Chapter 4: First Encounter with the Druid

For Sakavi, who had an inside informant, hunting goblins became much easier. Though goblin meat was disgusting, it was still a magical beast, and the minute magical elements within its body were vital for the growth of a hatchling dragon.

Ordinary beasts could not provide such elements at all, and would attract the attention of other factions, bringing unnecessary trouble.

After a year of effort, Sakavi had successfully grown to 1.8 meters and would enter adolescence in another year. By then, the nearby ogre villages would learn that the Five-Colored Dragons’ reputation for holding grudges was no rumor.

Though adolescent dragons were still vulnerable to early death, being able to cast fourth-tier spells allowed them to gather their own followers—and dealing with a small ogre village would be no challenge.

Just as Sakavi was dreaming of a bright future, someone blocked his entrance. How could he tolerate this? He immediately dug through the stone wall beside him and burst out, shouting: “Who the hell dares defy the Black Dragon Lord? Do you want to die?”

“Oh! It’s the Druid Lord! I didn’t realize you’d come all this way—please wait a moment, I’ll go pick some wild fruit to entertain you.”

When Sakavi saw a two-meter-tall great elk staring at him, his eyes instantly cleared. The sheer density of magic within its body was far beyond what a hatchling dragon, capable of only second-tier spells, could hope to resist. His only option now was to flee.

Though this Druid, with his gray bark skin, hadn’t moved to attack, elves had never favored Five-Colored Dragons, and their temperaments were unpredictable—next moment, he might already be fertilizer for the earth.

Seeing the Druid made no objection, Sakavi flew at top speed toward the ogre village, planning to hide there for a while.

Just as he neared the village’s edge, a voice echoed in his mind: “Black Dragon Lord, where are you headed?” Startled, Sakavi crashed straight into a tree. Watching the great elk sprinting toward him backward, he felt utter despair—he’d flown slower than the beast could run.

“Little black dragon, are you alright?”

“I’m still alive, Lord. We have no grudge against each other—why not let me go?”

“Hmph. You dare say we have no grudge? Which Five-Colored Dragon hasn’t committed atrocities? Letting you go means letting you grow up to bring ruin upon the land. Haven’t you killed enough lately?”

“Lord, I eat meat—if I don’t kill, I’ll starve! Besides, there are so many meat-eating beasts out there. Why pick on me alone?”

“Sigh. Enough. The elves have been gone from here for a long time. You’re nothing to me now.”

“…………”

“Then how should I address you? Great Druid?”

"Vilanser Yew pattern. I am the ancestral ally and mount of my family."

“I’m Sakavi Dularix Hipporeksa. Call me Sakavi. May I call you Sister Vilanser?”

“It sounds unnatural. Just call me Vilanser. I don’t wish to be disturbed—you must leave before the ogres’ scouts spot you.”

“Vilanser, you must understand: if I leave now, I’ll be walking into death. You must at least wait until I’ve passed the hatchling stage. Besides, I’m unfamiliar with this region—I need to learn what forces surround me.”

“You’re unlike any Five-Colored Dragon I’ve known, but I don’t trust you. I’ll tolerate your presence here for one more year. Once you enter adolescence, you must leave this place.”

“Thank you very much! I have a question—could you answer it for me?”

“No.”

“Why did the elves leave here? Why didn’t you leave with them?”

Five hundred years ago, an ogre calling himself Borg Bloodaxe arrived in this plane, shattering the balance among its factions. Humans, who had held dominance for a millennium after defeating the orcs, had known no war since.

Faced with the ogres’ sudden rise, humans had no defense. At that time, the elves were engulfed in internal crisis and had no energy to interfere in the affairs of lesser races.

By the time the ogres had crushed the humans and turned their blades toward the elves, we discovered we had no allies left to turn to.

With no choice, we accepted the invitation of the Ferand Plane and left this land where we had lived for tens of thousands of years. I was born here, grew up here—I know every tree here. I didn’t want to leave.”

In the following conversation, Sakavi gradually learned the magical beast factions across the entire forest. After repeated comparison, the swamp at the forest’s western edge seemed ideal for a black dragon to hide.

A black dragon’s presence makes the environment damp and foul-smelling, gradually transforming it into a swamp. Staying directly within the swamp would not only perfectly solve the problem of detection due to environmental change, but also mask his presence from multiple factions’ surveillance methods.

Vilanser revealed during their talk that she had noticed the black dragon’s presence near the village the moment he arrived—Sakavi broke into a cold sweat. The dangers of this world far exceeded his imagination.

When the conversation ended, Vilanser said she was returning home. Sakavi insisted on visiting her residence. After refusing in vain, she agreed. How could he abandon such a powerful ally after finally finding one?

As Vilanser walked forward, the underbrush automatically parted to clear a path. After Sakavi passed, the path closed again behind him, swallowed by the thick foliage. No wonder the Druid could live here in seclusion—this mode of travel left no trace unless one chose to reveal themselves.

The two reached a forest clearing especially blessed by moonlight. Here grew not ordinary shrubs or weeds, but silver-leaf grass glowing faintly, deep-blue nightmare flowers, towering trees heavy with brightly colored fruit, and crimson lichen used to stop bleeding.

In the distance, a clear spring seeped from between rocks, pooling into a small, crystal-clear puddle. The bottom was lined with white pebbles, and several silver minnows darted through the water. All of this confirmed they had arrived at the Druid’s home.

Her “house” was not built by human hands, but grown from several ancient, intertwined giant oaks, shaped by magic.

Thick branches twisted and overlapped skillfully, forming a stable spherical space. The ground was carpeted with blue-glowing moss; walls lined with countless unknown flowers of varied colors.

Seeing such an exquisite dwelling, Sakavi momentarily regretted insisting on visiting. Despite Vilanser’s repeated invitations, he steadfastly refused to step even half a step into this “sacred ground,” choosing instead to lie down on a chair carved from a giant mushroom cap.

Unable to explain that he hadn’t bathed in nearly a year and felt too ashamed to enter a fragrant room, he lied: “I’ve killed too many. I fear I’ll disturb the plants inside.”

To his surprise, Vilanser was delighted by this explanation, believing she’d found a kindred spirit. She immediately brought out a feast of fruits and began chatting freely about everything under the sun.

From ancient elven legends to which beast had given birth in the forest yesterday, the heavy indigo and ink-black of night quietly faded into a soft salmon-pink and lavender hue along the horizon. Golden morning sunlight filtered through the towering oaks, casting dappled shadows that made the dew on their bodies sparkle.

Listening to the clear calls of unknown birds in the distance, Vilanser smiled: “Dear friend, it’s been so long since anyone made me this happy.”

I’ve lived here for over seven hundred years. Since the elves left five hundred years ago, I’ve met no one to converse with. The magical beasts around here always hunger for and despise the land beneath my feet. Will you stay and keep me company?”

Under normal circumstances, Sakavi should have immediately agreed. For a hatchling dragon, this forest teemed with danger; staying here to survive the vulnerable adolescent stage before venturing out seemed an excellent choice.

But different paths lead to different destinies. Having lived again, Sakavi, after understanding the world’s general state, intended to carve his own path—one destined to run red with blood. He didn’t want to lose this Druid friend, nor did he want to drag her into his fate.

To say this outright would likely get him killed on the spot. So Sakavi said: “This environment is too peaceful. For a Five-Colored Dragon, losing vigilance is extremely dangerous. I cannot stay.”

“Then alright! Welcome to visit again!”

As she spoke, the distant oaks parted to clear a path. Sakavi bid farewell and walked away without looking back. The return journey felt unusually long. He walked from morning until noon without recognizing any familiar landmarks. He decided to rest at a nearby clearing.

“I just prepared lunch. Would you like to join me?”

“?????”

Sakavi realized he’d stumbled into an interdimensional scam. He couldn’t fight her, and she didn’t seem interested in reason—but still, he decided to try reasoning.

“Vilanser, didn’t you agree to let me go? Why change your mind?”

“I didn’t change my mind. You came back yourself. And until you pass the hatchling stage, you can’t go anywhere unless you can defeat me.”

“…………”

“Just stay here and practice your magic—it’ll help you greatly once you leave. Drop any other schemes. I’ve lived seven hundred years. What kind of brats haven’t I seen?”

According to the ancestral teachings of the Dragon Legacy, a dragon’s bottom line is no bottom line—adjust your values according to the situation. That’s a required lesson for Five-Colored Dragons. Thus, Sakavi now claimed to be a nature-loving, vegetarian supporter of the Druidic path.

Why wasn’t he a Druid? Because while any race could theoretically become one, not every individual was suited—and Sakavi simply didn’t qualify. Still, the fruits and herbs here were rich in magic, extremely favorable for a hatchling’s growth.