AN: Thank you all for reading thus far, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them

________________________

By the following morning, those of whom desired to leave were approximately one hundred and four. All of whom were adults without children, as they desired to find a colony elsewhere. Upon witnessing the process of how such memories are removed, the number dwindled down to sixty and eight dragonfolk. Perhaps those who had changed their minds were weak, or gave into the herd mentality. Who knows?

In any case, those who left were given over to Suun, who would then take them to a very different location with food, water, and knowledge of building temporary shelters. Yes. Many were upset to see them leave, but it did not bother my mind in the least. As those of whom remained, and did not have a class imparted into their minds, gathered around my skeletal self as I conjured up my magicks.

">," my voice was released into a growl, as I held up my right, primary clawed hand, ">." My silvered energies gathered into a large orb, then released itself into strands of energy of which attached themselves to the struggling minds of those gathered about my person.

Yes. They struggled, as my way of teaching always seemed to do more harm than good. In the end, however, the knowledge would still be there, whilst it twisted and warped the minds and bodies of those touched. Of course, such a thing will not happen right away, but over time.

As to my reasons for imparting such knowledge? Well, if what San'yuu had spoken of was true, then we would see more elemental breathing creatures soon enough. Rather, this is what I believed at the time, as Rojaahn was given the egg shaped stone in order to experiment upon. This, along with two others from the bodies, would allow him to find a use for it in the long run. Though, of course, he had many other experiments along with creating the Elixirs, but what harm is it to add just one more project?

"What was the point of this, My Lord God?" Asked Brutus as he appeared with his own staff of bone within his clawed hands. Of which mirrored my own, save for the eyes with were of sapphire pinpoints instead of emeralds.

"I simply desire to know what will happen if these dragonfolk have one of those egg-shaped stones within their bodies and stoked it with their magicks," my reply was slow, as Siuun and Shoriin trotted over to my person in order for the girl-child to show me her "pretty flame" she made by thinking of the torches she saw the night before.

My body flowed into my kobold self soon afterwards, so that I may watch the small flame of gold with a sickly green centre flicker greatly between her hands. "Very pretty, Siuun," she giggled as I pat her scaled head a few times, and caught Brutus just before he reached for my tail once more. Of which caused his person to falter and stare between my star-filled gaze and the appendage multiple times. This led to my sighing greatly, and hand it over whilst I switched over to stroking the child's head slowly, whilst the basilisk lightly chewed on the digits of my free clawed hand.

For a time we stayed like this, as I felt my mind relax until San'yuu appeared and coughed loud enough to garner my attention. "We are ready to return, Lord," he spoke softly, then coughed out a smattering whilst a Dragonock female held him steady. To which caused my person to stand in front of his, and ply my healing energies upon his old body. "Thank you, Lord."

"Just hold for a sennight, San'yuu. Then you will be given your new, young body."

"Yes, Lord," his voice was steady, as his eyes sparkled at the prospect of such a great reward.

My right clawed hand gently pat his shoulder thrice before turning away to view the small amount of robed individuals holding a leather bag filled with essentials in one hand, and a plain wood staff in the other. These numbered twenty and five, and would be returning with me to the small market I had left Shauu and Auua to guard. The dwarves who had journeyed with my person to this point had been sent back before the start of last night's Feast, so that I may not worry about their persons the following turn.

"Come. Let us return to the city's walls," my voice thundered, as a great portal of shadows and crimson crackled into existence behind my person. To which I ushered the individuals, my apprentices, and Shoriin into before stepping in myself.

*

"The Master has only just returned and requires rest," I heard one of the new hires shout, as I was staring at a map within the back of the communal tent. Of which was a near perfect representation of the city nearby. No. I had no intention of ever learning its name, as it would soon become the site of a battle. Therefore, I did not desire to learn that which will cease to exist within a few turns. As to how I was able to obtain such an item? Well, I had to thank a few of the hires along with Gahn. Of whom created a perfect representation within the earth, and those few hires had a greater talent in art than I.

In any case, I and mine had returned to the small market's outskirts in time to see a large collection of guards from the city doing their best to stick their noses in places it did not belong, whilst doing their best to appear inconspicuous. What is more, I and mine were followed once it became apparent my person was in charge. I shall give them a small amount of credit, as a few had managed to enter the communal tent after my person. Unfortunately for them, my eyes fell upon them almost immediately, and were killed for their insolence.

This then led to my servants taking it upon themselves to "ask" these interlopers to leave. Immediately. Of course, they would not, as they had a piece of parchment stating they were allowed to do as they please. However, as I was not part of their country, nor recognised any of its laws, it was invalidated after I took up my staff. Of which was then pointed at the carrier's chest, as my maw opened to spew forth a spell which transformed most of them into chickens.

"Polymorph", is the spell which was used, and causes a curse with a short duration to fly out and afflict the targets within eyesight. This only lasted for a few heartbeats, but made the needed impression of my not caring for their laws. Of which caused all of these guards to rush back into the city, proclaiming they will see my person in irons for such insolence.

To which I simply snarled as such a thing would only push my plans forward if such a thing were to pass. For I desired to walk amongst the halls of the castle during the party which should come to pass in a tenday. This was so, as it would allow my person to ply a craft I had been sorely lacking in. Flattery. Yes. I was not as adapt at it as I am to this day, and was more of an old hatchet than a fine rapier when speaking to others.

All of this occurred within a span of a quarter turn after my arrival, and desired a quiet space to contemplate the next course of action. To which I entered the tent's back room, sealing it from all, but my Undying and apprentices. However, this solitude was interrupted by shouting outside the tent, and I desired to know the reason. So, gathering up my staff, and donning an endarkened robe, I exited the tent only to find a great annoyance before my eyes.

For you see, my dear audience, one of the king's "wives" had appeared at the head of a long column of spear wielding beastmen, and a few rings of such beastmen surrounding my servants and hirelings. "And the meaning of this is?" I drawled in a displeased tone, waving my staff in a slow arc to encompass the scene before my person.

"Master," growled Shauu, of whom simply shrugged off a few who tried to detain her person, and strode forward to stand by my side, "They desire to place your person in a cage for some odd reason."

"Not 'some odd reason'," growled a lion beastwoman in a gold, translucent dress which showed the world everything. The fur and hair colour upon her body was a vermillion red shading to orange towards her chest and abdomen. Her eyes were of a crystalline blue, and the hair atop her scalp was of darkest shadows cascading in a waterfall down her backside. "You have slain many of our citizens, conspired to overthrow our right to rule, stolen properties, and disrupted our economy with your 'market'.

"You will come with us for your trial before the crown, where you will be judged guilty and executed-"

She did not continue, as a ball of golden flame with a sickly green centre flew towards her. However, it was absorbed by a bright red shield which seemed to have been hastily brought up. "You will not hurt papa," screamed Siuun, who rushed over to stand in front of my person, whilst Shoriin hopped into position to her right and hissed.

Of which caused my person to laugh uproariously at what occurred, for my mind had just finished absorbing the whole of this scenario. Which included the odd pose the girl-child had in front of my person. Of which was her arms stretched outwards in order to protect my body with her own, as she took in a deep breath, held it, then released a short gout of the same coloured flame as before. Unfortunately, this seemed to have tired her, as she fell sideways and was caught by my freed clawed hand.

"Sorry, papa," she muttered with half closed eyes, yawned, then fell asleep.

"Are you finished?" I heard a growl ensue from within the column of beastmen. To which I simply sighed and handed the girl-child's small body off to Shauu, telling her to watch over her for a moment.

"You know," I merely glanced over my right shoulder to look upon those of whom came to arrest my person, "this is quite bothersome."

"What did you just say?" Growled the female, as many spear wielding beastman advanced upon my position.

"Your ears must be decoration, if you did not catch my words," my voice grew thunderous, as endarkened clouds quickly converged on our persons in order to shroud us in its darkness. Of which caused many within their ranks to call upon their magicks in order to create a multitude of bright orbs. However, all that was seen was simply a dirt road heading north, and nothing more.