As the flying ship keeps approaching the Mountains, I can see forests and towns passing by beneath us. There were small villages and larger city's, mostly surrounded by walls. Actually, with my eye-sight I can confirm their basic structure, but seeing individuals is too hard. Anyway, while being lost in thought, six larger Dragons appeared from the mountains, flying towards us. I noticed them rather early and kept vigilant, but as I see Uncle Black waving at them, I drop my guard.

Five of the large dragons took position all around the ship like a escort while the sixth one landed on board and begun to talk with Uncle Black.

“Lord Aaron, I am Salphar, I was sent here to escort you to the Dragon Mountains. Will you please follow my lead?” (Sixth Dragon)

The large Fiery red Dragon bows his massive head while talking in a deep voice. Uncle Black just acknowledges him and begins to change course the way Salphar leads him. He then asks me to jump down from his shoulders, which I do. Actually, my body is more flexible than ever before, making it easy to jump off.

Back on the ground, the ship keeps advancing while slowly decreasing it's speed. While Uncle Black focuses on controlling the ship, Cyan suddenly taps my shoulder and starts to speak in a rather shy voice...

“Uhmm, Master Ari... I mean Arin, Mister Aaron told me this morning that you should probably hide your tails as to keep problems from occurring....” (Cyan)

Problems...? Oh yeah, Uncle Black said something about the Fox-Kin in the dragon Mountains being possessive... as I have ten tails it probably would create an uproar.

Nodding towards Cyan with a wide smile, I retract most of my tails until only three are left. Looking at my know reduced tails, I kinda think it's sad, but I dislike people annoying me when I do something I enjoy, just as much as trouble, so I guess it's fine.

As I'm lost in thought about about my tails, suddenly the Wyrm, or is it Wyrmess?, began nudging my back, trying to get my attention. Turning around, there stood a rather large silver scaled Wyrm with purple like eyes, staring at me in wonder. Actually, I don't know why she is called a Wyrm as she reminds me more of the Chinese serpent-Dragons, but still. As she moved around me, the mane on the back of her body kept coming in contact with me, it kinda tickles... After a short while, she stops and looks at me again, she then started to speak in a womanly voice...

“Hello Little Arin, I don't have a name, but I am a Lightning-Wyrm. Glad to make your acquaintance.” (Lightning-Wyrm)

Bowing her head, she greets me. It seems she knows my name but what does she want...

“Oh, hello. As you know, I am Arin, nice to meet you. By the way, what do you actually want and why do you keep staring at me and Cyan?” (Arin)

Posing my question, she suddenly opens her eyes and starts looking into the skies while speaking in a rather hastened voice...

“Well, that, I mean, its just, aehmm, you know...i have the ma-mark, so when I sensed your lightning-magic, I thought you could...” (Lightning Wyrm)

speaking in a barely audible voice towards the end of her sentence, I try to ask her about that mark she mentioned. Is this something like a birth-mark?

Posing my question, she just quivers, but after a while she curls herself up a little, exposing an about 30 on 30 cm big mark on her body. The mark is like a circle with a ten spiked star inside. There was no text or anything like that, but there were complicated patters in two of the spikes.

One pattern looked like lightning following the spike to the tip, while the other looked like the spike was inside a tornado. If I was to guess, I would say that they represent the elements of Air and Lightning, but I'm not sure.

Just as I was about to ask her how I could help, the ship suddenly stops moving and begins to land. After a short while the ground revealed itself as a big City inside a massive valley between several Mountains. The Mountains were large and on some of them you could see smaller towns or even giant caves,probably for the Dragons to live in. The large City beneath me had no specific set, nor any walls. The streets were orderly, yet extremely broad. I could see many Dragons or larger Foxes walking around while others were just simple kin or in a Demi-Human form. As I keep gazing down on the city, Uncle Black suddenly approaches my back and easily lifts me off the ground. I really have to be more careful of my surroundings, even when I'm exited. Anyway, as uncle Black holds me in his arms, I don't struggle, there's no reason anyway.

Just as we are leaving the ship, a giant Crowd formed at the end of the docks walking plank. Most were just curious onlookers as an airship often represented someone important. Seeing Uncle Black who was holding me, as well as Cyan and the Lightning-Wyrm behind me, many immediately started to question each other, asking if someone knew us.

Well, when we finally left the Flying-ship, suddenly the large fiery red Dragon from before, Salphar, transformed into a Human form with Horns and tail. He then bowed once more and called into the crowd, splitting it like Moses did the sea. Walking under the gazes of the many people, I shy back. Burrowing my face in Uncle Black's chest, he just laughs and strokes my fox-ears... it feels good and calms my heart.

Actually, as I didn't notice but Cyan shot me an envious look as he also felt rather uncomfortable under the eyes of the many people. While still following Salphar who was leading the way, I kept being stroked by Uncle Black, making me give in and even though the streets were noisy because of the many people, I fell asleep. Actually, why do I have the need to sleep so often recently... is something wrong with my body...

Swaying in the arms of Uncle Black, I lose even my last thoughts and slowly drift off into the world of dreams...

…

…

Opening my heavy eyes, I find myself on Cyan's lap. Cyan was sitting on a rather expensive looking sofa within a wide room with plenty of Light. When I once again started to move, Cyan looked down to me before smiling and letting me down from his lap. But unlike his expectation, I refuse to leave and make myself once more comfortable. He then just sighs and shows a wry smile, letting it be. Asking about Uncle Black, it seems that he went to visit the Guardian of the Dragon-Mountains while meeting the elder-council. Actually, it seems that some Dragons are as old as Uncle Black or even older. But unlike Uncle Black, they didn't manage to evolve from Elder Dragons to Ancient Dragons when they reached the age of five thousand. There seem to be multiple stages and possibilities in the Growth of a dragon, but to archive them is hard it seems. When I asked what the difference was between sentient Dragons and Animal like ones, it was the Lightning-Wyrm who answered, as she was laying nearby the whole time.

“When Monsters go into Blood-Rage, it is highly possible that if they don't snap out of it early enough, that they will regress into something like animals and move purely on instinct. Their decedents will, following that, also have Animal like character, yet mostly not as blood-thirsty as their predecessor. So over time the so called Beast Dragons were Born, they live mostly on Mountains in small groups, but they also actively attack other Races and Monsters.” (Lightning Wyrm)

So that's how it is, but aside from the instinct, how do you see the difference? Posing said question she just answered that Beast-Dragons always have a eye color reminiscent of dried up blood.

Also it seems that Beast-Dragons can't transform, and from the regular Dragon-Race, only the true Adult Dragons and above can transform into a Demi-Human form. Though many can transform into something like a bipedal walking Dragon after a short while, easing their Lives.

Trying to memorize what she said, suddenly a young woman with blue hair as well as horns and tail shows up, asking us to follow her to the council. She introduced herself as Inrid and seems to be a true Adult Water Dragon. I don't quiet understand the ruler-class of dragons, but let's go see Uncle Black first.

We do as she says and quietly follow her. As I keep holding onto Cyan's hand while walking, the Lightning-Wyrm minimized her size and flew closely behind us. It seems that she is unable to assume a bipedal-dragon form. Anyway, I asked her if her race wasn't called serpent-Dragon, but she just said that this name belongs to the higher Race of the Lightning-Wyrm who mastered more than four elements.

Anyway, as we were speaking we already arrived in front of a large door, the size of an elephant. It seems to be made of marble, as it radiates a shining white color. As we approach, the two Dragons standing next to the gate move their arms to open it, letting light overflow from within.

When said Gate opened up fully, the blue haired dragoness just stands by the side, bowing her head as she invites us in, or that's what I thought. When Cyan and the Lighning-Wyrm tried to enter, she blocked their path, saying that this is only about me, others were not permitted. I wanted to ask her why, but before I could, the door closed again and I was already inside the room. Looking around, the floor was made of Marble-tiles with weird patterns, while the walls and ceiling seemed to be made of a mix of Marble and different kinds of colorful stones I have never seen before.

As I keep walking into the hall, I can see a round table with many seats, with people occupying them. The table was large enough to be for a banquet, with the middle being hollow. All the seats were placed in a half-moon like manner, with there being only one seat for me on the opposite end of the table. Not too far from my left sat Uncle Black, having a complicated expression.

I don't know, but something inside me tells me that something is wrong... What is going on..?

In the topmost seat was a aged Woman with pure white hair like snow, with bluish white horns and tail. To her right were two other Dragons in Demi-Human form, both middle-aged men with one having red and the other green features. All three of them looked at me with curious and interested gazes, while the two fox-kin to the left of the white Dragon wore rather perplexed and intriguing gazes. Honestly I don't like it, they look at me like I am some kind of prey. They were a man and a woman, both with five tails and brownish-red hair and tails.

Looking at Uncle Black, he just points to the empty chair, asking me to sit. When I sit down, the whole room is suddenly silent, not even breathing sounds could be heard. Waiting like this, I get nervous rather quickly.

Seeing me beginning to shiver due to the sudden pressure, Uncle Black just smiles at me, calming my racing heart. It wasn't long before the whit dragon began speaking in a calm and collected manner.

“I'm sorry for putting you through this, but I wanted to know what kind of reaction you would show, sorry for testing you like this.” (White Dragon)

The white Dragon spoke in a gentle voice, completely retracting her pressure while doing so. She then bowed her head a bit and began to speak once more.

“Let us introduce ourselves, I am Scyrra Snowfall, the Guardian of these Mountains, while this is the Elder-Council. To my right are the two oldest Dragons of these Mountains, the wise-Dragons Akyron and Sanruso. They represent the Dragon-Tribes, while to my left are the Fox-Kin Elder pair, Insio and Alwidra. With this, welcome in the Dragon Mountains, Arin.” (Scyrra Snowfall)

When Scyrra introduced everyone, they respectively nodded their head in my direction. Still, the looks the Fox-Pair gives me makes me shiver. While still listening to Scyrra who tries to begin explaining a bit about the Dragon Mountains, Insio, the male Fox, suddenly begins to shout.

“Madam Snowfall, we all have introduced ourselves now, can we please move on to the issue!” (Insio)

Scyrra makes a displeased face, but doesn't say a word. So after a while, she breathes in and begins explaining why I was even asked to come in the first place.

It seems that when the fox-Pair heard that I was the one who inherited the power of Lumi, they ordered Uncle Black to leave me in their care, but as Uncle Black is also a Ancient Dragon with high authority and him defending me vehemently, the argument lead to nowhere.

So after several minutes of arguing, Scyrra interjected, giving the option of letting me choose. So then they called me, wanting to hear the answer from me personally. So sitting here, she then asks me simple and strait.

“So, Arin. Under who's care would you like to be, who will you acknowledge as your Guardian?” (Scyrra)

“Uncle Black!” (Arin)

What is she even saying, is this even a choice? Of course it is Uncle Black! He took care of me and teaches me a lot, and is like a real Uncle towards me!

“Hahahaha, didn't I tell you, hahaha” (Uncle Black)

Hearing Uncle Black laugh, I also begin to smile, but this time it's Alwidra who interferes.

“No, this is a definite NO! He is a Fox, even if he only has three tails, he has silver hair and tails, marking him as someone from royal blood, he has to be under our jurisdiction!” (Alwidra)

Screaming until her face becomes red, Alwidra starts to annoy me. Just because I am a rare Fox she immediately wants to rule me like I am your subordinate, No, you don't deserve me!

Being fed up by her screaming, I just jump off my seat and run over to Uncle Black, jumping onto his lap. Afterwards I begin staring at the Fox-Pair, obviously I am very angry. I don't know why, but they were immediately baffled, and even took a step back. They then snorted and left the table, obviously in a bad mood. As soon as they left through the door, Scyrra and Uncle Black both breathed out heavily while having a grand smile. Scyrra then talks once more:

“So little Arin, let me welcome you on the Dragon-Mountains once more. With this, you will live with Aaron Geyser from now on. As for you Aaron, as an Ancient Dragon, I ask you to take good care of this child. You can live on the Mansion that still belongs to your Family, and Arin, I will organize that you can go to the local school here, and enjoy your live. With this said, I will end this session here.” (Scyrra)

Smiling at me like a grandmother to her grand kids, Scyrra laughs and begins to leave. Like her, everyone else stands up and in a short amount of time the room was empty, aside from me and Uncle Black. Uncle Black then takes my hand and leads me outside as well, where still Cyan and the Lightning-Wyrm are waiting. Together with them, while still being led by the hand, we leave the palace we were in.

Coming out of the Palace Entrance, before me was the huge Valley from before, with a bustling City within. The people were still active as the Sun was setting beyond the mountains, coloring the whole sky in a beautiful shade of red.

I hope that I can have a good time here, together with all the people that I can call Family...