Chapter 21
The next day, I was determined to approach my mother and ask if I could visit the human kingdom to study magic, now that I had taken on a more humanoid form. I trotted over to her cave, a massive structure carved into the mountainside, its entrance a grand archway adorned with shimmering gemstones that sparkled in the morning light. Flexing my dragon might, I called out for permission to enter. After a few moments, I felt her response, a gentle rumble that echoed through the air, allowing me to come in.
As I stepped inside, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The cave opened up into a vast chamber, the walls lined with treasures from ages past. There lay my mother, reclining on her enormous hoard of silver, gold, and magical artifacts. The sight of her was breathtaking, and I was momentarily dazed by the sheer abundance of baubles surrounding her.
“Azuron,” she spoke, her voice booming and warm, pulling me from my reverie. “Why have you come here?”
I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. “Um, m-mother, I would love it if you allowed me to go visit the human kingdom.”
She raised an eye ridge, a gesture that immediately filled me with apprehension. “And why would I allow that? You will be quite important to the clan in the future, and I don’t want you wandering off to die in human lands.”
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. “I-I think it would be good for my growth and power. I want to explore more magic, and learn about the other elements.”
My mother hummed thoughtfully, considering my words. “That is a good reason, but you don’t have a humanoid form yet. The lesser races can be quite greedy when it comes to our kind. Unless you have a human form, I’m afraid I can’t let you go. Also, how would you get into the city in your dragon form?”
She was right. Dragons were immensely valuable to other races; every part of us was coveted, but only the most foolish wizards dared to pursue such things openly. Most people respected dragons unless we caused mayhem, which made me smirk at the irony of my kind’s reputation.
Gathering my confidence, I focused and transformed. A glow enveloped me for a brief moment, and when it faded, I stood as a 1.6-meter-tall blue kobold with small wings and a blue-and-white robe. My mother’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by my transformation. “All right then, it seems you already have a humanoid form,” she said, her voice softening. “I guess you will be allowed out, but your father will accompany you.”
With that, I transformed back and eagerly left the chamber. I set off to find my father, Indrathor, who would accompany me during my visit to the human kingdom. He had been close to his elder dragon slumber, a deep sleep that many dragons entered as they aged. I found him nestled in the forest nearby, stirring slightly as I approached.
“All right,” he grumbled, stretching his massive wings. “Your mother sent me to accompany you to the human lands. You better not take too long; I hate this humanoid form.”
Chuckling, I took off into the sky father following close behind before pulling ahead. We decided to change into our humanoid forms once we spotted civilization. After a short flight, we finally landed near a well-trodden road. The moment my feet touched the ground, I transformed into my humanoid self, and my father followed suit, taking the shape of a tall, handsome elf. Most dragons quite like transforming into elves. They are quite pretty well anything can be good-looking in front of a dragon. We have a ah unique sense of how attractive something is, we can find the most hideous of creatures attractive. Though other dragons are still the most attractive. That's why there how do I say it so many dragon-born creatures, creatures that share dragon blood. Anyway back to the elves, they live quite long so we can stay for a much longer time in other lands with our form. And of all the other races elves are the most magical gifted so we can display our magic as well.
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We began our journey down the road, and I could feel the stares of passersby upon us. Despite kobolds being somewhat tolerated in other lands, it didn’t mean we were liked. A few townsfolk shot me disgruntled looks, and I kept my head high, determined not to let their prejudice affect me.
As we entered a larger town, my father turned to me. “This town is called Eldergrove. It’s quite significant and has plenty of books. I visited it in the past.”
Eager to explore, we ventured through the bustling streets filled with humans and other races. The air was filled with the enticing scents of baked goods and exotic spices, and my heart raced with excitement. My father led me to a magic bookshop he remembered from his last visit.
Inside, the shelves towered high, crammed with scrolls and tomes of various shapes and sizes. I scanned the titles, searching for something that would pique my interest. I aimed for low- to mid-tier magic books, avoiding anything too advanced or dangerous. Eventually, I selected several volumes, focusing on the manipulation of mana, as well as books on poison, acid, and metal. Father had told me that smaller towns often lacked more advanced magic knowledge, usually relegating themselves to basic elemental schools.
My father cast an invisibility spell so that we would not pay for our books. Father had said why should we give our valuable hoards to the lesser races? He deactivated the spell once we left the store. I placed the precious books into my spatial ring, feeling a thrill of anticipation for the knowledge I would gain.
While heading towards the town's gates, a group of drunken adventurers stumbled into our path. Their laughter echoed in the air, brimming with bravado and arrogance.
“W-what are you doing here, you filthy monster?” one of them slurred, the words barely coherent as he swayed on his feet, his companions chuckling heartily.
“Yeah!” another piped up, pointing an unsteady finger at me. “You should just go back to whatever cave you crawled out of!”
Their words stung and angered me. Why should a group of weak and pathic humans, speak to me like that a beautiful blue dragon, I was preparing to respond when my father stepped forward, his voice low and intimidating. “You would do well to remember your manners when addressing a dragon, even in this form. Your bravado is misplaced, and it will only lead to your embarrassment.”
The group paused, their laughter faltering as they recognized the authority in my father’s voice. I watched as the bravado drained from their faces, replaced by a mixture of fear and confusion.
“Uh… we were just joking, old man,” the first adventurer stammered, backing away slightly.
“Consider this a warning,” my father continued, his gaze piercing. “Next time, you may not be so fortunate.”
With that, we pushed past them, leaving behind the awkward tension. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as we finally reached the gates of Eldergrove. The grand entrance was adorned with intricate carvings and guarded by stern-faced sentinels who eyed us with suspicion.
As we stepped outside the gates, I felt the weight of my father’s protective presence beside me. I turned to him, a mix of gratitude and excitement bubbling inside me. “Thank you for standing up for me,” I said, my voice sincere.
He nodded a hint of pride in his expression. “You will have to learn to stand up for yourself, Azuron. Not everyone will treat you with respect, especially in the land of humans. But you are more than capable. Remember that.”
We continued our journey through Eldergrove, my heart racing with the possibilities that lay ahead. I was eager to learn and grow, to explore the world beyond my clan. This was only the beginning, and I felt a sense of purpose igniting within me. With my father by my side and a world full of knowledge waiting to be uncovered, I was ready to embrace my destiny.