Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 86: Flight of the Valkyries Part 1

Four dragons land at Fort Twilight the day after Choul sent Rose and Blue to deliver the message from Empress Sundenelle. Daniel wrote a reply, and he authorized a mission for Ryuogriar and Geirahoel.

Choul kneels before the two dragon Empresses, while the commanders and their troops imitate him. “Your Graces, you honor us with your presence.”

Ryuogriar replies proudly, “You all have done excellent work capturing and reinforcing Fort Twilight. We are pleased with your results.”

Geirahoel adds loudly, “All of you have worked tirelessly for the Fievegal, and his Grace, Emperor Daniel, is most pleased, as are we. But, the war is not over. If you disappoint us, you will bring disgrace not only on yourselves, but Emperor Daniel as well. Do not disappoint us.”

The soldiers and Choul cheer together. Geirahoel smiles with a proud and prideful smirk.

“Your words are more than we deserve,” replies Choul.

Ryuogriar smirks. “Our words are no more nor less than you deserve. You have worked well, but as my sister has said, it is not over yet. Rise, and resume your work. Empress Geirahoel and I shall speak with the General further.”

“Thank you, your Graces!” cheer the soldiers and commanders. They obey, returning to their work as Ryuogriar states, “Rise, Sir Choul. We have to discuss the next steps.”

Choul nods, standing up. “Your Grace.”

Geirahoel points at him, saying sternly, “You should consider yourself lucky that we came all this way.”

“I sincerely do, your Illustrious Majesty. What can I do for you?”

Ryuogriar gestures over her shoulder. “We have delivered the message from Daniel, but we have use for Rose and Blue now. They have agreed to help with our mission. Do you have need of these two dragons for your defensive strategy, Sir Choul?”

Choul looks at Blue and Rose, who are behind Ryuogriar and Geirahoel, remaining respectfully silent.

“I have no objection, your Grace. But, I would ask if you truly need them. I can make use of them, as you know.”

The platinum dragon looks around, verifying that they are not being monitored, and she casts a simple spell, isolating sound around them; something she learned from Wenlianna, who created a magic device for the same purpose.

“We will be assaulting the gathered forces of the Demon Covenant, and additional firepower and minimized troop presence will be invaluable to our mission.”

“Y-You’re assaulting the Covenant army?”

“Yes. Geirahoel and I have volunteered.”

“We were asked by the lady Empresses,” chimes in Rose. “With your permission, General, we would like to accept this opportunity.”

Choul nods. “Understood. I’ll make due without you for now.” He looks at Ryuogriar. “Will they be alright without large scale magic defenses, your Grace? If not, I could volunteer in their place and have them take over command here.”

“We will not be engaging in a protracted battle of attrition. We will do several quick strafes with fire and destroy the Orbicharium. Whatever their retaliation, it should disrupt any attempts to attack Fort Twilight or Fort Peony. As you know, our dear co-consorts from the east have attachment to Fort Peony, specifically. We are officially becoming the wedge between the east and west, and Daniel granted us permission to demonstrate our resolve and power.”

“I see… Blue, Rose? I’ll take your place if you choose.”

They shake their heads. “Please worry not, General. We will fight valiantly to protect the Empresses and serve their needs.”

Blue nods in agreement. “It will be our honor to prove our loyalty.”

“Very well. Please look after the Empresses in my stead,” replies Choul, bowing his head.

The two lesser dragons bow in respect as well.

Geirahoel moves on to the next subject, “Daniel will be moving forward with what he refers to as ‘Plan Troll’. The message is a reply to Empress Sundenelle with a request for an audience date. However, you are to send observers to monitor the messengers and determine what happens to the message en route.”

“As you wish, your Grace.”

“We will be heading north from here,” adds Ryuogriar. “Should you need reinforcements, you should prioritize reinforcements from the Citadel. We will be predisposed with our mission once we leave here.”

“Of course, your Grace,” replies Choul. “Are you sure the four of you will be enough?”

Ryuogriar nods, and Geirahoel adds sharply, “This mission isn’t a battle, but a disruption. We are Empresses, not soldiers. Don’t think of us as such.”

Choul bows his head. He has learned that Geirahoel, especially, is most amenable if he just goes along with whatever she says. Daniel describes her as a ‘tsundere’; someone who puts on a hostile front, even to people she likes or respects. Even now, she’ll sometimes say things that seem disrespectful towards Daniel, when in fact, she’s arguably one of his favorite consorts, as evidenced by two eggs and a third on the way.

Of course, as a dragon and loyal companion and friend to Daniel, Choul can’t help but worry that Ryuogriar and Geirahoel will be leading such a dangerous mission. Though most of the female dragons have already laid or are carrying eggs, including Rose, the three Empresses are another matter entirely. They are important figures for the Fievegal, and though the Fievegal is a rather paltry gathering of tribes posing as an empire for the time being, the potential to grow comes from a system of governing Daniel is doing his best to implement in pieces from Earth, where most of the world was advanced and comfortable for peasants and nobles alike -systems that were effectively dissolved in modern times, but not completely absent-.

With both Ryuogriar and Geirahoel, Choul can’t help but see the princes or princesses growing in their bellies, as well as the immensely valuable lovers to the Emperor. They, too, worry about Daniel when he partakes in his own missions, but it’s difficult to convince all of them that their roles as rulers means they no longer need to endanger themselves.

Even Morthybargaron, former lord of the dragons, ceased combat after destroying the feldrok race and becoming dragon lord. 

But then, it is a major factor as to why Choul respects and reveres Daniel, along with the others. He is not an arm-chair ruler. He desires to see the battlefields with his own eyes, and he doesn’t demand loyalty or sacrifice. Rather, he asks for and inspires loyalty within his troops through incentives. He also encourages family and camaraderie at all levels. Some of the plans he has mentioned to Choul that he has in store are shocking to someone from the world of Zenkon. Daniel hopes to reach the point that he can easily provide a pension to soldiers even after their terms of service, as well as survivor benefits for the family of the fallen. He also intends to establish what he calls “retirement accounts” for the races with shorter lifespans, as well as those hoping to take long periods of down time.

Such things sound like fantasy to Choul, but Daniel has never been one to simply jest when speaking of matters of the Fievegal. He likes to choose things that are more obvious and lower stakes, such as the ‘sky hook’ and ‘elbow grease’.

“I wish you the best of luck on your mission, your Graces. Please rest and refresh as you see fit, and let us know if you need anything. We shall make it so.”

Ryuogriar nods. “Thank you. We shall depart soon, General. In the worst case scenario, shore up defenses to the west and be ready for siege. We shall ensure reinforcements arrive.” She then digs out one of the communication devices from her bag, handing it over to Choul. “Set this up in a secure place, and await further instructions.”

“It shall be done your Grace. Thank you. If you’ll excuse me.” Choul bows and makes his way back to the east gate, where they’re reinforcing the hinges and replacing the gates with stone, as well as adding a second-stage sally port, a sort of double-gate that would require two layers of gate busting to break through. The gates of the fortress under the Imperial design favor accessibility almost more than defense, allowing troops and reinforcements to be deployed more quickly. Daniel’s recommended adjustments to the fortress essentially double the structure around the entrances, but make it substantially more defensible than a single gate alone.

“Now,” starts Ryuogriar as she faces the other three dragons on the mission. Let’s change into our armor, as instructed. Rose, Blue, here.” She hands over a small magic bag, similar to the one Daniel wears on his belt. “You will wear this armor for this mission.”

“You honor us, your Grace! We shall do as you ask.” Blue accepts the bag and they go to separate rooms in the main fortress. They each don their armor in dragon form, which encases their bodies similar to when Choul first appeared. It’s restrictive and feels claustrophobic, but lightweight.

Still, Geirahoel complains, “Ahhh… Why did Mukori have to ask us to wear this? I’ve never worn armor.”

“We’ve never gone into battle as warriors, either,” replies Ryuogriar. “Mukori spent a great deal of magical power producing these armors for us. We would be disgraces if we failed our mission and were injured. So, deal with it for now.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Geirahoel fastens the pieces that Ryuogriar can’t reach, and then turns for Ryuogriar to do the same for her.  “We shall burn our enemies and return in time for lunch tomorrow. Daniel should be more grateful for having such strong and beautiful wives such as us.”

Ryuogriar chuckles. “Yes, you are most certainly right.” The two make their way back into the courtyard of the fortress, meeting Rose and Blue after the two are suited up in their own armor. “Let us earn the title of noblest and strongest beings once more, Geirahoel.”
“I am with you, elder sister.”

“And, you two.”

“Y-Yes!” yelps Blue as both he and Rose tense. “Y-Your Grace?”

“You are dragons, regardless of what you have been called in the past. I will not suffer weaklings that fail to prove their might.”

They both hesitate, and Ryuogriar adds more gently, “I am not expecting what you should not be capable of. I am ordering you to be dragons and to survive this battle.” She points at them, saying loudly, “Listen up, Blue, Rose! All dragons are evolved from beings without magic, just as humans evolved from ancient ancestors without magic. But, that does NOT make you weak! The pinnacle of power in this world, the greatest sorcerer the land has ever seen, possessed no magic when he defeated the Dragon Lord and the Feral Feldrok, conquering the Citadel and founding the Fievegal! Will you lose heart, oh mighty dragons, when asked to prove yourselves worthy of such an Emperor!?”

This shocks both of the lesser dragons, dragons in appearance and natural gifts, but lacking the magical prowess of greater or ‘true’ dragons. Ryuogriar adds passionately, “Fools allow themselves to be defeated by other fools! If you are defeated today, I will bury you beneath the Citadel’s waste pit where you would belong! So, what will you do!?”

“We will prove ourselves worthy of the name ‘dragon’, your Grace!” shout both Rose and Blue in unison. 

Ryuogriar smiles, nodding. “Very good. Let us make haste then to Fort Peony. We must inform the Commander there of the incoming threat, which we will attempt to disrupt.”

“At once, your Grace!”

All four dragons lift off into the sky, taking time to adjust to the weight of the armor. For the two lesser dragons, it is more difficult due to not having enough spare magic to aid in relieving the weight. Unlike Daniel was, they are not truly devoid of magic, but they are able to adjust and join Ryuogriar and Geirahoel in flight.

It's about an hour flight at comfortable speed, and they descend upon the same secluded area as before. Ryuogriar and Geirahoel use magic to transform all four of them, and to their surprise, the armor shifts with them. It's the same as Choul wears, but they had no idea before. It's apparently made of some alloy of sharmellkolle, making it able to adapt and transform in response to the user’s magic.

The four walk to the fortress in human form, and Rose asks nervously as they walk, “Are you sure this is a good idea, your Grace?”

“Worry not, dear Rose. We are on friendly terms with the commanding officer of this fortress.”

The four approach the fort, emerging from the tree line. The lady soldiers on the wall immediately take notice of them, rallying each other and taking up arms. Ryuogriar gestures for the other three to stop, and she walks forward with her hands up. “I am Empress Ryuogriar gur Lawson, Second Empress of the Fievegal and acquaintance of Commander Leiwelles kos Morglodston. Please inform the Commander that we have arrived. We have an important message.”

The soldiers nervously discuss as more and more soldiers gather on the wall, and a bell begins gonging.

“Ryuo, why are they acting this way? They were not so hostile last time.” Geirahoel’s voice reaches Ryuogriar easily using telepathy, though they also have a couple of Daniel’s and Wenlianna’s communication devices in their magic bag. 

“We arrived from the west and are all wearing elaborate-looking armor. Plus, we all bear horns and tails. They are afraid we are enemies arriving to attack.”

Geirahoel huffs. “They should be more grateful to us. We came here to help them.”

“They don’t know that yet. Patience.”

Ryuogriar spots the desired person in question on the wall, Commander Leiwelles, as she arrives to inspect the unannounced visitors.

“State your business again!” shouts one of the soldiers near Leiwelles.

Ryuogriar states proudly, “I am Empress Ryuogriar gur Lawson, Second Empress of the Fievegal and acquaintance of Commander Leiwelles kos Morglodston. We have an important message and have arrived as friends. We shall not bring harm to anyone on Fort Peony unless provoked.”

There’s a pause, and Ryuogriar can tell Leiwelles is thinking. She waves her hand, gesturing for Ryuogriar to approach, and the soldier that called out shouts again, “All four of you may approach! Please do not make aggressive or sudden motions, your Grace!”

Ryuogriar wraps her arm gently under her chest. She doesn’t bow, since she’s an empress and a dragon, but she acknowledges the instructions. She turns and says, “Come. We’re invited.”

“Y-Yes, your Grace…” replies Blue as he and Rose follow Ryuogriar and Geirahoel.

As they enter the fortress, they are greeted on either side by lines of female soldiers and officers, with a couple of men all but hidden in the ranks. Leiwelles meets them at the end of the ranks, bowing as they approach. “Empress Ryuogriar, a pleasure to greet you. And, please correct me if I am mistaken, Empress Geirahoel. It is my sincere honor to host you both once more.”

Geirahoel twitches in surprise. “Y-You recognize me?”

Leiwelles smiles at her, replying warmly, “I’d be a fool not to learn the leadership of countries I may have dealings with, no? Your horns and tail are very distinct shades, and I have received correspondence from Treia and Gwenesphia describing the full leadership of the Fievegal so I would not disrespect you. And, of course, we met before.”

“A-are they spying on us?” asks the younger of the greater dragons.

Ryuogriar replies gently, “No. Daniel knows about it and encourages them to write. They are important members of the Fievegal.”

Leiwelles nods politely, and she looks at Rose and Blue. “Pardon my saying so, but I do not recognize your companions, even from letters.”

The two lesser dragons look to Ryuogriar, and she nods. Blue bows, “I am the lesser dragon Blue, Commander. It is my pleasure to meet you.”

“I am known as Rose, Commander. I am also honored.”

Leiwelles bows again crisply. She asks politely, “I do beg you a moment to educate me; your ranks or titles?”

“They are apprentice dragons, Commander,” replies Ryuogriar proudly. “You likely don’t know this, but there were considered two classes of dragons under the old lord; greater and lesser dragons. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but now, we have decided to make the title of dragon something to be earned, and until then, we shall define ourselves as greater wyverns.”

“Y-Your Grace…” murmurs Rose with a softly wavering voice.

Ryuogriar looks at her, saying sincerely, “I decided this just now. I mean no discrimination, but rather, to make the meaning of dragon something anyone can earn, so long as they meet the requirements. I am confident you will succeed.”

They both kneel to her instantly. “You honor us, your Grace!”

She smiles and nods, suddenly twitching. “Oh! How rude of me.” She takes her helmet off, revealing her face. “Apologies, Commander. We arrived as friends, and here I am still wearing full armor.”

Leiwelles smiles and replies as Rose and Blue stand back up, “I understand. Actually, I’m a bit surprised to see you. Shall we go inside to have a proper meeting?”

“Yes, that would be greatly appreciated, though we won’t be staying long.”

“I shall not hold you. No need to trouble yourself with concern for me.”

Geirahoel takes her helmet off as well, but she looks around suspiciously as they walk.

“Ryuo! Th-They’re… They’re staring at me!”

“We’re strange beings in this place. They’re staring at all of us.”

“It’s not the same! It’s different all of a sudden!”

Ryuogriar takes a moment to look around, trying not to make it obvious, but Leiwelles also seems to notice something off. When she looks at Geirahoel, she seems to realize something.

“Y-Your Majesty Geirahoel…”

Geirahoel snaps her gaze to Leiwelles, startled and on guard.

“You… seem to be drawing a lot of gazes.”

“I haven’t done anything!”
Leiwelles chuckles. “No, I am certain you are innocent.” She clears her throat, saying loudly, “All hands, stand down from combat response and resume normal duties. Dismissed!”

Some of the soldiers respond immediately, “Y-Yes Commander!” A few stammer, also joining the others. And, a few more soldiers, including one of the men, seems to be locked in place, still staring. Only when they are tapped by other soldiers to move do they finally pry their gaze away.

Once in the conference room, joined by a handful of other officers, Geirahoel asks, “Wh-What was it? Is there something wrong with my face?” She touches her cheeks with her free left hand.

Leiwelles replies, “I don’t know how else to say this, Geirahoel, so I’ll be blunt. You’re probably one of the most beautiful women anyone here has ever seen. I’d wager that some of the stares were jealousy, some were admiration, and some were infatuation.”

Geirahoel blushes, instantly looking at Ryuogriar. “I-... Is that…? I don’t…!”

Ryuogriar chuckles, cupping her cheek as she says facetiously, “Oh, dear me. I thought it was more obvious, dear sister. There are reasons you are Mukori’s favorite.”

This short-circuits Geirahoel as her entire face fills with pink, and she becomes unable to speak. Ryuogriar, confident and content with her own appearance, focuses on the matter at hand. “Now, then, Commander. We should get down to business. We came here from Fort Twilight to warn you of a potential attack by the Demon Covenant. They seem to be amassing in the Grand City. We intend to disrupt their forces and sow chaos if we can, but this fort is the closest to the Grand City.”

“Is it true then, your Grace? Twilight has been seized by the Fievegal?”

“Mmm… ‘Seized’ is a strong word. Daniel is in contact with Empress Sundenelle. Fort Twilight was ceded to the Fievegal as reparations for several unprovoked attacks on Fievegal territory.”

Geirahoel is still mumbling to herself with rosy cheeks, trying to reconcile what she was just told. She is all but oblivious to the conversation going on.

As for what Ryuogriar just revealed, it surprises the other officers in the room, but they remain respectfully quiet. They are here to learn from and support Leiwelles, but Leiwelles will just as quickly send them out if they become disruptive. 

Leiwelles sighs. “Being acquainted with you and Daniel is troublesome for my health. Can you give us details on the expected attack?”

“Only that it’s likely. But, you can rest easy knowing that dragons will not be your enemies.”

Leiwelles chuckles, shaking her head. “If only I could offer Daniel enough to come back…”

Geirahoel adds, “The numbers will be great, though. Likely in the tens of thousands. They will likely try to destroy Fort Peony and make their way east through this valley. Otherwise, they will attempt to attack Fort Twilight in hopes that the can defeat our forces.”

Leiwelles nods. She can magically discern lies from truth, and both Ryuogriar and Geirahoel are being truthful.

“And, the four of you will be launching a preemptive strike?” asks Leiwelles.

Ryuogriar nods. “Yes, though we can’t vow to destroy the entire army.”

“You’re empresses, aren’t you, your Grace?” asks one of the boruan officers seated next to Leiwelles.

Ryuogriar smiles. “Indeed, Geirahoel and I are two of the three dragon empresses, but we requested to undertake this mission, as no one can move faster and strike harder than dragons.”

“And, Daniel would try to do it himself if we didn’t,” adds Geirahoel.

Leiwelles smiles cryptically. She stays on topic though. “I appreciate you making the trip to warn us.”

“Of course. You have always been cordial with us, and we were coming roughly in this direction to begin with. Oh, but we should warn you about one more thing.”

“I’m all ears.”

“During the last siege of the Citadel, even though almost the entirety of the attacking forces were eastern races, we were intercepted by members of the archoneldwyn race, who proved to be a great threat to all of us.” She hesitates as she remembers the ferocity and speed of the attack.

“‘Archoneldwyn’?” asks Leiwelles. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of such a race.”

Ryuogriar nods. “They’re considered a demon-kin race sharing traits with the Uhl’tall and the elves.”

This doesn’t seem to help much, since it’s difficult to picture from that description alone. Geirahoel blurts out, “Scruffy-looking elves. They often have side burns or beards.”

“I see… And, you say these archoneldwyn are a threat to even dragons?”

Ryuogriar and Geirahoel nod. “At least one on one, they can hold their own. We came out victorious as a team, but were caught off guard.”

“I see. I’ll be attentive for… scruffy elves.” She looks at Geirahoel, who fidgets.

“It’s what they look like…”

“Not as beautiful as you, then?”

Geirahoel again stammers, “Y-Y-You… I… I’m a dragon!”

Leiwelles smiles gently, amused by the dragon becoming so defensive over it, especially because her cheeks have filled with color again. “If I may, your Grace, I have heard that there is a powerful magic available only to a lucky few capable of producing such beauty.” The Commander smiles, adding playfully, “Love.”

Geirahoel stands up, her face completely pink from embarrassment as her eyes seem to be dancing around. 

“Just accept it already,” adds Ryuogriar bluntly. “It’s truly obvious to everyone that sees you.”

“Th-That’s!... Da-... Mukori is… He’s… I…” She hides her face in her hands, glancing at her helmet. She snatches it and puts it back onto her head, curling into a ball on her chair as Ryuogriar and Leiwelles chuckle together. “Ah, how I envy youth,” remarks the Commander. She realizes that Geirahoel could still be older than her, since dragons are said to be extremely long-lived, but she’s youthful and definitely deeply enamored with someone. And, Leiwelles doesn’t really need or want to make guesses as to who.

Surprisingly, Ryuogriar nods as well. “I agree. She’s a bold one, but I’ve learned from her as well.”

“Your Grace, what is the Fievegal’s intentions, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Not at all. Our ultimate goal is peace. But, the Empire and the Covenant have made it clear that they intend to interfere with us until we make ourselves known as a sovereign state. So, we have been discussing and enacting plans to make a point without causing damage where possible. We’re hoping to convince both the Empire and the Covenant with the minimum force required.”

“I see. I believe you.”

“Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we should begin our flight. We have a potentially long night ahead of us.”

Leiwelles nods. “If you need a place to rest your heads or resupply, you are welcome here, your Grace. I can’t formally support your mission, but I can provide food and shelter to diplomatic envoys.”

Ryuogriar smiles and nods. “Thank you. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated.” Ryuogriar stands up, and everyone else follows suit, with everyone but Ryuogriar and Geirahoel bowing. They both maintain decorum as empresses, and the members of Fort Peony show them deference. It's well above their station to determine who to treat like an empress or not, especially when two such beings are dragons that could easily overwhelm the entire fort in seconds. They might be in forms that look like beautiful humans with horns and tails, but they are among the most powerful beings in the world.

As they exit into the courtyard, Ryuogriar faces Leiwelles, who is being followed by her subordinates. “Commander, have you thought about what defense you will mount if the Covenant should come?”

“We’ll have to determine the specifics based on the scope of the forces that are marching on us. As you probably have heard, this fortress has little to no hope of withstanding an attack from dragons, so if we can, we typically evacuate to the main fort. But,” she looks towards the west wall. “The terrain here does provide somewhat of an advantage against a large army, since they have to funnel down. I can’t say for certain for various reasons, but if possible, we would uphold our duty and defend.”

“I see. That’s very brave of you.”

Leiwelles smiles softly. “Many of the officers here are low-ranking daughters of nobles, or noble women whose families… are no longer around for one reason or another.”

“I understand, though I do wonder why the ratio of men is so low.”

Leiwelles smiles with a little disappointment behind her eyes. “The answer we all tell ourselves is tradition. Safety. Pride. All of that is true, but…” She sighs. “It is true for a different reason.”

Leiwelles remains silent after that, clearly implying that she’s done talking about it. Ryuogriar puts on a sympathetic smile. “Whatever the reason, tradition sounds nice.” Ryuogriar smiles and says, “If needed, you may petition the Fievegal for aid, and we will do what is within our power.”

“Thank you, your Grace. I have remembered her Greatness, Empress Hekate’s promise as well. You are most gracious.”

Ryuogriar smiles and nods. She then asks, “Now then, Commander, I would like your permission for us to transform and take flight from the courtyard for our departure.”

Leiwelles nods. “I’ll allow that. Allow me a moment to inform my people and clear the courtyard. Please be safe on your mission, your Graces.”

“Thank you. We will. Farewell, Commander Leiwelles.”

After the courtyard is cleared, the soldiers of Fort Peony are granted witness to an arguably once-in-a-lifetime display; four apparently beautiful near-humans in armor each transforming into one of the most terrifying and intimidating beings in the world; the mighty dragons. Blue is the largest, even though Ryuogriar is the oldest of the four, and Rose and Geirahoel are of similar size. Regardless, each of the four easily dwarfs a human, roughly being the size of a multi-passenger airplane.

With a respectful nod to Leiwelles, they take off into the sky, heading west to continue their mission.

***