Ashes and Kingdoms

After a night in the village of the Sarda tribe, Finn did not return to Nanais, but headed west to Comris. To send a warning letter to the Emperor about the movements of the Dark Family.

If you think rationally, it would be much quicker and surer to get off the village to the south side of the country without going to Comrith for anything and send it from around Kostom. Finally, we can also see how things are going on the domestic side of the country.

But ironically, there were various constraints on Finn today because he was a dragon marquis with free wings. Although the status of nobility is all about form, he is a real dragon marquis, even if he actually has a different power than a man. For the aristocrats and dignitaries on the national side, he is on the north side of the mountain range, so he can safely give me autonomy and honor, and it is difficult for him to jump across the mountain range without permission.

(I'm not doing anything.)

Jeez. Finn sighed as he got himself treated in a big way.

If Finn went down to his home side, he would call this and unnecessary speculation, even if it was just a letter. About that time, the boulders were beginning to understand. I do not mean to provoke fear or alarm in prison.

Human consciousness is complicated.

Really?

To Lena's sentiments, Finn had to laugh bitterly. Unlike animals that simply need to put their own signs on there, human wax extends not only to land, but also to immaterial ranges such as deeds and power. It's a hassle.

But whatever the human circumstances, Lena seemed to enjoy her first flight in a long time.

Thanks to you, I can fly a lot with Finn, so I'm glad.

Always more and in a good mood, try swirling around the clouds loudly for fun, etc. Finn deliberately pretended he was about to fall and deceived me into responding.

Since Lena told me she wanted to marry me three years ago, he still kept his answer. That's not why I just can't decide how I feel about her. After that, Taz, who was visiting Nanais again, was supposed to reveal the matter with his story, but that's when he heard an uneasy story.

(I hear there's a precedent for dragon and human marriage too...)

The voice of Taz, who spoke with a complex expression, is still in my ear. That the first Nakte Dragon Marquis, besides his human wife, formed a dragon with a son. For that matter or not, he was killed at the hands of a relative. That the blood line of the surviving dragon and the child with man continues fine and is passed down to Nera.

Nella and I only spoke for a short time in the Imperial Capital, but I did have the impression that it was somewhat unusual. Besides, I don't think Taz would lie about this, and most importantly, he says it was Org's Dragon Hou who uncovered that fact. Finn had to accept Taz's story as a fact.

(Well, here's the thing, I think you should do what you want. But hey...... I'm worried about you)

Taz, usually swallowing and optimistic, mumbled vaguely. The anxiety is well understood by Finn.

The circumstances surrounding him as Dragon Marquis are still fluid. I never imagined three years ago that it would be a matter of being able to cross mountain ranges but not beyond, etc. Depending on what happens in the future, the anxiety surrounding our relationship with Lena will also increase and decrease.

Finn's thought that at least until he could identify the situation a little more had been conveyed to Lena as well. Lena herself also seems to have a sense that she is still young and immature and that humans are of course even ignorant about the dragon world, and she hasn't talked about this once since that day three years ago.

Even now, though I perceived Finn's emotions a little dull and touched my heart softly, I didn't say anything in words. Instead, I just try to change my mood and have fun, increase my speed slowly, and spin a spin even though I don't have to.

I could see her concern, and Finn waved away his anxiety and entrusted himself to the freshness of the flight.

Shortly after lowering altitude as he approached Comrith, Finn felt someone call him and blinked his eyes. It's not Lena. No way, and looking down at the ground, it was apparently that “no way”. A shadow of a pinkie finger stands on the street and waves his hands wide. I just found the dragon and waved it, it doesn't seem like it. In its appearance, there was an overlapping twinkle of small light.

"Lena, let's go down. Looks like they're calling us."

Yes, it is.

Swirl loudly so that you don't threaten your opponent, then hit your wings a little further away. As Finn stepped down from Lena's back, one man rushed in bulky.

"No, I'm gonna call you! Good, I'm so glad you came down"

Excited to say, he takes Finn's right hand with both hands and probably shakes. In front of the momentum and the unexpectedly small body and the glare of light that dwells deep in its core, Finn was just taken aback.

Before Finn could say anything, the man went on to say the word because of it.

"Oh, excuse me, I'm Kveris, I'm a lawman. Nice to meet you. I've heard rumors about His Excellency the Tenryu Hou of the North, but I was really lucky to see you like this here. No, no, thank you."

I'm still holding Finn's hand while he smiles and talks. Finn finally remembered his opponent's name, and, oh, the face. and Kveris, who saw it, sneered and nodded, affirming first.

"Yeah, Nix told me about you, too. Phineas and I were running a powder shop together. Oh, you've gotten familiar with it, excuse me. On the one hand, I felt like I knew him."

So he finally settled down a little too, shyly releasing his hand and scratching his head. Finn is also smiled at.

"Are you Mr. Kuveris? It's an honor to meet you."

"Mm, oh, thank you very much. Sure, you're right."

To Finn, who bowed his head, Kuveris also hurriedly praises him. When he looked up, a giant dragon that had until then turned into Finn's background disappeared, and one girl stared at him with a smile and this one instead.

"Whoa? If that's you..."

"It's Tenryu Diaerfalena."

Finn answers that, while nodding small enough to give permission against Lena. and Lena proceeded forward to Kveris as she fluttered,

"Nice to meet you."

With a slight greeting, he spread his arms and held them gently.

Lena quickly untied her arm as Kveris blushed halfway and opened her eyes to the limit and panicked. Tilt his neck slightly unfortunately and lean back next to Finn.

Finn said with a laugh to Kveris, who was making his eyes black and white with surprise and shame.

"Because you have a beautiful light for so long. That's what Lena likes about people. Sorry to surprise you."

"Oh, well, no, I, I'm ashamed to say, it's rare for a woman to be close."

Kuveris excuses himself as mundane and pretends to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Finn struggled to bite off the laugh. For the first time I was surprised, this would make you comfy. After giving Kveris time to take a breath, Finn cut out, "So."

"What are you doing here? It's not unusual to call us because we've seen dragons."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I did"

Kuveris set his collar right and turned to Finn, turning straight to face. Apparently, we can't even meet unexpectedly.

"It's just a coincidence that I was here. I almost got rid of my little job and went back to Comrith. From what you can see, Your Excellency also appeared to be headed to Comrith, so it was up to you to let me know first and make a hasty fuss."

"Your Excellency, please stop," Finn grinned bitterly, looking at the end of the street before asking. "What happened at Comris?

"It's not even enough to say something. The new Northern Auditor is staying at Comris just now. On the way to Winnea by boat."

Kuveris turned into a troubled face and flaunted his shoulder. Finn's always wondering what it is. That's well, I do find it hard to say hello somehow if they bowl together in a place like this before they come to Nanice.

To the bewildered Finn, Kveris gave a warm bitter smile.

"The new auditor is Simulus-Conferrinus-Lesernus. I'm from the same gate as the council's oldest raccoon, Lord Fercius."

"Huh..."

"That said, the character of the house falls, and he is not very enthusiastic about political activity either. I'm sure the Emperor would have done no harm to the North if he had turned a little official position in the hands of relatives all along."

By the way, I cut the end of the story, and Kveris rubbed his nose column. Even as Finn, I have to face tough times.

"As soon as I was promoted to power, my behavior changed."

"I've already seen less fragrant words and deeds since I arrived at Comrith. On top of this, if you ever meet His Excellency, even Dragon Hou will return just as well until he falls behind, mistakenly assuming that he pays the biggest respect to his own auditors. I haven't even arrived in Winnea yet, I haven't done the news, and yet Dragon Hou himself has come to pick me up! … so"

Kuveris replaces closing with his hands wide open. Finn looked to heaven unwittingly, tired and tired.

"Trouble......"

Without the energy to indulge, the truth spills. To a fed up face Finn, Kveris suggested with a sympathetic grin.

"I don't know, if it's my job to replace you, I'll run away and clean it up."

Well, what's the matter? As Finn thought, Kveris glanced at Lena and then went along with it.

"I don't want Lord Dragon Hou to think I'm going to take it in, but surely in the old story, dragons had the power to see through falsehoods, didn't they?

"You know very well. Yes, lies and hostility can be quickly dispelled. I know what you're saying with pure kindness. Just... just give me a minute"

Finn put aside and closed his eyes gently. Turn your consciousness toward Comris and look in the sea scenery that you are already totally used to.

(Is that it)

There are several fish of different shades swimming with their offerings just outside the group of fish that reveal the city of Comlis. It was obvious that although he had not made a noticeable move, he was unfamiliar with this view.

"The auditors are in the city, aren't they? Then I'll go to the barracks and clean up my errands. I will just send out a letter to His Majesty the Emperor, because I would also like to talk to the 10th Legion Commander for a moment. To that extent, you won't have to worry about finding it there."

"Hmmm...... if there is a conspicuous one in the barracks and your Excellency doesn't run to the pour to come, then so be it. Either way, you'd be smart to walk away."

"Yes. May I join you?"

"It's an honor, my lord," Kveris responded to Finn, who asked backwards.

Finn asked intrigued as he walked down the street.

"You still seem to be running around, but do you know what the Nix and the others are doing and how they went after that"

"Oh, speaking of which, Your Excellency saw that village once, too. Uh, I recently went... last month, but, well, does it feel like you have all the people in one village with the knowledge and skills you need? As a village, it has stabilized. However, I'm not going to expand my farmland very much, so it's hard to ask."

"Why not?

"If you expand the field on a massive scale, it will be easier to spot by legion soldiers. In addition to them, vagabonds can get lost around there. Anyway, it's close to the Great Forest. If such a man finds a field or a pasture and makes it a rumor on his way, he will be in trouble. But the village's getting more and more populated, too, so hey. We need to figure out how to be efficient."

That said, Kuveris sighs that agriculture is out of specialty. Finn thought for a moment, then looked up at the mountains leading to his left hand and said.

"Then it might be one hand to ask the Sarda tribe for advice. They have little field or pasture. In mountain ranges and flatlands, flora and fauna will be completely different, but maybe even flatlands will have useful knowledge and techniques"

If any of the trees that yield the seeds and fruits they are eating grow even on the flat ground, it would be good to cede the seedlings and plant them. Plants that are already native but not known to be used may also be successfully used by the Sarda tribe.

(Truth is, I guess it would be best if we had the help of the Fidae... from what I've heard about Taz, I can't expect that.)

It's a self-sufficient family in the woods alone, whose knowledge and skill would help us greatly. But I don't think they'll come out rejecting the outside world.

(... Farnayne, I wonder what's going on)

Second, I look away and I look at the other side. Kveris pretended not to be polite to notice how Finn looked like that, although he often looked at her.

In compassionate silence, Finn returns to me to bring consciousness back to the present. The luxury of thinking out of reach should be preserved after things get better. Now we have to tackle the problem in front of us.

"Yes, has there been any change in the movement of the Dark Beast on the national side"

To the abrupt question, Kveris made his eyes squeeze. Still, well, tilt your neck and think seriously.

"From what I've heard, extra, better or worse. How can I help you?

"Yes, sending a letter to His Majesty the Emperor is the same thing."

Finn replied, explaining strange movements since this spring. In addition, they see such changes in the mountain range.

But Kveris just looked puzzled.

"Hate and I are ordinary people, and I'm so neglectful of rough things and about the gods, I don't know what the beasts of darkness are doing, etc. But at least when I got back to that village last month, they didn't hear there were more or fewer raids. There are no mysterious rumors."

"Really?"

I can't get any information and Finn is depressed. Next to it, Kveris roared with difficulty.

"Okay, but then it's a strange thing. Now in the north, the Dark Beast sees movement, but its destination, the South, is safe and peaceful. So where did they disappear... uhm"

To solitary reasoning, a chill ran on Finn's spine.

Where did it disappear? It can't disappear. They are still lurking, not foreseeable in the eyes of men, at the bottom of darkness.

(Where are you hiding?

Is it clustered in one place, or thin and wide throughout the country so that people don't detect any anomalies? Either will change their purpose as well.

As Finn silenced himself, Kveris spoke brightly to encourage him.

"Sending a letter to His Majesty would be the only measure we can take as things stand. Yeah, I hope they send me a couple of copies to make sure it arrives. Your Majesty the Emperor might be able to gather information from legions around the world and get some clues."

"... right. Okay, I will."

Powered by their positivity, Finn smiled.

And, just as the story broke off, the streets split between North and South. toward the city and the barracks, each.

"Well, here I am," Kuveris politely greeted. "It's so good to see you. I know the new auditor will have a hard time, but please be careful."

"Thank you for your advice. Which way are you going?

"For some time now, we have work to clean up at Comlis. When you're done, I'm sure you'll return to your home country."

"Will you come to Nanais?"

Finn asked me out thoughtfully. If Islev is to leave and the auditor in question is to take over, we need expert help. Even if not, Kveris' personality is hard to let go of.

To Finn's offer, Kveris glanced at him properly during the bundle. Then I swoop like I never thought I would, and I make a bright laugh.

"It's a great honor to invite you, my lord, but you won't need me in the town you're ruling. It's rougher to have someone who needs me."

"It's... sure, maybe it is"

It seemed like he had said something stupid and Finn scratched his head in embarrassment. but to the point that it is easy to pull back here, nanice is not an optimistic situation either. He lay his words on his face.

"It is the citizens' parliament that is ruling Nanais. I'm just a broker with my own country. Even residents who want to beat you out of the city cannot be expelled arbitrarily.... Yes, someone like that has already appeared in Nanais. A man who tries to feed others by standing around the gap between the law and good sense."

"That's a surprise. At the lap of the Dragon Marquis, some villains have a lot of nerve."

"When I say Dragon Marquis, I am Aoyagi, who has no power whatsoever"

Finn said pale, clapping his shoulders. For the regular, belly-black people, when they are themselves, they are only leopards. I recognize that as a fact, not even self-inflicted.

Kuveris showed me the trick of thinking that he would,

"No, but if Nanais doesn't have to let me run around and break the keys to the barn, Your Excellency and your people will manage. I'm going back south."

Too bad, but I shook my head clearly.

That's all they say, Finn has to give up too. "It's a shame," he said, grinning and offering his hand.

"But if you feel like it, come and see Nanais for once. I don't mind if you come visit."

"Oh, that's good. Once again, I hope to see the Divara Sea, which has a reputation for its beauty. You think the ocean's delicious too?"

Kveris laughs and shakes hands. Finn poured a little bit of Lena's power through his hand.

"When you come, we'll treat you. Until then, may God bless you."

"There is no body for this, if it is the prayer of the Dragon Marquis, then Lady Deia will also hear it. Then, my lord, please be well."

Kveris didn't seem to notice any protection, and when he let go of his hands lightly, he imitated the salute like a prank and walked away to the city. Finn smiled one bitterly as he dropped off his little hindsight.

"You're shaken."

I was convinced that although I snapped, I would see him again sooner or later. Only God knows when it will be.