Chapter 976 – Hatchling Dragon Paradise

Ysera’s enormous head lowered slightly, drawing closer to Sylph.

Under this close-range, oppressive scrutiny, Sylph lost her concentration, and the art of shapeshifting she had only just learned and hadn’t yet mastered completely failed. She reverted to her true form as a green hatchling dragon.

The fine scales covering her body bristled slightly with nervousness. She couldn’t help but retreat a few small steps, her claws stepping on loose gold coins and producing a crisp clatter that rang especially clear in the silent lair.

Watching the little one nearly trip over herself from sheer nervousness, Ysera couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“Don’t be afraid, little one.” She spoke in pure, unhurried Draconic, the authority in her voice diminished somewhat, replaced by a measure of warmth. “I am Ysera, Guardian of the Dormant Dragon Lair, Witness of Ancient Rings and Newborn Vines, Hatchling Instructor of the Green Dragon Forest. Tell me, what is your true name? How long has it been since you hatched?”

Sylph sensed the goodwill from the other and relaxed her tense body slightly, though the tip of her tail still unconsciously tapped against the gold coins.

“Sylph… I hatched… thirty-two years ago,” she answered quietly.

“Sylph…” Ysera repeated the name. “A simple yet spirited true name. Very good.”

“According to the dragon lair’s records, your parents… went missing while exploring another world and never returned. The dormant dragon lair isn’t suitable for a hatchling’s growth. Let me take you to the Hatchling Dragon Paradise in the forest!”

Ysera continued, “The environment there is open and spacious. There are low treetops and soft tundra moss suited for hatchling-sized bodies to practice flying, Growth Springs rich in all sorts of essential elements, and hatchling fruit trees — all quite tasty. There are also companions around your age who don’t have parents to look after them either.”

“As your instructor, I’ll also capture some low-level magical beasts to teach you all hunting and combat.”

Sylph listened to the description of the “Hatchling Dragon Paradise” and felt somewhat tempted.

Though the dormant dragon lair was golden and glittering and quite pretty, it never saw daylight — no sunlight, no plants. The Hatchling Dragon Paradise sounded full of vitality and sunshine, perfect for growing things.

She gave a small nod of her little head. “Okay, Ysera… Instructor.”

Ysera let out a satisfied, low rumble. She slowly withdrew her enormous head from the lair entrance. Then a long, powerful dragon tail covered in dark green scales extended deftly and steadily through the opening.

The tip of the tail gently coiled around the still somewhat bewildered Sylph and placed her securely at the base of Ysera’s broad back, where two slightly raised bone plates provided just the right grip for her small claws.

“Hold on tight, little Sylph. Keep your body low.”

The next moment, Ysera’s massive form began to move, backing away from the lair entrance.

Sylph clung tightly to the cool, smooth yet incredibly tough scales beneath her, and suddenly her field of vision expanded dramatically! It was the first time she had seen the world outside the lair.

Stretching before her eyes was a boundless ocean of green in every shade, brimming with rich life force and damp mist.

Countless towering ancient trees rose from the earth, vines hung and coiled about them like dragons, distant lakes sparkled like gemstones set among the woods, and far off at the horizon, enormous shadows seemed to glide slowly between the clouds and the canopy.

Before she could take it all in, Ysera spread her wings and leaped from the dormant dragon lair with graceful, steady ease.

Wind howled past her ears, filtered to a gentle breeze by the Mana field that naturally flowed around Ysera’s body. The scent of the forest rushed toward her — a blend of earth, flowers, tree resin, and the living fragrance of countless plants.

Sylph looked down and could see the treetops sweeping past below like waves. She greedily breathed in this air full of vitality, and the plant-nurturing soul within her was already stirring with excitement.

Before long, Ysera began to slow, descending toward a relatively low-canopied but extraordinarily lush and brightly lit section of the forest.

As they lost altitude, Sylph heard the clear, youthful dragon calls and the flapping of wings rising from below.

“We’re here!” Ysera landed smoothly at the edge of a broad forest clearing.

At the center of the clearing was a shallow, crystal-clear pool, its banks dotted with smooth pebbles and moss that emitted a soft glow.

Surrounding the clearing were “walls” naturally woven from countless thick yet supple vines and great trees, forming semi-open “rooms” and platforms of varying sizes.

Some of these plants bore exotic flowers of every color, while others were laden with glistening, translucent fruits that looked absolutely delicious.

At that moment, over a dozen green hatchling dragons of various sizes were active in the clearing. Some splashed clumsily in the pool, spraying each other with thin streams of green, mist-like breath. Others wrestled and played on the open ground, butting each other with horns that hadn’t yet hardened. Some lay on leafy platforms up high, sunbathing and lazily swishing their tails. A few larger ones with deeper-colored scales were gathered around an enormous purple plant whose leaves shyly curled up whenever they drew near, curiously poking at it with their claws.

Ysera’s landing immediately drew the attention of every little dragon. The ones roughhousing stopped in their tracks, the sunbathers lifted their heads, and those playing in the water poked their heads above the surface.

“Settle down, little ones.” Ysera shifted slightly, allowing Sylph to slide down from her back. “Today, a new member is joining our Hatchling Dragon Paradise. Her name is Sylph. She is younger than all of you and will need some time to adjust and grow. I expect you to treat her kindly.”

Sylph’s claws touched down on the soft, thick mossy ground, and she gazed curiously at the little green dragons who weren’t much bigger than her.

“Caleb,” Ysera called.

A young dragon slightly larger than Sylph, with deep teal-green scales and a small white scar above his left eye, immediately ran over from the edge of the pool. His movements were noticeably steadier than those of the other hatchlings. “Instructor Ysera.”

“Caleb is the oldest hatchling here,” Ysera introduced him to Sylph, then turned to Caleb. “Caleb, I’m entrusting Sylph to you for now. Show her around the leaf nests and tell her the basic rules of this place.”

“Understood, Instructor!” Caleb puffed out his small chest with a touch of pride, then turned to Sylph, doing his best to look dependable. “Hey, Sylph! Follow me — there are empty leaf nests over there. I’ll show you around.”

“Leaf nests?” Sylph asked curiously.

“That’s where we live. They’re much smaller than a dragon’s lair, but they’re just the right size for us, and they’re really comfortable!” Caleb said.

Sylph looked toward Ysera.

“Go on, Sylph.” Ysera gently nudged her with the tip of her tail. “Get used to this place. I’ll come check on you before long.”