Samantha narrowed her eyes, feeling her status was being shaken.
Before this, Garros only had her by his side. As for Fairy Dragon Vera, Samantha felt she was more like a 'pet' than a true Dragonkin.
Now there was another one, Iron Dragon Sorog.
Although they shared a similar Bloodline and an invisible bond, Samantha still felt threatened; she didn't want her position in Garros's heart to diminish.
"Sorog, you are the last dragon to arrive here."
"Remember your order; you can only rank fourth among us."
Samantha raised her chin and spoke.
Sorog narrowed his eyes, instinctively wanting to flare up at the Red Dragon's provocation, but considering his current state wasn't suitable for fighting—and that a crude, stupid Red Dragon wasn't worth arguing with.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and then asked with some confusion, "Why fourth? Is Gordon here too?"
Samantha shook her head.
"Gordon isn't here."
She pointed at Fairy Dragon Vera and said, "Vera is third, you are fourth."
In her heart, she considered Vera a pet, but at a time like this, she should pull Vera onto her side. Sorog was, after all, a Young Dragon and older than her, giving him an age advantage.
Fairy Dragon Vera nodded like a chicken pecking at grain and raised her head proudly: "Exactly! Exactly!"
Sorog glanced at the calm Garros and didn't dwell on the subject.
His gaze swept over Samantha and Garros, and then he grinned, saying with emotion, "It's truly rare for us, who all bear the Ignas surname, to gather together after leaving the nest."
"If Gordon were here too, and all four of us siblings were together, the Ignas Siblings would be complete."
Most Evil Dragons prefer to travel alone.
However, there are precedents for Evil Dragons living together in groups, mostly among Blue Dragons, with many instances recorded in the Legacy.
For example, the very famous 'Hermod Brothers'.
Their current members are three Ancient Blue Dragons residing in the Boiling Sea in the western part of the Serel Wilderness.
It is said they were originally seven Blue Dragons of the same Bloodline who formed a group to live together, advancing and retreating as one, relying on each other to face powerful enemies, sharing spoils and treasures, and carving out a vast territory in the immense Boiling Sea.
On their path to rise, four members fell.
The remaining three have now become powerful Legendary Ancient Dragons.
The enemies who killed their brothers all tasted the fire of dragon vengeance, being completely destroyed and their Bloodlines utterly erased.
Mentioning Gordon, the youngest and most intellectually unreliable Iron Dragon.
Garros shook his head and said, "Given Gordon's situation, it would be difficult for him to survive alone in the wilderness."
As an Iron Dragon, Gordon also had the grand ambition to build a Dragon Empire, but he wasn't naturally brilliant like Sorog; he was even more dull and lazy than the Red Dragon Samantha—just an ordinary, mediocre Iron Dragon.
Back when they were still in the Hemlock Hills, Gordon never came to seek refuge.
Garros estimated that this Iron Dragon Brother's fate probably wasn't good. Even if he were still alive, life would be exceptionally hard, and he would surely be the worst off among the siblings.
"Survival of the fittest is the main theme of the wilderness."
"Let's not mention him."
The Iron Dragon's body was weak, but his spirit was high as he said, "We, the three Ignas Siblings, will surely make our names known across the sky, the sea, and the earth."
Fairy Dragon Vera shouted, "And me! It's the four siblings!"
"Those without the Bloodline bond shouldn't join in the fun," the Iron Dragon said.
The Iron Dragon said.
Faerie Dragon: "It's simple, I'll just change my surname." The Iron Dragon shook his head: "That won't do. A surname is only on the surface; Bloodline is the key."
The Faerie Dragon hung her head in dejection, her wings drooping.
The Iron Dragon added, "Unless you join the Ignas Siblings as a mate or spouse."
He paused, looked at the Faerie Dragon's miniature size, and added, "Compared to fellow Dragonkin, I prefer Beastfolk. If Garros likes you, you might have a chance."
Beastfolk refers to creatures like Catfolk, wolf-folk, and Foxfolk that possess both human and animal characteristics.
The Faerie Dragon looked at the formidable Red-Iron Dragon, and the terrifying scene she had witnessed of him training the little dragons flashed through her mind. She shuddered, quickly flapped her wings, and flew away to hide behind a tree, not daring to show her head.
Sorog looked at Garros and asked curiously, "My dear brother, you will soon be a Young Dragon. You should have your own preferences by now. Which race's females do you prefer?"
Dragonkin have a general aesthetic for the whole race, but depending on individual differences, different dragons have different preferences.
Metallic Dragons mostly like humans, elves, and other small, slender creatures with hairless, scaleless, delicate skin. Chromatic Dragons favor fierce-looking, robustly built monsters.
Iron Dragon Sorog's preference for Beastfolk was a rather niche fetish.
Samantha and the Faerie Dragon hiding behind the tree both pricked up their ears and looked at Garros.
Under the gaze of several dragons, Garros remained unfazed and shook his head.
"I don't have a specific favorite race,"
he said.
A look of realization appeared on Sorog's dragon face as he smiled and said, "I see. That means you like beautiful females of all races indiscriminately. That's good; vigorous desire proves you have abundant ambition."
This was definitely an over-interpretation.
I just want a peaceful life; where is the ambition?
Garros didn't bother to argue with Sorog and said, "To celebrate our reunion, we'll hold a feast in the Coniferous Valley tonight and eat our fill."
Soon.
Night fell.
A bonfire was lit in the Coniferous Valley.
The Dire Bears carried fresh meat and set it over the bonfire to roast. The sizzling meat was sprinkled with spices, the scent of spices and fat blending into a wonderful flavor.
The dragons enjoyed the delicious food.
Samantha tore off a large piece of cooked meat and said, "I've heard that older and more powerful dragons dine like human nobles or elves. Besides meat, there are jams, sweets, and fine wine on the table, with countless servants serving them with song and dance."
Sorog nodded and said, "Once we establish a magnificent Empire, we can have these enjoyments as well."
"Not just food, but also towering, glorious palaces and magnificent residences."
In the simple valley feast, the Young Dragons fantasized about the future.
Garros quietly tore at his food, tasting the fat and spices. He didn't speak as much as Samantha and Sorog. The firelight fell into his dark eyes, flickering and swaying gently, reflecting his unsettled heart.
He didn't have much ambition.
However, a single type of food and a simple dwelling indeed could not satisfy Garros.
"Under the premise of peace and safety, if I could live more comfortably, that would be for the best."
The Red-Iron Dragon chewed his food, swallowing meat and bone together, thinking silently to himself.