Chapter Text
The sun shone down hot and relentlessly that morning, scorching the dry ground further and making it unpleasant to be outside for long. The farmers however had no choice but to work their fields, bringing water from the river to their crops to save them all from famine, which meant the twelve mages that aided the town guard needed to be out to guard them.
Tsubaki was one of the oldest mages in town, at thirty-four she had survived many monster raids and as she had never been pregnant, she had never faced the risks of childbirth. She knew other women gossiped about her whenever her back was turned. That Tsubaki, she never shows interest in starting a family. I heard Tsubaki enjoys battle, does she believe herself to be a man? If only Tsubaki fought only with magic as a good female mage should. Tsubaki herself tried to ignore the hurtful whisperings but it was true that they were starting to get to her.
“Where’s your smile?” the teasing voice of the young lord asked as he rode his horse close to her on the path. As always he looked magnificent in his armour, the tachi at his side enough to make the slightly arrogant lord feel safe riding this close to the edge of town. It was true that he was good with the sword, it’s reach longer than the katana that Tsubaki carried, but monsters were tricky creatures and she did wish that Ryota-Sama cared about his life a little bit more than he did. His father had died only two summers ago, more arrogant than his son but not by much.
“I must have forgotten it back at home.” Tsubaki replied, glancing up at her friend who smiled at her. Mages were considered to be on the same level as the nobility, no matter where they were born from, so it wasn’t too strange the lord had chosen her as his friend. They were close in age and both grown up in this town.
“Perhaps I’ve brought it with me, or maybe not.” Ryota said, slightly concerned to what her reaction might be. “I received a letter this morning, the petition for a dragon has been granted.”
“A blessing or a curse I wonder?” Tsubaki replied. News of the Peace Pact made in the west had travelled quickly, marking the end of the war with the dragons. She had been small then, just old enough to understand the devastation the dragons could cause. She remembered the days of living underground as the ryu took over the land slowly but surely. They had been doomed in the east but perhaps in the west things had been different? The dragons had agreed to the pact, though around here they had very much been winning the war. “If we can trust in the Peace Pact, then a ryu is exactly what we need.”
“I trust in the Peace Pact.” Ryota replied. “The towns that accepted a dragon early are already multiple times our size. Without a dragon, we will be left behind.”
“And with a dragon? We become some grand city like they speak of in the legends from before the war?” Tsubaki asked. Ryota was an ambitious dreamer who clearly thought a dragon coming here was a grand thing. She wished she had his faith but she couldn’t help but remain sceptical of the dragon’s true motives.
“We will, I just know it.” Ryota said, smiling and waving as Michiko rode up upon her own horse. As captain of the town guard, she spent even more time with Ryota than Tsubaki did, never seeming to want to let them spend time alone together.
“Ryota-Sama, I heard you received a letter this morning? Could it be news on our petition for a dragon?” Michiko asked with a hopeful smile. She was a powerful mage, amazing fighter, and as feminine as a woman should be. Tsubaki knew she shouldn’t be envious of the other mage but it was hard to not feel inferior in her presence. Today was worse, as she was reacting just the way Ryota had hoped for.
“Bunch of gossips,” Ryota said, pretending to be annoyed but only for a second. “It was news on our petition for a dragon. She will be here in three days.”
“Three days? Then we must start to prepare for a grand feast at once!” Michiko said with a huge smile. “I knew your petition was well worded.”
“It was Tsubaki who thought to mention how our town is on a large coal deposit. I wouldn’t have thought for a moment that other towns may struggle for fuel but they must, as we have been asked to increase production.” Ryota said. “I hoped for something grander but perhaps if the coal is our source of income, we can use it to follow grander dreams.”
“Nobody has dreams as grand as yours.” Tsubaki teased their lord. Ryota laughed at that, pleased by her words.
“I think many have grand dreams but I have the ambition to follow them into reality.” Ryota declared. “And a dragon to help me! I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Did they share any information on what dragon is coming?” Tsubaki asked, trying to show positive interest when really she just wanted to be prepared.
“Her name is Asalie, a strange name but I suppose dragons wouldn’t have human names,” Ryota thought out loud. “I know that she is a ryu, perhaps the two rivers are enough to tempt her to live away from the sea? She is travelling here with two mages, though I do not know their names.”
“Only two? The pact allowed six.” Michiko worried. “Is that a bad sign?”
“I suspect there are many mages sceptical of working with a dragon.” Ryota said, giving Tsubaki a look that made it clear that he was speaking about mages like her. “But I’m not worried about the lack of mages. We have plenty of excellent ones here already who can aid where needed.”
“I would be honoured to fight beside a dragon.” Michiko confessed. “But I didn’t wish to leave my home.”
“We need you here.” Ryota said. “If only to help me in this bright sun.”
“Are you feeling too hot, Royta-Sama?” Michiko teased, using her affinity of light magic to divert light away from the spot where they were standing. It felt cooler immediately, like standing in the shade, but not for long as the lord rode off with the captain of the guard, leaving Tsubaki alone to reflect on the news she had just learned.
The dragon arrived three days later, just as planned, landing upon the top of the hill and not descending until two humans appeared on the road, both riding horses with fur so bright it shone almost like copper. These must be the dragon’s two mages, as she descended slowly and landed beside them, shaking out her red and copper scales before taking on the form of a human woman with hair that almost perfectly matched the horses the mages rode. As she approached Tsubaki could see more of her features, guessing her age to be a few years younger than her own, though for a dragon that probably meant she was a few centuries old. Her golden coloured eyes were freaky but Tsubaki found much to her own shame that she couldn’t look away. She had always thought Michiko was the most beautiful woman in town, she wasn’t anymore. Asalie glanced at the rice paddies as she passed, stopping just on the edge of the town. There wasn’t much to show out here, those without magic often chose to remain in their underground homes at night, but the dragon to her credit didn’t seem concerned by the state of the town. She stayed silent as her mages dismounted their horses beside her, both looking around the town with open curiosity until they spotted the lord approaching them. They bowed respectfully, as any human visitor would, but the dragon remained with head held high and remained silent as Ryota stopped before her. Visitors should introduce themselves to the lord first but the dragon didn’t seem inclined to do so. Finally the silence grew awkward enough for the female mage to speak up.
“I am Rina and this is my brother Eiji, Rider of the Honourable Dragon Asalie. It is an honour to meet you, my lord.” Rina formally introduced the three of them. Too slow to be polite, that had been a clear power challenge but Ryota wasn’t the type of man to hold grudges.
“Welcome to Fujikawa, it is a pleasure to have you here.” Ryota said. “I am the lord here, Fujinaka Ryota. Everyone calls me Ryota, I insist on it.”
“Your letter was very persuasive.” Asalie said, speaking for the first time. Her voice was light and feminine, her vowels more pronounced than was usual and it made her words sound a little strange. “I could tell you were a man of ambition with good sense. Your town is in a good position for expansion, we can achieve great things here.”
“I certainly hope so.” Ryota answered, easily flattered. He’d probably already forgotten the slight against him but Tsubaki hadn’t. Asalie believed herself to be at very least Ryota’s equal. She didn’t bow to him and now she spoke of working together to build up the town, it was simply infuriating but as she and Ryota openly discussed ideas for expansion and Asalie talked of bringing in outsides to bring up the population of the small town, the people of Fujikawa were clearly excited. Tsubaki couldn’t help but remain sceptical but she knew that there were merits to Ryota’s ambitions. Just north of here was a mage family who held part of the river under a magical shield so they could provide a spot for fishermen to fish, they’d come to Fujikawa if the town could provide a good fishing spot, and that would lead to them welcoming in all the wanders who hadn’t trusted their town to keep them safe. Being mobile had its advantages in this monster ridden world, perhaps more so than numbers that could make your settlement into a target.
“Before we speak of building a home, we should speak of dinner,” Ryota declared. “We are preparing quite the celebration for your arrival. You can stay in my home for the time being, did you need any food now or can you wait a few more hours?”
“A snack would be lovely.” Eiji admitted. “Travelling always seems to make me hungry.”
“That makes two of us.” Ryota said, pausing for a moment. “Rina-Sama, did you want anything?”
“Just a bath, if you can spare the water.” Rina replied, looking a little surprised by this title of respect. Was being chosen by a dragon really such a big deal? Ryota spoke to her like she was a noble lady, his equal.
“I’m sure we can.” Ryota said, turning to Tsubaki he gave her a hopeful smile. “Do you mind showing Rina-Sama how to fill the bath?”
“Of course, Ryota-Sama.” Tsubaki said, making the title clear as she went to join Rina. The other woman was younger than her but seemed quite pleasant to talk to as they headed for the largest house where Ryota lived with his younger brother and two mages that acted as his protectors at night, though were part of the town guard during the day. Rina shared with her that she had a passion for music, delighted when Tsubaki showed off her talent for sound magic by creating a playful tune in the air.
“Wonderful!” Rina exclaimed in delight. “Listen Eiji, isn’t she clever to have made this?”
“Quite the composer.” Eiji said, quickly distracted by his desire to serve the dragon that followed behind them with Ryota at her side.
“I love music,” Tsubaki shared. “I could never master an instrument but I found with my affinity I don’t need to play at all.”
“I guess it’s true what they say,” Rina replied. “Magic can make us lazy. Nature magic if my strength, I can’t remember the last time I waited for a fruit to ripen.”
“Sounds more like impatience than laziness.” Tsubaki answered, hoping she hadn’t insulted the other woman as she realised what her words implied.
“Eiji always says I’m impatient. I guess it must be true.” Rina said with a laugh.
“Why did you decide to serve a dragon?” Tsubaki asked, really meaning to ask how did they come to the decision that a dragon could be trusted.
“I feared the return of the war,” Rina confessed. “We have this pact, mages serving the dragons but nobody was volunteering and it felt like the dragons were just running loose. Their behaviour unchecked as it were. Eiji agreed but when we met Asalie, we knew we had gone with the wrong intentions. Dragons aren’t monsters that need to be guarded, we don’t need to serve them to keep this agreement of peace alive. I share in Asalie’s desires to start the creation of a great city, like in the tales of old. This will be our legacy. Asalie, her mage guard and of course Ryota-Sama. He seems like a good lord to follow. His words in his letter were genuine.”
“Ryota-Sama is no liar.” Tsubaki confirmed. “I believe in his ambitions but I do wonder if inviting a dragon here was the best choice he made.”
“That’s because you don’t know Asalie yet.” Rina reassured her. “When you do, you’ll love her just as much as Eiji and I do!”
“She’s won your hearts then?” Tsubaki asked, wondering how the dragon had managed to persuade two sceptical mages so quickly. Neither mage seemed unintelligent but that didn’t mean they weren’t overly trusting or easily mislead.
Music was playing from the grand town plaza within the mountain caves that still made up a lot of the town. The room was large and served many functions, today it was a place for a feast and dancing. Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes, the silk kimonos each woman wore seeming to be just as beautiful as the last. Tsubaki herself had worn her hair like the other women but had put on her best black trousers and a silken mage’s robe that tied tightly with a belt around her waist, keeping the top half well secured around herself as the rest of the robe fell like a skirt behind her and to her sides. The long sleeves covered her arms, too hot to wear outside over summer but perfectly fine to wear in this cool room. Too cool perhaps to be natural, perhaps this was Kaito’s doing? With his water affinity, his ice magic was always appreciated at this time of year.
“You look like you’re here to work.” Michiko remarked as she came over in her kimono of bright pinks flowers on white silk. “I know you own a kimono, why not wear it?”
“I feel more comfortable like this.” Tsubaki answered.
“This is why there’s whisperings that you are strange.” Michiko warned, not unkindly.
“Maybe I want to be strange.” Tsubaki replied.
“It’s not good to stand out too much.” Michiko warned. “Look around the room, there’s only three women here not in a kimono.”
“Three?” Tsubaki repeated, two more than she had expected. One was herself and she smiled and waved at Rina who wore a mage coat of her own. Beside her was Asalie, who must be the third woman in the room that Michiko was referencing, though Tsubaki wasn’t so sure that she would think of the dragon as a woman. She was certainly dressed in a feminine manner, her dress not made of silk but fabric, linen or cotton perhaps, dyed in bright colours the garment was well fitted around her chest, revealing far more skin than any human woman would dare, and then fell into a loose knee height skirt. Scandalous and yet she couldn’t look away. Asalie was a ryu, she didn’t need to follow human dress codes, no matter how human she might look. Tsubaki had to glance at the long-pointed ears to remind herself that this woman wasn’t human, her emotions were becoming conflicted. “I guess Rina-Chan is working.”
“Chan already?” Michiko asked, surprised by the honorific. “You have become friends quickly.”
“She asked me to call her that, when I was showing her the magic that fills the bath.” Tsubaki explained. “I stayed and talked to her for a while, she’s smart and very funny. I think she’ll fit in well here.”
“People will find her strange for working with a dragon.” Michiko replied. That word again, strange, as if to be different was the very worst thing that a person could be. As somebody who was considered strange, Tsubaki didn’t like that at all.
“Hello ladies!” Eiji greeted the pair, making them both jump. How long had he been standing behind them, listening to them talk? With magic he could have heard every word even if he hadn’t been close, they should have been more careful. Tsubaki thought over what they had said, glad that she had been praising Rina and not the one to call her strange. “Would one of you like to teach me these dances? I confess, I have no clue what to do out there but Nee-san is adamant I try and make friends here.”
“I’ll be happy to teach you.” Michiko replied with a smile. Eiji smiled right back, pleased that his request had been so easily accepted. Tsubaki wondered if perhaps she should be jealous, Eiji was a handsome young man, but she found that she had no strong feelings on Michiko being the one to dance with him. She was hungry through, so she headed over to the feast table and began to load up a plate with the delicious offerings.
“Have you been burning a lot of magic?” Asalie asked as she came over to sample the food herself. Rina was no longer by her side, which meant for the first time Tsubaki was having a conversation with a dragon on her own. She should be terrified, she remembered the days of the war well, but it was hard to be scared of a dragon who looked so very human. “You seem hungry.”
“I just really love food,” Tsubaki admitted, realising that her plate did make her look greedy. She wasn’t as slim as some of the other women but she didn’t think her body could be considered overweight, she hoped that would negate some of the implications the loaded plate may have implied. “Especially the treats that come out at a feast!”
“I see, you wanted to sample a little of everything.” Asalie said with a smile that made Tsubaki feel nervous. Was she afraid of Asalie? It felt perhaps she was and yet rather than wanting to run away, she wanted to stay here and talk to her all night.
“I guess so!” Tsubaki replied. “Can I ask, do you have no family name? I thought a ryu like yourself would have more than one name.”
“My name is Asalie, my mother Esalie, my grandmother was also Asalie. That is how a name is passed down in my family.” Asalie explained. “I have a family name but perhaps no given one? Either way, you may call me Asalie and not worry about anything else.”
“Ok, Asalie-Sama, I will call you by name.” Tsubaki said, about to bow politely only to see Asalie didn’t look pleased.
“You misunderstand, my name is Asalie, in my culture it is an insult to create nicknames that reject my name.” Asalie explained. “I understand that you mean to respect me with tittles but I must ask, just Asalie.”
“Asalie.” Tsubaki repeated, feeling a little strange being so familiar with anybody. She called Ryota by just his name often when they were alone, and sometimes in public by mistake, but they were friends since childhood and despite his nobility, Ryota always had acted like any other boy in the town. At least until his father died and he became the town lord.
“You look so uncomfortable.” Asalie remarked with a laugh. “Is it really so odd to call a person by their name?”
“It is.” Tsubaki replied. “Unless you’re family or romantically together, it’s odd.”
“Then you must consider me family.” Asalie replied with an easy smile. Family? A dragon would never be family but here she was, calling her Asalie as if they were as close as the closest sisters. “You know, I don’t bite. Anymore.”
“You have killed humans then?” Tsubaki asked, shocking herself with how forward she was being. She could hear silence around them, those pretending not to be listening in no longer remembering to be subtle.
“I’m old enough to have fought in the war,” Asalie answered. “To defend myself, my family, my children, I happily killed those who came after us. The war, it was a bloody and terrible thing for both sides and whilst I have no regrets and don’t mourn my enemies, I do wish the Peace Pact had been formed sooner and I had the sense to be one of the first dragons to volunteer to guard a human home.”
“I guess it takes time to stop seeing an enemy as something to fear.” Yusuke, their town’s doctor, remarked as he came over to join the conversation. “There are many humans here who lost their family to the dragons, especially the ryu who tried to lay claim over these lands. It will be hard for them to trust you but I for one believe in the merits of the peace pact.”
“Yes, we’re at peace now.” Yusuke’s wife agreed. There were murmurs of agreement throughout the crowd, their doctor’s opinion carried a lot of weight and if he saw a dragon as somebody worthy enough to befriend, then they would befriend the dragon as well.
“I will keep my side of the pact.” Asalie reassured them. “As I flew here, I noticed a nure-onna had laid claim to some nearby land, unless anybody has a better idea I wish to reclaim that land for you.”
“The old paddy fields.” Tsubaki replied. That land was between the town and the river, full of rich fertile soil and would truly benefit the town if it was reclaimed back. The delight at the suggestion spread quickly and soon even Ryota across the room heard the commotion and came over to find out for himself what was going on.
“She wishes to reclaim the paddy fields from the nure-onna.” Tsubaki explained to him. “The snake woman.” She added as Ryota was clearly trying to figure out which monster she referred to. He had confessed to her long ago that rather than studying the monsters, he would sneak away from his lessons. He wasn’t a studious man but he was a smart one, he had to be to lead this town so well.
“The town is happy to commission such a request.” Ryota declared firmly. “We can discuss payment once the deed is done.”
“Consider this mark a thank you for the house you will be building us.” Asalie replied with a smile. “I only have two mages with me, the pickings were slim and only these two impressed me, can I request the help of some of the town mages?”
“We can’t be spread too thin,” Ryota worried, pondering the merits of the request for a long moment. “I can spare Michiko, Captain of the Town Guard, and Tsubaki is quite capable as well.”
“Thank you.” Asalie said with a genuine smile. Her attention was on Tsubaki again, who couldn’t help but blush a little at the attention. She wasn’t normally shy but there was something about the way Asalie looked at her that was different to what she was used to. It was only later that she realised why Ryota had chosen her and Michiko to help Asalie, they were the two mages he trusted most. Could it be beneath his words and friendly smiles, Ryota too had some concerns about bringing a dragon amongst them? Even Asalie herself had confessed to killing humans in the past. As pretty and interesting as she was, Tsubaki needed to remember that she wasn’t human.