“You know, Trev, Micca will never be able to sell these, right?” Hari said.
I nodded. “Yeah, I know. These were for the party. I wanted to get the supplies all sorted for when we head out again.”
“If you could somehow stack strength, endurance, and stone skin into a single candy, it would be incredibly beneficial for me,” Hari muttered.
“These are great for me though!” Liane said happily.
“And me,” Jen said with a grin. “You’ll not be taking all of them.”
While I was waiting and everyone was sitting around, I figured it was a good time to ask what the plan was for the other issues.
“What are we going to do about the cooking lessons the king offered, or finding someone to teach me runes?” I asked curiously.
Hari and Milo seemed to be in thought about it before Hari spoke up first.
“I don’t think having the chefs visit here and teach you will pose too much problem. You don’t need to use your ability, so you can learn from them without concern. As for the runes, I’m not sure.”
“It won’t be difficult to find runescribes in the capital. The problem comes in convincing them to teach you,” Milo added.
“I can teach him some things,” Sylverith said.
Everyone just turned to look at her.
“You can?” I confirmed.
“Sure. I dabbled in runes a few thousand years ago. I’m sure I could teach you a thing or two,” she said, waving her hand.
Milo’s eyes were wide—very wide.
“Would a human even be able to use your runes?” he stammered out.
Sylverith seemed to consider this for a while, which admittedly made me nervous. I assumed all runes were the same, and despite a little complexity, it wouldn’t change much, but the reaction from Milo seemed to imply something very different.
“Yes, he’ll be able to learn them, though he may need to learn a little of the draconic language to complete some, but that shouldn’t be a problem,” Sylverith said, nodding to herself.
“How would it even translate to food though?” I asked curiously.
“I don’t know! And that’s what makes it so exciting. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to try something new,” Sylverith said with a smile.
Milo wanted to say something, but held back.
When I was finally done with the candies, we made our way into the foyer. Archie was waiting for us.
“I have organised a carriage for you all to take you to the phoenix smith,” he said, bowing slightly.
“Uh, thanks, Archie,” I said.
I had not considered how we’d reach the smith at all. Honestly, I didn’t even know where he was located, so I was glad that Archie had the foresight to solve this problem.
Lily and Crisplet both decided they wanted to come along as well, so when we reached the carriage, Lily vanished, and I really hoped the smith was prepared for what was about to come. This thought made me chuckle.
“What’s funny?” Jen asked.
“I was just thinking the smith doesn’t know what he’s in for when all of us show up, especially with Lily and Sylverith,” I said.
Milo chuckled too.
Leaving our estate, I was shocked at how many guards were standing outside our entrance, counting twelve guards in all.
“Why do we have so many guards?” I asked.
“There are many people trying to get onto the property either to meet you or just to get a glimpse of the mythical creatures that are rumoured to live there,” Hari explained.
“It was really interesting when we left to go to the guild, because they insisted on taking us out in a carriage, and strongly advised us against walking,” Jen added.
“Mythical creatures? Who, me?” Sylverith added, a bit shocked.
“Yeah. I believe they think your dragon form is here at the house,” Hari added.
“I could fly over, but honestly I tend to avoid places with too many humans. Too many dragons have fallen victim to greed over the years, and got too comfortable, before they are eventually killed during a nap for their body parts,” she said bitterly.
We didn’t travel long before we pulled up outside a dark stone wall with what appeared to be a crimson red wood trim. It appeared to be fully enclosed, unlike other smithies I had seen through the towns.
I also couldn’t help but notice the carriage that was already here just outside, with royal guards around it.
“We’ve got company, it seems,” Milo commented.
And sure enough, as we were exiting our own carriage, the door to the carriage ahead opened. I expected Kathrine, maybe Luis, but I was not prepared for the King himself to step out of the carriage.
“Greetings!” he called.
As he made his way over to us.
“I thought I would personally introduce you to Max,” Marcus said.
Only for Sylverith to step forward. “Ah, another of the descendants. If I’m not mistaken, the father of the other two. You certainly have an interesting class, don’t you? Yes, not as young as you appear,” she said, inspecting him closely.
Marcus looked a bit shocked for a moment before he visibly steeled himself.
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“You must be Sylverith, the dragon and protector of the dark forest. Yes, I was hoping to meet you,” he said, straightening himself up now.
While this conversation was going on, a young lady had opened the door to the smith and was standing there wide-eyed at the group standing out front, freezing for just a moment before she ran away back inside.
“I am, dear, and I would very much like your permission to utilise your library,” she said with a grin.
“Ah yes, Kathrine did mention that. It might be difficult to allow you access to the palace so freely,” Marcus said, but he was interrupted by a light chuckle.
“Young phoenix, dear, I have already been inside. I would just rather have your permission to do so,” she said.
Surprisingly, Marcus took the confession in stride. I couldn’t tell if he was unbothered by it, or just hiding his chagrin very well.
“But while I’ve got your ear, let me also ask that you please put a stop to damaging my forest any further. You have two towns encroaching on my domain, and thus far we have played nice. I’d rather not get involved in human affairs, but I cannot allow my domain to be cut down,” she said.
This caught me by surprise because until now she had not mentioned the forest at all.
Meanwhile, an older man had come to the doorway of the shop, and now stood there—like the young lady earlier—watching the conversation between his King and this unknown lady who was making demands of him, in silent awe.
“That… that might be more difficult than the library problem. I can certainly understand your concern, but perhaps this would be a conversation best left for a proper audience?” Marcus tried to say.
“We can do that, yes, but just know if they go too deep and you neglect to address this problem, I will be forced to remove them myself, and it won’t be as peaceful as my conversation now is, dear,” she said with a smile as she turned around towards the man at the doorway.
“Ah, good, the smith is here.”
We all turned to face the man, he still stood stunned.
“Max! Great to see you.” Marcus said. “I apologise for not alerting you to our arrival, but I was hoping to introduce you to someone,”
“Your Majesty! Of course, please come in,” Max said, stepping away from the doorway to allow us to enter.
Part of me thought Lily or Sylverith would cut in front of the King; however, that didn’t happen, with Sylverith following the King as we all made our way inside.
We entered into a loose gravel courtyard, which had several forges with only one currently fired up, but what caught my eye immediately were his tools. The metal itself appeared to be on fire as they hung against the wall.
The man standing in front of us, Max, as the King had said, was a giant of a man, towering over myself by more than a head, with jet black hair and a beard that came to his chest. He was someone I had heard about several times, even as far back as in the temple when Peter mentioned him.
Once we were standing there, it seemed that Marcus was doing introductions as Max was taking in the group, his eyes locked on Lily or Crisplet—I wasn’t sure which.
“Max, this is Trevor, along with his companions, Lily and Crisplet. Then you have Dragon Sylverith, protector of the dark forest, and Trevor’s party members, Hari, Jen, Milo, and Liane. And I was hoping you’d be able to assist them in an armour commission or two,” Marcus said.
Sylverith stepped forward, seemingly inspecting Max.
“How curious. The system has given you a class that revolves around the use of the little flames—discarded mana?” she said, looking him up and down.
“Discarded mana?” Max said, looking confused and looking back to the king for clarification.
“Yes, dear. The feathers you have infused in the tools there are just a self-sustaining mana construct, made of a compressed lattice mana formation which has been discarded with age, and could one day serve as a resurrection point for the little flame,” she explained.
Max looked at Marcus. “I feel like I’m missing something here. Little flame?” he said.
“I believe she is referring to the phoenix itself. Her name is Alira, another… companion? Of Trevor,” Marcus said, clearly not sure what to say there.
Max shook his head, just staring at me. “So let me get this straight: your companion is the flame elemental, and that… is that a shadow cat? In addition, you are travelling with an actual ancient dragon, while friends with the phoenix? Am I getting all this right?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t say I’m friends with Alira; she’s more of an acquaintance, but she’s probably friends with my companion Crisplet, yes.”
“You’re right, Your Majesty. If you hadn’t come and introduced him yourself, I would have called him raving mad, even with the cat and elemental in front of me,” Max shook his head.
“So let’s start over. You mentioned doing a commission for the boy, but we’re still working on the other project and have a limited supply right now?” Max said.
Marcus just waved him off. “It’s fine. Do what you need to do. I’m going to take my leave and let you have some privacy while you discuss. Do say hi to the family for me; it’s been some time since I have seen them.”
Then, just like that, the King left, leaving us in the smithy’s courtyard with Max still shaking his head.
“Well then, this is an unexpected turn of events. What commission were you looking to get?” Max asked.
Hari took a step forward, but it was Sylverith who once again spoke up. “Have you worked with dragon scales before?” she asked.
“True scales? No, only those of drakes and lesser draconics,” he said.
“Very well. Trevor, dear, you wouldn’t mind if I instruct him in an item or two that would assist you the most, would you?” she asked in an overly sweet voice.
I just turned to look at Milo and Hari, to see Milo nodding enthusiastically, while Hari had a look of concern.
“It should be fine?” I said.
“Would you mind handing me the scales then, dear?” she said.
This is what I was so torn about. It was technically her tail after all—she brought it to me—but I also knew the value of the scales now, and I knew that Milo, at the very minimum, wanted to use some, so I pulled out half, from the skin of the first half the tail we cooked for her.
This would leave me the other half, which was still attached to the meat that I had been cooking.
She turned to Max. “Take your measurements, dear, and then I’ll discuss with you what I think is best.”
“What did you have in mind for him?” Liane asked,
Sylverith smiled. “I like you. You’re always looking out for him, a loyal friend. I was thinking of a lightweight chest plate, and perhaps a knife. Lily has mentioned several times in great humour that you were unable to cut the tail. That wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?” she said, turning to Max.
“No, no, not at all,” he said, coming over and sizing me up.
“Wait, but I already have this jacket, right?” I said, looking behind me.
“Yes dear, but it’s either a chest piece or a helmet, and I can’t really see you wearing a helmet everywhere, and the chest piece is to be worn under your jacket, so I think this is best.” Sylverith said.
Liane seemed to accept this as well, just nodding.
“I believe this will take some time, so please leave me to it. I will make sure this talented young man makes you something incredible,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, Sylverith,” I said, not sure what else to say.
“Think nothing of it. Lily has asked me repeatedly to assist in keeping you alive longer. This is a good start,” she said, now turning to Max while inspecting the dragon scales in her hands.
I turned to Lily. Just how many people had she asked for help from to keep me alive?
All I got in return was a head tilt.
“Time to head back then?” I said to Hari, who had just been watching everything stunned.
“Ye… yeah, let’s head back,” he said, as we all made our way back to the carriage, leaving Sylverith with Max.
Jen was the first to speak up, once inside.
“So what the hell just happened there?”
Hari was shaking his head, and Milo laughed.
“Trev’s going to get a legendary chest piece and knife is what happened,” Liane said, looking out the window.
“And the King was waiting… for us?” Jen added, her voice raising.
“No, he was waiting for Trevor and friends,” Milo said with a laugh.
“The king doesn’t wait for people though,” Jen was shaking her head.
“He did today, just another thing to add to the list of unbelievable things,” Hari said.
The rest of the trip to the manor was spent in stunned disbelief at the events that were unfolding, and part of me couldn’t wait to tell Micca and George.
“Don’t forget to add his future training in draconic runes to that list as well.” Liane said.
Milo’s eyes went wide. “I wonder if I can sit in for that! I really wanted to ask earlier! I don’t think anyone has ever recorded draconic runes and been taught by an actual dragon before, well no one who has ever spoken about it.”
Invictus Shakes: A Gladiator Slice of Life
by Mila Anemoia
To taste glory, gladiators must bring a whole new flavor to the arena or die trying.
Salve! Welcome to the Imperium Aeterna, where the gods decided to cut out a piece of ancient Rome and keep it to themselves. I'm Maximilia, owner of Invictus Shakes. You'll find my smoothie bar across from the realm's best gladiator school—the one started by the champion, who, funny story, also adopted me.
Whatever the occasion, I've got the drink for you. Training hard? Fuel with the Fortis Aqua. Partying harder? Recharge and recover with the Raucous Bacchus! Won big betting on who died? Well, you can live it up like a god with real gold flakes. And I've also got the latest rumors to go with it.
So, get this. People think the mysterious territories appearing are from the world we left behind. But what I want to know is what kind of warriors they'll have fighting in the next games. Because I'm already praying to the gods I don't end up handing them their last drink. There's a lot more to these gladiators than guts, glory, and good looks.
Alright, stop staring at their muscles and...hey, eyes up here! So, what can I get you?
Ingredients to expect:
- Slice of Life, drama & action
- Found family
- Gladiators vs other cultures
- Complex characters & relationships
- Flirting & romance/slow-burn
- Humor & tragedy