Deep in the night, the Moon Maiden's bright moon hung directly in the center of the sky, its light pouring like flowing water onto the majestic and vast Fortress, as if it had fallen from the heavens, descending upon a divine palace on the mountaintop, mysterious and awe-inspiring.
Yet, separated by a single wall, it was a world of difference.
Inside the magnificent hall, cups clinked, dishes clattered, and drunken conversations roared, creating a fervent and boisterous atmosphere.
But the corridor outside the castle was cold and silent; even the night winds were exceptionally biting. On the peaks of the mountains, sometimes the cold wind from the sky would blow so fiercely that even a True Dragon's scales would be penetrated by the chill, burning the skin beneath.
Christiana, being a Silver Dragon, belonged to a cold-natured species. Their race preferred to nest in high mountains or among the clouds, so she naturally didn't feel the cold.
The biting chill, instead, made Christiana feel more comfortable, but her True Dragon heart was cold.
Locked in the deep corridor by the power and magic of the Ancestral Red Dragon, Christiana couldn't even gaze at the bright moon in the sky, which once represented her noble heart and aspirations.
She could, of course, drag the chains and crawl out of the winding, deep corridors, but she couldn't bear such humiliation, like a guard dog dragging its chains around.
Christiana at this moment felt as if her entire spine had been removed; she only wanted to lie there, motionless.
Watching the moonlight spill into the flowerbeds in the Fortress's front yard, those flowers swaying in the gentle breeze, Christiana even felt that perhaps it would be better to be an ignorant, thoughtless flower than her current state.
She couldn't understand why there could be such overbearing and arrogant True Dragon s in the world. Just because they offended his majesty, just because they disregarded the dignity of the territory's people, he would shackle noble Silver Dragons like slaves.
Although Silver Dragons and Gold Dragons are inherently kind and often pity weaker creatures, this compassion arises from viewing the other party as pitiable beings who need to look up to them.
From a True Dragon's perspective, simply intimidating those races and humans with True Dragon might was nothing; they hadn't harmed anyone at all.
Christiana also couldn't understand why such terrifying and powerful True Dragons would be born in the Ekania World. Even Obirasch, bearing the blood of an ancestor, couldn't directly overpower her in his adolescent stage.
Because Christiana had once severely punished Obirash for his offense. Perhaps the adolescent Ancestral Golden Dragon Obirash was exceptional enough to contend with an adult True Dragon across an entire age group, but in front of Christiana, he still appeared much more naive.
And that terrifying Red Dragon, though also bearing the blood of an ancestor, faced three adult True Dragons yet utterly crushed them, bringing them to their knees and stepping on them with his claws.
This was unimaginable and unacceptable to the three adult True Dragons, especially The Silver Dragon Christiana.
Although Christiana did not outwardly display her arrogance, her heart was even prouder than Gold Dragon Obirasch, who let his arrogance show.
Because the title of Silver Dragon Valkyrie was not an empty boast, but a title genuinely earned through many challenges and battles.
The Silver Dragon Christiana, possessing refined combat skills and powerful magical talent, never believed she was inferior to other True Dragons. Her goal was to emulate those ancient True Dragons who traversed the astral plane and roamed endless worlds, those True Dragons whose names were renowned even within the astral plane.
But now she had become a captive, a slave without even freedom.
Her proud combat skills were clumsy compared to that strong Red Dragon, her reliance on magical talent was but a drizzle before that Red Dragon's great power, and her pride was a joke under his gaze.
Christiana only felt that her heart was as cold as the moonlight at this moment, the chill actually permeating her Silver Dragon limbs and bones, causing her to continuously lose strength in her limbs, leaving her only able to lie weakly on the cold stone slab.
She even sought the teachings of Platinum Dragon God Bahamut in her heart, praying that the great Platinum Dragon God could dispel her inner confusion and bewilderment.
Christiana also couldn't understand why Silver Dragons, who uphold justice, display kindness, and help the weak, often find themselves in poverty and hardship, while these Evil Dragons can enjoy the sustenance of countless people's sweat and blood, living in such luxurious and magnificent palaces, indulging in pleasure.
Even she, the renowned Silver Dragon Valkyrie Christiana, would willingly become the guardian of that arrogant Ancestral Gold Dragon for two thousand gold coins, accompanying Obirashin his foolish act of provoking that ancestral red Dragon.
Even the luxurious estate of Obirash's father, Count Mogsa, who was famous for his wealth, was far inferior to this magnificent castle. One can imagine how these Evil Dragons used magic to bewitch and power to exploit the people of these territories.
"Will the evil in the world ultimately triumph over noble justice, great Platinum Dragon God? Your kin and child, Christiana, pray for your great wisdom!"
After a long while, The Silver Dragon Christiana opened her eyes, revealing a disappointed expression. As expected, even a great being like Platinum Dragon God could not respond to his kin at all times, perhaps this was related to Silver Dragons only being shallow believers.
"Perhaps, in the eyes of the Dragon God, this is merely a test for me. You must not lose heart, Christiana, your heart should be like the moon in the sky, unable to be obscured by temporary clouds."
The Silver Dragon Christiana's bewildered heart temporarily settled. The prayer, even without the expected response, brought her peace.
"Who's there?"
The Silver Dragon Christiana turned her head, her vertical pupils shining in the deep corridor. Even with the occasional roar from the open doors of the great hall, the Silver Dragon's excellent hearing still allowed her to detect faint footsteps.
Two Bronze Dragons, lying on the ground to the left of the Fortress's main gate, also raised their heads in the soft lamplight, looking towards the Silver Dragon.
In front of this True Dragon's royal hall, it should be the safest place in this empire ruled by the True Dragon. Even if the True Dragon inside were absent, as long as its master was present, this would be the most impregnable fortress.
However, The Silver Dragon Christiana and the two Bronze Dragons felt no sense of belonging here, only animosity, so their vigilance was very high, although they didn't realize that doing so merely made them True Dragon guards watching the gate.
Tap, tap, tap. In the deep corridor, the sound of shoe soles tapping the floor grew increasingly clear in the True Dragon's ears, even though the footsteps were so soft as to be almost inaudible to human ears.
It was a group of beautiful maids, some human and some Pixie, each maid beautiful and charming.
But what surprised The Silver Dragon Christiana was that these maids stopped in front of her, carrying many delicious foods on valuable sandalwood and gold and silver trays. Then, they spread out a silk cloth printed with exquisite patterns and meticulously arranged the delicious food before her.
More than these delicious foods, what attracted The Silver Dragon Christiana were the precious gold and silver vessels, like works of art. Even the containers for the spice used to season the food seemed like masterpieces carved by great artists.
But what astonished The Silver Dragon Christiana the most was that the short, sheer skirts worn by these maids were all woven from the finest silk gauze.
The thin, grass-patterned ribbons tied around their waists were also inlaid with tiny gold and silver flakes, glittering even in the somewhat dim corridor, highlighting the fair and delicate waists of these maids exposed beneath the sheer fabric.
And the black velvet chokers worn around their long, fair necks were adorned with gems of varying colors in the center, shining like True Dragon scales of different hues.
The head maid's choker, in particular, was set with a dazzling, translucent ruby in the center, its brilliant light making the scales on The Silver Dragon Christiana's body appear dull in comparison.
The Silver Dragon Christiana's gaze lingered on these glittering jewels for a long time before she finally managed to turn her glowing green eyes away.
"These riches, obtained through evil and bloody exploitation, are not worth my envy or jealousy. You must calm down, Christiana, you are an elegant and noble Silver Dragon; you cannot fall into the Evil Dragon's trap."
The Silver Dragon unconsciously swallowed, muttering to herself in her mind, finally calming her somewhat heated head.
But The Silver Dragon Christiana still couldn't help but ask, "How could that Evil Dragon, Kogmora, allow you to wear his treasures? This is an infringement for an Evil Dragon!"
Charlize, the head maid, who had been gently placing food, immediately furrowed her beautiful brows, and the large golden cup in her hand clanged onto the long rug spread on the ground.
"Lady Silver Dragon, calling the True Dragon Lord by his name is a great disrespect and rudeness. Moreover, you simply do not know the master's generosity and tolerance. These treasures are all bestowed upon us by the master, and this dinner is also specially prepared for you by the master!"
Charlize, the head maid, extended a long, fair finger, righting the large golden cup, and said faintly.
The Silver Dragon Christiana was first stunned, then sneered, "Generous and tolerant? Just because we offended his majesty, he shackles us like slaves here. Can that be called generous and tolerant? And to make us eat on the ground, bound by chains, like savages—is that hospitality?"
Charlize, the head maid, showed a faint smile. She softly said, "Different statuses lead to different choices when facing a situation."
"If it were according to the practices of the great human nobles and kings of this world, your actions, Lady Silver Dragon, would lead you to the guillotine to have your heads cut off. How much more so for a Dragon Emperor destined for greatness."
"As for you, if you can obey the True Dragon Lord's will, you will soon gain freedom. As long as you make contributions that satisfy the True Dragon Lord, the master is only concerned that you might cause damage to the territory."
The Silver Dragon Christiana snorted softly and turned her head away. "Take it away. I will not partake of this blood and sweat gained through evil exploitation."
"What is evil, what is justice?" Charlize, the head maid, looked at the Silver Dragon, her tone becoming serious.
"When I used to live in a noble castle, I also deeply believed in the justice and evil of the scriptures, but later I discovered that the boundaries between many people and many things in the world are inherently blurred."
"You see, the residents living in this land, they can eat their fill, dress warmly, have their own homes and land, their own families and careers. In this land, no one has ever starved to death, as long as he possesses a pair of hands that can work, and a pair of feet that can walk."
Charlize, the head maid, smiled, and her charming face actually radiated a light that made the Silver Dragon unable to look directly at her. She said, "And what about those nobles who claim to be righteous? The residents in their territories are sallow and emaciated, toiling all day for a mouthful of food."
"Even if their entire lives are spent on the land beneath their feet, they still cannot eat their fill or dress warmly. Their homes are occupied by those nobles, and their wives and children are treated as slaves by the nobles."
"I heard that even in places ruled by those noble and benevolent Gold True Dragon s, there are still countless displaced people and refugees. Even so, the taxes collected by those benevolent Gold Dragons are still no less than those of the nobles."
"Why don't you Metal Dragons, who uphold justice and pity the weak, go and save those who are constantly in distress caused by the righteous? Or is it that you dare not?"
Charlize, the head maid's soft eyebrows were now as sharp as a biting blade, making The Silver Dragon Christiana and the two Bronze Dragons instinctively flinch from this maid who looked like she could be crushed with one slap.
"Ordinary people simply wish for a life of favorable weather, health, peace, freedom from war, full bellies, warm clothes, and a stable, prosperous existence. And all of these, in this land, people can have. Because the taxes set by the True Dragon are lower, much lower, than those of any country, any region, any noble in the world!"
"What is the price? The price is countless Druids cultivating improved seeds, countless alchemists researching potent medicines, countless Pixie nurturing plants, countless warriors using steel blades and iron swords, with blood and bone, to clear and protect. Even the True Dragon will push the dark clouds and bring down rain, just to better transform this homeland."
"This is what brought about today's beauty. Is this what you see as evil? Are these the villains you should strike down?"
Charlize's tone was decisive: "You truly dishonor the beautiful, moonlit scales on your body, Lady Silver Dragon. You also dishonor such a long and beautiful life. Even though I am just a small, weak, short-lived being, I see things more clearly than you!"
The Silver Dragon Christiana fell silent at this moment. She couldn't help but reflect, perhaps the great Platinum Dragon God was unwilling to bestow his wisdom because of her own shortsightedness.
The two Bronze Dragons also remained silent. Stubborn True Dragon s, who usually do not easily heed others' opinions, are more prone to introspection in moments of weakness.
Charlize stood up from her crouched position and said softly, "Lady Silver Dragon, if you do not intend to enjoy these foods, please do not destroy them. They will be sent to the territory tomorrow and given to the lonely elderly and children."
"Although the master enjoys luxury and beauty, he never has a habit of waste!"
The Silver Dragon Christiana only felt that the voices in the vast hall were now so distant from her, so distant that she could no longer clearly hear the words within.
Charlize's voice lingered in her ears like a devil's whisper.
"Oh, great Platinum Dragon God, please give me some revelation!" The Silver Dragon Christiana closed her eyes and sighed softly!