Chapter 162: Streets

Chapter 162: Streets

Are you drinking any tonics before the duels? the Dragon asks.

Not Marcus. No, the other Dragon.

Nope, just coffee, I yawn. By the way, Im Joey. Im not sure I caught your name.

Im Adriana, the first disciple of [Archmage] Marcus.

Huh.

A female Dragon.

Now, I dont mess with DnD or anything like that. But I have heard about bards doing stuff with Dragons. Is it very speciesist if the thought of having such an experience under my belt makes me flush a little?

Mh, nice name, I say while sipping on my coffee and yawning again.

Whats the function of that liquid? Adriana cranes her serpentine head above my shoulder yeah, shes a giant and takes a good sniff. Creepy? I dont know. A little hot too.

I look at her chest, and Im disappointed. No badonkers on Dragons? Shouldnt the supreme race, the apex predator, and whatnot, be very gifted in every aspect?

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It keeps you awake. Im not sure it would affect a Dragon, though.

Why not? she suddenly looks offended.

Dude, I say to no one, really. I get out more bottled coffee from my bag of holding. God bless Claudius and me asking him to put a warming rune on these coffee containers.

So, I need to work my way up from the bottom of the ladder. Man, Im getting major Dragonball Tournament vibes here. Do I really have to go through dozens of idiots? Are my adversaries going to talk smack like one of those cheap villains in Japanese cartoons?

By the way, Lord Juler? Hello? Lord Juler?

ejecting the most rebellious people as we

Yo. Lord Juler!

He was still talking.

I am not done explaining how my people deal with dissidents, Joey Luciani.

Yeah, I know. But I just got an idea. Since we basically discovered super-fantastic magic, cant we just revive you or something? I mean, youve helped a lot so far. Sure, you also almost killed me with some very disrespectful statements aimed at the wrong people. But, overall, I can say Im here only thanks to you and the book. Cant we build a homunculus or something? Get you inside a body while we snatch away another soul?

Liches deal in that magic, not [Archmages]. Only the craziest [Necromancers] mess with souls, Joey Luciani. Im not exactly sure when, or even whether it will happen, but Im bound to disappear at some point. I have already dodged death long enough. If we tried to give me a new body, we would risk twisting my remaining sanity. And a new body doesnt come with all my past levels. I would be a half-empty husk of who I used to be.

I mean, we could have fun together, Lord Juler.

Joey Luciani, are you being emotional? You dont need me. And I need to rest, at last. This is your era, not mine. Ill be here with you as long as time permits. And I doubt I will leave you lazy around in the near future its going to take time before you get rid of me.

A distinct note of paternalism came through his voice, like a father speaking to his only son. It saddens me, honestly.

Are you crying? Oh, you must be scared, I hear Adriana say.

Oh, shut up! You are crying! I say, wiping my eyes.