The dragon's harem

When everyone caught up with Alcott, which was only eleven seconds after he disappeared, everything was already over.

They found him leaning on a big shelf in the library, looking at the mess in front of him.

Arad sighed, “A devil’s magic.”

“Listen, it wasn’t me. Those two dragons summoned a Devil Lord to stall me and hide their magic tracks. I did my best to chase away the thing without toppling the whole castle.” Alcott walked toward them and pointed at the shattered floor and burned shelves, “You know I can’t breathe fire.”

Arad looked at him and then back at the door, “Found Claug knocked out in the hallway.”

“Come on, she’ll be fine.” Alcott waved his hand, brushing it away, “That won’t keep her down for long. Give her a few more seconds, and she’ll be as good as new.” He smiled, “It was her poisons that knocked her out. I just removed one from her blood and caused everything to come crashing down upon her. A neat trick, hard to pull off.”

Ginger sighed and rubbed her face furiously, “Could’ve just dodged her attack. She must’ve thought you were an intruder. You’ve just KO’d your daughter-in-law.”

“You say KO’d as if I suplexed her. I did throw her to the ground, but that was so she wouldn’t fall and hurt herself.” Alcott looked at Ginger and then shifted his attention to Merlin, “Forget about that for now. I’ve learned a few things about those two drakainas.”

As quick as the encounter was, it had shed light on a few things that might help their search. The main thing was the drakaina’s magic color. Arad, for example, has dark purple, Ginger has blood red, and so on.

One of the two drakainas has sapphire blue magic, while the other’s is vibrant red.

“They might be able to change it with spells, but I could detect that change if it happened.” Merlin smiled and looked at Alcott, “We can use that.”

“Don’t forget, at least one of them can summon a whole Devil Lord, and they are both fast and sneaky,” Alcott spoke and then looked at the door as he heard footsteps rushing closer. Soon, Isdis walked in, followed by Rey and Ray.

“What was that blast?” She looked around and then rested her gaze on Arad.

“We can explain, but first, did you notice anything strange in the past minute or two?” Arad approached her, and she shook her head, “No, we just finished dealing with the farmlands and were getting ready to meet up with Roberta.”

“I see. The two I’m looking for have blue and red magic. Their eye should glow like that when casting spells.”

Hearing Arad’s words, Isdis pointed back at Rey and Ray, “Like them?”

Alcott in the back shook his head, “Not the same shade, and that’s their eyes’ natural color. What do you say?” He looked at Merlin, and she, too, shook her head.

“Their magic is too weak and crude. Besides, they don’t have the weight of dragons.” Merlin approached Rey and Ray, looked closer at them, and nodded, “Normal skin, flesh, bones and organs, normal magic circuit, and even the small details are the same. It’s impossible for them to be shapeshifting now.”

Isdis sighed, “Are you saying the two you’re looking for are drakainas? And powerful ones that need Alcott to work with his old party to catch?” Isdis looked at Arad with a worried face. “I doubt they mean us any harm, but this game of catch might last a bit.”

Isdis looked at them and then turned around, taking a heavy step as the ringing of her heel followed the library and the hallway, “Just don’t destroy anything else. I’ve already got enough work to deal with. I’ll send a few people to clean this place.”

She then stopped and looked back, her eyes landing on Alcott, “This mess, you could’ve just let the Devil retreat without fighting it. Its mission was just to erase the evidence, and it did that. What did you gain from this fight?”

“Probably nothing.” Alcott scratched the back of his head, “I did think that I might find something if I tracked the Devil back to hell, like the contract with the drakainas’s names. But nothing came out. Their contract was verbal, it seems, and quite binding.”

“Next time, weigh the risks and benefits well. We’ve lost many precious books. That is a heavy blow to the kingdom. I bet the two dragons thought you wouldn’t be so reckless, and that’s why they ran here.” She turned around and glared at him. “A guard can chase a criminal all over the streets, but he doesn’t have the right to break into people’s houses or destroy property. Next time, act with more care, or I’ll throw you into house arrest. I’m sure Ginger would find that fun.”

She turned and left with Rey and Ray following behind her. “Come on! Send him back now.” Ginger called and sighed. Alcott rarely stayed home, so that would actually make her a bit happy. To have Alcott take a week or two off work, even as house arrest. It should be healthy for both him and her.

“She’s cold.” Alcott sighed and looked at Arad, “Come on, can’t you do something? You’re the emperor, right?”

Arad laughed, “Don’t worry. She isn’t really mad. But must put a front for everyone in the castle.” He looked around, “This is the royal castle- and the crowning ceremony still didn’t happen. She can’t have many trouble in the castle, or we’ll risk losing the people’s support.”

Arad smacked Alcott on the back, “Let’s go. The goal is blue and red magic. I guess we could work with that.”

They headed to search the castle once again, this time hoping that the drakainas won’t attack them. It was clear that the first attack wasn’t meant to harm anyone but more of a ringing bell to signal the start of some game, as if they were taunting them to come and catch them.

Inside the royal office, Isdis sat behind her desk and pulled a large list. “People who are free now, not that much.” She picked a few and then sent an order for them to clean the library.

“What do you two think?” She asked, looking at Ray and Rey.

Rey smiled, “I’d say, let them play.”

“They’ll cause another mess. Just wait.” Ray shook her head.