Encountering a tribe of elemental beings in the Far North Ice Plains was a surprise and a delight for Garon.
His delight stemmed from the fact that elemental beings are typically intelligent creatures capable of communication, unlike the terror-lizards and white hunting dogs, which couldn't fully understand Garon's commands.
Having the Northern Ice Spirits as his followers would make issuing commands much easier.
Garon was surprised because elemental beings are rare and uncommon in the prime material plane.
These special beings usually reside in inner planes that, while not part of the prime material plane, have significant connections and origins tied to it.
The prime material plane is balanced with various energies and elements, giving rise to a diverse array of life forms. However, the inner planes are realms of pure elemental energy, where the environment is dominated by a single element or energy, making it singular and hazardous.
The six inner planes are Earth, Water, Fire, Air (Wind), Positive Energy, and Negative Energy.
"Elemental beings in the prime material plane are most likely remnants of summoning magic, perhaps left behind by some careless mage who lost control of their summons."
"It's nearly impossible for elemental beings to naturally occur in the conditions of the prime material plane."
While Garon was pondering, the tallest of the Northern Ice Spirits approached him, speaking in the common tongue with a mix of fear and reverence, "Great true dragon, your presence in this place honors us. What do you command?"
Indeed, they were intelligent. Garon's eyes brightened.
He looked at the Northern Ice Spirits before him and spoke in a deep voice, "This river of ice will now be my territory."
"You will serve as my followers, offering everything you have."
"And I, Garon, the future lord of the ice plains, will provide you with the dragon's protection!"
Garon, who had just lost the protection of the White Dragon Mother, was now set to provide protection for other beings.
Upon hearing Garon's words, the Northern Ice Spirits showed no signs of resistance but instead knelt down in surprise and joy, saying, "It is the supreme honor of the Ice River tribe to be taken as followers by the great true dragon."
Their reaction was filled with excitement at having Garon, a true dragon, as their patron.
Garon was quite surprised.
He had expected that he might have to fight them into submission before he could subdue this group of Northern Ice Spirits.
In Garon's experience, elemental beings, generally spellcasters with decent combat capabilities and a somewhat haughty nature, looked down on flesh-and-blood life forms.
Though he was a true dragon, he thought it would be challenging to make elemental beings submit with just a shake of his dragon form.
Garon thought for a moment and then said to the Northern Ice Spirit before him, "State your name."
"Master, your humble follower is named Roy Ice River."
"Then, Roy, show me your capabilities."
Garon stepped forward, indicating for Roy Ice River to attack him.
If he was correct, this group of Northern Ice Spirits, compared to typical elemental beings, might be relatively weak; otherwise, they wouldn't be so eager and excited to submit themselves as his followers.
Roy Ice River, the strongest of the Ice River tribe, appeared troubled and hesitant to strike Garon.
Garon, growing impatient, flicked his dragon wings and said, "Don't waste time, I will not hold it against you for striking a true dragon."
Roy Ice River then relaxed and raised his icy arm, conjuring a crystal-clear dagger, and launched it towards Garon.
As expected, the chilly dagger shattered upon hitting Garon's scales, causing him no damage.
Garon looked at Roy Ice River encouragingly, "Very well, continue."
Under Garon's gaze, Roy Ice River embarrassingly lowered his head, "Master, I can only use this Cold Dagger spell."
Because of the harsh weather conditions, ninety percent of the creatures on the ice plains have high resistance to frost, and Garon was immune to the minor damage from the ice dagger, not even sustaining a scratch.
Having only one type of low-grade spell ability, particularly ice-based in the ice plains, meant that they could only exist as the lowest tier of life forms.
In terms of strength, the Northern Ice Spirits couldn't even defeat a terror-lizard.
After a moment, Garon asked, "How was your tribe created?"
Roy Ice River, with a look of reverent recollection, answered, "A thousand years ago, a respected mage created our ancestors and then left us on the ice plains."
Created, not summoned.
This indicated that the Northern Ice Spirits were not naturally occurring.
Garon guessed that this group of elemental beings was likely the product of a failed experiment by some unknown mage who perhaps intended to create powerful ice magic-wielding elemental beings. Upon discovering their weak abilities, the mage decisively abandoned them.
"No wonder the White Dragon Mother didn't take these beings as her followers; she probably
saw their strength as insufficient."
Garon thought to himself.
Meanwhile, he decided to give this group of unfortunate elemental beings a chance; serving him with such weak abilities would be difficult.
With that thought, Garon breathed out frosty dragon breath, and a multitude of ice crystals formed with the cold wind, which he meticulously controlled to create an ice pool several meters in diameter.
Ordinary White Dragons couldn't achieve this, but for Garon, it had become routine.
Possessing a Time Dragon constitution, he was favored by the elements, cherished by them... more precisely, he was like a parent to them.
To other creatures, the aloof and hard-to-control elements were warmly passionate in Garon's presence. A mere thought from him would be loyally executed without hesitation, without a moment's delay, and the elements nearby would actively respond to his mood, becoming lively or subdued.
After creating the ice pool, Garon pricked his fingertip, squeezing out a few drops of scalding dragon blood.
Roy Ice River realized what Garon intended to do, and his breathing became labored as he knelt and spoke fervently, "Master, the Ice River tribe will become your most loyal followers, crushing all your enemies for you!"
Dragon blood dripped into the ice pool, nearly melting the ice.
Soon, Garon diverted some water from the winding river into the pool, which was immediately filled with diluted, pale red dragon blood.
"This should be enough for your tribe's transformation," Garon stated calmly, his gaze lowered.
By accepting his bloodline, they would become dragon-veined creatures.
True dragons possess a unique vascular system known as basal blood vessels, considered the core conduits for their use of elemental powers. These grant true dragons their formidable spell-like abilities and supernatural strengths, and are also the most effective way to differentiate true dragons from various lesser dragon types.
The dragon blood flowing through the basal vessels was highly invasive, capable of transforming even elemental beings.
Creatures transformed by dragon blood are collectively known as dragon-veined creatures, who would worship their dragon master wholeheartedly, treating them like divine royalty.
Dragon-veined creatures are truly core followers for a dragon, with those not transformed typically treated as reserve food or cannon fodder.
"Will my dragon blood grant them some ability to influence time?" Garon wondered, watching with interest.
As time passed, one by one, the Northern Ice Spirits bathed in Garon's diluted dragon blood, acquiring a faint aura of dragon's might and officially becoming dragon-veined creatures.
Following this, the Northern Ice Spirits gathered under Garon's dragon wings, their faces filled with newfound joy and devotion to Garon.
Thus, he had gained his first group of intelligent life followers.