Chapter 184: A Promise Under the Moon
The night on the Dragon's Nest island was quiet. The waves lapped against the reefs, creating a rhythmic sound. Ignius lay on the beach, his head resting on his front claws, gazing up at the massive full moon in the sky. The moonlight spilled over his crimson scales, reflecting a dim, lusterless glow.
He thought of many things. From the time he was a hatchling, he had always been the most dazzling of his kind. Gifted, peerlessly strong, heralded by all as the undefeated genius. The juvenile dragons adored him, the adults feared him, and the Elders valued him. He had truly believed he would remain that strong forever.
Until he met that skeleton.
Twice they clashed, twice he was crushed. The first time, he hadn't even touched the hem of the enemy's garment before fleeing in disgrace. The second time, he had fought with everything he had, exhausted every tactic, only to be cleaved in two by a single stroke of a sword.
Ignius sighed, his tail sweeping unconsciously through the sand. Truth be told, he didn't resist the idea of becoming Skele-Pride's mount. From any angle, Skele-Pride was a warrior worthy of his respect. He possessed overwhelming strength, seasoned combat experience, and... he had saved his life. By the traditions of the Dragonkin, the weak obeying the strong was only natural.
But it just felt wrong. Infuriatingly wrong.
"Are you unwilling?" A voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Ignius snapped his head up to see Skele-Pride sitting on a nearby reef. The skeleton held that same novel, its soulfire flickering in the night air. Ignius blinked, then lowered his head back onto his claws.
"Nothing to be unwilling about," he said in a low voice. "Lost is lost."
Skele-Pride closed the book and tilted his head at him. "You say that, but that's not what you're thinking in your heart."
Ignius was silent for a few seconds. "You want the truth?"
"Of course."
Ignius took a deep breath. "I'm not refusing to accept my defeat. I accept it. You are stronger than me—far stronger." He paused, then continued. "It's just that I feel... awkward. My whole life, I've been the strongest. Every dragon said I was a genius, that I'd surely become the Dragon King one day. And now? Look at me." Ignius laughed at himself. "I go out once, get beaten like a bug. I come back, spend a month lying around thinking about revenge, and get cut in two by your sword again." He looked up at the moon. "I'm wondering what my life even amounts to now. A genius? A joke. The strongest of the Dragonkin? An even bigger joke."
Skele-Pride listened, silent for a while. Then, he stood, walked over to Ignius, and squatted. He reached out with a bony hand, mimicking how Zhang Yuan usually patted his own head, and gently patted Ignius's neck. Ignius went stiff.
"What... are you doing?"
"Consoling you," Skele-Pride replied calmly. "That 'Lord' of mine used to console me like this."
Ignius was dumbfounded. This skeleton... was consoling him?
"Do you know why I wanted you as my mount?" Skele-Pride spoke suddenly. Ignius shook his head. Skele-Pride withdrew his hand and sat back on the reef. "Before, my Lord said he would divide the bone dragons among the Seven Generals. I was quite excited. After all, those bone dragons are Tier 5 combatants. Even if I didn't need them, having a mount would look quite majestic." Skele-Pride paused. "But when I went to pick one, I found those guys were just too docile. Like pets. If you tell them to go east, they won't go west. If you tell them to lie down, they lie down instantly."
Ignius listened, beginning to understand.
"I don't like that feeling," Skele-Pride's soulfire flickered. "A mount should be a partner, not a tool." He turned to look at Ignius. "And you, you satisfy me. You have enough strength, you have presence. Most importantly, you have your own thoughts."
Ignius was stunned. "So... that last sword stroke... it was intentional?"
Skele-Pride didn't answer, only flickering his soulfire. Ignius remained silent for a long time. At last, he chuckled. "You skeleton, you're quite the schemer."
The two figures sat on the beach—one dragon, one skeleton—watching the moon. After a while, Ignius spoke up. "I can agree to be your mount. But I have one condition."
Skele-Pride looked at him. "Speak."
"Don't treat me like a tool from now on." Ignius lifted his head, the light in his dragon pupils brightening once more. "I am your partner, not your slave. If one day you feel I'm in your way or not strong enough, just tell me. I'll leave on my own."
Skele-Pride's soulfire danced violently. "Agreed." He extended a bony hand. Ignius lifted a front claw and gently tapped Skele-Pride's hand. Ignius stood up and shook his wings.
"But don't say I didn't warn you. If I think your orders are wrong, I will refuse."
Skele-Pride nodded. "As you wish."
Ignius looked at the skeleton, suddenly feeling that being his mount might not be such a bad thing. Skele-Pride turned and walked toward the camp. Ignius watched his back, thinking involuntarily that this skeleton... really was strange. But precisely for that reason, he was willing to follow him.
Ignius took a deep breath and lay back down on the sand. The moonlight bathed him, gentle and serene. He closed his eyes, the images of the battle replaying in his mind. Every action, every sword strike, every dodge. He had memorized them all. One day, he would surpass this skeleton. And then, he would fight him fairly once more. Not as an enemy. But as a partner.
The next morning, all the Dragonkin gathered on the beach. The five Elders stood in the front, with tens of thousands of dragons behind them. Skele-Pride stood opposite them, the Punishment Legion aligned in formation behind him.
Basaka stepped forward. "From today, the Dragonkin officially join The Evernight Empire. We will abide by Imperial law and fulfill our duties as citizens."
Skele-Pride nodded. "Welcome." He turned to the Punishment Legion behind him. "From this moment on, the Dragonkin are part of the Empire. No one shall discriminate against or harm them. Offenders will be dealt with by martial law."
The Punishment Legion responded in unison. "Understood!"
Basaka watched this, his heart a storm of complex emotions. Five thousand years. The Dragonkin were finally setting foot on the continent again. Even if it was like this. At least they were still alive.
"Oh, right," Skele-Pride suddenly remembered something. "How many of your Dragonkin are willing to join the newly established Imperial Air Corps?"
Basaka turned to the crowd of dragons. "All adult dragons may participate."
Skele-Pride nodded. "Good. Once we return, Greed will send specialists to provide you with on-the-job training. You'll know what to do then."
Basaka acknowledged. Suddenly, a voice called out from the crowd. "Elder! I want to go too!"
All the dragons turned. A juvenile dragon squeezed through the crowd, jumping excitedly before Basaka. "I want to go to the continent, too! I want to see the cities the skeletons talk about! I want to eat those delicious things!"
Basaka looked at the hatchling. "You've only just reached adulthood. Better stay on the island for now."
"No!" The hatchling shook its head. "I already know how to fly! I can work, too!"
The dragons around them laughed at the sight. Skele-Pride took a look at the youngster. "Let him come along. As long as he stays in Dragon-man form, he can move freely in any city of the Empire."
Hearing this, the hatchling cheered. "Great!"
Basaka looked at the scene and sighed. Whatever. Perhaps this is what the Dragonkin should be. Not hiding on a lonely island to gasp out their final breaths. But living with their heads held high in this world.
Skele-Pride turned to look at the distant horizon. In that direction lay the continent.
"Prepare to depart. Returning to the Empire."
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