Illymoyas's awakening filled the citizens of Free City with joy, but the first to feel her authority were The Three Little Ones: Yumirs, Kritalia, and Grasti.
After patrolling her territory, Illymoyas returned to her lair and greeted The Three Little Ones, who had grown yet again. Then she took every treasure from their lairs—no one could hide anything valuable from a dragon.
Even their one Gold Coin and ten Silver Coins were taken.
Grasti had been only half clever. Choosing ten Silver Coins over one Gold Coin had been the right move, but she had given her sister too much credit for having principles.
Still, while the other two were left penniless, she at least had a Spinning Machine.
While Illymoyas was putting away the treasure she had seized, Annan quietly produced three Gold Coins.
"These three Gold Coins are yours... but I'll keep them safe for you." Annan winked at the three tear-streaked young dragons, who looked as though they had been abandoned. "Take your treasure home and your parents will take it. Leave it in your lairs and Illymoyas will take it. But if you leave it with me, it won't get looted."
That should get The Three Little Ones into the habit of leaving their money with me...
Yumirs and Kritalia looked grateful, though they only half understood. Clever Grasti, however, seemed to have caught on.
Annan heard a faint rustling behind him. Pretending not to notice, he smiled and went on. "Grasti, I've enrolled you as a new student at the school. What would you like to study?"
"I want to learn about alchemy and potion-making." Grasti's attention shifted.
"Dunbelly teaches alchemy, and potion-making..." Annan couldn't remember who taught it. "But Mr. Swaro teaches magic now. Don't you want to give it a try?"
"We don't