Chapter 3: Negotiation
The dragon's scales were thick and layered, displaying a deep iron-black hue with fine serrated textures across their surface, resembling unfinished forged metal - as if cast from molten steel. Metallic protrusions like exoskeletal joints adorned its body, while a row of shark-fin-like thick spines ran down its back.
It sat motionless upon the high platform.
Neither wings nor limbs were fully extended, its colossal frame remaining in a restrained state.
Yet even so.
An overwhelming oppressive aura radiated from its presence.
The destruction and devastation such a dragon could unleash when angered was terrifying to contemplate.
The dragon gazed at Garoth with black eyes identical to his own.
This was Garoth's mother - the iron dragon matriarch Letitia.
"Mother."