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Hmph, pathetic. This darkness is hardly any match for us now! |
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Shh! |
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Mph?! |
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I hear people talking. It's coming from 2 o’clock. Let's investigate. |
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Mph, mph! |
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*Silver drags Sebek away* |
Briarland - Castle Blackscale
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Is this...Dragonopolis? |
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It's just like when we were lookin' for Silver in this stuff. |
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We're all see-through, like ghosts. |
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Mph, mph! Mrrph...*huff* How long were you going to keep your hand over my mouth, Silver?! |
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Shh! |
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*Silver covers Sebek's mouth again |
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Mph?! |
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Sir Vanrouge. My apologies for calling you here on such short notice... In fact, I'm relieved you showed up at all. |
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It's been 10 years, huh, Baur? |
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I was worried when you never replied to my new year postcards, but...I'm glad to see you well. |
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Cut the drivel. The letter you sent this time used the Draconia emblem for its letterhead.
That means Her Majesty ordered you to summon me here, right? What do you want? |
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The senate and the rest of the nobles won't like it when they hear l've walked through the capital's gates.
And Lady Maleficia is in no position to simply ignore them. |
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That's correct — hence my role as a secret messenger. Still…
I have to hand it to you, Sir Vanrouge. Your skills of concealment haven't dulled at all since your active duty days. |
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This dream must be from 10 years after the end of that terrible battle. |
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Let's sneak after 'em and see where they go. |
Castle Blackscale - Cradle Tower
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Is this the Cradle Tower? |
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Yes, sir. The royal heir Malleus's egg rests at the top.
This tower was meant to be a temporary cradle to hold the egg in the event of emergencies when the royal family were indisposed |
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A dragon incubator, in other words. Makes sense. Dragon eggs need both magic and love to grow.
I take it Lady Maleficia is the one currently channeling magic to the tower? |
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I figured the egg would take longer than usual to incubate without getting magic and love directly from a parent. |
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But I wasn't expecting 10 years to pass without any news of the heir's birth. |
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The fact of the matter is...you're here today because a serious problem has arisen. |
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For the first five years, the egg accepted the magic that Lady Maleficia supplied.
While it was slow, there was growth. |
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But eventually it rejected her magic infusions. |
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The doctors claimed it would be more receptive to magic and love from a direct embrace, rather than from a distance… |
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So Lady Maleficia spent what spare time she had visiting the tower to hold the egg in her arms. |
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But even that has done nothing to help. |
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It's rejecting her? Don't tell me it's because she's his grandmother and not his direct parent? |
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That's impossible. Malleus hasn't even hatched yet, much less opened his eyes.
There's no way he'd be able to discern who was channeling magic and love into him! |
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We've brought in doctors from all over the land, but the root cause remains unknown.
One thing is clear, though. |
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If we don't do something soon, Malleus will be returning to the stars before much longer. |
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