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The offer of Benevolencing went out at around 8 pm.

Erick did not wait unprepared. First, he told his three Benevolence dragons to watch out for fights and to minimize as much damage as they could, and not to actually get involved. They all seemed to think that they could do that rather easily, now that they weren’t crazed when seeing other dragons anymore. Erick didn’t trust them a whole lot right now, though, but every little bit of help would help, if shit hit the fan. And he wanted to spend at least a little bit of time with his new dragons.

Around 8:30 pm, Erick made better decisions and conversed with all of his Overseers in the same room, under a [Hasted Shelter], in order to inform them all of what he had done, and who he was now. That conversation went rather well, Erick felt, especially since everyone had a lot of news and problems that needed solved, apparently. Raingorl’s schools were up and running, but they needed more teachers and more money. Volaro, after being slightly upset that Burhendurur knew about Erick’s dragon-ness before him, wanted to talk to Erick about many different dragon-specific laws which he felt needed to be either codified into law, or left to culture to decide, and he needed to talk to Erick about all of that right now; before everything really got going. In Erick’s opinion, everyone should be the same under the law, but Volaro thought that a more nuanced take was necessary. They spoke about that for a while, and everyone else got involved, too.

Mox had some plots of land ready to go for the new planned cities, thanks to her own office and Kiri’s force multiplier of Sunny, but she had yet to get a single person to come to those new lands, and she needed to coordinate with Ar’Cosmos in a way Ar’Cosmos was not coordinating. That conversation took up another hour.

Zolan was the first to suggest that they could all benefit from a mass meeting like this once a week, outside of time. Erick rapidly agreed that perhaps they should have been doing this for a while now, and then they got back on track, sorting out Ar’Cosmos’s new city and what they all expected of all the new dragons coming into Candlepoint. Burhendurur and Volaro could speak on behalf of Ar’Cosmos for most large operations, but actual nuanced takes and knowing what would actually happen once all the people started flowing in, would have to happen through actual representatives of Ar’Cosmos.

The meeting ended after five hours of subjective time, ending at 8:36.

At 8:49 the first requests came in from Ar’Cosmos.

And then came correspondences from all over the world. It started as a trickle, but Erick had knocked loose one of the supporting structures of civilization itself, and the mountain started to rumble. An avalanche of requests and demands came to him, some worded more strongly than others, most espousing how much good they could do if they were allowed to act openly instead of hiding themselves behind intermediaries as they usually did. Some spoke directly of how they had seen new dragons out in the grasslands of Candlepoint, and how they would be delighted to breathe forests into existence, too, in exchange for being freed from the Curse.

Erick had another [Hasted Shelter] meeting with all of his overseers at 9:32, which lasted a while.

He came out of that meeting with a much better plan than the one he had had before.

At 10:02, Erick entered the first of his meetings with the 6 dragons Fairy Moon had requested to be removed from Ar’Cosmos.

– – – –

Under a dark sky, but inside a [Fairy Stronghold] lit with light, Erick stood in a [Zone of Peace] with a large demi woman who was not demi at all. Her name was Emprazala, and she layered robes and dresses upon herself like she was both an empress from a different era, and a courtesan, with the top halves of her bountiful assets held up by all that fabric and gently jiggling as she breathed. She was not happy to be here, but she was still here, and her presence had happened without any fight at all.

So that was a plus, really.

It was only Erick and Emprazala, though; no one else was in attendance. As the avalanche of demands and requests flooded in, those dragons became investigation targets by all of House Benevolence. Burhendurur and Volaro knew of Emprazala and these first ten people, though, and so Erick had accepted a verbal recommendation on Emprazala and ‘her people’. All the rest needed real investigations, though, and so the House was working on those.

Erick’s time was a lot more valuable right now; he just needed a bit of time with all these people, alone, in order to figure them out a bit and make the final decisions.

Erick began with, “I will be putting up a [Hasted Shelter], so that we may have this discussion without worry of time.”

Emprazala tried not to show that she was impressed that Erick knew Time Magic, but she gave that away in her face. Her voice and eyes were completely calm, though, as she said, “I agree to this.”

Another wave of magic went out and enveloped both of them, and the world outside went stock-photo still. Erick relaxed a little, and so did Emprazala.

“We’ve got hours now, if we need it.” Erick said, “Please tell me what is going on inside Ar’Cosmos.”

Emprazala’s estimation of Erick went up at that moment, but she was still wary. “It is the standard nature of Ar’Cosmos to deny all who oppose them and to demand unending fealty from those who enter their halls. You are not much better from what I have heard, but apparently the fairy did not expect all us Free Dragons to come together and simply overpower her House rule. And so, the Houses compensated. And so, me and my companions are here, somewhere in your lands, kept separate so as not to fight, or communicate, and kept docile with the promise of a real cure from the Curse; a cure that the Houses have been using to keep division amongst us for forever. If it weren’t for your own solving of the size problems of Ar’Cosmos I would think you one of those always-divisors; one of our always-overlords. You stand with their power. You stand with their backing. You use their rules and their reputations to better yourself. And now your announcement has done exactly what that fairy wished it to do; it has ruined all our plans to take Ar’Cosmos for ourselves, and to finally be free of the eternal tyranny of the Houses.” She said, “All we have to do is finally submit ourselves to them.”

“I meant the battle lines being drawn in Ar’Cosmos. I didn’t need a restatement of the politics. Has there been actual fighting? Deaths?”

“… Some. No real catastrophes.”

“Okay then. Great! So how do you want to be out here, as a Benevolence Dragon? What are your goals?”

“… You’re not going to demand something of me?”

“I will, but those demands will be in accordance with your own goals, and so the disruption to your life will be large, but it will be controlled.” Erick said, “You are from somewhere in northern Nelboor, and so you have resources and lands over there. Do you want a Gate from here to there? Or would you like to move your people and such over here? We have lots of open land in the Crystal Forest just waiting to be turned livable.”

Emprazala narrowed her eyes a fraction at Erick.

And then she started talking. Slowly at first, testing Erick for his own responses and molding her words accordingly, or at least trying to. Erick was rather good at keeping his own emotions in check, and nothing Emprazala said was worrying. Over the course of half an hour, she explained that she had already taken everything she could with her to Ar’Cosmos, while leaving behind a city that could still fend for itself well enough, and certain plots started that would see them peacefully subsumed by one of the neighboring nation states within five years. She had had plans to ensure that subsuming would happen peacefully, through intermediaries between Ar’Cosmos and Veird, but now that Erick’s Benevolencing option was here, and if he wanted, she would bring those few thousand people left in her old city to Candlepoint.

“Because I have decided to stay here, in Candlepoint, if the offer is open,” Emprazala said, “The resources I took with me to Ar’Cosmos have already been seized and they are lost to me, but having direct access to the Gate Network would be more than enough to rebuild everything that I have lost.”

“Is that all you wish, then? Surely there is more; I can tell there is more that you are purposefully leaving unsaid.”

“I do not ask for special treatment, for I would rather have never met you or been subject to Wizards at all. But. If there is political room for me somewhere, then I would have it.”

“Build your own city eventually; get a place on the Governor’s Court. Those are the people who will eventually be creating the laws of this land, though I will retain ultimate authority for as long as I deem it necessary. For now, that political body is just a way for all those who control a city to formally contact and work with each other, and a rather direct connection to House Benevolence, for my Castellan is on that court.” Erick said, “But for now, if you wish to move to Candlepoint and rebuild yourself and your people there, Candlepoint has lots of space and is getting bigger. Either option requires that you adopt the laws of the land. I have more information in a packet, if you want it.”

“… I saw that packet already.” Emprazala said, “I choose to rebuild in Candlepoint, and make a city of my own at a later date… Since lakeside land rights are not an option for me?”

“Correct. No one is getting lakeside land rights as of right now, no matter what option they choose.”

Emprazala already knew that, but she had asked anyway to be sure. “I would need to go through the City Hall there in order to make further arrangements for Candlepoint property, yes?”

“Correct.”

“I do not desire a Gate network to my old city. I desire a Benevolencing, and the granting of citizen-status of Candlepoint. I will be allowed to purchase and sell my own goods and create my own business in Candlepoint, as long as it is done in accordance with your own laws of the land.”

Erick nodded. “All good with me.”

Emprazala steeled herself. “Then I am ready.”

There wasn’t much more to the meeting than the casting of a single spell.

Emprazala became a sleek white-violet dragon atop a pile of purple gore. For a long moment after her transition Emprazala stared at her previous body, trying to come to terms with how much unexpected hate she had for it. And then she told Erick to do what he wanted with it.

And so, Erick ended up with another dumpster-full of dragon parts, and a dragon of Benevolence who was very ready to begin regrowing all the political and monetary value that Fairy Moon had stripped from her.

Erick moved on to the next case.

– – – –

Over the course of an hour, Erick transformed 5 more dragons into Benevolence, and gained four more colors of scales and bones. That was it for the 6 people from Ar’Cosmos that Fairy Moon demanded gone, and which she had suggested would be good Benevolencing targets.

And now Erick faced the first of the four which Fairy Moon also wanted gone, but who were not good Benevolencing targets. She had suggested that Erick [Reincarnation] all four of them.

And after the [Hasted Shelter] went up around them, Erick needed to know why.

“The fairy has suggested I deny you a Benevolencing, Markander.” Erick asked, “Why would she do that?”

Markander was a human man of no particular looks. This was likely by design. Even as the truth of Erick’s words crashed into him, his reactions were oddly subdued, as if he was missing some part of him that enabled him to have proper reactions. But still, Erick saw as Markander switched from assured optimism to smoldering hate.

And then he said, “I’ll take a [Reincarnation].”

“… You don’t want to talk about it?”

“Not especially. Don’t like talking and you got your orders.”

“Not ‘orders’ actually. Suggestions. You’re the one who seems like he takes orders well, because it seems that you’ve already accepted that this was going to happen when you came here, because it plays into some sort of other scheme happening out there in whatever organization you got going on with Emprazala and the others.” Erick said, “She’s going to Candlepoint along with Geronial, but Baronoli and the others are going to Ar’Cosmos’s new city by the lake. So there’s some sort of political bloc being built out of you people, and while I don’t have the whole story, I have a lot of it. Just tell me what your plans are, Markander, and I might choose to allow you to remain a dragon.”

Markander frowned a little, saying, “It’s nothing sinister. It wouldn’t have been anything sinister in Ar’Cosmos, either. We were going to grow to a large enough size and power to request and then demand a seat at the House’s tables, expanding the seats of power of the Free Dragons in the Rotunda in accordance with our population. We outnumber the Houses a hundred to one, and so we would have used that clout to demand control of Ar’Cosmos. Everything would have remained the same, but we would have been in control instead of them.” He added, “The plan changed a bit when we got here. Now, we’re aiming for a seat at the Overseer’s table, or possibly control of the Governors Court.”

… ‘Not sinister’ had a very broad definition, apparently.

Or maybe all these people were truly good people? Erick didn’t know their whole story.

“I am very glad you didn’t try to lie to me, or to hide some of the truth. But why not?”

Markander said, “Because I never wanted to get involved with a Wizard and especially not a Dragon Wizard, and if you already have this much of the plot then you probably got it all, anyway. And I doubt that you would kill us for our temerity, unlike Bright Smile. If I can secure my own draconic power through telling the simple truth, I will.”

Erick breathed deep, feeling secure in his decision. “Acceptable. I appreciate your candor.” And then he looked at Markander. “But why was it suggested to me that you, specifically, not be allowed to remain a dragon?”

“… I’m an assassin.”

“Good. Glad you told the truth.” Erick gestured to his side.

Goldie, the Shade of Assassination appeared, resplendent in her black armor and with her giant black sword floating behind her back. She smiled wide, saying, “Hello, Markander! Long time, no clash!”

Markander stared at Goldie, his eyes going wide. And then he breathed out. He slumped a little. “Ahh. Hello, Goldie. Is this the end, then?”

Goldie said, “Not the end, but it is your official retirement notice! Act in accordance with your Class, and without my Lord’s express call to action, then you will be cut down. Also! You’re mine, from now until forever. You may look forward to working on the same side, if you wish! I know I will be.” And then she vanished back into the ether.

Markander did not have time to recover.

For Erick made him an offer, “Rat out everyone else, accept a [Blessing of Empathy], and vow to work under Goldie from now until I deem your term of service over, and I will Benevolence you. Otherwise, it’s a [Reincarnation], and you still have to rat out everyone else. No [Blessing of Empathy] that way. You’re not leaving this place any other way.”

With no hesitation, Markander said, “I’ll accept the second offer.”

And then Markander began talking, and talking, and talking.

When he was done, and Erick felt he had truly given up all the information he could, Erick gave him a new body and Status through [Reincarnation]. Erick hit all of Markander’s requests, and the man wasn’t stupid enough to request to be devoid of emotions this time. Markander got a rather normal human male body, with a penchant for gardening and raising animals, and bisexuality.

The other three operatives of Emprazala’s group received mostly the same treatment, but with variations all around. Only one other person was an assassin, though. The other two were simply generals of small armies who had already moved to Ar’Cosmos. Those generals had been planning on rebuilding here in Candlepoint, but Erick cut that problem off at the root. On the Ar’Cosmos side of things, they were currently in the process of dismantling those armies and incorporating them into their standing forces. All those other people Erick never saw and would never know about, would have been something like loyal agents waiting for a proper time to strike, if necessary. Now, with their leaders gone, that whole plan was gone, too.

Erick would not be inviting those soldiers into Ar’Cosmos’s city by the lake, either.

Erick informed Burhendurur of all this, charging him with keeping eyes on them.

– – – –

After those first ten dragons were sorted, Erick felt it had gone rather well, and for many different reasons. Not only had no one even tried to fight him, but Fairy Moon’s recommendations had been appropriate, and prudent. A point back in the fairy’s favor, Erick supposed.

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Fairy Moon was still rather deep in the hole, though.

– – – –

Four days later Erick was finished with the Free Dragon ‘crisis’ of Ar’Cosmos.

He had made the right choice, again. Probably.

The sky of his Gate Space confirmed that many of the darker tangles in the future were simply gone. Erick’s choice of becoming a Benevolence dragon and helping others do the same had apparently been a big deal, solving many future problems before they could manifest as anything more than simple shadows in the sky. Even the orbiting planets beyond the hundred-year-wall of problems looked clearer; more simply there, and less full of dark spots.

The entire sky looked rather clear.

So why was Erick worrying?