Chapter 98: Chapter Eighty-Four After a Brush with a Dragon

She sighed, as she looked at her reflection. It had been a few hours since her brush with a dragon. Prominently reflected in the mirror was her bare chest with that dragon's mark quite clearly emblazoned between her boobs. The intricate symbol seemed quite at home between her modest mounds and drew the eye to her chest. Inviting people to look over her large purple areola, and delicate little nipples. To ogle at her light blue mounds of taut breast. Flesh that was rather uncovered at the moment, and was likely to never be covered again.

She’d been in here the last couple of hours since her shift ended, experimenting with different tops. Finding one that worked with her status was proving quite difficult, especially since the mark vehemently objected to any top that covered it. It didn’t matter how little it was covered, if so much as a string ran across the place where the mark graced her chest, the top she was wearing would disintegrate, instantly. The pile of ruined tops to her left was a testament to that.

A knock at her door interrupted her reflections, and she bade the other party to enter. A click, and the sound of rushing air greeted the other party, a younger woman of lower status as she came in. The other girl wore much more both up top, and down low, a sign of her status. The other girl was holding a basket, but she paused in the doorway, her gaze locked on something. The captain knew what, it was her own bare chest.

She sighed, “Don’t just stare at me,” pausing while pointing at the pile of ruined tops, “just get rid of these for me.”

With that, she slipped past the other woman, and into the hall. Already she had plans to talk to someone she trusted about this. She also had to make a report back to the homeworld, but that was going to have to wait. While it was possible to attempt communications in the middle of a jump, it wasn’t advisable. There were a few problems that severely affected the quality of comm signals sent from a ship mid-transit, strangely it was easier to receive than transmit. It had more to do with the slipstream than it did the fact that they were moving faster than light.

That fact meant that she had plenty of time to have a talk. Especially seeing as they still had about four hours left on this jump. After that was a day and a half sublight journey to the next jump node on their current course. She planned to make her report to the homeworld as soon as they returned to normal space. That was going to be an interesting conversation no doubt. It was not every day that you get to tell your superiors that an enemy invasion was delayed on account of a dragon. Of course she was also going to have to detail her own encounter with said dragon. She even bore the mark to prove it. One she was not even allowed to conceal.

That mark was also what she wanted to talk about. The captain had someone in mind for that conversation, someone she not only trusted but was quite comfortable having rather... private conversations with. That person was her first officer, someone she had known for a long time. They had met years ago, back when both of them were fresh cadets having joined the academy straight out of their required schooling. They had been young then, barely fourteen years when they joined the academy, and the both of them had interesting stories to tell from that period. Regardless, despite some of their more... audacious escapades, they had both managed to pass with flying colors, and join the service as young ensigns. With time they had risen the ranks, each competing with the other, but she had been the one to make it to captain first. Some of it perhaps had to do with her family, they had status and connections, but those alone only got a girl so far. Talent and determination to succeed had done the rest. Helped her impress the right people, and earn her a command. Of course she didn’t forget her friend/rival once she had her command, and she had invited the other woman aboard as first officer.

She hadn’t told the other girl, but she had actually put her first officer up for a promotion. In fact, once this tour was over, she would have to look for a new first officer. The Admiralty had a command lined up for her already. It was a nice one too. A good ship, and she knew her first officer would jump at the chance. Perhaps they would even have a chance to revive their old relationship?

Pushing those thoughts aside, she adjusted herself, and ignored the way the others were looking at her. She knew why. It was because she was topless right now. It wasn’t because being topless was wrong, but rather that her current outfit proclaimed a higher status than she had. Much higher in fact, but there was nothing she could do about that. Already she could hear the rumor mill working.

Thankfully she didn’t have to deal with it much longer, as she had reached her destination. She hit the bell, and put aside that problem for now. It was one that future her could deal with.

A voice bade her to enter, and a familiar form smiled when they saw her, “So Reisha? Couldn’t find a top?”

She giggled, “No, Mel. This damn mark apparently has a mind of its own, and... rejected all the regulation tops I have.”

Mel blinked, “Rejected? Surely not. It’s just a weird tattoo the dragon gave you, right?”

Reisha sighed, “I don’t think so. If you don’t mind sacrificing a top I can show you what I mean.”

Mel chuckled, “Well I don’t see how a tattoo can object, but I guess I have an old top you can borrow.” As she said that, she walked over to her closet, and pulled a top out.

Reisha took it, “are you sure? You don’t mind losing this one?”

Mel waved it off, and Reisha stared at the short top for a moment or two. At least until things got uncomfortable, and she slipped it on. Almost immediately after the fabric settled over her chest, the mark glowed. The glow grew bright, moments before a tearing sound resounded through the silent room.

Mel simply stared as the pieces of fabric fell from Reisha’s frame to the floor. Reisha slumped a little, and looked down at the debris. “See? I told you, my mark objected to being covered.”

“I, uh, guess you did. But um,... How?”

Reisha shrugged, “I have no idea. Might as well chalk it up as magic for all I understand about this.”

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Mel dropped into one of the chairs in her quarters, “Magic? Huh, not often I hear that word used seriously, but I doubt you came here to discuss magic.”

Reisha let herself fall into a chair opposite Mel. “No I was hoping you would have a few ideas about what to do about this?

With that, the two discussed the problem at length and even lost track of time. Before they knew it, the bridge called. Informing them that they were about to return to normal space. With a sigh, she slipped out of the chair, and headed on to make her report. That was a conversation she was not looking forward to.

---

Uliera shifted her bulk a bit, as she reached out. Today had been a good day. Not only did she now have a pair of daughters that she had adopted, but now she had thirty new servants, and something far more important. She had a priestess candidate, someone that could spread her will, and work towards her ends for her. Among the younger cultures nearby anyway. The Erali were her neighbors, and it was good to have a priestess among their number. With a bit of work she could establish a temple. Such a thing would provide her much influence with the Erali, along with another stream of servants to build her nest with. The Neku had only provided her with the minimum she needed. It was enough to start her nest, but eventually, she would need more. Especially as her brood grew. Not all of her servants would be babysitters for her growing brood.

There was much that her ‘Dragontouched’ as they have often been called by other races would be charged with. From their ranks, she would raise caretakers, priestesses, and nature mages. It was the third group that would be most important. This world was fertile, and so were her sisters. Fertile enough to support a nest for decades, with a few more to her name, she could assure prosperity for her brood for many centuries to come. Those nature mages would be the key to that, as they would be the ones who would ensure that these worlds truly bloomed with life. As those mages could bless the soil, and stimulate the plants to grow so well that they make weeds look tame. Such mages can help the animal life quite a bit as well. Bringing with them the kind of bounty that would be needed to truly sustain her children. No nest could survive indefinitely without a steady source of food, and with nature mages blessing her lands, she could be assured of plentiful game to hunt.

Such mages weren’t the only agents she could train from the ranks of her servants. With nature mages stimulating the land and bringing life, there were other mages that could help with the abundant magical energies that came forth on worlds with plentiful life energy. Stimulating the flows of the ley lines, and building a magical nexus that could channel the energies needed to protect her nest from possible aggressors. Those special servants were referred to as Primal Arch-Priestesses and were perhaps the most important type of magical servant a dragon could teach. Much of the work they do was something she could do herself, but she alone would not be sufficient for the needs of a growing nest, and certainly not a developed nest. No society could stand on the shoulders of one dragon. Without others, her nest would surely disappear far too quickly.

Already, she was considering what to do with her new servants. How to train them, and what skills to teach them. It would perhaps depend on their aptitudes, but she would let them pick their path. After a test that would tell her what paths would suit them best.

Suddenly she felt another, familiar mind reach out in response to her telepathic hail, and touch hers. Uliera immediately shelved her line of thought, and happily gushed about her day.

After a moment or two her friend replied, “Sounds like you had a fun day. Did you receive the supplies I sent?”

“Oh, yes. They showed up just after the ship with my new priestess. Thank you, for sending them so promptly. It will be a big help.”

“Glad to hear it. I hope the Neku appreciate the supplies.”

“I’m sure they will. Many of them are struggling a bit, while others are doing better. Those supplies will ensure all of them prosper.”

“Sounds like things are going very well for you then.”

“Yes, they are, but what about yourself? Last I heard...”

“My investigation goes well. I’ve got enough pieces to begin planning what to do.” A mental sigh, and then she continued, “I am going to need your help though. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay here long enough to finish what I plan to do, but since your people are partially at fault for this, it is only fitting that you babysit the recovery.”

Uliera nodded, and sent her affirmation mentally, “Yes. I recall from our conversation the other day. I’ll be more than happy to watch over the Iniri and the Neku. I might have to call in a couple of friends, but I will make sure they respect the choices of the Neku, and the Irini. I will also make sure the Iniri learn to respect the choices of the Neku. People need freedom to make their own choices, or they will never grow.”

“Glad to hear that.” a pause, “I’ll let you know when I make my move, but that really depends on Kiru. I’m waiting until she is ready to make a choice on the direction I take. They are her people after all, and that is important if she is to trust me.”

Uliera interrupted, “I know. I understand. Anyway, I have some things to do, so I’m going to let you go.”

“Talk to you later then,” replied her friend. With that, the connection broke, and Uliera turned her attention to more immediate things. It was about time she found a Neku priestess of her own. In fact, she already had a candidate in mind, but first, they would need to be tested.

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