The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons

Book 2: Chapter 54

What do you mean theyre not here!? Erin shouted at the trembling bug-eyed dwarf. She shook her fist at him. Whered they go? Tell me or Ill turn you into a turtle with no legs!

Dupey glanced at his assistant, the elf standing in the corner, but she was looking away. The dwarf gulped. I, I told you, he said. The horned woman and Alice Lowenherz were here two days ago, but they vanished without a trace! I heard they went back to Anfang.

You stupid dwarf! Arent you supposed to be an expert at coercion and kidnapping? Howd you let them escape? Erin gritted her teeth while wringing her hands together. She threw her arms up into the air and sighed. What about the man and the fairy? Whered they go?

They didnt even attend the tournament, Dupey said. They were teleported away by a silver light according to the berserk librarian. Its most likely the Gemstone Merchants Clan who did that. You know how they are.

Those fairy-kidnapping rockheads? Erin asked with a scowl. I dont believe you! Whered they really go!?

M-Mrs. Koller, Dupey said as he wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. Why dont you believe me?

I refuse, I refuse, I refuse! Erin said and pointed at the assistant in the corner. The elf yelped as she shrank in size and turned into a turtle shell. A reptilian head and tail popped out, but no legs appeared. Thatll be you next if you dont tell me exactly where they went! I flew nonstop for two and a half weeks from Anfang to your dingy little place. Im not going to fly back to Anfang just to be told they came back here; do you understand?

Dupey fell silent. Erin was completely irrational and unwilling to listen to the truth. Maybe shed believe a lie? But the backlash hed receive if she found out he lied to her. Was it better to accept his fate as a legless turtle? Dupey sighed. Alright, Ill tell you the truth, he said. We imprisoned all four of them in the Dwarven Dungeons of Doom, Despair, and Decay. They were too powerful. People like them shouldnt be allowed to run around outside of our influence.

Erin lowered her hand and smiled at him. See? she asked. Was that so hard? You couldve told me that from the start. For your punishment of wasting my time at the start, Ill only turn you into a turtle. She snapped her fingers, and Dupey fell out of his chair while writhing around. His body shrank into a small ellipse.

The turtle that formed in Dupeys previous position sighed. At least, I still have my legs.

Erin nodded at her handiwork before flying outside of the governors building. Fairy wings were too small for long-distance flights. She rubbed her chin before nodding. With a snap of her fingers, her body grew in size, feathers sprouting from her arms while her legs transformed into talons. If fairys were too small, shed become a roc. A screech escaped from her beak before she pumped her wings, her body soaring beyond the clouds.

***

Hey. Skeleton, Alice said as she marched up to Mr. Skelly from behind. The armored skeleton turned his head around to face her without moving his body. Alice took a step back and wrinkled her nose. Dont do that. Anyways, what the heck are those!? She pointed beyond the town walls at the two massive piles of bones, towering over the highest buildings in Anfang.

Those are dead leviathans, Mr. Skelly said with a nod as his body turned around as well. One of thems a bit wonky since some of its bones had been removed, but the other one is in perfect condition.

That answered my question, but why are they here!? Alice shouted, smacking Mr. Skellys head. This time, his skull didnt fall off as it was supported by a neck brace made of mithril.

Theyre our fancy forms of transport, Mr. Skelly said. Look, you can see our flag on them.

Alices eye twitched. She hadnt been able to remove the skeletons flags from all the buildings they had planted them on. And where are you going? Modes of transportation imply transportation.

Mr. Skelly reached into his armor and pulled out a map. It was marked with clear red lines and arrows along with numbers. Heres the plan Henry wrote up for us, he said. Were heading south to the territory of the elves to bring them to our side first while some of us head east to the dwarves.

Alice snatched the map out of Mr. Skellys bony hands. No plans to go north? she asked, raising an eyebrow. So youre not declaring war on the holy dragons. Thats

Yet.

Ill pretend I didnt hear that, Alice said. But, wait, why did Henry even make this map for you? She folded it and tore it to bits.

Mr. Skelly tilted his head. Henrys our bishop, he said. Of course, hed work in our best interest. But why did you rip the map apart?

Im not going to allow you to keep a map thats titled world domination! Alice threw the ripped pieces into Mr. Skellys face.

Well, thats okay, Mr. Skelly said as he plucked bits of paper out of his eye sockets. We have plenty of spares, more than our flags actually. He placed his hands on Alices shoulders. Why dont youhe flinched as his arms were shattered into pieces, but continued speaking anywaysjoin us for a bit? Youll see we arent bad people at all. Who knows? You might even join our cause.

I highly doubt that, Alice said with a snort.

Give it a try? You wont know if youll like it until you try it, Mr. Skelly said as he squatted beside his shattered bones. They flew into the air and reconnected to his arms with the help of purple strands of mana. Tafel said shes coming.

Really? Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. I might consider it then.

A few moments after finishing his conversation with Alice, Mr. Skelly went to a small caf in Anfang where he found Tafel sipping on tea while reading a book about cursed swords. Hey, Tafel, Mr. Skelly said, taking a seat across from her.

Tafel placed the book down and raised her head. Mr. Skelly, she said. Whats up? You normally pop out of the ground.

Mr. Skelly nodded. Cant do that. Im unfamiliar with the lands here, he said. Anyways, want to join us on a crusade to the south?

Not really, Tafel said. Apparently I can make this sword evolveshe patted the sword by her side which was staring at Mr. SkellyI want to do that first.

Oh, Mr. Skelly said. Alice said she really wanted to go though. You dont want to accompany your party member?

Alice did? Tafel asked while blinking. Her brow furrowed as she lowered her head. Well, if she really wants to I guess I can delay this a bit. She raised her head. Yeah, Ill go.

Excellent.