So, Gueng Zhin coveted the title of Grand Magister, maybe more.

Megumi needed to tread carefully.

“My dear Magister Gueng, that’s a significant decision to make the same day I’ve reawakened. Shouldn’t I first peruse the thirty-some years I’ve missed?”

“My Lady, don’t you trust me?”

That was a seriously charming smile. This totally hot guy might even be a match for Kaito.

Kaito …

Memories of their last, steamy date galloped through her mind, warming her to distraction.

Megumi smacked her forehead.

No! Not the time for that!

“My dearest Lady, are you unwell? Boy, you can’t be trying to ensorcel our goddess …”

“It’s not me! The Symphony ended, and it shouldn’t affect our Lady.”

Megumi held up a hand.

She needed to resolve this. Soon. The crowd was getting impatient.

Not to mention her head hurt, and she was hungry again.

“Magister Gueng, you’ve gained both my notice and my favor. For now, Kadoharin remains Grand Magister. One close duel does not supersede years of faithful service.”

“Very wise, my dear Lady.”

“But after I review recent events, I won’t hesitate to make necessary changes, provided I find sufficient reasons.”

“Oh, trust me. You’ll find reasons.”

“Will I?”

Megumi’s annoyance was rising. She pulled out the pistols she’d confiscated.

“Oh look, scanning these depleted weapons tells me very little. How odd.”

Both Kadoharin and Gueng Zhin eyed the guns nervously.

“Surely the Lady of Secrets herself can glean more? After all, her special, select priests trusted these dubious items enough to bring them to a very important gathering.”

“My dearest Lady …”   “Oh Great Lady …”

Megumi cut them off with another raised hand.

“Not here. Not now.”

The murmuring crowd sounded uncertain.

“You ask me to trust you. Well, I need you to trust me first.”

The whispering turned hushed and sinister.

“And not just because I ask for your trust, or deserve it, or demand it. I intend to earn it.”

Silence.

“Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not in several ten-days. I have much hard work to do, serving the people who need me. I vow to atone for my years of broken faith.”

Broken faith that really wasn’t her own fault or responsibility.

But like her uncle Kenichi always said,

‘Sometimes you work with what you’ve got.’

Pei certainly seemed impressed. Her orange eyes glistened as she sighed,

“Oh, my Lady!”

Kadoharin scrunched his silvery gray face in disappointment.

“My Lady, I commend your desire to rebuild what was lost. But surely a goddess isn’t meant to serve. The current political scene requires a strong Dark Lady holding firm to tradition, not a meek one providing charity.”

Gueng Zhin shot back,

“The current political scene is rubbish. Our Great Lady wants to help her people. The best way to do so is to sweep away the corruption at the top and start anew.”

“Revolution? You’d destroy the very system keeping the people safe!”

“The current system doesn’t keep them safe as it is!”

“You just want to put yourself on top, boy!”

“So do you, old man!”

Megumi had the distinct impression that both men were being far more forthcoming and honest than usual.

“ENOUGH, both of you!”

The crowd’s grumbling was worsening.

Another whiff of her unfinished meal tickled Megumi’s nose, making her mouth water. She noticed temple staff waiting in a side entryway.

Quiet, stomach.

Well, why not exploit her authority?

“I will take all your words into consideration. For now, I ask for your patience. Until then …”

She raised her hands.

“This gathering is officially adjourned!”

Megumi spoke over the tumult.

“I invite you all to stay as honored guests of Soaring Shadows Temple. My Housekeeper, Mrs. Butimi, will assign lodgings. Please speak to my Chancellor, Lord Hazadul, about …”

Several Magisters had already opened portals and led their followers through them.

“… they’re not listening.”

Kadoharin blithely replied,

“My Lady, you did release us.”

Megumi resisted pouting as the dragon beckoned to his approaching assistants.

“Grand Magister, perhaps you, Master Patozu, and Matron Beduli might stay a while?”

“Oh, let him go, my Lady. I’m sure he has ‘very important’ nonsense awaiting him at the Provincial Capital. Sister Tempe and I will gladly accept your hospitality in his stead.”

Gueng Zhin’s taunting prompted a low, threatening growl from Kadoharin.

Megumi had reservations as well.

“Let me send you off properly. < CREATE PORTAL – WULONG SHADOW TEMPLE GATE! >”

Kadoharin raised one brow and grinned appreciatively.

“Perhaps you might join us for some tea, my dearest Great Lady?”

Megumi ignored Gueng Zhin’s scowl and followed the assistants.

“I might just do thAAAAAAAAH!”

The glowing doorway violently threw Megumi across the room, slamming her into the wall. She stared up dazedly at the distant ceiling as Pei and several others approached, calling out frantically,

“My Lady! Are you hurt?”

“No?”

Not physically, at least.

What just happened?

Megumi forcibly shortened her angry strides to let those following keep pace.

“Lord Hazadul, after we check the temple entrance, I’d like to begin work immediately.”

“Of course, Great Lady. Let me know what you need.”

“Mmm.”

From her spot in the crook of Megumi’s arm, Pei tugged at one sleeve.

“My Lady, maybe you should rest? Finish your meal?”

Megumi wanted nothing more.

“Thank you, dear little Pei, but duty calls.”

She considered the two heavily armored earthkin guards struggling behind her.

“Disheng, Wenhua, you needn’t strain yourselves. Perhaps at the next security station …”

“No, my Lady,” they both gasped. “Captain Kuzho insisted!”

Sigh. How troublesome.

They burst into Market Row, passing a well-tended memorial stone.

So many shuttered storefronts.

(significantly fewer people gathering)

A dainty windkin messenger flew up on dragonfly wings.

“Great Lady, Madam Butimi reports eight Magisters and their retinues successfully housed. The Masters Fantu have the State Suite with exclusive hot bath access, as per your orders.”

“Thank you, Ms. Xiaodu. Please have Mrs. Butimi wash the Fantu’s clothes while they bathe. All their clothing. Slowly.”

The fairy courier giggled musically.

“Gladly, my Lady. Oh, it’s so good having you back!”

Heh, sure it was meddling, but damn it felt good.

By the time they’d passed through Market Row, they’d gained a dozen more followers.

Great, an audience.

A few minutes later,

“My Lady, I see the gates!”

“I see them too, Pei. I should set you – HOOOF!”

Something invisible and impenetrable firmly interrupted Megumi’s passage. She stumbled backwards, falling onto the guards behind her.

“Oh! So sorry! Is anyone hurt? Pei?”

“All good!”  “No worries, Great Lady!”

“I’m fine, my Lady. You protected me. Are you okay?”

Megumi sat up, released Pei, and looked around.

Mr. Gandu was inspecting one of two gigantic pillars engraved with guardian lion features.

“So, the true spiritual boundary of the temple lies here, not at the gates. How interesting.”

Hazadul nodded at that assessment.

“Indeed.”

Megumi gazed longingly at the immense cavern entrance and the open, starry sky beyond.

“Does this mean I can’t go any further?”

Ms. Suen gasped for breath before suggesting,

“Maybe it’s only temporary? Grandpa and I can help find a solution.”

Pei placed her hands consolingly on Megumi’s arm.

“I’ll stay with you, my Lady. Family sticks together, even in prison.”

Mr. Gandu scoffed,

“It’s our Lady’s own temple, child. That’s hardly a prison.”

“But she can’t leave, can she?”

No one countered Pei’s argument.

Megumi sighed.

“Imprisoned or not, I refuse to shirk my duties. Let’s head back inside.”

She took one last, sorrowful look outside at the midnight sky before solemnly leading the silent group away.

Megumi fully intended to make the best of it. Even so, she still had to shake her head at the sheer insanity of her situation:

‘I’m Stuck as a Dark Dragon Goddess in Another World.’