The Second Archon War: Sapientia Oromasdis 17 (Patreon)

Sapientia Oromasdis 17: An Ancient Seed

Rusting oil derricks stood like silent tombstones in the East Baghdad Oil Field, along with rundown offices and signs that warned of contaminated water and dead ground. Nahida could feel the poison seeping into the land here from the abandoned oil wells, and it made her weep.

Over the past twenty years, relentless attacks by Endbringers, new tinkertech sources of energy, and a collapsing global economy had slowly destroyed global demand for petroleum, and Iraq’s oil industry along with it. Japan suddenly obtaining seemingly unlimited clean energy had nearly been a death blow. Even after they had started importing fossil fuels again, there had been little demand for Iraq’s Black Gold, the existing demand being temporary at best, and the economy had continued to stagnate. Iraq still produced more than one million barrels of oil a day, but it was a far cry from what the nation was capable of producing. 

“Why do you bring us out here, Saeed?” an angry voice demanded. “This place is filthy, and it stinks.”

“All will be explained in time,” Grandpa Ali said with a chuckle, glancing over at Nahida. She tried to smile at him, but even in the car she could feel the pain of the dying life in this land. Something had to be done. It was why she was here. 

“I do not see why I have to be here with that abomination,” the angry voice said again, and the owner gave Nahida a sour stare behind his salt-and-pepper beard. The man in question was Imam Abdel Rahman, one of the more conservative and -- unfortunately -- important Shia Imams. He had no love for Saddam Hussein, but even less for Nahida due to her association with Farasha, who had long helped to oppress the majority Shia muslims. 

Thankfully, Farasha wasn’t here today; instead, she was in Basra, flexing her might and ensuring the loyalty of the Parahumans and Vision Holders in Iraq’s second-largest city. Not that she really needed to work that hard. The rest of the country’s capes had been terrified of Farasha before her new alliance with Papilio broke her Manton limits and allowed her to convert inorganic matter to butterflies as easily as blood. Though Nahida did want more than fear from the Iraqi cape community, for now, that would suffice. 

“That girl is more faithful in her prayers than any man I know, and she saved all of Baghdad from the Angel of Death. She is no abomination!” Imam Taher argued, which just earned him a sneer from Abdel Rahman. As Taher was younger than Abdel Rahman by 20 years and Sunni to boot, the older cleric had little respect for Taher. 

At last the car came to a stop, and Nahida waited for the clerics to step out first before Grandpa Ali helped her out of the large van. Around them, other vans were unloading, full of some of the most important government and military officials, ranking clerics, and several bemused academics from the university. 

“Aranarakin does not like this place,” the little aranara opined, looking around. “There is too much sand, and the valuka here is sick, dying.”

“I know,” Nahida whispered quietly. “That’s what we’re here to change.”

“So? You have brought us to a rusting oil rig. Will you use your demonic powers to make the oil flow again, and promise economic reforms? We shall not be bought off with filthy lucre,” Abdel Rahman said, folding his arms and glaring down at Nahida. 

“Tell me, Imam, do the people need oil?” Nahida asked Abdel Rahma.

The old cleric snorted, and for a moment Nahida thought perhaps he would not be drawn into a debate. But his pride and curiosity wouldn’t let the question of a young child that had been asked politely go unanswered. “Of course not. Iraq has more oil than she needs. We do not need more oil. What would it do but rot in barrels? The Japanese are buying less every day as their demonic Shogun works her foul magics. And Europe is even worse with their false angel and his blasted wind farms.”

Nahida didn’t comment on the fact that the Sakura Tree network and the new wind farms provided clean energy that didn’t pollute the soil and were revitalizing their countries economies. That wasn’t the point she wanted to make.

“Then, wise teacher, please, tell us. What does Iraq need?” Nahida asked. 

“To turn their faces from blasphemers, and embrace true Islam!” Abdel Rahma declared, grinning nastily at Nahida.

“And if those things were to happen, what blessings would Allah send His children?” Nahida prompted. 

“Wealth beyond measure. Food and jobs for our people, and a new golden age of learning and faith,” Abdel Rahma responded. 

Nahida nodded thoughtfully, as hordes of Aranara waddled towards her. The adults couldn’t see the little fae as they flitted about, moving around the humans like rocks in a stream, but there were hundreds, perhaps thousands of them here, perched atop the dilapidated buildings and spreading out across the polluted sands. Even as repulsed as they were by the oil and filth, they still gathered, and Nahida would forever be grateful for their loyalty.

“I cannot turn the hearts of men back to Allah. But perhaps I can do something to feed His children.” Nahida turned towards the aranara and spread her arms, closing her eyes. Then, raising her hands like a choirmaster, she began to lead her choir in song. 

It was not a tune sung in any human tongue, nor with words a human mind could have comprehended readily. It was a song of growth and renewal, of ancient stirrings, and of long past days. 

Slowly, Nahida established a connection with the oil. For though it was a poison, it had once been alive. And Dendro governed all living things, both poisonous and not. Slowly, Nahida’s awareness spread out over the hundreds of square miles of the oil field. It was small, relatively speaking, but it contained billions of barrels of oil and more gas. All of that had once been an ancient forest, full of living things, reaching out towards the sun, until an ancient calamity had buried it all. It had lain dormant, compressed into a toxic sludge by the eons.

But no longer. 

Within a few minutes of her singing, the oil nearest the surface began to respond to Nahida’s song. The rusting oil derrick groaned loudly, and Nahida heard cries of shock and surprise from the men behind her. But she didn’t let herself panic or rush. Life was her garden, and she would nurture and guide this life carefully. 

Gently, slowly, Nahida coaxed the newly reawakened Dendro energy up and out of the well, and encouraged it to grow into a mighty tree. The massive cedar grew rapidly, far more rapidly than a natural tree, until it towered more than 150 meters into the air, and its wide branches casted miles of shade over the ground. 

Nahida did not neglect the soil beneath her feet either: she encouraged grasses and flowers to grow, until the gravel and sand around her was transformed into a carpet of vibrant color by the rising tide of Dendro. 

Soon the wave of growth threatened to wash Nahida away in the ecstasy of life as the Aranara’s song became jubilant and proud, singing out with eager joy at the top of the little spirit’s lungs. But she did not let herself lose focus. All around her, an orchard began to grow. Pomegranates, dates, oranges, lemons, almonds, olives, apricots, plums, and grapes grew rapidly around her in rows that looked as carefully tended as any from a farmer’s land. And now harra fruit, zaytun peaches, ajilenakh nut, bulle fruit, sunsetia, and henna berry, fruits that had never grown upon Earth Bet sprouted, blossomed, and fruited. 

Beyond the orchards, fields of wheat and corn, acres of melons and squash, and endless rows of vegetables sprouted and grew, until they were just right for harvest. Beyond that, groves of cedar, karmaphala, and athel trees grew, along with dozens of extinct geniuses of plants that in some cases had not been seen in more than a hundred million years. 

It took hours, but when Nahida finished her song, she felt more full of energy and life than she had in centuries. Perhaps since the moment she’d first manifested. She turned around to see the scholars happily examining several varieties of Teyvat native plants, as well as long extinct Earthling plants while engaged in fierce debate. 

But behind her, sitting cross legged on the ground, Imam Abdel Rahma sat, tears streaming down his face silently as he looked out across nature’s bounty. After a moment’s thought, Nahida stooped and quickly braided a crown of flowers. Then she shyly walked forward, holding out the crown to Abdel Rahma as she stood before him. 

“For you. To remember that there is always beauty in the creations of Allah the Wondrous,” Nahida said.

Abdel Rahma blinked, his eyes slowly focusing on Nahida. Hands shook but quickly steadied as he took the crown of flowers, running the delicate blossoms gingerly between his gnarled and wrinkled fingers. After several long moments, he asked in a hoarse voice, “And what is the price for this… gift… you have given us?”

“Why don’t you ask them?” Nahida asked, and nodded behind them. 

Slowly, Imam Abdel turned his head. Then, on trembling knobby knees, he stood, watching as the crowds of men and women, children and elders, the poor and the unwanted, began to pick the fields of fruit, laughing and singing as they worked. Some had baskets, others backpacks, many plastic buckets and bicycles. They were harvesting the food that had been grown, taking what Nahida had provided. It was a long walk from Baghdad, being an hour by car, so Nahida had called for hundreds of buses to bring them all out. They had scattered about, eagerly gathering what was on offer. 

“Are they Sunni, or Shia?” Abdel Rahma asked, looking down at Nahida, still holding the flower crown in one hand. 

She considered that. She knew the numbers of course. Most were Sunni, but there were plenty of Shia as well. In the end, she answered with a better question. “They are Allah’s children. Does it matter?”

The old Imam considered that, then chuckled, and placed the flower crown up on his head. “No. I suppose it doesn’t.” 

Beaming, Nahida took the old man’s hand. “Come on! I want to show you the henna berry! It’s not native to this world, but in a distant land, they make the sweetest juice with it! You have to try some!”

Soon, Nahida had the cantankerous old cleric picking the spiky red fruits from the otherworldly cacti, and the two of them had the sticky scarlet juices running down their cheeks, and in Rahma’s case, wetting his beard. 

In the end, he was just one grumpy old man, but he was an important old man. Nahida helped him pick a basket full of the fruit to take to his grandchildren, then returned to where Grandpa Ali was waiting with several of the more senior generals and government ministers. 

“You can do this anywhere?” one old soldier asked, looking at a date he’d plunked from a nearby palm tree.

“Not anywhere. Oil was once alive. It’s still full of potential energy. I just converted it from potential Dendro to living plants,” Nahida said with a shake of her head. “There has to be a reservoir of power to tap to grow life like this. And there will be consequences.”

“Oh?” the general looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Will the plants cause disease? Cancers?”

“What? Oh, no. Um, I just wonder… how would people feel about dinosaurs walking the Earth again?” Nahida asked innocently. She was fairly sure that would take at least a few weeks before they started showing up again, but they had soldiers and capes ready, just in case. So far, they’d just had to beat back the overly enthusiastic fungi and slimes. The whopper flowers and specters would come within days though. 

“You’re joking, right?” one of the ministers asked, going slightly pale. 

“Well, this field was too old for many mammals, so it will probably mostly be non-avian dinosaurs,” Nahida said seriously. “It dates back to the Cretacious period, so it’s likely some of those species will re-emerge as the Dendro energy continues to well forth.”

“And how long will that last? Will this go back to a desert once this… dendro… is exhausted?” the general asked, holding up his date and eyeing it skeptically. 

“Hmm, well, I suppose that will eventually happen,” Nahida admitted. She did some quick math, then nodded. “According to my calculations, the current reserves, along with the rate of reaction and replenishment…yes. It is likely that the Dendro energy will run dry in approximately 500,000 years, give or take ten millennia. It will need a closer study to see the actual rate of change before I can give a more firm estimate, but that will take at least a century of study.”

The general stared goggle-eyed at Nahida for a long moment. Then he laughed, and popped the date in his mouth. “So, what you’re saying is, no, it will never run dry.”

“That’s not what I said at all,” Nahida said, feeling slightly exasperated. “In about half a million  years, it will run dry unless steps are taken to conserve and perpetuate it.” Then she paused. “Although, at such a large time scale, we would need to model how climate change and continental drift would affect things… hmmm. This does merit further study…”

“Young lady, what I care about is if this can feed my troops and the city for the next half a century. What you’re saying is yes, it can. It’ll feed us for the next five, five thousand centuries. This is effectively an unlimited super-producing region. An army marches on its stomach, and this area will produce nearly as much food as the rest of Iraq combined!” The general laughed, gesturing broadly to the fields around them. 

That wasn’t as much of a gross exaggeration as he thought. If anything, it was a serious understatement. With so much Dendro Energy, the crops would grow at an accelerated rate, with a full harvest every season even for the slower growing crops. Plus, the abundance of Dendro would increase the yield and nutritional value of the harvest to levels a normal field could never hope to match. 

“If you do this to more oil fields… think of the exports!” an official said excitedly. “The Japanese are still desperate for food!” 

“Well, I hadn’t intended to do this to all of Iraq’s oil fields, petroleum does still have its uses,” Nahida said with a shake of her head. “But certainly I think we should strongly consider converting several of the oil fields on arable land into Dendro Reservoirs.”

“Yes… this is the sort of power we could use to conquer the world,” the general agreed, his eyes wandering greedily over the still growing orchards and fields. 

“That is not what this is for!” Grandpa Ali barked, his eyes going steely. “Our people have had enough of war. We need peace. Time to rebuild and regrow. Besides, do you really wish to see my daughter and granddaughter march to battle? Guns and tanks have no place on the modern battlefield. We have a chance to forge a great nation. Not with the sword, but with the plow.”

That statement caused the general to glower, so Nahida put an arm on his sleeve. “We will still need soldiers. The Dendro Reservoirs will be dangerous. As I said, you can expect to see dinosaurs and other megafauna growing here soon, and the workers will need to be protected. We will also need to safeguard roads and the wilderness against the influx of slimes, whopperflowers, and mutated lifeforms. We don’t have enough Parahumans or Vision Holders for such things. For that, we will need brave men to protect us. Is that something you can do, general?”

The old soldier looked across the fields, and subtly, Nahida sent him images of his wife and children, as well as his grandchildren. She reinforced it with images of him in uniform, leading his men to protect the walls of a peaceful garden against slimes and demons, protecting the innocent while still being an important and powerful man. 

Then she sent him a reminder image of a grinning Farasha. Not one of her gentle, kindly grins, but the fire and blood soaked mania the general had witnessed on the battlefield.

“Well. Perhaps that is not so bad,” the general grunted, shuddering slightly. He laid aside his dreams of conquest and glory for now, accepting the dream of peace and prosperity. Better to lead in a small paradise, then die needlessly before an inhuman monster. 

Nahida was going to have to do something about Farasha and Papilio. She was growing… too used to using them as deterrents, and she didn’t like that. They should be and were family first, and no matter how eager or little they minded being seen as Nahida’s weapon, Nahida wanted them to be more than that, be more than just a tool of terror. For now, however, she saw the wisdom in both the carrot and the stick. 

“We’ll need to build storehouses, train stations, and better rail and roads here,” Grandpa Ali was saying. “The harvest will indeed be plentiful, but we will have to drastically alter our economy.”

“And figure out what to do with the dinosaurs. If they really exist,” one of the bureaucrats snorted. 

Nahida firmed her lips, then gently tugged at a large bubble of Dendro she’d been suppressing. A few moments later, there was a sound like a bugle’s cry from the massive stand of cedars, and the ground shook slightly. There were cries of panic, and the soldiers reached for their weapons. 

“Don’t be alarmed, she’s friendly,” Nahida assured them, stepping over to the treeline as a sauropod with great leafy plants growing out of its back and a crown of flowers sprouting from its head emerged from the treeline. The creature was more massive by far than it had been in life, standing over 40 meters tall and weighing in at over 100 tons, its massive bulk supported by the Dendro that had given it life. 

All watched in amazement as Nahida commanded the creature to lift up its tail, from which Nahida caused long trailing vines to sprout. Then she grew a circular weave of woody branches, large enough for a child to sit in. The dinosaur slowly swung her tail back and forth, as Nahida sat on the large swing and giggled. Before long, she had a line of children, and even a few adults, waiting their turn for the dinosaur swing. 

After she was done, Nahida sat back down with the ministers, who were looking at the beast speculatively. 

“I changed my mind about the trains,” Grandpa Ali mused. He glanced at Nahida. “Think we could train some of those to pull wagons?”

“If you ask her very nicely, I’m sure Tiny would be happy to pull some wagons for you,” Nahida said soberly. “And I’m sure there will be plenty more of her friends who will help soon.”

“How do they taste?” a rather oblivious official asked, frowning. “If we could rear them for meat…”

Grandpa Ali gave the man an incredulous look, but Nahida laughed. “It is the nature of animals to provide both labor and food for mankind. Their meat is safe enough to eat. Though I would be cautious about eating the fungi. Some varieties can have rather novel effects on the human body and mind.”

“Jurassic Ranch,” the official chuckled. “We’ll have everyone eating dinosaur steaks.”

“Cretaceous, actually,” Nahida corrected. “This particular field doesn’t date back to the Jurassic.” 

She did wonder what Abdel Rahma and the other Imam’s would have to say about the eating of dinosaurs. The debate over whether dinosaur was haram or halal would probably last centuries. 

And so the planning went on for some time, in the shadows of giants amidst fields of crops. It wasn’t the final step in building a new nation, but food security, economic opportunity, and the joy of new discoveries would be important in binding people together. But there was much work left to be done. 

The next morning, Nahida waited on the palace steps somewhat nervously. She was dressed now in the dress she’d arrived on Earth Bet in, combined with a loose green headscarf. Her ears and silver hair were exposed, and her feet were shod only in woven sandals. To her right, Bashir leaned heavily on his staff and Farasha’s arm, Qiqi standing quietly with them. And to her left waited Tessa in her humanoid form, dressed in a flowing green grown, a scarf similar to Nahida’s around her own head. 

Before them were assembled various important officials, including Grandpa Ali, who was serving as interim president. Saddam Hussein was currently imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Nahida was generally keeping him out of the spotlight as much as possible, save to prove that he was alive and well. 

Despite Farasha’s repeated attempts to kill her former boss, Nahida had put her foot down: the death penalty was suspended until they could have a Constitutional Convention, at which point Nahida very much hoped she could help see it outlawed entirely. All life was precious. Even former dictators. 

This was a new beginning for the country, and she would not have it baptized with blood.

It was hard not to fidget, however, and Nahida glanced once more up at the sky. 

“It will be fine,” Bashir said, putting a hand on her shoulder and gripping it. “Do not fear. I don’t think they mean to threaten you, but rather honor you.”

“Yes, it’s just-”

“PREPARE FOR TROUBLE!” a voice suddenly boomed across the courtyard as lightning flashed, and a blonde figure appeared on the walls. An instant later, a second figure arrived in a fountain of flames, and both struck a dramatic pose back to back. “And make it double!” 

“To protect the world from Devastation!” the first cried, putting a hand to her purple eye patch over her left eye.

“To unite all peoples within our nation,” the second said, a crimson patch over her right. 

“What are they-” Farasha began, but Nahida shushed her and had to fight back a giggle. 

“To denounce the evils of gold and war!”

“To extend our reach and the world explore!” 

“Ami,” the first figure purred, a bow appearing with a flash in her hands as she knocked a crackling bolt of violet lightning to the string. 

“Clara!” the other shouted, jumping up as half a dozen little bunny bombs exploded in a shower of red sparks. 

“The Prinzessen blasts off at the speed of light!” Ami declared, taking Clara’s hands and posing cutely.

Giggling, Clara winked and stuck out her tongue as she said. “Surrender now, or prepare to fight!” 

With a swirl of green wind, a little tanuki statue appeared, and then a much shorter girl popped out, looking bored and irritated. “Sayu. Ignore all that. We’re here for peace, not war.”

“Sayu!” Ami huffed, stamping her foot on the parapet as the assembled dignitaries looked on in bafflement. “That’s not the line!” 

The diminutive ninja rolled her eyes.“And I’m not a Pokémon, so I think it’s fair. Besides, just how many of these people do you even think speak Japanese?” 

As the three teens argued, there was a slight pop, and a little kirin appeared next to Nahida, making Farasha mutter an oath and reach for her weapon.

“What my Mistress says is that she gives all honor to Lord Buer,” Murasaki said, bobbing a bow in midair. “And she wishes to convey the greetings of her mother, the Raiden Shogun, as well as congratulations on your victory over the Demon of Song.”

“Does she?” Nahida asked, openly grinning now. “Well, that was very entertaining. It is, perhaps, best if you know that I do speak Japanese.”

Murasaki sighed heavily. “I was afraid of that.” He switched back to Japanese and called,  “Princess? Lord Buer can understand you perfectly. Perhaps you should come down and speak with her.”

On hearing that, Ami and her companions blushed, then hopped off the wall, a feat a normal human would have broken an ankle attempting, then scampered over to bow to Nahida. 

“Greetings, Lord Buer. I am Ami, Imperial Princess of Japan and Ward of Lord Beezelbul. I extend the welcome and greetings of my nation and mother.” Ami said breathlessly, straightening up and grinning eagerly. She managed it in accented Arabic, which showed that for all the theatrics, she did have a good mind hiding in there somewhere. 

“Welcome, Scion of Eternity. Though I fear that has been some mistake: I am not the ruler of Iraq. Currently, my grandfather, Ali Saeed, is serving as interim president.”

Grandpa Ali bowed slightly to the princess, smiling at her.

Ami just shrugged. “Yeah, but you’re the Archon. He works for you.”

“Perhaps that is the way of things in Japan, but I serve the people of Iraq. Not the other way around,” Nahida said gently, shaking her head slightly. 

“Well, OK. But it was still super cool how you defeated the Simurgh!” Ami said brightly as Murasaki quietly translated. 

“Mistress, do not forget your duty,” the little demon whispered after he finished translating.

“Oh, right!” Ami straightened up and bowed again. “I humbly request permission for the Hydro Dragon Keiga to be formally granted audience before the Dendro Archon.”

Nahida considered that, then tugged on Tessa’s sleeve. Her friend bent down, and Nahida whispered in her ear briefly.

“Huh? Me? What’s a gno-” 

“Just take it,” Nahida told her, passing a glowing green chess piece to Tessa. “It’s rightfully yours.”

“Uh, OK, if you say so,” Tessa said dubiously. She took the chess piece, then absorbed it into her body. She shivered, and her eyes went wide. Then she focused, turning back to Ami. 

“The Dendro Dragon grants permission to the Hydro Sovereign to pay homage to my Master,” Tessa recited, inclining her head to Ami. 

“Ok!” Ami took out an actual cell phone, then rapidly typed in a message. “And…sent!”

“Nahida, what exactly is going on?” Farasha asked, frowning at the girls. “Where’s Keiga? I thought she was in charge of the embassy.”

“If she is the Hydro Dragon, and especially the Hydro Sovereign, then certain customs must be observed before she may come,” Nahida explained. “This is no longer simply a matter between governments, but between Sovereigns and Archons. I had not thought that the Hydro Sovereign could be present, but-”

There was the distant rumble of thunder, and Nahida sensed a powerful presence entering her lands. A few moments later, the skies clouded over, and a steady drizzle began. It wasn’t quite the power of Hydro, but Nahida could feel the Authority over water that the new arrival commanded. She nudged Tessa, who had been staring off towards their guest, her eyes unfocused. 

“I can… feel her,” Tessa muttered, then shook herself. She jumped up into the air, transforming from her humanoid form into that of the great Dendro beast that was quickly becoming a Dragon. 

Through the mists and clouds, a massive dark shape emerged, pink antlers glowing slightly with power. Keiga was low to the ground, only a few meters above the buildings and power lines. She reared up as she approached, larger than Tessa by a not insubstantial amount. The two dragons regarded one another for long moments, and Nahida could tell that every mortal present was holding their breath, even Farasah. 

Then, Keiga dipped her head, fluting a whale song greeting. Tessa hissed something in return, bobbing slightly in the air. Greetings exchanged, Keiga hovered lower, shrinking until she fit in the courtyard. She lowered herself until she was just barely above the dirt, bowing deeply to Nahida. 

Greetings, Lord of Dendro. I am Keiga, Dragon of Waters. I welcome you to Earth Bet, and congratulate you upon your many victories.

Welcome, Dragon of Waters. Tell me, is Focalors here as well? I have not sensed her presence, Nahida responded. 

The Hydro Archon has not yet arrived. I maintain the waters in her absence. Thus far, only yourself, Barbatos, and my mistress Beelzebul have come to this world. 

Nahida nodded thoughtfully, dialing back her power. Too many had fallen to their knees in awe and supplication after only that brief exchange. “I have felt the winds of Barbatos’ approach, and will speak with him soon. But for now, I sense another who you wish to introduce.” 

It was odd to see a draconic head the size of a cow smile, but Keiga did toothily. Then it is my pleasure to introduce you to my daughter.

A bubble appeared on Keiga’s back, and a moment later, a small child floated up within it, giggling and babbling. She looked to be about 18 months of age, and had two small purple nubs on her forehead, as well as a lavender colored scaly tail. The toddler floated up to Keiga’s muzzle, and the dragon nudged her daughter forward as Nahida stepped closer. 

This is Bailu, firstborn of myself and my husband Mushu the Electro Dragon. Though she is young, I would ask for your blessing, Lord Buer so that she may grow strong.

Smiling, Nahida extended her hands, and the babbling child floated into her arms. She cradled Bailu gently, though she wasn’t that much bigger than the baby. Still, she could feel the fierce pulse of life within her, and sense the hint of Draconic power that would slowly grow. 

“May you live to see a world unmarred by hate, and free of the Cycle,” Nahida whispered, then kissed Bailu on the forehead. The toddler giggled and babbled a bit in Japanese, then said loudly, “Mama!” 

Keiga had transformed, shrouding herself in mists and fog as Ami and Clara hastily passed her a kimono to clothe herself with. Nahida could tell that several of the Imams present were rather scandalized by this, but frankly that was silly. Keiga was no more human now than Nahida was, and customs of modesty didn’t really apply to dragons. 

She passed Bailu back, then smiled. She stepped back, behind Grandpa Ali, who stepped forward.

“Welcome, Ambassador Keiga,” he said smoothly, bowing formally to the dragon woman now that she was dressed. “And welcome, Princess Ami and companions. I extend the greetings of the Iraqi people, and of the Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali.” 

That last line hadn’t been part of the plan, and Nahida wondered where he’d heard the name Kusanali, but she smiled. It felt right. 

“We have prepared a feast in your honor. The Dendro Archon has bestowed upon us many gifts of the soil.” His bushy white eyebrows rose, and he leaned forward, dropping his voice to a stage whisper. “We even have dinosaur steaks.” 

“Dinosaur steaks!?” Ami gasped excitedly when Murasaki translated. “You have real dinosaurs!? That wasn’t just a rumor!?” 

“Yes, later, we can go riding on Tiny and the other dinosaurs!” Nahida said happily. She held out her hand to Ami, who eagerly grasped it. “Come on! I can’t wait to show you all the wonderful food we’ve prepared! Many of the fruits and vegetables haven’t been seen by humanity before!” 

Then, smiling, Nahida raced up the stairs with the Princess and her friends in tow, and into her palace. 

Her palace, she reflected as she ran. What had once been the frightening lair of a tyrant was now transformed into a place of welcome. 

Before the feast began, Nahida stepped aside, and spoke to Grandpa Ali. “Set another place of honor at the head table. And speak to the Imams. Let them know I won’t brook any rudeness to our guests, even if they’re Jewish.”

“I… I thought the Princess and her companions were Japanese,” Grandpa Ali said, his brow furrowing. “They’re heathens, but-”

“We’re going to have another guest. Send word that the disreputable looking trio at the gates are my guests as well,” Nahida said, turning. “Oh! And let everyone know there will be a concert. I’m sure Lord Barbatos and his bandmates will want to regale us with song.”

“Lord Bar- Venti?! That one is here?” Grandpa Ali cried, turning about wildly. 

“He just let me know. It’s very hard to constrain the Lord of Anemo from coming and going as he pleases,” Nahida sighed. “But tell the Imams: No rudeness to Naomi. She is my guest.” 

“I… I’ll do so,” Grandpa Ali agreed, looking a bit concerned. He hurried off, and Nahida turned back towards the table as new places were hastily set. It was going to be an eventful night. 

Author’s Note:

This has been my dream since I was Nahida’s size. 

PHILO: And to think that the celebrations have yet to truly begin!Also, I recommend this song for Nahida’s hymn. It's the opening to this old anime movie about climate change but fantasy/sci-fi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xGoR23Wouk