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Asporyx woke up, and immediately upon stretching, found himself blinking. The irredescently green, seemingly black scaled drake couldn't stretch as much as he normally could when he woke up. The reason for that was that he'd fallen asleep between two others: the light Violet drame Faistyve was lightly pressed up against his underside and the Yellow, or more accurately, gold drame Enoldria was hugging him and snuggled up close to him. She'd even snuggled her head beneath his, tucked against his jaw. Asp only just now realized he'd drifted off during their idle chatter. He was surprised Faistyve was still there, honestly.

On the moss covered stone they were using as a bed, his Isle Partner, a blue drame named Elrenlani was asleep with Elondria's Isle Partner, a red-orange helix named Srylumdar. Asp guessed they bonded over the knowledge that they were carrying eggs. Sryl, who saw himself as more masculine than feminine despite his slimmer frame... and that he was a hermaphrodite who's male side was effectively sterile. Elondria was a herm as well, but she was a type who could both stud and carry eggs. Asp made a mental list of who all was still here, surprised he felt... comfortable. He'd not been overly social until he got to Primsarc Isles where he'd been thrown headlong into the complete opposite: a world where he was never alone... and his company was often in demand to an almost overwhelming degree. And he felt like he had to rely on his newfound friends to keep his newly, brutally awakened libido under control. Even now, he felt an annoying familiar tension starting to wake up between his hind legs even as he pulled himself carefully from the spot between the two drames.

“Asp?" Dria muttered, her eyes opening a bit; he nuzzled her softly and she purred herself back to sleep. He went to the edge of the forest before climbing down the short distance from the edge to the sea below. He wasn't much of a swimmer, but given the crowd and the early morning... and Asp needing to bathe, he figured a fishing trip was in order. Not that it was that hard for him; he extended his internal magic, finding the living underwater plants and sent out a surge. His senses were suddenly alerted to a number of spots the seaweed had entangled and trapped fish. He clumsily went around, catching a fair amount of fish in a globe-shaped cage he made of seaweed; it wouldn't last long, but long enough that he get a decent haul on shore. He released the fish he didn't gather while circling around his isle.

He went about cooking the fish, starting a fire. We really need to get a heat slab, at least. He grumbled; a stone slab that either had heating rune magic or just sat over a flame to heat up. All Asp could really do is build a fire and put the fish on sticks or wrap them in strips of seaweed and throw them on the fire directly. He went for the sticks this time given the volume. And that he needed to make his tea; it seemed Ren had gotten a couple of his mud-insulated bowls and some Deerflame leaves to keep on hand. While he was working, Fai slipped out of the forest and waved with her wing as she approached.

“Feeling alright?" She asked, starting to help with the food. “At least... I'm not getting any one particular feeling from you." Asp nodded; Fai had some sort of empathic sense as part of her talents. From what he could tell, she couldn't fully control it, but she did try to keep it reigned in. Yesterday, she'd even formed a one-way connection to help blunt the effect of the source of a lot of his recent frustration, the pollen from the Golden Leaves trees surrounding the Prismatic Isles via a ring of land.

“Oh, you know, weirdly content with an underlying note of simmering anger, frustration, and maybe a bit of shame." Asp said with a sigh; he figured hiding anything wouldn't do either of them any favors. Fai frowned a bit and moved closer with a look of concern.

“Why the shame?" Fai wondered, settling beside him while he watched the fish cook.

“I should be able to control myself; I don't like feeling this out control. Or that I imagine myself breeding... most of the drames I meet that are my age that I meet." Asp grumbled. “I expected more of myself-" He cut himself off when Fai leaned against him; he didn't realize he'd started to tear up with his frustration and venting. She nuzzled against his jaw and neck with a reassuring purr.

“Relax, Asp... it might be stronger than normal because of the pollen, but having a breeding fetish is pretty common." Fai half-joked.

“...And if it's not? I mean, you have your own... interest in the results. I get that; I'm the same with botany and can even see how the appeal transfers." Fai let out a sound that seemed like half a surprised eep and a purring trill. “But I doubt-" Asp was cut off by her wing pressing against his muzzle. He could've kept talking, but he really got the feeling he shouldn't.

“... I do..." Fai said softly. “Or at least there is... a lot of excitement when imagining what the mating might be like that would produce those results. I mean, just how steamy would a Blue and Red mating be? Or even just opposite specialists of the same color?" Asp really felt like he shouldn't be hearing this, but she was sharing it. Maybe she thought it'd help him a bit; she wasn't wrong, but it still felt really private to be told this. “Again, the... flashes aren't near as intense as what we experienced yesterday, but you're not alone, alright? So even if you do manage to counteract some of the more frustrating things and still find yourself thinking along those lines, nobody's going to hold it against you. At least I know Dria and myself won't." Asp nuzzled against her appreciatively.

“You sure about telling me about this?" Asp half-joked.

“Mostly... I am a little worried you might start teasing me like Dria, but I doubt you'd be as public about it. I doubt even she and Ren realize what I just told you though." Fai said quietly. “But when you said you could see the appeal... I figured you'd understand. But enough about this or we'll wander into topics that'd really work us up."

“Too late," Asp admitted with a huff; Fai shoved against him lightly with a small laugh. Asp had to laugh as well even as he felt his length twitch, slipping free of its slitted home between his hind legs. Thankfully hidden from view, not that the increase in his musk was hard to miss. Either Fai didn't notice or just didn't care; Asp was thankful for that. “But yeah, I get it, I guess. I mean, there's definitely an excitement in seeing what traits a combination brings out. And if the process involved something like mating... yeah..."

“... How do Verdants reproduce?" She wondered. Asp blinked and tilted his head.

“Huh, that is where the topics sorta... meet, huh? It's really not all that erotic, though; they combine a bit of their magic into core one of them produces and plant that 'seed' in the ground." Asp said. “I mean, that's what Li'red's mate, Po'loana, said. I can't imagine her being so... clinical about the process, though, now that I think about it. She's always nuzzling on him or at least close by."

“Aww, can't wait to meet her!" Fai said. By now, the fish'd finished cooking and they both gathered the cooked food, bringing it to the rest to of the dragons, who seemed to be waking up. Dria seemed particularly groggy. He nuzzled against her and she purred again. He set some fish by everyone and started to make tea for himself at least. Dria did seem to be eyeing him... or more specifically, between his legs.

“Okay, seriously, that did not go away for long." Dria purred, though she seemed concerned; given Restfuldrake had made it finally retreat yesterday, he understood why she seemed that way. Asp just rolled his eyes as he settled behind the drame lying on her side and started in on his own breakfast. He noticed Fai blushing, so he tried to distract Dria by curling his tail with hers. It seemed to work a bit... or at least give Fai an excuse to be blushing; it was a fairly intimate gesture.

“I'm fine, really. Back to... sorta normal, anyways." Asp reassured the gold.

“Probably still shouldn't mate too often; wouldn't want him to get sick of it, would you, Dria?" Fai asked their friend; she shook her head.

“No, no, I'll be careful about easing Asp into his role as a handsome Green stud~" She purred. He growled and nipped at her, mostly playfully, and she laughed. “He seems fine right now, mostly, so I'll hold off."

“That is a good idea; the expansion team will be here soon, I imagine." Ren said.

“Already? Damn. I should check our point total at some point." Sryl said. As Asp thought back, he thought maybe Sryl would be disappointed, or even angry given how much food Dria had bought compared to hunted.

“I mean, if you want an isle all to yourself... I fully intend on coming over here. Besides, I bet if you ask nicely, Asp'll help make a field for growing food that you can cook~" Dria told Sryl. Asp blinked and looked at the Red-Orange helix, who shrugged.

“One trait of red-orange helix is temperature control... well, more like heat control, I guess? So cooking's a hobby of mine. It does make our fire a little... explosive, though. Sorry, again, about all the racket." Sryl said. Asp shook his head.

“I'd be right there with you if my explosions didn't need some seeds to trigger." Asp said with a sigh. “I've had to settle for taking frustration out on trees, mostly."

“Yeah, what are you going to do with all this lumber?" Dria asked, knocking on the bed; beneath it was a sizable number of logs.

“Probably fencing for further fields, though... I think Ren has some ideas as well?"

“Not too far off of what I had thought of, though." Ren said. “But it will be easier to explain when the expansion is in place."

“Hill sides are kinda... wait, terraced gardens and fields?" Asp asked. “That would include Dria's landscaping talent you'd mentioned on the list, too."

“Oh, there is a term for it? It sounds like an apt description, though, so I am inclined to think you have guessed correctly." The other three just looked at him.

“Well, Ren was... weirdly specific about how she wanted the isle to be expanded. It's a forest tile that has a significant slope to it for some reason." Asp said.

“Future planning." Was all Ren said to that. Asp just raised an eyeridge, but she didn't seem keen to elaborate.

“Well, terraced gardens and fields are basically gardens on hillsides that are built into them almost like steps." Asp told the others. “They need lumber to contain the leveled ground. If it's steep enough, lumber's needed to stop the erosion, too. Yellow's magic does work on dirt, right?" Dria nodded.

“Personally better with stone, but yeah, moving dirt around shouldn't be a problem." Dria said with a stretch. “This on-top of carving an alchemy table? Hmm... maybe I'll have you-"

“Get you some marble and, uh... I think granite was the other one the Gnomekin woman suggested?" Asp quickly cut her off. Everyone knew what Dria was likely to suggest, anyways, but he figured cutting her off would be better. Plus, the way she looked at him, torn between surprised happiness and a pout for not getting to finish her teasing, was adorable anyways. “It might be a little bit, we're not super low on points or anything, but I don't think we should get too much lower in case something comes up." Dria nodded and snuggled in closer; she was basically half beneath Asp as it was at this point. And he imagined they were both aware that his length hadn't quite decided to return to its home just yet. Asp did have to admit her scales felt kinda nice against it, though.

“You might not be low on points for long, though. Remember Kastri's coming over, right? She told me yesterday after pouting about not getting to see how her invention worked out. So you might be part of another huge discovery and get even more~" Asp doubted that. And he... honestly wasn't sure how well those supposed barriers had worked against the pollen.

“They certainly helped. At least for me... Asp might build up the pollen too fast." Fai said. “So unless she can cut the pollen off from getting into his system entirely, it wouldn't really be a good measure for him. I'm not sure I could've maintained the block as well as I did if I hadn't had that on. Now that I've seen what he was doing though... I and maybe Nyfe could go get more samples if we need them, at least."

“Well, they were just a prototype." Came a voice; Kastri had chosen that moment to show up. A very tired looking Wryt was in tow with her, as well. And the rune magic professor, Bylinvu, it seemed. “But as long as they helped keep him from going all stud-crazy, then I'm happy. Even if it was indirectly." Fai looked somewhat abashed; the professor was looking right at her, after all.

“Drame Faistyve, you know you're supposed to check in at breakfast. And... really are not supposed to be staying out on the isles until after the 1st cycle." The professor sighed that last part. “Though, I can let that last part go if it was part of Drake Asporyx's rather... unique circumstances. As long as there are no consequences, at least."

“N-no ma'am; we did nothing of the sort! I did, however, want to ensure Asp's mental well-being. I can give a more through report later." Asp looked a bit worried. “So long as personal details can be omitted, of course."

“You'll have to take that up with Lytrina; she's more worried about you than I am, scouring the citadel and even the ring as we speak. For some reason, she didn't seem to want to believe Drame Kastrimri's opinion you'd probably be here." Fai sighed... and even rolled her eyes slightly. “It is probably best you stay here, though; she'll likely see reason once she realizes you're not out there."

“Yeah, true enough. And both our minds are well-guarded, so it's not like we can broadcast a message to each other." Fai sighed; Asp realized there was a lot about Violet's magic that he didn't know.

“Anyways... Asp, you got a minute? I kinda need help testing out a theory Nyfe had." Kastri looked at him pleadingly; it wasn't really need, though. Asp nodded.

“Looks like the expansion team is here already, so I should go meet them." Ren said. There was a team of three yellow dragons and a couple of greens flying towards them, Asp could see, and the tell-tale wake of a couple of blues in the water.

“Any Rune Magic work would likely be undisturbed closer to the lagoon, though. I've seen this process and it gets... well, not loud, but it's certainly not a calm one." Bylinvu said. So they split up; Sryl and Dria stayed with Ren while Fai went with Asp and the Rune Magic team. She seemed curious, at least. Asp did stop to grab his “alchemy bag" which was really just the bag he'd brought with him, though, carrying it in his muzzle towards the lagoon.

“You okay, Wryt?" Fai asked; whether she sensed Asp wanting to ask or was curious, Asp didn't know. Wryt shook his head, looking slightly haunted.

“Nyferona was... voracious. And sometime about when the sky started to turn orange, I seemed to forget that I prefer drakes, or at least that I prefer them on top of me." Wryt mumbled. “We didn't get back to the isle until well after midnight." Asp winced while Fai sighed.

“I was worried about that, but you seemed to have your own reasons for staying there."

“I had hoped that it might make it easier, yes. I know what needs to be done, after all, and the easiest method to make it happen. As an aside, I do not believe anyone should drink any of the water along the ring." Wryt sighed. Asp suddenly felt bad given what he'd told Nyfe to ensure; he should've thought about the water being saturated with the aphrodisiac pollen. “Or eat any of the freshwater fish... or even hunt there."

“I'll be sure to report that, then." Bylinvu said. “It sounds like we might have to make the pass more expensive. It was really meant as a sight-seeing type of thing."

“Those trees are a hazard..." Asp growled after setting his bag down.

“A one deemed necessary, I'm afraid." Bylinvu sighed; the drame found a place to lounge out. “On the isles themselves, it's not so bad, so they were deemed 'safe enough to use.' I was in the camp that protested their current iteration and wanted them toned down, but we were overruled. That would have meant more research and time 'wasted on trees.'" The Yellow-Green helix scoffed. “Now, what was this idea I've heard about?" The professor asked Kastri.

“Well... let's just try it. It might be easier to explain. Asp, if you could make a catalyst solution?" Kastri said; Wryt had seemed to find a place to make himself comfortable, though he left a bag of stuff prepared and raw materials. Asp couldn't tell if the drake was asleep or not, either. “And then, make something that's not a known catalyst solution? But the same consistency and roughly the same drying properties?" Asp just blinked but nodded; he asked Fai to help since she did seem to have some knowledge of herbs.

“Hmm... the second solution, can it just be grass then?" There was plenty of it around them, after all. Kastri shrugged.

“Sure, this is kinda the more extreme, world view shattering test, so why not?" Kastri said with a somewhat reckless grin. So, while Fai gathered up about a roughly equal amount of grass, he made the catalyst solution in one of his bowls and handed it to Kastri, who carefully poured it in. Asp did note how the catalyst filled the rune formula, but there were... plugs that seemed to stop them from going into what he guessed was a paired rune. And then made a similar mixture out of the grass Fai brought him; she'd settled by his side, leaning against him lightly as she watched, though he really didn't notice until after he was done. He gave Kastri the grass... sludge, he guess he could call it and she used that to fill the paired rune. She dried the rune formula out much like her brother did before removing the plugs and adding a mixture of the catalyst before drying that. And then she filled something another tablet with only the paired rune on it.

Asp tilted his head: one of the fundamental rules of Rune Magic and catalysts were that all things had some sort of magical conductivity property to it. Grass was one of the lowest ones, at least the common grass they had on the isles. It shouldn't produce any sort of magic, so Asp let out a curious growl.

“Okay, well, I guess I can explain at this stage... Basically, when the created rune experiment first worked, Nyfe asked why the catalyst had to be so specific if the rune itself didn't have to be. We... didn't really have an answer to that." Kastri explained. “I mean, yeah, there's the 'magic conductivity' factor of materials, but what was that other than just an assumption based on the tablet we found as well?" Asp saw Bylinvu frown out of the corner of his eye.

“Catalysts are rather mysterious from an alchemical point of view." The Professor said.

“Yeah, that magical conductivity principle did worry me at first when I started with my own alchemy." Asp said. Bylinvu looked at him now; he forgot alchemy wasn't about using magic and materials together like he'd thought. Asp saw Wryt's tail twitch at this, too, but the drake was simply too tired, it seemed. Kastri and Fai knew about it already, though. “But... it never really came up when I did my experiments... I didn't even know that factor was a thing in Rune Magic until I read a book about it."

“Yeah, what you were talking about yesterday kinda only made me more suspicious about this idea, honestly." Kastri said. She focused her magic into the rune formula. What normally happened is a substance didn't glow with magic at all when it had low conductivity. But as they watched, even the grass 'catalyst' glowed. The paired rune glowed a minute later when Kastri activated that one and, again, there were two dancing light shows. “And... this confirms it, it seems."

“Seems to confirm my theory as well," Wryt mumbled, sitting up. “All runes being 'paired' glyphs written down somewhere and defined in some way like we do with formulae. For all we know, some glyphs could just be letters. And they are likely made with a specific, artificial catalyst as a means of security and control."

“Security and control, huh?" Asp had a jolt of a... well, admittedly dark, thought. “And isn't there a rune that pulls in magic to self power a formula?"

“... What are you thinking, Asp?" Fai said. Asp blinked and shook his head, though Fai definitely picked up on the shame he felt. She squinted at him and he sighed.

“... The Dilorphus problem. If this catalyst theory is right, now, then... wouldn't there be a way to control who could even access a formula to fuel it with magic... or to turn it off. And the more unique we could make it, say with a dragon's blood, the more secure and specialized that formula would be." It seemed to take Fai a long moment to realize what he was saying, or at least get the gist; he was still working out the specifics in his head.

“You're suggesting a way to limit who, exactly, Dilorphus can mate with?" Fai said. “And I'm guessing fueled by his own magic, though these theoretical drames would be able to shut it off, temporarily, by using their own magic?"

“... That's evil, Asporyx." Wryt said.

“Hey, we can't exactly make him impotent or worse, can we? Even hopped up on pollen, I'm pretty sure I'd have physical limits, not to mention my emotional and mental ones. And do you want to be responsible for studding for more drames?" Asp sighed, looking at Wryt. Fai did seem... a little troubled by the suggestion, looking at him warily. “I'm not saying we should subject him to this on a whim, of course. If he challenges me to a duel, or if he hurts anyone close to myself or Ren because of all these circumstances and makes me challenge him, then I need a way to ensure he won't just do it again if I win. If I lose... well, that's another story that will probably require a contingency plan for me, in all honesty." Asp growled.

“It's not an... unacceptable idea, when put like that, I guess. And the formula for something like forced chastity would not be difficult." Bylinvu said; Fai seemed to nod in agreement and caught his eye for a moment; even if she looked worried, she did seem to try and communicate... something. “We would still need some sort way to formulate a logic test, though. To control who could temporarily turn it off." Asp sighed a bit.

“Well... let's try blood and see what happens. Given our catalysts are standard formula, and none of them require anything near as identifying as blood-" Kastri was cut off; they all yelped as the ground shook before Bylinvu tsked.

“Could've given us a warning." Asp heard the professor drame say, he looked and saw what seemed like a flat mountain rising up behind his forest until it was nearly 3 stories tall, and given a structural 'story' was about the size of an elder dragon... that was quite the landmass that appeared. It was... odd, though, it was like a large hill had been cut into sections and most of them risen so that it became two cliff-sides that sloped to down to come level with the forest behind them. At least half of the forest, at least. There was a bit of division; Asp could see rock through the trees that looked somewhat sheer. “That should've been the worst of the shaking, though."

“Whoa, just what is Ren planning?" Fai wondered outloud; Asp really had no clue beyond the terraced garden, though... he could sort of guess as he looked.

“I think she's going for something like the Citadel, maybe?" Asp guessed. “If we got another expansion here:" He pointed to the cliffside facing somewhat towards them, there was a cove of sea, now. “And we got some help from Dria, and I hope other yellows, to carve it out, we could have a cave system. Particularly if we had two more surrounding this... hillside."

“Yes, that is about what I had imagined, Asporyx." Ren said. “If Dria, and possibly Sryl, move here in the third cycle, I'd rather build up than out. I did imagine Dria as the only carver, though. That is a bit an oversight and assumption on my part. I figured this would be good for two stories and to have a shallow-ish water area up top, eventually, that would feed down into the sea via a river between garden plots. I did discuss that with the builders and they said they would have to consider point pricing for such a lake and for carving rooms as sort of optional offers for those who do not or cannot do it for themselves." The blue drame had appeared in the lagoon, apparently having swum around to get clear of the land-rising.

“Yeah, even Dria would be... labored by shaping that much stone. At least in a reasonable amount of time." Fai said.

“And what about your lagoon expansion?" Asp frowned. Ren shrugged.

“Circumstances deemed that it can wait. And, well, I was upset and you certainly were too generous for your own good." She looked at him a bit forcefully, as if trying to fly the point home. “I imagined the more gardens you had, the more you could try. And we can convert them to fields when you don't need as many herbs, right?" Asp nodded. “How is it going over here?"

“Well, it seems like Drames Nyferona and Kastrimri and Drake Asporyx may be getting another influx of points. And it sounds like Drake Asporyx may have had another couple of ideas that would solve a few problems and get more points." Bylinvu said.

“Ah, yes, Faistyve has relayed... some of this to me." Ren said. Asp suddenly realized why Fai had caught his eye earlier.

“Well, let's confirm some other things first before trying the blood thing." Asp said. “Like making sure that glyph only works with the grass catalyst." Kastrimri nodded; she and her brother seemed to have thought this would happen, so they kept things simple on purpose. By now, though, it seems Wryt had fallen asleep. Asp guessed it was only pure curiosity that had kept the Indigo drake awake until Ren and he had talked about their isle expansion. Kastri created another couple of tablets with the new rune they'd made while Asp brought out an entirely different, but known, catalyst than the other one. He had to dip into his small reserve of the crystal based catalyst he'd brought with him, but he had more coming, so he figured it wasn't a loss. Kastri tried with both the catalyst they'd used for the formula, minus the new rune, as well as the mixture that had no common ingredients with the other catalyst.

As Asp hoped, the one without either the grass or the plant based catalyst did not light up at all. To his surprise, though, the one that was just the plant-based catalyst had about half the effect. Kastri and Bylinvu both groaned at that result.

“So this means some runes might not even be as powerful or defined as they should be." Kastri grumbled.

“I'll wager that it's even most of them that we know of." Bylinvu retorted. “Rune fire is no match for a dragon's flame and is barely different from regular flames, after all."

“Does make me wonder how the first 'runes' were recorded, though..." Fai muttered. “I'll bet it was some sort of image and intention training..." Asp blinked, though he did realize it would be like a Violet dragon to think of that.

“... Quite probably, but between you... four, five? You're already answering way too much way too fast." Bylinvu said. “And we've not even gotten to Drake Asporyx's idea."

“Oh, right, the blood one." Kastri said; she went over to Wryt's bag and pulled out a carving tool and some bowls. She separated out some catalyst, and before Asp or really anyone could stop her, brought her wing around and stabbed the carving tool into it.

“Kastrimi!" Ren grimaced; they watched as Kastri's wing bled into the bowl while she wiped the tool off with her other one. It was hard to get a dragon to bleed; their wings were the least painful, most convenient spot, anyways.

“What? I wasn't going to ask Asporyx. His toxin might interfere or be a volitile element. Actually... we might still need some of yours. Sorry." Kastri said.

“I mean, I was going to offer anyways." Asp said.

“And... ugh, can't use Wryt, he might be too close to me. Can someone go get Dria? I didn't think we'd need two different ordinary dragons... And, I'm sorry to ask professor, but I might need yours as well."

“Just what are you proposing, Drame Kastrimi?"

“Well, if this works, it's potentially a way to make a formula or rune unique to one who created it, is it not? We'll need to test just how far the uniqueness goes. Like... does a formula drawn with my blood weaken when drawn without it? And what about if it's drawn with Asp's blood instead, given he's a specialist? Or can a helix's blood stand in for the colors they're made of?" Kastrimri said, mixing the catalyst with her own blood; Asp dutifully held out his wing and winced slightly when she used a talon on his wing to get it to bleed over another bowl that had some of the plant-based catalyst in it.

“And then there's layering catalysts..." Asp said. Kastri blinked and shot him an almost dirty look at that.

“My mind's already going a ton of wingbeats per minute, I'll have to ask any other sources of inspiration to not be said right now."

“Oh, whoa, you guys got Kastri really worked up, huh?" Dria said; Asp guessed Fai had called her over, even if the look on her face said she wasn't totally comfortable at the moment. Asp gave her a nuzzle; it took her a moment to return, it, though. “While Wryt's like you guys when it comes to formulas, Kastri's area of obsession is the mechanics, but it's been ages since I've seen her like this. She sorta hit a wall for a while there."

And so on it went, though Ren and Dria both left once Dria had given her blood over for the experiment. And everyone stayed quiet, though the professor took out a writing tablet, presumably to keep track of everything. At one point, though, Kastri did (quite rudely with a smack of her tail against his head) wake up Wryt, who woke with a snarly grumble. “Oh, you're like this now..." He sighed and pulled out his own writing tablet; Kastri started to ramble off all sorts of theories to him. Like if different body fluids or parts, like ground up scales, could be used in a similar manner and if they interacted differently from blood, for instance. And she did get his wing, too; she figured if they were testing security, her and Wryt would be prime candidates to test out if twins could copy each other's formulas. Honestly, the biggest shock, though, came when she tried to test her own, blood-catalyst drawn light shown paired rune with the one that was supposed to only display it made with Asp's blood.

“... I can't activate it." She said quietly. Asp blinked, focusing and reaching out with his magic and activating the rune made with his blood. It glowed for a moment, but the light show didn't happen. She focused on Wryt's blood-catalyst and the light show danced. “Well... shit... that does make testing a bit harder. But damn, that's convenient for locking formulas, I guess. And is one step closer for Asp's evil plan." She then turned and found a loose scale on her that must've been close to shedding. Wryt just sighed and took it dutifully; it was a somewhat amusing show for Asp and Fai to watch at least, the twins working together like this. Even if Asp did roll his eyes at her mention of his “evil plan."

“It's not that evil, is it?" He asked Fai.

“... It's a concerning, alarming plan. And if we make the process for making it happen public, it could certainly be abused. I'd be more concerned about you abusing it if I didn't know you as well as I do already." Fai said, nosing at him lightly. “Though, it is kinda reassuring to know you do have a dark side, even if it is a little alarming just where your mind goes. And what seemed to bring it out."

“Yeah, Mom and Jice both kinda... tempered that part of me. I used to be even worse about grudges and getting even. About... well, more than half of those fights Li'red mentioned were because I went looking for payback." He admitted with a sigh. “More so if Jice got caught up in it, too. Verdants are hard to actually harm, though."

“But still, combined with that other thing we talked about?" Asp figured she meant the hermification idea he'd had.

“Oh, that I put up to the pollen, fully. Normally I would've just said the limiting thing and call it a day, but that... well... he should experience the same harassment he's been giving out. I wouldn't be opposed to either part being lifted, either, once it was very clear he learned the lesson."

“Dare I ask what this other part is?" Bylinvu asked.

“I think that's more a consultation with Lytrina." Fai said with a slight nervous edge to her voice.

“Then consult." Came a voice, with a much harsher edge, from behind the pair. “After you tell me why you didn't come back last night." Asp felt Fai stiffen beside him. And you as well, Drake Asporyx. He gulped when he heard an even harsher tone in his head, but they dutifully got up, leaving the twins and the instructor. Fai seemed to be wincing every so often, like walking was painful, but given she was leaning on him and her walking seemed fine... Asp could only guess she was getting a mental lecture from the Violet drame who came looking for her.

They came to the forest's edge where Fai gave a run down of yesterday's events as well as her reasoning for staying: her worry over his mental state. And after Lytrina went through his own memories (rather forcefully; his mental self felt like he'd been dragged through a tight passageway) of the day before, she seemed satisfied. Even seemed to have a begrudging respect: her exploration of his memories had found that fantasy he'd had, but that he didn't let it get to him seemed to earn him some trust with her.

“As to your idea; it's not a bad one. Drake Dilorphus certainly needs to be punished severely. He's had numerous incidents today alone which I put up to his discovery about Drame Elrenlani, somehow, and that nobody he knows of is connected to you is at the Citadel. Including with someone else's Isle Partner. And his own can't keep him under control" Fai frowned at that, though Asp wasn't surprised from what Ren had told him. Dilorphus didn't seem to be that discerning from what he'd heard beyond whether or not they were a herm. Asp was also getting angry, which only made Fai bump her flank against him to get him to try and calm down. Lytrina seemed to almost nod her approval, though. “And your idea's merit is more elegant than kicking him out or rendering him useless as a drake. If it comes to pass that you are challenged, then I see no reason to let it go through should you win. You realize, though, that you might be sent home and forbidden contact with anyone from Prismarc, again, should you lose? He might even demand a memory wipe, which, given the punishment he would endure, we would consider fair. And he will most likely demand that Drame Elrenlani become his in some form?" Asp snarled at that idea, but he nodded. Fai looked concerned. “Alright then, I will inform those that need to be that this is a possibility. It is, however, on you to procure the Meke blossom to be able to do this. And to grow enough of it. Or have enough points to buy it, I guess." Asp blinked; he wasn't sure Fai had told him the name of the herb. He got the sense she'd avoided it given his connections and interest.

“Lytrina!" Fai seemed shocked; he guessed right, then.

“His idea has merit and his anger is justified." Lytrina said. “It's potentially cruel, but it's less so than the acts that Dilorphus himself has done, both here and at home. In most Kyndoms, before the wars, he would simply be castrated. Blues and yellows put too much emphasis in strength."

“And I did say I would be open to reversing it if he learned his lesson. I imagine there are Violets who can tell?" Fai reluctantly nodded.

“Besides, he might find he likes being part drame; I quite like it myself." Lytrina said. “Personally, I do not think this goes far enough, from what I have heard. I would either simulate a heat scent or just force perpetual estrus whenever he isn't gravid to attract drakes to mounting him." Asp tilted his head a bit but shook it.

“It certainly seems like it'd truly be on par with what he's done, but I can't find it in myself to go that far. Besides, I'd rather not be one of those attracted drakes." Asp said.

“Even if that would be even further fitting with the state Drame Elrenlani is in." Lytrina said. Asp shook his head again. Even the thought of it... well, he'd at least found a new way to keep his libido in check. “And... Drake Asporyx, I will, provisionally, trust you enough to let Faistyve stay here until this matter is resolved. I do not know if he has linked you two together, but I would rather not risk it. But no mating."

“I've told him, don't worry..." Fai sighed. “I will take Shiverbolt if I'm here too long; Asp's already got a supply of it and seeds." Lytrina nodded again.

“And it'd be smart to let Li'red know to act like he doesn't know me..." Asp said; Lytrina looked at him sternly. “One of the merchants, a botanist and alchemist shop." She nodded.

“There's already strict rules about inhabitants targeting merchants, but it is good to be cautious. I will also take measures to ensure supporters don't talk, though I suspect that is how he might have learned about Drame Elrenlani." Lytrina said with a sigh. “Thankfully, they seemed to have remembered to not give isle coordinates and, even for a blue or indigo, flying or swimming around without some sort of direction isn't feasible... quickly." There was a note of warning in her voice; she abruptly took off and Fai let out a sigh of relief.

“... Is she your mom or something?" Asp had to ask after that conversation.

“No, no... I'm the daughter of the Violet Matriarch." Asp blinked. Even he knew the Violet Patriarch had been killed during the Wars before he was born and she seemed to be about his age; Jice had told him some gossip about the outside world, after all. She said the circumstances were weird, though, and apparently being kept secret. “Lytrina was my minder, though. And bodyguard. I think she still is supposed to be, but she's the head of security and a professor on top of that. It's been stressing her out, I think." Asp nodded and then motioned back towards where the twins and Bylinvu were waiting. She nodded, though then she blinked.

“Wait... Did she say I was to stay here?" Asp had to laugh; he'd caught on to that too, but he wasn't going to mention it. They'd both apparently just gone with the conversation without processing that at first.

===================

As for what Kastri had discovered: blood did seem to be some sort of locking mechanism for activation. A scale, however, did not. And it seemed that blood was... mostly unique to the dragon who gave it; she couldn't test hatchmates like she could with Wryt; twins were born of the same egg, after all. Nyfe had shown up as well; how Asp and Fai had missed the commotion that had caused, he wasn't sure. He put it up to Lytrina's more commanding presence. Apparently Wryt had tried to fly off instead of jotting down notes for his sister, but she'd caught him by the tail and Nyfe had, for good measure, pinned him as well. But her arrival did confirm that dragons of the same color couldn't activate each other's blood catalyst, though that finding apparently had a footnote given Asp's toxin status. A Helix like Bylinvu couldn't activate Dria, Nyfe, or Asp's blood catalysts, either, only her own.

And, she'd tried layering like Asp had thought of. Though she came up with a different method than his own, as well. While he'd thought of just creating a third vertical layer of catalyst between two, she'd gone so far as to paint them, essentially, in layers. It seemed to assign a rune to any of the catalysts it was in contact with. His idea had isolated one catalyst from another; if the one between them was secret or prohibitively expensive, it would effectively lock a rune to a catalyst if that was the first time it was being assigned a property.

“It's... going to take some time to unwind just how many points each of these discoveries are worth. And given your own idea, Drake Asporyx, about, effectively, rune magic punishments or curses, you will likely get sole credit for that and a significant portion of credit for the blood-lock discovery." Bylinvu had a number of pages written with info; Wryt had about double that. And seemed ready to go back to sleep. Asp was a little worried about Kastri; she looked... frenzied. Fai looked worried to; she went and poked at the indigo drame, but Kastri didn't even seem to notice, or respond to her name. She was working on formula, it seemed; from what Asp could tell, she was trying to figure out how to do logic puzzles and design his punishment formula at the same time. And he spied what looked like a completed formula and whole record keeping system: he managed to pull that page away from her and gave it to Bylinvu, who, upon reading it, just let out an exasperated sigh before she flew away. Asp thought there was a hint of fear in her retreat, for some reason.

“Might need to get Dria, Fai. Might as well get Ren, too. See if they can bring Sryl." Asp said; he thought about trying to block Kastri's sight with his wing, but he wasn't sure that'd help... and he might get a good chunk of his already slightly injured wing taken off. “And you're looking better, Nyfe." Fai had also nodded to what he said; it seemed she had the same idea.

“Feeling it, too~" She purred. “Though I am sorry for my unseemly behavior yesterday, Patrician Asp." She blushed; he shook his head, though. She had nothing to be sorry for. He noticed she didn't have a trace of heat about her, though.

“Well, it seems congratulations are in order, at least." She blushed but nodded.

“Apparently, somebody tested before he left with what he used on Drame Elrenlani. It's just a stone that can read, store, and display just that kind of information. It seems I'm in store for 5 eggs."

“Seems like your toxin does have an effect on the Golden Leaves, and vice-versa." Fai said; Asp gave a sour growl of agreement. A normal drame's clutch was 3-5, so 9 he'd sired with Ren was nearly unheard of. “Even so, seems like the pollen could still make it more likely to get the max, whether by volume or just the pollen's properties." Asp caught Fai looking at Nyfe's belly... not hungrily, eagerly might be a better word. But he could definitely tell she was going to be interested in seeing what Nyfe's hatchlings could do depending on how many came out as helixi. Asp had to admit, he was curious as well, even if it was tinged with a bit of guilt. Wryt was probably having just as hard a time as him, even if it was in different ways. “Now I wonder... does your method of application work mouth to mouth..." Asp blinked when he heard her muttering. “I wonder if..."

“Fai..." He called out; she blinked and blushed.

“S-sorry, but your specialist physicality is interesting in this regard." She said quietly. He chuckled and nuzzled against her lightly. Dria, Sryl, and Ren showed up; Dria took one look at Kastri and sighed.

“Yeah, okay... I once came in on them both when they hadn't eaten for two days, they were so absorbed in their research." Dria said. She ducked behind the indigo dragoness and, Asp could only imagine, licked at her slit. It took a few moments, but Kastri nearly jumped out of her scales and let out a moan. Dria settled beside her with a shoulder bump. Kastri was blushing furiously.

“Alright, so... apparently Dilorphus found out somehow, so... if you have to go to the Citadel, be on guard. We don't know what he knows at this point." He told them. “Kastri, you might need to stay with Dria or Wryt."

“Any idea how long we'll be, uh... isle-bound?" Sryl asked. Asp shook his head.

“If I had a way to test... and a better way to get other herbs to try..."

“Ah, yes, about that." Everyone looked to Wryt as he pulled out a couple of tablets. “This is only a prototype, and I only know a base amount of alchemy related rune magic, but this should show an exhaustive list of whatever is put on it and powered up. At least ten standard pages worth, just tap one of the runes at the bottom." Wryt said, showing Asp a tablet roughly the size of an open book. “If you need anything more about it, let me know."

“I'll definitely let you know if it works. And I might need your help with an alchemy table whenever I get the block delivered here. I'll have catalysts, too. And apparently some rune formula you might be interested in." Asp said with a shrug. “I mean, it was kinda simple, honestly." Wryt looked intrigued and nodded. “And you look wiped, so rest here if you can; I can't promise it'll be quiet, though."

“Appreciate it." Wryt said; he looked warily at Nyferona. The green drame did seem apologetic; she did carefully approach and laid beside him.

“I should probably stay with Wryt or Dria, too..." Kastri said. Dria hmmed.

“I think with Wryt; I'll probably be here a lot working from the sounds of it." Dria said. Sryl rolled his eyes, but Dria pouted and bapped with his nose with her wing. “Ren told me about what they were thinking; it's actually kinda complex. I could probably get it done in a day, but I'd not be able to move afterwards. Any idea when you're supposed to get that alchemy table block?" She asked; Asp shook his head.

“Delivery should be in a couple of days," Fai said. “Or at least that was the standard I was told they were going to try and adhere to... so tomorrow or the day after?" Dria sighed out and looked at Asp.

“You're gonna owe me~" Dria purred, playing up a hungry look. Asp nodded.

“I know, I know. Now, let's let these three rest... I gotta figure out just what Ren's got in mind over there. But first, we should probably eat something." Asp and Ren went on a quick fishing trip; Sryl showed off his skill for cooking rather well, despite having little to work with. The fish, at least, was perfectly roasted.