Chapter 110: Respect Your Elders
"What brings you here...?"
The dragon’s voice rumbled through the chamber like a whisper caught in thunder, resonating deep within their bones as its ancient form stirred.
Its serpentine body began to rise, impossibly smooth despite its size—each scale shimmering faintly with an iridescent sheen that reflected the cave’s luminescent glow. As it lifted from the stone floor, its body coiled in an elegant spiral, forming a symbol of eternity—its head nestled at the center, glowing eyes locked onto the newcomers.
The Archmage laughed—soft, shaky, uncharacteristically nervous. He had braced himself for many possibilities—a mythical creature, perhaps, or a powerful magical artifact buried in legend.
But a dragon? That was... wholly unprecedented.
"So it is real..." he muttered, almost in disbelief. "The myth of a dragon residing in the Yurien River..."
He chuckled again, more to himself this time, as if to release the tension building in his chest. Then he bowed—formal and low—hands clasped before him in a gesture of deep reverence.
After a moment, he turned, giving a pointed glance toward the trio behind him—silently urging them to follow his lead.
The dragon, however, noticed the movement—and laughed. Its voice was velvet and thunder, carried with ease through the still air.
"No need for that. Especially not from such royal guests."
"Royal?" Cynthia blinked, straightening slightly in surprise.