24 Lion

August stepped sideways, but much to Mandy's surprise that single step had been a dozen meters long, for just a moment vivid colors passing her eyes. At that moment Mandy came to see why there was no way one could catch a dryad in a forest. It took no time or preparation to move like that.

The sobbing boy, naturally, fell into moss. But he lifted up his face almost instantly, seeking for August with his eyes. He didn't dash into a run to catch on him, seemingly getting the cue that this display was not welcome.

"What is going on?" August asked Ceruleum and Riveria.

Riveria shrugged. "I said I would gut him if he tells anyone the same thing he did."

The unicorn boy flinched. "I-It-It's not that--" he said. "I didn't know that-- hick-- an army of Soleans might come after master if--"

August shivered at the word 'master'. "August. Not master."

"August," the boy repeated. "If it gets out that you are a dark dryad. So I'm sorry about-- that." He looked sincere. Big tears dropping on his knees as he looked down.

"Ceruleum cleaned up after you this time, but do be careful," August said.

The boy nodded.

"What is your name?" August asked.

"Albusflores von Palustribus," the boy said.

"I'll call you Albus then," August said.

The boy pursed his lips, looking to be sulking a bit. He did wipe off his tears though, seeming to have calmed a little.

"Call me Veri then," Riveria said, also looking to be sulking. "It's not fair that the ghost and unicorn get nicknames, but not me."

Mandybird froze in space. What? How the heck did Riveria know 'Mandy' was a nickname? Mandy was also a given name on its own.

August sighed, squinting. "Fine."

Mandy was tense. August hadn't asked anything about that line-- maybe he didn't notice or-- passed the detail over. Riveria could be mistaken, after all. There was no reason to worry.

"Leum for me," Ceruleum added in with a childish smile, seeming to find it all fun.

"Fine, fine," August said, not getting the point of this, as far as Mandy could tell. But not caring about it either.

The unicorn boy's pout faded. "If it's like that for everyone--" he mumbled to himself and nodded. Since he was no longer crying (or puking) he finally started looking more fitting to his image and not so much like a dolt.

Riveria was brimming with joy, making a twirl in the moss and humming to herself. Mandy couldn't help but find it adorable how she was happy about small things like those.

"Uhm," the boy spoke up again, "if I get it right, then I'll be getting surname from you?"

"They don't have the tradition for it in Urea," Ceruleum said. "Here they only share surnames when adopting children or marrying."

Albus cast a surprised look at Ceruleum. "Then how will they tell my belonging when I name myself?"

Mandy followed the two with her eyes. She now knew that Ceruleum couldn't enter human society before, but he did seem to know some things. And it seemed like in Ahea familiars got surnames from their master.

"Albus from August's Galord's familia?" Ceruleum cast a look towards August to check.

August nodded.

"Is that bird also a familiar?" Albus asked as he looked towards the bird.

"I'm not," Mandy replied. "I'm just haunting August."

"You mean dating," August corrected with a sigh.

Mandybird nodded, feeling flustered. She would be blushing if birds could. Right. Right. Right now she was dating not just haunting.

Albus showed a shocked expression.

"That's not her real form," Riveria squinted at Albus.

Mandy tensed realizing what kind of misunderstanding she had started to cause and dispersed her body, to take on her normal shape.

"Oh," Albus started to blush. "Sorry. I don't think I know your name,"

Well, as far as Mandy could recall at the time when Albus could have heard it over, he was despairing and sobbing. "I'm Mandy," she said.

"And your full name?" Albus asked like that was the most normal thing to ask, and actually - it was.

But Mandy pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. "Uhm--"

Albus tilted his head in mild confusion about her hesitation.

August was doing his best not to laugh, but his shoulders clearly twitched.

"Is her name funny sounding?" Riveria asked August.

Mandy slowly turned her head to look towards August. What was up with that reaction-- ? It couldn't be--

August looked away somewhere. "No, no, I just remembered something funny," he said.

Something funny at this timing? "August, do you know my name?" Mandy asked, feeling shaky.

August let out a breath, looking in her direction, then an amused smile settled on his face. "Yes, miss party animal of the humanitarian department." With that single line he revealed that he had researched everything.

Mandy floated without substance, her eyes dead. So he knew. All of it. She might as well die now. (again).

"Partyanimal--?" Albus tilted his head.

"No," Mandy corrected in tone that lacked life. "I'm Amanda Bookman. Pleased to meet you Albus."

Albus looked to be confused. August was still doing his best not to laugh and Riveria and Ceruleum were looking at them with a mildly curious look.

"I guess we call you Mandy," Riveria said.

Mandy nodded sluggishly.

"Veri, is it - what kind of being are you?" Albus asked next.

Riveria looked over at the boy. "You must be young if you haven't seen me," she said. "I'm a dragon, I used to be called Riveria."

Albus straightened his back, surprise apparent over his face.

Used to be called? Mandy squinted a little. Used to be called like-- a few minutes ago? Were they officially changing their names?

"I'm a dragon as well, used to be Ceruleum," Ceruleum added in, very much amused at this whole thing.

Albus eyes widened. "...but there's no presence," he mumbled. Not in disbelief, just deep surprise.

"It's not like you have any either, at the moment," Riveria said.

"I've never heard this happened if you contracted a dark dryad," Albus said.

"It's a particularity," Ceruleum said.

"Oh," Albus nodded in understanding, that alone seemed to clear it up for him.

"What's that?" August asked. By now no longer laughing.

Ceruleum replied. "If the master attains legendary tier ability of some sort, they pass it on to their familiars as a passive trait, that trait is called particularity."

August scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "What?"

"I can't tell what you are confused about," Ceruleum said with a smile.

"I'm not even twenty five, how can I possibly have a legendary tier ability," August asked.

"If I had to guess - you were born with a great talent for presence concealment and then something happened that forced you to push it to its limits day in and day out," Ceruleum replied with a smile.

August sighed, looking like he had a headache.

Mhm, yep, he became a dryad and tried to hide it, because astrals clung on him? Was that the tale? August must have really hated it if it ended up with him developing something that sounded as amazing as 'legendary class' ability. Mandy had no idea how amazing it was, but in case of August - it was an ability that made him appear… like a regular human? It didn't really have the punch 'legendary ability' should have. In her outsider view, it seemed like-- mhm, legendary level of disappointing.

Riveria chuckled. "Aug, you had it six years ago as well, a lot of beings were really curious what you were. Big purple even has a treasure chest prepared for whoever discovers it."

Eh-- Riveria dropped it on her own? Mandy hadn't expected that.

August looked sick. "Was that why you ambushed me five years ago?" he asked.

Riveria nodded.

Okay. Mandy really wanted to hear how the heck did these two start dating - she ambushed him, then tried to kill him (not for reals, according to August), but still. And in the middle of that, at some point, they dated-- and then August drugged her to fall for Ceruleum. Wasn't August's romantic life actually even more twisted than that in his novels? Was that where he got inspiration? Or was this normal for non-humans?

"What is in that treasure chest?" August asked then.

Mandy squinted. Seriously? August wasn't considering giving himself up, was he?

"Highlights would be a soulgem and a yggdrasil seed, it gets upped at every solstice since no one has figured it out for so long," Riveria replied.

August frowned. 'This is a pain' was written all over his face.

Albus was wide-eyed about the reward, yet rather than showing greed, he seemed impressed.

So that question had been about evaluating danger, it seemed. That gave Mandy some feeling of relief, at least when it came to August's motives.

"Is there a contra community party of sorts during solstice?" August asked, Mandy noticing how he casually slipped that in despite learning about the community existing just minutes before.

"I wouldn't say we have a community per se," Ceruleum said, joining in the conversation. "Just that my mother holds a summer solstice drinking event and Big purple holds one for winter solstice. Most contras (or travelers) do step by, but all kinds of astrals join in too, including dryads, gemhearts and whoever they bring along. At times, elves, witches and undead pop in too."

August became thoughtful for a while, frowning a little.

"There are no contra-only things?" Mandy asked.

Ceruleum and Riveria shook their heads.

"We exchange information and strike up deals during the solstices, but that's as far as it goes," Ceruleum said.

"We are going to the party, right?" Riveria asked. Next one would be summer solstice.

There was one person with eyes shining so bright they might as well beam out lasers - Albus. "Tiamat's party-- I've heard so many tales! Will we be going?" Albus seemed to have come to life, showing an almost blinding amount of happy anticipation.

"If you all behave well," August said, squinting. Even he appeared to have trouble with that bright sparkly look Albus showed.

Now it was Ceruleum's turn to stiffle a laugh, while--- Riveria and Albus joined hands to twirl around.

Wait-- what? Since when did they get along so well. Mandy would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about a party of odd creatures, but she didn't expect August to agree to that at all.

August sighed like a tired old person and took out his phone, then placed it back. "It's time to move." He said, and everyone other than Albus nodded. Albus paled realizing what that implied.

Mandy returned to being a tit, Riveria held Albus by hand and off they went, coming out by the same train station where the dragons caught August in their trap at first.

Albus looked like he might throw up again, but he somehow contained it this time.

August got out his phone again and since Mandy was perched on his shoulder, she could see that he sent Grisham a text asking "When can I come to talk? I also want to register familiars."

Grisham: "Anytime~ <3"

August cringed. "Today, in two hours?"

"Will keep a free time slot for you~" followed by a kissyface and a heart.

Violet saying 'for Grisham's love' with amusement came back to Mandy's memory. Did she mean this when she said that?

"I will drink all your ruby elderflower tea~ <3" Was what August replied with a squint as he added the heart.

"Anytime, darling~ <3" Replied Grisham and August shuddered. Then closed the messaging window and looked up the train schedule.

Ten more minutes.

August looked around, then got out his suitcase, taking out the ink bottle and a brush. "Albus, come here and close your eyes."

Albus was a bit confused but did as August asked.

"It will tickle," August said, then started painting runes over Albus's eyelids, while holding on to under Albus' chin. Albus did his best to stay in place.

Something about this scene felt really satisfying to watch for Mandy.

When the drawing was finished, the runes glowed up golden and faded.

"Open your eyes," August said.

When Albus did, his eyes were blue, no longer magically filled with a rainbow. Mandy knew that it was an illusion hiding them, now that she knew how colors worked for barriers. With that, Albus now looked like a beautiful albino human in strange clothing.

"What was that?" Albus asked.

"You will see the same thing on Riveria," August said and invited her over this time.

"I want them brown like yours," she made a request. Her eyes were vividly red - they had round pupils now, but the color was still unhuman.

August drew runes over Riveria's eyelids and in a bit her eyes turned into the same brown shade as August's eyes.

"How does it look?" Riveria asked Ceruleum.

"Like Aug's," Ceruleum replied.

To which Riveria smiled happily.

If Mandybird could, she would be warmly smiling at seeing Riveria being adorable about little things again. These little displays of cuteness might almost counter the violence and in some ways, she could get why one would date her.

August packed away his suitcase and bought them all tickets online.

Meanwhile, Albus asked what color his eyes were and expressed that it was a pity they had no mirror, learning that they were blue. He also asked what kind of magic this was. Ceruleum said it was written fae language tied down with scylla ink containing cerberus claws and a bit of dragon scales. Riveria added there was also some phoenix feathers in trace amounts in it. They were moving their nostrils so Mandy figured they told it by smell alone. Albus pursed his lips at the ingredients, apparently finding something from it disgusting, but none of the dragons seemed to mind.

When the train arrived all of them matched August and boarded. Of course, Riveria and Ceruleum sat on both sides of August. Albus didn't really compete for a spot, though and sat next to Riveria. Their little group did attract some attention, especially Albus (due to clothing most likely), but it was rude to stare, so no one's eyes lingered for too long and they had some space.

Mandy was curious why did Albus seem to… appear completely comfortable next to Riveria despite her kicking him? She had also said she would gut him, right?

"It's surreal to see humans acting normal," Riveria noted, her speaking volume low enough for the train engine to drown most of it out.

"How do they usually act?" Mandy asked. It wasn't August alone, so even if she joins the conversation (and who knows if anyone could even hear her voice) it could be passed over.

"Weak ones pass out, strong ones kneel, if they don't then we know it's either a hero there to slay us, or a witch coming for a deal," Riveria said. "And then there's Aug, who treats us like, hmm, I would say a lot how dragons treat each other."

"Run upon spotting?" August asked a tad amused.

"Not that," Riveria said. "Although a bit that. But no, not that."

"Lack of ulterior motives for the most part and if there's something to be asked, then it's phrased like a deal," Ceruleum mentioned.

"...Is that not how you normally speak to others?" August asked, squinting.

Both Ceruleum and Riveria smiled.

In other words, August simply treated them as equals and that was not how humans usually did as far as Mandy could tell. And who wouldn't be at least mildly interested into someone who appeared to be a human, but didn't act like one? "Do dryads act like that?" She asked.

Riveria shook her head. "You will see when you meet one."

Ah, so that wasn't anything that might hint at what August was. That was good to know. Another detail she was really curious about was - "Leum, do you have some dark history with Violet?" Mandy asked. It was not the safest thing to ask, but she figured Ceruleum would show in some way if he was uncomfortable with the question.

"Hmm, depends on what you mean by dark," he replied, not seeming bothered one bit.

"Betrayals, fighting wars on opposing sides, secret agendas against each other?"

Ceruleum laughed. "No to the first one, yes to the second, who knows about third - agendas wouldn't be secret if everyone knew about them."

"What kind of wars?" Mandy asked since there was a 'yes' to that one.

"That's a very long story," Ceruleum said. "But there have been just as many wars that had us both on the same side."

"Violet is cautious towards Leum, because he sometimes joins a side just for fun," Riveria added. "You can never know if he will be an ally or an enemy a few decades down the road."

Riveria seemed to figure what Mandy meant to learn and that was surprising, as Mandy had formed the impression of Riveria being somewhat simple. But true, Riveria had also noticed what kind of misunderstanding Albus was having before she did.

Ceruleum cast a sideways glance towards Riveria. "I'm not that whimsical. Just because the spoils aren't obvious, doesn't mean there are none."

"Then it's just because he isn't very predictable, I guess," Riveria said. "Ah, and wasn't it you who killed that kid she liked?"

"She killed a lot of beings I liked too, you can't go down that road," Ceruleum shrugged. "Didn't we also almost kill each other a few times."

Riveria snorted. "Remember that time when I killed your son and then you killed my daughter."

"They weren't the brightest of children," Ceruleum shook his head with a smile. "Looking back they wouldn't have lived long with that pride that didn't match their ability."

"True. It was a good lesson to never make children with weaklings," Riveria nodded.

Mandy didn't know what to add to that, really. The fact that these two could be so lighthearted about things like that was beyond her. And they had lived very long and bloody lives, experienced wars, loss and many other things, perhaps that too played a role. Mandy didn't know how 'human' Violet was, but it didn't feel like she had a grudge. The part about not liking Ceruleum because he's unpredictable seemed to fit best, somewhat.

"Both of you are strong, go make kids with each other," August made shooing hand motions, not seeming phased by the theme.

"Well... there are a couple of eggs with Tiamat," Riveria said with a 'hello darkness my old friend' look.

"Thanks to you," Ceruleum added with a similar 'hello darkness my old friend' look as Riveria.

Oh, so they did... August's love potion hadn't failed, it seemed, it just wore off. How could they treat August this normally after he did that to them… that was beyond Mandy.

August made a lovely sadism infused smile. "Don't worry, I'll help there be more."

Mandy recalled the bit about dragons and matchmaking. "Don't familiars have human-like kids?" she asked. That would make eggs an impossible thing, wouldn't it?

"If they take on dragon shape, then they can give Tiamat more eggs, no problem," August said.

Both Ceruleum and Riveria looked at August with the eyes of a dead fish.

"August, why are you trying to breed dragons?" Albus asked, finally speaking up. He had been listening, but there hadn't been too much change in his expressions as he did.

"Their count has dwindled in Urea, have to do my part in helping them raise their numbers," August said casually.

"Aug, you might not know this, but my father was a dryad," Ceruleum said. "If you want to do your part, then you might as well make some with Veri yourself."

August paled, his lips parting without forming any words.

"Right, the last dark aligned dragon passed away a millenia ago, I would love to mother a new one!" Riveria revived like a blooming flower. "Have to do your part, right?"

August had dug his own grave. "...I am in a relationship right now."

For a moment there Mandy considered trying to save him, but… what happens if she doesn't try to save him? "I'm okay with it was long as I get to join in," Mandy said, half serious and half to tease August.

And now it was August's turn to have eyes of a dead fish. "Nothing less expected from the party animal of the literature department."

And Mandy too joined August in having eyes of a dead fish while Ceruleum and Riveria were doing their best not to laugh.

Albus, for some reason, looked impressed, nodding to himself from time to time.

More people entered the wagon at the next stop and they no longer had a comfortable space to talk and now that there were people closer to them, it was obvious that many cast lingering looks at them, not that Mandy could blame them - rather she felt a sense of superiority about being able to stare at them all up close. Her feathers ruffled up and she looked like the haughtiest tit in the hood.

They switched trains when they had to and eventually got out at their stop. Differently, to Mandy's expectations, none of the group asked any questions, even if they did look around with curiosity. It seemed like they were soaking things up with their eyes and had no attention to spare to asking things. Or maybe, they had no idea where to even begin. If Mandy had to pick who seemed the happiest, then she could easily tell it was Ceruleum. They were all excited, but Ceruleum looked like he was walking on clouds.

One thing attracted Mandy's attention as they walked - 'breaking news' slid past on many screens and video of washed off space appeared from time to time. "Enormous tsunami wipes the town of Gustavsberg off of the face of the earth'. Mandy hadn't ever heard of there being tsunamis in this zone, but what did she know? August seemed to notice but didn't say anything about it and the rest of them were too curious about 'everything' it seemed to single that out.

They passed the main streets and the little ones and walked through the same magic themed bar. Mandy felt comfortable with no one looking at her with caution, or even noticing her.

Much like before, Grisham met August by jumping at him, but was caught by Riveria before he could reach August. There was some tension in the air, but it didn't seem to be directed at them.

As soon as Grisham's eyes stopped at Riveria's face, he grinned. "Unbelievable--" he said. Since Riveria was still holding him, he asked "Can you put me down, please?"

Riveria glanced over at August and put him down only after getting a nod. Even if Grisham seemed to recognize her, she did not recognize him and felt a bit suspicious about this 'kid' jumping towards August.

Grisham almost skipped as he went to his cabinet, the group following him. Only after the door was closed behind them, he spoke up.

"You never cease to surprise," he said the same thing Violet did, as he sat down and got his book out.

August took a seat and his familiars did the same. As soon as they were seated, the doll appeared with tea mugs already prepared. It seemed like Mandy got recognized, as there were two mugs placed in front of August. She could tell what the drink was and not wishing to waste it, she changed shape, took the mug, then took a seat on the armrest of August's chair.

"My name is Grisham, I'm the guild's head," Grisham said. "Who do I have here?"

"Veri from August's Garold's familia," Riveria introduced herself with elegance.

"Leum, same familia" Ceruleum said, looking around in a similar fashion how Mandy did when she first came, although there was a dignified air about him even in that. He hadn't lost his prince like bearing.

"Albus from August's Garold's familia," the unicorn in human shape curiously took the tea mug as well. He seemed to be matching up with Ceruleum and Riveria and while he didn't have the air of nobility like those two did, he gave a feeling of a dutiful student.

"Pleased to meet you, Veri, Leum and Albus," Grisham said. "I know Veri is a dragon," he looked towards August.

"Leum used to be Ceruleum, Tiamat's son and Albus is a unicorn from Ahea," August said.

For a moment, Grisham froze in place, his pen fell out of his hand. Then he regained his bearings and started writing in the book.

He opened a drawer and took out an obsidian plate that looked exactly like the one in the library.

"Can Veri place her hand on top of it?" Grisham asked.

She did as asked and following her, the other two did the same.

"Alright, they have been registered. The badges will be ready in about half an hour," Grisham said, being oddly all about business. "Shall I register Mandy as a party member at the same time, I heard you left her in the library for a week, that would make things easier, if you mean her to act on her own."

"Feel free to," August said, looking at Grisham with a faint sense of unease.

Grisham wrote something. "I already have her signature from the library," he said "and I figured you'll agree." Grisham opened a drawer and passed a slightly transparent white bracelet over to Mandy.

"Well, then," Grisham said, after Mandy took the bracelet. "What did you want to talk about?"

It was not the childish Grisham sitting over from them, it was the guild head.

August let out a breath. "Nine days ago I caused a dead zone to appear in the miscellaneous section of the library. I isolated it and left Sarah and Gerald Garold, the bishop class paladin, in it. I have no idea how to clear it out."

Grisham listened without interrupting. "What did you do after that, up till today?"

August narrowed his eyes. Mandy too felt that something was off.

"I was hibernating for seven days after that, a cursed forest appeared in my apartment, but since it was isolated nothing got out. I set up concealment barriers with my younger sister's help yesterday, prepared for the mission today morning and accidentally contracted these three just before and during the mission."

Grisham nodded. Then there was a pause. "I have good news and I have bad news, which one do you want to hear first?"

"Bad," August said.

"This morning Ceruleum destroyed the city of Gustavsberg. Church has deployed three bishop class paladins to chase him down, if they find Gerald, they will deploy him too."

Mandy turned to face Ceruleum. What? This morning meant right before he and Riveria caught August.

August had a similar look to Mandy's. Shock and disbelief.

Riveria looked sideways, she apparently knew that already.

Albus didn't seem all that clear on what was happening, looking at them all with some sense of curiosity.

Ceruleum merely smiled just like before, although there was a bit of a 'whoopsie, so you caught me' trace in it.

"Ugh," August massaged his temple. "And what's the good news?" August asked.

"No one cares about the miscallenous section," Grisham said. "We will put up some walls, twist the space around it and no one will know."

Running from an imaginary bear and into the jaws of a lion was a good way to describe their situation. And that very lion was sipping tea like a prince and smiling.