As I walk down the corridor, several maids and servants greet me. My entourage of two dragon knights and one head maid is quite eye-catching that, or the five-year-old is attracting all this attention. Apparently, after my incident that time, I have become quite infamous and am considered a genius.
I won't lie, I may have acted like killing people didn't affect me, but I was shaken up for quite a few months. The image of those mutilated bodies haunted my dreams, even with Test's assistance. Being mentally twenty-six doesn't make taking lives any easier, regardless of the circumstances. The weight of ending twenty lives, even in self-defense, isn't something you just brush off.
Soon I arrive outside the palace. Finally! This is my first time stepping outside the castle walls as a five-year-old. I did try to float outside through the windows a few times, but was always stopped by Bob and George here. They act very strict, but I know they are softies at heart. Their protective nature reminds me of overprotective older brothers, constantly worrying about my safety.
Both of them are huge like they are a pair of grizzly bears walking upright. Bob here is contracted to an earth dragon, and George is contracted to an iron dragon. They are also brothers, with Bob being the older sibling. There's quite a story there, apparently. They joined the knight academy in Avaloria after passing a grueling examination. Both of them are from a poor farming family, working the fields from dawn to dusk just to survive. After graduation, they joined the knights officially, becoming lower nobles through their dedication and skill.
Their huge potential led to them being among the elite few who earned the opportunity to visit Dragon Valley only the most exceptional knights ever get this chance. Once there, they successfully contracted their dragons, a feat that only one in a hundred visitors to Dragon Valley achieves, as the dragons are incredibly selective about their human partners. They were officially made dragon knights and joined the Dragon Knight Corps, which only answers to my father directly. Both of them obtained the Baron title, which is a hereditary noble title, creating two new noble families from humble beginnings. The story of these two inspires a lot of people in Avaloria, proving that merit and determination can overcome birth circumstances.
Soon, like them, I will also get the opportunity to contract a dragon and I don't have to jump through the hoops they had to endure. Dragons in this world follow two stereotypes: one, they are extremely proud creatures who consider themselves superior to most beings, and two, they love treasure with an almost obsessive passion. In this world, dragons are intelligent creatures, but unlike the stories in my old world where dragons are born with completely mature personalities, this world's dragons have a baby phase where they're more innocent and playful.
The only reason the proud and stuck-up dragons make contracts with humans is that it gives a huge boost to their abilities enhancing their magical capacity, extending their lifespan even further, and allowing them to access new forms of magic. In contrast, the contracts with angels don't really give any benefits to the angels themselves, but in both cases, humans gain the most benefits. We get huge boosts to magical and physical capabilities. This boost is quite substantial, as it takes a creature that is usually at the bottom of the food chain of this world and makes them a combatant capable of challenging the apex predators.
Our walk comes to a halt. My mother and father are standing in front of an ornately decorated carriage. This thing is quite big easily the size of a small house on wheels. Is that real gold they used for the trimming? The craftsmanship is exquisite, with intricate patterns carved into the wood and precious gems embedded in the door handles.
I bow lightly with a nod of the head. "Greetings, Father."
Now I face my mother and repeat the light bow of the head. "Greetings, Mother."
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Mommy moooo...mmm...eeeeyyy... or Mama!" My mother starts her usual drama, her voice taking on that whining tone that only mothers seem to master.
She moves closer and pinches my delicate cheeks between her index finger and thumb, her touch both affectionate and slightly painful.
I say in a muffled voice, "That's... the... second time... this... week. I'll be making this one count from next week..."
Yes, I have come to an arrangement with Mother she can only pinch my cheeks once a week. It's a compromise that saves my dignity while satisfying her maternal urges.
"No, this one doesn't count," she says as she leads me to the carriage. I see Bob and George getting on horses provided by some squires, their massive frames making even the large warhorses look smaller. Patricia will be riding in our carriage, maintaining her ever-present vigil over my safety.
And so our journey continues. My father clears his throat, his expression becoming more serious. "Son, it's time I tell you about dragons and the bloodline that our family has contracted with for generations."
He continues, settling back into the plush seating, "Dragons are classified into three main categories. First, there are the elemental dragons your usual fire, water, earth, air types. These dragons specialize in battle and are great for military purposes. They form the backbone of any dragon-knight force and are highly sought after by military commanders."
He sips some tea that Patricia served us, the delicate porcelain cup looking tiny in his large hands. "Then there are the mineral dragons. They are not as good at battle, but they produce high-quality gems and metal veins near their nests. They provide economic benefits for a nation and have the same hierarchy in dragon society as elemental dragons, but their value lies in wealth generation rather than combat prowess."
He puts down the cup on the small tea table in the carriage, his expression growing more reverent. "Then there's the last kind the royal dragons, also known as the kings among dragons. They are masters of more than one of the basic elements, and they produce high-quality magic metals and crystals. These are the rarest and most powerful of all dragonkind."
"Our family has a blood contract with a king lineage the blue platinum dragon royal bloodline," he says with evident pride in his voice, his tone becoming more solemn. "This isn't just any contract, son. For generations, the patriarch of our family has contracted with the next generation of blue platinum dragon kings. It's a sacred tradition that binds our bloodlines together."
He pauses, letting the weight of this revelation sink in before continuing. "What makes this truly special is that dragon kings can only pass their royal abilities to one offspring. Only one child in each generation inherits the full power and status of a dragon king. The rest become powerful dragons, yes, but they lack the royal authority and the complete mastery over multiple elements that defines kingship among dragonkind."
"This makes our contract incredibly rare and coveted," my father explains, his voice dropping to an almost whisper. "We're not just contracting with any dragon we're bonding with the future ruler of an entire dragon kingdom. The one you're about to meet is Platyrian's chosen heir, the single offspring who will inherit his crown, his territories in Dragon Valley, and his absolute authority over all blue and platinum dragons."
"This dragon is called the King of the Skies and Seas, as it's special among dragon kings. It is a master of ice, water, blue fire, lightning, and wind magic. They also produce two minerals around their nests: blue mana crystals and blue platinum both incredibly valuable and sought after by mages and craftsmen across all seven empires," he explains, his eyes growing distant as he recalls his own bonding experience. "But more than that, a dragon king commands loyalty from hundreds of lesser dragons, controls vast territories, and possesses magical abilities that can reshape landscapes."
"Don't worry, Platyrian is like a brother to me, making him like your uncle. I want you to treat the little one like a younger brother as well. Understood?" my father says seriously, his tone carrying the weight of tradition and responsibility.
"Understood, Father," I respond, feeling the gravity of what's about to happen.
Our conversation is interrupted by my mother lifting me up from beside her and placing me on her lap. "Enough of that serious talk! This is my first time going out with my cream pie. Come, let Mommy show you some things." She moves the curtains away, and I realize there is a huge number of people on both sides of the carriage. Apparently, they are chanting and cheering. This carriage seems to have some kind of noise-dampening technology built into it.
She wasn't showing me the people that's nothing special to her. She was showing me a huge structure reminiscent of those massive cathedrals from my old world, its spires reaching toward the clouds and its architecture speaking of divine inspiration.
"This is where you will come for your coming-of-age ceremony," she says warmly. In this world, you are considered an adult at the age of eleven, which explains why the princess was trying to act so mature during our first meeting.
Speaking of her, I haven't seen Princess Eleonora in a long time. The princess hasn't visited me for the past two years, apparently because she went to an academy meant for the elites among all seven empires of Eldoron. Either you have to be from a prestigious family, or you have to pass the grueling examinations that weed out all but the most exceptional candidates. This school is like a place for the elites in this world to get general education on topics of their choosing such as governance, laws to follow during warfare, diplomatic relations, and advanced magical theory. The best way to describe it is if the United Nations from my past life were run by the most gifted teenagers from around the world.
This school is the only place where members of all seven empires act civilly with each other, as it was built in dragon territory where Dragon Valley is located. Dragon kings can grant special humans an opportunity to go there to try and contract a dragon. The headmaster of this institute has historically also been contracted with one of the other royal dragon bloodlines different from our blue platinum lineage. With dragon kings being so incredibly rare you can count them on one hand across the entire world, having another royal bloodline at the academy makes it truly neutral ground that no single empire can claim dominance over. Alas, I'm not thrilled about having to go back to school. Dang it, I already passed college a few years ago in my previous life!
Apparently, after my coming-of-age ceremony, Eleonora will return from school, and we will hold our official engagement ceremony. Then I will be going to the academy alongside her. Yes, these people won't wait a single moment after I become an adult to hitch me off to that... well, she's actually quite nice, but still!
"Mama knows my cream pie will pass the evaluation with flying colors," she hugs me from behind, her warmth and confidence in me both comforting and slightly embarrassing.
The journey doesn't last long, as soon we arrive at a huge mountain range that reminds me of Everest if Everest was copied several times and arranged in a perfect circle. This place has the classic snow-covered mountain tops, and the mountains themselves seem to be of a blue-black hue. This must have something to do with Platyrian living here for so many years, his presence literally changing the environment around his territory.
We arrive at a huge gate at least several hundred meters tall and wide. Inside, I see two dragons: one approximately one hundred meters long, laying on a pile of gold. Yes, this cave is full of treasure! This nest apparently doubles as our family vault. There's so much gold and jewelry in this cave that I think I could easily buy a nation from my old planet. The sheer amount of wealth here is staggering coins from different eras, precious gems the size of my head, and artifacts that radiate magical energy.
I notice a slightly smaller dragon behind Platyrian, around seventy meters long that must be his mate. Her scales have a more silvery platinum sheen compared to Platyrian's blue-metallic coloring.
The huge dragon's eyelids slide open, and it speaks in a deep and guttural voice that seems to rumble through the very stone around us. "Lykos, you have come." Its huge eyes, each the size of a small shield, turn toward me. "This must be little Lionel. Come, child."
As a person who has always loved dragons, I didn't think I would be so scared to meet my first real dragon. This is my first time face-to-face with a dragon I actually have never seen Bob and George's contracted partners, as they usually remain in the mountains unless called for battle.
The huge dragon gets up, and the action of it just getting up sends tremors through the ground, causing small rocks to fall from the cave ceiling. Now that I have had a better look at its body, it's reminiscent of my old world's Western dragons. Its scales have a blue metallic glow to them it looks like flames are dancing on their surface. Its breath creates small sparks in the air, and its wings are folded majestically against its body. It has four limbs and an incredibly long tail that could probably level a building with a single swipe.
The female dragon who must be a platinum dragon lifts up her wing to reveal a shiny blue metallic egg. Its surface is similar to Platyrian's scales, with that same flame-like quality dancing across it. The egg is huge, especially considering my 1.1 meters of height the egg is a head taller than me at 1.5 meters, sitting on a red velvet pillow with golden borders that looks like it belongs in an emperor's treasure room.
My dad nudges me gently, his expression mixing pride with nervousness.
I ask, looking at my dad uncertainly, "Um, how is this done?"
"You just have to touch it," my dad coughs slightly. "I would recommend you touch it with your left hand. Don't be like your old man I ended up running toward Platyrian's egg and hugging it. That's why this is here." My dad pulls down the collar of his linen shirt, revealing an intricate pattern that wraps around his entire torso. This mark signifies a bond with a dragon. "Trust me, if it's somewhere more visible, people will pick fewer fights with you. The mark commands respect and fear in equal measure."
"And whatever you do, don't touch it with your forehead you have such a cute face," my mom chimes in, her maternal concern evident even in this sacred moment.
Apparently, the first point of contact is where the mark appears. I move closer, my heart beating rapidly with anticipation and nervousness. I place my hand on the surface of the egg. Oddly, it's quite warm to the touch, almost like touching a living heartbeat. Soon the whole thing begins to glow golden, and I can see a shadow of an embryo that moves its head close to my hand, as if recognizing me already. The glow intensifies, and all the shiny things in the room the gold, the gems, the magical artifacts glow with this intense light, creating a huge flash that momentarily blinds everyone present.
When the light subsides, I notice a mark on my left hand, quite similar to my dad's one. Mine wraps around my wrist, making a bracelet-like pattern that pulses with a faint blue light. The deep voice of Platyrian says, "Good. Take care of it from now on it's your responsibility." Then the huge dragon lays back down on his pile of gold and falls asleep. Did they just shirk parenting responsibilities to me?
My mother hugs me from behind, her voice filled with emotion. "Congratulations, little Leo. You're now bonded to royalty among dragons."
"Make certain to keep it around you at all times. It needs to be nourished with your mana, but knowing how Platyrian was as an egg, it will follow you like a puppy," my dad says with a knowing smile.
"I'm supposed to carry this huge thing around everywhere? And what did you mean by 'follow me'?" I ask in a confused tone, still reeling from the excitement of the contract and the strange warmth now flowing through the mark on my wrist.
Soon the egg begins to shrink until it becomes palm-sized, no bigger than a chicken egg. The pillow also shrinks proportionally. Then, in a bizarre twist that proves I'm truly in a magical world, the whole thing levitates and moves in front of me, hovering at chest height.
My dad replies with amusement, "See that? That's a special artifact the egg can use to move around. If you feel deep in your soul, you can give it simple requests. The connection will grow stronger as the dragon develops."
I notice the term my dad uses: 'request.' My contract with this dragon egg is one of equals, unlike the master-servant relationship I have with Test. This feels more like a partnership, a bond of mutual respect and affection.
Soon we leave the cave or vault, I don't know what to call it. The transition from the warm, treasure-filled cave to the cool mountain air is jarring.
My parents walk out first, then I follow behind them. Following me is a palm-sized egg hovering on a lavish cushion that bobs up and down slightly as it moves, like a loyal pet.
Seeing this sight, all the guards kneel on one knee, congratulating me with terms like 'Black Lion Cub' and 'Pride of the Empire' being thrown around. Their respect is genuine, as contracting with a dragon king's offspring is an honor that comes maybe once in a generation.
We enter the carriage, the egg still hovering beside me like a faithful companion. I can feel a warm presence in the back of my mind not intrusive like Test's constant monitoring, but comforting, like knowing a friend is nearby.
Dad has one last piece of advice for me as we settle in for the journey home. "I would recommend you don't formally name it until it hatches. It's dragon tradition they choose their own names when they gain full consciousness."
I nod, understanding the importance of respecting dragon customs. "Looks like you'll need a temporary name. Calling you 'it' feels wrong, so for the moment, you'll be called 'Eggy.'"
The egg tilts on its cushion slightly in a comical way, almost like it's nodding in approval. It looks like until it hatches, its intelligence is very limited it just understands my intentions and emotions through our bond.
The carriage speeds down the cobblestone road, its wheels creating a rhythmic pattern against the stones. I concentrate on my bond with Eggy and get a warm response with a hint of excitement and contentment. The feeling is strange but pleasant, like having a constant warm glow in the back of your mind.
Not gonna lie, I was hoping it would have hatched when that huge burst of light occurred. According to my dad, Platyrian took ten years to hatch I can't wait that long! I want to ride a dragon as soon as possible and experience the freedom of soaring through the clouds.
My dad returns to schooling me on what to do and what not to do with dragon care. Apparently, there are special classes in the academy specifically for dragon knights, covering everything from proper feeding techniques to combat formations. I have instructed Test to engage autopilot mode she also seems to be taking mental notes of everything my father says, no doubt building a comprehensive database of dragon-related information.
I'm currently trying to make Eggy move to the left as a test of our connection. After some struggling and concentrating on the feeling I want to convey, it does so. Success! The bond is working, and communication is possible even in this early stage.
Soon we arrive back at the castle, its familiar walls welcoming us home after this momentous day. Test, in her autopilot mode, thought the best course of action would be to fall asleep, as this is a cliche for kids in vehicles and would maintain my cover as a normal child.
So my dad carried me to my room, my small form cradled in his strong arms, while the egg continued hovering behind us like a loyal guardian. As we walked through the corridors, I could feel the weight of this new responsibility settling on my shoulders, but also the excitement of the adventures to come