I glanced at the small Golden Dragon, Ao.
He stood upon four feet, his horns curving upwards in a spiral, his body extending over a metre, excluding the tail, with a wingspan of roughly one and a third metres.
His fore-body was bedecked with golden, rhomboid scales that possessed a metallic lustre, their edges appearing remarkably sharp.
His draconic tail was thick and elongated, like a formidable whip.
In the inherited memories bequeathed by my sire, those bipedal creatures termed 'humans' employed such units for mensuration.
I found it convenient and thus subconsciously used it to assess the golden wyrmling.
Then, I appraised myself.
Similarly quadrupedal, with horns curving backward, also in a spiral configuration.
Our dimensions were comparable, though my wingspan was approximately one and six-tenths metres, and my physique more slender.
Furthermore, my entire being was a silvery-white, my scales fan-shaped, also imbued with a metallic sheen, their edges appearing quite acute.
Additionally, my draconic tail was more gracile.
Observing these parallels, I fell silent.
To describe Ao and myself using terms from my inherited memories: one could not claim we were identical, yet we were fundamentally alike.
Though the concept of 'hair' was foreign to me, I understood these words were employed to depict two entities bearing a striking resemblance.
So... "Am I truly an Argent Dragon?"
Seeing me look so utterly crestfallen, Winters could only offer what she perceived as consolation: "That is simply the way of things!"
Hearing this, I became even more disconsolate.
Witnessing that her attempts at comfort seemed to have an adverse effect, Winters swiftly changed the subject.
"So, there is indeed something anomalous with your bloodline inheritance!"
I regarded Winters with a speechless expression.
"Mistress Winters, if you are unversed in the art of conversation, then I implore you, refrain from speaking altogether!"
At this, Winters appeared somewhat abashed, but then, she looked at me with suspicion.
"Were you just uttering imprecations at me?"
Meeting those luminous golden vertical pupils, I blinked.
"How could that be? For no discernible reason, why would I direct curses at you?"
Winters looked at me, a persistent feeling that my sentence was less than benign, yet observing my innocent countenance, she finally dismissed the thought from her mind.
"Although there is an anomaly in your bloodline inheritance, the fact that we can communicate signifies that your unreliable progenitors at least did not neglect the most fundamental Draconic tongue!"
Hearing this, my curiosity stirred anew.
"Why do you assert that?"
"Because, were we unable to communicate, you might well have been treated as a Wyrmfiend by me.
Ah, yes, you lack normal inherited memories, so you likely do not comprehend what a Wyrmfiend is! How shall I articulate it? Our world was birthed from the cataclysmic clash between the potencies of the Creation Dragon, Kovi, and the Destruction Dragon, Iksis.
These two forces, in their interplay, forged the Dragon Realm wherein we reside!
In that primordial war, the Creation Dragon ultimately prevailed, ensuring the survival of the Dragon Realm.
Before the Creation Dragon pursued Iksis and departed, He bequeathed a single drop of His own blood.
This sanguine droplet is the fount of our Draconic Clan, eventually diversifying into all manner of draconic species!
But, do not forget that this world was formed by the collision of two forces, so naturally, it also harbors the power of the Destruction Dragon, Iksis.
This power lurks deep within the bloodline of every dragon, and it will erupt when a dragon is at its most vulnerable.
And the most vulnerable juncture in a dragon's existence is at the moment of your birth.
This power will ravage a dragon's mind, causing it to degenerate into a creature that knows only survival by instinct..."
"Beasts?" I interjected.
"Wyrmfiends!" Winters corrected, then paused, looking at me with some confusion.
"Beasts? What are those?"
I explained, "Creatures devoid of intellect, who subsist merely by instinct, navigating the world in a muddled state."
Then, I added, "This is a memory my sire left me!"
Hearing this, Winters' expression grew solemn... though it is challenging to discern a grave countenance upon a ferocious visage.
"Vet, you should endeavor to forget the memories your sire bequeathed you.
That is not knowledge a true Dragon needs to comprehend.
It is fraught with errors, especially in its perception of your own self!
Remember this well, little one: you are an Argent Dragon, a true Dragon species, a Metallic Dragon, of the Argent Dragon Clan!
You can accomplish that, can you not?"
I looked into Winters' earnest eyes, then at the other four young drakes looking in our direction, and then I nodded.
Seeing this, Winters smiled with satisfaction... though the smile itself remained terrifying.
"Very good, Vet!
But rest assured, just as you articulated before, the Celestial Dragon of the Starry Expanse is a race born to freedom—although no such race as the Celestial Dragon of the Starry Expanse actually exists.
However, one truth remains: we true Dragons are also a race born to liberty!
I misspoke just now."
The inherited memories within your mind are a legacy from your sire and should not be forgotten, but I trust you can distinguish between memory and reality!
As for the correct inherited memories, you need not fret.
In our Desidero Dragon Roost, we possess our own Athenaeum, which can furnish you with the aid to correctly understand this world!
Saying that, Winters glanced at the other four young drakes, and then added: "And your brethren!"
Listening to Winters's consolation, I nodded.
Although the matter of my race had sown a seed of doubt regarding my bloodline inheritance, having just awakened to such a wondrous and intricate world, it was difficult for me to believe it entirely fabricated.
Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I quickly inquired: "Mistress Winters, are you acquainted with all the locales in this world?"
Hearing this, Winters was momentarily stunned, then shook her head with a rueful smile.
"Little wyrmling, how could that be possible?
Not only is this world vast beyond measure, but just beyond our Dragon Eyrie, countless perils lurk.
I once journeyed forth, desiring to see where the world's end lay!
But, I was vanquished by a Shadow Dragon and fled back to the Eyrie in an ignominious retreat, resolving to seek vengeance after growing stronger!"
"And then?" Billy, the crimson-crystal wyrmling, piped up.
Winters glanced at Billy, who had spoken, and said with a smile, "The outcome is that I never again took a step beyond the Dragon Eyrie—because of you, because of them!"
We five dragons looked in the direction Winters indicated, beholding Dragon Eggs that had yet to hatch.
"Alright, let us continue our discourse on Wyrmfiends!
Wyrmfiends possess no intellect, only the instinct for survival.
For them, any act that ensures their continued existence is permissible, including the devouring of Dragon Eggs!
It is not a matter of morality, merely instinct, so…"
Winters looked at me.
"If you truly were a Wyrmfiend, the most favorable outcome awaiting you would be expulsion from the Dragon Eyrie, to live out an uncomprehending existence!"
"What is the least favorable outcome?" I asked.
Winters grinned, revealing two rows of formidable teeth.
"The worst outcome is becoming sustenance for predators lurking outside the Dragon Eyrie the very moment you depart, especially for Innate Wyrmfiends born from Dragon Eggs.
They possess the purest Dragon Blood, and Dragon Blood is the most potent elixir for Acquired Wyrmfiends!"