Cami was going to do all the work, but I lent my support by placing my hands on her shoulders. She shivered when I did. For just a second, I thought she might be cold—despite the ever present heat from the volcano. But then I had a strange thought.

  What if she wasn’t responding to the temperature, but to my touch? There was something infinitely pleasant about that thought, although I couldn’t quite put a claw on it. I suddenly felt like someone had just come in and emptied two full chests of gold into my hoard.

  After borrowing my Soul Seer ability, thanks to the new level of our bond, Cami was able to work quickly and efficiently. Calmly and efficiently, she examined Modessa’s soul, measuring the amount of soul she would need to repair it. Then taking no more and no less than she needed, she trimmed a slice from Galbrecht’s soul.

  She made our efforts before seem like the clumsy fumbling of a hatchling on their first hunt. The system must have agreed, because she gained a level in Soul Surgery and Soul Forger, which came with some unexpected benefits.

  Soul Surgery +1 to Level 3

  Soul Forger +1 level to Level 7

  You have used your skill as a soul forger on living beings more than objects. This has resulted in you gaining the sub-class specification: Soul Surgeon.

  Soul Surgeon is not a new class, but rather a distinct sub-class specialization added to Soul Forger thanks to your growing proficiency with Soul Surgery. You gain two new abilities and two passive modifications.

  New Abilities:

  1. Soul Mend 1 - You have seen the core of beings and are able to parse out subtle distinctions in a soul. With this ability, you may make minor modifications equal to ability level times 3% to the soul and thus the nature of a patient you are working on. This ability carries with it a heavy weight of responsibility and impinges upon the trust of your patients. Any soul that you operate upon regenerates 200% faster.

  2. Elemental Soul Infusion 1 - As you have the ability to infuse elemental energy into an object you are forging, so too may you infuse elemental energy into a soul you are operating on. The effects will be variable, but you may now add the following elemental infusion aspects: Fire, Lightning, Ice, Poison, or Acid.

  Passive Changes:

  Alterations to the souls of living beings will now be 30% easier and happen 50% faster.

  Forging a soul into a previously inanimate object will now become 15% more difficult and take 100% longer.

  I saw the notifications when she did. Cami sucked in a breath but didn’t say anything. Those abilities seemed powerful, but knowing her she was unlikely to alter the soul of a being without their expressed permission—not when it would change who they were.

  Cami continued, taking the piece of soul she had cut from Galbrecht and started using it to make a tether or a bridge, rebuilding the connection between Modessa’s damaged soul and her body.

  After about an hour, the work seemed complete, but she said, “There’s something more. I think something is needed here…” she pointed to Galbrecht’s chest, “to balance things out.”

  I didn’t argue with her; I just rubbed her shoulders to demonstrate my support. This must have encouraged her, because the next thing she did was to take a sliver from Modessa’s soul and apply it to Galbrecht’s. The blending happened much more smoothly this time because his soul was one of the most pristine I’d ever seen—even factoring in the small piece she’d of Modessa she’d added to it.

  Once she was done, there was little we could do but wait. I watched as the pieces of their souls fused together neatly. I barely had time to go for a quick roll in my gold before Cami was calling me back.

  Mid-roll, her voice appeared in my mind. “They’re waking up.”

  I didn’t bother shifting back to my human form, as I wouldn’t need to get close. When I surfaced from my hoard, Galbrecht was already up on one knee and had a hand out to Modessa who was sitting up with a smile on her face. She squeezed his hand, but then pushed it aside before hopping up to both feet in a single smooth motion.

  She bounced around a few more times then did some rapid zig zags before suddenly disappearing into a shadow only to appear right behind Galbrecht. Stepping out of the shadow behind him, she rushed him. Instead of slamming a knife into his back, she threw her arms around his waist from behind and pulled herself up against him.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you! It worked. Thank you, all of you.”

  Galbrecht coughed. “It seems to have worked better than anticipated, or maybe there are just some unintended side-effects—not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

  “Side-effects?” Cami asked.

  Rather than answer with words, the paladin pushed a notification out for both me and Cami to read.

  A Level 1 Soul Bond has been established between you and Modessa Lonerat. You will now be able to innately sense one another’s presence within 250 feet. Beyond that range, each of you will know which direction the other is from your position.

  Each of you gain a singular stat boost from the other’s highest stat.

  You gain: +20 Agility

  Modessa gains: +20 Strength

  Each of you gains a new ability which represents a combination of your current classes and builds as well on the influence of the power which has bonded your souls.

  Pure Draconic Breath Debuff - Close range blast of light which is exhaled with your breath. The breath produces multiple debuffs, including Blind, Stun, and paralysis.

  Note: Some effects may be resisted, negating or reducing the effect:

  Blindness reduced to disoriented

  Dazed reduced to confused

  Paralyzed reduced to clumsy

  Other effects similar to a breath weapon are automatic, as they are drawn from the raw magic of Ileria:

  Mana Regeneration Reduced by 90%

  HP drain: 160 per minute

  Note: This damage may not be healed by a source not native to Ileria

  Range: 6 inches per level with 120 degree arc

  Duration: 15 seconds per level

  Mana Cost: 250

  Cool-Down: 5 minutes

  I chuckled. “See the amazing benefits that come with following a dragon? If only you wanted to be a draconic paladin instead of following a goddess who doesn’t even exist on the same plane of existence. You know every monarch needs a royal knight.”

  I was half-playing with Galbrecht. I didn’t expect that a paladin could ever be turned from his goddess, but apparently the system didn’t have a sense of humor. Another notification popped up.

  A new position is available.

  You may offer and Galbrecht may accept a new opportunity.

  Breaking Divine Bonds - If accepted, Galbrecht will lose all direct benefits of his paladin class and will gain a new class: Dragon Emissary.

  Dragon Emissary: A Dragon Emissary is the representative of a dragon who reaches out to the other races now living on Ileria. They speak with the voice of their dragon monarch and must be an exalted minion. When words are not enough, their blade becomes like a saber of light, piercing the darkness as they engage in more aggressive negotiations.

  The class benefits for a Dragon Emissary will be different from those for a divine paladin, but are similar in many ways. This class was created by the system at the specific request of the Dragon Monarch (Rank Empress) Tiamat. The Emissary will be able to act as an avatar for the dragon monarch they serve as well as gaining far greater control over the magic of Ileria, primarily for the purpose of empowering them.

  Dragon Emissary is a Legendary class.

  At each level, you will gain:

  Strength +6

  Durability: +6

  Agility: +3

  Mind: +8

  Stat gains will double at levels 21, 25, 30, and every 5 levels thereafter.

  Ability/Skill Modifications:

  Innate Resistance (+60%) - You have an innate resistance against the attacks or powers of extra-planar beings and their minions. The very magic of Ileria will serve to passively protect you.

  Natural Magic (+70%) - All spells and magical abilities are now +70% more effective than before and any beneficial magic cast upon you by another will automatically be 70% more powerful.

  The World Stood Still - Impose a moment of inaction on your foes as they feel the weight of Ileria’s magic lock them down. All hostile spells, abilities, potions, and regular attacks are stilled. Some will completely fizzle out, while others will merely be delayed. This will affect even legendary level spells and powers. The duration will increase as your level increases. This ability is twice as effective against extra-planar beings and its cool-down is reduced by 80% when used against such beings.

  Draconic Command - You may speak with the authority of a dragon one age category below your monarch to any dragons who are loyal to your monarch. They will feel an instinctive need to obey your commands, so long as your command is in the interests of your Monarch. This is a mind influencing ability, not a mind control ability.

  Draconic Scales - Conjure a shield in the air possessing the resistance and armor capability equivalent to that of your dragon monarch’s natural armor. You may conjure up to 200 square feet of this shield per day in sections as small as 1 square foot or as larger as 100 square feet. Each shield will last a maximum of 1 minute but may be destroyed by damage equal to or exceeding your dragon monarch’s natural armor rating. If your Monarch possesses the Scale evolution this ability increases commensurately in power.

  Draconic Strike - Imbue your next attack with any element controlled by your Dragon Monarch with 10% of your dragon monarch’s mass. The strike will also receive further benefits if your Monarch possesses either the Claw or Bite evolutions.

  Draconic Smite - Declare a chosen foe who has earned the ire of your Monarch. All attacks against the target enjoy accuracy increased by .1% per Mind stat of your dragon monarch and .2% damage per Durability stat of your dragon monarch. Once initiated. the ability lasts either until you or the designated target is destroyed or you are separated by more than 100 miles.

  Draconic Grace - As the blessed of a dragon monarch, your luck is enhanced by the magic of Ileria. This, in turn, enhances your chances of resisting a wide variety of attacks. The effects of this ability are both more powerful and more fickle than the divine version. If your Monarch possesses the Mind evolution, this ability will be twice as effective.

  Aura of Courage - You are immune to Dragon Fear and share 50% of that immunity with any allies within 100’.

  Aura of Ferocity - Your physical stats are temporarily boosted by 25% of your dragon monarch’s stats. This ability may be used in 1 minute increments up to a maximum of 10 minutes per day.

  Exalted Minion Health 2 - You possess an upgraded version of the health enjoyed by exalted minions, which is itself an upgrade from that of normal minions. You are effectively immune to all diseases and poisons. Diseases and poisons which originate from an extra-planar source will be turned back upon the source, which will lose any immunity it may possess to said source. Your lifespan increase is boosted by an extra 10% above and beyond the lifespan boost granted exalted minions.

  Monarch’s Mercy - You may grant mercy that no dragon would ever grant and may be sent to speak a binding agreement between your dragon monarch and another. Any target which accepts this offered mercy will be cured of any negative status conditions subject to the limit of your dragon monarch’s power. Any who reject an offer of such mercy will have their resistance to Monarch’s Ire reduced by 25%.

  Monarch’s Ire - You may pronounce the curse of your dragon monarch upon a target. They will be subject to a permanent version of the following debuffs: Antagonized, Fatigued, and Sickened. Once invoked, the Ire may be lifted only by your dragon monarch.

  Draconic Avatar - Besides allowing the Monarch to use you as an avatar, this also grants you the great blessing of assuming the form of a dragon one age category below that of your dragon monarch for up to 10 minutes each day, along with all the abilities that includes. If your dragon monarch possesses the Horned Crown evolution, the ability will gain extra effects.

  Boon of Ileria - Your physical touch provides a blessing to any you wish to heal. This ability may be used once per day for every 2 levels, rounded up. Heal 500 HP + 25 HP per level. Cure any disease and remove most negative status conditions from target, including stat loss.

  Banish Extra-Planar Being - Ileria is the realm of dragons and you are bonded to them. Extra-planar beings cannot stand against you; even the gods can be sent away*. The cool-down of this ability, as well as the duration of the banishment, will depend upon the power of the being which is banished.

  Note: * Even a god can be banished without an ability to resist, duration of banishment will last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

  When I looked at Galbrecht, his eyes were as wide as mine. Whether this started out as a joke or not, we both had a decision to make. The weight of the system seemed to rest upon each of us, and what I would have been certain he would have rejected as a faithful follower of Miseria suddenly seemed to be possible.

  The question, though, was did I want to do it? Did I want to steal a minion from another? And it would be theft, even if the one I was stealing from were a goddess and interloper on my world. And that was before determining if I was prepared to invest that much in a minion.

  Did I trust Galbrecht enough to grant him this authority? I’d been considering making Cassandra or Daggin my first exalted minion, but worried about their combat capability. That wouldn’t be an issue with the paladin. He was an old hand at fighting.

  Slowly, these questions resolved themselves in my mind and I realized that I felt no guilt for stealing a minion from a deity. I wouldn’t force Galbrecht to accept—no true minion contract could be forced. Then I realized that I already trusted Galbrecht as much as I did any human—other than Cami, who hardly counted as a human in my book. If Scale Nation was going to assume its proper place, I would need emissaries to send out into the greater world.

  As the answers clicked for me, I felt the system make the formal offer of the class to Galbrecht and his eyes widened once again. A second later, Modessa—who was now soul-bonded to him—also let out a low gasp.

  Did this mean that if Galbrecht accepted, that I’d have to offer Modessa an exalted minion position as well? Would that be such a bad thing?

  As my mind chased its tail over my willingness to accept Modessa had truly changed, another part of the offer appeared in a notification.

  If accepted, Nicosandumas will receive the following benefits and obligations:

  The Dragon Monarch will be able to use his Dragon Emissary as an avatar no matter where they are in Ileria for a maximum of 5 minutes per day. Direct mental communication will be available between monarch and emissary, regardless of distance for a maximum of 10 minutes per day. The dragon monarch may force the communication, but if accepted by him, the Emissary may initiate the communication.

  The dragon monarch is responsible for protecting or avenging his emissary and must swear to never squander an emissary’s life.

  The dragon monarch will gain one randomly assigned draconic ability based upon the nature of their chosen emissary.

  Hmmm… my gains seemed much smaller than his. Then again, this was not entirely unexpected—we were already so much better than everyone else that it would hardly be fair if my benefits had increased my strength as much as the proposed benefits of this new Legendary class would increase his.

  I stared at Galbrecht, awaiting his answer.

  Chapter 30 - Primordial Remnants

  Silence reigned in my lair, and I found myself holding my breath. I shouldn’t care this much about any one human—Cami excepted, of course. It felt wrong, yet I knew it was right. There was a shift occurring, and it wasn’t just within me. Perhaps it was more that Ileria, as a whole was holding its breath.

  I still didn’t have Galbrecht’s answer when another notification popped up.

  You are experiencing a resurgence of the Mother’s Heart.

  Warning: If you complete this act, you will individually be in violation of the Pact. Your position as a Balance Warden will be altered.

  Huh? What did that mean?

  Then, before I even fully realized the question I was asking, knowledge began to flood my mind directly from the system. I heard Cami gasp, so I assumed she felt it, too. This was much more direct than the dream and coursed through me like a surging bolt of electricity bringing life and a greater sense of awareness.

  The Mother’s Heart - All of existence finds its origin in Eternity, but to each physical world is granted the chance to form a central existence. After the Primordial Wars of Ileria, dragons arose as the dominant race and Tiamat as their first monarch to achieve the rank of empress.

  Her ferocity and power were unmatched, but she possessed something which united the dragons against all ancient foes. She didn’t just care about her offspring, which is the natural order, she cared about all dragons. It was that which formed the worldwide enchantment known as The Mother’s Heart. All dragons who submitted to the empress enjoyed the benefits of the enchantment.