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Chapter Text

     Alice smiled, leaning over to help her youngest daughter, Colette, with her flower crown. Further from the water, she could hear her other two children, Iris and Ivan, giggling and screaming as they played with their father.

     She stopped for a moment, warmth blooming in her chest as she watched the gentle god fall dramatically to the ground in fake defeat. Ivan held up his stick, foot on his father’s chest in triumph. Iris shook her head in exasperation with her energetic younger brother’s antics, and even made secretive eye contact with Lucas.

     Really, Papa? she seemed to be asking.

     Oh, let him have his fun, Lucas quickly closed his single open eye before Ivan could notice.

     “Mama! I won!” he beamed.

     “Yes, you did!” she swallowed her laugh at Iris’s disbelieving expression. It didn’t last long, however, as Ivan raced to her and leapt into her arms.

     “Ivan!” Colette cried, “You squished the flowers!”

     “There’re plenty of them!” he dismissed.

     “You squished the one I was about to take!”

     “Now, now–” Alice was interrupted by a tiny bubble of light around the flower in question, and it slowly straightened itself.

     “Ivan, you should treat flowers well,” Iris scolded gently, “If you don’t learn how to be nice to pretty, delicate things now, you’ll have a hard life later,” she finished with a teasing pull at his cheek.

     Iris was older than the seven-year-old twins by four years, and she took great pains to behave as she felt was ‘proper’.

     Not that Alice herself had spent much time, if any, being ‘proper’, but Iris had always looked up to Princess Beatrice, and had nursed a not-so-secret precocious crush on Sir Reinhard - one she would now insist she had grown out of, but her remaining fondness for knight-related fairytales betrayed her.

     “Later?” Ivan questioned.

     “When you’re older. You should establish good habits now.”

     “They’re just flowers–”

     “–Right, you’re too little to understand–!” she cut off as Ivan leapt at her with a furious yell, only for the boy to vanish, reappearing in his father’s arms.

     “Ivan, that’s no way to treat a lady, even if she’s your sister,” Lucas tutted, “Iris, that was also a bit unbecoming of you.”

     “...Sorry,” she muttered reluctantly.

     “Ivan, she was saying that you’re young. I know it’s frustrating sometimes, but we’ve all been young,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “Even Iris. She used to be shorter than you are now.”

     “Really?”

     “Really!”

     “...What about you and Mama?”

     Lucas froze, his expression unreadable for a brief moment, “Hm, what does Mama say?” he redirected.

     “Mama was smaller than you, once,” Alice smiled, opening her arms to invite him to her lap, “A very, very long time ago!”

     “Really!”

     “Yeah, really!”

     Of that, at least, she was certain. While her memories had not returned and Terry had never found any leads on the matter of her identity, she knew at the very least that she had, as a relatively normal human, been born an infant and raised a child.

     Lucas, on the other hand, had no such history. While the details of using his powers had returned to him, his own memories regarding his past were hazy, blurred pieces he managed to fish up now and then.

     “Mama!” a giggle tore her from her revelry, and small hands plopped a crown of flowers atop her head.

     “Oh, my! Thank you, Colette!”

     “Fellow gods be good, My Goddess,” Lucas murmured, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, “You’re a perfect picture of divinity.”

     “Suitable, no?” she teases back.

     “I’ll have to burn this visage into my soul,” he sighed, “Perhaps, some day, there will be a means for me to place it upon canvas, but surely no mortal painter could capture your beauty.”

     “Are you about to take up a new hobby, Darling?”

     “I might have to,” his brows scrunched together, and he removed his latest notebook from a pocket and began to write, seeming to do his best to describe the scene for reference later.

     This one’s already nearly full as well, she realized with a smile, thinking of the top shelf of their bookshelf at home, littered with similar notebooks in chronological order, I’ll pick up another from Misasagi tomorrow, so that we have one on hand.

     She leaned into him a bit, eyes drifting closed as she inhaled his scent. The familiar staccato of his writing danced in time with the wind. It was all she could hear, even as she got the vague impression of weight settling around her.

***

     She woke up some time later with her head still on his shoulder, a sleeping Ivan cradled against her own, Colette’s head in her lap, and Iris chatting softly and indistinctly with Lucas on his opposite side.

     “That’s it, you’ve got it!” Lucas whispered, the smile in his voice obvious, “I knew you could do it.”

     A butterfly made of light danced around Iris’s fingertip briefly before flickering out like a flame. No runes dispersed into the air as it vanished, and none gathered as another took its place moments later.

     Of their children, Iris and Ivan had shown some affinity for Lucas’s divine magic, though not to the same degree as himself. Iris in particular had talent with light, healing, and illusions, while Ivan - though he had yet to do so consciously - had occasionally shown some innate understanding of Lucas’s teleportation magic.

     Colette, they had recently realized, was likely an Earthmate like Alice after an incident with an overenthusiastic wooly.

     “Mama’s up,” Iris whispered.

     “Indeed,” Lucas rumbled. His peridot eyes narrowed in amusement as he shifted his head to press another gentle kiss to the top of Alice’s head, “Did you sleep well, My Goddess?”

     “Mm…” she closed her eyes with a mischievous smile, “What if I said I wanted to keep sleeping?”

     “It’s getting rather late, we should probably get the children home…” he fell into thought, “I suppose I shall have to carry the three of you.”

     “...Don’t push yourself,” Alice chuckled, “But it’s sweet of you to offer,” she pressed a kiss to his cheek and moved to stand, only to hear the familiar snap of Lucas’s fingers. In a dizzying second, she was in his arms, with the twins on top of her. They were lighter than she expected, and squinting her eyes revealed the soft glow of Lucas’s power around them.

     “I hope this isn’t too uncomfortable?” Lucas questioned, a smug smile on his face.

     “It’s not,” she blushed, “Though it’s a bit embarrassing–”

     “Nonsense,” he dismissed, “What’s embarrassing about allowing me to dote on you?” he turned his gaze to Iris, “That goes for you, too, you know?”

     “N-no, I…” she shuffled her feet in embarrassment. She’d clearly wanted in on the fun, but her age left her hesitant. She was at the awkward stage where she still wanted to be indulged, but thought it ‘too childish’.

     After a few moments, she used a bit of magic to lift herself to his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck, “... I’m just practicing my magic,” she muttered.

     “I see. Yes, it’s good practice to stay anchored to a moving target,” he acknowledged genuinely, “Let me know if you get tired, though. You don’t want to fall.”

     “I’ll be fine,” she muttered, “... Thanks, Papa. You let me know if you get tired.”

     “I’ll be sure to do that,” he laughed.

     The couple shared a conspiratorial wink, Iris’s pink ears the only part of her face visible as she buried her face into his coat, and Lucas began the trek back to town with steady footsteps. The warmth of her family, the gentle sway of Lucas’s arms, and his steady heartbeat lulled Alice back to sleep.

Chapter Text

     “It was certainly quite the sight…”

     “An adorable one!”

     Alice’s cheeks burned. Why do I always let him talk me into those sorts of things?!

     The family trip back home the other night had most certainly not been discreet, and Scarlett’s second-hand embarrassment was only matched by Ludmilla’s excitement.

     “It was good to see you getting some rest,” Beatrice tried to soothe, “though now I worry that if I fall asleep while out with the children, Reinhard will do the same…”

     The princess and knight had wed shortly after Alice and Lucas, and they had two children, a pair of sons, one of whom was born shortly before Iris and the other shortly after the twins. Heinz liked to joke that the two couples were in competition with one another, but Alice was just grateful that there were children the same age - in fact, a marriage boom had struck Rigbarth after her and Lucas’s wedding.

     Livia had voiced that it had been a long-time coming, with the sheer number of singles in town, but that perhaps - just maybe - a certain god’s runes had prompted people forward, though most of them had waited longer than Alice to have children. The only other couple with a child close in age to Iris was the surprising couple of Murakumo and Priscilla.

     It had come out of nowhere, almost, but it seemed that Priscilla benefitted from his warm, protective nature, and she had a calming effect on the wolfman. It was much like a small girl with a very large, overenthusiastic dog, but Priscilla had come out of her shell while also reigning in Murakumo’s overly-generous tendencies.

     They were hardly the most surprising couple, though. That award, by majority vote, belonged to Ryker and Scarlett by a significant margin, though the recent marriage of Ludmila to Terry had definitely climbed the rankings.

     But Alice digressed.

     “I could see that…” Lucy chuckled. “I’d give you my condolences but I can’t say I don’t envy it. Martin would just wake me up to carry the kids home together.”

     “That has its own appeal, though!” Ludmila crowed. “The symbolism in parents carrying their sleeping little angels home…!” She was squirming in delight at the image.

     “Oh? Do you have news for us, Mila?” Beatrice smiled.

     “Unfortunately not.” she calmed suddenly. “It’s admittedly a bit difficult for a succubus, especially with a human, and if we’re honest, neither of us are spring chickens…” She fell to the table in a depressed heap, but it didn’t last more than a moment. “Have any of you gone to see Fuuka? She and Cecil just had their pup, right?”

     “Kumo and I dropped by yesterday.” Priscilla smiled. “Her name is Suzuka, and she’s so cute! Her little ears are still all floppy!”

     “Martin and I were at the clinic with Cecil while he waited.” Lucy snickered, “I thought the kid was going to faint!”

     “Ryker did faint.” Scarlett smiled wryly.

     “I told Kumo I want another.” Priscilla beamed.

     “A true veteran…” Scarlett paled and leaned over to Beatrice. “...It’s a little scary…”

     “Oh, I’ve been thinking it’s about time Reinhard and I had another, ourselves. After all,” she teased, “Alice and Lucas beat us out with the twins. Cheaters.”

     “It’s called ‘efficiency’.” Alice teased back.

     The group, in a private room at the Blue Moon, devolved into giggles.

     Rigbarth had grown in the twelve years since Alice had defeated the Fathomless Dread. A school had been built - a ‘donation’ from Palmo - and more people were moving in, slowly but surely. Beatrice said it likely wouldn’t be long until the town was a city like Selphia.

      I’ve heard that their dragon lives in a castle, Alice mused, wonder if Livia would do that.

     It was impossible to imagine, honestly. Livia was more than likely to simply remain exactly as she was, the laid-back field captain of Rigbarth’s SEED outpost. Things were busier than ever at SEED, with the increase of tourists and merchants.

     Regardless of the changes, the familiar faces around her were comforting. Dear friends, each and every one, though Fuuka was missing this time around - taking proper time to recover from childbirth, as she should.

      Lucas and I need to visit, Alice decided, we’ll go get a present after Lucas gets off work and drop by tomorrow.

     “Have you heard that we’re getting a new clothing boutique?”

     “Oh, right! I saw the sign. It’s a popular brand in the capital…”

***

     They spoke for a while longer before returning to their homes. Alice turned towards The Crystalabra as she thought over what to get Fuuka. She’d have to ask Lucas about the stock at the store, given the werebeast’s love of shiny objects.

     “Maybe a matching set for mother and daughter, for when Suzuka gets older–!” She muttered under her breath, nearly running into Lucas as he exited the building.

     “Ah, Goddess, you’re here?” He laughed. “I was hoping to pick you up at the Blue Moon after your girls’ day. It seems you’ve beaten me.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers.

     “Evening, Darling.” She kissed his cheek, “I was actually thinking we’d do some shopping here. Fuuka just had her baby, after all.”

     “Ah, yes…” he dug out his notebook, “...‘Suzuka’, right?”

     “I thought we’d get some gifts for them and drop by tomorrow. You’re off in the morning?”

     “That I am.” He smiled, opening the door behind him, “My Goddess first, then!”

     She strode into the Crystalabra, waving at Heinz behind the counter, boxing up the last few items.

     “Oh-ho?” He smiled. “Last-minute shopping spree?”

     “If you don’t mind.” She answered.

     “So long as I don’t have to mind the shop!” He replied before disappearing down the stairs.

     She and Lucas browsed until they found a necklace and tiny, elastic hair band that were similar enough to match, and Heinz quickly sent them on their way with an additional gift of his own for the new parents.

     They held hands as they walked to their home by the Great Tree. She and Lucas had stayed at her place in the SEED headquarters while his home was renovated, and they’d been able to move in a couple of weeks after their honeymoon.

     Palmo had wanted to finish it in time for the wedding, but they’d insisted - with Ryker’s assistance - that he prioritize the projects he’d already been hired for, and just add them to the queue.

     Though she had her main fields at SEED and on the farm dragons, she had a small flower garden out front. They managed it as a family to teach the children basic farming skills, and it was in full bloom.

     It really was perfect. She couldn’t possibly be happier with this life.

     “I couldn’t be happier, either.” Lucas smiled, sensing her joy through their palms even with his gloves on. “Though I’m trying to keep it under control.”

     “It’s been a while, now that you mention it. How are your runes?”

     “Quite under control.” He assured, “Livia was right that things would settle…not that my joy is any less, it’s just that I’m more used to it.”

     Indeed, they’d had to run to the Everlasting Darkness several times throughout their married life, but the time between trips was lengthening, much to her relief. It had terrified Iris to see her father so weak afterwards, and thankfully, the twins had been too young to realize what was going on.

     It was a simple, everyday happiness, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Chapter Text

     “Oh my gods, she’s so cute! Lucas, I want another,” Alice breathed, brushing her thumb over floppy, peach-colored ears.

     “Truly, children are incredible miracles,” he smiled, laughing softly as the baby took the tip of one gloved finger in hand, “Oh! She’s quite strong, isn’t she?”

     Fuuka’s tail wagged with pride as she took a sip of the tea Cecil had brought her. The new father was bustling about to clean and cook, insisting that his wife remain in her bed. He moved efficiently, his years caring for his family home with Martin shining through.

     “Welcome to Rigbarth, Suzuka,” Alice smiled, “You’re going to grow into a young lady as strong as your mother and as smart as your father, aren’t you?”

     “Will you teach her Gau?” Lucas questioned.

     “Hmm… I don’t know…” Fuuka’s ears tilted back, “Cecil says we should, but…”

     “You’re worried?”

     “Gau is…easier to speak for a pup,” she answered, “I’m just worried that she’ll only want to speak Gau.”

     “She can learn Noradish outside,” Cecil pouted, “And I want to improve my Gau…”

     “But I want to improve my Noradish at home!” she yelped.

     “What if we go back to switching days like we used to?”

     Her tail twitched, slightly unsatisfied, “... But it was always so hard to keep track…”

     “Week?”

     “... We’ll discuss it later,” she pouted.

     “My apologies. I didn’t realize it would be such a delicate subject,” Lucas smiled.

     “No, no, not at all. May I open your present?” Fuuka asked, changing the subject.

     “Of course.”

     She ripped the packing paper with glee, loosing a tiny howl of joy at the sight of its shining contents, “A necklace for me, and a pretty headband for Suzuka?” 

     “Ah, yes, and before I forget…” Lucas snapped his fingers, summoning a smaller box - one, Alice realized, they’d accidentally left on his desk at home, “This is from Heinz. Feel free to open it later.”

     “Okay! Cecil! Help me put it on!” She grinned down at the shining sapphire pendant, “Thank you!”

     “It suits you as we’d hoped,” Lucas smiled, “Doesn’t it, Cecil?”

     “Y-yes!” he blushed.

     “Well,” Alice smiled, linking arms with her husband, “I’m sure you’re all tired, so we’ll be on our way. Let us know if there’s anything we can do for you!”

     “Maybe take a night shift?” Cecil joked.

     “Ah, yes, the trial each parent must endure,” Lucas answered, earning a stiff smile from his bride.

      ‘Trial’ is rich, coming from a man who could read for a week before realizing he hadn’t eaten or slept, but it wasn’t something Cecil needed to know. Alice, for one, had been very happy that Lucas had elected to take the majority of nights…though she’d struggled to let him at first.

     They’d worked together with the twins. Two sets of hands made for much quicker work and a more peaceful household, and in the long run, she’d found herself enjoying the midnight chats with her husband.

     They bid the new parents farewell and stepped back out into the springtime air. Pink petals floated from the Great Tree and danced upon the breeze.

     “... Another, hm?” Lucas asked quietly, his voice rumbling against her ear, “I certainly wouldn’t mind, but…”

     Worry flashed in his peridot eyes. Her pregnancy with the twins had been rough, and even Simone had been a bit more worried than usual. It had exhausted Alice enough that she and Lucas hadn't been keen on trying again for a while, and raising the twins had kept their hands full anyhow.

     But things had quieted down, and while they hadn’t been actively trying , they hadn’t been going out of their way to avoid it, either.

     Despite that, it had been seven years.

     “If the gods bless us again, then so be it,” Alice answered, “The twins were rough because it was twice the number of babies. I could handle another one just fine, I think.”

     Lucas fell into silence, his gaze ponderous.

     “What?” Alice laughed.

     “I was trying to recall if I knew a god over childbirth. I believe it’s a matter only for the highest gods, unfortunately. I suppose we’ll just have to pray that they’ll bless us again,” he lifted her hand to his lips, and locked eyes with a warm smile, “... Of course, they don’t bless those who don’t put in any effort of their own, so I assure you that I will be diligent to the utmost.”

     Alice’s face was on fire, and she fanned herself, “Lucas!”

     “Yes?”

     “We are in public !”

     “Goddess, no one is listening, and even if they were…” he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her close as they resumed their walk home, “... We’ve been married for twelve years and have three children. It’s not exactly a secret, now is it?”

     “ Still! ”

     “Alas, my list of taboos grows once again,” he sighed, pressing a kiss to her temple.

     “You–!”

     He laughed again, soothing her with soft circles of his thumb against her shoulder. They meandered up the road towards SEED HQ, which was bustling more than ever.

     “Goodness, what’s all of this about?” Lucas questioned, watching unfamiliar, robed figures dart in and out.

     “Oh, yeah…Captain Livia mentioned that there were going to be some priests passing through.”

     “Priests? Of anyone in particular?” A light had begun to stir in his eyes.

     “I think they serve Terrable, the Native Dragon of Earth.”

     “I thought she wasn’t very fond of humans,” he hummed, “... All the more need for priests, I suppose, to act as intermediaries.”

     “Oh! Alice!” Scarlett notices her, “Sorry, but the Captain was just asking me to go find you!” she waves from the doorway.

     “What’s wrong?” Alice pries herself from Lucas’s arm and jogs over, pulling the half-elf aside to let a priest through.

     “Just some sort of debriefing…she said to invite Lucas, too, if he was available?”

     Alice looked back at her husband, eyebrow raised, What does she want Lucas for?

     Nonetheless, the couple walked hand-in-hand to Livia’s office.

     “That was fast,” Livia blinked in surprise.

     “They were on their way back from visiting Fuuka, I believe?” Scarlett cast them an asking glance.

     Alice nodded.

     “Ah, yes, that would track,” Livia agreed, “Scarlett, would you close the door? It’s too loud out there. Thank you,” she took a deep breath and gestured to the elderly man by her side, “This is Father Kiosi, High Priest of Terrable.”

     The elder bowed, “Greetings to those who also walk upon the seed of life,” he rumbled.

     “Father, I’ve introduced you to Scarlett. This is her primary coworker, Alice, and Alice’s husband, Lucas.”

      “Nice to meet you,” Alice smiled, “Welcome to Rigbarth.”

      “Thank you,” he smiled softly, “Do forgive us for the disturbance. We were forced from our home just before the Sechs Empire fell, and it has taken a long time to reclaim our temple. We are in the process of changing headquarters, as it were.”

      “Goodness, that’s a long time,” Lucas frowned.

      “Indeed, I was but a babe when my mother took to the road,” Kiosi answered, “I heard many stories of our home, our town at the foot of Terrable’s mountain. We carry with us not only our prayers, but tokens of those who wished to be buried in their home soil,” he reached up to grasp a medallion around his neck.

     “They’ll be stopped here for a while, though,” Livia interrupted.

     “Most of us,” Kiosi agreed, “You see, Terrable has awoken from her slumber again and is beginning to…act out. I and a few others will be going ahead in an attempt to soothe her.”

     “That may prove difficult,” Lucas’s expression was grave, “Terrable is well-known for her irritable temperament and dislike of humans, after all.”

     “She’s always been soft on her priests,” Kiosi smiled, “Though I may be little more than a stranger to her.”

     “I see. You have a difficult road ahead of you, but let us know if there’s anything we can do,” he offered a gloved hand.

     “Of course,” the priests eyebrows twitched as he accepted Lucas’s extended hand, confusion darting through his features, “... M–”

     A hesitant knock on the door interrupted them, revealing the panicked expression of a younger priest. Kiosi laughed softly.

     “It seems I’m needed. Do you have anything else for me, Captain?”

     “Not at the moment,” she shook her head, “Scarlett, will you go with them to help out?”

     They slipped from the room, and Livia slumped to her desk with a sigh.

     “Are you okay, Field Captain?”

     “ No ,” she groaned, “I think he’s on to me.”

     “If it helps, I think he noticed something about me as well,” Lucas grinned.

     “You don’t even bother hiding it.”

     “I’ve stopped declaring myself.”

     “An improvement, at least,” she huffed, “... Do you have any insights, Lucas? Alice?”

     “Is Terrable that dangerous?” Alice questioned.

     “Yes,” Livia grimaced, “not as destructive as Fiersome, but dangerous in her own right. Honestly, I’d rather not send those guys on their own, but it’s not exactly my jurisdiction, either.”

     “How far away is it? Is it close enough that it could pose a danger to Rigbarth?”

     Livia sunk into thought, “It’s not impossible but it’s not too likely.”

     “Perhaps we need more information,” Lucas offered, “what is ‘acting out’ to a Native Dragon, after all? Mortals don’t always understand the reasons behind divine actions, after all.”

     “... You’re right,” Livia agreed, “They won’t be leaving for a while yet, so I’ll see what details we can glean from them. Keep an ear out, okay?”

     “Will do,” Alice and Lucas agreed in unison. The office doors swung open and they slipped through the crowd.

     “There are so many of them,” Alice murmured.

     “It’s a good thing,” Lucas smiled, “I’ve read that the Sechs Empire destroyed entire towns and blamed it on Norad. It means that this many people escaped to safety, doesn’t it?”

     “Yeah, but… I wish we could do more to help.”

     “... I’ll browse Heinz’s book collection between customers to see if I can find anything helpful.”

     “Thank you.”

Chapter Text

“Someone is missing?”

“Yes, since last night,” Kiosi answered. His voice trembled. “Akis. He said he was going to go fishing, and his mother hasn’t seen him since.”

Alice frowned, “and he didn’t fish here in town?”

“A friend of his said he seemed rather interested in a cave by a bridge…?”

“The Timeworn Cavern, maybe.” Alice suggested.

“Alice, can you try and track him down? Sounds like he went to the grasslands, at least,” Livia asked.

“Yeah. I’ll probably have Lucas come with me. If Akis is hurt, we’ll need two people at least.”

“You’re just using it as an excuse for a date,” Livia teased quietly.

“I would never mix work and pleasure,” Alice whispered back with a wink.

Kiosi beamed, unaware of their exchange. “Thank you!”

“Be careful, Alice,” Livia waved as she turned to leave.

“Always!” Alice smiled, stepping out of her office. A few younger priests waited anxiously beyond the door, and she offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

They returned a small bow in gratitude, and she stepped with a deep breath into the crisp morning air. She stretched, feeling her body slowly come alive, and shifted aside to let someone else into the building while she checked her gear.

She glanced up at the sky. “I think we can get him home before the kids finish school,” she muttered to herself. “But first, I should grab Lucas’s spear from home.”

It wasn’t much longer before she slid into Heinz’s shop with a small, somewhat apologetic smile and a wave. Heinz chuckled with a knowing smile. “I’m guessing you need to borrow your husband for a bit?”

“Do you mind?”

“He’s almost finished with this morning’s appraisals, if you don’t mind waiting until then?”

“Not at all!” Alice shook her head. She glanced around, spying a book on a windowsill. With a knowing smile, she settled herself in the chair nearby with the tome in hand.

“Oh? Catch your interest as well?”

“Unfortunately, I can only look at the pictures,” Alice smiled wryly. “I can’t understand this language.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” Heinz confessed sheepishly. “It’s from my late grandfather’s collection.”

“It’s a fascinating read, Heinz. While I can’t speak confidently on translating it, I’m sure I could write up a basic summary for you?” Lucas offered. He carried a case in his gloved hands as he climbed the steps from the basement.

“I might take you up on that. Are these the best from the batch?”

“Yes, and I’ve sorted everything else downstairs,” Lucas answered before turning to his wife. “What blessed wind brings my dear goddess to the store this fine morning?”

“A missing priest who might have headed into the grasslands alone,” Alice answered. “I was thinking I could use my big, strong husband to carry him in case he’s injured?”

“So a date,” Heinz snickered.

“Alice would never mix business and pleasure,” Lucas replied breezily, bringing a smile to his wife’s face. “I would love to accompany you.”

“Not even going to ask me?” Heinz teased.

“While you may be my boss here at the store, I’m afraid I’m being relied upon by the master of my heart,” Lucas smiled, “as a married man, I’m bound to answer my wife’s call.”

“Well, I’m afraid my wife is also calling,” Heinz winked, picking up one of the yet-unpolished stones Lucas had given him. “I need to ensure she’s well-dressed and ready for the ball, you see. You’re not the only one who can show off, Lucas!”

“You know, a ball wouldn’t be a bad idea…”

“Picture Alice, adorned head-to-toe in peridot and black pearl jewelry–”

“Excuse me,” Alice attempted to interrupt.

“We can both show off at once!” Heinz gasped.

“Indeed. ‘Two birds, one stone’, as the phrase goes,” Lucas agreed seriously.

“More like ‘one bird, many stones’!”

“ Gentlemen! ” Alice grasped her husband’s arm, forcibly pulling him away. “I have work to do. Thanks for letting me borrow Lucas, Heinz!”

“Technically, he borrows me,” Lucas snickered. “I belong to you, after all.”

“We’ll pick up the ball discussion again later!”

“Most certainly! I’m curious to see the design you have in mind–”

“ Lucas. I want to be finished before the kids are out of school!”

The men shared a laugh, and the couple left Heinz behind arm-in-arm. Alice handed Lucas his spear, which he spun experimentally before checking the head. His eyes met hers and he nodded in satisfaction.

“So who are we searching for?”

“A priest named Akis. Word is that he left last night to go fishing and hasn’t returned. His friends said he mentioned a cave by the river, so I’m planning to check the Timeworn Cavern first.”

“Good idea.”

Between her strength and skill as an earthmate and Lucas’s divinity, the two traveled quickly. They slipped effortlessly past cluckadoodles and skirting the buffamoo pasture.

“A gate,” Alice noticed the swirling threads of runes at the same time as her husband and the two slowed. There was often a small one that generated in this area, but the current of runes was stronger than ever before, and the drone of insect wings filled the air.

“I don’t think it’s been that large before,” Lucas frowned.

“No,” Alice agreed. “There are so many…”

“Why do I get the feeling that the man we’re searching for is here?” He chuckled. “I’ll focus on the monsters while you run in to look for him.”

“I’ll focus on them–”

“My spear is the better weapon for it,” he countered. “It has more range and can keep them contained.”

She couldn’t quite argue with that logic, and relented. “Be careful, okay?”

“You should be most careful. I shudder to think what would happen if the worst were to happen. Rigbarth could very well fall to ruin.” While his tone was light, there was a grim warning behind it. Just as his joy could summon miracles, his sorrow could curse the land beneath their feet.

It was the weight of a god’s heart that Alice had decided to bear long ago, and one she would not forget anytime soon.

Lucas darted in first, drawing a wide arc with his spear. The insects turned their attention to him, and Alice darted quickly beneath them and into the cavern. Lucas blocking the entrance behind her, she crouched to inspect a dark spot on the stone.

“Please be alive,” she pleaded, following the droplets of blood deeper inside. A basket and pole waited beside the water.

“Is someone there?” A young man leaned against the wall, a hand pressed to his bleeding thigh and his face pale.

“Alice, SEED Ranger from Rigbarth. Are you Akis?” She asked, crouching to inspect the wound. While deep, she noted with relief that it hadn’t punctured his femoral artery. She removed a first aid kit from her pack and began to dress the wound as the young man spoke.

“Yes. I’m sorry, there weren’t any monsters here yesterday, so I thought it was safe.”

“You should always travel in a group,” she suggested. “Seems you managed to keep them from coming further in?”

“I managed to down a few of them,” he nodded at a broken spear nearby. “I was almost clear when it broke. Kept the beast from taking my leg, so I’m grateful for that. I guess they decided they’d rather wait me out than try and fly in here.”

“Unusually clever of them,” Alice frowned. “Can you stand?”

“I think so, with some help?”

His arm over his shoulders, she helped him limp closer to the mouth of the cavern, where Lucas cut a striking figure against the sunlight. His spear tore a beetle’s wings mid-flight, before a twirl of his weapon pierced another that had attempted to lunge for his side.

She was about to take another step forward, but was held back as Akis froze, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Akis? It’s fine, we’ll punch right through, so you don’t need to be sc–”

“ –Is that man your partner?”

“He’s my husband, yes,” she agreed.

“Have you always lived in Rigbarth?”

“No, we both moved here over twelve years ago.”

He fell silent, his brows furrowed, but the expression vanished quickly behind a nervous smile. “Well, let’s not keep him waiting.”

“Lucas! Push them back and then carry him out! I’ll punch a hole for us!”

“Understood, Goddess!” Lucas replied cheerfully. The couple passed each other with a smile, and Lucas pulled the injured priest onto his back. Alice loosed a fierce cry and swung her blades, infusing them with magic that sizzled through the air. The insects screamed and floundered with singed wings.

She felt Lucas lunge past her and bat a beetle away with a flick of his wrist, and she followed behind him towards the buffamoo pasture.

The buffamoo were fairly docile and used to Alice, but the scent of blood stirred them, and they soon had their sights on the insects attempting to follow the couple. 

“I do believe we’ve lost them,” Lucas panted, watching the insects retreat in the face of the simmering stampede. “Though perhaps we should slip away before we aggravate the buffamoo more?”

“Good idea. We’ll head straight to Simone to drop him off.”

“I don’t like leaving such a large gate so close to town,” Lucas frowned.

“We should probably come back to clean them up.”

“Agreed. They seemed weak to magic. Should we invite Ludmila to accompany us?”

Alice nodded. The succubus had powerful spells at her disposal and she suspected that she could make short work of the insects even on her own.

“Thank you for your help. I feel that I’ve seen a new meaning to the name ‘power couple’,” Akis chuckled. “Rigbarth seems to have many strong people.”

“Well, we are something of a frontier town,” Alice explained.

“I’ll have to study well,” Akis smiled wanly, “as our own home is probably in an even worse situation.”

“Ah, we’d heard that Terrable was acting up?” Lucas questioned.

“Earthquakes and landslides,” Akis sighed. “The Sechs soldiers looted and destroyed a lot of the town after we left, but I’ve heard that a lot of it is under dirt and stone now.”

“It may be a long road ahead of you, but if you all work together, I’m sure you can turn it into a real gem of a town. Polishing is never a gentle process, after all,” Lucas assured.

“Indeed, it isn’t,” Akis smiled. “Thank you for your wise words, Sir Lucas.”

“Just Lucas is fine.”

The trek back into town wasn’t long, and Simone sent Julian to SEED HQ to let Livia know the status of the mission. He returned with Kiosi and a few others in tow, including the young priest’s mother. Alice stepped aside for the tearful reunion and leaned against Lucas’s shoulder as he penned the newest entries to his journal.

“You cut a rather dashing figure when you fight, you know?”

“Do I?”

“You feel quite noble.”

“I would hope so,” he lowered his voice, “though I think the word you’re looking for is ‘divine’?”

They shared a brief kiss.

“We’re covered in bug guts,” Alice sighed, eyeing her husband’s jacket. “We should probably go grab Ludmila.” 

“But then our date would be over.”

The couple slunk off on their own as Simone began a health-related lecture by the patient’s bed. They would return just in time to meet their children at school and be ordered straight to the bathhouse by a horrified Iris.

Chapter Text

“She’s back!”

“Lady Terrable has returned!”

The little dragon had only awoken in this world moments ago, yet the people rejoiced. Not for her birth, but for the promise of power that she brought. Throughout the celebrations, only the high priest had dressed himself in solemnity, cradling the little goddess in his arms.

“It’s okay. I’ll protect everyone,” she told him. “It’s not a burden at all!”

His expression softened, and he made her favorite soup the following morning. She thought it was her favorite, at least. It was the strange impression she had upon drinking it down. Perhaps she had loved it in a previous incarnation.

“Did you…know me?” She asked the high priest.

“I suppose so,” he hummed.

“Do you…miss me?”

“The Terrable I knew is not gone, she’s just showing me a new side of herself,” he laughed. “Don’t worry too deeply about it.”

“But I forgot you.”

“It’s a lot of fun, though, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“Getting to know me all over again. Getting to experience everything for the first time again.”

He wouldn’t tell her, but he was relieved. The previous incarnation had lived on this land for untold millennia, and she had grown horribly bored with the world.

This is much better, he told himself, smiling at the wonder that filled the tiny dragon’s eyes as he offered her a new dish. Wonder…really is the key to joy.

It was a simple life. Meditation and martial drills in the icy mornings, afternoons spent teaching the little dragon about the world she played a part in, evenings spent on the administrative work he had pushed off.

It was peace, and it was so, so easily shattered.

His blood leaked to the stone floor, his spear in his hand. He shoved it through the handles of the door, locking it shut. Her body, much larger than it used to be, trembled as he fell to his knees, hand pressed to his side.

“It won’t hold,” he coughed, his expression apologetic. “Please escape to the mountain, Milady. They can’t possibly find you there.”

She recognized that his lips moved, yet she couldn’t hear his words. Fury consumed her with the realization, the firm knowledge that he was beyond saving. Oh, how she hated her education at that moment, for she had known at a glance. She had heard his heart already stuttering in his chest.

The worst was that their enemies were mere humans.

Mere humans had dared to lay their hands on her priests.

On her most precious priest.

Memories flooded before her eyes. Memories of older times, of battles and tragedies witnessed by a former eye.

Humans, humans, humans…

… wretched beasts!

His eyes had slipped shut, and his heart was surely taking its last few steps.

“I will destroy you all!” She roared. She opened her wings and rose into the air. The mountain overhead rumbled and soon the air was filled with ash. Terrable cried out, her tears molten and carving the face of the mountain.

It was a disaster most ancient, a legend long since lost to the mists of time.

Chapter Text

“You should’ve washed up, first,” Iris sighed. She held the bag in her hands as far away from her body as possible. “Can these even be salvaged?”

Lucas hummed, “I’m sure we can manage something. Thank you for taking the twins home and bringing us a change of clothes, Iris.”

“That was very helpful of you,” Alice agreed.

Iris struggled to hide her pleased smile. “Well, you’re always helping other people, so it’s my job to help you! ”

“I hope you know that you three are our priority, Angel,” Lucas chuckled, craning forward to take the bag from her hand. “Let Papa carry this mess, hm?”

Iris began to protest, but thinking of the sticky, stained clothing inside, she could only grimace and offer a quiet ‘thank you’. “Can we have pancakes in the morning?” She asked after a moment, eyes hopeful.

“I think we can manage that,” Alice smiled. “We’ll need to stop by the General Store first.”

“I’ll go home and see if I can work any miracles on these,” Lucas raised the bag.

“I’ll go with Mama!”

“Make sure she gets some fruit to put on top!” Lucas stage-whispered.

“What fruit?”

“I’ll trust you,” he winked.

Alice and Iris turned towards the store, and Lucas hurried the short walk home. Normally, he would’ve taken his time, soaking in the sight of the sacred tree, but between his twin children waiting for their family at home and the laundry job ahead of him, he dared not slow his pace.

“Papa!”

“Ivan, Colette!” He smiled, dropping the bag of soiled clothing in order to lift the twins into his arms for a hug. He spun a few times, earning a chorus of delighted giggles in stereo. “What are you doing out here?”

“We were looking at the garden!” Ivan grins.

“Um–! But–!” Colette interjected. “There was someone looking for you.”

“For me?” He followed her pointing finger to see the hunched figure of High Priest Kiosi.

“I came to thank you for saving Akis,” he smiled gently. “Your little ones are delightful. They were saying you have an older daughter as well?”

“She’s shopping with my wife,” he answered with a smile.

“A lively house is a wonderful thing,” Kiosi laughed. “I hope you will relay my thanks to your wife, as well?”

“Of course.”

Kiosi took his leave, his wizened eyes studying Lucas thoroughly. While it put him slightly on edge, he couldn’t sense any malice behind it, simply curiosity and perhaps a touch of confusion.

He must’ve sensed my divine energy when he shook my hand, he inwardly sighed.

“Oh, wow! These clothes are so dirty!” Ivan exclaimed, returning Lucas’s attention to where it ought to be.

“Aren’t they? Mama and Papa were fighting big bugs!”

“But bugs are good!” Colette protested. “They make the flowers happy!”

“That’s right, some of them do,” he smiled, “but the ones that come through gates can be mean, so always be careful, okay?”

“Okay!” They agreed in unison, green eyes sparkling.

“Ivan, do you want to get the washbucket ready?”

“Leave it to me!” He thumped his chest and then disappeared around the back of the house before Lucas could reply.

“I can get the soap!” Colette volunteered.

“That would be so helpful! Thank you, Colette.”

He brought the clothing around back. He removed his jacket, slung it over the clothesline, and rolled up his sleeves. Colette shuffled through the back door shortly after, the jar of soap in hand.

“All full!” Ivan chirped with a proud smile.

“Wonderful! Well done, My Angels!”

He dumped the clothes into the basin and sat himself upon the stairs. He began to scrub, struggling a little bit as the twins peered over his shoulder.

“Can’t you just use your powers?” Ivan asked. “Ask the stain to go away!”

Lucas laughed, his face flushing slightly. He shook his head. “No divine powers for stain removal,” he answered. “It will tear them up!”

“Really?!”

“Yes, so you must absolutely never try it, okay? Promise.”

“I promise!”

Lucas could only hope Ivan would never forget that. Lucas had once asked the same question in his newlywed days, after all, and the result had forced Alice and him to hunt for materials to create simple cloaks for the two of them to return to town in.

Terry had spied them sneaking home and gotten a chuckle out of it, but he’d apparently kept it to himself, given that no one else in town seemed to know of the incident.

“Mama’s home!” Ivan crowed, zipping past Lucas to the front of the house.

“Go welcome her home,” Lucas prompted his hesitant daughter. She followed after her brother.

“So what fruit did you choose?” He smiled at Iris, who had popped her head around the corner of the house.

“Strawberries!”

“I knew I could count on you!”

Alice stepped out onto the back porch a few minutes later. “What’s the damage, soldier?”

“Unfortunately, we may have to declare them killed in action.”

***

“The High Priest stopped by?”

“Hm?”

Lucas wasn’t paying much attention to his wife’s words, if he were honest. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and a bit preoccupied watching her brush through her silky, golden hair. The way the lanternlight bathed her skin in a warm hue, and the shadows betrayed her curves through her nightgown.

Those curves were directly in front of him a moment later, and she tipped his chin up with a finger. Her lips quirked upward in a wry smile.

“Three children have gone through this body. Is it still so appealing that you stop hearing me?”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, nearly into his lap. “Should I not worship the holy vessel that brought our children into the world?” He muttered, his lips almost imperceptibly touching hers.

She closed the space between them and he closed his eyes to relish the kiss.

“Always such a smooth-talker,” she sighed, turning to lean back against his shoulder.

“I mean every word.”

She giggled. “Anyway, I was told the High Priest stopped by?”

“Ah, yes. He wanted to relay his thanks for the rescue.”

“Anything else?”

“He seemed to be watching me rather intently. I’m convinced he sensed my divinity. We can hardly blame him for his curiosity. Who would expect a god to be married with three children?”

“I suppose.”

He tightened his arm around her waist, certain she could feel his leaping heartbeat against her back. “So about that fourth child we were talking about the other day…”

“It would be nice, wouldn’t it? Maybe another boy to even things out.”

He chuckled, flipping her over onto the mattress. “I’ll see what I can do–”

A creak at the door sent them flying to separate sides of the bed.

“Mama? Papa?” Iris rubbed at her eyes sleepily. Colette clung to her sister’s nightgown with one hand and a stuffed buffamoo with the other. “Colette had a nightmare.”

“Oh, my Angel, you had a scary dream?” Lucas smiled, opening his arms for his daughter’s embrace.

“I told her she could sleep with me, but she said no,” Iris muttered dejectedly to Alice.

“That’s very sweet of you, Iris. You’re such a good big sister. Do you want to sleep with us, too?”

“No, because then Ivan would be left out,” her golden locks swayed as she shook her head. “I’ll go back to bed.” She gave Alice a hug and a goodnight kiss on the cheek. Lucas craned over to kiss the top of her head.

“Good night, Angel,” he whispered.

“Night, Papa,” she smiled. She carefully closed the door behind her and her footsteps disappeared to the other room.

Colette settled down between her parents, and Alice met Lucas’s eyes with a giggle.

“We’ll have to make a date of it.”

He sighed. “Indeed.”

Chapter Text

Though the enemy soldiers had retreated from the mountain’s fury, Terrable was not so simply assuaged. The eruptions continued, pushing back even the remaining residents of the holy city. Their backs to the river, they wondered if drowning in the raging current was the only way to escape a molten death.

Until a single figure stumbled between them and their doom.

He was little more than a walking corpse, the thinnest thread of divine power powering his heart. Even then, the High Priest called out to his god.

“Terrable! Think of your people!”

Yet the dragon did not turn away her wrath.

“Have mercy on my brothers and sisters!” He pleaded.

Yet her reason had been consumed by her grief, and she could not hear him.

The river of molten earth approached, and with a final prayer, a divine barrier erected itself behind him. His body was sacrificed to the lava, and when the mountain quieted, all that remained was a tall, unyielding pillar of stone in his place.

Terrable fell into a deep slumber from which she would only awaken over a century later. The new temple was built around the stone, which stood proudly in its central courtyard. It was said to be a guardian spirit of the priests, and even in winter, flowers bloomed at its feet.

***

“That’s it?” Ivan’s face twisted.

“Oh? You’re disappointed?” Akis’s brows furrowed, at a loss. “It was my favorite story when I was your age.”

“Do flowers really bloom there, even in winter?” Colette questioned. “They must be snowbells, right?”

He shook his head. “All sorts of flowers, even ones that only bloom in the summer! … So I’m told,” he admitted, to her disappointment. “I’ve never been to the homeland.”

Akis was seated in the square, his crutches leaning against the bench beside him. Several of the town children, including Alice’s own, had pestered him with questions until he resolved to amuse them with stories.

“But the dragon never saw her friend again, right?” Stella, Priscilla’s oldest, questioned. “That’s too sad.”

Akis scratched awkwardly at his neck. “But he saved his friends, so…ah…”

He’s interrupted by the good-natured chuckle of Kiosi. “It would be sad if it ended there, wouldn’t it?” He patted Stella’s head. “But what if I told you that they did meet again?”

“Really?!” Her blue eyes brightened in expectation.

“They say that a long time later, when Terrable woke up, she wept uncontrollably. Worried that the volcano would erupt again, the priests prayed fervently for help. Just when they thought all hope was lost, a priest made a meal and brought it to Terrable.

“No one dared scale the mountain but he. At first, Her Ladyship refused his offering as she could not see his face through her tears, but the scent drew her in. It was a familiar meal, and by the time she cleared her plate, her tears had stopped.

“Now, back at the temple, the others discussed with themselves, perplexed. After all, they’d realized rather belatedly, that none of them had recognized the priest that had gone. Not a single person there knew his name, let alone his face. Imagine their surprise when the mountain stopped its quivering!”

“Was it Mr. High Priest?” Ivan questioned.

“That’s right!” Kiosi smiled. “The High Priest had become a deity, a god that acted as a guardian of the priests, and a counterbalance to the temperamental Divine Dragon. It’s said that he expended his power and fell asleep to aid our escape from the Sechs Empire.”

“Wow!”

“Did Akis tell you the story of the buffamoo stampede?”

“No, I don’t think so!”

“You should ask him to tell you that one, next!”

“High Priest Kiosi, why don’t you tell them that one?” Akis suggested wearily.

“Oh? I’m not nearly as good a storyteller as you. I’ll just rest my old bones for a moment. We can return to our camp afterwards.”

At the insistence of the children, Akis began the next tale.

Silence stretched between Alice and Kiosi, though she could sense the older man’s expectation.

“My husband relayed your message,” Alice finally began.

“It’s still better to say in-person,” he smiled tightly. “Thank you for saving Akis. In other news, I have some information you may find helpful.”

“Oh?”

“SEED has been investigating Terrable’s movements, hasn’t it?”

Alice schooled her expression, suddenly wary of the wizened elder’s knowing gaze.

“It actually has to do with the story I told a moment ago,” he sobered. “The stone…the Sechs destroyed it, according to the scouting party.”

“You think that’s why Terrable’s ‘acting out’?”

“I fear so. If the stories are true, that pillar was the conduit for the god, his vessel of sorts. I do not know if it’s even feasible to reconnect to him; it’s possible it destroyed him completely. If the wind records the passage of time, the earth is the home of memory.”

“I see,” Alice fell into thought.

Being an earthmate, it was possible she could provide a better diagnosis, and Lucas would provide an even better perspective given his own position. Livia had stated it was unlikely that the fallout from Terrable’s rampage would reach Rigbarth, it was certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.

She was pulled from her thoughts by Kiosi’s ponderous hum. His gaze was focused on a newcomer to the storytelling session: Lucas.

He was sitting cross-legged on the stone, Colette in his lap and Ivan on his shoulders. His eyes met hers, and he offered a soft smile and a wave. A question lurked beneath the surface as his gaze flicked to Kiosi. The two acknowledged each other with a small nod.

“Your husband mystifies me more each time I encounter him,” Kiosi stroked his beard.

“Oh?” Alice tamped down on the nervous flutter in her stomach.

“The more I look at him, the more he looks like one of our countrymen. Akis mentioned that he even uses a fighting style incredibly similar to the one we use at the temple.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Our ancestors had a few smaller groups that split off for other lands than the one we settled in. Is he possibly from one of them?”

“I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you,” she shook her head. “Lucas and I are mysteries, you see. We both wandered into Rigbarth around the same time with nary a memory between us. I showed up a couple months before he did, if I’m to be precise.”

“Oh, my, amnesia?”

“It would be impossible to think that two people with amnesia would wander into the same town within a year, but it was a very strange time for Rigbarth to begin with.”

“Ah, was it around the time of that event with the SEED commander?” He gasped.

“Around then,” she agreed. “We stopped looking for our pasts a long time ago. We have our future here, with our children. We don’t need anything else, really, other than for them to grow up healthy and strong in peace.”

“As they ought.”

The children burst into applause, apparently reaching the end of Akis’s story.

“Forgive me for being nosy, then. When you’re my age, you find yourself looking for connections in unfamiliar lands,” he lifted himself to his feet with a grunt and returned to his junior’s side.

“Now, now, children,” Lucas soothed the gaggle, “Akis is hurt, see? He needs help to walk. When you’re hurt, you need to get lots of rest, so he can’t play again until tomorrow.”

“What about magic tricks, then?” Beatrice’s younger son, Graham, suggested.

“Not today, I’m afraid. Isn’t it almost dinnertime? Go on, head home!”

They were disappointed, but it was almost time for dinner, and their stomachs nearly rumbled in unison at the thought before they dissipated.

Lucas waited for Alice, a twin holding each hand.

“Where’s Iris?” She asked.

“Reinhard said she and Johan were busy playing and she’ll be eating with them tonight.”

She took Colette’s other hand and the four of them walked the short distance back to their home. Iris was escorted home by Johan and Reinhard shortly before nightfall, and it wasn’t until the kids were tucked into bed that Alice could share the conversation she’d had with Kiosi.

“Are you thinking you’ll ask to join them on their journey to Terrable’s territory?”

“I…I want to make sure nothing reaches Rigbarth.”

His brow furrowed. “I could go while you stay home with the children. You said I might have a better idea anyway, given that this may concern the divine.”

“But you’re not a SEED Ranger.”

“I’m sure Kiosi wouldn’t turn me down, regardless.”

“Still. It’s my job to protect Rigbarth.”

“And mine is to protect my family,” he replied. “I’m certainly not keen on my wife wandering into the territory of a tyrannical native dragon.”

They locked eyes before bursting into laughter.

“Haven’t we had these conversations before?”

“I believe so,” he sighed, “and trying to force the matter only caused us both more trouble. But, Alice, it will be quite the journey, the danger of Terrable notwithstanding. Ivan and Colette are far too young.”

“We might have to ask Simone to take care of them while we’re gone. They view her as their grandmother, after all. Her and Livia, anyway.”

“The real question is…”

“Whether Iris will insist on coming with us or staying with them.”

He nodded in agreement. “I won’t lie, I think traveling and seeing the world outside of Rigbarth would likely do her some good, but I’m also…scared, yes, that’s it. I’m scared she’ll be in danger and get hurt.”

“I think that’s why we have to leave it to her,” Alice took his slightly trembling hand in hers. “We’ll be in a manageable group, and she’s a thoughtful child. I don’t think she’ll go wandering off on her own or anything. Ivan , I’d worry about, and he’d drag Colette into his mischief.”

“Protesting all the way,” he snickered.

They leaned against each other, their racing minds locking on to only one absolute as they slowed to a determined calm.

They would both travel to Terrable’s Domain, and they would protect the peace of their home.

Chapter Text

“You are determined that I remain indebted to you,” Kiosi chuckled, looking warily at the dragon wolf Alice tended to. It was her mount for the trip, though it was hardly the most frightening member of their entourage.

A flash of blue zipped overhead, leaving a phantasmic giggle in its wake. Alice made eye contact with a concerned leoplicant, whose gaze chased the movement.

“To think that an earthmate of your caliber is in Rigbarth! It’s a blessing, Father Kiosi,” another priest grinned.

“It is indeed.”

A blue dragon landed, and Lucas lowered Iris into the waiting paws of Ruby, the leoplicant Alice had assigned as the little girl’s guard. He remained in the saddle, however, his weapon in easy reach. The couple had decided that keeping his direct contact with the priests sparse was in their best interests, and his larger frame was a better fit for the dragon anyhow. He would scout from the sky, while Alice escorted the caravan from the ground upon the fleet-footed dragon wolf.

Iris would spend most of her time in the passenger wagon with the others, though both Lucas and Alice had realized it was likely that she’d ride with either of them every now-and-then, when it was safe.

Alice mounted her wolf and padded it over to the dragon.

“Sora is behaving?”

“Perfectly,” Lucas assured, giving the dragon a fond pat on the neck. “Lupin?”

“All ready to go. They’re doing a last check on the buffamoo pulling the cart, and we’ll be off.”

“Well, then,” he grinned and leaned down. One hand took her chin, tipping her head up, and she followed his lead to stand in her stirrups. Their lips met in a brief, chaste kiss, and the two monsters grunted in exasperation as they settled back into their saddles. “I’ll return to the sky.”

“See you! Fly safe!”

He took off in a whirlwind, and it wasn’t long before the two wagons - one for people, another for supplies - started on their journey. It was yet early in the morning, and the town sent them off in silence. She, Lucas, and Iris had bid the twins farewell the night before, leaving them in Simone’s care.

Iris watched the town grow smaller with visible apprehension.

“Is it your first time leaving Rigbarth?” A priestess asked.

“No,” she answered hurriedly. “I’ve gone out to the fields and forest with Mama and Papa.”

“But your first time going on a long trip?”

She nodded.

“Nervous?”

“No. Just worried that Ivan and Colette will misbehave.”

Alice shared a quiet smile with the priestess, unconvinced of her daughter’s claims. The two of them continued their conversation, while Alice watched the distant speck in the sky above. The dragon’s blue scales were nearly indistinguishable.

A few hours later, she saw a flash of yellow light and pushed Lupin to the head of the caravan. A yellow signal from Lucas meant low-level monsters, and she dealt with them before they saw the wagons. The road between Rigbarth and the next town, Aftel, was relatively well-traveled by merchants, and they passed several wagons and their escorts, Lupin drawing shocked whispers as they passed.

Perhaps I should’ve been a little more discreet… Alice thought to herself. However, one look at her daughter’s face reminded her of her reasons - she had brought the strongest to protect those dear to her. She thought with amusement that those they passed had no idea that a blue dragon was flying over their heads.

Their travel plans were simple; to skim the border by traveling from Rigbarth to Aftel, and from Aftel to the Fortress City of Lighton. They would restock in Lighton and move into the old Sechs territory, starting with the city of Cambright, and then skirt the more dangerous areas to stop in the village of Fichbrau.

From there, it would be a much more arduous trek into the abandoned land of Terrable.

Kiosi, experienced traveller he was, estimated it would take them a fortnight to arrive at their destination, a small camp set up by a small advance guard he’d sent ahead to gather information before his own caravan had even set out for Rigbarth.

Kiosi lifted a withered hand, signalling a halt. “We’ll want to set up our camp for the night. Wait here,” he motioned to a circle of wagons to the side of the road, “I’ll see if they’re willing to let us join them.”

“I’ll go with you,” Alice swiftly dismounted, ordered Lupin to wait, and followed him to the encampment.

A portly merchant and a small retinue jogged to meet them, mopping his brow. “C-can I help you?” He stuttered.

Kiosi swept into a bow. “Greetings to those who also walk upon the seed of life,” he offered. 

“O-oh, greetings, Father,” the merchant’s eyes flicked to Alice, and she noticed that his guards were watching her intently, likely sensing her own training. She offered a quiet and hopefully reassuring smile.

“I am Kiosi, High Priest of Terrable. We are but a two-wagon of the devout our way to our ancient lands, and it is not long before the sun will begin to lower its head. This is the SEED ranger escorting us, Alice. She is an earthmate, so her beast companions will be with us. Might we have your blessing in camping together?”

“Safety in numbers, of course,” the merchant’s brows drew together. “Monsters, though?”

“Three of them,” Alice answered. “All even-tempered and obedient. A child can play with them without incident.”

“I would request that they not wander too much, regardless.”

“Naturally.”

“Very well.” 

The two wagons pulled off the road and began to set up their camp for the night. The women would sleep in the passenger wagon, the men in tents. Lupin planted himself beneath a nearby tree, eyes closed but ears pricked upright and alert.

Lucas and Ciel drifted lazily overhead, undetected by the merchant caravan.

“Will Sir Lucas not join us?” Kiosi wondered, following Alice’s eyes.

“He said at lunch that he’d keep watch so everyone can focus on setting up for the night. He’ll land once dinner’s ready,” she laughed.

“I hope the two of you will rest thoroughly tonight.”

“We will,” she assured.

Lucas landed – with significant murmurs and cries from their neighbors – a couple of hours later, as the sun began to dip beneath the mountains. Alice greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

“You and Ciel must be exhausted.”

“He’s worked hard,” Lucas smiled gently at the dragon and patted his nose affectionately. “I hope I didn’t bore him too badly.”

“I’m sure he was fine,” she laughed. She helped him unsaddle the beast, and Ciel shook himself with relish before thundering over to the tree to harass the wolf beneath. “See? In usual form.”

“Papa!” Iris dashed over, Ruby trailing behind.

“How fared your first day of travel, Angel?” He grinned.

“It’s fine. Kind of boring, though, and the wagon is a little bumpy.”

“That’s how most travel is,” he laughed. “Just wait until we reach Aftel. I hear it’s quite different from Rigbarth!”

“Can I fly with you tomorrow?”

“Only a little, if My Goddess says its okay.”

“A little,” Alice agreed. “ If it’s not too busy. You can’t fly as high, and we don’t want to scare people.”

“Why would they be scared?”

This pulled a chuckle from the onlooking priests, and a somewhat defeated expression from her parents.

“Mommy’s powers are a bit special,” Lucas explained, “most people haven’t met many nice monsters, especially ones like Ciel, Ruby, and Lupin. They’re used to ones like Cloudy, Clucky, and Cuddy.”

“Oh, ones that Colette can tame?”

“Yes, let’s go with that,” he snickered. 

“Most people can’t tame them as easily as Colette can, you know,” Alice added.

“I know!” She grinned. “They wouldn’t listen to Johan at all!”

“Johan?!”

“Yeah! I told him about Cloudy and how Colette tamed him, and he wanted to try. He kept trying to give a wooly a treat, but it wouldn’t listen at all! He had to fight it.”

Lucas struggled to keep a straight face as Alice lifted her hand to her mouth. 

“He won, though!” Iris beamed.

Alice met her husband’s eyes.

“Lucas, I hate to ask, but…

“... are our children the troublemakers?”

***

Most of their party had already gone to sleep, but Lucas was busily scribbling the day’s records in his notebook for safekeeping. It was a new one that Alice had given him before their trip, and she’d even gotten him a wonderful new pen to match.

The guards of the merchant caravan whispered amongst themselves, their eyes flicking warily over Lucas and the sleeping Ciel. He had felt their stares for a while now, but paid them no mind as he felt no animosity.

He finished his journal and offered the guards an easy smile as he rose to his feet.

“Fine night, isn’t it, gentlemen?”

“Oh, yes,” one of them coughed, returning the smile.

“On your way to Rigbarth? Is it your final stop?”

“No, Sir. Our employer plans to try his hand at trade there, but we’ll head further southwest along the coast.”

“A rather circumspect path to Pearl Port,” he commented.

“They say Rigbarth is growing, and he wants to get a foot in the door early if he can, it seems.”

Lucas laughed, “Ah, merchants, what a delightful bunch! Well, all the best and profit be to him.”

“We were surprised, though. We weren’t aware that there were dragoons in this part of the world.”

“Dragoon?” He snorted, “Goodness, no. I’m just a simple gem appraiser married to an earthmate SEED ranger.”

“You seem to know your way around a weapon, though.”

“Hazard of living in a frontier town,” he dismissed easily, “and, well, I’d like to be able to hold my own long enough to protect my children until my wife saves the day.”

“Is that armor you’ve got for sale in Rigbarth?” Another piped in.

“We have excellent smiths, though this armor is, also, courtesy of My Goddess. It’s enchanted with fire magic to keep me warm while flying. I’m sure, however, that if you have the money you can commission some of your own. Martin is a blacksmith that even the capital would covet.”

“We’ll pay the smithy a visit when we arrive, then,” he grinned.

They continued their chat until it was time for the next watch, at which point Lucas slipped into his family’s tent.

“I thought you might stay up,” Alice muttered softly as he slipped beneath the blanket.

“They had a lot of interesting information,” he replied and pressed a quick kiss by her eye. “I’ll tell you more in the morning. Let’s get some sleep, hm?”