Amethyst.
A gem capable of withstanding extreme heat, forming a formidable defense against fire-based magical conjuring. With Sylvana's incantation, space folded upon itself like layers of mirrors, conjuring forth an amethystine barrier solidifying in hues of purple, intercepting the Exploding Fireball.
Boom!
The detonation sent shockwaves through the air, its temperature so extreme that even the amethyst barrier began to melt, sizzling audibly as it resisted the powerful blast. The flame-filled skies turned the clouds a crimson hue.
The smoke cleared.
Just as Sylvana was preparing to cast her sixth-tier spell—Serpent King's Amethystine Seal, she realized that the Red Dragon had vanished beyond the horizon, well out of her casting range.
"Cunning Red Dragon!" muttered Sylvana darkly, eying the scorched basin left in its wake.
Her mood lightened at the sight of the Red Dragon scales scattered on the ground. These scales were top-tier magical components. "Next time, I won't go easy on that little tempter," she smirked sotto voce.
Creatures of the wild deeply venerated power.
Despite their skirmish, Sylvana seemed quite impressed with Caesar. Considering the Red Dragons she'd encountered, the relatively young Caesar's displayed strength was quite formidable.
Perhaps.
If Caesar reached full maturity as she surmised, he might actually acquiesce to courtship, for few dragons bore such a noble and valiant visage.
Meanwhile.
"Damn! That hurt! That Amethyst Serpent must be close to ascending to a higher echelon..." winced Caesar, caught off guard by Sylvana's formidable power.
For a typical tier-six being,
Caesar might stand a chance, but Sylvana, with her prowess in both physical and magical arts, combined with Serpent King lineage, was just shy of a true dragon's might, her power rivalling that of the upper echelons.
During battle,
Caesar learned the name of the Amethyst Serpent.
"The bloodline of the Serpent King? Hmph, Sylvana, I will have you!" Caesar's lust for conquest flared stronger than ever.
Over the next several months,
Caesar didn't pursue Sylvana further, but sent his wards to both surveil and gather intelligence on her movements and habits.
This legendary-bloodline enchantress,
showed no interest in amassing a following and lived in solitude, epicurean in her hunts and often secluding herself within her lair, falling into deep slumbers with infrequent excursions.
Sylvana.
Her origins were shrouded in mystery. According to the Troll Shaman Sax, her arrival at Karl Mountains coincided with Caesar's. Her increasingly frequent periods of hibernation indicated her impending elevation to higher being status.
If Sylvana evolved successfully,
Caesar's chances of conquest would decrease considerably, a notion that spurred his restlessness. However, opportunity soon presented itself.
Diana was to give birth.
To ensure his consort's successful delivery, Caesar ventured to the nearby Silvermoon Kingdom, abducting human females from villages to tend to Diana. He also selected experienced midwives to mitigate any risks.
Outside the palace,
Caesar stretched his vast draconic wings and cast a minor spell that granted him a stark view into the palace interiors. He couldn't trust the abducted human women if malintent festered; he was prepared to shred any threats to ribbons without hesitation.
Time ticked by.
Absorbing the silence from within, Caesar reluctantly felt a rare surge of apprehension.
At last.
A middle-aged human woman rushed out, declaring, "Mighty Red Dragon, Princess Diana's delivery has been most successful!"
The infant's cries pierced the still air.
It was a girl.
Joy swelled in Caesar's heart as a voice announced in his ear.
"Ding! Your first offspring has been born!"
"This offspring boasts the Red Dragon bloodline and the spellcasting lineage of the Silvermoon Kingdom—a half-dragon heir with, after assessment, warrior potential at the golden level and magical potential at the golden level. Commencing award calculation...."
"Dual golden-level evaluation."
"You may select three out of these five rewards."
1. Growth: Ten years' growth will enhance your Draconic physique, shaping you more robustly than peers of your age, surpassing other Red Dragons.
2. Mutation: Gain 10% positive mutation in your Draconic form, potentially awakening special gifts beyond ordinary draconic capabilities.
3. Magestaff: A high-tier mage's staff that would multiply low-tier magic effects and bolster mid-level magic potency by 10%.
4. Treasure: An enigmatic chest potentially filled with precious gems; its value could equate to a mountain of gold, the dream of all dragons, glittering temptations for any draconic heart.
5. Scroll: A scroll containing the seventh-tier spell—Thunderous Inferno, devastating all life within its reach and delivering a ruthless high-tier magical onslaught.
With these lavish choices laid before him, Caesar cursed inwardly, his heart torn. Each reward held an unbearable allure.
Growth was indispensable.
A decade's gain was substantial but insular; it couldn't quite vault him into maturity. But accumulated over time, it promised exponential strength.
Mutation presented him a quandary.
Draconic mutations occurred naturally, sometimes fortuitous, sometimes calamitous. A fortuitous mutation could bestow unmatched gifts, but unfavourable twists risked scorn and exile. Yet the offered mutation promised positivity—no need to fear degradation, only wonders at what magnitude of power awaited.
The staff?
Superb, powerful for humans—multiplying low-tier spells and conserving mana—but Caesar, as a dragon, brimmed vast reserves; he saw intrigue but not necessity. In Aerlan World, rarely did a dragon wield human relics, their innate magics sufficing.
And the hoard?
A mountain of gold stirred Caesar's deepest yearnings; not one dragon could resist such splendour—not even Tiamat, the chromatic matriarch. Yet, what was one mountain if forsaken for more? Relinquish one today, gain five tomorrow, maybe ten, or a hundred....
A painful soliloquy, but willpower prevailed.
Cast aside immediate treasures for the sake of strength... just temporarily...
His decision set.
An amalgam of ascendancy and arcane prowess: Growth, Mutation, and the Scroll.
The Growth and Mutation promised immediate might; the Scroll, a seventh-tier magic—Thunderous Inferno. Such prowess could spell instant death even for an adolescent dragon; a potent secret weapon, indeed.
Thus, Caesar awaited his chosen rewards amidst dreams of a newborn child's promise—a future of gold, glory, and a grand dominion sprawling under the swath of his wings.