The Kingmaker System

Reina released another deep sigh as she twirled her little fingers through Caelthir’s long silver hair. Since her feet were small and she got tired easily Caelthir had volunteered to carry her.

She didn’t refuse a free ride.

She had expected Davian to react in a negative way, he was deceived so, it was obvious that he wouldn’t instantly cheer back up accepting the fact of her being Reina all along, unlike everyone else.

That was the difference between him and everyone else, everyone else saw Ocean and then accepted Reina when they got a practical reason. The relationship between Ocean and people like Eric Lady Elise, the Underworld Lords or even the being that was possessing Carlos, was more or less a contract. Ocean was the figure that took care of them so, even if they knew one day that Ocean wasn’t real it wouldn’t cause as emotional damage as it did with Davian.

Reina had known that Davian was in love with her, but back then she’d assumed what he felt for Reina was merely infatuation- something that would eventually fade. Unsurprisingly, it did but it rebounded as the confession that came for Ocean. Reina didn’t expect that, she couldn’t recall any time when as Ocean she would have given Davian any sign of romantic interest, there was nothing but geniune parental feeling behind it. But it was time limited too, back then.

Davian was stubborn enough to keep reaching out after the misunderstanding was cleared but, she maintained her distance for she had other things that needed her attention. Until they met again.

Reina always found it strange as how she could never try and lie to Davian about things. She would often just tell him the truth about everything except for her identity. He also knew that if he asked, he would get a truthful answer yet, he didn’t realise that there was an equally large lie that was standing before him.

Reina recalled Davian’s face back from the beach. His eyes had glittered when he was calling for Ocean but then that shine faded into a hollowness as he realised the truth. She had come clean and told him.

"Ocean... is a part of me that stays before the world... In reality, it’s just me..."

Reina wasn’t nervous when disclosing her identity to others, but for Davian, she was anxious. She had truthfully admitted it without any excuses that it was just her.

The red angry marks on her pale skin still burned a little where he’d gripped her. His anger was natural and she was prepared to even take a few curses or smacks if that would calm him down. But he didn’t do anything and just walked away without a word.

Reina sighed again.

"Stop sighing like that, youngest. You knew that would happen." Caelthir who had been silently walking spoke up.

"I know." Reina grumbled placing her cheek on his shoulder.

"I can’t help it..."

Now, it was Caelthir’s turn to sigh before he said with a relaxed tone, "Don’t worry, if he really fancies you as he said, he’ll come back. If not, I’m sure you’ll find a good Dragon for yourself."

Reina rolled her eyes, "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

Caelthir chuckled before he stopped and Reina turned her head. Caelthir had walked to the World Tree to make sure Reina stayed close to it.

He gently placed her down on one of the protruding thick roots and she made her way up to the base where she could sit down. Caelthir’s physical form faded into wind before he reappeared on the branch of the World Tree, lounging casually.

Reina stayed seated at the base with her back against the trunk listening to the rustling of the leaves. It was peaceful here, peaceful enough for her to consider coming her often when work got overwhelming.

Reina closed her eyes and just sat there.

"Is that really a Dragon?"

"But she looks like a little girl?"

"My Papa said she is the Dragon who planted the World Tree."

"Then is she the Dragon from the stories?"

"Shall we go closer?"

"What if she gets mad?"

Despite the fact that Reina’s senses were that of a human’s, she could hear the faint whispers around her.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked down to see few figures who were near the roots below. These were Pure Mana Elf kids.

Reina knew she shouldn’t judge them by their physical age because the beings on Edrisyl aged very slowly. These kids could very well be of age at which a human is called an adult.

Still, she continued watching them until one of them realised she was awake.

"Ah! She’s awake!"

"Hide!"

The kids quickly scurried away and hid behind the trees and the outer wall of the Elf Palace.

Reina smiled and spoke a little loudly, "Do I look scary to you?"

The kids who were peeking their heads out glanced at each other, wondering if they should answer.

One of them who was courageous enough shouted, "N-No!"

Watching him another child who was a little mature of the batch shouted, "We-We’re sorry if we awoke you!"

Reina smiled and leaned ahead slightly, "I wasn’t sleeping."

The kids who had managed to speak up slowly stepped out of their hiding spots.

"U-Um we’re sorry..."

Reina tilted her head, "For what?"

"We-We disturbed you..."

"Our parents said we shouldn’t anger you."

Reina watched the kids, reminded of her own set of Elf kids who were back at Eldarf. It was like a deja vu.

"I won’t get angry." She said, "would you like to come up here?"

"We-We’re not allowed to!"

"World Tree is special so, Papa said not to go too close to it."

Reina hummed, "Then, just for the time that I’m here, I’ll give you all special permission."

The kids hesitated but one of them slowly made his way up to the large roots and then climbed it. The others watched in reluctance before a few more broke from the group and started climbing the roots.

Reina paid notice that the World Tree didn’t appear offended or uncomfortable with the kids so, she let them be.

Soon, the kids reached close enough to have a clear look at her. These kids were fairly in the age group of 5-8 years, according to physical sizes.

"He-Hello, Miss Guardian Dragon, I’m Coriel!" One of the young girls spoke politely.

"Oh, Hello Miss Guardian Dragon, may name is Talen."

"I’m Viren."

"My name is Liriel, Miss Guardian Dragon!"

The kids enthusiastically but politely introduced themselves and Reina smiled watching their bright innocent faces.

"My name is Reina Aurelius, I’m the scion of Supreme Aqua Dragon. It’s nice to meet you all." She spoke.

The kids watched her in awe before they hesitantly inched closer as if wondering how much distance they should maintain and how close would be safe.

Reina watched as they all settled close by, eyes shining with curiosity.

She couldn’t help but chuckle as she recalled the Eldarf kids again.

"Wh-Why are you laughing?"

"You all reminded me of the kids back home."

"Y-You have kids!"

"Whoa!"

"How many?!"

Reina chuckled a bit more, shaking her head, "They’re not exactly my kids, I adopted them. And they’re Elves, like you, there are a few Dwarves and also some Dark Elves."

"Dark Elves?"

The kids looked at each other, a shadow of unease flickering in their expression.

"All of them are good kids."

One of them hesitantly spoke up, "Um... Miss Guardian Dragon, why do you have Dark Elves too?"

Reina tilted her head, "Why not?"

The kids grew hesitant again before one of the boys said, "Because they’re not good people... They do bad things."

Reina observed them for a moment before she smiled, "You think all the Dark Elves are bad people?"

The kids nodded.

"Then, do you think all the Pure Mana Elves are good?"

The kids nodded again.

"Why?"

The kids opened their mouths to answer.

"Because we don’t hurt anyone."

"And we also took good care of Yggdrasil."

"And we don’t fight."

Reina narrowed her eyes playfully, "Really? You don’t fight?"

The kids flinched but then they looked at each other.

"Um...maybe sometimes..."

Reina chuckled, "Have you ever played with the Dark Elf kids?"

The kids shook their heads.

"Have you ever talked to them?"

They shook their heads again.

"Have you ever tried to know where they live and what they do?"

The kids were confused but they shook their heads again.

"Then how are you so sure that they are bad? Just because you’ve heard it from your parents and elders?"

"Yes!"

"My Mama won’t lie!"

Reina sighed, "I’m not saying they’re lying... But do you think they have ever been friends with any Dark Elves?"

The kids glanced around wondering if someone knew the answer for this question. None.

"No, right?" Reina spoke, "Now what would you do if the Dark Elf kids say the same thing about you? Like, you people hurt their people and you make it so that they can’t play outside? What does that make you? Good or bad?"

"We-We’re not bad!"

"We didn’t do anything!"

Reina watched the kids shouting before the cool breeze whipped around them, Reina patted the root closest to her noticing the World Tree getting stimulated by the kids’ frustration.

The kids who noticed the breeze, froze for a moment before they sat down quietly with conflicted and wronged expressions.

Reina patted the head of the one closest to her as she spoke, "You won’t know unless you try and be friends with them."

"B-But my Mama says not to talk to them."

Reina smiled, "She won’t stop you anymore. I had talked to your King and even he’s friends with the Dark Elf leader."

"Our King is?"

Reina nodded, "You like your King, don’t you?"

The kids nodded.

"Then you also know he’s intelligent and does good things, right?"

The kids nodded again.

"So, do you also want to be like him?"

The kids grinned and nodded.

"Then you have to try and look past what others tell you and do what you think is right."

The kids tilted their heads a little confused but one of them spoke up.

"Then if I go and become friends with the Dark Elf children, I’ll be as intelligent as our King?"

Reina laughed.

"You will be, if you keep an open mind and allow them to show you their side."

The kid looked confused for a moment but then nodded as if he came to a conclusion in his own head.

"All right! I’ll be friends with the Dark Elves!"

"Th-Then I’ll be too!"

"I’ll go too!"

"Hey, but what if they hurt us?" One of them questioned.

The kids then looked at Reina, and one of them said.

"Then we’ll tell them that Miss Guardian Dragon told us to be friends with them!" The pioneer kid spoke.

Reina could only watch, amused as the kids spoke among themselves and she leaned back.

Strangely enough, when she spoke to them, she recalled conversing with Davian. He would often lay himself open like these kids, vulnerable and innocent with his questions.

Maybe it was because he came up to her with this earnestness that she couldn’t not answer his questions.

"All right then! We’ll go and make some new friends!"

"We’ll make Miss Guardian Dragon proud!"

The kids, hyped up by the new mission, started climbing down the roots while Reina watched.

"Noisy."

She heard Caelthir’s grumble above and simply chuckled.

She sat there, wondering if Davian would come back and if he did come back what would he say. Would he curse at her for deceiving him? Would he simply break off whatever was between them? Or would he forgive her?

The thoughts made Reina’s head hurt but didn’t give her any clarification. Slowly, she felt her eyelids growing heavier as the peace around her made her child’s body drift off to sleep.

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