Chapter 5.18 - After Dinner Tea

Serin sat in a patio garden. Unlike the grand hall, this patio garden was built seasons ago, and not for the express purpose of the announcement rites.

Serin sat, sipping Mint Lemon tea. Sitting with him was Jeffry, Iris, Dana disguised as Iris, and Ephraim.

Their pleasantries were as performed as best as possible, despite the occasional roar of a dragon in the background.

Iris was staring directly at Dana, and broke the semi-awkward silence. "So how long can you keep that shape?"

Dana smiled, "Indefinitely. Does it bother you?"

Iris blushed, "Not at all, It is just it is perfect. And unlike illusion magics, it doesn't have the distinct distortion that is a giveaway for disguise magic."

Dana smiled, "It is unique to our people."

Jeffrey then looked at Serin, "then why was that one girl unable to keep that illusion up while serving the other diplomats."

A roar was heard from the distance.

"She is still quite young, recently plated. We don't have the vast population to have a dedicated royale waitstaff. What is it that Rika does as her profession?"

Dana smiled, "She is a Mage, and is interning under Shurik's department. She wishes to learn more of the enchanting arts, you see."

Jeffrey was excited, as it seems Serin had developed quite the industry with such a small presence. Jeffry smiled, "You wouldn't happen to take foreign students would you? We have no teachers other than the Taming arts, and I am afraid our ability to branch into separate skills alludes us."

Serin smiled, "we would be open to the possibility of students, and we will keep that in mind for the future." Serin looked, "I noticed you are not taken aback by Dana's natural appearance. Am I to assume this doesn't bother you?"

Jeffrey laughed it off. "Sure I am nervous, but it's more the power the surprises me. Very few of us have passed level 50 you see. And none of us have such skill. I am surprised that there are other plated races for sure, but this is less of a shock than you expect."

Jeffrey then thought back, "Hold on a minute, if you knew that the girl couldn't hold her form up for very long, why have her directly serve the diplomats?"

Serin sipped his tea. The sky was lit with a blast of flame from a window of the Banquet hall.

Dana answered on their behalf. "We intended for her to fail. We knew that the other nations had heard rumors of those of us that can change. So we let them think we slipped. Simon and Paris attempted to bring the sarween into their plan to vilify us. Which might have worked, had they waited to call us such harsh things until after Narissa had left.

Jeffrey was stunned, "And Narissa? Was she in on it as well?"

Serin smiled, "No. But I have asked she not murder the other diplomats until after the gala. However she is a guest, and not bound to the rules of diplomacy. As long as I did not ask her to attack, I have not broken the divines' decree."

Jeffrey was stunned. But he breathed a sigh of relief. "That is good to hear."

Jeffrey looked around. "Aren't you worried she will destroy your town?"

Serin laughed and brought up a map of the town. "This town was built in just a few years. If she breaks a single building in her rage against the other nations, I would consider it a small price." Jeffrey was again stunned. "Are you saying these buildings weren't here when you arrived?"

Serin laughed, "Divines no! A few goblin huts maybe, but this was all built from scratch."

Jeffrey then looked adamant at Serin, "Serin, I feel that I can be honest and straightforward with you. Our nation has many problems. Our population stagnates, as the number of children that reach adulthood is extremely low. We also are beginning to overpopulate our few dwellings, as our habitable space in the cliff walls is sparse. Even with Terramancy, the outer sections that face light are devoted to plant growth. I would gladly be willing to enter an alliance with you if you can help us. We can see from what you are willing to trade you have quite a few solutions you are not disclosing. We wish to show you we are worthy of your trust."

Serin was not expecting Jeffrey to be so forward. But he smiled. Serin looked at his Kingdom management screen and went over to the new alliances tab. There was now an open invitation for diplomatic alliance with the Kingdom of Thul.

Serin accepted, and watched as Jeffrey began to look down. Serin was aware that a screen was only visible to others if you chose it to be, so this would be Jeffrey accessing his screen.

Serin smiled as a notification appeared

Alliance request complete: Kingdom of Thul

Serin then saw something and smiled. KP will be generated as long as alliance is held. Establishing resident embassies increases the host KP score.

Serin smiled, "The dwelling here in our diplomatic quarter. Would you like to establish that as an embassy?"

Jeffrey smiled, "Of course! We will make one for you of course, but it could take some time to carve one out."

Serin smiled, "There is no need. I have an idea on that."

***

Somewhere, hard at work, Shurik received a message. "We need to make a building that floats. How long will that take."

Shurik laughed. Serin's requests were usually ridiculous. But Shurik appreciated the requests. Serin knew he could do it, and gave him the materials, personnel, and space to do it.

Shurik's people were still not high enough level to be of use in combat even with their heightened ability, but Serin was making sure they all still had their place.

That and at the rate of advancement was staggering. Although they would still not be powerful enough to protect the next plating class of Gole, Shurik knew they were close.

So his response back was simple. "How many rooms and anything specific?"

After a brief pause, "It will be for an embassy. Reach out to Master Tyber for constant portal requirements. As we will want a 2 way portal built. Also a dock for a floating tradeship."

***

Serin could swear he could hear laughter in the response. "Sure. Would you like a floating mini botanical garden as well?"

Serin smiled. He hadn't thought of that. "Brilliant. Master Tyber can help with creating a gate. Might make a small waterfall effect as well

Serin then smiled at Jeffrey. "We will be able to build our own embassy. However we will need your assistance in moving it over to your nation. We could not find it without you to guide us. That is by divine decree."

Jeffrey smiled, "How long until it is ready."

Serin smiled, "About a month, but you would be our guest until then."

Jeffrey laughed, "My wife the queen will kill me, but I will send word. We are not as fast as you it seems."

Serin smiled. Jeffrey smiled. A dragon roared in the background.

Jeffrey smiled, "This must be two ways though. So what to you, Serin, is considered fair? We ask for assistance in teaching our youth, as well as assisting us with our overcrowding. What is worthy of assisting us grow our simple nation?"

Serin smiled, "Help us grow ours. We would request your 2nd best tamer be put on retainer as an instructor in our school. It is a skill we do not have here. Additionally, We would ask that you provide us with totems for every creature you encounter when we take you out on hunts. We have a near limitless supply of beast variety. You will have to ensure you only send your most powerful, as these creatures are more dangerous than any of their counterparts you may have encountered before."

Jeffrey laughed, "How dangerous could a few beasts be?"

Serin looked serious. "I have killed a dragon in single combat in less than 30 seconds and I was worried for my safety with the harder creatures."

Jeffrey grew pale.

Serin then continued, "We would also like to invite everyone not currently in a committed relationship to our harvest festival. We have a population issue, and need assistance growing it. It is our greatest flaw. And we would want to reduce the possibility of inbreeding in future generations."

Jeffrey started to blush. "How exactly would that work?"

Serin laughed, "That is YOUR daughter right? I thought you would know."

Iris snorted her tea.

Serin then smiled, "It is a valid question. Humans of our town only make up about 10% of our population. Since we are in alliance you can possibly see this information. Ephraim care to explain?"

Ephraim smiled, "after our last harvest festival, we have determined a few things. First is children conceived with a changeling will always be a changeling. The downside is that changelings borne of two changeling parents have difficulty producing young. For that reason their culture does not find multiple partners to be taboo." Ephraim looked a bit embarrassed as he explained. Dana shifted into a beautiful blonde haired blue eyed maiden. Jeffrey blushed and Dana winked."

Ephraim cleared his throat and continued. "In the goal to repopulate their people, Changelings' culturally accepted promiscuity has made it so their population has almost tripled. As for every other match, we have had no issue, and the child conceived will genetically match the parent with the highest level at the time of conception."

Jeffrey laughed, "So what. This harvest festival you just want us to come and donate our genes?"

Dana smiled, "well we can come to your homes and take it, if that's what you are into."

Serin kicked her under the table. "My apologies. Six races inhabit my nation. 5 of those people are their last. They have seen the destruction of their peoples from various methods, so despite their vastly differing origins and beliefs, they are united in creating a home here in the nation of Haven."

Serin then smiled, "Would you like to meet them? Not as the charades we have been putting on, but as they truly are?"

Both Jeffrey and Iris smiled. Serin then responded. "The gala starts tomorrow at sundown. Tomorrow for breakfast, We will invite members of the different races and you can ask any questions you wish."

Jeffrey asked, "What about the other nations, will they be present?"

Serin then saw as Narissa came over and smiled, "they aren't dead. But Serin dear, you may need to have someone treat their wounds quickly if you wish for them to remain alive."

Serin shook his head, and without a word a changeling and Demis ran from a nearby shadow and towards the gala. Serin then looked at Dana, "Please ensure we have a breakfast prepared for our guests, I will send word to the representatives to have delegates from each race come to a meet and greet breakfast."

***