Two days later, late in the afternoon, the little community gathered in a scenic grove under the shade of vibrant trees. Senotraxia was taking a last-minute stroll to check on the preparations. Despite her age, even she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. This was her wedding day after all, one that would bring great change to her life and to those of her people. Thankfully, it was a beautiful one, the gentle smell of wild flowers hung lightly in the air. As the onlookers all sat in a hushed reverence, taking in the occasion. At least the dragonewts were, the foxkin and especially the few humans were more bewildered than anything else. With many eyes on Taythes, who was in his true dragon form, overseeing the proceedings.

  His true form was even larger than Senotraxia’s own. Darkgreen scales covering his sturdy frame. All the while, his piercing golden eyes captured the attention of any who saw them with their subtle glow. There was a time she had considered him as a potential consort. A failed courtship attempt during their youth quickly showed her that they were better as friends than lovers. These days, she viewed him more like an overprotective brother. Still, she was ever thankful for his centuries of service as her advisor.

  Having seen that everything was in order, mostly thanks in part to Setsu and the foxkin. While her consorts would technically he the ones in charge of this community going forward, as they should answer to no one but herself. She was glad they would have the support of such capable advisors. The fact that Setsu has managed to lead her people this far was a testament to her ability.

  As she started to make her way to a large tent setup nearby, she took her time taking in the smell of roasting meats for the after-party. She took note of how truly remarkable it was that the people here had been able to set up so much with only a day to prepare. Yes, this would be an incredibly humble ceremony, but that suited her just fine. She rather the wild nature surround them than the overly ostentatious decorations that so many dragon weddings had. Any chance to show off one's hoard.

  As she reached her destination, she stepped inside, taking amusement in her consorts to be. Who were being fussed over and dressed up for the occasion. A few dragonewt women had been desperately trying to find a way to dress Ves & Nell up, only for the mute human women Alice to surprise everyone with matching dresses for them and Senotraxia. They weren’t of the best quality, but that was only due to a lack of time and materials. The skill at play to make what she did as fast as she did was, without question, that she even managed to work in a subtle dragon motif.

  It was enough to earn Senotraxia’s respect. She was even considering asking the woman to be her consort’s personal servant, as the woman was obviously experienced and skilled.

  Soon, she saw the Voss women, Xeeta approaching her with a glint in her eye.

  “Congratulations, your majesty,” the woman said.

  “Thank you, Xeeta was it?” Senotraxia didn’t bother to look at the women and instead kept her focus on Ves & Nell. The human Alice eventually got frustrated and shooed most of the dragonnewts away whom had been more hindrance than help.

  “Correct, I also wanted to say thank you for offering the coin needed to free those of us with collars from our contracts.” Xeeta replied.

  “I thought it would be a nice gesture and would be appreciated by my consorts to be.” She said.

  Senotraxia now decided to turn towards the Voss women, “I can tell you want something, out with it.”

  Xeeta looked up at Senotraxia, even in her humanoid form, Senotraxia was nearly twice the woman’s height. Finally, the woman spoke, “After we are freed from our servitude, would you consider bringing me into your employ?”

  “Why would I want to hire you?”

  “All the stonework here, the caverns, the rooms, all of it. That was me. Arrogant as it sounds, I’m certain I am the best stone smith this side of the surface,” Xeeta replied.

  Senotraxia wore an amused smile as so looked down at the woman, “It is rare to see Voss on the surface, enough so that it’s not uncommon for someone to not even know your kind exists.”

  “I am aware, but it’s crowded underground. Centuries of my people’s work already exist down there. It’s hard to stand out, no matter how skilled you are. So, I decided to try my luck up here. But the young fool I was was tricked and ended up contracted. Been that way for the past few years. I can only assume my family thinks I’m dead by this point. But all this?” Xeeta spread her arms and gestured around. “I may not know all the details, but even I can tell something big is happening. I want to be part of it in my own little way. Let the things I build here be my legacy.”

  “You must be quite skilled to wield magic like that, to the point I wonder the color of your soul?” Senotraxia asked.

  “If I tell you, will you keep it a secret? Only a few here know, and I’d like to keep it that way,” the Voss women replied quietly.

  “Now I’m even more curious, but yes, I have no reason to tell others.”

  “Ruby, albeit still unrefined.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  That even took Senotraxia by surprise, “My, my, that is something why hide it though?”

  “People have expectations of those with high ranks and assume we are all somehow one-person armies. Not me, though, I am wholly dedicated to my craft. I have no fighting skills or offensive magic to speak of.”

  “Ah, I understand. Well, rest assured, I will keep this knowledge to myself. As to your prior question. Yes, I believe I can find a place for you.”

  Xeeta thanked Senotraxia for her consideration before she started to walk away, before the dragon stopped her, “Actually, how good are you with small, detailed work?”

  “Very”

  “Think you could help me make something out of this?”

  Xeeta looked down at the small item in the dragon’s hand. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “Yes, can you?” Senotraxia asked.

  “Gods below, yes. This work, like this, is why I want to stay.” Xeeta exclaimed.

  By the time Xeeta left, Senotraxia could see her consorts to be were ready. They were beautiful, all done up in a simple dress. The makeup handled by the human woman was also impeccable. Even their claw had been oiled up and shone with a luster. Humans may not be able to see the beauty of a well-manicured claw, but it was something a dragon could certainly appreciate.

  For better or worse, Senotraxia knew it was now time. Time to take them as hers. She could feel her inner dragon at war with itself. Her greed thrilled at the truly unique being that was soon to be hers. Only for her pride to be angered by the fact that she was taking them, a non-dragon, her consort. A fact that didn’t sit well with any of the other dragons as well. Still, she knew they needed Ves & Nell’s potential. The world was changing, and she was willing to make the gamble of a lifetime to secure her people’s place in it.

  Even if she had to drag them kicking and screaming.

  Even if she had to steal the first taste of freedom from the woman before her.

  By that evening, just as the sun began to dip below the trees in a vibrant orange, they were ready.

  Now it was time for the main event, a true magical ceremony.

  It was time for a wedding.

  ***

  Taythes had explained to Ves & Nell that usually a dragon wedding would be a major event lasting days or even more, seeing as this involved the queen and leader of their flight.

  Unfortunately, due to the present circumstances, they had to distill it down to the bare minimum needed for the bonding ritual that would suppress the brand to work.

  For this, Taythes had constructed a magic circle in the middle of the grove. Though not at all necessary, he made it out of the rainbow of wild flowers he grew with his magic. Apparently, this was old magic that predated the descent. The dragons were one of the few races that still practiced it.

  In the center stood Ves & Nell with Senotraxia facing each other, holding hands in their matching dresses.

  Ves had to admit the proceedings were beautiful. If the circumstances had been different, she thought she could have even enjoyed the moment. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation was that this was less a wedding and more Ves simply trading one master for another.

  At least this one was easy on the eyes.

  Apparently, having noticed Ves's trepidation, Senotraxia gave Ves a reassuring smile and rubbed her thumb along the back of Ves’s hand. It was a sweet gesture, but that somehow made it worse. Senotraxia knew precisely what she was doing, forcing Ves into this choice and how Ves felt about it. Yet the dragon did it anyway.

  ‘Ves, we don’t have to do this, we could try and run away. It’s a big forest to get lost in.’ Nell said as she felt the stress of the moment getting to Ves. Ves honestly was beginning to feel sick.

  ‘I appreciate the offer, Nell, but you know well as I do that won’t work. Senotraxia has made it clear that escape is not an option, and I think she is more than capable of following through on that promise. Even if we did, the brand would allow the senator to track us to the ends of the world. A life on the run is the best we could ever hope for.’ Ves replied.

  Nell, unfortunately, agreed, ‘I know, I just hate seeing you like this… I know how much gaining your freedom means to you.’

  ‘I know, I appreciate it, Nell. I really do.’ Ves thanked her.

  It was then that Taythes leaned his great dragon maw low to the ground and gently blew at the magic circle of flowers, sending the petals swirling into the air around the couple as if they were dancing.

  With that, it was Senotraxia’s turn to take over.

  Dipping her finger into a small cup filled with her own blood, she drew her own mark over the top of the brand on Ves’s forehead.

  “Ves, Nell, I offer you my heart and a place under my wing. Will you take my name as your own? Will you join my flight at my side? Will you offer me your hearts in kind?”

  Ves didn’t respond for a moment as she steeled her resolve. If freedom was no longer an option, maybe, just maybe she could use this chance to help others. Ensure no one else would be forced to make the choice she was now. It was clear to her conflict with the Senator, and likely Kohdessia as a whole would come. She would be ready. In turn, she and Nell spoke the words in tandem, “We do.”

  Senotraxia then took out an elegant chain necklace, somehow made entirely of white stone. It was attached to a small dark green scale. The dragon then placed the necklace over Ves & Nell’s heads. As soon as it touched their skin, they could feel it thrum with power, they swore they could even see it glow.

  “Then I ask this final question, will you two become mine? My wives, my consorts? Until my final days when my wings no longer dance in the sky?”

  “Yes”

  With that answer, the whole world went silent as if waiting. Even the flower petals themselves hung still in the air.

  “Then from this day on, I name you two as one, Ves’Nell Sei Verdantscale”

  Senotraxia then leaned forward and gently kissed the mark on their forehead. As a gust of wind shot forth from the circle. The tops of all the trees rattled, and they could hear the animals and the forest singing out in chorus for miles all around.

  The onlookers broke out in cheers and cries of joy.

  For Ves, though, she could feel the surge of mana in the air as the ritual went into full effect. Mana rushed into her body from Senotraxia through the kiss. She could feel it working its way inside, wrapping itself around every corner of her body before digging deeper, touching her soul.

  As it did, she could feel the brand begin to fight back. It had wrapped itself around her soul from the very day she was born. It was not about to let foreign magic steal its prize. Tendrils of raw mana from both spells began to clash. With her body and soul as the unfortunate battlefield, pain began to consume her as she stumbled, only for Senotraxia to catch her and look down in concern.

  Ves could hear the gasps in the audience before finally the pain became too much and her world went dark.

  This story started in its first drafts as a litRPG with numbers a system the works ( The system turned into the blessings). Turns out it wasn't fun to write for me nor was I any good at it. With the goal to keep some sort of clearly defined power progression, I switched to a cultivation-lite system with people empowering their souls etc takeing Wuxia influences. The issue is I feel like I'm doing a crap Job with this as well, and it's just adding arbitrary bloat and confusion.

  So, parts I would like to keep,

  1) The general blessings bestowed by the temple that teach language as well as the basics of how one can empower their soul.

  2) The whole empowering one's soul in general, even if I call it by a name other than cultivation ( maybe Channellers? ). Where with a lot of time and effort, one can take in mana from the work around them to empower their soul. Eventually reaching a point where the soul is able to exist without harm without a vessel/body, essentially making them immortal and stepping foot into the realms of the Divine. As the soul grows in strength, the person is able to utilize more and more mana in order to do things like magic or enhance their own body etc.

  So thoughts?