“Keeper,” Sylun greeted Ira as he walked in the room.

“Ira.” Lauren nodded toward him.

“Hey,” Ira smiled before sitting with them. “What is he doing here?”

Ira pointed to a man with dark blue hair and eyes sitting off to the side. It was the dragon that Ira forced into his service with a soul binding contract.

“Wasn’t he someone you sent here? If he’s an eyesore we can send him away” Lauren asked.

“Yeah, but why isn’t he somewhere else?” Ira asked again.

“We were discussing if he should marry someone from the Thynne family or Sylvia,” Sylun interjected.

The two sent glances toward Jydar, indicating they wanted to know who he was.

“Oh, well, this is another marriage candidate.” Ira pointed to Jydar who stood near the entrance without knowing what to do.

“By the way, I don’t think I ever learned your name,” Ira said to the silent dragon.

“...Sidryn,” He responded with clear discontent.

“Alright, Sid. Meet Jydar, you two should get along since you’re in the same boat.” Ira introduced the two while smiling in satisfaction.

“Switching topics, Ira I plan on going to Yeramesh with Lyra and I wanted you to send us there,” Lauren said.

“I can send both of you as soon as your ready.” Ira easily agreed.

“Wonderful, I’ll prepare my armor. We’ll have to see who’s the best candidate for marriage out of my granddaughters so there is still time to decide that another day.” Lauren excused herself and left the room.

“So, Keeper if there is no problem I can house our two guests somewhere nearby.” Sylun offered.

“I’m sure any place is fine. Sid was living in a cave filled with bones and Jydar was living in a forest so they won’t mind at all.” Ira assumed that neither one of the marriage candidates wanted anything particularly flashy. Of course, he didn’t actually care if they did. Sidryn was basically a slave and Jydar had used himself as a bargaining chip.

“Anyway, I have to go so I’ll leave them in your care.” Ira stood up to depart.

“I understand, Keeper.” Sylun bowed toward Ira and only raised her head once she left.

Jydar was the first to speak up, “Does he force you to worship him?”

“What?” Sylun’s eyes instantly narrowed as she formed a cold expression.

“The dragons on Yeramesh forced the humans and weaker races to worship them as Gods. Is that not what Ira is doing?”

“Not all dragons,” Sidryn chimed in.

“Those who remained neutral stood by and did nothing to erase the idea that dragons were Gods,” Jydar replied.

The tension between the two increased and it seemed like if it continued they would come to blows.

“Are you both trying to defy the Keeper?” Sylun asked solemnly and the both of them realized that Ira was still a factor they had to consider. If they upset him then, well, it was clear to see how it would end.

“Jydar wasn’t it? I’ll say this to you once and only once. The Keeper has brought my people hope for possibly the first time in our exsistence. It was said the Gods abandoned and cursed us, but when the Keeper appeared it all changed. Every good thing we have is only because of his presence. If he were gone I bet that my city would be razed to the ground and our Godsteel deposits would be stripped clean.”

“Godsteel?!”

“Godsteel?”

Sidryn and Jydar spoke at the same time but reacted differently. Sidryn was a little frightened since Godsteel could easily cut through dragons scales but it was a different story if he could use it. Jydar, on the other hand, was thinking of a way to ask Sylun for a small amount that he could give to his people.

“Put away your greedy thoughts. The Godsteel is acknowledged as Ira’s property even if he doesn’t personally claim it. You’ll find nothing but regret if you covet it,” Sylun spoke sternly.

Once again the two showed complicated expressions but had no choice but to go along with her words.

“Now, the both of you will stay among the people. Maybe it will allow you to see all the Keeper has brought us in such a short time.” Sylun gestured to a nearby attendant who approached before bowing deeply.

“Find an empty house in the city for these two.” Sylun ordered.

“Yes, your Majesty.” The attendant bowed again before leaving.

“You want us to share the same roof?” Jydar asked in disbelief.

“Yes, that’s what I would prefer. I surely don’t plan on uprooting my citizens to accommodate the both of you,” Sylun replied.

…

Rhys had moved further along in her pregnancy. A child inheriting part of Ira’s bloodline was destined to have abnormal growth which resulted in Rhys looking as if she would give birth in another month or two. Harper grew incredibly excited and Raveria was of the same mind. Upon visiting Rhys and finding out the ability of her sibling, Raveria brought a bunch of metal spoons in the room. As soon as she entered, the spoons began floating in the air which caused her to laugh excitedly.

“Woah.” Harper, who had previously visited Rhys, was still surprised each time she saw it.

After playing around some more, Raveria suddenly stopped as an idea formed in her head. She wanted to know if she was having a sister or a brother so she focused her precognition and approached Rhys.

“...” Rhys curiously glanced at Raveria who paid the former no mind.

Raveria poked Rhys’ abdomen and then her vision briefly changed to a blurred scene. The future is forever changing and the very act of her peering into the future leads to more variables. Through the mess of entangled sounds and voices she could make out someone speaking. She recognized it as Ira’s voice and although she couldn’t hear everything he said she heard the most important part.

Raveria blinked a few times before she jumped up and down excitedly, “I know!”

“You know what?” Harper asked suspiciously.

“The baby, Harper!” Raveria giggled.

Even Rhys seemed to be interested in what Raveria had to say but the latter shook her head.

“I’m not telling!” Raveria declared with a mischievous expression.

Her antics were about to escalate until Avery suddenly walked in. Ira had told Raveria to go to her grandmother or great-grandmother until they arrived so Avery was confused and even worried when she couldn’t find Raveria. Luckily, a few Valkyries pointed her in the right direction.

“Raveria,” Avery called out to her daughter in a cold voice.

Raveria jumped in surprise before she turned around and answered in a reserved voice, “...Mom.”

“Come with me.” Avery knew that letting Raveria continue without teaching her proper discipline would do more harm than good.

“But…” Raveria looked to Harper and Rhys for help but neither one of them had thoughts of attempting to persuade Avery.

“Now, Raveria.” Avery intoned with growing anger.

“Ok,” Raveria pouted and walked toward Avery with her head down.

“...It’s a boy,” Raveria whispered under her breath.

While Avery and Rhys didn’t hear her, Harper surely did and her eyes widened in sheer surprise.