Chapter 654: Doesn’t taste good
Imperial Capital Whether in politics, culture, or economy, it holds a decisive position in the country. For that reason successive rulers had issued a no-flying decree, only setting aside a small test-flight zone on the grounds of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic to avoid unnecessary trouble and danger.
Considering the large number of nobles in the city and the influence of the no-fly decree, letting Theresa return to her dragon form would inevitably cause an uproar. In the end Astrid still didn’t get the chance to see the former in her true primal shape.
But back to the point, since contact had already been made with the intelligent dragonfolk, there would be opportunities to see their true form in the future. Astrid wasn’t in any hurry.
A night passed. Having received a parting gift, Theresa left Imperial City and followed the map northward, heading into the bitterly cold northern lands. A few days later she arrived at the dragon clan’s territory.
"Theresa, where did you go all this time?"
At the edge of the world, on the glacier plains controlled by the dragons, a blue dragon with sturdy horns and scales that shimmered with a steely cold light fixed her gaze on Theresa and slowly breathed out words in draconic.
"And... you used transformation magic as well..."
Dragons used transformation magic mostly for writing or reading draconic records. Compared with the bulky battle form that could unleash maximum destructive power, the more delicate humanoid form with nimble fingers was better suited for writing and creation.
But Theresa had been traveling, not in a period of study or reading, there was no need to restrain yourself and live as if bound. It was like humans putting on clothes: unless for covering the body, the bare natural state was more comfortable.
Theresa blinked a few times, looked at the young blue dragon who was one of the few friends she had, and parted her pink lips.
"I went to the human empire in the south for some magic I couldn’t understand."
Her investigation into the spatial ripples hadn’t produced especially valuable information, but through conversations with Charlotte, Theresa’s understanding of human magics had jumped up another level.
Many draconic spells and human spells were not so different by result; analyzing the two chanting systems helped Theresa get closer to the essence of magic.
The blue dragon squinted and dug its sharp claws into the cliff face, leaving long savage gouges.
"The human... Lorraine Empire... What’s the Lorraine Empire like now?"
She had read descriptions of human empires in the tomes, but like Astrid’s initial understanding of dragonkind, which only covered primitive social structure, great physical strength, and their rare appearances on the continent, the blue dragon’s knowledge of humans was merely textual, that empire born thousands of years ago.
"Vinne, there is no longer a so-called Lorraine Empire."
Theresa hovered before the dragon she called Vinne, still in human form rather than revealing her dragon shape, and spoke.
"A long time ago the Lorraine Empire erupted in civil war. The whole country fell apart and ultimately formed the Kingdom of Velys in the chilly northwest and the Valeria Empire along the eastern coast."
"The former is jointly ruled by king and pontiff, church and crown standing side by side, complementing yet restraining each other. The latter imperial authority; the emperor’s power far exceeds that of the nobles."
A scholar with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Theresa had spent several days submerged in the royal museum and read through a string of books Astrid had recommended, covering history, culture, law, and art.
Vinne cocked her head when Theresa uttered a string of unfamiliar proper nouns in draconic; her indigo horns cut sharp lines in the light and sparkled with cold glints.
"What is a... king?"
She also didn’t know of nobles, ecclesiastical authority, or royal power.
Knowing that her friend usually learned only magic and ignoring those books elders considered trivial, Theresa patiently explained the differences.
Vinne listened and, as if only half understanding, nodded as if in thought.
"I think I get it."
"..."
Whether Vinne truly understood didn’t trouble Theresa. It had just been a casual question; she answered along the thread and left it there.
"But how did you learn all this, Theresa?"
The dragon exhaled slowly, the white mist carrying fine wind elements.
"Did you not only take human form but actually go to their city?"
Dragonkind had no law forbidding contact with other intelligent races; the reason dragons had disappeared for so long was that most of them were simply too lazy to socialize.
Firstly, as apex predators they possess overwhelming combat strength. Secondly, dragons were proud by nature and disdained unnecessary socializing. Thirdly, they were largely self-sufficient in resources and didn’t need help from other species.
Hunting a whale for food or killing a beast that trespassed into dragon territory, a single great dragon could do such deeds easily.
Theresa nodded slightly and told Vinne quietly about her time in Imperial.
"In the human realm, the great Valeria Empire, I met a girl named Tessia Beckett who introduced me to the regent, someone second only to the supreme ruler."
"She is called Astrid Calliste, with silver hair similar to silver dragons in their humanoid guise, and both intelligence and beauty in abundance."
"Under her warm hospitality I was given the opportunity to visit the human archives and their great exhibition of magitech. Most of the human knowledge I have now was obtained from her..."
Compared to dragon society, exotic spices and novel magitech,
Theresa’s trip had been far more interesting than the homebound Vinne could imagine.
"Hmm, that regent... Astrid..."
"You don’t think she set some trap to catch you, do you?"
Vinne did not understand modern humans well, but the old records hinted at human greed toward dragons.
Dragon horns made excellent forging material, for sharp swords or long spears. Scales and sinew can be used to make armor and shields. Dragon blood and bones were rare alchemical ingredients that could greatly enhance the body, whether the bones were ground into a powder for food or potions, or the body bathed in dragon blood as a rite.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that a lone Theresa would be prime meat.
Theresa shook her head and answered softly.
"No, Vinne. Astrid and I are friends."
As Vinne had said, Theresa realized she had been reckless the day they met, not only for crossing human borders without permission but for overestimating her own strength.
As a mighty great dragon she had outstanding combat prowess and the backing of a middle tier Arcanist mage level. On paper her survival chances seemed high.
But during the Lorraine Empire era there were humans who had achieved Arcanist mage tier. Today there was probably no abrupt lapse in such talent. One or two greedy human mages of equal rank wouldn’t be much of a threat to Theresa, but three, four, or more would leave her no chance to disengage.
In Astrid’s position, she could have mobilized those people, in fact, when they first met Astrid had made arrangements: if the blue dragon showed any signs of trouble, Anthony, a high-level Arcanist mage near his peak, would act on command; hidden potential also includes the Empress’ Arcanist mage-level Trin, the imperial marquis Charlotte, and the newly crowned empress Amalia.
Just counting, there were seven forces within the capital capable of doing real harm to Theresa.
"Do you really trust a human that much?"
Vinne snorted disdainfully and folded her wings around her paws.
"I advise you to stay cautious."
Like most dragons, she had pride and wariness toward other intelligent races.
"Astrid is warm and sincere. You don’t need to worry, Vinne."
"And... think about it," Theresa said, drifting closer to Vinne’s razor-edged wing, "I stayed in the imperial capital for a month. If they intended any harm, they would’ve acted already."
Now she has returned to dragon territory, her travels and experiences transparent. If she disappears next time, the dragons’ first suspicion would fall on the human empire she had mentioned.
Astrid was not foolish enough to start a conflict between humans and dragons over a whim.
Vinne considered Theresa’s words and found some sense in them, so she didn’t persist.
"Just keep it in mind."
"By the way, don’t tell my mother yet."
"Of course not. If she knows you behaved so wildly, in the coming decades you won’t be going out again, you’ll be shut up tight."
They chatted about a few things and the changes in the dragon territory while Theresa had been away. Vinne spoke frankly to her friend.
"Still nothing changed," Theresa murmured.
Vinne scoffed: "You were gone a month, not a hundred years. What could change?"
For long-lived dragons a month really was nothing, eat, sleep, drink, and it was over.
After a moment, the blue dragon shook snow from her body and asked Theresa.
"Theresa, do you plan to keep up this form all the way home?"
Although dragons could take human shape, there was no reason to show that appearance at home. When Vinne first saw Theresa she had barely recognized her; only when she approached and sensed her aura did she speak.
They weren’t like the ostentatious silver dragons who liked to display their glamor shapes to the whole clan every day.
Theresa curved her lips; pride slipped into her tone.
"Yes. That’s the plan."
She raised her hand and showed the silver ring on the tip of her index finger, emitting a faint magical aura.
"I have some things in this body that aren’t suitable for my original shape."
Otherwise, how could she carry such a small ring, tucked in her mouth?
Vinne leaned in, curious; her pale-blue vertical pupils reflect the ring.
"What is that..." she murmured, sensing something special but unsure.
Theresa produced a wooden cask from within, and ripples of space shimmered out from her fingertip, instantly making Vinne understand what the ring was.
"A... spatial ring?"
"Exactly."
Theresa removed the stopper from the cask and a faint wine aroma spread through the air. Vinne sniffed; the cold wind carried a taste she’d never smelled before.
A little vain youthful impulse, perhaps, Theresa omitted that the cask was a necessary transport item for the trade and only quoted the latter half of Astrid’s words when the gift was given.
"This is a gift from Astrid. A token of our friendship."
Vinne fully understood the ratio of a spatial ring. She didn’t believe mediocre humans could casually alter space, nor that such a treasure would be tossed about like common goods.
"She gave it to you for free?"
"Yes."
"..."
Vinne inwardly thought Astrid must be mad to give such a treasure to a newly acquainted female dragon.
She also understood why Theresa had deliberately brought the ring so close, purely to show off.
Among the young generation of dragons, Theresa was the first to own her own spatial storage device, and not given by an elder. That alone would be enough to boast for a long time.
"What’s this then?"
After a few seconds Vinne reached out a claw and lightly tapped the wooden cask.
Theresa answered gently, "Wine from the human empire. It tastes rather nice."
She had thought of bringing some back so her friends at home could try this peculiar drink.
"May I taste it?" Vinne asked.
Theresa nodded and parted her lips.
"Of course."
Before she could say more, Vinne’s controlled wind lifted the cask and, ring and all, it went straight into her maw. In an instant a splash of red wine burst out.
"It doesn’t taste like anything... Theresa," Vinne said.
Theresa: "..."
"Why don’t you use transformation magic, change into human form, and drink properly?"
If Vinne drank like this, the ring’s meager reserves wouldn’t stretch far.
Vinne tilted her head and silently chanted in draconic. In moments the massive dragon form exaggerated. A young girl with blue hair and blue eyes stood in the snow, bare-legged and wrapped only in a blue robe.