Chapter 28 : Talk About It (Patreon)

Mnemon Rhomon

Realm Year 764, Descending Wood

House of Hale Mind Outskirts, An-Teng, Satrapy of the Realm

“Right so- introductions are in order.” 

Siata was nice enough to wait for everyone to get some rest and breakfast before the questioning really began, and Swan Dragon was nice enough to hang around patiently for the others to be ready for that. The injuries were rather grievous, but those healing flames unleashed by Swan had removed the worst of the damage in mere moments.

It showed the difference in effort required by mortals and powerful spirits- what took Rhomon specialized alchemy, a mutagenic potion, and an awake patient to heal could be healed by Swan with a wave of his hand and a bit of essence, even on unconscious patients, and without leaving the same kind of lingering mutations behind.

Shuri’s arms and neck were covered in a layer of fine green scales now and his eyes glowed in dim light. Brahm was covered in a layer of pale, off-white skin. The ram lizard’s skull had grown an impressive crown of horns and spiked prods where once it only had a smooth bone helmet. 

The greatest shame of all was that Rhomon didn’t have his stock extracts anymore and would need to go find another pharmacoptic reptile before he could brew any more of his potion-body mutagen. Either that or order it custom from alchemical dealers in the realm.

He tried not to cry over losing yet more expensive and rare stock material, and instead focused on the euphoria of actually accomplishing his first goal. 

They were sitting around a new campfire in the ruins of manse courtyard, a pot of rice boiling over the gentle fire, a section of rations laid out, and everyone munching away. Siata looked patiently amused and a little bit weary, Shuri was ravenously distracted, and Brahm couldn’t look anyone in the eyes. 

He had no idea where Galan had slunk off to, and he didn’t really care either. “Shuri, Prince of the Serpents who Walk Like Men. Brahm, Monk of the Immaculate Order, Second Coil. Sesus Siata, Water-Aspected Dragonblooded of the Realm. Allow me to introduce you to the Honored Censor of the South, Lesser Dragon of Fire, Swan Dragon.” Rhomon smiled and gestured at the restored old man, who smiled and nodded with bread and jerky in his hands, sitting cross-legged. 

“Pleasure to meet you, Swan Dragon!” Siata smiled and nodded, taking a bite of his own stale loaf. “Although- it’s somewhat rude for my cousin to call you ‘Lesser’, I think.”

“I bear no objection, grandson. It is, after all, what I am.” Swan Dragon nodded calmly. “The Greater Dragons spend most of their time aslumber for good reason, lest they cause undue damage in their wakefulness.” 

“Greater Dragons?” Siata asked with furrowed brows.

“You… You aren’t a Dragonblooded, are you?” Brahm asked, glancing up with furrowed brows before quickly returning his gaze back to monitoring the rice. 

“Not a Dragonblooded, no.” Swan Dragon shook his head, and then nodded firmly. “I am a Dragon.”

“...Wait as in-” Siata raised a finger and made a little snakelike motion. 

“A hundred foot long flying serpent with a measure of elemental power, yes.” Swan replied with a little laugh. “At least, last I was measured I was a hundred feet in length. I know not how long it has been since.”

“Almost eight hundred years, Honored Censor.” Rhomon said with a sympathetic note. 

Swan Dragon paused, then slowly took in a long and deep breath. “Eight hundred years… Yu-Shan has probably replaced me as Censor by now, I’d imagine…”

“Eight hundred years!” Siata exclaimed in astonishment. 

“Censor… A heavenly censor!” Brahm shot up with wide eyes and a brief fumble as he tried to bow without sitting up and being higher than the kneeling dragon. 

“Eight hundred years- Sir Rhomon, that was around the same time as the Balorian Crusade, was it not?” Shuri asked between rapid bites of thick jerky. 

“It was. Lord Swan Dragon was one of the foremost defenders of Creation during the fae incursion, and led the defense of the Southern Spirit Courts during it. He was eventually captured by a group of fae known as the Rain Princes, and driven to insanity before being released again.” Rhomon shook his head. 

“I had been foolish.” Swan Dragon muttered with distant eyes. “Overzealous- and in doing so one of the Celestial Chariots had been captured by the enemy. I flew to retrieve it, but they encircled me then…”

“It was his defense that held back the bulk of the Fae advance long enough for our Scarlet Empress to breach the defenses of the Imperial Manse and activate the Sword of Creation. Without him, its very possible Creation itself would’ve been entirely swallowed by the Wyld.” Rhomon declared with respectful gravity in his tone. 

“Oh? Is that how they repelled the Crusade?” Swan muttered with a mild note of interest in his tone. “Thats good then, things looked quite desperate for a time.”

“I- why didn’t you tell us!?” Brahm asked with a mildly panicked scowl, glancing between the two of them and eyes struggling to remain on his face. 

“Swan Dragon was in no danger of discovery- not after all this time. It was safest to quickly and quietly secure and restore him before anyone could try to intervene for stupid reasons.” Rhomon raised one hand and started counting on his fingers. “A fae trying to stop us for fun, a spirit trying to stop us because they’re politically opposed, other dragonblooded trying to stop us so they can do it themselves and secure political advantage- and so on.”

He shook a hand in a firm ‘no’ gesture. “No, there’s too many potential self-interests tied into a mission like this, when the mission is supposed to be an unambiguously good thing that is done because it is good. Letting more people know would just make it turn into a messy revelry of competition and opposition over who gets to heal the Honored Censor and secure his favor for it- and if that happened there’s a good chance that he’d never get healed.”

“Wh-who else knows that this is Swan Dragon?! Does anyone?”

“I do not think so.” Swan Dragon muttered and shook his head. He reached up to tap his face. “I did not always look so old, and I was hardly myself in behavior either. Although…?” He turned to Rhomon with a vaguely hopeful note in his voice.

Rhomon smiled sadly and shook his head. “As far as I’m aware, there is no one else who knew where you were, or your previous state. Perhaps the Maiden of Secrets, but that’s a guess on my part.” 

“How did you know, cousin?” Siata asked with great interest.

Rhomon’s smile fell from his face, and he looked Siata dead in the eyes. “What would you do, if you knew the future?”

There were a few moments of quiet after that, as his companions digested the rhetorical question.

“You were serious when you asked me that.” Brahm muttered with realization. “You have some sort of- insight into the future, or gift of prophecy.”

“No one believes me when I tell them this. I’m kinda surprised.” Rhomon shrugged with a toothy grin. “Its not like the gift of prophecy is unheard of in Creation.”

He was being a smart-ass. He knew exactly why people didn’t believe some random mortal sorcerer to know the future- especially not in so precise of a manner.

“I am thankful for it, certainly.” Swan Dragon declared strongly, looking him in the eye. “Were it not for your gift, I’d be lost to myself still, grandson.”

Rhomon blinked, finally realizing that Swan Dragon was still referring to him by that title. “Ah…” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “I apologize for the deception while you were of unsound mind, Honored Censor- We needed a plausible cover for moving through the Domain of the Silver Crowned-”

“I’m aware, grandson.” Swan Dragon assured, taking a bite of his bread and nodding. “I think I will continue to refer to you by it. The term suits you.”

Rhomon wasn’t sure what his expression was at the moment, but it was probably something rather awkward. 

“I think you’d have to discuss such a thing with the Scarlet Empress, lord Swan Dragon. As cousin Rhomon’s grandmother, such a title would imply some things…” Siata commented in a way that was half a joke and half a friendly warning.

“Scarlet Empress… Is she the current Shogun?” Swan Dragon tapped his chin with one finger and frowned in thought. 

“Functionally similar, but the position isn’t called that anymore and she consolidated more authority under her rule than any of the Shoguns ever did.” Rhomon wiggled his hand, and Swan nodded in understanding.

“And how long has her reign lasted so far? At least forty years if she has grandchildren of your age, I would think.”

“Forty years?” Siata asked with a tone that was bewildered, as if he couldn’t understand why such a low figure was suggested. 

“She was the Dragonblooded soldier who breached the defenses of the Imperial Manse, Honored Censor. She’s since expanded her rule to all of the Blessed Isle, Inland Sea, and some parts of the middle threshold.” Rhomon explained, making everyone give him a look.

Swan Dragon’s brows raised on his forehead. “Longer than all of the Shoguns together then. She must be quite the remarkable ruler- I will have to meet with her at some point.” He sighed and shook his head. “No- I’ve probably been replaced as Censor. I will have to return to Yu-Shan for official duties.”

Swan Dragon paused before giving Rhomon a look of consideration. “I have been replaced, haven’t I? Do you know by who?”

“Wong Bongerok- do you know him?” Rhomon replied after a moment of hesitation.

“Wong?!” Swan exclaimed, rearing back slightly. “Not Bloody Sky-? No… I suppose he feels too busy in his role as administrator of wildfires… But Wong..?” Swan started thinking to himself, aloud. 

“He’s something of a schemer with a prideful streak, but he’s quick to offer criticism and ready to take on personal responsibilities. So long as no one has offered too much insult, then he’s likely an… acceptable pick…” Swan furrowed his brows. 

Rhomon hated to be the bearer of bad news. “...Some gods still send missives addressed to you rather than him, Honored Censor.”

Swan Dragon let his head fall forwards into his hands, slowly descending and letting out a long and explosive sigh of despair. 

“Things are rather grim in the southern courts, Honored Censor. It would be very good if you were to return to your role as acting Censor.” Rhomon nodded sympathetically but firmly. 

“You are most likely correct.” Swan muttered, slowly pulling his face out of his hands, letting his palms slide down across his cheeks. “Is there anything else I should know immediately?”

Rhomon paused, hesitating strongly before speaking. Swan Dragon slumped and raised a hand. “I understand. I will ask to hear you out in full at a later point.”

“It's very good that you’ve been returned to sanity, Lord Censor. From what you and Sir Rhomon have said, your aid is dearly needed.” Shuri smiled and nodded his head in a graceful manner, making the scales along his neck ripple with sunlight. 

“We shouldn’t have been the ones to handle this.” Brahm said with a conflicted look on his face. “Mortals are not supposed to interact with spirits. That’s the duty of the Exalted.”

“Exalted like Galan?” Rhomon asked rhetorically, making the monk flinch back and cast his gaze down. There was a tormented expression on his face. Rhomon decided against saying anything further in that regard, the monk seemed to get the point. He took a bite of stale bread to keep his smart mouth distracted. No need to cause his friend offense, and all that.

"In any case, the deed is done, and you have restored my mind.” Swan Dragon spoke imperatively, drawing eyes back towards him. “For this I am eternally grateful- and my honor demands that I offer a reward to each of you.”

He rolled his hand. “I’m not sure what resources I’ll have access once I return to office, the state of Yu-Shan is unknown to me at the moment, but I swear that if it is within my power, I will honor the requested reward.”

“A reward- any reward?!” Siata asked with astonished excitement. “From a powerful spirit at that- I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”

“...But Rhomon was…” Brahm muttered, casting a slightly suspicious glance towards him. 

“I was, yeah.” Rhomon admitted. “Anyone as virtuous as Swan Dragon would need to work against his own nature to not offer reward, so I’ve had a long time to think about what I’d ask for.” He shook his head. “Really though, just getting him restored and back in action is the biggest reward of this quest- everything else I could ask for would just be sauce on the meat.”

“And what are the rewards you ask for, grandson?” Swan Dragon asked with a direct stare. 

Rhomon raised three fingers. “I actually have three requests- the arrogant and shameless sorcerer that I am.”

Swan Dragon quirked his lips and gestured for him to continue.

“Firstly, I’d like to request a private meeting with you, Honored Censor, to discuss the dangers that Creation currently faces and will face in the next five to ten years.” Rhomon lowered one finger. “You don’t have to take any action regarding this, if you decide against it, but I do request that you hear me out in full.”

“I can grant this.” Swan Dragon nodded.

“Secondly, I’d like to formally request that you remove Wong Bongerok and return to your position as acting Censor of the South, for the good of Creation as a whole. His tenure as Censor has been a decidingly poor one abrim with misconduct that I’d like to share with you during the private meeting mentioned in the first request.”

Swan Dragon pressed his lips together, before slowly shaking his head. “I will have to conduct my own investigation as to his tenure before making that decision.”

“That’s fair.” Rhomon nodded, lowering the second finger. “The third request is a personal one.”

“Oh?”

Rhomon grinned. “I’m looking to master the mystic arts, and you happen to be a well-connected Dragon, eh?” He waggled his brows. “Think you can put me in touch with a godly enchanter or alchemist? Some books on the subject maybe?”

Swan Dragon chuckled in a paternal manner. “Yes- I believe I can honor a request such as that. Furthering my grandson’s education is hardly a cost on my part.”

Rhomon turned and gave a victorious fist-pump, causing a string of chuckles to ripple through the modest camp. 

“What of the rest of you good young lads? What do you wish for your reward?” Swan Dragon asked, turning to the others.

“We-” Shuri spoke up almost at once, before pausing and furrowing his brows. He glanced at the rest of them for a moment, then slowly nodded and continued. “I. I am on a search, Honored Dragon. My people, the Serpents Who Walk Like Men are stagnating… I… I do not know what I am looking for, precisely, but I need to find the answer as best correct our course as a society.”

Shuri shook his head. “It’s something that seems to come naturally to other peoples- there’s a vibrancy and energy that facilitates growth and progression that my people seem to lack, and no one has been able to explain it to me. I requested to join Sir Rhomon’s quest for the sake of seeing other cultures firsthand, but I’m not sure if that will lead to anything fruitful when I don’t know what it is to look for…”

The snake prince trailed off, before taking another ravenous bite of bread and jerky, chewing in mild frustration. Siata reached over to pat him on the shoulder, which the snake prince hummed appreciatively at. 

“Hm…” Swan Dragon considered the matter for a few moments. “I would need a better sense of your current realities than I have to offer advice, and there are several spirits who are my better in matters of state and society… Does the Golden Lord, Lieutenant of the Unconquered Sun, still sit at the Pinnacle of Mercy?”

“He does, Honored Censor.” Rhomon confirmed.

“He has long been my better in matters of society, and will know more of An-Teng than I will after years of study. I will ask him to hear out your plight and offer advice.” Swan Dragon nodded, a little smile on his face. “He’s an old friend. I’m sure he’ll do a small favor such as this for me.”

“The… The Golden Lord..?” Shuri asked with wide eyes. His bread fell out of his hands, and he snapped into a low bow. “We offer great thanks to the Honored Censor, for such a boon as that!”

“Sit up now, good Shuri.” Swan Dragon gestured. “This is a reward for your service to me, take pride in it.”

“Y-yes, Honored Censor.” Shuri pushed up, hands balled into fists on his lap and practically jittering in excitement. 

“It would not be my place to request anything.” Brahm stated with a frown and troubled scrunching of his face. He shook his head firmly. “Please do not make me request anything, Great Spirit, and offer whatever reward you would have given to I to the Immaculate Order instead. It is not… It is not my place.”

“Further I…” Brahm glanced to him, then looked down. “I cannot travel with this group any longer. I must return to the Blessed Isle to… to meditate.”

Rhomon blinked, before shrugging, smiling, and nodding. “Alright. We’ll pay for your passage back home. I’ll swing by if I’m ever in the area- we can chat over tea.”

Brahm’s face was curled up in no small amount of internal conflict- likely stressing over something that wasn’t his fault, if Rhomon had to guess. 

“I- I don’t really know what I’d even want.” Siata said after a great deal of thought. There was a puzzled look on his face, and he leaned back on his hands. “Can I… Can I give my answer later, Lord Swan?”

“Certainly, grandson.” Swan Dragon reassured. “You don’t need to give your answer immediately- we will discuss how to maintain a line of communication for when you are ready to decide.”

“Ah- thank you, Lord Swan.”

“I do have a request of my own, however.” Swan Dragon declared.

A slightly mischievous smile came over his old, bearded face. “You are to refer to me as ‘Grandfather’, okay?”