20. Rivira

Everyone was very cautious because of her injured arm and wing, some had even become a little overprotective acting more in line with babysitters than care takers. Once the tents had been set up and Marlet had brought the extra wagons she got interrogated by all the executives except for Bete who said she only got hurt because she was weak, he however didn't leave the room in hopes of learning how she really felt and what actually happened to her. Marlet could only chuckle at the tsundere act Bete was putting up but accepted is own way of worrying for her with a smile.

"… and then this massive rainbow started flowing into you from the stone, and that's why we don't have it with us." Marlet could only catch the end of Riveria's recounting of the events and got very surprised by what she had said. 'I really hope it is what I think it is' was what Marlet had thought as she went to the dragon shout section of her magics. Seeing the long list of greyed out names she got a little depressed thinking of all the dragons she'd have to kill to unlock them all but perked up seeing she had an unused soul ready to unlock another shout or continue on to a second word of power from either 'whirlwind sprint' or 'unrelenting force'. It really was a tough choice.

At the end of the day she decided that she would unlock the first word of 'Fire Breath' - YOL

Opening her eyes again she could see her close friends waiting for her to say something or at the least explain what happened to her. With a small smirk Marlet looked at the centre of the tent where an unlit fire-pit had been dug out to provide warmth and light within the tent. Not wasting any time Marlet directed her mouth within the pit and spoke out in a commanding tone "YOL", lighting the pit with a wave of heat. Riveria immediately rushed towards the pit and started examining it, trying to understand how and why it was lit without feeling any magical fluctuations, the other person who had their mouth agape and staring at the flames was Gareth. Although he was a dwarf, he didn't spend too much time before the forge opting rather to spend time either drinking or hunting monsters, "I'm a warrior, not a craftsman!" he would always say. His reason for staring at the flames was because even he could tell that the fire that was burning there was dragonfyre. Something any top forger would murder a a small village to get to use.

Dragonfyre was supposedly one of the purest flames a smith could ever hope to be able to use, it not only got rid of any impurities while forging. It was also extremely efficient, cutting down normal iron dagger forging by half. Within dwarven communities it was only a hypothetical myth that came from those who had tamed dragons in the ages of old. Gareth was pretty sure that Tsubaki being Marlet's smith would probably want to join their familia if it meant using flames like that.

Marlet then proceeded to explain how the process of dragon soul absorption worked and what it allowed her to do. She also explained how there were 3 words of power within each shout and the executives had mixed feelings about this revaluation, Riveria was intrigued by the ramifications that stronger and more diverse shouts had as magic seemingly had no effect on them. Gareth was sweating a little if the other dwarves from his hometown found out that the girl could produce purer or stronger forms of dragonfyre and was already thinking about what to report to Loki. Both twins had stars in their eyes when they found out that whenever she cast that strange 'magic' she was actually speaking in the dragon language and Aiz was planning to commit a small dragon genocide within the dungeon to collect as many stones as possible so her friend could get stronger to help her kill the ultimate dragon, the real one-eyed black dragon. Lefiya only had a look of determination on her face wishing to get stronger faster, planning to spend more time with Aiz in the dungeon to definitely get stronger. Lastly, Finn was thinking about how all these actions would be reported to Marlet's new friend and source of newest headache, the goddess Freya. No doubt that everything that had happened would be reported to her.

"Alright, we all have a few more questions but our little dragon slayer looks to be on the verge of collapsing. Let's give her some space to rest.

We're camping here for 3 days so make sure all the equipment needed is here and ready to move. Bete, I want you to scout ahead on the next floor tomorrow and the rest of of you to be close in case something does happen." Finn was dishing out orders one by one until he reached Marlet, "and you, I want you in top form as soon as possible, no more fighting solo. You're meant to be our healer and supporter, I allowed it because it was only a baby dragon but next time we're pulling you out. Got it?" he finished with a stern expression making the guilty girl gulp, returning a furious nod in acceptance.

Once everyone was out of her tent Marlet decided to try and move her injured arm and wing, only to wince at the pain shooting through her nerves. This prompted her to slowly fall back and drift to sleep, shifting every now and then due to the uncomfortable pain when she moved in her sleep. Once in the command tent Finn, Riveria and Gareth were having a serious meeting regarding all the revaluations the girl had revealed to them.

"To think she would get more powerful like that without having her falna updated" Finn could only sigh. "Technically, this all falls under one of her magics and development abilities. What's very, very scary is the fact that she still has 2 more magic slots open for more magic and who knows what other development abilities she could unlock" Riveria could only run her brow at the absurdity of the whole situation. Gareth just stared at the map, not contributing towards the conversation which didn't escape the notice of his two companions. "Something on your mind there Gareth?" Finn was truly curious, the dwarf would usually be drinking and relaxing at this time and to say his actions now were completely uncharacteristic of him would be an understatement. "You might not have noticed it, but the girl made dragonfyre." This statement alone shocked and worried the other two, obviously they knew what it was and the uses for it but hadn't noticed because they weren't as in-tune with the nature of earth and fire as the dwarf was.

Riveria couldn't suppress her groan from escaping and didn't even care to apologise or cover it up, "that girl could grow trees and mend them as though she were working in the treatment ward in Babel tower. This alone could make her a target of the Elven Royalty, which they have already sent me letters of congratulations for having the connection of being in the same familia. It won't be long before they request and then demand an audience, no doubt in the forest. And now this problem the with the dwarves as well?" Riveria felt as though she had aged twice as fast since that little girl fell in her arms outside the Loki Familia entrance but she wouldn't change it for the world.

Finn had a very serious expression on his face whilst he stared at his best friend and closest confidant. He knew that they would protect Marlet as though she were their own child and wouldn't even think about sneaking her off to their hometowns, but then again he had to worry about every other elf and dwarf they may encounter and who learnt about these facts. "I'm gonna need a full report on everything she said and explained as well as the different circumstances and dangers we might be facing in the coming times" Finn spoke whilst getting out a stack of paper and 3 quills with ink-pots, already prepared to write through the night.

Waking up with only a slightly stiff and uncomfortable wing Marlet walked out of her tent and noticed that the twins had been hanging around the entrance to her tent. "Morning! How'd you sleep?" Tiona asked in her ever cheerful mood. "Captain wanted us to stay with you in case anyone wanted to try and do something untoward" Tione said more calmly than her twin with a small frown on her face. "I slept fine thanks, and I appreciate it Tione and Tiona." Marlet spoke through a yawn, "my wing is still a little stiff so I won't be flying today. I'll just be walking around like the rest of you 'normal' folks" she finished with a light chuckle. The three of them wondered around the camp at first asking if anyone needed any assistance or healing and doing the asked actions before moving on to the next person.

Finished within their own campsite the trio moved outside and made their way towards the town based at the roots of the tree, Rivira. "This might be a dumb question, but Riveria start this town or something?" Marlet suddenly asked out of the blue. The twins looked at each other and snickered loudly trying to hold it in before bursting with laughter at the thought. "Hahahaha, no. Riveria might be older than us but she isn't that old." Tiona wheezed through her laughter. "Yea, ever since they found out this floor is a safe zone the town has been here. I'm sure it's just a coincidence" Tione was trying to catch her breath after her explanation. In the Loki camp a very tired elf had a very strong desire to smack 3 girls on the head with her staff.

As the trio got to the market area of Rivira, Marlet couldn't help but exclaim at the absurd prices the people here charged and this only made the twins grimace because they knew these prices could still increase in times of emergency. As they were looking at some of the potions that Marlet knew she could make better a stone suddenly hit her I injured shoulder. "We don't serve your kind here" threatened an older looking adventurer.

Like lightning the twins were in front of Marlet in a protective stance, ready for combat. "And what is my mind exactly?" Marlet raised her eyebrow, the stone didn't hurt her too much, physically. "Monsters" was all the man said before another stone came from a different direction, only for Tione to bat it in another direction with her short sword. "Does the Loki familia protect monsters now? What if she went on a rampage! What if she slit your throats?!?" The adventurers were getting riled up and the crowd was only getting bigger.

"Guys, let's leave" there was a finality in her voice and the three of them went back towards the Loki camping grounds with a small crowd following until they were back amongst their own people. 3 people from the Loki Familia were still fine but 5 groups of advance forces as well as the unpredictable Freya Familia that had come with them, the crowd didn't dare follow further. Tiona stayed with Marlet and even tucked herself into bed under her wing like Loki does all the time, telling the girl how she wasn't a monster while Tione went to go and report the days happenings to their captain. She would have been happy at seeing her beloved if the situation hadn't been so serious.

That night the Loki familia increased their vigilance during patrols and Finn had written another report to be given to Loki concerning what had happened in Rivira.

Marlet went to bed with a silent tear going down her cheek.