What? This Works?
The carriage's speed had increased, but the vibrations weren't all that bad.
The unicorn subspecies knew Rune was riding in the carriage they were pulling. They were stepping delicately yet swiftly.
Unaware of this, Belianus assumed the horses were simply spirited and well in sync with him.
In truth, the rider's skill was indeed drawing out the unicorns' peak condition.
From the coachman's seat, Belianus panted heavily before finally managing to speak.
"Th-this... the horses are putting in even more effort! What an amazing item."
"Yeah, it works pretty well."
"Incredible, Lord Rune. D-do dragons normally possess such treasures?"
"Most of the ones I know do. Not all dragons, though."
Rand, for instance, owned next to nothing.
The scale from a Green Dragon Elder, gifted to mark his adulthood, was likely his only possession.
Perhaps because he'd discarded everything symbolizing his dragon heritage.
Still, carrying that scale means he hasn't completely abandoned his days as Dragon Randel.
No one could easily cast aside their past entirely.
Thanks to the invigorated horses—boosted by Rune's measure—and Belianus's expert handling, they soon arrived at the royal palace.
It was already evening by the clock.
The utterly exhausted horses steamed from their bodies, puffing out breaths.
One looked downright delirious from the exertion.
Belianus soothed them with a "Whoa, whoa," rubbing their backs.
"Look at that. The palace drawbridge is up."
The Elf Palace was a white castle encircled by waters flowing from the World Tree.
Bathed in moonlight, it shimmered alternately in white and silver—like a palace carved from the stars.
The problem was, that beauty felt somehow eerie.
Demonic fish and plants in the river writhed with unnatural movements.
At the water's depths, a viscous purple-black pooled—thicker than the demonic energy in the reservoir.
"Even in an emergency, having no guards at the drawbridge is suspicious."
Belianus frowned, scanning the surroundings with a pained expression.
The glowing white castle still looked beautiful under the moonlight.
But who knew what horrors lurked inside.
"Charging the front gate isn't wise anyway. Seems like protective magic's on the castle—any way to disable it?"
"None, I'm afraid. If there were, as you said, I'd have mentioned it already. But this drawbridge is the only way to avoid the barrier. Flying, spirits, magic—all impossible."
"What about riding a griffon via Rand's taming? They can't catch everything that flies."
"When the drawbridge is up, a spell repels animals. It's ancient elven conceptual magic—no workaround now, and even if known, it'd be hard to dispel."
Tricky situation.
Then Belianus rubbed his chin, speaking in a somewhat peculiar tone.
"However, my position as High Chancellor hasn't been revoked... so there's one method worth trying."
"What is it?"
"Normally, you'd show this token to the guards, but with no one here..."
Belianus drew a small silver token from his robes.
"—No way, that's mithril!?"
"Ah ha. As expected, the dwarves recognize it."
Rune and Perdikion could tell too.
Among precious artifacts, mithril was used sometimes, and in ancient times, mithril coins served as currency.
Both were exceedingly rare nowadays.
To obtain any, you'd need to raid a Gold Dragon's treasure vault.
"It's the Founding Token, forged with conceptual magic when the first Elf King and his retainers were chosen. Made alongside the castle, it teleports the bearer to the connected office. The catch: it's single-use only."
Perdikion scowled at that.
"Security's... airtight."
Belianus nodded with a bitter smile.
"I can try opening the gate alone. Returning as planned won't raise alarms. Ahem! But..."
"?"
The gaunt elf paused before continuing.
"I hear this token doesn't block animals. Seems one of our ancestors loved pets."
"!"
Perdikion and Rune exchanged glances instantly.
"How do they define 'animal'?"
"Rune, technically, aren't humans animals too?"
They fell silent for a moment.
Then an impromptu animal debate erupted.
"Setting humans aside, do beastkin count as animals?"
"Beastkin are intelligent beings with animal traits. Racially, they're non-human... ambiguous."
"So Heungmi qualifies?"
"Maybe. She's an animal, not a beast."
The debate spiraled into a maze.
"Even pet monsters exist—does that mean they count? As long as it's not a person?"
"No idea. What's the criterion?"
Rune, who'd experienced conceptual magic via Christina's transmission, struggled for a clear answer.
Especially since it was primordial elven standards—beings from an era too distant to grasp fully.
Belianus finally cut through the confusion.
"Why not test it simply? Place a hand on the token—it'll check if teleportation activates. If mana flows, it recognizes you as an animal. No reaction means otherwise. I can cancel before full activation."
"Good. Let's do it quick."
Perdikion volunteered first, extending his hand.
They waited, but the token stayed inert.
"Tch."
He looked disappointed but unsurprised.
"Next, Heungmi!"
Heungmi shot up her hand and scampered over, tail wagging.
Her tiny palm touched it, and mana light swirled in silvery blue.
"Yay! Heungmi passes, right?"
She beamed, ears perked, and withdrew her hand.
Rune's turn next.
Like Perdikion, no reaction.
Heungmi passes, but Perdikion and I don't.
Baekya tried a paw—just as easily lighting it up.
Dullahan and Jed were out of the question; Rand failed too.
Belianus nodded, summarizing.
"So... Lord Rune, Lord Perdikion, Rand, and Dullahan are no-go. Baekya and Heungmi can."
"Won't work. Can't just send Heungmi and Baekya alone."
Rand summoned his bluebird at Rune's words.
"Linked as my familiar, it can scout inside and relay intent."
"Too risky. It's just a normal bird's body. Demons inside would drain its life with a gesture."
Rune pondered as Perdikion flatly rejected it.
Animal... animal. Who here counts as one?
One idea flashed by.
A massive loophole, but viable—at least for Rune, Rand, and Perdikion.
"Brother, I have an idea."
"What?"
"Not sure if it'll work, but worth a shot."
Rune pulled off his bracelet with reluctance.
Instantly, he reverted to his small black hatchling form.
"Oh ho. So this is the Darkness Clan's heir's true form. Embracing the night—quite dashing."
"Chii."
Thanks, I guess.
Rune nodded politely at Belianus's words.
His true form looked every bit the beast—no, a hatchling.
"Chyu, chwa."
Show me the token.
Belianus knelt, understanding, and held it out.
Rune placed a black paw pad on it.
Flash!
"......"
The token reacted, mana light flowing.
Rune stared half-dazed; Perdikion gaped in disbelief.
"Does this even work?"
"......Chyuuu."
No choice.
Perdikion ground his teeth at the quietly chirping Rune.
No alternatives.
"Insane. No one breathes a word of this."
"Ahem, understood."
Belianus couldn't hide his fluster, coughing dryly.
Rand had turned away, head bowed low.
Rune shook his head slowly.
Don't know saying that draws more attention.
"Whoa! Lord Rune's true form!"
Heungmi hugged him excitedly.
Baekya fluttered around too, prompting Perdikion to finally release his polymorph.
"Kyak."
Rand nodded at the black hatchling Rune and the crimson-tinged scarlet hatchling Perdikion.
"Been a while seeing kin hatchlings. Here, take this bird."
Oblivious, Rand handed over the bluebird casually.
"Kak."
[I see you smirking. Control that mouth.]
"Hm, it's just... nice seeing hatchlings after so long."
"Kyak!"
[Liar!]
The scarlet hatchling squawked; Rand, barely containing laughter, handed it over and stepped back.
Belianus, composure regained, offered the token discreetly.
"I've heard ancient elven conceptual magic bends to the caster's subjectivity... but innate nature and appearance matter more than expected. Feels oddly intimate with our ancestors. Anyway, impressed by your unforeseen wisdom, Lord Rune. Time's short—let's go."
"Chyuuu."
"Ppi-yak!"
"Chyu-kak."
"Yesss!"
Paws, hands—and the bluebird perched lightly on Belianus's shoulder.
Flash!
The token gleamed, and the group vanished.
Rand returned to the carriage, closing his eyes to share senses with his familiar.
Meanwhile, safe in the office, the lone elf, birds, fox beastkin, and hatchlings scanned around before staring at Belianus.
"......Chyu."
What're you doing, elf?
Rune quickly covered Heungmi's eyes and fixed Belianus with a stare.
"Well... fifty years ago, I was quite vigorous myself. One moment."
The elf chuckled awkwardly, muttering "Let me see" as he shoved desk clutter away.