Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Pik Sprite

The cave dimmed, with only Karon’s bright and vivid red scales emitting a faint glow in the darkness, like a large, dull red lantern.

Karon lay quietly in the cave, his formidable adaptability having fully accustomed him to his current lifestyle.

Yet he still somewhat reminisced about that world where every night was brightly lit, every corner’s lights intertwined and even overshadowed the stars in the sky, but that was already in the past.

He suddenly thought of a topic he had once seen, if an animal’s body housed a human soul, should it be considered an animal or a human?

In Karon’s eyes, this topic wasn’t really worth agonizing over; whether animal’s body or human’s body, he is still himself, both human and dragon.

After a long while, he suddenly sighed and closed his eyes; in a world without electronic entertainment and animated nightlife, time passed incredibly slowly.

Karon had good reason to suspect that the so-called juvenile dragons spent most of their time sleeping not because they needed to sleep to grow, but because they were bored.

After all, giant dragons only need to enter sleep to transcend ages, digest inheritance, and awaken the talents in their bloodline, but otherwise are free to roam and grow like humans.

Juvenile dragons, lacking enough self-preservation ability, couldn’t wander like adult giant dragons and could only sleep to pass this long growth period.

But there is something Karon is very satisfied with, he no longer has to wake up early.

Every day, he gets to sleep well past the third pole; today, as usual, Karon lazily crawled out of his nest only after sleeping enough, squinting his eyes to gaze at the sun hanging high long ago.

Then Karon swaggered, planning to wander around the forest outside the Dragon Nest.

He had been cooped up in the Dragon Nest for a while, almost suffocating, so going out to explore might also offer him some new opportunities.

The gorge was quiet now, the juvenile dragons were apparently each sleeping in their caves; they only became active in the evening when Akzhi came to feed them.

Only two White Dragons basked by the pond, and upon seeing Karon wanting to go out, Gomot hastily blocked him, ”Karon, Akzhi did advise us against going out recklessly; though we are giant dragons, there are still many beasts that can harm us now, and the dense jungle can obscure giant dragons’ vision, Akzhi also cannot guarantee absolute safety in the forest.”

”No problem, I’ll just explore near the Dragon Nest, won’t go far; this area should be safe.”

Karon smiled, even though Blue Dragon Carlette stayed in the nest without casually emitting Dragon Power, when giant dragons build their nests, this place was long forbidden to other powerful creatures, leaving only weak animals as usual.

Another White Dragon, Camid, rose, ”Karon, I’ll go with you.” Camid’s frail body seemed somewhat malnourished before Karon, ”Maybe I can still be of help.”

The two dragons walked out of the gorge one after another, with the ineffective reprimand of White Dragon Gomot, who continued to lie down and sunbathe.

Once entering the forest, Karon felt a notable temperature difference.

Trees averaging several people embracing in girth, standing dozens of meters tall, with lush branches and foliage; massive crowns blocking sunlight, also reducing visibility compared to the outside.

The White Dragons, who enjoyed colder areas, revealed relaxed expressions; the slightly chilly forest atmosphere felt like a cooling breeze to them.

The two juvenile dragons cautiously avoided the direction of the water flow, moving towards the forest, stepping on thick layers of fallen leaves, turning over fertile black soil underneath.

By the mountainside, the forest was extremely quiet, even small animals were rarely seen; only occasionally did a flying bird startle away from above the trees by White Dragon Camid’s not-yet-masterful Dragon Power.

After walking a few miles, a plump, tender white worm was suddenly startled and emerged from the decaying soil.

Camid lowered his head, mimicking a lizard catching mosquitoes, skillfully curling the worm with his tongue, biting it with a splash of white juice.

Seeing the White Dragon’s face of enjoyment, Karon smacked the White Dragon’s head with his claw, ”Useless, eating even these worms,” then he also couldn’t help but lick his lips and asked, ”How does it taste?”

”Hehe, tasty.” Camid foolishly nodded.

Great, Karon extended his claws, squatted, and started digging on the ground with the White Dragon. He lacked the so-called giant dragon pride, eating wasn’t disgraceful.

The worms, liking to hide under rotten leaf layers, met misfortune today; having lived long in dense forests with few predators, they grew both white and fat.

Each worm was palm-length, biting them sprayed juice, like soup dumplings he’d eaten before, with a great texture, the two dragons eat joyfully.

”Yoohoo, the giant dragon who likes eating bugs.” A burst of laughter came from the forest, drawing near.

Karon, who was indulging in digging with his bottom upturned, felt a shadow sweep overhead at the corner of his eye, and instinctively turned his head to look.

With his excellent motion capture ability, he saw a tiny creature with butterfly-like sheer wings flying by, trailing behind it a meteor-like tail of sparkling stardust like falling rain.

White Dragon Camid also heard the commotion and looked around alertly.

This creature was evidently curious about giant dragon behaviors yet somewhat timid and shy, quickly flying to hide behind a tree branch, exposing its upper body, the eyes turning with curiosity.

Only then did Karon get a good look at this creature’s appearance.

About one foot tall, this creature emitted a glow like a full moon. Two pairs of delicate butterfly-like wings adorned its back, and it wore a petal short skirt with a hollowed abdomen, revealing a delicate navel.

An acorn hat on its head, the Pik Elf maiden’s slightly round face was full of curiosity.

”Forest Elf?” A look of surprise covered Karon’s dragon face as he called out.

”The giant dragon got it wrong, Riven isn’t a Forest Elf, Riven is a Pik Elf.” Pik Fairy Riven seemed dissatisfied at being called a Forest Elf, flying out from behind the branch.

A pair of bare, tender white little feet stepped on the moss-covered branches, with rounded little hands patting its chest that the petal skirt totally failed to cover.

Karon’s eyes turned, recalling this magical creature - female Pik Elves also being called Magic Fairies, possessing considerable magic ability with a natural affinity for plants, making them excellent plantation masters in Karon’s view.

The stardust trailing behind Pik Elves, like a flame tail, is called Elf Dust, and even a small amount can grant the ability to fly, as well as confuse and lull enemies into sleep; it’s a natural magic ability phenomenon.

Additionally, they possess natural invisibility, rarely appearing if they don’t wish to be seen, proving that this Elf is here with goodwill.

Moreover, Pik Elves love seeking fun and making friends everywhere. As long as no species harbors malice towards them, they are very amicable.

Thus, Karon used his dragon claw to lift a bug towards the Elf in the tree with a friendly smile, saying, ”Well then, Pik Fairy Riven, would you like to have one?”

”Not quite,” Riven said as her delicate little face wrinkled at the sight of the bug almost a third of her size constantly squirming, ”This thing is too scary, Riven doesn’t eat this.”

”Alright,” Karon sighed in mock disappointment, ”Seems I can’t entertain my newly met friend.”

”Do you want to be friends with Riven?” The Pik Fairy’s previously wrinkled little face soon brightened with joy, bouncing on the tree branch.

After a while, she stopped, leaning forward with hands clasped behind, speaking softly, ”But Riven doesn’t know your name yet.”

”Just call me Karon.” The Red Dragon calculated internally, perhaps he could ally the Pik Elf race as a beloved, strength isn’t the most crucial aspect in his eyes, as no beloved can ever be stronger than himself.

They need to be useful, the strength is transient but the beauty is a lifetime affair.

As a visitor from Otherworld, he saw things more comprehensively, and these Pik Elves with notable magic abilities and natural plant affinity could play a significant role in agricultural production.

If used for combat, the path would be misguided. Imagining Riven and her kin wielding little shovels passionately in the future, a wicked pleasure sparked within the Red Dragon’s heart.

”I’m Camid.” The White Dragon who had been silent following behind received Karon’s eye gesture and spoke out proactively.

”Karon, that’s great, and Camid too, we’re friends from now on!”

The delighted Pik Elf flapped her wings flying down from the tree, stopping in front of Karon extending her tender white arms, her round glossy black eyes staring at Karon.

Red Dragon knowingly extended a claw for Riven to hold. ”Yes, we’ll be lifelong good friends.” Red Dragon maliciously emphasized the words, exposing a grin of sharp white teeth.

”Yoohoo, then I can go back and show off to the other Pik Elves that I’ve made a very strong giant dragon friend today.”

Riven’s tiny silhouette joyfully spun circles beside Karon, her butterfly wings buzzing.

”By the way, I know where there are delicious things in the forest, come with me Karon, and Camid too, it’ll be my treat for my new friends.”