A group of Pond Turtles swam in the reservoir, moving in a synchronized line. They shifted their formation beautifully from one line to two, then to three; it was a sight I never grew tired of watching.
And as I watched, I couldn't help but notice how much they had grown in number. At a glance, there were at least a hundred of them now. Well, that was fine by me. If the reservoir ever started to feel cramped, I wanted them to let me know. I would either expand the current one or dig a brand-new pond for them. The Pond Turtles were so low-maintenance that this was the least I could do. Helping a youngster when they got stuck in a narrow waterway was well within my tolerance levels.
Perhaps trying to compete with the turtles, the Pegasuses took to the sky, attempting to fly in a formation of their own. Even being generous, I couldn't call it a beautiful line. I suppose flying was inherently more difficult since it added vertical movement to the usual horizontal directions.
By the way, when did their numbers increase? Hadn't there only been six last year? I knew their numbers would grow through breeding, of course, but thirteen was a bit much, wasn't it? Had they really produced seven foals?
No, that wasn't right. The only ones born here were two foals who were still too young to fly; they stood beside me, watching the others with envy.
"Alright, you seven newcomers, gather over here for a moment."
I wondered when and where they had come from. Apparently, they had arrived in the village just yesterday. They had originally been raised in a village near the Royal Capital, but they were set free when the area became dangerous due to a surge in Monsters and Magic Beasts. Was it really okay to just turn them loose? I suppose from the villagers' perspective, keeping Pegasuses—which were prime targets for predators—nearby was more of a risk than it was worth. And for the Pegasuses themselves, being free was likely safer than being trapped in a stable.
So, had they flown all the way here on their own? No? A Dragon had told them about this place? Which Dragon?
The three from the Post-Age of Gods Dragon Race currently enjoying themselves in the Royal Capital? Ojes, Hyfryguta, and Kihatroy, if I recalled correctly. They had encountered the Pegasuses while out exterminating monsters and told them about the village. I see. Still, it was impressive that they managed the journey. The surrounding mountains were high, and the Forest was notorious for its dangers.
Wait, what? They had used a Short-distance Teleportation Gate to reach Village Five, and then came here through the main Teleportation Gate? Had the three dragons taught them how to do that? No, they had introduced the horses to Tiselle, and she had handled the logistics. That made much more sense. If I headed back to the Village Head's Mansion, I would likely find a letter from her with all the details.
"In that case, should I consider this a temporary stay?"
I assumed they would want to return once their original village was safe again. But apparently, since Tiselle had officially purchased them, they intended to settle here permanently. I didn't mind, but I gave them a firm warning not to pick fights with the original six. I also told them that once they settled into their new lifestyle, they needed to practice their flying. They were the ones who had been throwing the formation out of whack earlier.
Of course, if they preferred running over flying, that was a valid path too... though as I looked over at the Horses and Unicorns, I realized the competition in the running department was quite fierce. The new Pegasuses looked determined, so I figured they would be alright.
Still, I wondered why no one had reported their arrival yesterday. Not Kuro's Children, not even Zabuton's Children. When I voiced this question, one of Kuro's Children stepped forward to explain. It seemed the newcomers had collapsed the moment they arrived. The sudden change in environment must have been exhausting. The residents had intended to report once the newcomers woke up, which just happened to be now.
"I understand. I'm not angry, so don't apologize so much. It’s not like I need a report on every single little thing that happens."
Returning to the mansion, I found Tiselle's letter. It was a simple report: she had bought some Pegasuses and sent them to the village. She didn't mention who the previous owner was, so I assumed it wasn't anyone I needed to worry about. The rest of the letter was filled with updates on her life and a list of new ingredients Earth wanted for his shop.
Tiselle also seemed deeply interested in the specialty miso sticks I had given to Gratz. She asked about them in incredible detail. I wondered if Gratz had been bragging to her. I decided that once we moved into full production, I would send some to her and the others.
Additionally, she mentioned that the movie project with the Demon King as the lead was progressing. Ire's Filming Team was working hard on it. Apparently, there was a scene involving a reconciliation with the Inferno Wolves, and they wanted to film that part in the village. I would be troubled if they asked me to act, but I had no problem cooperating with the shoot itself. Ire and her crew weren't the type to make unreasonable demands. I decided to write back and tell them not to be strangers.
Draim eventually returned from his task. I asked if the hole in the barrier had been fixed.
"It's just a temporary patch for now," he replied. "It seems it has been open for a very long time, so a proper repair is impossible. If we want it perfect, it would actually be faster to just set up the entire barrier from scratch."
"Set it up again?"
"I would have to consult my father about that, but..."
Draim trailed off, glancing over at Dos. It wasn't just because Dos was currently holding Rusty's son, Kukulkan, but Dos shook his head emphatically, as if to say he wanted to put off any annoying work for as long as possible.
"I’m with him; I’d rather put off the troublesome stuff too," Draim muttered before heading toward Dos. It was obvious he was going to try and snatch the baby away for himself.
I was about to warn them not to start bickering while holding Kukulkan, but Lananon beat me to it. She gave both Dos and Draim a sharp scolding. Yes, Lananon was really becoming quite the responsible girl. She still couldn't transform into a Dragon, but she didn't seem particularly bothered by it. Rusty and Raimeiren both said that individual growth for Dragons was measured in decades, so there was no reason for her to feel rushed, nor for us to rush her. She could just take things at her own pace.
Despite Lananon’s warning, Dos and Draim only lowered their voices slightly while continuing their tug-of-war.
Perhaps that was the final straw. Lananon breathed fire. Not as a figure of speech, but literally. Real flames erupted from her mouth.
"Please excuse me," Lananon said politely. She took Kukulkan from Dos's arms, gave both the Dragon King and her grandfather a formal bow, and walked away with her brother.
...Children certainly did grow up fast.
Left behind, I sat down with Dos and Draim to drink some tea and talk about the challenges of raising children.