"What are you thinking about on a day meant for relaxing with a picnic?"
Rus Wang sat motionless on a hill in the grass near Herundis Manor, gazing blankly at the blue sky, the green earth, the tranquil lake, and the reeds swaying in the breeze.
Small-scale climate modification didn't require many preconditions, and the outskirts of Herundis City were the greenest part of the directly administered city of Ravenna.
Still basking in the afterglow of last night's group party, Thalassa settled beside Rus Wang, her whole dragon leaning against him.
"Nothing in particular, and certainly not the country's development. I'm just enjoying the scenery."
Rus Wang draped one foreleg and wing over his wife, Thalassa.
"We finally get to have a picnic together. Don't you think this is lovely, Xiao Ta?"
"Indeed. The ten of us can hardly ever all get together anymore, what with working to develop the Zheer Continent."
Thalassa stretched her whole body beside Rus Wang, radiating a sense of ease unlike anything she had felt before.
"Hey, what are you two sitting around for? Rus, Xiao Ta, come down and eat some Brachiosaurus meat!"
On the open ground below the hill, Yanjin stood by the grill with a pair of barbecue tongs in hand, looking refreshed as she called out.
Nearby, Bazel's wife, the fifth son's spouse, held back their hungry little boy, stopping him from sneaking off with an undercooked steak.
Behind the two women, Bazel had quietly taken a ruler and was watching his little rascal's every move with narrowed eyes.
The fourth son, Bakus, and Yang Xuanmin were playing a dragon-and-rider flying game in the air not far above Rus Wang.
On the path beside the grill, Toriya stood with Venicia, Lina, and Luo Yinyao. She was introducing her three friends to