Beneath the Red Dragon

They wanted to travel through the Empire, to see firsthand the dragon civilization that had grown from the Northern Wilderness.

And the female Golden Dragon, Naloya, was the first dragon to arrive in the Golden Empire.

However, the female Golden Dragon, Naloya, only visited the City of Capito in the Golden Empire—Royal Capital for two days, and then never went out again voluntarily.

Until today, when the Holy Knight Elis of Modir escorted the bound and sealed Female Red Dragon to the Golden Empire Court for handover, the female Golden Dragon finally stepped out of the inn’s door to follow Holy Knight Elis to meet the King of Black Scales in the Golden Empire—Rosani.

The building of the Golden Empire Court, like the Empire itself, was tall and spacious, constructed entirely of Cyan Gang Stone. The grayish stone, under the name of the Court, appeared particularly somber and dignified.

Holy Knight Elis only brought with him two warriors driving a carriage and the Golden Dragon Naloya. At the command of the Judgment Knight at the gate of the court, they waited quietly.

But the gaze of Elis and Naloya couldn’t help but wander around the grand building.

On the lofty portal of the court were carvings of dragons, representing the Sword of Punishment held in the left claw of the dragon, symbolizing the laws held in its right claw, as the dragon’s claws were held level.

This emblem meant that the dragon’s will was the balance scale of this Empire, the standard by which the laws and judgments were measured.

The Empire’s culture was evident in every detail, even in the architectural emblems.

The female Golden Dragon, Naloya, in her humanoid form, silently observed everything, unwilling to recall the Island Realm so as not to subconsciously compare it with the Golden Empire.

These shallow understandings over two days had already dealt a significant blow to the once proud female Golden Dragon.

Good or bad, it’s only feared in comparison.

The grand door of the Court was guarded by two towering Centaur Judgment Knights. On their dark armor, the female Golden Dragon Naloya could sense a hint of Force Field Magic.

This also meant that ordinary weapons and magic could scarcely touch these Judgment Knights’ armor, let alone harm their bodies.

A strong and towering dignity emanated from these Judgment Knights, from the majestically solemn court, and from the Dragon Banner fluttering in the court square.

The female Golden Dragon Naloya didn’t know if this dignity was due to her awe of the civilization of the Golden Empire, or where it originated.

But this female dragon, who had come with thoughts of hatred and revenge, indeed started to develop a sense of respect and reverence for this civilization in her mind.

”The Island Realm established by Erikson, at least compared to this Empire, is like those primitive tribes formed by mortal creatures during ancient times when dragons ruled the land,”

The female Golden Dragon Naloya looked up at the silent court with the Dragon Banner flying high, her thoughts leaping to thoughts of comparison in an instant.

On the enormous Dragon Banner, all the dragon species owned by the Golden Empire were engraved with gold thread, mithril, and gemstones, arranged around a vivid Red Dragon skull in the center, almost ready to leap out of the flag.

When the female Golden Dragon Naloya saw this banner, the dragon shadows on the flag, with pupils engraved in various gemstones, seemed to be gazing back into the eyes of the female dragon.

”This is also a powerful Magic Treasure, truly incredible. I wonder what kind of miraculous power it possesses,” the female Golden Dragon Naloya gained some understanding of the wealth of the Northern Dragon Group Empire.

Thump, thump, thump

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed as a full-armored Judgment Knight and a beautiful Centaur Knight, holding a helmet in her left hand, approached those waiting outside.

”Lord Elis, Lord Naloya, thank you for your contribution to the Golden Empire. Please have your companions drive the carriage and follow my colleague Nora; Nora will take the erring Red Dragon to prison for confinement. The two of you, please follow me; Lord Rosani is available to meet with you!”

The beautiful and graceful Centaur Knight spoke.

The Judgment Knight Captain Nora then jumped onto the carriage herself, began to drive the horses, and headed out of the court to the street.

Holy Knight Elis had no objections and only smiled and said, ”You’re kidding, my lord. I am here as an unwelcome guest, hoping the Golden Empire won’t misunderstand Modir because of this.”

The Centaur Knight smiled and led the two towards the interior of the court.

But the female Golden Dragon Naloya looked at the Centaur Knight ahead and couldn’t help but ask, ”What punishment will that Red Dragon face, and why isn’t it being publicly tried in the Golden Empire Court?”

Centaur Knight Suniya stopped in her tracks, turned back to look at the beautiful blonde woman in front of her, seemingly deep in thought, and then said, ”The Golden Empire is a civilized realm founded by dragon groups, and even the trial of dragons can only be deliberated by the ’Council of Kings’ of the Empire,”

”The Empire’s court is for the dragons’ trial, not to try dragons,” Suniya pondered, ”You’re a dragon yourself, why are you keen on judging your kind?”

”The Holy Gogolma Emperor is trying to protect his kin, to save his race, why aren’t you helping Him, and are instead opposing His will, it truly baffles me.”