Go after a demon! But something comes our way

Everyone got ready to go. I get us some big tents after a convincing talk with the shop keeper. I realize only Delathwyn and Tiana have any silver coins on them, as the rest either didn't need any money, or didn't have it on them when they were transported.

"I would buy us a huge mobile palace." Ilithyia says, folding her arms and shaking her head. "But my money is too much to carry around in a bag."

"We could earn some coin by killing monsters, perhaps?" Taki suggests.

We leave the village of Ceisan and start our journey northeast, where Vemoura had located the demon Adistrathil.

"He's the closest" she's said. "He's near the center of Cendor. Ghrak is on the far northwest region of Cendor. Seresi is southeast of Anduvia. Remrakor I couldn't find yet, but he's definitely outside the continent."

"If we go to Anduvia, they'll enslave you all. Except lady Ilithyia." Tiana says with a serious expression.

"No, they won't." I assure. "I'll find us a way to travel safely."

Tiana doesn't respond, but Taki looks daggers at her.

"Will you keep on calling bad fortune upon us?" The oni says.

"I only state what it is. At first, having a Sword Saint on your side might help, but... I don't think they'll forgive me having an alliance with demons and elves."

"We'll convince them." I say.

"I'm scared." Ilithyia says. As we walk, we go on a road. Everyone passing by looks at us, impressed to see our little caravan. "My parents must be looking for me already. And I'm not suited for combat. What will I do if we get attacked again?"

"We will protect you, little one." Says Delathwyn. "I mean... Duchess. And you can always learn how to wield a sword."

"Me?? You said it yourself, I'm a Duchess. I won't be swinging swords around."

"What about magic?" I say, glancing at her. "You can already cast sparks, right?"

"Well... Yeah. You mean I can learn more?"

I nod.

"Vemoura, dear, would you kindly teach Ilithyia magic when you have free time?"

"Mistress?" The witch chuckles. "Are you sure? She looks so useless. And magic takes a lot of time, effort and discipline."

I'm not useless!!" Ilithyia stomps the ground.*

"I know you're not." I reply. "And yes, Vemoura. Teach her. She'll be able to handle it. I see potential in her."

"Very well, Mistress. Come here, girl." Vemoura passes her arm over the human's shoulder. She tries to move away, but the demon grabs her firmly without stopping their march. "We'll have such a fun time."

"Something's coming." Ashiielwyn says suddenly. I knew her elven senses would be much stronger now. "Another dragon."

She points at the sky with her spear, and we see a small figure flying in our direction. It is far enough, but also very fast. And it soon dives down and lands. It runs much faster than it was flying. I notice people run out of its way, but not away of it, as if they knew it wouldn't attack them.

"That's interesting." Says Delathwyn. "Maybe it's not a dumb creature like the wyvern before?"

"Maybe. Get ready either way."

Delathwyn unsheathes her twin daggers. Ashiielwyn and Taki ready their spear and chained kunai. Tiana plants her gigantic sword on the ground, waiting patiently. Fuji gets closer to me and grabs my hand, prepared to transform. Ilithyia gets behind Vemoura, and Saphilia hugs the Duchess.

"Don't worry, darling, I'll keep you safe." The lust archdemon whispers in her ear. Ilithyia, blushing, doesn't know where she'd be better.

"Oh, I see it now. There's a person on it." I tell them once I notice the figure riding the dragon. I sniff the air to feel their scents. "Huh... She also smells of dragon."

As it approaches, we see it better. It's a brown drake. It has really long legs and claws, and a long neck, and its wings are barely big enough to lift it off the ground. Its head looks like an arrow, as it's pointy and slim. It's a little larger than the wyvern, although it looks less bulkier.

The dragon has a collar, reins, and a saddle, on which sits a beautiful woman of pale skin and short, pink hair. She's wearing skimpy leather armor and carrying a staff on her back.

The drake stops mere meters from us. It looks angry, and right about to strike us.

"Dreskrith. Halt. Do not attack." The woman orders, and the drake scoffs.

"She reeks of... Madness." Dreskrith speaks with a raspy voice. "I hate her."

"Woah. Quite rude to criticize a lady's perfume." I say, intertwining my fingers with Fuji's. My Lovers look at me when he mentions «madness». "I drive everyone crazy. Some in a good way, some in a bad way."

"Uh... Mistress, that's... That's Lady Azralynn." Ilithyia says. Her fear diminishes, and she actually walks forward. "The soldier in Ceisan mentioned her. She's a dragon enslaver. A very powerful one."

"Well, well, isn't it true?" Azralynn chuckles. She gets off the dragon. "Yes. Soldier were sent to investigate the Dragonfall. And the instructions were to call me if something went wrong."

"But Mistress Albamyra saved the village!" Taki explains. "Why were you called?"

"Oh, I wasn't. I was just... Informed that the Greater Dragon was a Scaleborn, and that she traveled with a Cendorian noble lady, an Anduvian Sword Saint, an eastern woman, two elves and three demons."

"I'm not a demon!" Taki shouts, but Azralynn continues.

"And I was also told you didn't seem like trouble, yet. But I just had to come and confirm it with my own beautiful eyes."

"We just left Ceisan earlier today." Tiana inquires. "How could you reach us so far?"

"Stones of Sending, of course. Some soldiers carry one to send immediate short reports magically. Unlike you Anduvians, we value magic and its uses. And I'm currently living in a town further north here. So I was kinda close, Lady Saint."

She looks at me. I smell the air and she... She has such a delicious aroma. It's so enticing I need to focus not to get hard. Oh, I see... She's giving off pheromones like mine. I can see she's also sensing mine.

"So you've reached us" I say. "Why's that?"

"I'd like to invite the new Greater Dragonlady... Mmm... Albamyra, to my place for a... Friendly talk."

"Mistress, if she's a dragon enslaver, she'll try to put you under a spell." Delathwyn says, raising her daggers. But the drake growls and slams his tail on the floor next to the enslaver.

"I wouldn't like to get into a fight." Azralynn says. "Not right now, at least. It will end ugly for both sides, as even if Dreskrith's a powerful ****, we are outnumbered. And despite having ended several dragons, I don't think a Saint and a bunch of demons would be easy to kill. No, I just want to talk."

"Mistress." Saphilia gets very close to me and whispers in my ear. "She smells of lust. So much."

"Yeah? Then this will go down very well." I whisper back.

"So? Do you and your... Entourage accept? There'll be nice beds and food for everyone."

I look at them Tiana doesn't seem to care. Taki, Delathwyn, Ashiielwyn, and Fuji seem worried. Vemoura is excited. Ilithyia looks confused about what to think. Saphilia smiles and nods.

"Yes, I do accept." Then I turn to see my girls. "Trust me."