Daya's Story

Master, tis been quite a while.

Nothing much... hmm?

How didst thee allow thyself to end up in this state?

Take a look into this mirror and see thine face! Dost thee suffer from an ailment?

What terrible events have befallen thee in Sprite Kingdom that thy figure hath become so ragged?!

Dost the sprites treat their Master in such a rough manner? How baffling!

How peculiar. Thy face looked in better condition before, if memory serves correctly.

Come! Come along! I shall help thee!

Hmm... Let us see, shall we...? What cosmetic supplies do I possess...?

...Bath treatments and face packs. With these, even thou shalt return to thy usual, lovely self.

Dost either one of them appeal to thou in particular?

No, thou must use it immediately. I shall heat up the water, so stay put for a moment.

Why art thou so startled? Does thou not take baths regularly?

Fret not. I shall ensure that the temperature is perfect and thy privacy be respected.

Hmm, there's a base of multiple chemicals, with some sulfuric or nitric acid... a bit of hydrochloric acid, too...

This is all necessary to clean off the impurities stuck to my jewel-like surface, dost thou not agree?

H-Huh? Why art thou so startled? This is the bath I take every day...

Lay thyself down on that sofa. I shall apply the face pack for thee.

By applying this, thy gravelly skin shall become as smooth as silk!

Worry not, my dear. Not only I, but a considerable number of my dragon sisters love applying this.

I have not particularly read through the ingredients label... Let us see...

It is a heavy metals pack that is full of nutrients. It says it contains a 200% lavender fragrance additive.

Thou wouldst look better than thou dost now...

I understand. It cannot be helped then.

If thou insists, I shall cease with the face pack.

Exercises? I might have something similar...

I shall provide thee a massage that I perform as part of my daily routine.

Let us see... Put this on...

With this, I shall massage thine hair and horns.

It's the Power Grinder 3500 series! With this, even my diamond horns can be sharpened neatly!

Stay put. If it touches thy face, it shall be rendered apart...

Ah! Master! Thou hast come!

Oh, it is merely...

...To show thee my palace, which hath but recently undergone a most delightful remodeling!

Can there be any engagement that could possibly surpass the unveiling of my newly embellished residence in importance?

Thou art a fellow leader. Receiving thy recognition shall bring me ease of mind!

Dost thou hold me in such regard?

I-I am grateful...

Dear me! Have I done wrong?

Ahh... I-I see...! Please forgive me. Even I, on occasion, get swept up by my emotions and get carried away.

R-Right, of course! Look at this, Master!

Diamond window sashes! Diamond table! Diamond lights!

Behold these clear and transparent furnishings! Do they not resemble me? How pristine they are?

I have attained them through a reliable broker!

H-How did thou...?! She said that uttering her name would cease any further transactions!

Glass? This is glass?

A-Art thou suggesting that I have been deceived? The very notion is absurd!

Sist declared that she hath turned over a new leaf and claimed that these wares were all genuine!

Here. A cute hammer with an industrial diamond at the fore!

But why dost thou ask for this?

Illu...sions?

My gratitude for accompanying me on this stroll, Master.

Doth the surface be always in a noisy state?

How about moving thy abode entirely? The other dragons would not object to thou living here.

Shouldst thou reach a decision, simply let me know! I shall gladly design and construct thy home, Master!

Fret not! I shall install an elevator as well!

Why?

They are packed with minerals!

What's the matter?

Clean? The courtyard?

I do not even tend to the backyard, so why should I tend to the front?

Ahhh, those? Pay them no mind. I recently purchased a diamond cup, but it turned out to be glass.

Once in my grasp, it cracked and shattered...

There is no reason for me to keep such a thing, is there?

Master, allow me to ask one question of thee.

Art thou able to determine what falls under the area I'm responsible for cleaning?

If I clean the courtyard, must I also clean the area in front of that courtyard?

And what of the cave path that connects to the area in front of the courtyard?

And the dragon's town square along the cave path...? Elemental Mountain that connects to the surface...? Monatium... Sprite Kingdom...

Where does it end?!

The ultimate boundary that separates my roost from the outside is the palace gate!

The moment that I lay a finger beyond that, the boundaries of my roost expand indefinitely!

Hmm? I did not intend to lecture thee... but I am grateful that you understand me.

I thank thee all for gathering here this day.

I know full well that each of thee hath duties to attend and little leisure to spare, and so I hope I have not claimed much of thy time.

Hm? Time? I've always got plenty of that.

As long as I have a secretary to cover for me, I can make time whenever I need to, hehehe.

The reason I have bidden thee all to my palace this day is none other than...

I would have thee judge my authority.

Indeed. I take great pride in having guided the dragons with greater diligence than any other before me.

Yet it hath been a disappointment to have none whom I might prove it to.

I desire that those who stand upon equal footing with me do affirm that I am governing as I ought.

So, you want to get graded?

Oh? If that's what it is, leave it to me! Hoho!

Heh—What are you trying to prove by reigning over some underground cave in the sticks?

Ok, fine! I'll do it, no need to be so blunt!

I thank thee all. Now then—here...

Huhhh?

Economic performance reports of the fifty years past, and security assessments of threats that bespeak the recent turn of events in Elias...

Eeeek!

...surveys of public sentiment among the dragon denizens, and records of import and export goods gathered from the merchants...

Stop it! Ughhhh!!!!

External appraisals rendered by the highest degree-holders of each race...

Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!!! I can't take it anymore! I'm getting out of here!!!

Whither dost thou think to go? I require thee to compare these materials one against another, and to render unto me a proper score!!

I have already reviewed all of the materials that diamond dragon submitted, all thanks to our espionage efforts.

However, these numerical outcomes do not measure a leader's abilities!

What...? Th-then what does?

If you rule through brainwashing and oppression, you don't need these materials or evaluations!!!

Brain... brainwashing? Oppression?

Yet would not such methods lack all worth as a true challenge?

If I do no more than have them echo the leader's words like parrots, I can find no fulfilment in my labors.

Ugh! Do you have any idea how hard it is to purge opposition and manipulate public opinion...! You don't even know...!!

Ow! What do you think you're doing, human!

Oh... I truly did well?

I have... never before been weighed in judgement by any other...

Ugh... Mmm...!

Well... in truth, when I commend those beneath me in the order of rank, I bestow upon them a reward...

D-Dost thou not have some manner of reward to offer?

Eeek!

My very first pat upon the head...! What a most awkward yet strangely pleasant feeling...!

Blegh... So that's what you like, huh? How pathetic.

As I stated before, this item is of the highest quality.

I did myself cut and polish it, and thus its quality is assured.

Sprite Queen, what value wilt thou set upon these gems?

Are you asking how much I would pay for them...?

Uh... I wouldn't take them even for free.

Wh-what...! Why?!

Honestly, why would I want this? It just looks like a big Star Candy, but I can't even eat it... It's completely useless!

Thou canst eat it! Pass not judgement before thou hast even tried!

Huh? You can eat it?

Urgh....

My teeth... Owwwww!!!

Masterrrrr!!! She made me eat a rock!!!

......

Since it is an everyday occurance for us, at times I forget that...I pray thine understanding...

*Sigh* This is most exhausting.

I had thought that, by the exchange of gems, I might with ease obtain goods from the surface...

It seems I was naught but a frog within a well, all along.

What thoughts so deeply occupy thee, Master?

I do yet have some materials remaining from the raising of the palace annex...

Are you stupid?! Why would you ask if diamond bricks are useful for anything?

If thou hast need of them, take as many as thou wilt. They are but useless goods in any case...

Hanging out with a dragon must have done something to your head!

They're both transparent, but delicious sugar crystals are way better! Like this one here!

Eugh...

This is NOT sugar either!!! Wahhhhh!!!! I'm not talking to you anymore!!!

Thou art the only one who truly apprehends the worth of diamonds, Master...

I wish to visit thy home. There, my worth would be rightly recognized, would it not?

Thy home must indeed be a most wonderful place.

Be not troubled. If we but approach in all sincerity, shall that not suffice?

When thou returnest unto thy home... I would go with thee.

As for the order of rank, there shall in time be those who surpass me, and in that I hold no regret.

It is no ill thing to venture upon something new.

Understood, Master! I shall await that day.

Ugh! I'm completely useless!

I did try to sell diamonds unto the elves as well, yet it came to naught...

Pray, look upon this letter. It is a reply sent from the mayor of Monatium.

Sorry, but diamonds are completely useless in Elias.

There's a limit to how much we can stockpile as personal funds in case we return to our original dimension.

I can't appraise the gems you send, so stop sending trade proposal letters. It's annoying.

The gems I have polished and refined through hundreds—nay, thousands—of years are utterly without worth!

What should I do...?

Master, thou shouldst learn somewhat more of the rudiments of market economics!

To think that the one who guides the Worshippers should utter something so thoughtless!

Dost thou even know what supply and demand may be? This will not suffice! Thou must learn more, if thou art to govern as thou oughtest!

I wish to remain and tutor thee, yet my spirits are low, and I find myself quite bereft of energy.

Me... myself?

A brand?

My name value...

Art thou speaking of something akin to the chalk powder that is sold in Monatium?

I once did lend myself to an advertisement for facial powder.

Mayor Elena did say that my complexion was fair, and so she asked that I serve as a model for the advertisement.

Nay, chalk powder. Chalk powder applied unto the face.

Master...! With such name value, might it be possible for me to establish a brand of my own?

I thank thee, Master! Thy words do lend me strength!

I already engage in a great deal of charitable work.

I've been handing out diamonds here and there.

So thou art saying that I cannot overlook the advantage of starting upon my own ground...?

Master! Thou hast grown so much wiser in but a few short minutes!

Excellent! I shall sell diamond powder...

And I shall proclaim that to eat it, or to apply it unto one's body, shall grant strength such as mine own!

Yet... when we sold chalk powder in the elven city, we employed much the same manner of advertising...

Are not those folk who consume edible gold leaf perfectly well all the same?

Hast thou any sound ideas to offer?

That is an intriguing thought! I should return to the palace at once and set to making it!