"That fool!" Duke Cadarvic violently slammed his palm down.
Dimming the room in pink and orange shades of twilight, dusk was setting in as day's end was approaching fast.
Duke Cadarvic sat dyed in the glow, his crushed garnet hair swaying in the breeze, as he glared at the paper he'd slammed to the desk.
Just the other day, Von had been cursed out by commander Vision for placing his soldiers to trail the man. Even the emperor had taken the commanders side, ordering Von to call back his men.
Which gave his good friend, the emperor the opportunity to make amends with his brother-in-law. Such a nice way of making the other owe them a favor.
Yet, it hadn't even been 72 hours and he got back a report, one which had been conveniently delayed.
Just as he had thought, the man was up to no good, as he'd rallied five hundred strong and went dragon hunting. And from the reports, it wasn't a simple hunt.
No, the man he thought couldn't get any lower, reached a new low as he was hunting a pregnant dragon.
Von sneered as he walked from behind his desk, yet was halted at the door.
"Don't stop me Roy." Von commanded.
"How long has it been since the hunt began," Von stilled in place.
Roy leaned upon the door as he mercilessly continued. "It's already much too late Von. Leaving now would only result in bringing back a body to bury."
He hated to admit it but Roy was right. Calculating the time it'd take to find them, then reaching there, by then it'd be over.
"Dammit!" Von slammed his fist into the wall with a bang.
Yet this bang was much too loud to have resulted from this hand, which hadn't been empowered by a drop of magic.
Glancing at each other, Von and Roy paled as they rushed out of the office.
* * *
"I'm exhausted." One of the guards leaned against a tree, massaging his tired legs.
"We keep telling you man, it's futile to chase after miss Alicia. Ash is much too fast even for us seasoned warriors to keep track of." A fellow guard patted him on the shoulders.
"Ugh." He grumbled in defeat, he knew they were right.
"Hey cheer up. You're lucky to have been added to the unit late, right boys?"
Out in the grass, the other guards stopped their sparing and yelled, "Damn right!"
Memories of chasing the miss Alicia were still seared in their minds. Shivering in trepidation when they were cornered and played with by the Magna Feles pack she'd tamed.
"We should thank the general for his lenient orders, else we'd be punished for losing her so often." He awkwardly laughed." Once he found out how troublesome it truly was to keep an eye on her that is." The guard looked out at the sky as the others nodded in agreement.
"Speak of the devil." Light shined within the open garden, further ahead of where the guards had been sparing. "Looks like the little miss is back."
The guards ran up to the light, but slowed into a jog as they got closer, then slowed further into a walk until they froze in place at what they saw.
They had to rub their eyes in disbelief. Where had they been when their miss acquired a dragon the size of a medium sized mountain?
Alicia turned around and smiled. "Perfect, you're all here. Two of you please call my mommy and Aunty Pepper."
The leader of the guards, Cosmus pointed out with a trembling finger as he stumbled on his words. "Mi-miss Ali-Alicia, tha-tha-thats a dra-dra,"
"Dragon." Alicia finished his sentence as she tilted her head innocently, not understanding why he hadn't done as she asked.
She jabbed him in the side. He looked emotionally wounded but she didn't care as she told him to go and do his job.
How could the knights of the estate be so silly and bull headed. Perhaps it was time she had Noxuria play with them again.
As a guard ran off with his companion they shivered involuntarily. They rubbed their arms to soothe as Alicia screamed out at them. "Tell Mommy and Aunty Pepper the baby is coming, so be fast!"
Both guards nearly tumbled as they righted themselves. Cursing the miss for throwing one curveball after the other.
They'd finally recovered from the Magna Feles, now they had a dragon testing their emotional tolerance. They did not need a baby added to the mix so soon after.
Happy they'd finally run off, Alicia ordered the other guards with earth, fire, and wind elements to build an enclosure big enough for Sheila. Then ordered the others to go prepare bedding.
Aunty Pepper and Duchess Cadarvic had just made it outside when suddenly a huge bang happened in the garden. Shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Sheila rammed her tail into the ground as one of the contractions wracked her body. Her claws dung into the dirt as she grunted.
This frightened the guards building the enclosure. Grasping their hearts in thanks to god Lumen. Luckily they hadn't the need to start over.
"Alicia dear, what's going on?" Duchess Cadarvic glanced up at the dragon, walking to her daughter without hesitation. "Are you alright? Any injuries?"
After checking her over, Cláudia sighed in relief. Alicia repeatedly reassured her mother she was fine, apologizing as she hadn't meant to worry her.
"We'll talk later, young lady." Alicia stiffened, but nodded anyways.
Where was the time to act innocently when a mother dragon was behind her, pounding her tail, urging her as the contractions shortened.
As a seasoned midwife, an expert in her trade of management, Pepper took charge of the situation easily.
She directed the guards in what to do, having them gather even more things to be placed inside the enclosure.
She also didn't forget to inwardly praise Alicia for her fast thinking despite her age and inexperience.
"Is this your first child?" Cláudia soothingly asked Sheila. Alicia answered for her, it was indeed her first.
It was at this moment the duke and his guard came out and into the garden.
Shock was an understatement to what they were seeing. Yet both Roy and Von were levelheaded enough to hold their questions as they assisted as best they could.
Everyone worked hard today as they beat the setting sun.
The whole staff was there as they encouraged the mother dragon into the enclosure, magic lighting the way, and candles set to soothe the nerves.
They cheered when she made it inside, lighting Sheila's spirit a blaze as she found the strength to endure the laborious contractions.
When it came time to push, all the women joined in with Pepper. "1,2,3,4, push! Now stop and breathe. Breath Sheila, breath!"
The duke estate's staff had nerves of steel as they called out the dragon's name without hesitation. Pure endorphins were setting a blaze this night.
The men hardened their eyes as they all witnessed the beauty of childbirth. Some couldn't handle it as they had to be held up, but refused to leave, determined to stay till the end.
"It's the head!" Pepper cheered, "Okay you're almost there, keep going, don't stop now."
Everyone stilled with Pepper's words, leaning in as they swallowed hard. Tensions were high as the labor continued.
As the baby dragon made its way, Sheila roared with one final push, as her child entered into this world, surrounded and blessed by those who'd witnessed and gave her, this new mother courage.
The duke's estate cheered loudly, hugging each other in celebration. Crying with relief as tensions lulled by the cries of the newborn dragon.
Alicia smiled happily at this scene. Both mother and child made it through okay.
It was worth it. She made the right decision. This sight alone was worth the risk.
She believed, even later in life she'd remember this day, and agree with her past self.
It was worth it.
"Alicia." Sheila called out to her. "My choice was correct."
Alicia was shocked by her words as the same trust filled eyes looked into her own. She was further shocked by her next words.
"Indeed, humans never change." Despite the cold words, the tone used was warm and inviting.
Alicia giggled, "So you heard me, huh?"
How embarrassing. She should have expected a pregnant dragon to be so alert. Her hearing would catch even an ant upon the ground, miles away.
"Mm. I did. It was this phrase that prompted regret for my words."
Alicia looked at Sheila in confusion. Luckily Sheila didn't keep her in suspense.
"Humans aren't all the same." She glanced over the duke's staff laughing as they wiped at their tears, then looked back at Alicia. "You've taught me a valuable lesson."
"The number is small. You won't find any others besides these few, I'm afraid." Alicia shrugged as she flashed her teeth in pride.
All the staff, the guards, her family of the duke estate were her pride. Even she herself held doubts of humanity. Modern times were a tall tale sign to this, as human greed was strong and existed in everyone.
This even included mother Marys, as they weren't as special as their hero's would wish them to be.
Their halo only existed for their story. Who knows how much they change after the final word, the end of a tale as the story book closes.
Sheila didn't say anything else on the matter, but pushed her baby towards Alicia with her nose.
Alicia was continuously becoming confused at this mother dragon's actions.
What did she expect her to do, hold this big hunk of fluff? With her twig like arms?
Alicia looked at Sheila in suspicion. She likewise understood her thoughts and chuckled. "I'd like you to name him. It's thanks to you, both he and I are still here."
"Me?" Alicia double checked as Sheila snorted in reply.
Alicia laughed, awkwardly scratching her head. Don't blame her if the name is bad.
Pulling at her gown, Alicia nearly screamed like a fangirl at the cute ball of fur.
His sky blue eyes glistened with water as he stared up at her with those damnable puppy dog eyes.
Almost naturally, a name came out of her mouth, laced with honey and sweet temptations.
"Bubble Tea."
Oh her cravings were sure to get Alicia killed one day, she could feel it in her bones.
Thank god the Sheila had no idea her son was just named after a beverage.
* * *
After settling the dragons in, Alicia was surprised her parents agreed so readily to keep them. Even more surprised they hadn't reprimanded her for her actions today.
Alicia hadn't known her actions greatly pleased the duke.
Quelling the guilt in his heart, and priding him as a father for his daughter's actions. Not only had she saved the dragon he'd worried over, but she'd also punished the fool who hunted it.
He couldn't be more proud.
She hadn't left out a single detail of what she'd done. She'd told them nothing but the truth to her parents, as she expected the worst.
Specially for what she did to Vision, her uncle Fredric's brother-in-law.
Yet the worst did not come.
All they complained about was her recklessness. She was still only six years old, and needed to be aware of the danger, so the duke tried his best to cover up his satisfaction as he lectured her with his wife.
Both Von and Cláudia were well aware of their daughter's strengths, since she'd inherited it from them, her parents. Yet.
She wasn't like them, nor her brother who could fight thorn bears at her age. Alicia couldn't use her magic haphazardly else she disturb the balance in her body. Resulting in another fainting episode.
Even though she had the lilac orb obtained through Old Man Lu, it could only help so much.
Their lecture only pertained to this as Alicia listened intently, smiling as she took it all to heart.
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Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertisement!
Original : www.tinyurl.com/MVPGAwebnovel