"Now that i think about it, all those scaly people are naked."
Emilia, Dawn were now being scorted to the Dragonfolk Empire by a group of 9 dragonfolks, the one leading them through the woods was Drake, an aura practicioner at the Elemental Awakening stage.
"We are also naked Chronos."
"Oh- Oooh!"
"..."
The rest of the Dragonfolk were dumbfounded as they heard about how their supreme deity was so.. Stupid? Why would they use clothes, they are not like the mammals that have to keep themselfes warm in the cold their dragon blood does the job just fine, besides the only thing they might wear is armor but a scout group doesn't need that.
Emilia kept looking around as they walked, the more they walked, the less trees they found and the path that was only dirt at some point becomed a path of stone! Well, an unfinished stone path but a path nonetheless! This reminded of the unfinished roads of her city, 'sweet nostalgia.'
"Wait, the Great West Labyrinth is acting up again?"
"Yes, the density of the aura had tripled."
Meanwhile Emilia was on her own little world looking around the trees and bushes Dawn had been gathering information about places with a high aura density.
"Have they fully explored it yet?"
"No, you know the SSS-Rank adventures are at most as strong as the weakest Elemental Awakening Stage."
"Ah. Isn't there any campaign set by the Aura Guild yet?"
"Not yet, they think it's because of a natural phenomenom since something similar had happened 400 years ago. They searched all the dungeon and found nothing so they labeled it as a natural phenomenon"
"..How old are you?"
"'Bout to make my first thousand."
Drake laughed as he said that, since the average lifespan of a normal dragonfolk is 600 years and with aura training that slows down aging being able to have more than 2 thousand years is very commun on their aura experts.
"Better treat me as your senior now small friend."
"Pffhh never! I reached Full Aura at 15!"
"What?!
"Ranked in the millions in both talent and potential, what about'cha?"
"Tsk, stop exagerating. 1 on talent and 12 on potential"
"Pfhahaha!"
"Stop laughing!"
Dawn and Drake started to get along really well as both wanted something from eachother, Drake wished for some tips on advancing further as Dawn wanted information, a good exchange. Soon enought they got back into the topic.
Drake sighed and said, "I heard some nobles from the World Tree Union called some adventurers of the Red Dust party."
"Oh, i know them! The party consist of two heavy orcs, a thief fire cat from the Mixed Cats Tribe."
"Yes, the expedition is supposed to start in 3 weeks at the mixed city of Mountain Retainer if you want to join, they sure as hell won't refuse a Full Aura."
"I see."
"So, anyway, why are you following a dragon?"
"Following Chronos? She is the one following me. Once i met Chronos i decided to set off to the Dragonfolk Empire and to be honest, i think she has lost her memory."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah, so i decided to help Chronos and bring her to a place that had the most knowledge about the mana stages and about dragons."
"Then our empire was indeed the right choice." Drake laughed as he started to speeding up his pace, they were almost there, the unfinished stone path soon turned into a finished one and the trees were dimming as they speed through the forest.
...
The Dragonfolk Empire was diffrent from other empires, the most notable diffrence was that there was no walls surrounding it as they were already protected by a mana barrier, their structures were extremely solid and advanced compared to other empires, dragonfolks were also known for having a rich culture.
But right now, thanks to Rit who warned almost EVERYONE about the arrival of a dragon, the emperor Ellis was forced out of his comfortable bird cage to do as the tales of old said, he ordered his subordinates to get the 'giant red carpet' that was used everytime he wanted to walk through the city, he also was forced to call out the main figures of all churchs to the palace and once everything was done, he opened a small hole on the mana barrier with an artifact to where they should enter, then he waited anxiously as this was the most stressfull day he had so far on his life! But of course, as any good emperor he kept a calm expression on the outside.
When Emilia finally arrived, she was welcomed by the praise and worship of many dragonfolk and honestly, she couldn't say she didn't like it. Meanwhile, Dawn and Drake sneakily left to the crowd to arrive at the palace first and get all the stuff about mana and records of dragons organized for Emilia, it shouldn't be a difficult task as long as they tell it was because the dragon wanted those things. While Emilia was being praised as she steadily walked towards the Ellis, she heard a voice, 'Finally people are giving me the treatment i deserve! Hey, kept your head up and don't embarass ourselves!' It was Chrono of course, and Emilia ignored her as she slowly walked towards the emperor Ellis.. Well Emilia was actually dwarfed by the dragonfolk and Ellis was wondering if he should kneel to get on the eye level of Emilia but he decided agains't it. What if the dragon took that as an offence?
"May i ask supreme one name?"
Ellis asked in formal and in perfect draconic lenguage, it was far better than she had heard from Raenir and the wolf's village chief.
"Chrono."
"What a beautiful name."
'I know right? Way better than Emilia.'
Emilia frowned and Ellis heart almost jumped out of his stomach, 'did i say something wrong? Was calling her name beautifull a little bit too much? Am i going to die now?'
It wasn't Ellis fault for having those thoughts, if the dragons were exactly characterized as the books told, he would become a crispy lizard in the next few seconds! He had to defuse this bomb as fast as possible!
"A-ahem! Please walk with me supreme one, we need to meet some important figures at the castle."
"Okay."
While Emilia was following Ellis, Dawn and Drake had already made a fuss on the castle.