Art of Networking

Our date went on for several hours, and we wound up having dinner in a quiet little romantic Inn. That was my first mistake. It never occurred to me to be mindful of having dinner at a romantic inn. Then we wandered around the gardens. Eventually we rested in a quiet spot and enjoyed the starry sky. Couples all around the park were making out. Fergus looked like a frightened puppy. It was really cute. I leaned into his shoulder. He was alternating staring at me and looking away.

Finally, he put his hand around my waist and pulled me closer. I looked into his eyes, and he moved his face closer, and froze. I put my hands on his face and held him there as I kissed him. Then he kissed my back fiercely. After a long and deep kiss, I pulled back.

“That was my first kiss. You have to marry me now,” I said.

“M-marry? Why,” Fergus said, the fear reaching his eyes.

“I'm kidding. Not about the kiss. That was my first. You are my first boyfriend. I'm a complete newbie to romance. You're going to have to teach me. Everything.”

“Everything? But, you said ...” Fergus said.

“Not that. I know how it all works, but we're not at that point. That will take time. A lot of time. You have to work for it. Prove yourself worthy of conquering me. But the romancing. I know nothing, you'll have to teach me romance. I'm really looking forward to your lessons,” I said.

“Oh. Um yes. I accept the challenge! I'm going to romance the Hell out of you!” Fergus said, excitedly.

“Oh, Hestia was right. You are very excitable. I suppose, we will have to do something about that sooner, rather than later,” I said.

Fergus' face went totally red, and he crossed his legs.

“O-ok. Looking forward to that,” Fergus said.

I chuckled. “As you should be,” I said.

Fergus walked me back to the dorm. The ladies were all waiting for me, including Fionna.

“You are past curfew, young lady,” Fionna said.

“Curfew?” I said.

“Did you not hear the Curfew bell toll? What were you doing and where were you that you couldn't hear the Curfew ring?”

“I heard the bell toll midnight. What's curfew?” I asked.

“What do you mean what's curfew? The student manual states Curfew is the 9th even hour during the week and on Sunday, and the midnight hour on Friday and Saturday. It's twelve thirty,” Fionna said.

“What the hell is a curfew?” I asked, again.

“Hunh? You don't know what a curfew is? How do you... never mind. A curfew is a time after which people must be indoors,” Fionna said.

“Curfew shall not ring for me. No one tells me when I must be indoors,” I said.

“It is the order of the Queen herself. Those who flaunt the curfew are expelled. I will let this once pass, but you must be inside this dorm by the time Curfew rings,” Fionna said.

“That was not part of the deal we made with the Queen. I never agreed to that,” I said.

“You should have read the student manual,” Fionna said.

“Ugh! This deal get worse all the time,” I said.

“So come on, spill! What did you guys do all afternoon and night?” Kanae said.

“Well, I have a boyfriend!” I said.

“Well, duh! Come on tell us all about it!” Kiera said.

“Well, we had tea and discussed our situation. Then he said he thinks his friends would love learning chantless casting, and training with us. He's aware it's not a prelude to romance, but just possible friendship. Then we talked some more. A lot more. I treated him to dinner at the Dew Drop Inn,” I said.

“What! You took him to an Inn! OMG! So you did it then?” Rosie said.

“What? No! We had dinner, at a romantic inn,” I said.

“But people go to the inn to spend the night, and, you know, do it,” Aoi said.

“What? No way! We just had a romantic dinner, and talked, and talked some more,” I said.

“Ok, well. Hopefully no one saw you. Or there are going to be stories. Then what happened next,” Kanae said.

“We walked in the garden for a while. Sat down and watched the stars. Then we kissed. I teased him about it being my first kiss, and he teased me. We kissed some more. I teased him again, and he got very excited, and then he walked me back to the dorm,” I said.

“Your first kiss. That was your first kiss?” Kanae asked.

“He got really excited?” Hestia said.

“Yes it was my first kiss, and he got very, very excited. Then he tried to cover it up,” I said, and laughed.

“You are definitely going to be coming in by curfew, or I will hunt you down. Do you understand me! Don't even think about going back to that inn, or to his, or any other boy's room! Do we understand each other, Missy?” Fionna said, and the anger was roiling in her eyes.

“Fine. Calm down. Sheesh,” I said.

“Alright, then off to bed with you miscreants,” Fionna said.

When classes resumed on Monday. I was getting lots of looks, and some very, very angry looks from some of the ladies. Also, a lot of the boys were looking at me as if I was their last meal. By afternoon, we knew why. Someone had seen us enter the Inn and not come out until hours later, and the story was we'd had sex. Fergus came to me at the end of classes,

“Look, Deirdre, there's a story.”

“I know. You can call me Dee now if you want. All my friends call me that. You can too, if you want,” I said.

“But the story. I've been telling everyone that's not what happened, but no one believes it,” Fergus said.

“Does it bother you, that everyone thinks we're in that kind of relationship?” I said.

“Well, yes,” Fergus said.

“Does that mean you don't desire me, in that way. I thought, for sure you were interested in doing it,” I said.

“Well of course, I'm interested in doing it. I'd have to be crazy to not want to. But we haven't,” He said.

“And if some day we do, do it, will it bother you if people say we are doing it?” I said.

“Well, no,” Fergus said.

“Then don't let it bother you. It doesn't bother me. It's my expectation that we might some day do it. What do I care whether people think I am already doing what I am already planning to possibly do,” I said.

“Wow, that's, umm, really logical,” Fergus said.

“Um, hello, Dragon here?” I said.

Fergus snorted.

“No argument! Ok, I don't care, if you don't care. Let people have their gossip. You are like a rock. Goddess, it's awesome!” Fergus said.

The next day we got called to the Headmaster's office, Fergus and me that is.

“Salutations, Headmistress,” I said.

“Greetings and Salutations Knight Deirdre and Knight-in-training Fergus. I hope you know why you have been called here today,” Headmistress Corrine Ní Sakura said.

“We have an inkling, Ma'am,” Fergus said.

“We expect our students to behave with certain decorum while attending Academy. We expect you to refrain from certain activities during school. If you cannot control your primal instincts we will have to ask you to leave the Academy. The Queen is especially disappointed in you, young, Deirdre.”

“We have done nothing to bring shame upon ourselves, the Academy, or the realm. Perhaps if you were more direct and specific we could dispel whatever erroneous assumptions you are under, ma'am,” I said.

“Be careful in your manner of speaking, child,” Corrine said.

“I am an adult ma'am, and I am speaking in respectful, precise, logical, and formal language. Perhaps you forget I am a dragon. This is how we speak, ma'am.” I said.

“Yes, very well. Then to be specific, you were seen entering an inn, and leaving said inn three hours later, after having illicit sexual relations,” Corrine said.

“That would be a miraculous event. We should be worshiped as saints if that were true, for I am yet a virgin as pure as the driven snow. It is true we went entered the Snow Drop Inn, where we had a fabulous dinner. After which we talked for hours, before departing, and continuing our date night. The truth of my words are easily proven by simply consulting the staff that was present. A dragonkin checking in at an Inn would certainly have been a memorable event. Not to mention that I believe Inns keep a written register of guests, and checking said register will show we did not check in at the Inn,” I said.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I see. So this is your defense?” Corrine said.

“Defense? I see no need to defend my actions. If I choose Fergus as my mate, I will mate him and not ask you, the Queen, nor my aunt for permission or forgiveness. Dragons mate for life. I tell you plainly that as of this hour Fergus is not my mate. That indeed I have no mate. There is nothing to defend in either case, and whether I am mating with my mate, or not mating at all brings no shame on myself, this Academy, the Realm, or Dragonkind. Your primitive, childlike, immature, beliefs of where honor can be found or lost are not applicable to the ancient and glorious race of dragons, ma'am. Meaning no disrespect for you quaint rules, ceremonies, culture and traditions. However, given our wide cultural traditions, I have strived to be understanding and compliant with your human culture and this Academy's rules. So, therefore, if and when I choose a mate at this Academy, I will properly inform you, Ma'am,” I said.

The Headmistress didn't know whether to blow her top or laugh. She eventually went with laughing her head off.

“Very well, Miss Monstrous Red Knight. Her majesty warned me you have a rather unique perspective, and attitude. We will take you at your word. I assume you have ignored all the rumors, because they are meaningless for you?”

“People will believe what they want to believe. It's futile to waste time on inconsequential matters. I am the subject of far worse rumors than that of having taken a mate. But if it reduces my competition for Fergus, who am I to end it,” I said, winking at Fergus.

Fergus snorted and they really burst out laughing.

“Now I see your wicked plans, Dee,” Fergus laughed.

“I wish you luck young Master Fergus. You may be in over you head. Now get out of here you two, and get to class,” Corrine said and started laughing again.

“She called you knight Deirdre. Are you already a knight? And why did she call you monstrous? Didn't that bother you?” Fergus asked.

“I am a knight in personal service to the Queen. The Queen herself gave the Monstrous moniker. I can't explain it, as it is a State Secret. It doesn't bother me, per se,” I said.

“Personal service to the Queen? State Secret? What are you not telling me?” Fergus said.

“A lot. A great deal about me and my companions are state secrets. We're kind of a big deal, did you not know that?” I said.

“Well rumors and legends. That's all,” Fergus said.

“If you are truly curious, you can ask at the adventurers guild about us. We are, after all an A Ranked guild in the capital.”

“Yes, I had heard about that, but the stories also say you rose too quickly, and you aren't as strong as the ranking implies. Not that I pay attention to what may be sour grapes stories,” Fergus said.

“Yes, that is one of the ways of explaining it, but why would a guildhall risk its reputation raising a guild party beyond its abilities? Then on another subject what if our guild is rising rapidly is because we are far stronger than the ranking implies,” I said.

“Are you far stronger than your rank implies?” Fergus asked.

“If we were, that would be a State Secret most likely, wouldn't it? In which case I'd be able to neither confirm nor deny the truth of it,” I said.

“I know this is very impolite, but would you tell me what your level is currently?” Fergus asked.

“It was last recorded by the Academy at level 96,” I said.

“96!? That's almost S Ranked!” Fergus said.

“Well, you know, I am a dragon,” I said.

“Yes, but you're only sixteen,” Fergus said.

“Her Ladyship is strong for her age, but not unusual given her lineage, strict training, and upbringing,” Hestia said.

“Thank you, Hestia,” I said.

“Will it really be ok to train with you?” Fergus said.

“Don't worry, we have gear you can use so you won't be injured while training with us. It might still hurt sometimes. Sometimes it will hurt a lot, but you will never be in any danger. We have lots of training and field experience in actual battles. You will be in good hands with us, and probably increase your advancement rate,” I said.

“Oh, that sounds cool,” Fergus said.

We went to our classes and of course new rumors started because we were called to the Headmistress. The day passed, and life went on at the Academy. When Saturday came Fergus brought his friends to meet me and my friends and learn how to perform chantless casting.

“Well met, Dee,” Fergus said.

“Well met, Fergus, and Salutations friends of Fergus. Let me introduce you to my companions. This is Rosie, our Dwarf tank and strategist,” I said.

“Salutations,” Rosie said.

“This is Kanae, our Mage Knight.”

“Salutations,” Kanae said.

“This is Kiera, our spy and tactician.”

“Salutations,” Kiera said.

“This is Darby, our Forward Knight.”

“Salutations,” Darby said.

“This is Aoi, our Alchemist and logistics.”

“Salutations,” Aoi said.

“Greetings and Salutations, it is an honor to meet you all. Let me introduce you all to my friends. This is Cathar, a tank class knight,” Fergus said.

“Greetings and Salutations,” Cathar said.

“This is Tomoki, a mage knight.”

“Greetings and Salutations,” Tomoki said.

“This is Eoghan, my Stewart and an alchemist.”

“Greetings and Salutations,” Eoghan said.

“This is Tomás, a knight.”

“Greetings and Salutations,” Tomás said.

“This is Selene, our healer knight.”

“Greetings and Salutations,” said Selene.

“Ok, this is perfect, we can pair off, and do individual training. It takes quite a bit of practice to really make using chantless spells habit. Once you have chantless spells down, some, or all of you might be able to take on silent, or wordless, casting. Please do not try it on your own, and not until you have mastered chantless casting. Many people are not capable of silent casting, and it is extremely dangerous if not properly prepared for it. Plenty of people have died trying. Now we plan to work you hard today to get you to a point of being proficient at it. So, it's going to be a long day. After that we want to treat you to a nice relaxing meal in a private room at a very nice pub in the Noble district. Or if you prefer, our go-to place in the merchant district. They have the best beer in the Realm,” I said.

They all looked at each other and said in unison,

“The pub in the Merchant District!”

“An excellent choice!” Kanae said

“No Food fights, Kanae!” I said.

“I promise!” Kanae said.

“Food fights? You guys fight over food?” Fergus said.

“Don't ask, you don't want to know,” I said.

So we split up and spent many hours showing Fergus and his friends the art of chantless casting.

“Gods and Goddesses, this is incredible. Thank you so much for teaching us this,” Tomás said.

“I'm exhausted, I don't think I can cast another spell. Thank you so much Darby. I've never seen a Forward knight who can heal with light magic,” Selene said.

“Well, can you all promise to keep what I say secret?” Darby asked?

“Absolutely!” all six said.

“I'm actually, a Holy Knight, but that's sort of a State Secret,” Darby said.

“Why is that a state secret? You're just a knight-in-training, like all of us,” Selene said.

“No, we are all full knights in personal service to Queen Matilde. Didn't the Academy tell everyone?” Darby said.

“No, Darby, the Academy hasn't told anyone about our status, even many of the teachers don't know. Even our unit is a secret,” Kanae said.

“Wait! You are the mysterious Secret Order of the Queen's Knights? The ones going around the country eliminating threats to the Realm?” Tomás said.

“Um, I don't know about any Secret Order, and that's not the name of our outfit, but we have taken on some missions for the Queen. Some of which are secret, and some we've done under other guises,” I said.

“Oh my Goddess!” Selene said.

“Then the Queen had you trained in chantless and silent casting?” Fergus asked?

“No, I taught myself chantless casting, and my master taught me silent casting. I then taught all them,” I said.

“You taught yourself chantless casting? How long ago did you do that,” Tomás asked.

“Um, well, ahem, uh, seven,” I said.

“Seven! Ago tore you some kind of child prodigy?” Fergus said.

“Maybe?” I said.

“I'm starving! Let's go eat!” Kiera said.

“You just want some beer,” Kanae said.

“Kanae! No competitions tonight!” I said.

“Yeah, yeah. You just worry about not breaking Curfew again. And you lover boy. Keep it in your pants,” Kanae said to me and Fergus.

“Oh, yeah, so you guys are really lovers? Fergus said it wasn't true, but no one really believes him,” Selene said.

“I assure you I am a Virgin as pure as the driven snow. Kanae just likes to tease and stir things up. Fergus and I haven't mated, yet,” I said.

“Yet?” Selene said, and looked at Fergus with a grin.

“So you mean you're thinking about, uh, mating?” Tomás asked.

“Yes, I'm thinking about it. He's checking all the boxes so far. Still too early. It all comes down to how well he romances me. I'm not so easy, but he's on the path to conquering my heart, and other parts,” I said as I pressed up against him and gave him a kiss.

“Cold shower, girl! Don't be showing off in front us less fortunate souls, Miss Igota Boyfriend,” Rosie said.

I stepped back, laughed, and threw my hands up.

“I surrender,” I said.

So we left the Academy and hired a couple of carriages, with girls vs guys, and headed for our favorite pub. We enjoyed a really-good relaxing meal.

“This place is a gold mine. No, a mithril mine! This was the best meal I've had in ages!” Eoghan said.

“You got that right, Eoghan! This is our regular go to pub. It's real popular with adventurers too. If you're ever in a new place and want to find an excellent place to eat, follow the successful adventurers,” I said.

“My friends and your friends really seem to be clicking, Fergus,” I said softly into Fergus' ear. We were sitting close together, and I could feel his heat.

“Yes, they really are. This was a great idea, thank you for doing this, Dee,” Fergus said softly before he secretly nibbled my ear.

“No fair,” I said.

“You aren't being exactly fair either, your heat is driving me crazy,” He said.

“Sorry, hot-blooded. I can't help it,” I said.

“I'm not complaining,” He said.

“Do you two need a room? Don't break curfew, you two. He got into a shitload of trouble for breaking curfew once already,” Tomoki said.

“We're fine. Curfew must not be broken tonight. We got it,” I said.

“Oh, you two don't look ok to me,” Kanae said.

“We need to head back soon,” Kiera said.

“You're right, but I need to make a short trip. Fergus come with me and guard the door please,” I said.

I got up and pulled Fergus with me. I went into the bathroom and closed the door, I checked it out, and then pulled Fergus in and locked the door.

“Dee! What are you...”

“Shh! Be quiet. Don't say anything. Now go on,” I said as I shoved him from behind towards the toilet.

“But I don't have...”

“Shh! Don't say anything. I've been noticing for a long time you're very uncomfortable. It's my fault. So shut and let me do this. If you say anything I'm sure I'll lose my courage.”

“Dee! You don't need to ...”

“Shut it Lover boy! You've been very excited for a while. It's my fault. Especially right here,” I said, as I ran my hands down his chest, and lower.

“I've never done this before, but I've had training, so just let me relieve your tension,” I said as I undid his pants and pulled it out.

“It'll take me a few minutes, but hopefully you'll be relaxed after. This is all I can do,” I said.

This was super embarrassing, but it worked.

“There, how was that? Did I do ok? I didn't hurt you, did I? Did it feel good. Are you more relaxed? You feel relaxed,” I said.

“It was wonderful. It was perfect, and I'm totally relaxed. It's also my first time having that done,” Fergus said.

“I'm sorry it had to be in a place like this,” I said.

“It's fine, it was actually pretty exciting. I really enjoyed it,” Fergus said.

I got some on my fingers. I licked it off. It was sweet and salty, but had a kind of bitter protein flavor to it. We fixed ourselves up and went back to the table.

“So are we ready to go now?” I said.

“You guys were gone for quite a while. Did you fall in? Together?” Selene said.

“You smell like sex,” Kanae said.

“No way my first time would be in a Pub,” I said.

“Alright, enough teasing. We need to get these two back without breaking curfew,” Kiera said.

“Agreed,” said Cathar.

We left the pub and got into the carriages, same set up as before.

“You definitely smell like sex, Dee,” Aoi said.

“I may be a little, or a lot, horny. I may have ruined my panties,” I said.

“Oh, and what did you do to ruin your panties?” Selene said.

“Well, Fergus was rather excited, so I may have massaged out his stiffness,” I said.

“You didn't!?” Kanae said.

“I did. Got some juice on my fingers too. Sweet and salty, and a bit bitter and protein like,” I said.

“You are such a bad girl,” Kiera said.

“Well, he was in that state because of me.”

“So how did that result in you ruining your panties?”

“It was pretty exciting, fun, and really arousing,” I said.

“Oh, are you falling?” Selene asked.

“Maybe. Maybe it's just a physical reaction,” I said.

“Maybe not,” Rosie said.

“It's too early. Much too early,” I said.