Elder Ravenkin had already said we were his most promising disciple and teacher, so we didn't have to co up with a cover story. Maven told us she had prepared a feast for us.
Elder Zengo inford us it would just be the four of us sitting down for dinner tonight. He didn't want any sect drama getting in the way of our discussion. Which he told us there would be plenty of ti for tomorrow during my scheduled exhibition match with their brightest student.
Elder Zengo and his wife were far more human appearing than I had expected. They said that was thanks to the magic bracelets that the Fae had made for the sects when they first ford.
Sect mbers were given bracelets that allowed them to venture out into the human world. This was due to the human appearance they gave the wearer. Now, certain things would still show through depending on how tightly you had wound the bracelet.
Full tightening allowed for a fully human appearance, but looser adornnt allowed horns to show through and so scaling, as well as tails and sharper teeth. Maven said that most people prefer to wear them looser because it allows them to still feel like they're still in their own skin sowhat.
The bracelets weren't an illusion. They caused forceful transformation to the monsters who were wearing them. The larger or more monstrous the monsters, the more uncomfortable they felt when wearing the bracelets.
Not only did they allow for above-ground travel, but they also facilitated humanoid martial arts. It created a more even playing field for martial arts practices. They still allowed monsters to express their full strength and power, just in a more compact form.
It perpetuated the idea that the best fighters should have control over the most dangerous portals. Portals that held monsters that couldn't be communicated with or reasoned with.
No one argued over the fact that the strongest fighters should have access to the most dangerous portals. The argunts were always over who were actually the strongest fighters.
Now, neither dragons or vampires were considered the strongest. Dragons were actually number ten on the list and vampires were number fifteen. Dragons and vampires were both very ambitious as species though, so overti they developed a friendly rivalry that stopped being so friendly at so point. No one knew why.
If you're curious, I'll list the rankings here. From top down to vampires, it goes Elentals, Djinn, Fae, Phoenixes, Thunderbirds, Liches, Sphinxes, Naga, Rakshasa, Dragons, Kitsune, Tengu, Oni, Yōkai, and Vampires. Werewolves co in just below Vampires.
"So I hear you may tilt the scale in favor of the vampires soon. What makes you think we won't eat you before you can do that?" Maven said playfully.
"Because that would spoil the ga. And dragons love gas, do they not?" I said, laughing.
I was doing my best job at playing the charming dinner guest. I have dined with mafioso's and their wives, so I'm used to high-pressure evening celebrations, but it didn't get much more high-pressure than dining with dragons.
Just like dragons, mafioso's like to throw threats around for fun. Especially over dinner. What could make for more exciting dinner conversation than throwing out verbal traps and watching your prey squirm?
Personally, I could think of many things more exciting than that, but not to mafioso, and apparently not to dragons either.
"Of course we do, but sotis protecting your investnts is more important than fun," she said, a very serious look on her face.
"I can appreciate that, but if you learn one thing about , learn this: I'm not here to take anything from anyone that is rightfully theirs. If it turns out you're not able to handle the responsibility of managing more dangerous portals than us, that's one thing, but if you're managing them fine, I see no reason not to let you keep them," I said.
"Oh, we're managing them fine, dear," Maven said. A look of concern flashed across her face for a mont, and then it was gone. She wasn't being entirely honest with , but there was nothing I could do about that.
I couldn't intimidate the truth out of her like I could with so people. Her sect was stronger than mine, and they could crush like a bug. At least for the ti being.
I needed to be smart and let her deal with whatever she was hiding from . I would let her know that she could co to if she needed help and leave it at that.
"You know, we're here to help each other out. I don't see why this can't be a mutually beneficial relationship. Things are great now, but if there ever cos a ti when you do need help, don't be afraid to reach out. Rivalries should be fun," I said.
"We should challenge each other to reach greater heights, not tear each other down. And if we ever needed help, I certainly hope you would be there for us."
"Of course!" She said, not aning a word of it.
But I had communicated what I wanted to. I had extended a helping hand. It was up to her now to take it.
The dinner carried on uneventfully. We all exchanged interesting or humorous stories over so of the finest steak I had ever eaten. Dragons were obligate carnivores. They could only eat at.
So the dinner prepared for us was smorgasbord of at, the likes of which I had never seen. While we chatted, I made sure to take full advantage of this opportunity, because I likely wasn't going to get another dinner like this in a long ti.
After dinner, a servant showed and Victoria where we would be staying. They had prepared separate rooms, not knowing that Victoria and I were together beforehand. Technically, Victoria and I didn't know beforehand either.
I was sitting in the dark, ditating, forming more layers of my lifeblood crystal, when I heard a knock at my door.
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