Ashes and Kingdoms

It was a small village, off the street and ahead of us through a cluttered forest with no sign.

Speaking of which, there was a herd a little further away.

Finn remembers when he explored consciousness, convinced that it was this village. At the same time, I found out why Nix hesitated to guide me. The village was still about to be built, new.

(So all the fugitives are gathered here.)

There's no way, it's not even on the map. A village hiding itself in a cove surrounded by groves and sleek hills. For the most part, new towns choose to be built on drained and sunny hillsides or south slopes, but not here.

When Finn looked at Nix, he seemed to have guessed what he wanted to say from his expression, and he nodded and whispered.

"You wouldn't have to bother to shut up. It's just people who've been running away from lending money and legions."

"I'm a former deserter, too."

I know, Finn responds with a bitter smile. Nix shrugged his shoulders like he did. Then he waved and signaled to the village's watchful figure, making sure he was behind it just in case before continuing.

"Well, the truth is, most of them are legally fine. There's a lawyer named Kuveris, and he's the one who helped us save a lot of money from debt in villages and towns everywhere. It's just... even if there's no legal problem, there's no one to follow that law right now. They take a debt that they don't need to pay back, and if they can't pay it, they take it to their lives. That's why they're running away."

It seems that a person in the name of Kvell, God of Law and Fair Trading, does a shameless job in that name, even in these times. Finn felt comfortable, but a sigh spilled over into the reality that power would overwhelm the law.

Nix looked back at Finn and gave him a pranky grin to tear up his dark expression.

"So in the end, I built a village on my own on the land of the country, and now I'm a fine criminal. But, well, thanks to you, I've had a decent life here. Back society isn't bad either."

The way I put it, Finn was relieved, and I laughed.

As I approached the houses of the building and the pasture enclosure of the sitting area, something familiar came into my eyes. It's a beast sheltered bonfire. However, the number is not high.

There are few dark beasts around here, Oria said. Finn looked around wondering why. Maybe because of the proximity of the Great Forest. Over the ridges of the small hills that surround the village, the shadows of the black trees are already hidden.

(Are you saying that even the servant's family of darkness cannot reach the realm of Org, the god of hidden power)

Or is it because there weren't many humans around here originally? For there was no town of man full of desire and vibrancy that hated the beast of darkness.

With this in mind, Nix said "here" to indicate one building. Finn stopped and looked at the house with courteous curiosity.

It's a long house for a few families. The construction is simple and seems to have just separated the rectangular bungalows with walls, but both the thatched roof and the brick pile of the walls are finished with polite work.

"What you wore in your regiment helped."

Nix laughed, slamming the wall nearby like he loved it. Apparently, he tapped into the construction, too. Finn looked up at the shelter with envy.

"You didn't have all that time for me. I'm not going to be able to fix the rain leak while I build my own house."

"Hey, I can still remember that. Whatever it is, you should be taught by the Captain."

Nix put it mildly and made Finn look complicated, then asked him to give it a little bit.

"I need you to meet the village chief. If you don't say hello, you'll be in trouble if there's a stranger."

"Bye," Oria said with her hands on the little wooden door. "I'll get ready for dinner first. Nothing very luxurious, but I'll put more on your arm, so expect it."

"Thanks"

As Finn thanked her, Oria smiled a little shy, as if she remembered when she was in Comlis.

It was a narrow but square-like place where Knicks took Finn so he could pull out half the way.

The wells were being dug, and the villagers hovered around them. Who came to draw the water needed to prepare dinner, who washes his face full of dust and sweat after a day of labor. Most are still young. Only a few of them seem to be over fifty. Everyone of them throws a half-phase gaze of interest and vigilance at Finn.

(Apparently, I'm not welcome)

At the same time that Finn snapped his neck inside, Nix showed the building where he was going.

"That's the village chief's house. It's a meeting place."

It's a little bigger than the rest of the building, but it's still a bungalow too. Before that, several men and women were doing some public speaking. At the foot of one woman, there are two children, trying to get home quickly, clutching together. Finn remembered his little brother and sister in the orphanage and unknowingly lowered her mouth.

And one of the children sat down on the ground limping at his mother who wouldn't mind. Eyes looking up at the sky happen to engage with Finn's gaze properly. Blue eyes opened in a circle, and his mouth opened with momentum that seemed to make a pink noise.

"Wow!!

Everyone in the square looks back at something as if it had come out of the top of his head. Faster than the mother could resist, the child shouted with her little finger pointing straight at Finn.

"What is that! Mother, that guy is so glowing!!

Ah, and Finn covered his face with one hand. Although Nellis had warned me, I'd never been exposed to such abrupt and massive exposures by anyone before, so I completely forgot. Perhaps none of the humans noticed Finn's peculiarity, but the adults were wisely holding their mouth. It is the ignorance of the child that should be feared.

"Something's goofy! I'm scared!!

... and the cruelty of the young lady.

Finn managed to correct his posture and look around, fighting the uncut desire to put his hands on the ground disappointingly. Eyes of confusion and anger, suspicion and vigilance. And he's laughing with trembling behind his back, a thin sign of Nix.

Surrounded by them, Finn took a deep sigh. Turn your consciousness inside yourself and cover it with the white light of Lena. He seemed to see the light weaken, and the child made a pompous face with Finn pointing at him.

As Finn slowly approached him, he made sure that the child ran away with a disappointing cling to his mother's hem, but in fact he lost his hips, and he hardened without moving any further. Finn kneels before it and asks peacefully.

"Are you scared now?"

The child does not reply frightened. Well, naturally, Finn stood up smiling bitterly. As soon as possible, I am caught in the grim eyes of my mother. Finn lowered his head with a pepper.

"I disturbed you. I'm Phineas, Nix's friend. I didn't mean to threaten you in any way, but I'm sorry I scared your kids."

The woman looked around and opened her mouth cautiously as she deserved the fin.

"You're a cleric or something. Or is the demon turning into something?"

"No, I..."

Not sure if it was the answer, Finn eventually decided to give up and tell him honestly. Either way, from what the people here have learned, there's not much to know.

"I'm Dragon Marquis."

"Huh?

What are you falling in love with? The voice just came back. This was an unexpected reaction, which made Finn unwittingly happy, laughing and adding an explanation.

"Of course, I'm not from the Dragon Hou family of my ancestors. I was originally just a powderer. It's just a little coincidence that we're going to bond with the dragon... and the bond looks like something white and glowing is twisting to someone with the priest's eye."

The woman stepped back still unquestionably clear against Finn, who grinned bitterly with her verbal butt. I don't know if I'm trying to protect the kids, or if I'm trying to get away and take a good look at them.

The next thing she was going to say was easy to predict. Then where is the dragon? Without even having to call Finn, Lena appeared fluffy. Now it's not just the children, but the people who were in the square shout out their surprises at each other. Finally, Nix, who was no longer able to enjoy himself, laughed and came to Finn's side.

"Hey, long time no see, Lena"

"Hello, Mr. Nix"

It was responded to by Lena as a dust, and the woman who had sheltered the child and lagged behind, as angry as she was, "Hey!," he yelled.

"Nix, what are you doing?

"Please calm down, village chief. Phineas and I happened to run into each other on the street. He was worried about us. So I invited her to my house because it was a corner. I didn't bring him here on purpose."

"So you knew this kid was Dragon Hou, didn't you?

"Yeah well. It's like he broke out of the Eighth Legion because of this guy. Hey, Phineas."

"... well, I guess..."

Though I feel subtly different from the facts. To Finn, who answered vaguely, the village chief also looks suspiciously at him. Then she pointed the same eye at Lena.

"So, this girl's a dragon?

"Yes, Tianlong Diaerfalena, we call her Lena."

When Finn introduced her, Lena properly met with a trick she was still unfamiliar with. After Nix looked around at the face of the square, he continued talking out loud so that he could hear it.

"I was there when these two bonded, village chief. So even if she looks human now, she knows she's not who she really is. The disciplined sturdy that Phineas rarely sees, and the fact that Lena is a very good kid. So, don't be alarmed, will you treat me like we do? Same person who lost his hometown."

I lost my hometown, and Finn's chest hurts. Apparently, the village chief took a glaring look at the look between them. I raised my hand lightly and responded, "Okay."

"It's your guest. Hospitality and treats at best. But I swear I won't have to say anything else. And be careful while you're here so you don't scare my kid."

"Thank you"

Nix and Finn thanked each other at the same time. The village chief growls his nose and begins to lift and refrain from the child who is still frightened. Lena looked at the child with interest, but realized that she scared him when she tried to get close, and unfortunately pulled back.

"Well, I let everyone know my face and my name, shall we go back?"

Nix slaps Finn on the shoulder. Finn nodded and bowed his head to the village chief again before walking out with Lena.