After landing, her massive form began to shimmer. Scales melted into smooth skin, claws became delicate hands, and her towering dragon body shrank into the shape of a young human woman. She had silver hair that fell in soft waves. Her dress was elegant, and unsurprisingly, was silver.

I stared for a moment, impressed. I was annoyed that I wasn't old enough to innately change form like an adult dragon. All dragons could take on a humanoid form once they reached a certain age. However, I had to use magic, at least for the moment.

With a deep breath, I activated my magic and used some Faith Points to start my own transformation. A familiar sensation washed over me as I used a spell to assume my old kobold form. While it wasn't a huge change, it did make going through human doorways easier. Then again, even though I would never admit it, I probably could have squeezed through the doorways in my dragon body.

When the transformation was complete, I glanced down at my clawed hands and tail, feeling oddly comfortable. But a thought nagged at me. Why had I chosen my kobold form? Why not my old human one? It would have been just as easy. Did I not care about becoming human any longer? If so, why? I definitely need to take some time to think about this, I thought. More and more, I was certain that my physical form was affecting my thoughts.

I shook these thoughts away as Silfriglóa turned to me. “Come,” she said, motioning toward the church.

The priests rose and opened the doors for her, bowing low once again as we passed. Inside, the church was quiet and cool. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the stone floor. Silver ornaments adorned the walls and altars, and the faint scent of incense lingered in the air.

Silfriglóa led me down the main aisle, her steps graceful and light. She stopped at a side room, gesturing for me to enter.

“This will be private enough,” she said.

I stepped inside, the room cozy and warmly lit. A round table stood in the center with a pair of chairs on either side. Silfriglóa took a seat, her movements as composed in human form as they had been in her dragon form.

I hesitated before sitting across from her, still trying to push aside my unease. Silfriglóa had a quiet confidence about her, and I couldn’t tell if that would make her easier or harder to talk to than Einvaldskonungr. Either way, I had to try. With that in mind, I climbed into the chair across from her.

“So,” she said, folding her hands on the table, her glowing eyes fixed on me. “Tell me why you’ve come.”

The conversation had stretched on for almost an hour. Silfriglóa had asked quite a number of questions. I could tell that she was looking for some ulterior motive or catch. Despite the fact that she listened carefully and had asked many questions, I still couldn’t tell what she was thinking. However, she didn’t seem averse to what I was suggesting.

By the time I was done explaining, I was exhausted. I just hoped that I had convinced her. The room was quiet for several minutes as she considered what I had told her. Her glowing silver eyes watched me with an unreadable expression, almost as if she was trying to weigh my soul. Eventually, she leaned back slightly, her fingers tapping the table.

After that, she asked even more questions about the ritual of apotheosis and its consequences. Finally, she summed up what I was offering and wanted, “So, you’re offering me a way to become a real god, but in return, you want me to follow you.”

“Yes, your people already revere you. After becoming a god using the ritual, the system can give you greater control over your bloodline. You could grant draconic contracts to those who follow you. This would make you stronger and give your people even more reason to worship you.”

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From what I had gathered, she was already worshiped as a god in Silver City. Not only was she the political leader, but she was also the religious leader. She had even managed to find a divine spark, the spark of Speki, the goddess of wisdom. Because of this, I thought my last argument would hold a lot of weight.

I nodded. “Yes,” I said. “And in return for your loyalty, you gain the power you need to bestow your bloodline to countless followers. Think about the possibilities.” I was starting to feel like I was a suspect in a crime being questioned by the police.

Silfriglóa lapsed into silence for another minute, her gaze sharp and thoughtful. “You realize what you’re asking, don’t you?” she said finally. “Dragons are proud, independent creatures. Asking us to unite, even under something as neutral as a system, is like asking the winds to blow in one direction.”

“I know,” I said. “But I also know it’s possible. The system isn’t about trying to control you. It’s about giving you the tools to lead your people more effectively. It’s about survival, for all of us.”

“And what about your own control? This isn’t just about empowering dragons, is it? There’s something you want in return.”

I nodded, deciding honesty was best. “I want unity. The dragons are scattered and divided. That makes us weak. If we’re going to survive, we need to work together under a shared system. I’m not asking you to serve me with blind obedience. I’m asking you to join something bigger. To help create a future where dragons don’t have to fight each other to stay strong.”

She studied me carefully, as though weighing every word I had spoken over the past hour. “And what about your alignment?” she asked at last. “You’re chaotic evil. That alone is enough to make me question your intentions. How do I know this isn’t some elaborate scheme?”

“Alignment can’t be trusted,” I reassured her. “A lawful good tyrant might harshly punish those under his rule. If you did trust alignment so much, would you really believe that a chaotic evil being would come up with some elaborate plot like this?”

She nodded at this, apparently not too worried about my alignment. I was actually surprised by this, but I wasn’t going to complain since it benefited me. “Look at what I’ve done so far. I’ve created a system that empowers kobolds instead of exploiting them. I’ve come to you openly, offering you power instead of trying to take it for myself. Does that seem like the actions of a creature bent on chaos and destruction?”

Her expression softened, but only slightly. “No,” she said. “It doesn’t. That’s part of why I’m even considering this. You’re unpredictable, yes, but not malicious. That’s... unusual.”

I smiled. I was actually getting the impression that she was going to agree. The whole thing was proving to be a lot less troublesome than I had expected. Because of this, I was definitely willing to wait. I didn’t want to try rushing her and cause her to jump the wrong way.

Finally, she folded her hands on the table and gave me a long, measured look. “I’ll agree,” she said. “But I have one condition. I will not obey any command that violates my ethics. Wisdom and justice are central to who I am. If you ask me to do something I believe is wrong, I will refuse.”

I nodded without hesitation. “That’s more than fair,” I said. “I wouldn’t want you to betray your values.” Of course, I wasn’t going to be so willing to make concessions with the green, black, or white dragons. They were notoriously evil. In fact, I needed to make the oath even more binding, if possible.

“Then I’ll swear the oath,” she said. She acted like she was making a great sacrifice.

She rose to her feet, lifting her hands as a soft, silvery light filled the room. Her voice was steady and clear as she spoke ancient words of binding, pledging her loyalty not to me personally, but to the system I was building and the ideals it represented. It was an idea I had come up with on the trip to the city.

When she finished, the light faded, and she lowered her hands. “It’s done,” she said simply.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Then I’ll teach you the ritual.”

She smiled faintly, her silver eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and curiosity. “Good,” she said. “Let’s begin.”

Fortunately, this didn’t take too long. I just had to use a little magic and Faith Points to create a scroll for her to use. After that, we smiled, exchanged a few words, and went our own ways. Even someone as oblivious as I could tell that she was eager to begin the ritual. Because of this, I was soon on my way to meet the gold dragon.