With a command from Caesar, the jubilant Jackalmen set about cleaning up the battlefield. The armor, lances, and great shields of the Griffin Knights were stripped away one by one. The spoils were abundant, with over a hundred gold and silver coins, more than twenty gemstones, and several precious magic gems all delivered into Caesar's hoard.
The Red Dragon possessed a natural gift to count every piece of his treasure at a glance. Even if someone dared to take an insignificant copper from mounds of gold and silver, the Red Dragon would instantly notice. Indeed, one could trust the Red Dragon's acute sensitivity towards riches, and Caesar was no exception.
He wasn't concerned about his minions coveting his treasure. It would be like searching for a lamp in a privy; no one would engage in such a death-wishing act.
"Human, thy name!" Caesar's deep voice resonated as he surveyed the human maiden before him. By both human and draconic standards, she was beautiful, with cascading silver hair and an immaculate visage. Her remarkable talents were evident despite her loose dress failing to conceal her sharp, mountainous curves, pleasing Caesar greatly.
"Lord Red Dragon, I am called Diana Silvermoon."
As a spellcaster, maintaining composure was essential. Diana curtsied gracefully, revealing her name, although the hold on her staff betrayed her inner turmoil.
Spared by the Duke Cassius's men, she now found herself saved by the Red Dragon, which felt like a surreal dream. After all, notorious tales of the wicked Red Dragons, the leaders of the five chromatic dragons, were rife throughout human kingdoms.
"Very well, Diana, from henceforth, thou art mine. Shouldst thou wish to become my consort, I shall grant thee the right to live," Caesar boomed.
"Now, share thy answer."
Caesar's gaze was fixed on her as the draconic courtship unfolded simply and directly: a dragon took what they desired through invitation, without the convoluted rituals of humans.
"Cons... consort?"
Diana was briefly taken aback, casting a glance at Caesar's imposing form and a thought flashed through her mind—such actions could very well end her. Yet, alive she wished to remain. She bore the hopes of the deceased upon her shoulders, and without exacting vengeance on Duke Cassius, submission wasn't an option.
"I am willing!"
Without much hesitation, Diana stated her resolve.
"Thou hast made a wise choice," Caesar commended, unfurling his wings and clutching the human maiden as they soared towards his lair atop a dormant volcano.
Within, his abode radiated with molten lava, inhospitable to humans but perfectly blissful for a Red Dragon. A humble palace Caesar had commissioned was perched near the summit—intended for snatched human beauties and now suitable for Diana's dwelling.
A young spellcaster of her caliber, only on her third ring, bespeaks great potential, much to Caesar's satisfaction. The offspring they would sire were destined to be formidable.
"Lord Red Dragon..."
Diana clasped her dress, anticipation and nerves twining within her. Red Dragons were usually severe, yet they sometimes tempered their fierceness towards fair maidens—collecting beauties like treasures, they might care for them without demanding anything in return, much like cleaning their scales.
After a moment's contemplation, Caesar's surroundings ignited with fierce, fiery magic. His massive, draconic form shrank into a humanoid silhouette.
A young male, appearing even younger than Diana, emerged. His extraordinary beauty exceeded all living expectations: a head of red hair like dawn's sky, and eyes of deep crimson holding unspeakable charm idealized by human fantasies.
Even Diana's gaze intensified at the sight.
As a Red Dragon, Caesar's human visage simply stood at the pinnacle of creation, mesmerizing Diana and deviating wildly from her rigid impressions. Of course, dragons—as apex magical beings—were conceived in perfection; the males commanding and comely, the females statuesque and comely. If a dragon appeared mundane, it surely signified diluted blood.
The first usage of his transformation spell left Caesar slightly uneasy, the immense power constrained within the delicate human frame. It's no wonder dragons sparingly used such magic.
But necessity dictated his shape, for his gargantuan form could hardly maneuver in the humble palace—an existence so robust it could easily shake the very foundations apart.
Acclimating to human form, Caesar's eyes were amused by Diana's captivating stare. With a princely smile, he scooped her up in his arms, her softness yielding like a balmy, billowing balloon, exuding warmth.
"Uh..."
Diana, overcome by maidenly shyness, instinctively resisted, her mouth parting only to be audaciously invaded by the insistent Red Dragon himself.
Silenced mid-sentence, her wide, bright eyes turned sultry and misty—gazing at the handsome youth before her.
A turbulent interlude unfolded; her dress cascaded down, laying bare her neck and collarbones to the cool air now hot with anticipation.
As beads of sweat splashed upon the floor, the symphony of a forbidden union rang through the chamber...