Alone on a balcony of the house she had chosen Illtris lay in her nightgown upon a chaise. Placed in a position back from the railing of the balcony she could not see the view below. But she had been told that the view was not that important.
"Illtris, you are not in bed. Are you feeling well?" [Melryn]
Her husband Melryn Drathalkin came out to the porch where she lay. Placing a hand on her shoulder she took it in her holding it.
"I am well, just in need of fresh air." [Illtris]
Both smiled at one another. With Melryn getting the intent of what she wanted to say.
"Since it is such a beautiful day. I shall meditate a little." [Melryn]
Moving to a point close to the middle of the balcony Melryn sat cross-legged.
"If you would prefer I leave while you meditate I shall. I would not wish to disturb you." [Illtris]
Knowing from experience how angry people would become. If she interrupted them while meditating. Illtris shifted in an attempt to move away.
"I would prefer that you remained." [Melryn]
This simple phrase nearly brought Illtris to tears. For much of her young life, she was seen as an item to be used. Having a baby at a young age made for frustration. When dealing with her cchild'sfather she would always be forced to leave. When he wanted to meditate.
Taking a more comfortable position than before. Illtris allowed herself to come on with the mana around her. After twenty minutes she began to feel something odd was unfolding around her. Every minute or so a dense amount of purified mana. Would bleed out from Melryn and be absorbed by herself.
It felt strange and the process was unknown to her. But she did not move from her place. Two hours passed. The sun had barely risen above the horizon, and the maids with this morning's meal had arrived.
"My lady, would you like your meal on the balcony? Or indoors we also have your clothes for the day."
Having risen from her resting place Illtris thought about which choice would work best.
"Have it served out here I am finished." [Melryn]
"Are you sure? You could meditate longer." [Illtris]
"No I am finished, let us eat." [Melryn]
Pleasant surprises were all Illtris was experiencing today. It was helpful that Melryn was good-natured. Also that he was powerful enough to protect her and her son.
Sitting together to eat was not new only the maids never entered the room and they ate on the bed. So was the first three days of married life. Blissful memories would remain in her heart. After a while though the constant euphoria from having sex for hours wore thin. So she left their bed this morning to see what Melryn would do.
To his credit, Melryn was not one to misinterpret a message given this
"My lady, word has come for the matriarch. She would like for you to meet with her today when you are able."
A summons from Leinea would mean only one thing.
"It sounds like Leinea has some business to discuss. I have some training to see to so I will be fine." [Melryn]
"I will go after changing." [Leinea]
Saying this Illtris arose from her seat. Passing her husband who looked to her as she was about to move by. Only for both to share a kiss before she moved on.
To Illtris a simple kiss felt to be right while others would discourage such affection. She did not know what the ideas of the Drathalkin were on this subject. Since the rest of the family had an injured husband.
Getting dressed was a new feeling. All the material she wore now. Were of such a quality she was almost afraid to wear anything the clan Crest lay across her right shoulder. At the academy, it was the Crest of said academy that was worn. Also in the short time she had been here no one else wore any. Until her crest arrived just the other day.
"Okay. I will be going now, Melryn." [Illtris]
Turning his head from where he sat Melryn waved with a smile.
Arriving at Leinea's Territory Illtris felt a change in the air that was not present back at home. A feeling of uncertainty seemed to permeate the area as she entered. Entering the apartment twhereLeinea currently resided. She could see all the women of the Drathalkin clan were present.
"Welcome, Illtris you responded faster than I anticipated." [Leinea]
"I thank you Leinea I am glad to come when called." [Illtris]
Being obedient to one's superior was always the best choice for survival.
"Well said now please sit." [Leinea]
Taking her prepared seat Illtris was amazed by the seriousness of many of the faces present.
"You must forgive us child today the representative of the Halgothma clan arrived. With the documents of recognition of our clan. As a continental ranked clan under them." [Mynrea]
That being said she was confused.
"If that is the case sister why is such a person not before the matriarch of the clan?" [Illtris]
The question was a good one and under any other circumstances would be the case. But the Halgothma knew where the money came from and that was from Lanthim.
"There are other interests at play that require. A deft hand and sound enough judgement." [Litralia]
As far as Illtris knew Lanthim Drathalkin was an enigma that she would like not fully understand. A man able to manipulate mana, married to two dragons and seemed to sit on a mountain of wealth. While her husband was able to manipulate mana as well that family aspect was not quite so bizarre now. Syrelia was not present being too young and not married she was not able to take part yet.
"What other interests can there be this is an important matter." [Illtris]
Having grown up in a continental-ranked clan the idea of a man running things was disturbing. Her mother ran the entirety of the clan's dealings in every respect. So she thought that the same practice would be here. Seeing that this was not the case made her feel like the Drathalkin clan was not the same as any other.
"There are many all of which are not known to us. Much of the wealth of the clan comes from sources built up by our husband before we were married." [Leinea]
What Leinea said was true after many months of Lanthim saying nothing. The financials of the clan ended up in her study one morning and she was too overwhelmed by the amount that was given. Even now she had not fully gone through all the paperwork. From what she could see the clan held wealth not only in land but a great deal of money was moved by sea and air. With the airship fleet netting enormous profits not yearly but weekly.
In contrast, most other clans based their spendable income on a yearly standard. While Leinea when she saw what her allotted allowance was nearly fainted. Never in her life had she even thought of such an amount being given to a single person. Adding to that the fact that the same amount of five million sulmian was given to her every week it was becoming impossible to comprehend the amount.
Since that time she decided to allow those who had been handling their master's finances to continue doing so. She would receive a monthly report as to the health of said finances.
"Who they talk to is not important at this time all that matters is that we provide the best possible accommodation if they decide to stay." [Leinea]
Nodding together everyone agreed on this point. A good first impression was key and while the condition of the estate itself was always pristine. The quality and placement of the guests were important to consider.
Inside Meditation Room
Fralgwain Halgothma a daughter of the main branch of the Halgothma clan sat upon the meditation platform before Lanthim Drathalkin. Having been told by the head of her clan to not antagonize this individual. She could see the reason why before she sat a man who bore the horns of a dragon and a third-order Neytriel. She remembered when she was younger seeing a recording that this human. Or at least what she thought at the time was a human fighting Reiflin a dragon that she grew up with as a child.
Now she sat before this person who she could not sense who she could tell was on a level that she did not understand. For over an hour now the two of them had discussed the formalities of recognition. The Halgothma was not averse to the idea of allowing such a large tribute-paying clan to not receive recognition. While at the same time, there was always the potential that such a clan could challenge them in the future. From the information she had been given the chance of rebellion was incredibly small.
"While you did pay a substantial wealth tribute I am told inform you to not to pay such an amount going forward. While such a colossal sum did affect your acceptance. Our side would prefer not to dedicate such a large group of people for counting ." [Fralgwain]
It had been a panic-filled four days for collections when the Drathalkin tribute came in. The initial counting had provided an amount that was said to be absurd. Being instructed to do a full inventory it was found that the amount was forty times greater.
"I see, If that is the case may I know what your side would like for the annual wealth tribute?"[Lanthim]
Getting what he wanted was always the goal for Lanthim. The excessive payment was part of his plan to get a better agreement on such payments. Two was for there to be no marriage deal so he would not have to deal with taking in another woman. So far both of these conditions had been met. The latter had been discussed as soon as Fralgwain arrived.
"We think two billion sulmian a year would be sufficient our side would also provide land for the construction. Of a residence in the dragon lands it would be unwise to raise younglings outside of their own culture." [Fralgwain]
To this statement, Lanthim agreed even among the dragon children that he had taken in. Abandoned and starving he educated them in the ways of their people.
For all his students regardless of race, he did the same leaving out undesirable behaviour and bigotry that he found useless. In the training of mana manipulators, he did, however, teach those things that would bring them success.
"We agreed, will it take time for the recognition to propagate throughout the subordinate clans?" [Lanthim]
With everything happening so quickly, it was unlikely that any nationally ranked clan fully knew what was happening. In total the area that the Drathalkin now controlled was six continents. On a habitable planet the equivalent of five Jupiters. The number of continents was unknown seeing as with current technology it was impossible for the planet. Due to the need to provision food to travel by sea regardless of the construction or design the distances were too great. While airships could travel much faster therefore further the food issue remained the same. Before the building of his current airship fleet, Lanthim had tried using refrigerators through mana sequences to keep the food last longer. But even with the significant extra distance, there was a need for these ships to stop and resupply constantly. The reason s simple even if they could make the food last longer it was every day being eaten.
This being the case the current fleet was built allowing Drathalkin clan goods to be sold anywhere in the world. With a maximum transportation time of twelve hours, the goods could get to any market in the world.
"The subordinate clans will have received the news before my arrival here." [Fralgwain]
To this Lanthim simply nodded while he healed Leinea would have to deal with the clans coming to pay homage over the coming days and weeks.
"If it pleases you Master Drathalkin I have one last gift before I leave for today." [Fralgwain]
Picking up a small cloth that she had brought with her Fralgwain uncovered a small gem wrapped in the cloth.
As soon as she did so she could sense a shift in the natural mana in the room.
"Where did you find such a thing?" [Lanthim]
There was excitement in his voice as if something he had been searching for had finally come.
"You know what this is?" [Fralgwain]
Surprised by the fact that a human could know of an artifact so ancient. While also maintained by the dragon race in secret since the first breaking. But Lanthim did know what this gem was, and what it could do.
"To receive such a gift I am moved, please give my thanks to your grandfather." [Lanthim]
In an instant, the gem levitated from the cloth to his hand. At that moment the mana within flowed inside his body moving to his wounds.
"My lady, master is meditating if it pleases we can move this meeting to another time or is this all for today?" [Melfsol]
Seeing how quickly her host had shifted from being agreeable and gracious. To completely ignore her existence, the situation, however, was exactly how her grandfather had told her it would be so she was satisfied.