[Fufufufu…I only know of one case of it happening – on my home planet long before I was born. The offspring of a human and Elder Dragon is called a dragonid. They are humanoid and unable to take dragon form, but they are only slightly weaker than their dragon parent. The only known one lived about a dozen millennia. In our case, it might be far stronger than me or other Elder Dragons and may be ageless as well.] (Nina)
Crap, so it's not impossible.
[Uhm…Nina, is there any way we can avoid having a kid for now, other than the obvious? Like, at least a decade, ideally.] (Mizuki)
[Fufufufu…if you only want to wait a decade or more, we don't need to do anything. Dragonids are rare because Elder Dragons don't mate with humans, but also because Elder Dragons take a very long time to conceive. Pregnancy after less than thirty years of monogamy is unheard of, and it normally takes several centuries. I wasn't sure we could have children at all with your original lifespan.] (Nina)
Oh god, that's a huge weight off my shoulders. That was so irresponsible in retrospect. I blame America's sex education for that.
"Mizuki, are you okay? You seem to have gone pale." (Dargo)
Oh, right. Dargo and Elira are looking at me with puzzled expressions.
"Ah, yes, I just remembered something important was all. Anyway, since we're all in agreement on the Ilina situation, let's move on to other important topics. We can save the demons for a separate meeting tomorrow since I've taken up enough of your time. Regarding Alara, I'm assuming that changing the line of succession is not something that you can do without a formal process?" (Mizuki)
Elira nods with a troubled look on her face.
"You're correct. Fortunately, Ilina is beloved and considered more suitable for leadership by the people. There are surely reservations about her strength based on prior knowledge, and some of the nobles are the type that believe Alara has a birthright to the throne. We'll need to convene the nobles for a royal announcement and use it to demonstrate Ilina's worthiness and explain Alara's misdeeds." (Elira)
"That's understandable. As an aside, and speaking of formalities, I've just realized that I stopped using your honorifics after you found out the truth about me. I apologize. Using them will be very important for my obscurity when in public settings, but would you two also like me to use them in private as well? I won't be offended, so feel free to be honest." (Mizuki)
I glance between Elira and Dargo as they consider my question. They both seem to smirk in unison before Elira answers.
"No, this is fine in private. We'd only insist on that to avoid someone feeling like we're friendly enough for favors or trust. Obviously, my blood runs cold at the idea of rejecting friendliness with you." (Elira)
I sigh deeply. I don't like hearing how afraid of me people are, but me comforting them might promote expectations that I don't want them to have.
"Very well. Back to the matter of Alara. When would you be holding this royal announcement, and what will you be doing with her in the meantime? Containing her is surely difficult, right? Aside from Ilina, Elira is probably the only elf around that can subdue her from what I sensed." (Mizuki)
"It would take a week or two to assemble everyone, even with urgency. Us mortals have travel limitations, Mizuki. We intend to try and contain her comfortably, but we'll move her to an actual cell if needed. Even then, you're correct that she could be trouble if she got violent. Do you have any suggestions?" (Elira)
"Well, not exactly. I have an offer and a warning. I could temporarily take her magic. You can consider this a standing offer while I'm here." (Mizuki)
They both go pale, and Dargo addresses me in a whisper.
"M-Mizuki…you can take people's magic?" (Dargo)
"Yes, temporarily. I used a variation of this ability to destroy the slave contracts that were on all the elves and wolf-kin." (Mizuki)
"Earlier you mentioned sensing people's magic, too. What did you mean by that?" (Dargo)
"Exactly as I said. Right now, if I wanted, I could tell you the magic power level of any person in this city or even the whole country. It's pretty much like the tests you know of, except that my power readings don't max out at 5. That's how I know that Nina is about a 7, Elira here and Alara are high 3's, Ilina is a low 4, and you are around a 2." (Mizuki)
Dargo is staring at me dumbfounded again. Elira is shaking her head in exasperation, but she seems to have other things on her mind as well.
"That aside, you said an offer and a warning…what is the warning?" (Elira)
She looks at me nervously.
"If Alara escapes, I might be forced to act. If she tries to kill me and we can subdue her without revealing my abilities, then I don't care. If I'm forced to reveal my abilities to her, or if I get so much as an inkling that she has the desire and opportunity to hurt Ilina or a member of my party…she dies, no exceptions. I'd be willing to drain her magic and give you an hour to make arrangements for her execution, but that's it. I consider this a very fair warning, so I hope this doesn't sour things between us." (Mizuki)
Elira looks troubled, but she nods solemnly.
"I understand. It'd be the third time she intended to kill a royal guest unprovoked, or a bloodthirsty attack on the future Queen. Neither would be reasonable for me to overlook." (Elira)
Good, we're on the same page. I nod my agreement. Then, a thought message from Nina interrupts us.
[Mizuki, I thought you were coming right back?] (Nina)
[Ah…yes, sorry. I got distracted chatting with Elira and Dargo. Please tell Ilina that they've sworn to stop discussing her and I in a romantic fashion.] (Mizuki)
There's a brief pause from Nina, and I sense amusement from her.
[Fufufu…she seems shocked that you managed that, and she wants to know what was said. So do I, for that matter.] (Nina)
[You, Ilina, and I will need to meet privately soon and discuss that. The conversation itself was truly absurd. Let me wrap up here and meet you guys back at the inn shortly!] (Mizuki)
[We look forward to it.] (Nina)
Indeed, I can sense her anticipation. I return to my conversation with Elira and Dargo.
"Well, I'd hate to end things on such a threatening note, but I should probably go retrieve everyone. There's also lots of things that I need to do before tomorrow. So, I'll be going now!" (Mizuki)
Elira looks mildly surprised by the swift departure, but nods.
"Mizuki, wait! One more thing!" (Dargo)
"Uhm…sure, what is it?" (Mizuki)
Dargo gives me a sheepish grin.
"Well…I promise this will be the last thing that I say about it, but…regarding Ilina. If you two decide that you're going to be more than friends, I'd very much enjoy seeing a grandchild in my lifetime. I thought for sure that Ilina wouldn't take a romantic partner for another few hundred years at least, so I'd given up such hope. However, if you don't wait too long, it might be possible now!" (Dargo)
I stare at him blankly. To his side, I can see Elira wearing an amused smile as well. Yup…ignoring them both seems best.
Without another word, I teleport back to the inn.