It is only later in the day that I realize that I was supposed to visit Soul City instead of sleeping. While I do feel a lot better after getting some sleep, I regret the time that was wasted. Still, nothing left to do about it now and it does seem that I needed the sleep.

I will just have to visit Soul City tonight and put off exploring the hall until tomorrow night. I can’t plan beyond that since I have no idea what is going to happen once we reach the capital. I plan to raid the island, but I can’t be sure if King Vex will be able to get ready in time or ask me to delay things.

Unless he has ships on standby, I am expecting that it will take him some time to prepare. Thinking of that, I decide to ask Amn to send one of his riders ahead to brief Vex. That way he can at least start preparing his troops before we arrive and save some time.

Preparing to take over an island isn’t something that can be done with no notice. Luckily, Amn has no problem sending the message ahead, I just wish I had thought of it sooner. Still, I have to hope that King Vex trusts Amn enough that he pays attention to the message.

Whatever he decides, I will just have to see how things go and adapt to what happens. Instead of wasting time trying to plan for all the possibilities, I spend the time I do have with Mercy. We spend the day looking at the scenery, while we cuddle and talk about random things.

Despite not getting anything accomplished, it is a good day and we do enjoy ourselves. Thanks to that, we are in a pretty good mood when we join the rulers for dinner. Even Gremshow whining about all the time spent traveling isn’t enough to ruin our mood.

Although, I don’t know why he is whining considering he still has a cute maid to take care of him. From the way he talks about his wife, you would think he would be glad to take a vacation from her. Then again, maybe he didn’t want to go and she sent him away to get her own vacation.

I could certainly understand that, I haven’t known him long and would already like a vacation from him. Still, Mercy and I don’t let him ruin our mood or our dinner, but it isn’t easy. Luckily, the other rulers are much better company and are also not inclined to listen to him whine.

They manage to prevent Gremshow from completely ruining dinner, but a few of his comments come close. Considering that he is a king, his diplomacy skills are almost as bad as mine are. Either that or he just isn’t bothering to use them, but that wouldn’t be wise.

His lands border the empire, he should want to keep any respect he might have with Amn. From the looks Shiro has been giving him, Gremshow should be grateful that she is no longer first in line for the throne. If she took the throne he would be in a lot of trouble, she would make his life hell.

Not that he wouldn’t deserve it, he absolutely would, but who knows what other problems that would create. Not that it would affect my empire much, but it certainly could end up being amusing to watch. That is assuming that I am still around at that time and not busy with the war with the demons.

If all goes well, Shiro won’t be inheriting the throne so the entire situation is unlikely. Still, it is somewhat amusing to think about and it helps me avoid losing my temper with Gremshow. Dinner ends before I do anything that I would regret and Mercy and I gratefully retire to our room.

Once there, we have some fun, but it is more restrained than it was the night before. This is mainly because she still needs some recovery time since she doesn’t have anyone to tag out with. Despite that, we still have plenty of fun before she falls asleep in my arms.

Once she is asleep, I open the normal soulscapes and after that I enter the hallway. As soon as I appear in the hallway I trigger the door to transfer me to the gate of Soul City. However, before I enter the city I change my form to that of my dragonoid form.

I remember the warnings I got from Everburn and Storm about how dragons are viewed. The last thing I want is people viewing me as a baby dragon and targeting me. I get myself into enough trouble as it is, I don’t need to invite anything extra.

Once my form has changed, I enter into the city and start trying to find my way. The city is still as confusing as ever and my memory of it isn’t the best, so I am quickly lost. However, I’ve never been to the city without getting lost, so I was basically expecting it.

I don’t have any luck finding the market where I bought the items from last time, but I do find Leafa’s store. Unfortunately, right as I enter Leafa is bent over watering a plant and I get an unforgettable view. I know that she knows I entered, but she doesn’t stop watering the plant and I keep enjoying the view.

Leafa says “You don’t look familiar, but your gaze does feel familiar.”

“My name is Ash, I have been here before, but I looked different at the time.”

Leafa says “Ash? The cute little furry dragon?”

“Yes, that was me.”

Leafa says “Why didn’t you tell me you could take a humanoid form?! We could have had so much fun!”

“I am a married man, that is why I didn’t tell you.”

Leafa says “Then why are you in humanoid form now?”

“Because I have evolved since the last time I was here. I now look more like a dragon and that could cause me some issues.”

Leafa says “Ah, true. Dragons are very valuable and if you look like one then people would definitely pester you. So, what can I do for you? Or do you just want to stand there and keep staring?”

“While that is a tempting offer, I do have some flowers I would like to sell.”

Leafa says “Sure, come to the back counter and I will take a look at what you have. Then, maybe, you can take a look at what I have?”

As she moves towards the back of the store she does something with her hips that makes it so I can’t pull my eyes away. That makes me miss the smile on her face, but I can hear it in her voice. She is not being very subtle with her offer and it isn’t the first time she has made the offer.

Despite not being able to take my eyes off of her, I am only enjoying the view. When we reach the counter, she moves behind it which thankfully breaks my line of sight. That allows me to focus on what I am supposed to be doing and place the flowers on the counter.