I see Klaus and Ilina go pale, and Klaus is white knuckling his sword handle. I sense amusement emerge alongside Nina's anger.
[Uhm…Nina, you know I can feel that, right? You need to talk to me about anything?] (Mizuki)
[Hmm? Oh, no, I just hadn't realized that you were in the habit of letting that little elf get so familiar with you, Mizuki! Care to explain?] (Nina)
I can't help but chuckle at her thinly veiled jealousy, and I try to share my feeling of affection towards Nina.
[Oh, I see. That's a little bit my fault. I told them to stay close to me for teleportation a little too sternly, and she obviously was terrified. Could you tone it down just a bit? They already nearly fainted.] (Mizuki)
I make sure to end my message to her by forwarding my feelings of amusement, so she knows that I'm not mad.
[Fine…but let me remind you that I don't like sharing, Mizuki.] (Nina)
[I understand, Nina, and I meant everything I said last night.] (Mizuki)
I sense Nina's anger dissipate, and it's replaced by satisfaction. Thank goodness, one bullet dodged.
At this point, Ilina collects herself enough to respond to Nina's initial message. I can see her trembling as she does so, but her voice comes out clearly.
"Great Dragon, I'm terribly sorry for intruding on you in such a manner, and we beg your forgiveness! My name is Ilina Ophelle, Second Princess of the Elven Kingdom, and I've come to request your aid. Will you hear my plea?" (Ilina)
Nina makes a show of walking forward and lowering her head to look more closely at Ilina, who breaks out in a cold sweat. She makes a low growling sound that seems like the dragon version of 'hmm'.
[Perhaps, elf. However, as a show of good faith, and as an apology for such an intrusion, I have a demand of you first.] (Nina)
Ilina gulps nervously, but she responds clearly again.
"Of course, Great Dragon, if it's within my power! Please, what would you ask of me?" (Ilina)
[I see that you have traveled here with the Dragon Pearl. I do not know how you knew about, much less came to be in possession of, such a legendary relic, but it is not fit for elven or human hands. I'd see it returned to its own kind immediately.] (Nina)
I barely suppress my laughter. Dragon Pearl? Legendary relic? Wow, impressive ad lib work, Nina. I shouldn't have doubted you.
Processing the request, Ilina's face contorts in shock. After a moment, she looks over at me pleadingly. She's obviously begging me to hand over the 'legendary relic'.
Hmm…I wasn't planning on Nina hyping it up so much, but now that she has, I might as well take advantage of it. I direct a raised eyebrow at Ilina, like 'are you kidding?', then let out a dramatic sigh like I'm deeply inconvenienced. I pull out the blue marble, and I hold it out to Ilina.
A look of pure gratitude flashes across her face, and she holds her hand out to accept the marble. I match her gaze and hold the marble over her open palm, then…
"You're going to owe me another one over this, you know?" (Mizuki)
…I let the marble drop into her palm dramatically. She nods solemnly, then turns back to Nina.
"Great Dragon, please accept this relic as our thanks for your hospitality. We hope you'll hear our plea." (Ilina)
Ilina bows her head slightly, then goes to a stump several meters away. It sounds like she says something quietly, then she places the marble on the stump and returns to where Klaus and I are standing.
She mutters 'thank you' under her breath, but I also see shock and suspicion on her face as she glances at me. What's that about? As far as she's concerned, I just did her a favor.
[Mmm, very well elf, I will hear your request. Speak.] (Nina)
Ilina's face floods with relief, and then it hardens again in determination.
"Thank you, Great Dragon. I'll be straightforward in my request. We have reason to believe that within a year's time, the Elven Kingdom will be invaded by the demons. We would ask you to help us defend our country." (Ilina)
I'm sure the shock I feel registers on my face for a moment. Holy shit…if true, that's very cliché of the demons. I guess it's refreshing of them to go after the elves instead of the humans, though. That said, I obviously feel bad for Ilina.
[This is surely troubling, young elf, but you should know that Elder Dragons do not interfere in the squabbles of weaker races. Why should I lend you my aid over something that I have no knowledge of or vested interest in?] (Nina)
"As you said, Great Dragon, due to the Elder Dragons' neutrality we'd normally never make such a request. However, our county's intelligence reports suggest that Veyron and his dragonkin have allied with the demons and plan to join in the invasion. We were hoping that you'd act as a direct countermeasure to Veyron." (Ilina)
I feel a surge of fear and anger from Nina at the name Veyron. I haven't heard that name before, but based on the context, I'm guessing it's the Elder Dragon of fire. I wonder what her beef is with him.
[Impossible! How could you know this, elf?] (Nina)