Tales of the Pearly Kingdom (Pearly Tales Vol. 2)

63. New Family Dynamic

Selene looked at the beautiful blue ring on her left hand. It swirled around her finger like the waves of the ocean mingled with the symbols of her new huntress marks. On top was a large diamond that reflected back rainbow with the light. It looked beautiful in the midday with the ocean spray playing tricks with the light of the side of the ship she was on sailing for the Mainland.

Cal had made it for her out of some ultra-rare materials. When Azuras heard that Cal would be making her ring and was the unlocked secret class of Magus Artificer, she donated her sacred scales in good faith and the dragons donated a sacred divine treasured jewel of the purest clearness. According to Cal it would refine her powers and now she might even be a match for Shayley... Then Shayley added: only if she caught her by surprise... while she had a cold... and two broken legs.

Honestly, it didn't matter how powerful she got she might never be a match for Shayley. It was a rock-paper-scissors situation. Selene was paper and Shayley was scissors. Cal was the rock and had shown that he could smash scissors. The only thing they hadn't figured out was how she covered rock? Cal was a mountain and she was a sheet of paper in her eyes. One thing she did know is that she was now a part of the equation. One thing Cal did mention in passing was the ability to call upon their combine their avatars in a fight. Summoning the city avatar Calphian in a tight spot might be a game changer. In that case maybe she didn't have to win over him, she just had to fight beside him.

"What'cha thinking about?" Cal walked over to the railing of the ship next to Selene. They were on the L. Craft Nightmare a gigantic ship that dwarfed the Dragoonian's largest naval vessel. He called the model a dreadnaught and it lived up to both its names. It was an intimidating ship with dozens of cannons. Its grey color looked ominous and washout from a distance but up close it was a completely different story.

Even though she heard the ship had been underwater for 250 years while Cal was 'Sealed' away it was in immaculate shape. The wood came from the rare wood from the dark forest that had a natural white color and then when treated it gained a dark grey hue. Up close the wood still had a healthy glossy sheen and the smooth lines of the wood were gorgeous.

When Cal put his left hand on the railing next to her right she saw the ring on it mixed with the blue marks down his hand. Somehow just seeing it reassured her in her heart that this was finally happening. She was finally reunited with Cal and it made her heart flutter. The heat rose to her cheeks and she stared at the water. But kept looking at his engagement ring.

Cal's ring was made with two simple bands winding around each other. He had taken a few strands of hair from both Shayley and Selene and forged them into the ring. He said he wanted to show that if they were both his wives then he would show them both the same commitment even if he wasn't perfect at it. On the inner part of the ring that would rest against his skin were the separate red and blue marking that resembled both Shayley and Selene's tattoo's.

While he was making it, Selene asked why her original tattoos and Shayley's tattoos were so similar. She was surprised when Cal answered. It was because they were both given boons from the dragons. Selene was given the blue blade and the Dravenkin were given a much more powerful and dangerous ability. Soul bindings, that's why the markings are all over their bodies. It was a physical manifestation of the power of their soul. It was the old dragon's hubris to underestimate the power of the immortal fiery soul of the Dravenkin and that power was used against them.

He then went on and on about the dragons. He knew extensive knowledge about the old dragons. He even knew more about Lady Azuras's history than she did. He explained the different dragon types, their strengths and the different boons that were given out in the past and how each one had a corresponding tattoo mark. Often the mark was a mix between the dragon's unique crest style and the person they gifted.