The next day, Grain came to our guild not as a mere guest but as a full-fledged participant. Unexpectedly, his teacher, Levris, accompanied him. Could it be that she also intends to join our ranks?
"I've been thinking," Grain scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and for some reason, the phrase sounded less convincing coming from such a giant, "Many guilds hire instructors for training. Well, teachers often do it too, for an extra stipend from the academy. Perhaps you could hire Teacher Levris for training?"
The proposition was quite logical, but there was one caveat.
"Hmm, but does Teacher Levris teach anything other than Earth magic?"
"Oh, don't worry about that," Levris replied in a slightly timid voice, "I know a lot about various types of magic. In fact, I buy many books on different magical topics and can help with various schools of magic. Besides, I'd be interested in learning more about dragons, and the only person who can tell me about them is in your guild."
Ragni, as usual, continued munching on her supplies, raising her eyes upon hearing herself mentioned.
"Don't worry, you won't have to pay me. I'll receive a small stipend from the academy. But if possible," Levris lowered her gaze, "can I bring my students for training?"
"Hmm, well, in principle, we could also train with your students if you don't mind," Katrina offered an unexpectedly productive idea, "Of course, we'll try to avoid injuries."
"I think it's a good idea. My students could use some combat experience."
"Mmm, we have five participants, and we even have an instructor now. This guild is starting to resemble a real one," I couldn't help but make a sarcastic comment.
"Hey!" Katrina glared at me with annoyance, "It has always been real!"
"As you say, Princess," I replied, bowing playfully.
"It's going to be a fun guild," Kurone surprisingly exuded joy.
"Then we must celebrate!" Of course, Ragni was all in for banquets and other merry gatherings.
"Uh, but let's not make too much noise, or they might fine us for breaking discipline," the teacher hoped for a celebration without much commotion, but her hopes were unlikely to be realized.
In the evening, we gathered again at the guild's house, and Teacher Levris prepared various treats. Kurone even brought some wine. The evening passed pleasantly: peaceful toasts and conversations on various topics until Ragni took out a suspicious bottle with a translucent liquid from under the table.
"Ragni, what dubious concoction have you prepared this time?" I couldn't forget her "breakfast" she made during our first encounter.
"Don't worry, I borrowed it from Mom when I left the palace. She said it's an awesome thing," the dragoness said with a smug grin and began pouring the contents of the bottle into the glasses, almost forcing everyone to drink.
After the first glass, everyone present experienced a temporary memory lapse. The noise echoed from the house of the fledgling guild for a long time. Today, luck was on their side, as a strong wind carried their revelry's cries away from the nearest dwellings, sparing them from punishment.
From the leaning house, drunken cries continued:
"Hey! Dragon lady," a slightly stuttering voice inquired with a touch of impudence, "I've been wanting to ask you, why is your form so lascivious?"
"What do you mean 'why'? You don't get it, it's so I can p-pa-pa-partially t-t-t-trans-tran-tran..." Ragni struggled with the word "transform", trying to focus on her right hand, adorned with silver cuffs. Alas, the hand showed no sign of transformation.
"Huh? Ragni, that's the wrong hand."
As the dragoness focused on her right hand, she inadvertently transformed her left hand.
"Oh well, that was intentional," Ragni said nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened, and continued, "See? The cuffs stretch and fit snugly around my transformed... umm, paw."
The dragoness proudly placed her hands on her hips. Forgetting that one hand was now significantly larger than the other, she lost her balance and fell to the floor.
"And, by the way, I think the male half quite enjoys my outfit. Grain, how do you like my little ensemble?" Ragni leaned forward impudently towards the big mage, who seemed ready to ignite the couch he was sitting on out of embarrassment.
"I-I-I think your attire is very beautiful," Grain stuttered.
"Don't you dare flirt with my students!" Unexpectedly, Levris pulled Grain away from under the dragoness.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't know he was taken," Levris said, backing off.
Although Levris was a teacher, she had only graduated from the Academy a year ago and was hired for her knowledge in various areas of magic.
Meanwhile, a figure in red could be seen dragging a sizeable bundle from the guild's house towards the dormitory. Following her were shouts:
"Let's bet on who can cause more destruction with a single spell!"
"I can cast a bigger fireball with one finger!"
Seleria took advantage of the fledgling guild's momentary weakness and decided to pilfer something from them.
"Well, well, without him, their guild won't last long."
In front of her lay the vice-GM of the newly formed guild. She just needed to somehow sway him to her side.
"Hmm-hmm. I guess I'll undress and lie down next to him, and in the morning, I'll say he shamelessly took advantage of my helplessness, and now he has to take responsibility."
Sneering, the princess began to undress hastily. But as soon as she reached her underwear, an approving whistle came from the direction of the bed.
"Huh? You... you... you weren't sleeping??!!!" Their eyes met - the young man was sitting on her bed in a lotus position.
"Well, it was hard not to notice how a pair of red eyes watched us from the window, so I pretended to find out what you wanted from us," Krito said with a teasing tone, enjoying pointing out the princess's mistake, "I was quite surprised when you aimed your attention at me. But still, thanks for the performance," he added with an approving smile, "It was quite a sight."
"Oh, you!! If you weren't asleep all this time, then why did I have to carry you here?!" Seleria was fuming, and her face turned even redder out of anger.
"Well, you know, it was rather amusing. A real princess carrying a princess. I hope no one finds out about it."
"You!! If you tell anyone, I'll roast you and feed you to your own pet dragon!!"
Seems like a good prospect.
"Oh well, never mind. I won't tell anyone," I said with a conspiratorial smile and continued, "but in return, you'll tell me what our princesses did to you. You can't hate them just for 'disgracing' the honorable name of princesses, right?"
"Hmph," finally calming down, the princess decided to speak in a calmer tone, "Well, nothing specific against them. But I've long disliked the royal family of Verania."
"But officially, you're allies, aren't you?"
"Officially, unofficially... What's the difference? As long as both sides fear each other, the alliance can continue. If we show weakness, they'll attack us; if they show carelessness, we'll crush them in an instant. You understand that our relationship, to put it mildly, isn't very good."
"Let me guess: it dates back to the war between the nations? But that was two thousand years ago. So much time has passed; they could've already forgotten all the grievances."
"You fool!" Seleria scornfully raised an eyebrow, "Who said I'm angry with them for a thousand-year-old war? There are more recent reasons for my hatred towards them."
Though the relations between Leran and Verania were not very friendly, they had worsened significantly in recent years. During this time, the Inquisition gained momentum in their "crusade" against heretics and demon worshipers.
"Is it all because of the Inquisition? I heard they spread like wildfire in your country, and many people suffered. You even expelled many inquisitors from your country, allowing only non-combatant preachers from the church to stay."
At my words, Seleria lowered her head and continued in a slightly trembling voice, "Well, that too, but the reason is more personal. My father allowed them to operate on our territory just to maintain good relations with Verania, as your imperial house is the church's staunch supporter. But once, these wretches targeted someone who was not to be trifled with."
"Someone from the royal family, I suppose?"
"Yes, I was only ten years old then. My distant great-uncle Victor ruled a large island on Leran's western border. His county prospered, and umm..." the princess paused for a couple of seconds, "he had a little secret."
"Was it demonic magic, by any chance?"
It seemed tears appeared in the corners of Seleria's eyes.
"Yes. But he wasn't involved in anything dangerous. He created constructs - golems that did all the heavy work on the island: carrying heavy loads, building structures. My uncle was an experienced mage and made them specifically for these tasks; they couldn't even engage in combat. He created them for entertainment, and they obeyed him completely. The island mainly focused on tourism; there were few residents, and they were only involved in entertaining the guests."
The princess fell silent, finding it difficult to continue.
"What did the Inquisition do?"
"One fateful day, when most of the residents went to the mainland to replenish supplies and buy new goods for the island, only my uncle and a few of his servants remained. Two days later, the island was in flames, the constructs were destroyed, and all witnesses were killed. The inquisitors claimed that the constructs went berserk and started killing the residents. If they hadn't intervened, the destruction would've been even worse."
"But you said the golems completely obeyed your uncle and didn't possess their own minds?"
"Yes, no matter what those church fanatics say, my father didn't believe them. He accused them of killing his cousin," the princess clenched her fists with anger, "AND they threw accusations at him: 'How could you know about the design of demonic creatures? Maybe you're a demonologist too?' In his palace, in front of his vassals, they dared to accuse him! And that wasn't enough for them! 'And your daughter has such beautiful red eyes; it's even frightening to think where their origin comes from.'"
Seleria struck the wall with force.
"Of course, your father couldn't forgive them for accusing you, could he?"
"If only," the furious princess calmed down again. "My father ordered them thrown into the dungeon, and the next day, he wanted to execute them for attacking the royal family."
"But I haven't heard that you killed the inquisitors?..."
"True. Damn King Henry intervened. He granted diplomatic immunity to those murderers! If we executed them, a new war would break out. Despite everything they did, my father couldn't raise a hand against them. As much as he loves me and our family, he loves his people more. We expelled all the inquisitors and paladins from Leran, allowing only a small group of priests to stay in major cities. Since then, we've had almost no contact with Verania."
Silence filled the room. Seleria's reasons were quite weighty, and I didn't know how to respond.
"But Katrina has nothing to do with it. It was her father's decision."
"You're right, but if I manage to disgrace his daughter, the shadow will fall on the entire royal family. That will be enough for me."
"Just to hurt Katrina for that reason? This 'eternal child'? And you're quite a vengeful people."
"Well, yes, I even felt sorry for hurting that innocent girl. But the black princess was simply in my way, and for some reason, I really dislike her."
The tension that had filled the room during the princess's narration gradually began to dissipate.
"Well, alright, we've sorted that out, but why do you need me?"
"Well... I noticed that the whole guild relies on you at the moment! Ragni joined the guild because of you, and even Grain joined for his connection to that dragoness. So, if I can take you out of the game, the guild will simply fall apart. It will be an incredible disgrace for the royal family."
Indeed, it seemed so simple. She's smarter than she appears.
"Well then, you better find out right away," I leaned slightly towards Seleria. "Even if I wake up next to you, I won't feel guilty."
"Ah, you!" Fuming with anger, the princess narrowed her eyes and said, "womanizer".
"Haha, perhaps, but anyway, I'd better go. Otherwise, who knows what rumors will spread about you at the academy."
I wanted to leave the room, but unexpectedly, the doorknob melted in front of me.
"And who said I'd give up on my plan? If I couldn't deceive you, I'll try other methods," the princess wore a confident smile, "You won't escape from me so easily."
It was going to be a difficult night.