Chapter 114: A Gentledragon Always Helps a Damsel in Scales!

[Just a little update! as y’all know I’m always tweaking older chapters, at least the ones that aren’t on RR yet. Usually nothing major, just some extra details here and there, but the overall outcome stays the same in the long run.

Just wrapped up edits on Chapter 100: The Concept. Same end result, but the road there got a nice dose of adrenaline. Sooo, less bland, more oomph. I well, just wasn’t happy with how it originally played out, so I made some changes. Nothing too crazy, just gave Jade a proper tangible enemy to sink her claws into (a lightning sword doggo), and she actually got to use Thunder Verdict properly to take it down.

Anyway, enjoy today’s chappie. Editing’s a damn pain sometimes (literally, another headache for the collection), but at least I’m happy with it now :D.]

My eyes flicked sideways as I slid into the crowd, positioning myself just beside a stall to avoid being noticed. My instincts screamed at me to bolt, but I reined them in, breathing evenly as I tracked the pair’s movement. To my immense relief, the Voruun parted ways with Whisper halfway through and disappeared into the crowd.

I exhaled a slow, controlled sigh, easing the tension in my shoulders. Whisper had assured me they wouldn’t recognize me, but that didn’t mean I fancied taking any chances.

Whisper, however, had no such reservations. She made a beeline toward me, tilting her head with that faintly amused smile of hers. She didn’t even bother with a detour. She knew exactly which stall I was hiding behind.

My air sense didn’t pick up any of her feathered familiars nearby, but the chaotic swirl of movement and breath signatures in this place made it hard to detect subtle presences. Even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was far too good at tracking people.

“Got everything you needed?” she asked, her tone light as she glanced at the bag in my hand.

“Yes, I think I got most of it.”

Whisper nodded, clearly pleased. “Good to hear. While I’d love for you to have independent access to this market—it’s invaluable, as you’ve seen—there are limits to what I can do. They require transparency from customers about their identities, especially now, after yesterday’s incident.”

“That’s understandable,” I replied.

“But don’t worry,” she added with a sly grin. “If you ever need something, you can contact me. I enjoy coming here from time to time.”

I nodded, though I remained guarded.

“Shall we leave then, Miss Venom?” she asked, her tone teasing.

I winced inwardly at the nickname. It sounded so juvenile now that she’d said it aloud. I really needed to come up with something better.

“Certainly,” I replied, falling into step behind her as we weaved through the crowd. Whisper moved with a grace that parted the chaos around her, and I did my best to follow suit until we emerged into the nearly empty hallway beyond.

Still, one question gnawed at me, and I couldn’t resist asking. “Why do you want me to join your ‘gang’?” I kept my voice level. “What makes you think I’m trustworthy?”

Whisper didn’t answer immediately. She glanced at me, her expression calm, before responding, “Call it a hunch that it would be mutually beneficial.”

Alice chimed in, her tone clinical. “She is telling the truth, Mistress, but there are undercurrents of concealment. She’s withholding something.”

Of course. Nothing could ever be straightforward.

“What kind of work would I need to do if I agreed?”

“That’s something I’d only discuss once you’re on board,” Whisper said, her tone still light but firm. “All I can tell you is that it’s not the kind of work you’d be overly opposed to.”

I frowned, mulling over her words. “Then I’ll need more time to think.”

“As I said, take your time,” she replied smoothly. “But don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t wait forever.”

“So, if I say yes, that’s it? I’m in? Just like that?”

“I’d love to make it that easy, but I’m not the only one calling the shots. You’ll have to prove your worth to the team. Fortunately for you, I’ve got just the thing. Remember that kid we ran into earlier?”

“That Rakari one? The one sniffing around for the missing detective?”

“Exactly. How about helping me track him down? I’ve got a feeling your... particular set of skills could come in handy.”

She was already ahead of me, striding with purpose, but I could tell her mind was spinning like a continuous spell matrix in overdrive. Maybe I’d thrown her off her game a bit, detecting her earlier through the crows. Couldn’t blame her for being curious—or suspicious. It might’ve been her way of trying to get a better read on me. Fine by me, though. I wanted to push my limits too, especially where Alice’s divination and surface-level mind-skimming were concerned. Not mind-reading exactly—more like a knockoff version—but knowing when someone’s lying or spilling the truth? Priceless.

I gave a small nod. “I think I could be... useful.”

“Perfect. Same time tomorrow. We’ll start the investigation then.”

That made me grin internally. Teaming up with her might kill two birds with one stone—figuratively, of course. While we chased this lead, I could sniff out more about that elf she was investigating. Progress without signing on the dotted line with her gang? I’d take that deal any day.

The Gilded Fang. That was the market’s name. Poetic. Controlled by the illustrious Fang Circle, whose esteemed primary members were all Tusked Voruuns. How original. Still, I couldn’t deny their influence ran deep. One nugget of intel stood out: the guy I pegged as their leader was just a squad commander, nowhere near Whisper’s level. No wonder he folded faster than wet parchment against Iron.

The actual leader? A red core. And they had several red cores. Terrifying. Note to self: pick future targets with a bit more... precision. Whisper saved my tail this time, but I won’t count on luck bailing me out again.

When we emerged from the underground fighting pit, the same carriage was waiting. The ride back was uneventful, barring a few subtle shifts in the route. Eventually, we ended up where we’d started: Lower District.

Lower District’s landmarks were its main squares, chaotic hubs that people used to navigate the labyrinthine mess. We stopped at the busiest one—a market square that was alive no matter the hour.

Whisper and I split ways there. From this point, it was a straight shot to the Middle District. But after my little spree in the market, also picking up some contraband ingredients for my latest alchemical experiment (a particularly delicious poison, if I do say so myself) I was running light on funds. That poison, though. Mmm. Blame my doppelganger for giving me a taste of it; normal drinks just don’t cut it anymore. There’s a kick to something city-ending that you simply can’t replicate. I might’ve drooled under my mask a bit just thinking about it. Hehe. Soon.

Funds now bone-dry, further drained by buying fish and biscuits for Belle—because if I skipped out again, that badger would riot—I opted for a cheap carriage ride back to Alchemy Tower. Belle’s strikes were no joke, and keeping her placated was priority number one. Sometimes I think she runs the show, not me.

Soon enough, I flagged down a carriage headed for the Alchemy Tower. Being such a prominent landmark, transportation to and from there was never an issue—no matter how often I sneaked out. The rhythmic click-clack of the wheels on cobblestones kept me company as I mentally reviewed the ritual Lotte had suggested. If all went well, I’d complete it before the workday began again. It wasn’t even midnight yet, so I had time to spare.

The click-clack eventually faded into the background as I focused, carefully visualizing each component of the ritual. When the carriage finally stopped, I paid the driver two coppers—much cheaper than flying carpets, though they certainly had their drawbacks. Slow, noisy, but serviceable.

As I stepped into the square, the blue barrier around Alchemy Tower gleaming in the distance, my gaze snagged on someone. A Drakkari woman. Now, we Drakkari were naturally elegant, but she was something else entirely. Smooth skin, a sleek black gown, and a feathered hat that framed her angular face like a portrait. She was almost too beautiful, the kind of beauty that made you question whether someone had slapped horns on an elf and called it a day.

She limped slightly as she approached the carriage, a flush of discomfort on her otherwise perfect face. Despite myself, I couldn’t stop staring. Something about her felt... magnetic. Before I knew it, the words tumbled out:

“Are you alright, miss?”

The woman shook her head, a faint smile gracing her lips. “No, no, I’m quite alright. Just a little mishap with my ankle.”

Oh, Jade. What was I waiting for? A gentlewoman dragon always assists a beautiful Drakkari in need. That’s just etiquette. With a small nod, I stepped forward to help her into the carriage. She thanked me warmly, and I smiled, shaking my head. It felt good to help her—no, better than good. Something about it lingered, a pleasant buzz under my scales as I watched the carriage roll away.

And then it hit.

A wave of nausea crashed over me, sharp and disorienting. I staggered slightly, clutching my head.

“Mistress, snap out of it!” Alice’s voice rang in my mind like a bell, jolting me.

“What—what’s going on?” I stammered, disoriented.

Alice’s blindfold, stitched with glowing runes of golden thread, was shimmering ominously. Though she had no eyes, I could feel her focus locked on the carriage disappearing into the distance.

“That woman,” Alice said. “She’s dangerous.”

Another wave of nausea rippled through me, and I swayed as my thoughts turned sluggish.

“Apologies for the discomfort, Mistress,” Alice continued. “I’m clearing the remnants of her charm from your mental sea.”

“Charm?” The realization hit me like a punch. My thoughts churned, rewinding to our encounter. The beauty, the inexplicable pull, the compulsion to help her—it wasn’t natural. I’d been manipulated, plain and simple.

“What the fuck?” I hissed, anger and embarrassment bubbling up.

“A valid reaction, Mistress,” Alice replied, unbothered. “Though it didn’t seem she was discriminatory in her use of it. The charm coiled around her like a viper, sparing no one.”

My breath caught as my gaze lingered on the direction the carriage had gone, my mind racing. “What the hell was wrong with that woman? And when she answered me—was she lying?”

Alice’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “I only detected undercurrents of truth, Mistress. Something likely happened to her, and she did injure her leg.”

Her words didn’t calm me. My mind snapped back to my first impression, the nagging unease clawing at me. Her frame—too delicate, too Elven. What if it was that Elf? But wait, wasn’t the Elf a man? None of it made sense, yet the thought festered like poison.

My claws clenched around the ingredients in my hands. Could I stash them and follow her?

“Do you think it’d be safe to stalk her?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Alice’s tone was firm. “We don’t know what she’s capable of, Mistress. Please refrain from rash decisions.”

“But what if it’s him in disguise?” The words tumbled out, unbidden, my voice rising. “The Elf who was attacked at the Gilded Fang—the one who forced that caravan to commit ritualistic suicide?” My pulse raced. The ease with which she charmed me suddenly seemed all too plausible.

“If it is him, he’ll change his disguise again,” I muttered, frustration boiling over.

Alice was silent, but her lack of response said it all. The truth gnawed at me like a wound left to fester—I wasn’t ready. Weak, far too weak. If this was the Elf, his sheer presence alone was enough to bend my will like a twig in a gale. Chasing him would be like tugging a thread and unraveling chaos itself. Gwen’s warnings echoed in my head.

Bitterly, I let out a long sigh, forcing myself to look away from where the carriage had disappeared.

“Do not despair, Mistress,” Alice said gently. “We’ve gained valuable information. This was your first encounter with this Elf. Divination might reveal more, and I have questions for my new creator that may yield further insight.”

I snorted. “Good luck getting anything out of Lotte.” Even as I said it, Alice’s words gave me a sliver of comfort. Turning into a nearby alley, I ducked out of sight.

With practiced ease, I stripped out of my clothes and shifted into my dragon form. My silver scales shimmered in the dim light as I carefully stashed my belongings—along with Alice—in my jaws. A quick burst of focus, and I phased into the Shadow Dimension, its distorted, mirror-like world wrapping around me.

Alice was right. This wasn’t a loss, just a first step. If that woman was the Elf, then I’d confirmed just how dangerous he could be. Divination might give me a thread to pull, and Lysska would definitely want to know about this encounter.

But first things first. I needed strength. For myself—and for those around me.

A feral grin tugged at my lips as I emerged into my room. It was time to make Belle my supplicant.