Silence, darkness, uncertainty.... Those three things are to a greater or lesser extent inside the room, although it is actually a tent with only one bed inside.
On the bed, quite luxurious if one must admit, lies a dazzling woman. Her white hair is like fine silk, plus twin horns and scales down her body give her an exotic touch, while her white dress highlights her youth.
"Not for nothing do some call dragons, "Bears of the sky", even now you don't get up."
Such words that could easily offend any member of the dragon family, come from a dark corner, more exactly from right next to Lansseax, though she doesn't seem to feel anything wrong.
"Maybe I should take her out of the competition? Just a cut, a small one, a nice subtle and unrecognizable one..."
Along with those insensitive words that seem to carry no malice whatsoever, the dark corner next to Lansseax begins to warp, revealing a taller-than-usual woman dressed entirely in black.
The woman holds a curved black knife that lets out a menacing aura, as she slowly and gracefully approaches Lansseax's bed.
"Ti, Fetiches!"
"Good morning, Lansseax. Don't look at me like that, try other ways, but it's not easy to affect the scales of a dragon."
Retracting her knife with magical delicacy, Tiche makes it clear that she has already tried to awaken it in other ways, though she didn't really do it, but Lansseax doesn't need to know that.
"Ha, of course it was going to be like that, dragon scales are the toughest materials in The Midlands!"
"I have no doubt about that, I still remember how you took down that walled city!"
Easily accepting Lansseax's words, to inflate his ego and make him proud like every dragon, Tiche puts away his knife to then head towards the exit.
"By the way, Aldrich is mobilizing the troops arriving from Leyndell in front of the camp, so don't take too long to leave."
"Aldrich? Camp?.... I think I'm forgetting something important."
Bringing his pale, sleek hand to his head, Lansseax takes a handful of his pristine white hair in what seems like an attempt to stimulate his brain to remember.
"I see, so it's positive with that issue. Don't give it so much thought, if you've forgotten it, it doesn't matter."
"True... But I think I forgot something important. Umm, let's just go out."
Jumping out of bed without any hint of feminine elegance, Lansseax simply puts aside her doubts and follows Tiche out of the tent.
...Aldrich pov....
"So Kristoff couldn't make it, no, better not answer that, what's the situation in the port city?"
Ignoring the background noise generated by the continuous arrival of troops, the breaking of camp and the shouting of orders, I stare at one of Kristoff's followers.
This man looks to me like his name was Max, Kristoff's personal friend and second in command of the troops, so despite being sent as a substitute, he already knows what the whole thing is about.
"There is nothing salvageable, everything has been reduced to ashes, be it the buildings, ships, or basic supplies like food and water."
"It was to be expected, Max. Anyway, as soon as the camp is fully erected, choose someone trustworthy for the reconstruction of the city."
"Sir... No, why wait, I'll do it now!"
Surprised to notice Max running off at full speed, I can only consider if that remembering his name thing worked too well. Of course it's a subtle manipulation, showing that you recognize him, so... Oh, I get why.
Turning my face slowly without a care in the world, I watch as Tiche approaches with his dark presence and Lansseax who looks confused, though quickly his expression returns to normal before rushing over.
"Aldrich, something strange is going on!"
"Was it necessary to break the table, Lansseax?"
Rising from the chair and pulling it back a bit, I gracefully sat back down in it, then before glaring at the furious dragoness in front of me.
It seems that Lansseax doesn't remember anything that happened earlier between us, that thing about the punch, which is confirmed by the soft nod from Tiche behind her.
"Ump, of course you do, Aldrich. I've got your undivided attention now, don't I?"
"Okay... So what's the weird thing that's going on?"
"I don't remember how I got here! Do you understand how weird that is, Aldrich? Dragons' memories may turn gray and dull from long life spans, but we never lose memories... Never!"
What's wrong with her? I've never seen her so frantic, but I guess it's like when you leave something on the table and then it's not there. Basically something has disappeared that can't disappear, causing her thoughts to short-circuit because of the unfamiliarity of the situation.
"Even we, the nox race, lose certain memories in some situations. Don't give him that much, Lansseax."
"Aha, come, something weird is here and I'll find out!"
Dodging the piece of the table she just threw at me with her scaly tail, I try to share a look of doubt with Tiche, but her hood prevents it, though she easily reads my expression.
"I'm surprised too."
"Looks like we acted too well, which made it seem strange. Other than that, have you contacted the nox?"
"How sad, there's fun time for her and only work for me. Ahh, poor me.
...Lansseax pov....
I know there is something fishy going on here, I'm sure of it, as true dragons never forget anything. Yes, the two of them must be playing against me, but how and why would they.
"Ledy Lansseax. Egh, sorry!"
Piercing a glance at the young soldier who just spoke to me, who also fell to the ground under the weight of my gaze, I cleared my mind and tried to speak to him as naturally as possible.
"Speak, what do you need?"
"I, I... uh, ah..."
Is he an idiot? I just asked him a simple question and he still can't answer. Ahh, remember Lansseax, remember your great magnanimity and how to deal with them.
"I'm sorry, may I know why you are looking for me?"
"Ye, yes! The one who is looking for you is Captain Max, Lady Lansseax."
"Max... Max, Max, Max... Oh, the one who was with Kristoff during the recapture of Leyndell, and used for things he didn't want to do himself. Well, what does the errand boy want from me?"
Already with the information about this Max guy fresh in my mind, who seems to have gone from errand boy for Kristoff to someone exploited by Aldrich, I ask him the big question.
"Captain Max asks if you can burn the inside of the city, since they used the Frenzied Flame to start the fire and that made it..."
"I'll do it!"
"But, but, but, I'm not done yet."
Shutting him up with a single murderous glare, I watch with satisfaction as he falls backwards in surprise, and immediately makes a pair of wings appear.
Why waste this opportunity to release pent-up frustration? Maybe even my memories will come back once all this stress goes away... Um, it seems just what I need to do now.
"Mrs. Lansseax you didn't...!"
Ignoring the cries of the naive soldier staying below, I climb high enough in the sky and shift into my true form, causing much of the camp to be blacked out by my massive body.
"Since they gave me a scapegoat for all the trouble I caused, why not use it. hahahaha!"
Letting go of those thoughts that will get more than one in trouble, I let out a mighty roar to demonstrate my power and fly at low speed towards the port city.
Admire this noble dragon form, miserable mortals who can only live on the ground, Hahahahaha.