Dragonbirth Day (Part 1)

Dusk had not yet fallen, but the gathering ground was already buzzing with activity.

The hatchlings converged from every corner of the valley, packing the gravelly ground tight. Many had arrived early to wait here. The little dragons bobbed their heads, every face brimming with anticipation and curiosity.

Today was Dragonbirth Day.

Dragonbirth Day was the day the hatchlings were collectively born. Back then, the Lineage had gathered them from all over and used magic to make them hatch on the same day. This made it easier for the Lineage to feed and raise them, while also helping the young dragons develop a sense of their kin, forge connections, and compete with one another.

Thus, the twelfth day of March had become their shared birthday.

The first year after breaking free of the shell was the fastest period of growth and development for hatchlings. A year had passed, and those former babies with oversized heads, round bellies, and stunted limbs had all taken on entirely different forms.

When they had first hatched, these fellows had been no bigger than housecats. Now, even the smallest Tungsten Dragons and Nickel Dragons had successively grown to around one and a half meters long.

As for large breeds like Iron Dragons and Cobalt Dragons, every one of them stood over two meters. They were called hatchlings, yet they were larger than adult male lions.

Their scales had fully hardened, gleaming with distinct metallic lusters. At this moment, the hatchlings lay coiled across the gravel in twos and threes, each marking out their own boundaries. Restless auras pressed against one another, and when they moved, their scales struck together with a sound like the low hum of metal.

Whenever anyone impatiently slapped the ground, or made even a slightly larger movement, it immediately drew a round of growls laden with challenge.

Fires had been lit in the gathering ground for the rare occasion. The bonfires burned brightly, crackling as they roasted warmth into the dusk. Kobolds bustled around the huts, carrying all manner of tools as they ran back and forth, their numbers several times greater than usual.

"Why hasn't In Tas come over?"

Moqi approached with light steps, curled up beside Xilong, and lay down. Just as he was about to chat for a while, the scent in the air caught his attention. "Oh my, what smells so good?"

"I had him go back. The Lesser Dragons are all staying over there, so he'll fit in better."

Xilong answered with his mouth, but his eyes remained fixed on the fire platform, watching the Kobolds bustle about inside the huts.

The scent of food was completely different from the raw bloody meat the hatchlings ate every day. It was mild and rich, without the slightest trace of bloodiness. Instead, it carried a fragrance repeatedly steeped in fire and smoke, drifting through the valley on the evening wind.

It made the throats of all the young dragons roll as they restlessly stamped their four claws.

A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded from above.

The restless gathering ground swiftly fell silent. The Iron Dragons in the front row lowered their heads first, followed by the Chrome Dragons and Cobalt Dragons. Farther back, the Tungsten Dragons, Nickel Dragons, and Lesser Dragons around the perimeter also gradually quieted down and lowered their bodies.

Every hatchling on the gravelly ground turned in unison toward the same direction, bowing their heads to the same figure.

Jiazhuosa · Burningheart was fully fifteen meters long. Her scales were deep black, glinting with a grim iron sheen. Towering and heavy, she resembled a moving mountain, inspiring instinctive awe in the hatchlings.

Before a young dragon like this, hatchlings probably couldn't have a rebellious phase even if they wanted one.

Though his head was lowered, Xilong's mind remained lively.

The young dragon coiled herself atop the platform and calmly surveyed every hatchling, one by one, neither hurried nor slow.

Every little dragon touched by her gaze involuntarily lowered their body further, doing their utmost to appear mature. Yet they could not restrain either their fear or their affection, leaving them looking terribly awkward.

"Congratulations on surviving the frailest year of your lives. No hatchling died, and no hatchling was crippled. Every one of you is well—healthy, strong, and worthy of the Lineage's expectations."

Jiazhuosa spoke slowly. "Today is a time of celebration for you. I have no long-winded speech to give. But now that you have all grown up, I have a responsibility as your feeder to introduce today's food."

The young dragon lightly tapped her claws, and rustling footsteps immediately sounded from the outskirts.

The Kobolds filed in from both sides of the fire platform, jointly carrying enormous stone platters. They carefully passed through the dragons and placed those platters before the hatchlings one by one.

The aroma of meat was thick in the air. The hatchlings could not help but tense their bodies, unable to pull their eyes away. Yet the feeder's authority weighed heavily upon them. Before the young dragon spoke, not a single little dragon dared move first.

"This is a furious bear beast hunted by Gnolls, transported here by Gray Dwarves. Goblins paid sea salt as tribute, flying apes contributed brining sauce, scale-servants delivered spices, and Kobolds handled the cooking. Only then was this dish prepared."

Jiazhuosa said slowly, "Our Ashmark Lineage controls every mountain and river in the Lost Wilderness. Our territory stretches south to Red Tide Shoal and north to the Steelspine Plains, passing through the Streamlands, Ochre Valley, Gray Mountain Black Lake, and Red Fort."

"Several dozen tribes pledge loyalty to our battle banners. The intelligent races ruled by the Lineage's seven dragon lords have a combined population exceeding five hundred thousand."

"This is a gift from the vassals to the Lineage's new generation."

A clear stir ran through the gathering ground as the hatchlings whispered among themselves.

"Ah..."

Moqi let out a soft gasp. In his mind, the Lineage had only ever been a concept—vast and powerful. Only after hearing the feeder describe it this way could he finally picture the whole scene.

"I more or less guessed it before."

Xilong said quietly, "The kodo beast meat we eat every day is something gray dwarves might not get to eat even once a year. Forty-seven hatchlings in Ochre Valley consume countless amounts of raw meat and vegetables every day. Without the resources and wealth of a kingdom, it would be impossible to support us. Not to mention that kobold clans serve us exclusively, while gnoll armies are stationed outside the valley to guard the perimeter."

"Then doesn't that mean our status is very high?"

Moqi swished his tail, delighted. "Looking at it this way, the good days are still ahead of us."

Xilong froze for a moment. He could not make Moqi understand, so he could only nod. "The feeder once mentioned that this was an unprecedented attempt. All I can say is... the Lineage's ambitions are immense."

"Come."

The young dragon ignored the hatchlings' reactions and tapped her claws again.

Another line of Kobolds entered the center carrying shallow ceramic plates. The things on the plates were colorful and sweet-smelling, utterly different from the heavy richness of the furious bear meat.

"This is a honey-filled platter."

Jiazhuosa said slowly, "Wheat grown in the Streamlands is ground into flour. Berries from Gray Mountain are simmered in honey. Black chestnuts from Ochre Valley are roasted in their shells until they crack. Then there is cheese curdled from goat's milk by the scale-servants, sprinkled with herbs. Only then does this dish come together."

"These things do not grow out of thin air. They come from farmland, orchards, apiaries, and dairies. Nor can you have them simply because you want them. You can only wait patiently for them to ripen. With strength, you can eat furious bear meat. But if you want to eat honey-filled platters from the territory, strength alone is still far from enough."

Moqi stared at the honey filling, unable to react for a moment. "What does that mean?"

"She's giving you a lord's lesson."

Xilong said, "Production and governance."

"Huh?"

Moqi looked left and right, only to find that the other dragons all appeared deeply serious. He hurriedly sat upright as well and nodded slowly, as though he profoundly agreed.

"Lastly."

The young dragon said it only once. Whether the hatchlings understood or not, she offered no explanation. Instead, she tapped her claws for the third time.

This time, what the Kobolds carried up were not dishes, but several slender, smooth ceramic bottles.

At a single glance, one could tell that the craftsmanship of the bottles was beyond what ordinary people could fire. When the wax seals were opened, a sharp, spicy fragrance of liquor, rich with the mellow depth of age, immediately spread through the air.

"This is not something from our lands."

Jiazhuosa shook her head. "It comes from a human kingdom called Aino. It is brewed from flameberries, distilled, then cellared in oak barrels for seven years. It is generally enjoyed by the Aino Kingdom's royalty and nobility, and bears the name of their nation: Aino Red."

"That kingdom does not border us. The Tagoma Kingdom lies between us. Yet precisely because the Aino Kingdom is far away and the Tagoma Kingdom is close at hand, we must ally with the Aino Kingdom to suppress the Tagoma Kingdom together."

Jiazhuosa said, "These treasured strong liquors are the Aino Kingdom's gift for our alliance. To drink them, strength is not enough, nor is there any need to wait. What matters is your foresight and vision."

"This time, I understand."

Moqi nodded. "If you want to become a formidable dragon lord, you must find more allies."

Xilong did not look at the Aino Red. He merely stared at Jiazhuosa's enormous clawed toes, as if they had been cast from steel.

Seven dragon lords. Five hundred thousand people. Even with such power, they still chose to form an alliance with a distant human kingdom. Perhaps the Ashmark Lineage's circumstances were not as optimistic as they appeared.

The Kobolds began pouring the liquor. They hollowed out whole tree stumps and polished the insides clean, turning them into oversized cups without handles. Though crude and primitive, they suited dragons well enough.

Aino liquor gurgled from the ceramic bottles and was presented before the little dragons. Its fragrance was rich, and the drink itself was clear and crystalline as pearls.

There was wine, meat, milk, and honey.

Xilong's eyes shone, warmth filling his heart.

Moqi beside him had long since become unable to wait. He repeatedly swallowed his saliva while sneaking glances at the feeder atop the platform. Restless beyond endurance, he muttered under his breath, "Can we eat now? We can eat now, right? Hurry and say we can eat."

"Taigo Ashmark knew it was Dragonbirth Day and specially sent treasured liquor here. He has something he wishes me to tell you."

Jiazhuosa's voice changed slightly, becoming heavy and slow. "The leader said, 'You broke from your shells in Ochre Valley. Every day, you tear raw flesh and drink blood, living like beasts. But that does not mean you truly are beasts. Esteemed members of the Ashmark Lineage, on such a fine day, please drink deeply with me.'"

"So."

Jiazhuosa returned to her usual voice, nodded in salute, and raised her tone. "Let us put all other words aside for now. Everyone, please drink first."

The hatchlings throughout the gathering ground shrieked and roared in celebration.