Eri took a sip of her tea, using it to mask her amusement. And, sitting next to her awkwardly, was Niri. The kobold was practically shivering from nerves.

"How is your tea?" she asked, setting hers down.

Niri tensed up, nearly spilling her cup. "I-It good!" she said with a bit too much excitement.

"Really? Because I haven't seen you take a sip yet. You should before it gets too cold." Eri motioned for her to try it and waited.

The poor blue kobold peered down warily at the steaming drink as if it was poison. Finally, though, she pulled it up to her snout and took a tentative sip. Her eyes lit up and she went for another… And another… And–

"Ow!"

Breaking out into laughter, Eri tried to give her a sympathetic look. "That's why you have to sip it! If you drink it too fast, you'll burn your tongue. You can also blow on it gently to help cool it off– But not too hard or you'll spill it."

Taking her advice, Niri gently blew on her cup before taking another careful sip.

"See? That's how you are supposed to enjoy it. Though, there are some people who can down an entire cup of boiling water… But never mind that, how is it?"

"Good!" the kobold answered, her nerves seemingly vanishing. "Niri never try…tea." She stressed the word tea, almost as if she was tasting the very word. But her comment made Eri frown.

"You've…never had tea before?"

Niri nodded.

"But don't you make it? Surely you've tasted it, right?"

"Niri no taste. Tea is for Masters."

Huh. "A-and where did you learn to make it?"

The kobold looked up as she recalled a memory. "Niri learn from elf– Learn from Chef too."

Chef makes sense but… "What do you mean 'from an elf?' Did an elf teach you, or…"

"Oh! No, Niri learn by watching. Niri go along with kobold when kobold go to village. Niri sometime watch while kobold take."

"So, you learned by watching the people of Bernel make tea–" Suddenly, she was aware of what Niri had admitted. "Niri! Please tell me you kobolds aren't still taking things from the village!"

"N-no! Kobold…no take no more." Niri didn't sound too convincing.

Eri narrowed her eyes, but a thought occurred to her and it was one that could have only happened now. Perhaps this could be my first real act as Queen…even if I'm not the Queen yet.

She decided it would be best to ease into it. "Can I ask you another question?"

Niri froze, possibly sensing something was wrong. "N-New Master ask any question. Niri answer."

She nodded. "Why did you take up being the…maid, if you will, of the manor– I mean, why did you decide to dedicate your time to cleaning?"

The kobold looked puzzled, clearly not expecting such a question. "Niri… Niri clean because Niri get close to Masters– Not close, close!" She paused, struggling to find the words. "For kobold it honor to serve. What more honor than for kobold to clean and stay close to Masters? Watcher only closer."

"I see." Eri already knew that, but she sensed there was something more. "Wasn't your… Father?" she tried, not really sure what the kobolds called their parents. Thankfully, it seemed like Niri understood. "Wasn't he your pack leader, before Watcher took over?"

"Yes…" Niri muttered, deflating. "Fang… Fang die early. Niri miss Fang… But! Niri have Gern now! And Gern lot like Fang. But Niri wish…" The kobold fidgeted in her seat, unable to finish her sentence.

"But you wish that your father was still here?"

Niri nodded and Eri gave her a sympathetic look. "I understand how you feel. I lost my parents too." Unconsciously, she wrapped an arm around her stomach.

The kobold peered up at her, surprised. "New Master lost family?"

"I did– My entire tribe, in fact."

Now it was Niri's turn to give a sad look. "Niri no think what it like to lose pack… How New Master go on?"

Eri's expression fell. "I didn't… Not for a long time."

"New Master…didn't?"

"I was found by another tribe and they brought me in. However… I couldn't bear the loss and I let my anger grow. Once I was old enough that no one could stop me, I went out to search for someone who could teach me powerful magic."

"Who teach New Master?"

Eri forced herself to smile and even gave the kobold a wink. "Why, Master Aluin, of course…" She trailed off and took another sip of her tea, it was already getting cold. "Anyway. I asked about your family because I was wondering something."

"What New Master wonder?" Niri asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Why did Watcher send you to act as the kobolds' representative? I think I understand now, though."

Blinking, the kobold looked taken aback. "W-what New Master mean? W-what is repre…sen…ative?"

Eri let out a light chuckle. "I think you know. But, a representative is someone who…speaks for their people."

The blue kobold hopped out of her seat, spilling what tea was left in her cup. She didn't seem to notice. "But… But… Niri no speak for kobold! That Watcher job! I speak for Niri only!"

Stolen novel; please report.

So she doesn't know. Interesting… Eri carefully set her own cup down and tried to keep an air of calm. "Niri, don't you think it's odd?"

"O-odd?"

"Yes, odd. You were able to take such a prestigious job, one that every kobold would covet– Want. And now that I am going to become Queen, Watcher asked for you to be my personal servant. Why is that?"

"B-because Niri can do it? Niri around New Master enough and New Master like Niri?"

Eri conceded that point. "That's…true, but it isn't the whole story. Do you want to know what I think?"

Niri brought her arms close to her chest. "What… What New Master think?"

Eri gestured for her to retake her seat. It took a moment, and it was only as Niri made to sit back down that she realized what she had done.

"Niri sorry! Niri go and clean–"

"No, don't worry about the tea right now," she said, interrupting the kobold. And, after what felt like an eternity, Niri finally relented and took her seat. "Now, about my theory…"

She picked up the tea pot and refilled her glass before bringing it over to Niri. The blue kobold nervously held her cup out.

As the tea poured, Eri spoke.

"Watcher is preparing you to take over."

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Felix narrowed his eyes as he exited the portal. The crowd was still there, still waiting, but he had no time for them. His mana had already filled the nearby area, finding nothing. Everyone here was clean of the corruption, of miasma.

"Move." The simple word carried with it authority and power. The few who dared demand answers were quickly silenced. A path opened up and he took his leave…

Once out of the crowd, he surveyed the area. Most of the elves were either working on the Dormitory, still in their camps, or were waiting for the portal to clear. With the last group already dealt with, he turned his attention to the larger of the two camps.

He continued his slow and methodical pace, his mana continuing to swell up around him.

Felix's brow began to bead with sweat as he entered the camp. Already, he had covered nearly half of it with his mana. Yet still no corruption…

His mood continued to sour, his anger boiling. He had to find this person and deal with them swiftly. If he didn't, he risked not just the eggs but everyone's lives.

But what if Watcher is wrong? What if he is mistaken?

The questions whispered into his mind, slowly adding doubt. The only problem was that Watcher was someone who was proven right over and over again. Felix had no choice but to trust the kobold's instincts.

He finished with the camp, his mana pushing further afield and reaching the edge of the construction site. If it were any other time, he might have snuck in to see how the progress was going. But not today, not now.

He tore his eyes from the unfinished building and gazed upon the workers there. Immediately he sensed Gillador. The old elf was not hard to distinguish, even in a sea of elves. He had a certain presence to him that so few others had.

Eri and Oralyn have it too. That did pique his interest but, just like the Dormitory, he set it aside for later.

His mana washed over the mass of workers, both inside and out of the building. There were some who stopped, undoubtedly sensitive to the flow of mana. Another curiosity, and another distraction…

He did not find what he was looking for.

Letting out a curse, he whipped around and scanned the clearing one more time until he spotted the second elven camp. Could it be there– There is also the dwarven and gnome one on the other side of the Hatchery. He let out another string of curses, he had forgotten about that one.

I'll head there after I check out Mari's camp, he decided and made for it. But, by now, people were starting to catch on that something was wrong. Many watched him as he walked past, eying him warily. However, none got in his way.

It was only when he reached what had been Calsen's tribe, that he even bothered stopping. Their camp was nowhere near the size of the other and his mana had already searched it. Yet, that didn't mean his presence hadn't caused a stir…

"C-Champion! Can I… Can I help you?" a young man asked. He was quaking in fear.

"No." Felix whipped around and stormed off.

***

Where the FUCK are you?! He had searched everywhere within the clearing and even had gone back through the Sanctuary, both inside and above ground. But he found no trace. Nothing.

Perhaps he doesn't exist?

Felix shook the thought away. There was someone out here, there had to be. Watcher isn't the type to lie or to misjudge. If he is worried, we should all be. That, unfortunately, didn't change the predicament he found himself in. And, now the next question was what to do?

He drew a deep breath, holding it in until he felt his anger start to calm. It became a low simmer by the time he exhaled. A thought occurred to him, a memory from a few days ago…

Hey Zira?

Hmm? What is it?

It was only then that he realized he had kept his emotions bottled up and away from his family. He released them, letting them cross the bond to her. I think… I think I need your help.

There was silence for a moment, but he had no doubt she was speaking to Kyrith as he sensed the ember-colored dragon peering into his mind. Finally, she spoke.

We're on our way…

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Torm's heart thudded in his chest, sweat covering his entire body. He was hiding behind a tree, a sky tree. He didn't see me… He didn't see me… He didn't… He slid to the ground and gasped.

That bastard was looking! He was searching for me! I felt it… I felt it! Gods? What do I do?! My plan will never work like this!

Torm wanted nothing more than to run away. To run and hide and never be seen again. That presence he felt, it was terrifying.

But I can't! I can't! I… Even now, the compulsion from his enslavement was compelling him to return. He could retreat no further.

GODS DAMN THEM ALL! IF IT WEREN'T FOR THOSE EGGS! He let out a rage induced roar, not caring if anyone might hear him.

He lifted his head up, remembering why he was doing this in the first place. That's right, it's those damn eggs… He reached into a pouch and pulled out one of the deadly mana crystals. I just need to get close.

Taking an unsteady breath, Torm realized he would need to continue with his plan. There was no other way. He only had one shot and all he had to do was avoid the bastard human.

Maybe… Maybe the pendant will hide me from him? What did the beast– My master say? He closed his eyes and did his best to recall.

'…It will hide you from a certain pesky Goddess.'

His eyes flew open. THAT'S RIGHT! If It can work on a goddess, then it can– Wait, a…goddess?

Torm gulped. W-what did he mean by that? Suddenly, he was starting to feel paranoid. He looked up to the canopy above, frightened and suspicious. I've got to move! I've got to get away!

Despite his words, though, his body refused to budge. Come on! I can't stay–

He fell to the ground, writhing in pain. A distant whisper echoed in his mind.

You will complete your task…

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