The morning sun blazed through the window, casting a golden glow across the room as Xyenn scrambled to his feet after his dramatic fall. His heart was still racing from the sight of Yuuna standing there—pregnant. Pregnant! His mind reeled, trying to process what he had just seen. How was this possible? How did it happen that fast? Yesterday, she was fine! Now she had a belly as round as a melon, and she was standing there like it was completely normal.
Yuuna, for her part, seemed more curious than panicked, one hand resting on her round belly as she stared down at it, her head tilted in confusion.
"Xyenn," she said, her voice calm despite the chaos brewing in the room, "I think I'm pregnant."
Xyenn stared at her, his eyes wide, his breath coming in short gasps. "You THINK?! I—how—what?! How did this happen so fast?! You're a draconic deity! You're supposed to know these things!"
Yuuna shrugged, completely unbothered. "I dunno! I've never done this before! Besides," she added nonchalantly, "I've been pretty busy for the last few hundred years. You know, trying not to get killed by the other dragon gods and goddesses. Kind of hard to focus on pregnancy stuff when you're being hunted all the time."
Xyenn threw his hands up in disbelief, pacing back and forth at the foot of the bed. "You've been alive for centuries, and you didn't know goddesses could get pregnant this fast?! Like, overnight fast?!"
"I didn't think it'd happen like this, okay?" Yuuna snapped, then grinned. "I mean, it's kinda cool, right? Like, bam! Pregnant!"
Xyenn ran a hand down his face, groaning. "This is not cool! This is terrifying! What are we gonna do? What am I gonna do?!"
Before Yuuna could respond, there was a loud, insistent knock on the door.
"Goddess Yuuna?" came the serious, gravelly voice of Gorran from the other side. "I heard screaming! I'm coming in!"
Xyenn's heart stopped. His blood ran cold as he turned to Yuuna, panic written all over his face. "What do we do?!"
Yuuna's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she pointed to the window. "I'm going out the window."
"What?!"
"I'm going to Marlgorn," Yuuna said, referencing the nearest town, a small place known for its rough-and-tumble inhabitants and one particularly friendly dwarf blacksmith named Gridd. "He'll know what to do! Plus, I don't wanna deal with Gorran right now. He gets all weird around me."
With a wild grin, Yuuna whistled a sharp, high-pitched note, then dashed toward the window. Xyenn's eyes went wide as she **leapt** from the second-story window without a second thought.
"Wait, what?!"
Outside, Mertha—the Tyrants' battle-hardened, stoic warrior—was already waiting below. She caught Yuuna effortlessly, her muscular arms cradling the suddenly pregnant deity.
Mertha's eyes widened as she glanced down at Yuuna's belly. "You went and turned that brat into a father that fast?!"
Yuuna laughed like a maniac, her voice full of chaotic glee. "I didn't know! Isn't it wild?!"
"Wild isn't the word I'd use," Mertha muttered, already sprinting toward the gates of the mansion grounds with Yuuna in her arms.
Back upstairs, the door burst open, and Gorran stormed into the room, his jagged greatsword Xenith drawn, its spiraling red eyes glowing ominously. His own eyes were bloodshot and strained, as if he hadn't slept in days—or maybe like someone who'd just finished crying but didn't want to admit it.
"You bastard of a vessel," Gorran growled, his voice low and menacing. "You threw Yuuna out the window. Die."
Xyenn's blood ran cold. "Wait, what?! No! I didn't throw her out the window! She jumped! She's—"
'I'm doomed. I'm so screwed.'
Gorran didn't wait for an explanation. With a fierce war cry, he charged forward, swinging Xenith in a deadly arc. The blade, wreathed in shadows and glowing eyes, cut through the air toward Xyenn.
Xyenn's survival instincts kicked in, and he leapedjust in time, narrowly avoiding the greatsword. But before he could catch his breath, Gorran's fist connected with his stomach, sending him flying backward. The force of the punch sent both of them crashing through the wall, splintering wood and stone as they tumbled outside into the snow.
The cold air hit Xyenn like a slap to the face as he rolled through the snow, groaning in pain. He pushed himself up on shaky legs, clutching his stomach, trying to catch his breath.
"Gorran, wait!" Xyenn wheezed, holding up a hand. "I swear, I didn't throw her! She jumped! She's fine!"
Gorran, his eyes blazing with fury, stalked toward him, Xenith dragging through the snow, leaving a trail of shadows in its wake. "I knew humans were no good. I knew it the moment she took you as her vessel. I should've been her vessel."
Xyenn gulped, his legs trembling beneath him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his panic. "Guess we're fighting then. I can't run anyway, you'll just chase me down like a LUNATIC."
"Pfft. You'll fight in your weak state? After getting killed over and over by king Haldrek? Without Yuuna, you're the weakest here—."
Before he could finish, a loud KATHOOM echoed from above as four figures dropped from the mansion, landing between Xyenn and Gorran.
Kivorn, looking half-asleep as usual, stood at the front, his arms half-raised in a lazy defense stance. "Can't you guys do this later?" he muttered, yawning. "I was just about to nap."
Draeven, a nervous wreck, was wringing his hands and shaking like a leaf. "G-Gorran, please! This is a misunderstanding! We don't need to fight!"
Zyphira wobbled slightly, flask still in hand, clearly not sober. She grinned at Gorran, unfazed by his murderous aura. "Hey, old man, calm down! Yuuna's fine! She's just off doing... whatever it is she does. Probably something weird. Don't touch the new kid."
Ilyana, as always, radiated calm and positivity, her peaceful smile never wavering. "Let's not resort to violence, Gorran. We can talk this out, right? Everyone's safe. Let's focus on that."
Draeven turned around to Xyenn, saying, "H-Hey, Please run..my name's Draeven by the way.."
'Man, I sound so awkward!' Draeven thought.
Illyana said to Xyenn, "Please go with Yuuna, dear boy. When you come back, I'll have a meal ready for you only."
Xyenn, seeing his chance, turned and sprinted away, his arms flailing wildly as he dashed across the snow-covered grounds. "Thanks, guys! Bye!"
'They're awfully nice to me, besides that old bastard who's trying to cut my head off!' Xyenn thought.
Behind him, Gorran's voice rang out, full of venom. "Move out of my way, or you'll die with him."
Zyphira rolled her eyes and glanced up at the roof, where Sethrak stood, watching the entire scene unfold with his arms crossed behind his back, a calm smirk playing on his lips.
"Hey, Sethrak! Brotherrrrr," Zyphira called up to him. "You mind coming down and giving us a hand here? We can't let him kill the new kid!"
Sethrak raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with amusement. "Why would I trouble myself with such a common altercation? You all seem perfectly capable of handling it."
Zyphira groaned. "Oh, come on! You're just gonna stand there and look pretty while we deal with Gorran?"
Sethrak's smirk widened. "Precisely."
Meanwhile, Xyenn was already halfway across the yard, arms flailing as he sprinted toward the gates where Mertha and Yuuna had disappeared, his voice carrying on the wind. "Thank youuuu!"
Back by the mansion, Gorran's grip on Xenith tightened, his eyes narrowing at the group blocking his path. "This is your last warning. Move, or you all die."
Kivorn yawned again, stretching his arms lazily. "Man, this is way too much work for this early in the morning."
Draeven gulped, his knees shaking. "W-we're all g-gonna die, aren't we?"
Zyphira took another swig from her flask, grinning. "Eh, what's a little death between friends?"
Ilyana, ever the optimist, smiled brightly. "Let's all take a deep breath. We'll get through this together."
The air around the mansion crackled with tension, the snow-covered ground beneath their feet shifting slightly as Gorran stood, his jagged greatsword Xenith resting heavily on his shoulder, the red eyes on the blade spiraling with dark energy. His menacing gaze flickered between the Tyrants who dared to stand between him and his target. His muscles tensed, and his jaw clenched as he growled out his final warning.
"Move. Or I'll cut you all down."
But they didn't move. Kivorn, Zyphira, Ilyana, and a trembling Draeven stood their ground, ready for what was to come. The snow beneath their feet seemed to freeze in anticipation, the cold wind howling through the broken windows of the mansion.
Kivorn, always a bit lazy and disinterested, yawned loudly, stretching his arms before finally taking action. He slammed his hand onto the snowy ground, his fingers crackling with magic as they sank into the earth. "Fine, fine… let's get this over with." His voice was tired, but his eyes flickered with focus as he whispered in his ancient elven tongue, the words flowing like a gentle stream:
"Lae'val en' templa!"
The ground beneath him glowed with intricate elven runes, glowing a vibrant green. Slowly, a staff of twisted oak and silver emerged from the earth, drawn to his hand as if it had always been there. As Kivorn grasped it, the runes on the staff flared to life, spiraling up the wood and into the air, where a massive circle of runes formed overhead, humming with energy.
Without warning, the circle exploded with life, launching massive roots from the ground, each one charged with destructive nature magic, aimed directly at Gorran. The roots twisted and shot forward like vipers, seeking to ensnare and crush him.
Gorran's lips curled into a savage grin. Without missing a beat, he swung Xenith, the greatsword leaving a trail of black shadows as it cut through the air. The red eyes on the blade flared wickedly as Gorran roared, his voice echoing through the battlefield. "You think your tricks can stop me?! I'll kill you brutally!"
In a blur of motion, Gorran slashed through the first root, the blade cutting cleanly through the magically charged wood. As the next root came for him, he spun, using the momentum to slice through it as well, his movements fluid and wild, like a beast unleashed. Another root lunged for his leg, but Gorran leaped into the air, flipping over it with unnatural speed before bringing Xenith down in a savage arc, cleaving the root in two.
His eyes glowed with madness as he charged forward, the snow beneath his feet exploding with every step.
Draeven, trembling but determined, leaped into the fray. His hands moved in a flurry of martial arts strikes, each one precise and sharp. As his fists moved, smoke seemed to trail behind every punch, swirling and coiling around his arms like serpents.
With a swift jab, Draeven sent a burst of smoke toward Gorran's face, hoping to blind him. But Gorran, ever the warrior, simply roared and swung his sword through the smoke, slicing it apart like mist.
Draeven didn't flinch. He pivoted on his heel, following up with a spinning kick aimed at Gorran's ribs, the movement smooth and practiced. The smoke around his leg formed a whip, snapping at Gorran's side.
Gorran blocked the kick with the flat of Xenith, but the force of the strike sent him sliding back in the snow, his boots carving deep trenches in the ground.
While Draeven kept Gorran occupied, Ilyana stepped forward, her grimoire floating just above her outstretched hand. Her eyes were serene, but half closed, her usual peaceful smile still on her lips. But her voice had taken on a darker, more chilling tone as she whispered to the book.
"Let the light of the forgotten shine through me…"
Her hand glowed with a soft, radiant light, but the energy felt anything but warm. The light twisted and coiled, forming a spear of pure energy in her palm. Still smiling, Ilyana flung the spear toward Gorran with terrifying speed. The light twisted through the air like a living thing, seeking its target with malicious intent.
Gorran barely had time to react. He ducked, the spear of light grazing his shoulder as it exploded into the snow behind him, sending a shockwave of light and darkness rippling through the battlefield.
As Gorran recovered, Zyphira took to the air, her golden wings unfurling with a roar of fire. The black and gold flames that surrounded her body swirled like a cyclone as she hovered above the battlefield.
"Hey, Gorran! How about a little heat to warm you up?!" she yelled, her voice laced with drunken excitement.
"I'll murder you!"
"So edgy.."
With a wicked grin, Zyphira plummeted toward the ground, her body transforming into a massive fireball of swirling gold and black flames. She spiraled through the air, aiming directly for Gorran, the heat from her flames turning the snow beneath her to steam.
Gorran barely dodged in time, throwing himself to the side as Zyphira crashed into the snow, the impact sending a wave of golden fire rippling outward. The ground beneath her exploded in flames, leaving a smoking crater where she landed.
Gorran, now fully immersed in the chaos of battle, grinned like a madman. His eyes burned with rage as he rushed toward Kivorn, who was already preparing another spell. With a wild charge, Gorran brought Xenith down in a powerful overhead slash, aiming to split the elf in two.
"Heyy…he's really trying to kill us…"
Kivorn, though lazy, wasn't slow. He sidestepped just in time, the blade crashing into the ground with an ear-splitting clang, sending snow and debris flying. Gorran didn't stop. He followed up with a series of wild, spinning slashes, each one faster and more unpredictable than the last, the red eyes on Xenith blazing with fury.
Kivorn ducked and dodged, his body moving with lazy elegance, his staff glowing with runes. "You're really making me work today, huh?"
As Gorran advanced on Kivorn, Draeven saw his chance. He disappeared into the swirling smoke, his form vanishing completely. Gorran glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the nervous fighter.
Suddenly, Draeven appeared behind him, his fist wreathed in smoke. With a burst of speed, he delivered a palm strike to Gorran's back, the impact sending a shockwave of smoke rippling through the air.
Gorran snarled and spun around, swinging Xenith in a wide arc, but Draeven was already gone, his form dissolving into smoke once more.
Ilyana's grimoire glowed with a dark light as she whispered softly to it, her smile never fading. "Let the sun fall and the shadows rise…"
A black orb of light formed in front of her, growing larger and larger until it hovered above her like a dark sun. Still smiling, she thrust her hand forward, and the orb shot toward Gorran, its edges crackling with dark energy.
Gorran, sensing the danger, swung Xenith in a wide arc, sending a wave of shadows to meet the orb. The two forces collided in midair, the impact sending a shockwave of energy through the battlefield.
Zyphira, still hovering in the air, grinned as she descended toward Gorran once more. Her tail, covered in golden flames and scales, whipped through the air with terrifying speed. With a roar, she swung it at Gorran like a massive flaming whip, the fire trailing behind it in a brilliant arc.
Gorran raised Xenith just in time to block, but the force of the strike sent him sliding back across the snow, his boots carving deep trenches in the ground.
Kivorn, now fully awake and annoyed, raised his staff once more, his voice calm as he whispered another incantation.
"Sílima! Tae en' luume!"
The runes on his staff flared with lightning as a massive bolt of energy shot from the sky, crashing down toward Gorran. The air crackled with electricity as the bolt split the sky, its light blinding.
Gorran dodged, barely avoiding the strike as it hit the ground behind him, sending a massive shockwave of electricity rippling through the air.
Gorran snarled, his patience wearing thin. His eyes burned with fury as he raised Xenith, the red eyes on the blade glowing brighter and brighter. With a roar, he unleashed a flurry of wild, spinning slashes, the air around him turning into a storm of shadows and red energy.
Kivorn, Draeven, and Zyphira dodged and weaved through the storm, the sheer force of Gorran's attacks turning the battlefield into chaos.
Draeven, using the chaos to his advantage, formed a series of smoke tendrils around Gorran, each one coiling around his limbs. With a swift motion, Draeven yanked, pulling Gorran off balance.
…
The snow crunched beneath their feet as Xyenn, Yuuna, and Mertha made their way toward Marlgorn Village. The cold air bit at Xyenn's skin, but his mind was too full of questions to notice. Ahead of him, Yuuna walked with her usual chaotic energy, despite the noticeable roundness of her belly. She was giving Mertha directions, her voice carrying easily through the frigid air.
"Okay, so Gridd is set up just outside the village," Yuuna said, her tone casual despite the gravity of the situation. "He's building a new forge for his clan after Ashengale in Skjoldar was raided, you know? He's been working on it for a while now. It's pretty impressive."
Xyenn asked, "Who is Gridd?"
"Gridd is a dwarven blacksmith, formally bound to the servitude of Kaldor, the draconic deity of fire and the forge; and his Iron Beard Clan are good like that. They're all about quality over quantity, you know? And they don't stick around in one place for too long." She waved a hand. "Don't worry, though. Gridd'll help us when we need him. He's got our back, but he won't be too close. Gotta keep him safe."
Mertha grunted as she kept pace beside them. "Wise. Haldrek's eyes are everywhere. He knows Gridd's in the area, too."
Yuuna shrugged. "Yeah, I figured. I'm sure Haldrek'll use him too if he needs to. That little dirty guy's always got a plan."
Xyenn furrowed his brow, still trying to piece everything together. "What about the other draconic gods and goddesses? The ones trying to kill you? What if they find out we're here, in Vördrheim?"
Mertha's face darkened, and her voice lowered with anger. "Haldrek—he's the vessel of the draconic snow god. You heard him, His power is connected to the snow itself. His eyes and ears are everywhere in this frozen wasteland. If those other draconic deities try to enter Vördrheim, he'll know. He won't let them near us without reason, not when he wants us for himself. If they do show up, Haldrek would either apprehend them or warn us. For now, we're safe from them—temporarily."
Xyenn chewed his lip. He knew that King Haldrek still intended to kill Yuuna, the snow god's vessel was protecting them for his own purposes. Haldrek's ultimate goal was to defeat the draconic god of war, Ezrael, in dragon tongue, "Andramaken."
Xyenn began to think about his fight with Haldrek, his breath shuddered, and his heart pounded, but he shook his head trying to forget it. Xyenn couldn't shake the feeling that their safety was just a temporary illusion. Were they really temporarily safe?
Suddenly, faint sounds of battle echoed from behind them—the distant clash of weapons and shouts carried on the wind. Xyenn glanced back nervously, the sounds growing louder.
"Soooo, Yuuna," Xyenn asked, his voice tense, "who are they, really? Your Tyrants?"
Yuuna grinned, her fangs glinting in the sunlight, clearly excited to talk about her crew. She stopped walking and turned toward Xyenn, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, you wanna know about my Tyrants? They're the best! Each of 'em is a total freakin' powerhouse. Let me break it down for ya!"
She held up a finger, starting with the laziest of the bunch. "First up, Kivorn. That guy's always tired. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen him fully awake. He's got this crazy strong power, but he's so lazy, he'd rather sleep through a fight. I've had to kick him awake more times than I can count!"
Mertha grunted in agreement. "Lazy bastard could sleep through an avalanche."
"Then there's Zyphira!" Yuuna continued, a wild grin spreading across her face. "She's a total party animal. Always ready to drink, fight, and dance—sometimes all at once! And her brother, Sethrak...." Yuuna paused, rolling her eyes. "Don't get me started on him. He's super arrogant, but, like, in this elegant, I'm-better-than-you kinda way. He insults you with a smile, and somehow, it's even worse."
Xyenn blinked. "Sounds... charming?"
"Charming?" Yuuna laughed. "Nah, he's a jerk. But he's wicked strong, so who cares?"
Mertha nodded. "Those two are dragonkin. Sons and daughters of vessels for the draconic god of gold and wealth. They've got the physical traits of their dragonkin blood, but their skills? That's all thanks to Yuuna. She enhanced their abilities with her own blood, gave 'em a little kick of darkness. Her blood brought out the dormant ability that was held back from being dragonkin. But their reasons for joining Yuuna to kill the gods are still unknown to even us, they just wanted to tag along with her. But why?"
Xyenn then remembered how when he was sparring with Mertha, she grew a pink jagged edged halo like Yuuna had before.
"Yeah, I did give them enhancements!" Yuuna said proudly. "Their dragonkin blood makes them look all cool and draconic, but it's my blood that makes them really dangerous. Like how I made you dangerous, darling."
Xyenn's head was spinning. "Wait, so they're part dragon, but you made them more powerful?"
"Exactly!" Yuuna clapped her hands together. "They were already strong, but now they're even better. They're mine!"
She moved on quickly, clearly enjoying herself. "Then there's Ilyana—she's super peaceful, always smiling, always wanting to help. She's like the mom of the group, but don't let that fool you. Always wants to keep everyone calm, even when things are falling apart. But in a fight, she's hard to beat."
Mertha added, "She's strong. From the continent Kalhalla, a land of pure light, She's the only one who's kept Gorran from murdering everyone at least once. Once a priestess and wife of the draconic vessel of the goddess of light, Sephasti, was almost sacrificed to her, as the vessel, her husband, wanted more power. And you know what for?"
Yuuna said, "For me. Clear by now everyone wants my heart, soooo it's evident that whatever vessel gets my heart will probably be blessed for it. Illyana was never a nice woman, but up until after everything that happened, she had a different view of life. And wanted to come with me to kill the draconic gods. All she sees is a world controlled by the dragons, where everyone is in constant fear, she has overcome her own fear after the sitsuon with her husband. So she decided to change her perspective and appreciate everything before she dies. I did not give her my blood, cause' my darkness and her light don't correlate very well."
Xyenn said, "Whoa…"
"Next! Speaking of Gorran," Yuuna continued, her grin widening, "he's the serious one. Always grumpy, hates jokes, won't laugh at anything. He's got that big, scary sword of his—Xenith. It's covered in red, spiraling eyes and black shadows. He's always pulling it out, even when it's not necessary. Honestly, I think he's married to that sword."
"HE'S A LUNATIC!"
"Haha! I know!," Yuuna laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "He hates everyone. Thinks everyone is a nuisance. But he's useful, so I keep him around. He's another whose past I don't know about either. He doesn't open up to anyone. He won't even open up to me despite being obsessed with keeping me safe."
"And then there's Draeven," Mertha added, her tone shifting into something more teasing. "Poor guy's a nervous wreck. He's always shaking, always stuttering, but he's got skills. When he's not freaking out, he can be really stealthy. I mean, he's awkward as hell, but I like him."
Xyenn shook his head, marveling at the wild mix of personalities Yuuna had gathered around her. "They must really hate the draconic gods, huh?"
Mertha, who had been listening quietly, nodded. "They've all got their reasons. Each of them has a vendetta against the draconic gods and goddesses. Some lost family, some were betrayed by their own kind. Yuuna brought them together, gave them purpose. They fight for her now, and in return, she gives them the power they need to get their revenge."
Yuuna puffed out her chest proudly. "That's right! We're a big, dysfunctional family of Tyrants. And we're gonna smash every last one of those draconic gods who messed with us!"
Suddenly, Yuuna winced, clutching her belly. Her face twisted into a mix of discomfort and amusement. "Whoa, hold on—the kid's kicking!"
Mertha and Xyenn arched an eyebrow. "Already?!"
Yuuna laughed, though her voice was strained. "Yeah, guess he's excited or something. Or maybe he's just mad that I haven't had breakfast yet. Either way, it feels weird."
Xyenn stared at her, half in awe, half in disbelief. "I'm so screwed..I'm already about to be a father…"
"Why not?" Yuuna chuckled. "It's kinda funny! I mean, I didn't even know I could get pregnant, and now I've got a little dragon-human hybrid kicking me from the inside. You'd be a great dad, Xyenn! I'm glad it's you though."
Xyenn, flustered, looked away. "Hmph. I don't even know how to raise a child."
Mertha shook her head, clearly used to Yuuna's antics. "You're insane, Yuuna."
As their conversation dwindled, they finally reached the outskirts of Marlgorn Village. The village was a small, rugged place, with snow-covered rooftops and smoke rising from the chimneys of the few homes scattered around. The people here were used to the harsh conditions of Vördrheim, their lives built around survival in the snow and ice.
Yuuna scanned the area, her eyes narrowing. "Gridd should be around here somewhere. We're looking for the abandoned stable. He's been using it as a temporary workshop while he sets up his new forge."
Xyenn glanced around, still trying to wrap his head around everything he'd just learned. "And you're sure we're safe here?"
"For now," Mertha said, her voice low. "But don't get too comfortable."
Yuuna grinned at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Come on, Xyenn! Let's go find our favorite dwarf!"
The cold wind howled across the snowy plains as Xyenn, Yuuna, and Mertha finally passed through the heart of Marlgorn Village and moved toward the outskirts where they could see the beginnings of a massive structure taking shape. Dozens of stocky, gruff dwarves were hard at work, their beards dusted with snow and their tools clanging loudly as they hammered away at beams, stone, and metal.
In the center of the activity stood Gridd, his stout frame unmistakable. Though shorter than the humans and other beings around him, the dwarf radiated authority and grit; he was arguing with a group of soldiers clad in armor made of glistening ice and snow—King Haldrek's soldiers.
The two groups faced off, the dwarves looking irritated, while the soldiers stood stoically, their frosty armor reflecting the pale sunlight like mirrors.
"We don't need yer help!" Gridd bellowed, his voice thick with a dwarven accent. "This forge is bein' built by Iron Beard Clan hands and Iron Beard Clan hands alone! Go tell yer frozen king we can manage without his lot stickin' their noses in our business!"
One of the soldiers, his face hidden beneath a helm of ice, replied coldly, "King Haldrek has ordered us to assist. You don't have a choice in the matter."
Gridd's face turned red as he clenched his fist. "I don't care what yer king says. This is our forge! We don't need help from a bunch o' frost-bitten lackeys!"
As the argument escalated, Xyenn, Yuuna, and Mertha approached the scene. Xyenn could feel the tension in the air, and for a moment, he wondered if they were about to walk into a brawl. But when Gridd's sharp eyes flickered toward them, the dwarf's expression changed.
"Oi!" Gridd shouted, his voice echoing across the worksite. "There ye are! Yuuna—get over here and scare these frost-brained soldiers off fer me, eh?"
Yuuna smiled, "I'd LOVE too, but we have bigger issues!"
But before Yuuna could respond, Gridd's eyes widened as he finally noticed her belly—round, large, and unmistakably pregnant.
The tough, no-nonsense dwarf's jaw dropped, and for a moment, his usual stern demeanor completely dissolved. He blinked rapidly, as if trying to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"By the beard o' the ancestors..." Gridd muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "Yuuna... yer... yer pregnant?"
Behind him, the other dwarves stopped what they were doing, their eyes widening in shock as well. Over four dozen dwarves stared at Yuuna's belly, their hammers and tools going still in their hands.
Yuuna, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, grinned mischievously. "Yeah, me and Xyenn did it—"
But before she could finish, Xyenn, completely flustered, slapped his hand over her mouth, his face turning bright red. "Yuuna! That's not what—! I mean, yes, but—"
Even Mertha chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, she's not wrong, is she?"
Mertha slapped Xyenn on the back hard, grinning, "My little brat is finally becoming a man! Good shit, Xyenn!"
Xyenn looked at Mertha, "AGHH! Damn you! I am a man!"
Gridd, still in a state of shock, finally regained some of his composure, though his eyes kept darting back to Yuuna's belly. "I... I thought draconic deities couldn't have offspring with humans. This... this should be impossible."
Yuuna just shrugged, looking as confused as anyone else. "Yeah, I thought so too. But hey, here we are!" She patted her belly with a grin. "Guess we broke some rules!"
Xyenn groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is insane."
'This is insane! My brain can't handle all of this! I'm actually becoming a father?! Of a baby hybrid?! I wonder what the child would look like. Can't deny the fact that I wanna see him, or her. Whatever.
Gridd shook his head in disbelief again before snapping out of his stupor. "Alright, alright, enough gawkin'!" he barked at the other dwarves, who quickly looked away, pretending to go back to their work. Gridd turned to a few of the more reliable-looking dwarves and pointed toward the back of the construction site. "Take her to that partially built area o' the forge. Make sure she's comfortable, keep her calm, and fer the love o' the ancestors, make sure she breathes."
A couple of dwarves hurried over, guiding Yuuna toward the more sheltered part of the forge where they had already set up some temporary structures. Yuuna, still grinning like a maniac, waved over her shoulder as she was led away. "Don't worry about me! I'll just be over here, ya know, having a dragon-human baby. No big deal!"
Xyenn, watching her go, felt his heart racing. "Wait... is she... is she about to go into labor?"
Gridd gave him a withering look. "Ye just NOW noticed, lad? Look at her belly! That baby's ready t' pop out any minute now!" Then Gridd waved at Mertha, "Hello, lass."
Mertha slammed her fists together, "When can we have another sparring match, beardy?"
"When I'm 100 years younger."
Xyenn paled. "Um, HELLO? What do we do?!"
Gridd grabbed Xyenn by the arm, dragging him toward the village. "Ye're comin' with me, lad. We need t' gather things from the Amalborn Villa—supplies, materials, and magic herbs that'll help with the birth."
Xyenn stumbled after him, still in a state of shock. "She's… really about to give birth now…!"
"Aye!" Gridd growled. "That kid's knockin' on the door, ready t' come out! We've got no time t' waste."
As they walked, Gridd began listing the items they would need. "First, we'll need some snowroot leaves from the market. They grow only in the frozen soil o' Vördrheim but are perfect fer calming nerves and pain. Then, we'll need glimmerberry pulp—it's a rare fruit that helps speed up recovery after childbirth. And... we'll need moonstone dust. It's a magical powder—when mixed with water, it creates a soothing elixir that'll help Yuuna with her labor."
Xyenn tried to keep up, his mind spinning with all the information. "And where do we get all this?"
"We'll have t' visit the Amalborn traders. They deal in rare magical goods. They'll have what we need, but it won't be cheap."
Xyenn swallowed hard. "I'll figure it out. I just... I want her and the baby to be safe."
Gridd gave him a rare, serious nod. "Aye. We'll make sure o' that."
As they reached the edge of the village, Xyenn glanced back at Yuuna, who was reclining in the partially built forge, looking entirely too relaxed for someone about to give birth. She caught his eye and flashed him a manic grin.
"Be safe, Xyenn!" she called out, her voice high and cheerful. "Love you, darling!"
Xyenn's face flushed again, but he managed a small wave before hurrying after Gridd.
As Xyenn and Gridd disappeared into the village, the sound of a thunderous impact echoed across the worksite. Gorran had landed in the middle of the forge under construction, his massive greatsword Xenith drawn and glowing with its eerie, spiraling red eyes. His face was twisted with fury, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if his rage had reached a boiling point.
Behind him, the other Tyrants were scrambling to hold him back. Kivorn was barely awake, his eyes half-closed as he leaned on his sword, covered in dirt and clearly uninterested in the ongoing struggle.
"Can't you just... calm down?" Kivorn muttered, yawning as he wiped the dust from his face. "This is way too much effort."
Zyphira, clearly drunk, staggered toward Gorran, laughing as she tried to grab his arm. "Come on, big guy! Let's just have a drink instead, yeah? No need to break any more walls!"
Draeven, a nervous wreck as usual, was darting around Gorran, trying to avoid getting hit, but not sure what to do. "P-p-please, Gorran! W-we don't need to fight anymore!"
Sethrak, standing a few feet away, watched the chaos with his usual calm, arrogant expression. His clothes were spotless, despite the dirt and dust flying around. He smirked, his hands clasped behind his back. "How quaint," he said dryly. "The brute's having another tantrum. Shall we just let him tire himself out?"
Ilyana, the ever-peaceful one, was trying to mediate, her voice calm and soothing despite the dirt and chaos. "Gorran, dear, let's not resort to violence. We're all family here, right? Let's talk this through."
Gorran, however, was beyond reasoning. His sword swung through the air, the red eyes on Xenith glowing as he roared in fury. "Where is he?! Where is that bastard?!"
The Tyrants, all covered in dirt and exhausted from trying to hold Gorran down, could only watch as their comrade's rage continued to boil over.