Alister chuckled softly, the sound rare and warm, his amber eyes glinting. "So of my dragons already patrol this sector. You’ll be fine."
He adjusted his coat, the silver dragon’s tail curling tighter. "Well, later then."
He stepped away, the limo’s door hissing shut behind him, his figure vanishing into the alley’s neon shadows.
The team stared after him, the hum of the hover engines filling the silence.
Aiko’s fingers tightened on her datapad, her voice low. "He’s up to sothing big. I just hope it’s not too big."
Ren nodded, his glasses catching the light. "He’s not reckless, but he’s driven. Whatever he’s after, it’s tied to the mist."
Hiroshi sighed, leaning back. "Yeah, well, I hope his dragons are as good as he says, ’cause this city’s getting creepier by the day. I’m ashad to say it, but we can’t clear the red gates without him."
The limo pulled away, gliding back into gacity I’s gleaming heart, leaving Alister to his mission.
Suddenly, a golden portal tore open before him, its edges crackling, radiating warmth and ether.
Alister stepped through, the silver dragon chirping softly as he did. The alley vanished, and as he erged on the other side, his appearance transford.
His coat and guild uniform dissolved as they were placed in his inventory, replaced by a seamless carapace of white, black, and gold dragon scales that shimred. Black horns curved from his head, with streaks of gold, while a long, whip-like tail swayed behind him, its tip glinting.
His golden eyes glowed brighter as he focused on his surroundings. The silver dragon on his shoulder shifted its form as well, turning into a humanoid boy no taller than a child. He was clad in crystal-like dragon scale armor, with tiny horns protruding and a delicate tail curling. The boy’s purple eyes sparkled as he perched on Alister’s shoulder, grinning. "We are finally back; I was starting to get so bored."
Alister chuckled softly. "I told you I would be busy with work, but you still insisted on coming."
The boy, Ho’Rus, pouted but said nothing.
They stood in a regal hallway of the Dragon Castle, a vast corridor of obsidian and gold, its towering walls etched with draconic runes that pulsed with faint light. Crystal chandeliers hung above, casting prismatic glows across polished marble floors. Massive arched windows revealed wyverns soaring outside.
Rows of dragons and dragonkin—n and won with scales of every hue, horns gleaming, tails swaying—lined the hallway, their armor clanking as they dropped to their knees in unison. Their voices rose, reverent and resonant, echoing off the walls. "We greet the Overlord!"
Alister’s tail flicked as he stepped forward, Ho’Rus on his shoulder giggling softly and kicking his tiny legs.
Alister raised a clawed hand. "Rise."
A ripple of energy stirred the air, and a regal female dragon appeared at the hallway’s far end, her presence commanding yet warm. Her silver hair was pulled back by a golden hairpin, cascading in waves around a face both fierce and delicate. She wore a long black-and-red dress, its fabric adorned with intricate red-scale patterns that shimred like embers. Her horns, a striking red-and-black hue, curved gracefully, catching the chandelier’s light. A sweet smile played on her lips, her red eyes glowing with affection, a small red diamond tattoo glinting on her forehead. Behind her stood maids with silver-and-black hair, red eyes and black horns uniform, their silk dresses rustling as they bowed slightly. This was Cinder, the Dragon Queen.
"Welco back, Ali, darling," Cinder purred, her smile widening as she glided forward, her dress trailing like liquid fla.
Alister’s slitted amber eyes softened, a rare smile curving his lips, his scales glinting as he t her gaze. "It’s good to see you, Cinder."
She closed the distance gracefully and wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug, her red eyes sparkling. Ho’Rus giggled, hopping off Alister’s shoulder with a nimble flip, his crystal-like armor clinking as he landed and gave them space. Cinder leaned in, and their lips t in a brief, tender kiss, her diamond tattoo catching the light. She pulled back, her smile playful. "So, how’s everything out there?"
Alister’s tail flicked, his voice calm but tinged with weight. "A bit grim, but alright. The red mist’s spreading, and the Union’s compromised. I’m handling it."
Cinder giggled softly, her red eyes dancing with amusent. "I see." She tilted her head, her hairpin glinting, and her tone shifted, a childlike curiosity lighting her face. "So... did you bring it?" Her eyes glittered, eager and almost mischievous.
Alister raised a brow, his smile teasing. "What?"
She mimicked him, pouting dramatically. "What?" Her expression faltered, disappointnt creeping in as she placed a hand on her hip. "Don’t tell you forgot, Ali."
He chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Just ssing with you." He stepped back, his clawed hand reaching into his inventory, the air shimring as he pulled out a small, ornate box tied with a red ribbon—chocolates, their rich scent wafting as he held it out.
Cinder’s pout vanished, her red eyes lighting up as she snatched the box, her smile radiant. "You’re awful," she teased, clutching the chocolates to her chest, her tail swaying beneath her dress.
Ho’Rus’s gaze darted to the side, catching a flicker of movent behind them. His crystal-like armor clinked as he turned, a wide, excited smile spreading across his face. Before he could speak, a delicate hand with red-painted nails reached down, gently pressing a finger to his lips.
"Hush," a soft, teasing voice whispered, and Ho’Rus’s eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly, his tail curling in delight.
Suddenly, Alister felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind, strong yet feminine, clad in dark red-and-black armor that pressed against his scaled back. A warm, teasing breath tickled his ear as a voice purred, "Look at you smiling without . I almost feel jealous."
The arms tightened in a small but deliberate press, her tone dripping with mischief. It was Mar’Garet, her silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight over her armor. Her curved black horns glead, and her red eyes glinted with playful excitent as Alister turned to glance at her, a smirk curling her lips. She leaned closer, her voice a sweet whisper. "Did you miss , darling? I know I missed you."
Alister’s tail flicked, a faint chuckle escaping him as his slitted eyes t hers. "Mar’Garet," he said, "you’re as elusive as ever, I see. What did I tell you about sneaking up behind ?"
He didn’t pull away, letting her linger, her armored hands resting lightly on his scaled shoulders.
She giggled softly. "Co now, the Overlord himself couldn’t sense my presence; you can, but you let do it anyway. Admit it—you like like this."
"Oh? I see you’re even more daring now." He gently raised his hand to tilt her jaw up as he whispered softly, his breath brushing her skin. "Seems I’ll have to remind you why I’m the Overlord later."
"Hmmm. Don’t threaten with a good ti; I might end up begging for it." She giggled as they leaned in, their lips locking. They pulled back gracefully as she giggled, licking her lips to savour his taste.
Cinder, watching them, pouted slightly, her red diamond tattoo glinting as she shot Mar’Garet a mock glare, though her lips twitched with amusent. "Really, Mar’Garet? We’re in the middle of sothing here." She waved the chocolate box playfully, her tail swishing beneath her dress. "You’re interrupting my mont."
Mar’Garet laughed, a rich, lodic sound, releasing Alister but staying close, her silver hair swaying as she circled to face them. "Oh, my queen, don’t be greedy. I deserve a little of our Overlord’s attention as well." She winked at Alister, her red eyes gleaming. "Right, darling?"
Ho’Rus quickly climbed onto Mar’Garet’s shoulder and giggled, his crystal armor clinking as he leaned toward her. "You’re gonna make Auntie Cinder mad, Mother!" he chirped, his purple eyes glinting with mischief.
"Nonsense, Ho’Rus. She is the queen; she isn’t so petty."
Mar’Garet then glanced at Cinder as if to turn and confirm her statent. "Isn’t that right, my queen?"
Alister shook his head as he walked past them, his smile faint but genuine. "Enough, both of you. We have important matters to attend to."
...
Alister strode through the gilded doors of the Dragon Castle’s grand library. The mont he stepped in, his expression grew calm, grim, and serious, as if the playfulness from a mont ago had been a re façade.
Golden bookshelves towered to the vaulted ceiling that seed to stretch endlessly upward, their surfaces etched with draconic runes that pulsed faintly, while countless tos—so leather-bound, others shimring with mana—hovered in the air, drifting like leaves caught in an unseen current.
Crystal orbs floated above, casting a soft, golden glow that illuminated the intricate mosaics on the marble floor, depicting dragons in flight.
Dragons with blond hair—so pale blond, others golden—moved among the shelves, their blue eyes sharp with focus, scales glinting in hues of silver and white.
The air thrumd with the scent of old parchnt and molten mana, a sanctuary of knowledge guarded by the castle’s scholars.
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