While the administration building was in complete chaos—
In the medical center at another corner of the academy, the atmosphere was eerily serene.
Veronica reclined on a hospital bed, a pristine white sheet drawn over her.
She had sustained some internal injuries, but after treatment she was out of danger. At the moment she clutched a scrap of cloth—the last remnant of her torn garment.
Opposite her sat a middle-aged woman in glasses holding a clipboard; the academy had dispatched this special investigator, disguised as a counsellor.
"Miss Hester," the investigator said gently, adjusting her glasses, "let's confirm the details once more. You claim the dragon abducted you to protect you?"
"Yes."
Veronica nodded, silver hair spilling over her shoulders. No fear showed on her face; instead, an odd flush glowed under the light.
"When he charged into the monsters he was so fast, so fierce. Yet when he lifted me he was so gentle," she murmured dreamily. "To keep me from being hurt he even wrapped his claws in some special energy. It must be a Dragon Clan guardian spell."
The corner of the investigator's mouth twitched; she tapped her pen on the board but could not bring herself to write.
"Miss Hester, is there anything more you'd like to add about that dragon?"
"No." Veronica shook her head, silver strands swaying.
"He… is simply very powerful, and very mysterious."
She lifted her gaze, eyes shining not with the terror of other students but with an unusual light.
"I don't think it meant any harm. It took our things, perhaps… perhaps it's just a dragon's unique way of communicating? Like exchanging gifts?"
The investigator, still posing as a counsellor, frowned. Had this girl been frightened out of her wits?
Similar words Veronica had repeated over and over.
Since she was the only person to have been in close contact with the dragon—and the Hester family's treasured daughter—the Empire's investigator finally wrote "under observation" in the file.
"It seems you need a good rest, Miss Hester."
Veronica watched the investigator's retreating back and couldn't help humming softly.
Mortals could never understand.
That was a dragon.
A being mighty, beautiful, and able to give her a sense of safety.
She turned to the dark night outside the window—the direction of the Dragon Spine Mountain Range.
Unconsciously she touched the cheek that had been licked by a "dragon tongue"; the rough, scorching sensation seemed to linger—like a kiss.
"I'll wait for you."
She whispered to the night sky.
"Since you've accepted my token of affection… don't think you can run away, my Mr. Dragon."
#
Meanwhile, in a cave several hundred kilometres from the academy.
"Achoo!"
Caesar, counting his treasure, sneezed violently and nearly dropped the terastal fragment in his claw.
"Who's cursing me?"
He rubbed his snout and glanced around suspiciously.
Beside him Cecilia was holding up those garments, trying to drape them over her dragon body and muttering, "How do you even wear this? Why is it only a few strings? Humans are so weird…"
"Do they go on the claws?"
The little Silver Dragon looped a lacy string around her claw, let four gems of different colours show, and used Celebrate… "Yahoo! O(≧▽≦)O!"
—Infinity Gauntlet!!!
Caesar's blood pressure spiked; he kicked the little dragon's rump.
"Put that down, you jinx! Take it out again and I'll stew you!"
"Ugh…" Cecilia lay on the ground, pitifully awaiting the aroma of roast meat.
At the moment the two wyrmlings were hiding in a dry cave once occupied by a cave bear. Half an hour earlier the unfortunate bear had been slain by a single Shadow Claw from Caesar and was now roasting over the fire.
Caesar flipped the meat and picked up the primer "Introduction to Earth Control", skimming a couple of pages.
The book explained how mana flows through soil and how to alter the land's structure; these basics gave him new insight into skills like Sand Tomb and Mud Shot.
Although it was only a Tier-1 spellbook, it filled gaps in his theoretical knowledge.
The System let a dragon learn skills instantly, but without knowing the why; to truly master power—or fuse a Z-Move with Terastalization as he had today—he needed to understand the principles.
"System, tally current assets."
[Ding! Assets as follows:]
[Gold crystal coinss: 843]
[Silver crystal coins: 2 150]
[Various low-tier magic devices: 12]
[Various monster Materials: numerous (estimated value ≈ 6 000 Gold crystal coinss)]
[Special items: Focus Sash (imitation) ×5, elemental resonance crystal (Fire) ×2]
Don't record that freak-show "Focus Sash"…! Caesar could barely keep a straight face.
Luckily, with this money he could buy magic potions only humans could craft and the missing synthesis Materials—like the arcane leather required to finish Weather Ball!
But first things first: solve the stomach problem.
The cave bear might have ascended to paradise, but its stored honey and dried fruit were still here.
Out of respect for the deceased, Caesar resolved to reunite them.
"Fat dragon, bring that honey over—extra seasoning tonight!"
"Honey? Yay!"
At the mention of food Cecilia instantly forgot her grievance, whipped her tail and trotted off for the honey.
Caesar watched her back and sighed.
This is a True Dragon? Why do I feel her IQ hasn't even caught up to a human child's?
Forget it, keep her for now.
Maybe after a honey glaze… she'll unlock some dragon-type skills?
…Meanwhile.
Above the capital of the Lordaeron Empire.
The clouds were suddenly torn apart. A pressure so terrible it made the whole city quake descended from the sky.
Griffin knights in the royal palace tried to take off but were so overwhelmed by the aura that their mounts buckled and crashed to the ground.
Deep within the palace several Legendary mages in meditation snapped their eyes open, faces bloodless.
"This… dragon might?!"
"At this intensity… could it be a Legendary Great Dragon?!"
In the sky.
Two red figures, one large and one small, slowly broke through the clouds.
They were True Dragons. Not Sub-dragons, not earth-dragons. They stood atop the food chain—Red Dragons embodying destruction and power!
Ilena beat wings that blotted out the sun, looking down on the brightly lit capital.
Behind her Fafnair looked thoroughly bored.
"Teacher, why come to this place of weak humans?" Fafnair snorted a puff of sulphur. "I don't understand."
"Use your brain, Fafnair," Ilena's voice echoed in his mind. "With the Dragons Nest active again the surrounding kingdoms will feel threatened. Do you want the long-ears of the Jade Council to find an excuse to unite the humans for war?"
"Humans?" Fafnair sneered. "These insects dare?"
"Who knows."
Ilena offered no further explanation.
Her burning vertical pupils fixed on the grand mage tower below; she could sense several formidable auras there.
"Let's go, say hello."
Ilena folded her wings and plummeted like a meteor.
"—To declare our intent, and that is… peace!!"