The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons Page 19

  “Good thing we didn’t go, huh?” Gabriel asked.

  “Don’t say things like that,” Doofus said as his eyebrows knit together. “She’s your sister.”

  Gabriel snorted. “Better her than us,” he said as he puffed his chest out. “There’s no way Tafel’s going to be the next demon lord. It doesn’t matter what happens to her.”

  Lamach narrowed his eyes at Gabriel before asking Doofus, “How strong is Konigreich?”

  Doofus shook his head. “I’ve only heard rumors about it. Their skeleton soldiers induced nightmares in our most hardened spear corps,” he said. “Your father rates them as at least an SSS-class threat. He mobilized the heavy cavalry and the black mage corps. Your mother, Dustin, and a few other SSS-ranked adventurers are going as support.”

  “All that for a bunch of skeletons?” Gabriel asked with a snort. “I could kill them in my sleep.”

  Doofus sighed. “Confidence is fine, Gabriel,” he said. His eyes narrowed. “But arrogance is not.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes and muttered, “Whatever.”

  Doofus shook his head and leaned against his seat.

  ***

  “Is this really okay?” Tafel asked the skeleton messenger. She was sitting on the skeletal horse, using the skeleton knight as a backrest. The front of her purple birthday dress was speckled with dried blood, and the edges of her mouth were stained black.

  “Of course. Do you want another piece of meat?”

  Tafel shook her head and adjusted the cushion underneath her. She leaned back against the metal armor and closed her eyes. The pair had been riding for a week straight, only stopping when Tafel needed to use the bathroom. The outline of Konigreich could be seen on the horizon as the two rode through a green plain bordered by a forest.

  “Halt!”

  The skeleton turned its head towards the forest with its body still facing forward. Four demons, riding giant yellow chickens, emerged from the brush and pursued the skeletal horse. The pursuers wore leather armor with swords strapped to their backs.

  Tafel opened her eyes and twisted her body to look at them, peering through the gap made by the skeleton’s armpit. “That’s the Four Yellow Riders,” she squinted and said. “They’re an A-ranked scouting party.”

  The skeleton laughed. “It seems like they’re gaining on us too. Maybe I should leave them a present.”

  “Don’t worry, Princess Tafel!” one of the riders shouted. “We’ll save you soon.”

  Tafel frowned and stood up while holding onto the skeleton’s pauldrons for support. Her gray horns pulsed with a green light, and she pointed at the riders. A wall of wind formed behind the skeleton and rushed towards the demons, knocking them off their mounts.

  “What are you doing!?” one of the riders shouted.

  Tafel stuck her tongue out and sat back down.

  “Oh,” the skeleton messenger said. “That was pretty good. I was just going to fling poop at them.”

  “Eww,” Tafel said as her eyebrows knit together. “Is that what smelled so bad this whole time?”

  The skeleton’s body shook. “They’re leftovers from a previous operation,” it said while cackling.

  “That’s so gross,” Tafel said as her face paled.

  The skeleton grinned. “Only if you have a nose.”

  ***

  “You failed?” Zollstock asked the four adventurers who had their heads lowered. Their yellow chickens were sitting behind them outside the tent with their heads curled under their wings. Zollstock and Mina were in their tent within the camp the army had set up.

  “Yes, Milord,” the leader of the riders said. “The princess knocked us off our mounts with aero before we could catch up.”

  Zollstock frowned. “Very well,” he said and nodded. “You’re dismissed.”

  The four riders stood up and left, not willing to stay behind for another second.

  Mina sighed. Zollstock put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll get her back. We’ll reach their borders tomorrow and make them pay.”

  Mina’s eyes remained closed. “Is it my fault?” she asked as she opened her eyes. “Was my mom right?” Light illuminated her wet eyes, causing them to glitter. “You saw just as well as I did. She left with him; she wasn’t taken.”

  Zollstock hugged her while rubbing her back. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “The skeletons must have some charm magic on them that convinces people.”

  Mina put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “There was no magic,” she said as tears fell from her eyes. “You know there wasn’t. Don’t lie to me.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and stood up. Zollstock started to stand.

  “Don’t,” Mina said. Zollstock stopped and sighed before sitting back down.

  “I’m going to take a walk,” Mina said and curtsied before leaving.

  Zollstock pinched his forehead with his hand. “Seth,” he said. A demon wearing a black cloak and mask appeared next to him. “Keep an eye on her.”

  Seth nodded and disappeared.

  Zollstock’s eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin.

  19

  The moon shone overhead as Mina meandered through the camp. After walking for a while, she reached the camp’s makeshift barrier leading outside.

  “Halt,” a voice called out above her. “Who goes there?”

  Mina raised her head and saw a familiar figure sitting on a watchtower. Her chest tightened. “Dustin,” she said with a neutral face.

  “Mina…,” Dustin said and let out a breath. “You shouldn’t be wandering around at night; it’s dangerous.”

  “I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself. Why are you on guard duty?”

  “You’re underestimating the undead,” Dustin said and shook his head. “I’d like to not get robbed this time. I figured the best way to do that is take up guard duty myself.”

  Mina nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said as she took a step outside the camp.

  “Stop,” Dustin said. “I can’t let you leave. No one’s allowed to go out during the night in case of ambushes.”

  “You think I can’t handle myself?” Mina asked. Her horns pulsed with a faint red color.

  “That’s beside the point,” Dustin said and sighed. “I know you’re worried about Tafel, but she’s strong, Mina. She inherited your personality, you know? We’ll get her back tomorrow. I’m sure the you from back then would’ve loved to explore the undead kingdom, wouldn’t Tafel too?”

  Mina clenched her hands and glared at Dustin for five seconds before turning back towards the camp. “Thank you…,” she muttered towards the ground. Dustin watched her disappear into the shadows before turning around to face the fields again. He sighed.

  ***

  “Auntie!”

  Lindyss was in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed with mana crystals laying around her. She opened her eyes and was greeted by the sight of a dirty child running towards her. Tafel spread her arms open for a hug and leapt at Lindyss. Lindyss stuck her finger out and poked Tafel in the forehead before she could reach her. The demon princess fell to the floor and looked up with tears in her eyes.

  “You smell gross,” Lindyss said as she got off the bed. “Take a bath first.” She bent down and ruffled Tafel’s already disheveled hair. “It’s good to see you again, Tafel.” Lindyss grabbed Tafel’s hand and pulled her to her feet.

  Tafel pouted. “I couldn’t take a bath for a week,” she said and frowned at her dress.

  Lindyss smiled and rummaged through her closet. She pulled out a Tafel-sized sweater and a pair of pants. “Vogel, take Tafel to the baths and bring her to Vur when she’s done,” Lindyss said as she passed the clothes to Tafel. A vampire bat dropped down from the ceiling and perched on Tafel’s head.

  “Yes, master!” it said and grabbed Tafel’s upper horns like reins. “This way.” It tugged on her right horn. Tafel nodded and made her way to the baths.

  L
indyss waited until Tafel left before storing the mana crystals in a chest underneath her bed. She stretched her arms out in front of her chest and motioned for the skeleton messenger to come in. “Report,” she said.

  The messenger nodded. “The demon lord saw me take Tafel away. They sent men to stop us, but they couldn’t do anything,” the skeleton said and scratched its head. “I suspect I may have angered him as I left.”

  “So we should be expecting company?” Lindyss asked and rubbed her chin.

  The skeleton nodded.

  Lindyss smiled. “Good,” she said. “Let’s ready a welcoming party for them.”

  ***

  Clanging sounds rang throughout the field as metal collided against metal. Bones snapped and crunched as blunt weapons smashed against them. Cackling filled the sky as skeletons laughed and swung their weapons. The knights on the final line of defense were wearing full mithril platearmor, guarding a tent. The skeletons surrounded the knights and swarmed them, bringing them to their knees with sheer numbers.

  The undead leader cackled. It was standing in a tent behind its army. “You lose again,” it said. The skeletons tore down the tent in front of them and knocked over Vur’s table. He pouted.

  “That wasn’t fair,” Vur said. The undead leader and Vur were separated by a field filled with fallen skeletons who were collecting their bones and climbing to their feet. The two were standing over their own tables that let them command the skeletons on the field.

  “All is fair in war,” the leader said and grinned. “Dead men can’t complain about a loss.”

  Vur tilted his head. “But aren’t you—”

  “Hush, it’s just a saying,” the undead leader said. “Want to play again?”

  “Oka—”

  “Vur!”

  Vur turned his head and got tackled to the ground by Tafel.

  “Tafel,” Vur said with a smile as he put his arms around her. “You’re finally here.”

  “Never leave me again, okay?” Tafel asked as she buried her head into his chest and clutched his back.

  Vur ran his fingers through her hair. “I won’t,” he said and closed his eyes. “I promise.”

  The nearby skeletons inched away from the two and tiptoed back to the leader across the field. The leader approached the two children on the floor. “So this is Tafel, eh?” the undead leader asked as it sat down next to them. “Isn’t it a little too early in the morning to be doing this?”

  Tafel climbed off of Vur and sat up with her face red. Vur got up and held her hand.

  “You’re the princess of the demons?” the leader asked.

  Tafel nodded.

  “I have to thank you,” the skeleton said. “I haven’t had this much fun messing with people since I died.”

  Tafel tilted her head. “Err, you’re welcome… I guess?”

  The leader’s teeth clacked together as it chuckled. “I look forward to serving you in the future.”

  “Me?” Tafel asked. “Why me?”

  The leader stared at her. “Because you’re going to be our empress, no?” it asked and pointed at Vur. “If he’s the emperor, then you’re the empress.”

  “Wait. What about Auntie Lindyss?” Tafel asked with wide eyes. “Isn’t she the ruler?”

  “No,” the leader said. “She’s our lord and resurrector. Our god, if you want to call her that.”

  “God…,” Tafel mumbled. “What does she get from creating this empire if she doesn’t want to rule it?”

  “Mana,” the skeleton said. “Everyone here pumps their mana into crystals to exchange for food and shelter. Our lord takes the crystals and uses the mana to purify the illness in her body.”

  “She’s sick?” Tafel asked. She thought back to all the times Lindyss cast magic and shook her head.

  “A long time ago—”

  Lindyss appeared behind the skeleton leader and punted its head off with her foot. “Stop spreading rumors about me.”

  The undead leader saluted with its headless body and walked over to retrieve its cranium. It twisted its head back on. “Maybe some other time,” it said to Tafel and went back to the army of skeletons on the other side of the field.

  Lindyss smiled at the two children. “We’re throwing a party,” she said and turned to Tafel. “I think I interrupted yours. Sorry about that.”

  Tafel shook her head. “It’s okay,” she said. “I didn’t like it.”

  “What kind of party?” Vur asked. “Will there be cake and cookies?”

  Lindyss paled. “Only two slices of cake at most for you, okay?” she asked. The first time Vur discovered cake, he ate three of them and wrecked a portion of the forest in the following sugar rush.

  Vur pouted. “Okay.”

  “Wear nice clothes too. Tafel’s parents are going to be there.”

  “Yes, Auntie,” Vur said.

  “Really?” Tafel asked. “My parents will be here?” Her body trembled.

  Vur tightened his grip on her hand.

  “Don’t worry,” Lindyss said and smiled. “You won’t be in trouble. Come, the party’s starting in a few hours.” She turned around and walked back towards the city. The two children exchanged glances before following her.

  “When did you start wearing nice clothes?” Tafel asked Vur who was shirtless.

  Vur shrugged. “Grimmy said that even dragons have to look nice sometimes to impress the ladies,” he said. “And since I don’t have my scales or wings yet, I have to wear clothes to look better.”

  Lindyss laughed. “Didn’t you also want to wear a bow tie like the one I made for Grimmy?” she asked and turned to wink at Tafel. “He’s dressing up just for you.”

  Tafel’s and Vur’s faces turned red as they looked away from each other, but their hands held the other’s tighter.

  ***

  The sun shone over the main plaza of Konigreich. Thousands of people—humans and demons alike—chatted with one another as they browsed the stalls and sat in chairs. The majority of the buildings had been relocated by Exzenter through his time magic. Massive boars, bears, livestock, fruits, and pastries were spread throughout the plaza in piles. Barrels of wine encircled the people, and floating bubbles of water hung overhead within arm’s reach, suspended by magic. The air was fresh, and no traces of undead could be seen or smelled. A group of musicians had set up their instruments at the center of the plaza, and people stumbled as they drank and danced with each other. Laughter filled the streets, and children chased each other through the crowds.

  Tafel and Vur were sitting at the perimeter of the party near a pile of sweets and meat. Tafel wore a white woolen sweater with black cotton pants. Her hair was tied in a ponytail with a ribbon that was the same shade of purple as her eyes. Vur wore black leather pants along with a sky-blue scaled vest. He wore a gold bow tie, and his hair fell just above the base of his neck.

  “You’re not going to play with the other children?” Tafel asked as she leaned her head against Vur’s shoulder.

  Vur shook his head and held Tafel’s hand. “They’re scared of me,” Vur said. “Also, they’re too soft and run too slow. The skeletons are much more fun to play with. They don’t cry when their bones break.”

  Tafel shuddered and tightened her grip on his hand. The two were silent, watching the people drink and dance in the plaza.

  Vur cleared his throat. “Did I say something wrong? Auntie found some people to show me how to be noble, but Gale said I still say inappropriate things.”

  Tafel shook her head. “It wasn’t wrong. Just a little scary. Who’s Gale?”

  “He was one of the people Auntie found,” Vur said. “I learned to dance and play instruments too.”

  “Really?” Tafel asked as she lifted her head off his shoulder. “Do you want to dance with me?”

  Vur nodded. The two stood up, and Vur placed his left hand on Tafel’s shoulder and held up his right arm.

  Tafel tilted her head. “Um, isn’t my left hand supposed to go on your shoul
der and your right hand under mine?”

  “That matters? I’ve only watched two men dance together.”

  “Yeah,” Tafel said and nodded. “Boys do the leading and girls follow.” She giggled. “If you only know the girl part, I can lead this time.”

  Vur scratched his head. His cheeks were tinged with red. “Okay. You can lead.”

  Tafel led and the two waltzed in time with the music.

  “Am I doing it right?” Vur asked with his gaze glued to his feet.

  Tafel giggled. “You make a pretty good girl,” she said. “You’re supposed to look at me though, not your feet.” She smiled when Vur raised his head. “That’s better.”

  Vur smiled back.

  ***

  An army of 30,000 demons formed up in ten 60-by-50 rectangles of people. The vast majority wore chainmail and had clubs and shields. A thousand or so cavalry were wearing plate armor and rode atop horses, spears in hand. The remaining demons wore cloth armor, wielding metal staves. Across the plains, facing the army, there was an elf with a red robe standing on top of a basilisk. A skeleton with mithril armor and a human male wearing a toga stood on either side of her. The sun shone overhead, causing sweat to roll down the demons’ backs. At the head of the demon army stood Zollstock and Mina. Sounds of laughter and music permeated the air behind Lindyss.

  “Waaah,” Exzenter said as he straightened his toga. “That’s a lot of them. They have their heavy cavalry and the mage corps it seems.”

  The undead leader laughed. “They’re just fodder to puff up their numbers.”

  Exzenter glanced around. The trio were alone. “That’s a lot more fodder than we have,” he said. “Are you sure this is going to work?”

  The undead leader grinned. “Of course it’ll work. They’re all nobles who’re afraid to step on poop with their shoes.”

  “Return Tafel to us!” Zollstock shouted from across the field.

  “Return? You make it sound like we stole her,” Lindyss said with her voice amplified by wind magic. “From what I heard, she willingly came here with my messenger.”