Bonus Short Stories
Dragonscale Armor
In the central area of the camp, in the plaza where the kitchens were located, three girls prepared to dine.
“Inglis is late. It’s almost dinnertime,” Leone said.
“Perhaps she’s still working on something,” Liselotte pondered.
The heavy clanking of Inglis’s fists striking dragon scales was still echoing from deep within the forest.
“Well, that clanking noise is proof she’s fine, so no need to worry. Shall we get started? Bon appétit! ♪” Rafinha said, before shoveling meat into her mouth at a tremendous rate. “Mmm, it’s still delicious! ♪”
“Well, yes, but...” Leone replied.
“I’m surprised you haven’t gotten bored of it by now,” Liselotte said. “If anything, you’re eating more and more, faster and faster.”
“That’s right!” Rafinha agreed. “I normally try to hold back a little. It’s bad manners to make so much work for the lunch ladies or to run them out of food.”
“That was you holding back?!” Leone and Liselotte gasped together.
“Yep! We can always get more meat here, so I really can have all I can eat. And once I started having these bigger meals, it just meant that I got used to making room for even more. See? I’m growing up a little more every day!”
“I’m not sure if I’d call that growing up...” Leone winced.
“All right! It would be a waste of this amazing meat to let it get cold and dried up, so I’m gonna eat Chris’s too!” Rafinha declared.
“I think your fuel efficiency has decreased significantly,” Liselotte said.
“Definitely,” Leone said.
“Ah! Rani!” Inglis shouted as she arrived. “That’s my portion! Are you just gonna take it?!”
“You were late! All’s fair in thirst and hunger!” Rafinha insisted.
“Sheesh! And after I put all this work in for your sake...”
“Huh? You did? Wow, what’ve you got?”
“Children who eat other people’s food without permission don’t get to—mmph?!” Inglis stopped as Rafinha crammed a skewer of meat into her mouth.
“See, there’s plenty left. Just enjoy it, and don’t worry about it.”
Happily chewing away with a mouth full of food, Inglis offered something to Rafinha. “Okay, okay—here, take a look, Rani.”
It glimmered in the colors of Fufailbane’s scales—silver with a faint blue tinge.
“Hmm? A...breastplate?”
“Yes, yes! The shape is a little funny, but I made it for you. I thought that since you have an Artifact, you should have some armor too—in return for the clothes you made me.”
“Wow! Thanks, Chris! You’re so thoughtful!” Rafinha’s eyes glittered with joy. A knight really did need a means of protecting themself.
Inglis chuckled. “Leone, Liselotte, if we get more scales tomorrow, I’ll make ones for you too.”
Both were plenty pleased.
“That would be great! Thanks, Inglis!”
“Thank you so very much! That would be wonderful!”
“Hey, Chris,” Rafinha cut in. “Mind if I try it on now?”
“Of course not,” Inglis replied. “Go right ahead. I’ll help you put it on.” She strapped the breastplate onto Rafinha. “There we go.”
“I wonder how it feels wearing—whoa!” Rafinha tried to stand up, but fell over right to the floor.
“What?!” Inglis gasped. “R-Rani! What’s wrong?!”
“It’s soooooo heaaavyyy... I can’t move at all with this thing on!”
“Huh? R-Really? Maybe I went too far with it?” Inglis had pounded the scales denser and denser, the better to protect her dear Rafinha, but all her loving labor had accomplished was making the breastplate too heavy to wear.
“Ugh! I can’t stand up!” Rafinha protested. “Someone help me!”
“Sorry, sorry...” Inglis apologized.
“Silly Chris! What good does this do me?!”
“I, uh, I don’t really think I need one either,” Leone commented.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to pass as well,” Liselotte agreed.
Inglis sat in sorrowful silence.
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