Chapter 230 - Draconian encounters
An oppressive silence filled the cavern after Scarlett spoke, as though she had challenged the very sky itself.
She found herself unable to suppress the surge of indignation and defiance that had risen up inside her. The stifling pressure seemed to assert its authority, feeling like a direct challenge to her very essence — an affront her instincts said was nigh unforgivable.
The atmosphere intensified, the temperature around Scarlett climbing. For a moment, it felt as though an entire mountain weighed down on her, yet her legs held firm. This pressure only served to fuel the fiery spite building up inside her.
Just as all of that anger and umbrage was about to boil over, Scarlett caught herself, narrowly avoiding uttering some words she really would regret.
Taking a deep breath, she worked to force down as much of her temper as possible.
It probably wouldn’t be wise to provoke an ancient dragon any more than necessary.
With a bare minimum of regained composure, despite the unrelenting pressure, Scarlett focused on the glowing red stone wall before her.
“Greetings, Ayrlazkreh, esteemed guardian of the molten peaks. I am Baroness Scarlett Hartford, a noble of the Graenal Empire. Forgive my earlier outburst, but if I may inquire, is there a reason why you asked me to halt?”
A hint of sharpness in her tone betrayed some of her efforts at remaining diplomatic.
A tense quiet followed. Then the cavern shook, as if some massive entity within the depths of the volcano had stirred.
Scarlett was slightly surprised by that. It seemed the dragon was more awake than she thought it would have been at this point.
“…I have not heard of you before,” boomed a voice, now echoing around the cavern rather than inside Scarlett’s mind. “Why does a human noble trespass in my domain? Your presence has disturbed my slumber.”