"I'm not saying we don't decide, but perhaps we should take some time and consider our options today? We don't have to leave right away, after all." Chelsea replied.

"And, king Throm needs to be a.s.sured the Trader doesn't have his claws in Throm's men. He said he needs our help." Gerard pointed out.

"That, too. If we were to leave Teacher here, we can't have anyone possessed by the Trader anywhere near my teacher!" Ponzu nodded emphatically.

Christian sighed. "All right. For now, we secure the perimeter, and clean up the city. We'll hold off deciding what we should do until after that. Jasmine, can I leave it to you?"

"As long as they're all together, and with the right aiding materials and magic circles, I can invoke a ma.s.s high heal spell that covers the city." Jasmine agreed.

And so, Chelsea remained behind with Liam to watch over Robin, while the others left to help King Throm. In order to pull the wool over the eyes of any spies, it was announced that Lady Ayva had been the one to fall prey to Klargun's Brew.

By executive order, absolutely everyone was to gather around the plaza where the Hero's blade rested. King Throm would be giving an address, there. Jasmine was given full access to what resources she needed. Christian used his nature magic to tie up any belligerent or quarrelsome dwarves.

And, lastly, Quinn used his instant transportation system to move the stubborn or immovable to the plaza area. While he wouldn't usually be so cooperative, the Trader had touched his bottom line. He had cut off Quinn's earth food supply. While Ponzu could bake a lot of earth recipes, there would be no new ones until Robin awoke. Thus, Quinn was the one who moved around the most during this time.

----------

Skye stretched, and looked about. The time period was almost up. He had to expel the poison he had gathered from Robin soon. He tapped Chelsea's hand.

"Skye? What is it?" Chelsea asked.

Skye meowed.

Chelsea tilted her head. "Are you hungry?"

Skye shook his head. "Meaaaow." He said, trying to tell her it was something important.

Liam interjected. "No. He wants to tell you something important."

Skye tilted his head at Liam. "Bbggrrreaow?" It meowed at Liam.

"I did spend ten thousand years in a city. If I hadn't learned cat language, by today, then I'm the most un.o.bservant dragon in history." Liam replied.

Skye's eyes lit up as it started meaowing at Liam.

"...Your sure?" Liam asked.

Skye nodded, emphatically.

"What is it?" Chelsea asked.

Liam turned to Chelsea. "Skye, here, was using his blood contract connection to gather as much of the Klargun's brew from within the bloodstream as possible. He needs to know where to extract it from."

"Where is it now?" Chelsea asked.

Skye meowed again.

"Currently, it is gathered around the back, near the navel." Liam said. Chelsea realized where it was. She turned to Liam.

"Thank you for the help, but I'll need you to leave the room." She said.

"Are you sure? You don't need me to translate anymore?" Liam asked, not understanding.

"It's fine. I need you to stand guard at the door to make sure no one walks in and interrupts the second extraction." Chelsea said, shooing him out.

"Okay." Liam stepped outside, closing the door. He didn't question Chelsea's reasons anymore. That was because dragons were notably best at guarding things.

Chelsea waited until Liam had closed the door before hissing a whisper at Skye. "Really? The kidneys!? You couldn't store it anywhere else?" Skye shook its head. The kidneys were one of the main organs that filtered the blood. If he had attempted to gather it anywhere else, he might not have succeeded.

"I'll help, but I'll need to rely upon you to let me know if I manage to get it all." Chelsea sighed. She determined never to speak of this situation ever.

------

King Throm stood upon the small stage constructed next to the Hero's Blade. He looked out over the crowd. Quinn had even transported a few of them on top of the roofs of the buildings, to make sure they were all close enough.

Throm glanced over at Jasmine, who was waiting nearby. Unlike usual, she held an impressive-looking staff in her hand. She nodded at him, indicating that she was ready to begin. He raised his hand to quiet the somewhat chaotic crowds.

"My dear subjects..." Throm began. "Something terrible has happened yesterday. My dear wife, Ayva, was tha subject of a terrible plot...."

The dwarves began to murmur. The rumor had flown through the city that Queen Ayva had been slipped Klargun's Brew.

"Somehow, though she were drinking her own home-brewed drink, the dear girl collapsed, and we found Klargun's brew in tha drink." Throm announced. At this, a great many people were alarmed. Throm waved his hand, and they quieted down.

"We don't know who is responsible for this incident." Throm said. "But I have gathered you here ta ask for ideas. Is there any way we might be able to mitigate or neutralize tha foul potion as would send mah wife ta sleep?"

Jasmine began activating the large magic circle around them. However, she had forgotten a key instrument that stood at the center of the circle. In this case, it was probably a good thing. The Hero's blade began to hum as it gave out a very bright light. Magical resonation enhanced Jasmine's spell to the point where it covered the entire city in a ma.s.s high heal.

Within the light, certain people, animals, and creatures began to scream like they were witnessing a b.l.o.o.d.y murder. Birds from Ayva's garden, rodents in the city, more than several chameleon lizards even fell to the ground, dead-unable to bear the pain. This unsettled the dwarves about them, as they saw a figure of a human being drawn up out of the dwarves. Once Jasmine confirmed that all the Trader shadows were destroyed, she ended the spell.

Throm nodded. "I suppose you saw those as did not experience a high heal painlessly. That is because I have now been made aware that there is an invisible infiltrator in our midst, a spirit master the likes of which hasn't been seen since almost a millennium ago. And this spirit magic user can latch onto you, undetected, making you do things which you would not even think of doing. Please forgive me for not warning you beforehand. I could not take the chance of allowing a single affected person to escape and endanger my city once again."

At this, Throm, the proud half-dragon dwarf, actually bowed in apology to his subjects. This startled them all into a dazed silence. Since the dawn of dwarvenkind, the king had never bowed his head before his subjects before.

"Ah also want to inst.i.tute a new rule from now on. In concordance with Ayva's temporary measures, I will install a permanent office at the gate for a king slime. Those as enter must endure a checkup by said King Slime, including a high heal at the end. This be fer as long as said King Slime would grace us with its presence."

This greatly delighted the poor folk who would be able to receive free healing just by leaving and coming back through the gates. Those who were dwarven doctors, though, could only sigh with resignation. It seemed their business would be taking a hit in the near future.

"As for those among you who are doctors, do not be worried. Ah'm not gonna be leaving you ta twiddle yer thumbs. But Ah will be announcing an opportunity fer you at a later date. Ye may all return ta yer homes now. Ah may huv left the Hero with Ayva, but that dinnae mean Ah like being away fer too long." Throm dismissed.

With that, Quinn quickly whisked those he had transported back to where he found them.

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