“The first thing we need is a new home, safe, secure, and close to a source of food and water.”

Her brother agreed with Nezintic's statement. “Alright, sis, lead the way.”

Ashteumax trusted his sister. He is also intelligent enough not to state his opinion on the matter.

Breathing is something Ashteumax quite enjoys very much.

“I underestimated your intelligence, older brother,”

Nezintic stated in a monotone, making the male hatchling nervous.

He knows quite well that his younger sister can read his mind.

Nezintic smiled at that and lifted her snout, and sniffed the air for any traces of water. Her instinct and the observation of the elven hunters' maps told her it was about 500 kilometers northwest, would make for an excellent place for hunting grounds.

The air molecules in water were rich in that direction, along with the many smells of different animals. But, judging by the scent, they seem to be minor, no bigger than three to five feet long.

“Follow. Ash” Nezintic ordered.

Following the scent of water. The duo passing through trees and bushes as the undergrowth gradually became thicker.

After a few hours of scouting up and down the river, Nezintic found what she was looking for, a cave. She wants this cave, and all she needs to do is to clear out the current residents.

The cave, judging by the placement, is connected to multiple high mountains. There seem to be weird trees sticking out of them.

A deep part of her brain knows what they are. Hyperaccumulators Oak Trees, plants with extensive root systems engineered to make a specific metal or family of metals water-soluble so they can be wicked up. As the plant matures, its leaves slowly ossify. As a result, they grow only near mountains with an extensive amount of spirit stones.

Taking another whiff, Nezintic could tell whoever is in the cave are... very, very weak.

“Brother, stand guard outside. Kill anyone that leaves the cave beside me.”

Ashteumax nodded.

Heading the to cave, she a rock ceiling partially covered in moss and multiple baby creatures. Evidently, they are cave-dwelling monsters.

“Ok, that was a poor joke,” Nezintic mused to herself.

The cave had little light flowing in, yet she could see clear as day despite that.

She sees an old and heavily wrinkled face appeared near the youngling. The skin was green, and the creature’s head was bald on top, with a long and straggly beard reaching down to the floor. The ears were pointed, and the nose was too.

And at the same time, she found another source of smells.

On the other side of the cave was a pile of corpses. They were all naked, some female and other men, but they were all dead for sure.

About three months judging by the smell and decaying of the flesh.

The cave must be very damp. She couldn't smell the decaying flash because of all the water in the air.

“Please don’t kill the young ones,” the ugly cave dweller spoke, “Mighty dragoness. We are simple Imps and Goblins, and we want only to live.”

Whatever plains Gobu-Ji had planned were dashed when Nezintic lighted her scales and cast her eyes into the old goblin.

He kneeled to the ground with his head in seconds.

“That was well done, though a bit lacking in certain aspects,” she spoke with a slight hesitation before continuing, “I’m glad you didn’t do anything foolish with that weapon behind your back. Though a part of me is not happy that I don’t get to gut you with my claws...”

“W-why are you here... your worship?” The old goblin can't help but ask apprehensively while currently wetting the floor.

“Why, you ask, goblin?” She gave the cowering goblin a feral grin so ferocious and so wide with her sword-like fangs that any lesser creatures would be paralyzed with fear. Which it has “Because I’m are dragon... And this is my place. Understand?”

Ding! You have claimed a [Cave] + [Dragon Lair]

She felt reached of this cave in all directions. The water source is nearby. They are many paths that are blocked with boulders as well.

“Now, let’s have a pleasant conversation that doesn’t end up you being dead and me overstuffing myself with the corpses of your kin?”

Ashteumax grumbled because he was ... unhappy.

There was a good reason for his unhappiness, and it had to do with the Old Goblin.

He wanted to say his sister, but a challenging glare from her stopped that kind of thinking.

It just was the old weakling was confusing him. The Old Goblin explained he was a caretaker of a sort, grooming the young, newborn imps and goblins. That he was the last living member of his tribe. When asked what he was to teach the young fae-lings, the coot ran his mouth on a lecture about everything and anything his ears took as a question ... which was everything. Hell, he seemed to enjoy talking to others to death.

Ashteumax barely understood anything he said.

At the same time, the “lecture” was informative... As much as the male hatchling could take in. The Old Goblin talked about the surrounding landscapes, inhabitants, and food that he and other younger fae-lings could try a hand in.

The food was interesting, though. He would love to try this ‘Honey badger’ sounds yummy!

For the rest of the lecture, Ashteumax didn’t bother to listen anymore. Especially “growth system.”

Three days later...

“Gramps, where’s the food?” Ashteumax asked walking to the old coot.

About two days the imps and goblins were fully matured and quickly learn to serve his sister.

The Old Goblin looked at him for a second before looking away with a wave of his hand. “We have no more food. So you will have to hunt today Lord Ashteumax.”

“Have you seen my sister?” Ashteumax wonders where she is.

All she wanted to was explore her lair.

“She is teaching the young how not to die. They did not please her majesty. When she found that many died to Jacklyn Rabbits.”

"I should hunt for rabbits... You want to gramps?"

Gobu-Ji nodded his head. "Thank you very, my lord."