The Docks, Rotell—
The Dragon Boat docked in a section of the harbor that was specifically reserved for its arrival. It was a space engineered less for convenience and more for 'safety'.
As for whose safety, well! That's up for debate…
The structure surrounding the pier was reinforced, enchanted, and cleared out in advance, all to prevent anyone from being 'hurt' by its arrival. Even while completely still, the pressure it gave off was overwhelmingly oppressive.
As it began to dock—
The air around the dock became heavier than the rest of the harbor as if gravity had thickened. Breathing seemed to take more effort, and sound slowly dulled as if you were underwater.
This phenomenon extended for quite a distance.
As for those who came to witness the disembarkment, there were very few. For those that did come, the onlookers that had gathered stood far away, well behind a long-cordoned off area lined with special barriers on a distant dock. None of them dared cross the boundary, and even the most curious spectators instinctively kept their distance.
Even from afar, it was obvious that this wasn't a spectacle meant for the public…
Rotell stood at the base of the ship's boarding ramp, positioned in the very front.
Her eyes were wide and bright. She looked up at the towering vessel that loomed above her head, its massive hull blotting out the sky. She could feel its grandeur from its appearance alone, but in some imperceptible way, the air shook with unseen waves of spiritual energy.
This unseen vibration continued to heighten her anxiety, but she forcefully shrugged it off.
She took a breath and gave her best 'welcoming smile', or rather, she tried to…
Her expression struggled to settle properly, caught somewhere between 'painful tension' and an 'unorthodox formality', but regardless, she held her posture and didn't retreat, straightening her back as she continued to look up!
This was not about her comfort, no, and she understood that. This was about the face of the empire, and the Cross Continent as a whole! Although her father had forced her into this position, this was also a change, albeit a small one. Rotell balled her fists in her sleeves. Theo stood to her left, his stance relaxed but ready, vigilant, while Arthur stood slightly behind her, his gaze sharp as he studied the ship… No, there was something else, something hidden, a subtle twitch in the corner of his eye, as if something irritated him in a way he wouldn't explain.
Rotell had caught a glimpse of this, but she didn't ask.
In her mind, she only thought that it was weird, but didn't think any further.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Rumbel!
—The air shook, and the gate connecting the ship to the ramp trembled, slowly opening…
-
Kong!
There was a brief pause, then after a moment of silence, movement finally came from above…
The first to disembark was an elderly representative from the Dragon Clan, or more specifically, a special delegate from the White Dragon Clan.
He descended the ramp with slow, dignified steps.
The moment his feet touched the pier, the surrounding air seemed to cling to him, almost like the space was suddenly pulled towards his elderly and frail physique.
His aged eyes scanned around, carrying a bit of arrogance, but even more patience. In Theos eyes, he seemed to be an elder, not unlike the Old Emperor who always hid away in the back of the palace!
Rotell's attention was immediately drawn to the old man.
Unlike Theo, who frequently stayed near the monsters hidden in the royal palace, her impression of the old man was far different. To her, this old man radiated a superiority that was difficult to put into words. He didn't need to speak, because before he even opened his mouth, one would instinctively feel inadequate in his presence. In her mind, she immediately concluded that this aura was intentional, which it wasn't, and made some strange 'confirmations' about the Dragon Clan in her head.
Without raising his voice, he began to speak to them, delivering a series of formal statements and predetermined 'procedural confirmations' that had clearly been rehearsed.
It was boring crap like that…
As Rotell looked at him, the servants from behind started to hand over the 'welcoming gifts'.
This man—
Upon closer inspection, he was a 'Drake', a half-dragon…
His lineage was evident, even without transforming, because unlike the true members of the Dragon Clan, he lacked the incredibly beautiful crystal horns that defined their bloodline. Instead, what he possessed was smaller, denser, and a more solid set of horns.
Instead of the ethereal crystal-like starlight that seemed to flow through the horns of the true dragons, his were opaque, lacking that 'unfathomable aura.'
In addition…
Where a true dragon's aura crushed and dominated, his felt controlled, almost compressed, and easily contained, not like the trembling floodgates of the others.
This was where Rotell's misunderstanding had come from! In fact, it was the exact opposite. That sense of superiority she felt from the old man was a sign he was 'struggling' to restrict his aura, and the floodgate-like feeling from the true dragons was an 'intentional' display of their concealed power.
Among the Dragon Race, half-dragons like him were often treated as attendants, guards, or servants, yet there was no mistaking the authority he possessed.
He was likely a very old servant, one who had worked for multiple generations!
There were no pleasantries, only business…
Once he finished, he turned his head towards Rotell in acknowledgment, nodded, then turned and made his way back up the ramp.
After he returned to the ship, the next to disembark was Trili.
She descended the ramp with a quickened grace, each step smooth and unhurried, while her head couldn't help but look around. The moment she appeared, everyone's attention was naturally dragged towards her, but it was somehow different from the old man. It was more natural, more willing…
Her aura wasn't oppressive like the Dragon Boats, nor overwhelming like a Red Dragon. Instead, it was clear, composed, and commanding, like that of a young female general or skilled strategist.
Trill paused briefly at the end of the ramp, her sharp blue eyes rising as she surveyed the harbor.
Crowds, banners, ships, people, guards, and the distant city all quickly reflected in her gaze.
She hummed.
"So this is the Cross Continent?" she muttered to herself.
"What a lovely place!"
Her tail flicked behind her, betraying her emotions. For a moment, she looked genuinely impressed.
Her eyes swept across the gathered onlookers.
There was a surprising amount of variety, with different races, clans, cultures, and auras all woven together in one place. This surprised her, causing her to rub her chin.
"…It's comparable to the capital of the Cellistan Continent." She hummed.
Her eyes moved, then narrowed. Her gaze extended far further than a normal human, allowing her to directly peer into the heart of the event.
Her attention swept past a pocket of tension within the crowd.
'Interesting,' she nodded to herself.
There was an awkward pause, then—
A faint smile crept onto her lips…
Without stopping, Trili stepped past Rotell. As she did, her gaze shifted briefly, and she gave the First Princess a polite nod.
Then—
She moved on…
-
After her came Rifrit, the Red Dragon, and the 'youth' Rotell's father had specifically warned her about.
He descended the ramp with the same confidence of an individual who had never been told 'no'. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and unmistakably draconic, wearing a lazy grin that did nothing to hide the sharpness in his eyes.
He had the appearance of a hothead playboy, but Rotell could tell at a glance that it was only the surface, and beneath it was something far less pleasant. She had heard some stories, so she knew he was violent, unrestrained, and had an immense, almost suffocating pride, the kind that came from never having to face any consequences for any of his actions, where one offence against him would be enough to kill a person and their whole family.
Rotell watched him carefully as he descended.
Then—
She blinked…
Hm?
Trailing tirelessly behind was a small child, a pretty pink bun!
The girl was only about as tall as Rifrit's waist, trotting along with a crinkling bag of crispy chips clutched in both claws. She looked completely out of place, especially beside him, like a stray leaf caught in a storm, but… aside from that—
She was adorable!
This was Rifrit's half-sister, Popo, a hybrid between a Red Dragon and a Fairy Dragon, a pink 'Petal Dragon'. Her layered pink hair fell like overlapping leaves, streaked with lighter shades, framing pale rosy eyes that sparkled with a cat-like curiosity. Two crystal horns, glowing softly with light, curved from her head and wrapped around before protruding outwards, forming something like a miniature crown of thorns. It was cute rather than menacing, even delicate.
Even her pupils were unusual, shaped like dark red four-leaf clovers. She radiated an almost tangible aura of cuteness and huggability, but Rotell noticed something else—
Behind that naive and pure face was a familiar aura…
Rotell's mind turned, and she quickly realized what it was—
This small child gave her the exact same feeling as Petra!
Yeah, that was it…
- Mischievousness
The 'brother and sister' descended together, followed closely by a dozen 'personal guards'. Each guard was a half-dragon, with massive and solid builds, bearing the traits of the 'Drake' lineage mixed with the Red Dragon bloodline.
Rotell looked at this, then suspected they were chosen and trained for their raw physical strength alone.
-
After that came a large portion of the crew, filing down the ramp in long lines, followed closely by the supplies that they had prepared for the journey. Crates and sealed containers were 'not so carefully' lowered and moved aside under the watchful eyes of both dragon and imperial guard alike. Most of it was meant for their own use, things like provisions, tools, personal items, and equipment, all packed with meticulous care. It was guarded at every step by multiple people.
Mixed among them were several heavily sealed containers marked with foreign runes, likely draconic in nature. Within these special crates were many treasures, rare materials, and goods from overseas, along with fragments of knowledge and craftsmanship they intended to trade during their 'long stay'.
Nothing was handled casually, but at the same time, even if it was, it didn't seem to matter.
Rotell frowned seeing this...
Every item was valuable, and the efficiency of the unloading process made it clear that this delegation had come prepared for far more than a simple visit…
In the back of her mind, the same spark that her father had already caught started to flicker.
-
Shortly after, the final duo left the ship…
The man leading the way was a feminine-looking male dragon with a tall, slender frame, and a jade-like complexion that seemed to almost be sculpted.
He had long black hair that flowed down his back, threaded with streaks of silver that caught the light.
A pair of snow-white crystal horns curved backwards from the top of his head, shaped more like those of the demon clan than the dragon clan, yet refined and elegant rather than savage and ominous, making his appearance undoubtedly unique among the dragons.
His eyes were white, calm and distant, carrying an aged wisdom and an unfathomable temperament that made it difficult to read his thoughts.
The rest of his hair was drawn back into a low ponytail, hanging behind him like a long ribbon, swaying gently with each step, rippling with the wind. Silver ornaments traced the edges of his robes, subtle, deliberate, and placed in just the right spots to 'ring' as he moved.
He was a White Dragon, and his presence carried a different kind of authority!
And then—
Following the white dragon was a very different kind of existence…
This man carried a noble, almost divine aura, one that immediately set him apart from everyone around him. At a glance, the relationship between him and the white dragon was unmistakable. The white dragon was a retainer, an attendant, no no no, he was also a 'personal advisor', while the golden dragon was the 'Young Emperor' of the Dragon Clan! He was the heir to the strongest Dragon Clan—the Golden Dragon Clan, and the next emperor of the entire Dragon Race!
Rotell felt her breath catch in her throat.
She had no idea 'he' was coming…
Why was he here!
This was a big deal!
The Young Emperor possessed a refined, clear-cut face and a fair complexion, paired with a slim, slightly muscular build that reflected both strength and discipline.
He was beautiful in a way that bordered on intimidating, and the oppressive authority radiating from him unmistakably reminded Rotell of her father!
His golden eyes regarded the world calmly, with a steady and absolute aura, as if nothing before him could truly surprise him. Faint golden markings traced elegant patterns across his face, disappearing beneath his clothes like living runes.
His pale golden hair was tied high behind his head and secured with a small golden ring. Extending from his head were several slender, spine-like protrusions, thin lines that stuck out like threads and connected seamlessly to his golden horns. Together, they formed something like a natural crown, or ceremonial headpiece, reinforcing his status without the need for additional ornamentation.
His steps were leisurely and unhurried, yet with each movement, Rotell felt as though the world trembled in response. What was most terrifying was that if he was not already in the sixth realm, then he was terrifyingly close, perhaps already standing right on the threshold!
* * *
After everyone was gathered—
The blue dragon, Trili, stepped forward.
Her voice was soft yet strong, carried effortlessly across the docks without the need for magic.
"Allow me to start with the introductions," she said in a friendly tone.
She lifted a hand and gestured towards the golden dragon.
"This is 'His Highness', the Young Master of the Golden Dragon Clan, the 'Young Emperor', current crown prince, and the leader of this delegation, Atllin D Ras Aureuco."
Rotell nodded her head in acknowledgment.
She knew of him—
His name was well known outside the Cross Continent, and stories about his exploits often drifted across the sea to the Hellion Empire. Seeing him in person made those 'rumors' feel more understandable.
Trili continued, "Beside him is a rare White Dragon, his personal advisor and right-hand man! This is one of our traditions, and an 'extremely respected' position amongst the White Dragon Clan! He's very quiet and rarely speaks, so you don't need to mind him too much if he seems a bit cold."
"His name is Lilit," she added.
Her gaze then shifted toward the remaining duo.
"That one glaring at me is from the Red Dragon Clan. He is a veteran when it comes to picking fights, and frankly, not a particularly great guy. If possible, avoid Rifrit when you can, and try not to be alone with him, because there's no telling what he might do."
Rotell nodded.
That sounded like good advice…
Trili's expression lightened as she gestured to the small figure beside him.
"The little one is a Petal Dragon from the Fairy Dragon Clan. She is here both as a family favor and as a symbol of their goodwill. As long as she doesn't run away, there won't be any problems. Don't worry too much. We have people assigned to watch over her."
"Is she hard to keep track of?" Rotell asked, genuinely puzzled.
Trili shook her head with an awkward sigh. "You have no idea."
Finally, she smiled and placed a hand over her chest. "My name is Trili, of the Blue Dragon Clan. I am responsible for diplomacy and coordination. You can rely on me for most of our communications during our stay, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm always open to making friends!" She gave Rotell a knowing glance.
Rotell grinned back, immediately creating a friendly atmosphere.
She liked this girl…
* * *