The journey began early, with the steady sound of the carriage wheels setting the rhythm of the road. I watched through the window as we left the human lands behind. Little by little, the landscape began to change. The roads became less crowded, the buildings disappeared, giving way to more open and natural areas.
At first, everything seemed ordinary. Fields, small forests, a few hills. But as we advanced northward, the environment truly began to change. The air grew heavier—not in a bad way, but dense, filled with a different kind of energy. I had felt something similar before... but here it was more intense.
"Can you feel it too?" Lyannis asked.
"Yes," I replied. "The mana here is more concentrated."
Rai'kanna nodded.
"We're approaching dragon territory. That's normal."
Liriel crossed her arms.
"Normal for you, maybe."
Scarlett watched the horizon carefully.
"This could affect combat."
Vespera added,
"And magic control as well."
Elara seemed more curious than concerned.
"It's interesting... the mana density is stable, not chaotic."
I continued looking outside. Mountains began to appear in the distance, enormous and imposing, like a natural wall separating territories.
"Does the road go through there?" I asked.
"Yes," Rai'kanna replied. "After the mountains, the land of the dragons officially begins."
The carriage traveled for hours. We slowly climbed the mountain paths. The terrain became rougher, but our progress remained steady. At times, silence completely dominated the carriage. At others, small conversations emerged.
"If they really like gold..." Liriel began.
"You're already thinking about that?" Scarlett asked.
"I'm just saying it would be interesting to see."
Lyannis chuckled softly.
"You never change."
Elara joined the conversation.
"I want to see what their architecture is like."
"Probably excessive," Vespera said.
"Like everything involving dragons," Rai'kanna added.
I listened without interrupting. It was nice to see this kind of interaction. Even with what lay ahead, the atmosphere was still light.
After we crossed most of the mountains, the descent began. That was when everything truly changed.
As soon as we passed the final elevated stretch, the view opened completely.
Before us... lay the territory of the dragons.
The first thing that stood out was the color. The golden hue was not merely a detail. It was present in everything. In the ground, in the distant structures, even in the way the sunlight reflected across the landscape.
It was as if the place had been shaped to reflect grandeur.
Liriel was the first to speak.
"...Is this actually real?"
Elara stared without blinking.
"It's incredible..."
Lyannis analyzed the scene more calmly.
"The mana here is even denser."
Scarlett remained focused.
"It also means we're being watched."
"Probably since we crossed the mountains," Vespera said.
Rai'kanna confirmed it.
"They know we're here."
The carriage continued along the main road. It wasn't long before we encountered the first direct sign of their presence.
Guards.
They stood at the entrance of a large passage leading deeper into the territory. All were in humanoid form, yet they possessed unmistakable dragon traits. Sharper eyes, an overwhelming presence, and firm postures.
The carriage stopped.
One of them approached.
"Identify yourselves."
I stepped out of the carriage calmly. Taking out the royal seal, I showed it to him.
"I am Takumi. I was invited by the Dragon King."
The guard examined the seal carefully. There was no haste in his movements. It was as though every detail was being scrutinized.
After a few seconds, he nodded.
"Confirmed."
He gestured, and the other guards stepped aside.
"You will be escorted to the capital."
"Understood," I replied.
I returned to the carriage.
"Well?" Liriel asked.
"We're cleared."
The carriage began moving again, now accompanied by the guards.
From that point onward, the landscape revealed even more.
Buildings began appearing in the distance. They were different from human structures. Larger, sturdier, with details that genuinely resembled scales or natural dragon formations. And the gold... it was everywhere.
"So it was true," Liriel said.
"About the gold?" I asked.
"Yes."
Elara was studying every detail.
"But it's not meaningless excess. There's a pattern."
Lyannis agreed.
"It's structured. It's not just wealth, it's identity."
Vespera added,
"It represents power."
Scarlett kept watching the surroundings carefully.
"And control."
Rai'kanna seemed more familiar with it all.
"They've always been like this."
I continued observing. In the sky, silhouettes began to appear.
Dragons.
In their original forms.
Flying above the distant city.
There weren't many, but enough to make it clear that this territory was far from ordinary.
"So they really fly around here," I said.
"Yes," Rai'kanna replied. "But most use humanoid forms within the cities."
"That makes sense," Lyannis said. "The opposite would be complicated."
The city drew closer. And with it came the true scale of the place.
It was massive. Far larger than it had appeared from a distance.
Busy, yet organized. There was no chaos, no disorder. Everything seemed to follow a clear structure.
The carriage passed through the main gates without difficulty, escorted by the guards.
As soon as we entered, it became even more obvious.
The Golden Land.
There was no other way to describe it.
The wide streets, the imposing structures, the constant golden glow reflecting the sunlight. And at the same time, a heavy presence, almost as though the environment itself was watching everything.
The girls fell silent for a few moments.
"...Okay," Liriel said. "This is on another level."
Elara smiled slightly.
"Definitely."
Lyannis continued observing everything.
"Interesting."
Scarlett remained vigilant.
"Don't lower your guard."
Vespera agreed.
"This place isn't just beautiful."
Rai'kanna looked ahead.
"We're close to the center."
I kept my eyes fixed on the road ahead.
The castle was not yet visible, but I could feel it.
The presence.
The power.
This wasn't just a visit.
It was a territory where strength defined everything.
And I was about to meet the king who ruled this place.
The carriage continued moving through the golden streets.
Without interruption.
Without detours.
Straight toward the center.
Straight toward the next step.