Ajatar pointed at the twins, who were measuring the scale's length, width, and thickness with their elemental eyes to determine which one was the biggest. Even the metal frame was the same, making Orikan and Jirya sigh in both relief and disappointment.
On the one hand, the twins were happy neither of them would be stuck with a second-rate treasure. On the other hand, quarrelling was a funny way to spend their time, and they were looking for a good reason to go all-out.
"That was smart of you, Master Ajatar. Orikan and Jirya fight all the time for the silliest reason. "Sometimes I think they actually enjoy it." Morok said, unaware that he was close to the truth.
"You can drop the honorifics, Morok. I'm not here as your mentor. Only as a godfather. Look, kids, the scales are magical!" The Sapphire Dragon pulled at the metal frame, and the scale shapeshifted into a baby-sized necklace.
Orikan and Jirya immediately imitated him and put the scales on their necks, throwing the Verhen babies a triumphant look.
"Tummy ache?" Valeron the Second asked with sincere worry, ruining the petty gloating of his Ernas friends.
"Nice move, Ajatar." Morok rubbed his beard. "Did you get the inspiration from Lith's pendants?"
"What pendants?" The Sapphire Dragon asked. "I simply noticed how much your children love my scales and ensured they could wear them fortably. I put a tracking spell on the amulets, among other things.
"Even if sooner or later they manage to escape, you'll always know where to find them."
"Especially since, unlike their clothes, Orikan and Jirya will never throw away your scales." Quylla gave him a shallow bow as her children moved the pendants under the sunlight to watch them sparkle.
"Thank you so much, Ajatar. Now we have one less thing to worry about. What other spells did you enchant them with?"
"The standard stuff. Self-repair, self-clean, and a few barriers. Here's a full list of the enchantments." He handed her a piece of paper almost entirely covered in thick writing.
"That's a lot of enchantments," Morok said. "How much did they cost you?"
"Just a few basic ingredients." Ajatar dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand. "Those are my scales. They work both as perfect material and amplifier for my creations."
Orion and Quylla knew the Sapphire Dragon was only telling part of the truth. As Forgemasters, they were aware of what kind of ingredients every enchantment would need and how much they were worth on the market.
Yet while the gesture earned Ajatar Quylla's eternal gratitude, it only put a dent in Orion's resentment. He and Jirni envied the Sapphire Dragon for having been chosen as the twins' godparent.
"Can I play with the kids for a bit?" The Sapphire Dragon asked. "My training with the Fire Dragons is not over, and I don't know when I'll be able to visit again."
"Sure." Quylla said with way too much enthusiasm. "They are all yours."
"Thanks." Ajatar nodded. "Let's go, kids. I'm going to show you what Dragonspeed-"
"Wah!" Jirya pointed at the other occupants of the Doomslayer crib. "Wah, wah, wah!"
"Do you want to bring your friends?" Ajatar asked, but the only answer he got was Orikan joining his sister's plea. "Do you want to e?"
Everyone cheered, bolting out of the open magical containment field and clinging to the Sapphire Dragon.
"Are you okay with this?" Ajatar said.
"Yah!" Elysia nodded.
"I was talking with your parents, you little rascal." He grunted. "I can feel your excitement from your Dragon Scales."
"Have fun, but be back for lunch." Kamila waved goodbye as the Sapphire Dragon reverted to his full size and disappeared into the sky.
"Wait." Jirni said, raising her hand to get everyone's attention. "Can you hear this?"
The park was so quiet that one could hear the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Silence." Selia's eyes misted with tears. "I almost forgot it actually exists."
"Forget what I said earlier, guys." Quylla sat down on a lounge chair, taking long sips from the first drink in a while she didn't have to chug down before something happened. "Training can wait."
Elina looked around the park, torn between the desire to enjoy the rare moment of peace and the urgency to resume the magical practice she needed to protect her children.
"Are you sure? I mean-" A soft snoring cut her short.
Quylla had fallen asleep after the first sip, but the happy smile on her face told Elina she regretted nothing. The noise grew by the second as more people closed their eyes for a second just to fall into a deep slumber.
"Oh, what the heck." Elina said after noticing that she, Friya, and Nalrond were the only ones still awake. "You two hold the fort. I have some serious catching up to do."
She lay down on the soft ground and wrapped herself in the wings of her Scalewalker armor.
"This is a joke, right?" Friya said in shock when Elina joined the snoring orchestra a handful of seconds later. "Raising kids isn't so stressful. Everyone is just pulling our leg."
She caressed her slightly bloated womb, aware that in a few months she would join the club.
"Don't worry, dear." Nalrond hugged her tight. "We've survived the attacks of Divine Beasts and all kinds of eldritch horrors. Dealing with our kids can't be more difficult than that. Maybe."
"What do you mean, maybe?" She asked, not feeling reassured at all.
***
"What's going on and where are the babies?" Lith returned for lunch, finding everyone deep asleep in the park.
At first, he suspected the use of a narcotic gas of sorts. Then he noticed that everyone had pillows, blankets, and serene smiles.
"This can't be the result of an enemy attack." Solus said. "Shargein is missing too, and there is no news about sudden natural disasters on my amulet."
"Be quiet." Nalrond Hushed them. "Everything is fine. Ajatar took the babies for a joyride, and the sudden quiet knocked everybody out."
"After all this time. Silence." Lith closed his eyes, hearing nothing but the beat of his own heart. "I would love to take a nap if it weren't too late and I wasn't too hungry from all my training! I have to cook while they sleep."
"Let's go. I'm hungry too, and I don't trust myself at the stove." Solus sighed. "Let them rest while they can."
***
The Sapphire Dragon returned exactly at lunchtime, finding a snoring wele mittee waiting for him.
"Amateurs." He snorted as the babies dismounted from his back.
"You're back? That was quick." Quylla yawned as Orikan and Jirya tugged at her blouse for milk. "You've been gone for just... three hours?"
"It felt like a minute." Raaz groaned.
"More like a second." Selia whimpered.
"e on, sleepyheads. Lunch is served." Solus said. "You are wele to join us, Ajatar."
"With pleasure." He nodded.
The meal was tasty and pleasant, but the Sapphire Dragon sighed more than once.
"Gods, going back home is going to kill me. Those Fire Dragons got me good."
"Why do you say that? Have they been rude to you? Are they blackmailing you?" Morok asked.
"The opposite. They treat me like a king." Ajatar replied. "Your delicious food is as good as what the Fire Dragons eat every day."
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