She looked so lost, her big eyes wide and unsure. I couldn't help it; I gently petted her soft hair and gave her a warm smile. There was just a feeling I got from her, a strong feeling that made me want to keep her safe and sound.
Seeing me be so gentle seemed to help the others. They lowered their hands and did not look so ready to fight anymore.
"Fine, I will talk," the boy with reddish hair said, his voice a little rough. "My name is Lo'lo. I am a Fanalis. I never saw my parents. I was born in a fighting pit deep under the ground. I was meant to fight there until I died, right from the start. My parents died in that place because they were not strong enough. I probably would have died too, but that fat man saw something in me. He thought I could be a good Rook. He took me to his house to be 'trained' as a servant, but I will NEVER follow someone who is weak or mean. I can proudly say that none of his lessons worked on me."
"That's good to hear," I said, and I meant it. "I think you're right. To be a leader, you have to earn people's trust. You can't just buy it with money or hurt them until they obey." He gave me a nod, a look of approval in his eyes. "And you?" I asked, turning to the last girl in the group.
She looked like she was about to doze off right where she stood. When I spoke, she blinked her sleepy eyes open and looked at me.
"My name is Phillufy," she said in a small, quiet voice. "I am a pure dragon. My father is the dragon king, Midgardsormr, and my mother is Tiamat. I would like to go see them now."
Okay. My mind went blank for a second. THIS one was someone we had to treat very, very well.
It's true that dragons are very independent. They often leave their young to grow up on their own. But she looked like she was only four years old at most. I really didn't think her parents would just leave her all alone and unsafe.
If her parents found out we had their little girl and didn't bring her back, they might get us back for it. Probably. Maybe. It was hard to say for sure. Now that I thought about it, Midgardsormr was famous for not caring about much and for loving his naps. But Tiamat? She was a storm. You could never guess what she would do. Just look at her! Sometimes she helps run the rating games. Sometimes she hangs out in the Familiar Forest to see if anyone is brave enough to try and make her their familiar. And sometimes, she just goes and smashes things up in the human world because she feels like it. Trying to guess what she might do was a waste of time.
"Okay," I told her softly. "We will go see them later. I promise you will be safe here." Just then, a loud grumbling sound filled the room. It came from her stomach, and from the others too. "But first, we will all eat breakfast, alright?"
Some of them looked a little red in the face with shame, but I saw that Ceasar was perfectly fine with the idea of a meal. And Phillufy's eyes were now a bit wider, with a new light shining in them.
I asked one of the maids to go and get a very, very large meal ready for them. Then I led them to a door on the side of the room. When they saw Hainekou, they almost leaped on her with joy. The feeling was the same for her; she jumped right at them, happy to see them.
I smiled a little, leaving them to say their hellos. I had work to do, so I went on my way to the library. I needed to learn about some of the different kinds of people who would be coming to visit.
When I got to the library, I went right to the shelves to find books about those races, and also about the kinds of people these new kids were.
Elemental: A strange race. Many think they are just a part of nature that grew a soul. These beings are known for being very tough against physical hits, but they are much easier to hurt with magic or energy attacks. This is even more true when the magic is from an element that is the opposite of their own.
Werewolf Goat-type: One of the tribes of werewolves. This kind is known for being very strong and also for being mostly calm. This makes people want them for their teams. (Note: some are not calm at all).
Doppelganger: A kind of person who can change the shape of their body to look different. But they are usually not as strong as the person they are copying.
Mimic Slime: A beast known for its power to change its shape to look like anyone it has eaten. But it is important to know that it has a true shape it was born with. This true shape can come from the mixed life parts of what its parents had eaten. This is what they look like when they are not trying to change.
Predator Slime: A very mean and fight-loving type of slime. It is known for swallowing its food whole and liking the feeling of their fear as they melt inside it. It also makes a very strong acid that melts things and a powerful poison, so be careful near one. But, it is known for being very forward in all things, even in finding a partner. When they pick someone, they will get rid of anything that tries to hurt their partner.
Fanalis: A race of people with huge physical strength and power. They are very proud and will not team up or work with anyone they think is weaker than them, even if they might die. They are also known for their love of fighting, which makes them wanted as guards and fighters in pits.
Dark Elves: A type of elf. They are known for their strong tie to nature, but they are not as pure of heart as other elves. They are very willing to kill anyone who comes into their lands uninvited. They also enjoy being close to others in a physical way, while other elves usually see that act as just a way to have children. They are good nature mages and have a great skill for taming beasts and using dark magic, but their skill with a bow and arrow is not as perfect as other elves.
Driads: They were born from high-elves having children with Elementals. People used to see them as a lesser type of elf, but they hate being called that. They see themselves as something new and different. They look just like elves, but their feet are often like the roots of a tree. They have the best skill for nature magic and their aim with a bow is the very best. Because of their strong link to plants, they usually do not leave the forest for a long time. Their own health is tied to the health of the forest where they were born.
Giants: A race of proud fighters. They have a strong link to the earth under them because of a special magic they are born with called CREATION. This skill lets them shape the dirt and rock to make any form they want. They are usually led by a warrior chief. They have a close link with the dwarfs, because both kinds of people often live in the same areas and so they are always fighting over food and land.
Wow, that was a lot of new things to know. At least now I knew what to say, and what not to say, to the guests from the other races. And I knew I had to keep them as far away as possible from the other devils who would be visiting.
KNOCK KNOCK
The sound made me jump.
"Young Master, it is time for you to get ready," a maid said, opening the door. "The guests will be here soon. You need to eat lunch and change into your clothes."
I nodded and left the quiet library.
The walk to my room was long and not very exciting, so I turned to the maid who was walking with me. My mind was still full of thoughts about the new kids.
"How are those kids doing?" I asked her.