The commotion had clearly caught the attention of more guards. Notably, more royal guards were arriving. I wondered if someone had run for help, or if they were always watching this area.

  Either way, Jen was taking charge, speaking with Artour. “We shouldn’t be in any direct danger, no, but this is an incredibly powerful creature, and just its presence will be dangerous for those unprepared,” I heard her explain.

  It was only a short amount of time before a group of six approached us, dressed head to toe in full plate armour, weapons drawn.

  “What’s going on?” a familiar voice called from Liam.

  Milo was barely through the explanation when bells rang across the city. They sounded distant at first, but grew louder and louder as more joined in.

  “Dear Goddess,” I heard Artour mutter.

  I looked up to see the shape of Sylverith in the sky. She was far leaner than the Tempest Dragon, but even from so far up, the sun shone against her scales, looking as if they were made of green gems.

  Now hovering above us, she descended.

  “We should move back,” I muttered, realising we were standing directly below her.

  However, my concern was unfounded, as she touched down on the ground far more gracefully than I ever expected, not even a sound besides her wings folding up.

  Lily approached, the seed still clearly in her mouth.

  A voice echoed in our heads. “I apologise for any fear this has caused; however, the importance of this discovery warrants it,” Sylverith said.

  “Discovery?” Liam whispered.

  “A treasure once thought lost forever has been found, young one. I will take it to safety and ensure it grows strong and thrives once more. I am in your debt for this, Trevor Ashmoon,” Sylverith said once more to everyone.

  Watching as the seed left Lily’s mouth, and floating up, it vanished by Sylverith’s hand.

  “I will return soon to finish my tasks,” she said, before her incredibly large wings unfolded, and in a single powerful flap, she was in the air, soaring back to the east.

  We all watched in stunned silence, the bells throughout the city still ringing loudly, as Lily stepped into my shadow and vanished.

  The silence was broken by Liam, who let out a small cough. “Uh, so Trevor, what great treasure did you find?” he asked.

  “You know what, never mind. There are far too many eyes and ears right now,” he said, looking around.

  It was only now that I noticed what seemed like hundreds of guards and nobles watching from the outskirts and through windows.

  “Maybe we should head inside?” I suggested.

  “Good idea,” Jen said, turning back toward the shop.

  As we all stood inside the empty shop, Micca was leaning against the wall, sweat on her brow and looking very pale. Liane was sitting in the corner on one of the empty counters, as both Liam and Artour made their way into the room, removing their helmets, the bells finally going quiet outside.

  “So… what was that?” Liam said, looking at me.

  Looking to Milo and Jen first, getting a nod, I went ahead with an explanation. “We found a seed, and Sylverith said it was of great importance, so she took it to keep it safe.”

  I decided it was best to leave out the parts about not letting it fall into the hands of humans, or the legendary dust inside a jar that was currently sitting in my storage.

  “Now, I feel like an idiot saying this, but it needs to be said. You understand that having a dragon visit the capital in the middle of the day and landing in the noble district is not a normal event, right?” Liam said.

  I just nodded. I knew that.

  “Okay, you understand that you already have a certain… I don’t know how to put this… a certain reputation right now, and that’s assuming her speaking only went to all of us, and not the entire capital,” Liam said.

  Artour was just nodding along, agreeing with Liam.

  “I think it’s for the best,” Liane said. “We want to be left alone, and if the nobles are too scared to approach, it makes our lives easier.”

  “And this seed? Do we know why it was so important?” Liam asked.

  I just shook my head.

  “No, we really have no information on it, and I wasn’t about to challenge a dragon and a shadow cat to find out,” Milo said. “Perhaps Sylverith will inform us when she returns, but it’s also possible that to protect it, she might not.”

  Liam let out a sigh. “Very well. I’ll return to the palace and inform the King of today’s events. We will leave a couple of guards stationed at the door to your store to ensure you’re not bothered,” he said, bowing and making his way to the exit.

  Everyone stood there in the empty room. Silence hung in the air.

  “So… that just happened,” Liane said with a laugh.

  Crisplet let off a burst of sparks as he seemingly explored the room.

  “Honestly, Trev, there is never a dull moment with you. I have to wonder if Sylverith’s voice went outside the group, though,” Jen said.

  “I heard it in the shop. The pressure was too much in the doorway, so I came inside, and I heard it clearly in my head,” Micca said.

  “Well, damn. What do you say we head back to the house then?” Milo said.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Wait! No, I need supplies from shopping,” I said, looking to Liane for support.

  “We can go get you what you need, if there’s still even anyone in the market right now after a dragon landed in the city,” Jen laughed.

  I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I was really looking forward to going to the markets, not just for the supplies I needed, but just to see them.

  “I mean, we probably could still go. I just don’t know if there would be much of a market left there after the emergency bells started ringing. People would have been scooping their goods and heading for safety,” Milo said.

  “You could also go tomorrow, right?” Micca added.

  “Can’t. I got the meeting with House Fairmont,” I said sadly.

  “That’s not until the afternoon, and it won’t be a long visit. We can absolutely go to the markets in the morning,” Jen added.

  “Before we go, Trev, do not, under any circumstances, use that powder until it’s thoroughly been tested for safety. Not even a little bit,” Milo said sternly.

  Jen quickly backed him up.

  “Liane, could you find our carriage? I noticed they moved away when we cleared the area outside, and I don’t want to linger too long,” Milo said, getting a nod before she vanished.

  “Did you make plans for the store and what you want to do?” I asked Micca.

  Her eyes lit up. “Yes! And we need to have a business discussion, with Milo as your representative, because I have some requests.”

  I held up my hands with a laugh. “I can’t make you daily pastries!”

  “No… no, not that. Well, actually, a few, maybe? No, I was hoping to look into other foods, maybe like jerky? Or something else long-lasting? If I can have other items besides just candy, it would be very useful,” she said with a giant smile.

  “I do like the idea of having a cafe, or even just a pastry shop down the bottom floor of the shop for the day to day,” Jen said.

  “I’d need to hire people. Would they even want to work for me?” Micca said, unsure.

  Milo laughed. “Yes. Yes, they would. A dragon just paid your store a visit.”

  ***

  It didn’t take long before we were in the carriage and making our way back to the manor. I was shocked at how many people were gathered around, watching as we left.

  The scene wasn’t any better as we got back to the manor, and there were already two very familiar carriages waiting there. With a sigh, I knew either Kathrine or her father was going to be inside, and with the number of guards, I suspected the King was currently there.

  As we made our way into the house, Crisplet dashed forward, somehow opening the doors.

  Inside, Archie was already waiting.

  “Sir Trevor, the King… the King is waiting for you in the living room. I have served him tea, and I have kept all other staff away. He asks, at your earliest convenience, that you speak with him,” Archie said with a low bow.

  “Thanks, Archie. We’ll head straight in,” I said, just about to walk forward.

  “Sir, we’ve also had eighteen more messages since this morning,” Archie said, pulling a small stack of notes out of his jacket.

  Milo took them from him, storing them away. “I’ll go over them with Hari later. It’s likely just people being more insistent since the dragon appearance,” he said.

  Archie’s eyes widened. “So that’s what the voice was.”

  I felt myself grow cold. If Archie heard it here… just how far did that voice travel? She said my full name. How did she even know my full name? I had decided it only last night.

  “Come on, let’s get this over with,” Liane said, taking me by the wrist and pulling me forward.

  Jen and Milo just stood back. “We’ll leave you to it. Talking to the King terrifies me,” Milo said with a smile. Jen nodded.

  Crisplet stuck with us as we entered. Marcus and Kathrine were both seated next to a small table, sipping on their teas as we walked in. It didn’t take long for Crisplet to find his way into the fireplace.

  Taking a seat, I really didn’t know what to say. My brain wanted to ask what brought them here, but I knew the reason. That would be stupid. So instead, I pulled out a teacup for myself and Liane and poured us both some tea as well, doing my best to stay calm.

  I had not even poured the first cup when Marcus let out a laugh.

  “Are you sure you’re an orphan, Lord Ashmoon?” He lingered on the name, grinning at me.

  “Yes?” I answered, confused.

  “You come into the room with the King and Princess of the kingdom sitting waiting, and rather than greet them or bow, your companion lights the fire, and you proceed to pour yourself some tea without saying a word. Had anyone else done that, I would have assumed they were pulling some power move on me,” he said with mirth.

  “But you… you, my dear boy, you do not need to make any power moves, so it’s a strange experience to meet someone who just doesn’t care. It feels like interacting with another leader,” he said.

  I had finished pouring the tea, and Liane was currently taking a sip.

  “Well, Liam informed me of the event that occurred, not that it was necessary. While I was holding court, listening to some nobles droning on about fair treatment, when what do you know, we’re interrupted by emergency bells, then a voice, thanking Trevor Ashmoon for a great treasure, and a dragon saying they are in debt to you,” Marcus said, grinning again.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting court,” I said honestly.

  He laughed again, even Kathrine letting out a soft chuckle.

  “Ah, such innocence. It’s refreshing, honestly,” Marcus said.

  “Easily taken advantage of,” Liane said sharply.

  “That it is. Have you decided to take the name Ashmoon as well?” he asked Liane, who appeared to be taken off guard by the question.

  “No, she hasn’t. Crisplet got my name, however,” I said with a smile, watching him build what looked suspiciously like Sylverith in the fire.

  “Curious,” Kathrine said simply.

  “Well, I’ll cut to the chase. I believe Liam when he said you didn’t know, but I wouldn’t be a very good ruler if I didn’t properly ask. Do you know what the treasure was?” Marcus asked.

  “It was a seed, one Sylverith believed to be extinct several millennia ago, but that’s all,” I answered.

  “A half-truth. I suspect you know the name of the seed. However, if it truly was lost several thousand years ago, then knowing the name wouldn’t make us any wiser as to the treasure that was there,” Marcus said with a smile.

  “I don’t recall sensing anything when I was in the shop,” Kathrine said, looking at us.

  “It was well hidden in the floor, and it took Sylverith to sense it and to be able to extract it,” I replied.

  “I see. Well, I was going to hold a dinner in a week to announce your house officially. However, it seems everyone will know your name now, so I will pull that forward. Thank you for clearing out all the civilians before the dragon arrived. I pale to think what would have happened had she landed while everyone was still milling about,” Marcus said, getting up from his seat.

  “I shall not bother you any further. Have a good day, and Trevor, thank you,” he said with a smile, and Kathrine got up and followed him.

  “Wait, that’s it?” Liane said before he had even taken two steps.

  “Yes, that’s all. Did you expect something else?” Marcus said, turning back.

  “I mean, yes. I expected you to berate him, or take advantage,” Liane said, trailing off, seemingly realising she was thinking out loud.

  “Liane, I would be a foolish leader if I chastised someone who brought a dragon peacefully to the centre of the capital, and I don’t need to take advantage of anything. The arrival of that dragon will spread through the populace as we speak, and all they know is that a dragon visited a noble and is now in debt to him, and by association, the kingdom. This is a great boon, nothing more. I simply wished to come by and thank Trevor in person.” He smiled once more and continued to make his way out of the room.

  We were left sitting there. I was rather shell-shocked by it all.

  “That was unexpected,” I said with a chuckle.

  Liane snorted. “Sorry for the outburst. I was expecting cloak and dagger, not friendly chat,” she said, clearly embarrassed.

  “It’s fine. What do you say we make some food?” I said, getting up from my chair, storing the tea.

  I had not even taken my first step when Lily appeared next to me.

  - FROM RUNNING THE BLOCK TO OWNING IT -

  - [SURVIVE] - [BUILD] - [CONQUER] -