The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [47] Gatehouse

Signe sat atop the opulent gatehouse, an unintended display of excess that didn't align with her sensibilities. The structure around her gleamed with polished stone and intricate carvings, clearly influenced by human tastes rather than the practicality the wendigo usually held dear. While the place had been prepared for her comfort, she had not asked for such luxury. To her, it was a waste of resources.

She allowed herself a small indulgence, though—cheesecake, the only type of cake her kind could consume. The richness of the cheese paired with the subtle sweetness delighted her, though she would never show it outwardly. A veil covered her face, concealing her identity as she was a mere extension of her master, First Princess Sigrun; her face did not matter.

The location she chose offered her the best position to look out over the travelers who moved in and out of Yuhia. The gate was nestled comfortably between two mountains; anyone seeking entry would have to come here or risk the perils of nature and beast. She found herself looking towards the peaks with mild curiosity; she had only arrived two days prior and the landscape still held such wonder for her.

Lillevenn, her familiar dragon dog, lounged at her feet, his wings tucked against his body as he watched the soldiers trying to look busy to impress the Hand. He was large with the appearance of a wolf but not so large that Signe could ride him. His wings made him an imposing figure especially in a fight, not many people know of the dragon dogs. She gave his fur a gentle scratch absentmindedly, enjoying the cool breeze touched with mana that filtered through the gatehouse.

"How long are we going to be here, mom?" Lillevenn said as he huffed with boredom.

Signe laughed softly to herself. "First Princess Sigrun should be here later today, baby, then you can play with Dagny. How does that sound?"

"Fine," Lillevenn said in a whine, but his tail wagged, betraying his attempt to seem sad.

Signe offered him a piece of the cheesecake in recompense which he happily took with as much enthusiasm as she had for the sweet treat. Despite the casualness of her station she was actually far from relaxed. The west border of Yuhia, where she was stationed, overlooked a chaotic land where corrupted ambient mana twisted the environment into unpredictable forms. This was the frontier of their country, where monsters could manifest from nothing, birthed from the overabundant mana. In just her short time there she has had to put down a few monsters seeking to cross into Yuhia; they were terribly unnatural abominations.

Signe's sharp eyes, though hidden by the veil, picked out the details of the travelers below. Most were human, a rarity in the heart of Yuhia. Few wendigo ventured beyond their borders, preferring their lands to those beyond, but humans—reckless, curious humans—seemed drawn to the danger of the chaos lands.

"More humans than yesterday," she muttered, taking another bite of cheesecake. "Travelers and merchants."

"Humans play?" Lillevenn's ears perked.

"No, baby, you can't go and play with the humans," Signe said with another gentle pat on his head. "They are merchants here to trade, not play. They are not our concern today. We only observe."

Yet, even as she watched with detached interest, Signe's mind churned. The human influence on Yuhia was growing stronger by the day. The opulent surroundings were proof enough of that. The once-practical wendigo now indulged in decorative excess, a clear sign of the changing times. While Sigrun, her princess, sought to bring new ideas and alliances to their kingdom, Signe remained ever vigilant, always questioning who truly benefited from these shifts.

She adored the innovation brought into the country. Her communication device prototype was only possible because of her relationship with the dwarves. However, for every innovation the human's brought they also infected the wendigo with vices and distractions, with human politics, human trade and worst human religion. This was the land of the Forest Father not the Divines of man. Yet she had seen wendigo speak the name of the divines. Sigrun wouldn't see it as a problem; she launched herself into progress regardless of risk, but was it worth it?