Arad walked back into the woods, searching for more prey. [You got enough. Let’s get back to the village.]

^Are you sure, Mom?^ Arad replied, ^The day is still long,^

[You can always hunt another day. Not straining yourself or the ecosystem is a skill that every dragon must learn at some point.]

^I see. Killing all those bison will get the predator on edge, scaring the other monsters. I will end up eating them to extinction if I keep hunting,^

[That’s the point. Hunt as much as you can without causing trouble,] Mom smiled inside, [A good way to kill monsters without worrying about the ecosystem is through the guild’s quest. They will think for us,]

Arad returned to the village, stretching his arms as he approached the tavern. Right outside, he found Jack sitting there. “Arad, want lunch? Or are you full?”

“Full, but I still eat more,” The two walked in to eat.

Aella and Merida sat together, chatting in the back. Arad stared at them, confused, “What are they talking about?”

Jack looked back, “I don’t know. All the girls I met were weird, so I can’t possibly guess.”

Aella noticed Arad staring at them, so she waved her hand at him, smiling. Merida stared in the other direction. It was suspicious.

Lydia passed by, so Arad called her. “Do you know what those two are talking about?” She shook her head, “I don’t know. But I heard your name brought up several times. Did you do anything?”

“I did nothing,” Arad replied, staring back.

Later that night. Arad walked into his room to see Aella sitting on the bed, “How are you doing?”

“Good, and you?” She stared at him with a smile. “I’m fine. What did you talk about with Merida?”

“Hehe.” Aella giggled, “Girl’s secret, can’t tell you. Yet.”

[So you’re supposed to know at some point?]

“When will I know then?”

“When Merida is ready,” Aella smiled.

“Preferably before we get back to Alina. We will be spilling apart then,” He said with a serious face.

“EH!” Aella gasped, “Well, I can tell you a bit.” She scratched her chin, “Right now, I’m supposed to convince you to keep her in the party.”

Arad pulled a Chair and sat on it, “You know she’s dangerous. Someone like her who attacks before thinking things is dangerous to leave around.”

“I know, but hear me out on this.” Aella smiled, “It’s better to have her around. Someone like her is better an ally than not.”

“That isn’t a reason. Don’t you have anything more convincing?” Arad stared at her.

[If there was a more valid reason. Merida would have brought it up herself.] Mom said with a sigh, [Aella is supposed to talk you into it. Probably.]

“You know, she’s strong and all,” Aella said, worried.

Arad sighed, “You know it’s easier to convince me by coming straight?”

Aella sighed, “Sorry about that. There isn’t much of a reason besides what I can’t say. You have to trust me on this one.” She scratched her chin.

Arad smiled, sitting beside her, “Fine, but we have to ask Jack as well later,”

“Really?” Aella smiled.

“Of course. Jack is a member. We can’t ignore him. I also have a bad feeling about not telling him.” Arad lay on the bed, and Aella started helping him take off his armor.

“Do you think he will object?”

“No. I think Jack will act rashly later if things turn bad.” Arad replied.

“I see,” Aella smiled, sitting beside him. “Should we do it tonight?”

“Tell Jack?”

“No, the other one,” she replied with a blushing face.

“Ah! That,” Arad smiled, “I did ask Mom about it. It will be hard for us to get a child.”

“What did she say?”

“Dragons and elves live a long life and have few children. We might not get one for decades.” Arad explained.

“How about the egg problem? How long will the pregnancy be?” Aella asked since she won’t be able to fight in the later days of that.

^Mom, got any idea?^

&Authur note: Humans live to 100 years: 9 months.

Elves live to 1000 years: 90 months.

Dragons live to 10000 years: 900 months.&

[Your mother was a woman. It’s hard for me to tell if it was the reverse. But a void dragon must be born from an egg, and it needs to incubate inside the mother for at least Seventy-five years to gain knowledge and hatch like you.]

^You said something like that before. About how we void to get a part of our parents’ consciousness or something?^

[That’s a different topic. You live inside the mother until your reach cognitive adulthood. Since the mother won’t be staying with you.] Mom smiled, [We can’t leave a crying baby who can’t walk nor speak alone,]

Arad nodded, explaining what mom told him to Aella.

“Seventy-five years?? We elves barely stay pregnant for ninety months!” Aella gasped.

[I’m sure your mother wasn’t pregnant for all those years. It would be inefficient. We will find a workaround for that pregnancy.] Mom explained.

“There might be a way to shorten that seventy-five years.” Arad looked at Aella, “Mom says we might find a way.”

Aella stared at him with a wry smile, “We better do. Seventy-five years is just too much.”

Arad scratched his head, “I guess it has something to do with void magic. An experienced mage might be able to help us.”

“I don’t think you find any mage knowledgeable in void magic.” Aella stared at the cieling.

“I’m a void dragon. We both can get research going,” Arad smiled.

“Eh!” [Eh!] Both Aella and Mom gasped at the same time, “Wasn’t the goal not to get the mages to experiment on you?”

[She’s right? We need to find a trustworthy one.]

“How about Ginger? She looks capable.” Arad suggested.

[I don’t know about it. She’s trustworthy but dangerous at the same time.] ^Why do I know what you are thinking?^ Arad sighed.

[What?]

^You want the mage to be pregnant as well.^ Arad sighed again, “You won’t trust someone unless we are in the same cage.^

Mom laughed, [You’re like your mother,]

^Like mother?^

[As a dragon, her power stood above all. There are only a few people she trusts. For the sole reason that they can’t keep up with her.] Mom said in a calm voice.

^How strong is she?^

[Let’s keep it as best not told,]

Arad sighed, closing his eyes. “I’m exhausted,”

“What happened to you?” Aella stared at him, confused, “I feel sleepy,” Arad replied, yawning.

Aella crawled beside him, “Want to sleep early?” she hugged his arm.

“Want to do it?” Arad looked at her.

“Don’t force yourself if you’re exhausted. We can do it again when we find a quiet place. Where no one would hear us.” She whispered in his ear with a smile, closing her eyes.

Arad smiled, hugging her, “Let’s take it slowly. We have a long time ahead of us.”

Knock! Knock! Someone knocked at their door, and Arad stood immediately. “I’m coming,”

When Arad opened the door, he saw Merida standing, staring at him with a worried face and a pillow and blanket in hand, “Can I sleep here?”

“Excuse me, what?” Arad stared back at Aella. She shook her head, “I know nothing of this!”

“Can I enter?” Merida asked, looking down.

“Heck no!” Arad replied. He was just about to have a sweet time with Aella. ^I’m right. This woman is a problem,^

“Alcott and Ginger wanted a room. She said I could sleep with you.” Merida said, looking down.

“Let her in,” Aella said from the back, “It can’t be that bad,” She smiled.

“What could be that bad,” Arad sighed, staring back at Aella, “Get in,”

Merida walked in, resting her sword in the corner beside Aella’s bow.

“That’s a long blade if I’ve seen one.” Arad stared at the long, thin-edged blade.

“It’s a modified zweihander. Magic smithing is capable of that.” Merida smiled, “If you found a blacksmith to make it.”

Arad stared at her, “Is it an enchantment?”

“No, he brined the steel with magic salt and infused it with magic.” Merida lifted her sword, “There are many different types of magic salts. What was used here is a %70/%30 mix of hardness and weightless salt, respectively.”

[Magic salt is a compound of crushed elemental stones. When smithing, you can sprinkle it on the steel, cool it in, or brine it to add those magical properties to the weapon.]

^So it’s what makes such a thin-long weapon possible?^

[Yeah, without it, most large weapons are going to be unusable.]

Arad sat on the bed, “I see. But where are you going to sleep?” He asked the important question.

“On the floor. Or in the corner. I don’t want to stay outside in the cold or the tavern where drunkards are roaming.” Merida replied, and Arad stared at Aella. She smiled.

[Arad, she’s usable.]

Arad sighed, ^Fine! Fine!^ He stood, “The bed can hold two. Do you mind sharing it with her?” He looked at Aella.

“I have no problem with that. But what about you?” Aella stared at him with a smile.

“I will sleep on the ground,” Arad replied.

“No, I will sleep on the ground.” Merida stared at him.