mother would disagree about the last part, though.”

Nashariel chuckled. Dan’s mother was pretty much a perfectionist in her job. As the Paladins’ gazes fell upon her frame, she answered. “I’m a jack-of-all-trades. I’m also a dragon. Pretty sure that you’ve noticed that part.” She said to Callen. He groaned.

The two men looked at Arthur, who squirmed in place. “I… I’m nimble… and new.”

“He just evolved to sapience. We have recruited him… a bit ago.” Nashariel intervened.

“Welcome to the Light’s side.” Garran said with a slight nod of his head.

Arthur timidly nodded back.

Callen rubbed his hands with glee. “I’ll immediately contact the others. I’ll let you know your destinations tomorrow.” He grimaced. “And that’s more mana down the drain…”

Do you think that Omnia could recharge the thing faster?

/… Remember when Fel stressed out how dangerous is for you to produce or use Omnia in front of others?/

Yeah…

/Do I have to add anything?/

“Before going to sleep…”

/Oh, Gods, please have mercy upon this unfortunate skill…/

“… we could charge up the Core. I have a lot of mana.”

/What did I do to deserve this…?/ Asha sighed in defeat.

"That would be welcome! I'll cast a spell upon you if that's alright.” At their collective nod, he snapped his fingers.

Nashariel and friends found themselves underground, just in front of a Golden-colored Core larger than a wagon. It was more of a large mass than a perfect sphere. Holy duck, that’s a big one. I kinda understand why Cody was barely interested in mine.

Without wasting another word, the mage put his hand on the crystal mass, inviting them to do the same. “And remember: This isn’t a speed contest. Take your time.”

They all approached, each one of them pumping the Core with mana.

Only mana.

/Thank you, Astill/

Nashariel bit her lips to suppress a snort. Look if [Mana finesse] can do anything to lessen the waste.

There was no way that a first Tier skill could remove the penalty outright. Otherwise, Nashariel suspected, the Core would not have been empty.

Asha gladly did so. The skill seemed also glad to be used in such a skill-needed environment, probably because the result depended on actual ability than raw numbers.

Water tended to behave like that.

Arthur was the first to deplete his reserves, to no one’s surprise. At his dejected expression, Nashariel tapped him with her tail. “To everyone its specialty.” She murmured. That seemed enough to reassure the slime.

Dan, Dorel, and Garran also detached a bit later.

Five minutes in, Callen also detached his hand. He didn't seem as worn out as the others, but Nashariel supposed that the mage needed to stay up for a while longer than them. And long-range telepathy was hardly free to use.

Nashariel exchanged a challenging grin with Veliel. How much mana do I have available?

/Around 5k. Damn, this thing chugs mana like there's no tomorrow/

Dang it.

Minutes later, Nashariel was out of juice. While she panted, her friend simulated a yawn.

Nashariel rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you focused your build on magic, I get it.”

Veliel chuckled.

Another ten minutes later, Veliel also detached her hand, wobbling in place.

Callen murmured a word, and the crystal shone it once in response. The man whistled. “Good job, everyone. We’ve brushed the twenty thousand. Go and have some rest, I’ll handle the logistic.”

Garran cleared his throat.

“Oh, right.”

At a snap of the mage’s hands, they all found themselves out of the door.

“Do all mages behave this way?” Arthur asked. He seemed genuinely bewildered.

Dan silently patted his shoulder.

“Thank you for your assistance,” Garran said. “Alka knows if I’d rather have avoided it.”

Nashariel sighed. “These are trying times. We just wished to live them home.”

The inquisitor’s rough expression softened by a sliver. “Have a good rest, Comrades.”

The group arrived in the room within the walls. They each sat on their respective bed.

Nashariel, during her brief awake stay, hadn’t noticed that there was a fifth bed. Arthur lost her humanoid form, spreading on the mattress with a relieved sigh. He delicately laid his rapier on the ground near the bed.

“How many places they’ll make us visit?” Veliel asked.

Nashariel shrugged. “I bet on three at most. The situation is already stabilizing.”

“Will our heroes make it to their home before the next year?” Dan and a copy said in a dramatic voice.

Everyone chuckled tiredly.

“We should invest heavily into our statuses. We haven’t fought by ourselves in a long time.” Dorel declared, as soon as the chuckles died down.

Nashariel froze. For some reason, the realization that each one of her friends would be alone somewhere so distant had hit her just now. Hard. Fear gripped her stomach shut.

While the others talked, she took a deep breath. That’s what they needed, right? She had never felt this much protective since… since a while ago.

Arthur appeared from nowhere on her legs in his spherical shape. He pressed himself against Nashariel’s hands.

Caressing his gummy body was relaxing, for some weird reason.

“Thanks.” Nashariel whispered.

He wiggled in response.

“What are you going to focus upon?” Nashariel asked her friends, after a short while.

Veliel was the first to answer. “Mana. I need better efficiency, especially if I have to sing for a city without your support. I haven’t looked into Flow yet.”

“Damage. I didn’t realize how much I depended on you guys to deal with an enemy.” Dan followed with a grimace. “I felt nearly useless against that Tamer.”

Dorel shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ll see what will inspire me in a moment. Perhaps more agility?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Nashariel chuckled. The same one that I have, actually. Not the agility.

Asha sighed. /Obviously/

She looked at Arthur. “And you? Have you found a style that you like?”

The formless blob formed a mouth. “I like the weapon that you’ve gifted me.” He hesitated for a moment. “How do I improve it?

“That’s good to hear! Metal is the attunement for weapons in general, but you can ask the same question to the system. It will answer, usually.”

“I shall do so. Thank you, Nashariel.”

With everyone’s eyes soon growing distant, Nashariel too fell into her status.

First thing first, the notifications. The omnidragon thought, approaching the main slate. She scrolled through the list of kills, getting directly at the moment after Asha’s awakening to sapience. She said that there were a few interesting notifications…

*You have healed from soul fatigue.

For having completed an Astral journey, the side-effects of Omnidragon Superiority are suppressed for a week. More journeys will extend or renew this effect by a week.

For having explored and recovered from having lived an age category above yours, this benefit is extended to two weeks.

The benefits of Omnidragon superiority are still available to you. *

Nashariel had mixed feelings. A small part of her had hoped that her… head would fix itself permanently, but that wasn’t the case. One journey per week… dang.

“Perhaps the other age categories are easier to endure?” Someone asked right beside her.

Nashariel jumped away with a shriek. After calming down, she saw that the figure was a carbon copy of her. Almost, as she appeared as an ash-gray soul reddened by lines of ember. “Asha?”

The figure glanced at her with widened eyes, then looked down on herself. “I have a body in your status now?” She took a few dancing steps, losing flakes of ash along the way. “Cool.”

That’s one way to take your name literally. Nashariel smiled at Asha. “Indeed. So, should I just live as a wyrmling to test the theory out?”

The secondary mind created a small boulder to sit upon. “I guess? But you were against it.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t say right now. I’m definitely set on having a dedicated shopping session before doing it again, tho.” Nashariel crossed her arms, then shrugged. “Whatever, I’ll think about that later on. Let’s see my sheet, then what can we improve.” And let's reduce its size to the barest essentials.

*Level: 203

Available stat points: 253

Available skill points: 92

Skills:

Racial:

Omnidragon superiority (III) Lvl 5-> 8

Omnidragon’s dance (II) Lvl 5-> 6

Omnidragon’s supply Lvl 9-> 11

Omnia creation Lvl 4-> 7

Omnia manipulation Lvl 8-> 9

Omni empowerment Lvl 4-> 7

Omnidragon Infusion Lvl 3-> 5

Omnidragon territory (III) Lvl 2-> 6

Water:

Draconic dive (II) Lvl 8-> 9

Dragon’s sight Lvl 17-> 18

Body of the water dragon Lvl 5-> 6

Light:

Enhanced diplomacy Lvl 2-> 4

Improved leadership Lvl 4-> 8

Mind:

Draconic secondary self (II) Lvl 4

Body of the Mind dragon Lvl 13-> 14

Sense motives Lvl 4-> 6

Protection:

Defender’s body Lvl 10-> 11

Defender’s fighting style Lvl 7-> 8

Healing:

Dedication of the healer Lvl 3-> 6

Eased trust Lvl 6-> 8 *

Water has improved? Perhaps this is [Omnidragon dance]’s effects from when I swam in acid? Nashariel mused, swishing her tail. That's good. Now, let's tap into my memories…

Nashariel focused on the Fire-skills bought by Asha. Unlike the untamed torrent like the other times, the influx of information ran like a large river. Still uncomfortable, but much more manageable.

[Destructive flames] could be merged with [Accelerated erosion] from the Destruction line to melt through most armors like nothing. And city walls. The memory was very specific.

[Decreased melting point], [Increased melting point], and [Forging] would produce an amazing skill for crafting. She wasn’t interested, not now at least.

Upon seeing the last result, though, Nashariel’s choice was set.

She had partially endured the skill on her body, after all.

*Sticky flames, Destructive flames, Decreased melting point, Improved flammability, Water-proof flames, Burn life force, and Increased heat would like to merge for 20 points.

Y/N?

Points reduced to-> 72

Skills merge into->

Dragonfire Lvl 1

The most known technique of dragonkind, the most dreaded, the most… destructive. Dragonfire has always been something to speak about in whispers and hopes, and for good reasons. This seemingly living flame attaches to a target, never letting it go until the unfortunate victim isn’t reduced to a charred corpse. Use this weapon well and with forethought, young dragon, for once this inferno is unleashed, it will leave nothing but ash behind its wake.

All your flames become Dragonfire.

Nothing but ash. Upon contact, your flames become partially liquid, attaching to every surface. The duration increases with Lvl.

No one can hide. Your Dragonfire deals increased damage to non-living entities. This includes both objects and constructs like golems.

Your flames cannot be put out by non-magical means before their natural end, and they resist the weakest magical means.

Dragonfire doesn’t follow the natural rules of nature. Your fire will always be pure crimson like the vitality you pour into it. Using Dragonfire means sacrificing part of your Hp for every second of duration. The more Hp you sacrifice, the more the damage is increased. You can choose the amount of your sacrifice, roughly.

Warning: The self-damage can be lethal. This skill includes all the flames made of your Dragonfire, even the secondary fires.

Upgrade cost: 8 points Lvl. *

Nashariel hadn't forgotten about the vision in the undead village. That dragon’s flames had burned to death an elf that had jumped into a fountain.

As the skill itself warned her, Dragonfire was extremely dangerous for everyone involved.

“What should I buy next…” She mused.

Callen had asked them to help some cities, and Nashariel assumed that he would split them following their specialization. He also thought that Nashariel was a Light or Light-Aspected dragon, which meant that she would likely get healing jobs. I fought as a Protection dragon tho… What are my options?

She summoned four menus, one for each of the Light elements. I should re-order my skills… Nashariel set her sheet to have the Basic elements near their respective Aspects. Better. Now, we thought about upgrading [Light’s refuge], but it naturally scales with how powerful I get.

Nashariel’s reasoning got interrupted by Asha. “Notice something?” The skill asked.

The omnidragon frowned. She glanced at the four menus. “Everything is in its first Tier?”

“Also that, but don’t you remember about a certain Quest…”

Nashariel’s eyes lit in understanding. She summoned a fifth menu.

*Quest: Dedication of the Omnidragon

Objective: Acquire all Aspects of a specific element. Acquire two advanced skills from each one of them, including the base affinity.

Reward: The corresponding Elemental mastery skill.

Bonus objective: Acquire three advanced skills for the basic element and its Aspect.

Bonus reward: The corresponding special skill. *

She was 2 skills short for [Light mastery] and 4 for the special skill.

“I may have been too rash at merging the Fire skills.” Nashariel groaned, facepalming hard. Dang my ‘must merge’ policy!

Asha chuckled. “Considering that you can’t even use it? Just a little, I’d say.”

Nashariel sighed. “Oh well, I’m in for the Mastery at least. Shame that the Omni skills don’t count.”

“That would be like cheating.”

“I’m perfectly aware. Well, what should we buy? Two Bodies? Fighting styles?”

“Perhaps something more active? You wanted some buffing skills, I recall.”

“I don’t mind. The Aspects pretty much cover everything but that already.”

The duo kept chatting while walking to the Light Chamber.