Martial Arts Vs Magic - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Entering the Dragon's Domain

The designated portal site stood a mile outside Dune's Rest, far enough from civilization to be imposing, close enough to remind everyone who truly ruled these lands. A massive stone gateway dominated the landscape, tall enough to accommodate dragons in their true forms. Ancient crystalline pillars formed a perfect circle around it, their surfaces etched with runes that pulsed with dormant power.

The gate itself showed only desert on the other side, the same featureless expanse of sand we'd been trudging through. Without activation, it was nothing but an elaborate monument to draconic vanity.

I wasn't the first to arrive. About two hundred warriors had already gathered, their presences like beacons in my perception. All were Scale Token winners from tournaments that happened before I’d even come here, all of them radiating the confidence of proven fighters. The air practically vibrated with dreams and ambition.

"Nervous?" Valeria appeared beside me, her purple hair catching the merciless sun. "You're gripping that token like it owes you money."

I relaxed my hand, letting the Scale Token rest easier in my palm as I observed her. She'd traded yesterday's seductive dress for practical leather armor that still somehow managed to accentuate every curve. Was this a honey-trap scheme, where the demons wanted me so bad they were seducing me, or was I overestimating myself? 

I shrugged. "Just appreciating the craftsmanship."

"Liar." Her smile was knowing. "Though I suppose you’re good at it. Part of your charm. But be confident, there shouldn’t be too much trouble inside as long as we are careful. Although…" She leaned closer, her voice dropping. Her expression shifted, something almost like concern flickering across her features. "Listen, handsome. Once you cross that threshold, we can't help you. Different rules in the dragon's domain. The demons have certain arrangements with them, but they're strictly about non-interference."

"Worried about me already? We've known each other three days." 

"I'm worried about my investment," she corrected, but her hand briefly touched my arm. Yep, she was definitely trying to honey-trap me. “I do believe you’ll join us one day. All demons are fated to.”

Until Ashvarak tells you guys I’m the one who beat his ass, I smiled but didn’t say anything.

Around us, warriors of every stripe prepared for the crossing. My Sovereign's Gaze cataloged them automatically, a habit that had saved my life more times than I could count. Fifth Ascension sellswords are trying to look tougher than they were. 

Sixth Ascension veterans who'd seen enough blood to fill lakes. A few dozen pushing into the Seventh, their auras controlled but unmistakable.

This was only the second time I'd seen so many 5th Ascension and above warriors gathered in one place. The first had been Nevaramis, but even that paled in comparison. These weren't just powerful mercs, they were the elite, filtered through trials and combat.

The Savage Seven said the Gold Dragon King was allowing outsiders to participate in the Arcane Tournament, so it's no wonder they're all salivating for a chance.

Then, I was surprised. One group in particular caught my eye—four red-haired figures standing apart from the others. Their muscles rippled beneath skin marked with tribal tattoos, and they carried weapons that looked forged from volcanic rock. Something about their presence felt primal.

"Those four," Valeria nodded once she noticed my gaze. "Barbarians from the Volcanic Islands. While you finished your matches trying not to draw much attention, they were... less subtle. Look at that man standing beside the woman. Mōui Valteria, nearly 8th Ascension. Probably the strongest here.”

[Mōui Valteria, Valtherian, Level 148]

Definitely, he was an intimidating one. I felt an odd power oozing out of him. He wasn’t your typical 7th Ascension.

“Although personally? I like that woman better," she nodded toward the tallest figure, a female warrior whose arms bore more scars than unmarked skin, "Yavanna Valteria, she’s nearly 8th Ascension. Crushed her opponent's skull bare-handed when he suggested women should stick to healing magic. I loved that."

[Yavanna Valteria, Valtherian, Level 146]

Red hair like molten copper, muscles that could shame a statue, and an aura that screamed barely contained violence.

"Sounds reasonable." She reminded me a little of Ralian, Lilian’s mother. It’d be a sight to see these two clash with all their muscles and brutish appearance. What was interesting was the one word – ‘Valtherian’ – used to describe these two. Usually, Sovereign’s Gaze told me more than that.

Valeria laughed. "Reasonable? Tore through the preliminaries like wet paper. Where you were all finesse and mystery, she was pure, overwhelming force." She tilted her head, studying me. "The half-giant you fought? She'd break him in half and use the pieces as clubs."

"Charming image. But I think you’ve just got a crush on her.”

Before she could respond, the air itself seemed to inhale. A figure descended from the sky. No, not flying, but simply refusing to acknowledge gravity's opinion on the matter. Humanoid in shape but undeniably Other, with golden horns that curved back from his skull and scales that caught light like individual suns.

[Kaldris Dhahab, Dragon Adjudicator, Level 154]

The gathered warriors fell silent. Even the barbarians straightened, recognizing power when it stood before them.

"Scale Token bearers," his voice was controlled thunder, "you have earned the right to enter Aethelgard. Know that this privilege comes with responsibility. You represent not just yourselves, but the very concept that non-dragons might be worthy of notice."

No pressure then.

"When you cross the threshold, you accept our laws. Violence outside sanctioned matches means death. Disrespect to dragonkind means death. Attempting to access restricted areas means—"

"Death?" I suggested quietly.

Kaldris's eyes found mine, and for a moment I felt the weight of centuries in that gaze. He didn’t look very pleased. I shrugged and he closed his eyes, sighing. He seemed like an old geezer who didn’t like the changes in society. As in, he was against taking in non-dragons for the Arcane Tournament.

"Just so. Form a line. Present your tokens as you approach."

He raised one hand, and the Scale Tokens around our necks began to resonate. The sound was like crystal bells ringing in harmony, growing louder until it became almost unbearable.

The portal activation was unlike anything I'd experienced. The desert view through the archway rippled like water, colors bleeding and shifting until the familiar became alien. Gold and crimson light swirled in impossible patterns, and the very air tasted of lightning and ancient power. Reality groaned, twisted, and finally tore like silk.

Through the gateway, I glimpsed impossibility.

"Good luck," Valeria whispered as I stepped forward. "Just follow the rules, and you’ll be fine."

"Thank you.”

I approached the portal, token extended. The moment it touched the swirling energies, the world exploded.

****

Dissolution. That was the only word for it. Every atom of my being scattered to the winds, then slammed back together with prejudice. Colors that had no names burned across my vision. Sounds that predated language howled in my ears. For an eternal instant, I was everywhere and nowhere, everything and nothing.

Then my feet found solid ground, and I remembered how to breathe.

"First time through a dragon gate?" An amused voice asked. "The nausea passes. Usually."

I straightened, blinking away the afterimages of infinity. The speaker was a middle-aged human in servant's livery, though the quality of the cloth suggested high station. Behind him stretched a vista that made my chest tight with wonder.

We stood at the edge of a reception plaza carved from a single, impossible gemstone. The ground beneath my feet was smooth as glass and warm to the touch, veined with gold that pulsed with its own inner light. But that was just the beginning.

Aethelgard defied every law of physics I'd ever learned. Islands of stone and crystal floated serenely through air thick as honey with mana. Waterfalls cascaded upward, their spray catching light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Bridges of crystallized dragonfire spanned the gaps between landmasses, looking solid as stone until you noticed how they rippled with the passing breeze.

And the dragons. Sweet gods, the dragons.

They moved through the sky like living poetry, scales catching light in ways that made rainbows look dull. Gold predominated, but I saw crimson and emerald, sapphire and obsidian. Some were massive enough to blot out the sun. Others, no larger than horses, darted between the giants with playful grace.

Colors more vivid than reality should allow. Scents that carried memories of places I'd never been. The taste of ancient power and barely contained divinity on my tongue.

This was Aethelgard.

"Overwhelming, isn't it?" The servant's tone held the satisfaction of someone who never tired of watching newcomers gape. "Welcome to Aethelgard, honored warrior. If you'll follow me, we'll see to your registration."

The process was thorough enough to make me nervous. Magical scanners that peered beneath skin and bone. Questions about allegiances, magical traditions, and purposes for visiting. When they reached my cores, I held my breath.

"Unusual," the dragon administrator mused, her bronze scales catching the light. "Dual-aspected, but stable. Star and...?"

"Destruction," I admitted, seeing no point in lying about what they could clearly sense.

Her eyebrows rose. "A rare combination. Usually fatal to attempt."

"I've always been lucky."

She studied me for a long moment, then shrugged. "No rules against it. You'll be in the Sunset Quarter, room 307. The regional tournament begins in three days. Until then, you're free to explore the public areas." Her smile showed too many teeth. "Emphasis on public. The wards in restricted zones don't give warnings."

I accepted the key—a crystal that hummed with recognition when I touched it—and the map that came with it. The servant from before offered to show me to my quarters, but I declined. 

If I were going to find Amelia, against all warnings, I needed freedom to search.

****

The floating city was a maze of wonders. Markets where merchants sold impossible things, bottled starlight, crystallized dragon breath, maps to places that didn't exist yet. Training grounds where warriors tested themselves against constructs of pure mana. Libraries that whispered their contents directly into your mind if you had the coin to pay.

But no sign of a half-dragon princess trying to revive a phoenix.

I'd been wandering for two hours when I took what I thought was a shortcut through a garden district. The path narrowed, twisted, and suddenly I was somewhere else entirely.

The transition was subtle as breathing. One moment I was on a public walkway, the next I stood in a garden that belonged in dreams. Flowers bloomed in perfect mathematical spirals, their petals shifting through colors that shouldn't exist. Trees bore leaves of literal silver and gold, chiming softly in a breeze I couldn't feel. At the garden's heart, a fountain flowed with what looked like liquid starlight.

"Well, well. Either you're incredibly lost, or incredibly brave."

I spun, hand moving to my sword before I caught myself. Violence outside sanctioned matches meant death, after all.

The speaker lounged on a marble bench I could have sworn wasn't there a moment ago. Late twenties in appearance, though his Level suggested centuries of life. Silver hair that caught light like the trees' metallic leaves. Eyes the color of mercury, bright with amusement.

[Aurelius Drakmoor, Silver Dragon Prince, Level 165]

"Lost," I admitted, seeing no advantage in bravado. "Your gardens have a peculiar way of redirecting visitors."

"Do they?" He closed the book he'd been reading—but not before I caught the title. The Pirate's Passionate Prisoner. "How strange. These wards should have turned you around six times by now. Either they're malfunctioning, or..." He tilted his head, studying me with those quicksilver eyes. "You're more interesting than you appear."

"I get that a lot."

"I'll bet you do." He rose with fluid grace, and I revised my estimate of his danger level. This wasn't just raw power, this was power refined to an edge. If he took offence and fought me, I wasn’t sure if I could win against an 8th Ascension. "Aurelius Drakmoor. And you are?"

"Sunder." The lie came easily. "Here for the tournament."

"Ah, the mysterious swordsman with the white petals." His eyes lit with recognition. "I watched your match against Borin Stonefist. Quite the performance."

That caught me off guard. "You were in Dune's Rest?"

"Gods, no. What would I do in that dustbowl?" He waved dismissively. "We have scrying crystals. Some of us find the preliminary tournaments entertaining."

There was something about his casual confidence that set him apart from the arrogant dragons I'd encountered so far. A self-awareness, perhaps. An understanding of the absurdity of it all.

“Fair. When you’re born as fate’s chosen, a dragon who can have anything they want, it’s natural to search for entertainment everywhere,” I said, which made him laugh.

"Tell me, Sunder, what does a mysterious swordsman think of our hospitality so far?"

"Impressive. Overwhelming. Slightly pretentious."

His laugh was surprisingly genuine. "Only slightly? We'll have to try harder. Well, not me, the Gold Dragons aren’t my people." He gestured to the bench. "Sit. It's been ages since I've had a conversation with someone who didn't want something from me."

I hesitated, then accepted. The bench was perfectly positioned to catch the impossible garden's best views while keeping both exits in peripheral vision. This was someone who understood tactical positioning.

"Silver Dragon," I noted. "Long way from home."

His eyebrows shot up. "Very perceptive. Most humans can't tell the difference between draconic lineages when we’re in a humanoid form." He sighed dramatically. “And yes, indeed, the Argent Peaks are several thousand miles and one dimensional barrier away. Who’d want to come to this frying pan? I wouldn’t if I had the choice. I'm here because of that most ancient and tedious of draconic traditions… Arranged matrimony."

"Oh, you're getting married? Congratulations."

He burst out laughing. "Hopefully not, but my father is determined." He gestured for me to sit beside him. When I did, he continued, "Silver Dragons rule the Northern Continent. Gold Dragons rule here. The two clans have been planning this alliance for decades, and apparently, the bride has finally returned from her extended absence."

“...Interesting.” I suddenly had a harrowing feeling.

"Tell me, Sunder, what's your opinion on arranged marriages?" Aurelius asked, genuinely interested.

I took a few seconds to think properly. "Generally? That they're a tool for political alliance that rarely considers the happiness of those involved."

"Spoken like someone with experience."

"Some." I thought of Nebula, of contracts signed before either of us had a choice. "Though I was fortunate. My arrangement became something more."

"How delightfully romantic." He sighed, staring at the upward-flowing fountain. "I'm supposed to marry the Golden Princess. Beautiful, powerful, intelligent—everything a dragon could want in a mate."

Shit.

Damn.

Unless there are multiple Gold Dragon Princesses… I was talking to Amelia’s fiancé.

She never told me she has a fiancé?! I felt a little pissed. For all her flirting, she has been hiding a man? Well, to be fair, from what I understood of this situation, she didn’t want this marriage, so I guess I could give her the benefit of the doubt. It also explained Amelia's reluctance to bring me here. Her father probably wouldn’t be pleased to see her bring home a man when she was running from her engagement for decades.

To continue the conversation, I added, "But? She sounds perfect, but I don’t think you’re very pleased with it."

"Yep…” he trailed off. “I prefer my partners with sharper jaws and deeper voices, if you catch my meaning."

The admission hung in the air between us. Oh, I kept my expression neutral, though pieces were clicking into place. He likes men. No wonder he didn’t call the guards; instead, he chose to chat with me. That part aside, it also cleared up something else.

This was an engagement neither party wanted. Not just him, not just Amelia, but both of them. "That does complicate things," I said finally.

"Magnificently." He laughed, but there was an edge to it. "Our fathers arranged this decades ago. Then she vanished—pursued her education, became one of the youngest Chancellors in history. I thought I was free. But now she's back, and suddenly everyone remembers promises made in different centuries."

"Can't you just... refuse?"

"Can't you just refuse to breathe?" He shook his head. "Dragon politics make human courts look like children's games. The alliance between Silver and Gold is too valuable. So we smile, play our parts, and hope for convenient distractions."

"Like mysterious swordsmen in restricted gardens?"

"Exactly like that. It’s pleasant to spend the morning with a handsome young man," his grin turned wicked and I felt chills down my spine. The bad type. "Though unfortunately, the guards will be here soon. Someone always notices when the wards get creative."

As if summoned, footsteps echoed from the garden's entrance. Aurelius sighed and stood, smoothing his robes.

"Follow my lead," he murmured, then raised his voice. "Ah, Captain! Perfect timing. I was just concluding my consultation with this tournament participant."

The guards, a pair of bronze dragons in humanoid form, looked skeptical but didn't challenge the Silver Dragon's word. As they escorted me back to the public areas, Aurelius called out.

"Oh, Sunder? If you're looking for good tea, try the Twilight Spire at sunset. They serve an excellent blend from the Eastern Provinces." His eyes glinted with meaning. "I hear it's quite popular with those seeking a moment's peace. Even the Gold Dragon Princess visits that place."

The guards didn't react, but I caught the message. My eyes were wide. He knew. Maybe not everything, but he knew who I was. Aurelius's knowing smile as I walked away confirmed it. 

I was left with the distinct impression that my "mysterious" persona wasn't nearly as impenetrable as I'd thought, and that Amelia and her fiancé were pretty close friends if she’d already told him about me. He probably helped her escape decades ago, too.

Silver dragons are pretty nice, huh?

****

The Twilight Spire lived up to its name, a needle of crystallized sunset that seemed to exist in perpetual dusk. Finding it took an hour of navigation and two wrong turns, but eventually I stood before its doors as the sun touched the horizon.

The establishment was clearly high-class, with draconic attendants in humanoid form serving tea in cups that appeared to be made from solidified moonlight. 

The interior was simply elegant. Private rooms lined the upper floors, all of them warded for discretion. I ordered a pot of something that smelled like liquid moonlight and cost more than most warriors saw in a month, then let my Demonic Sphere unfurl.

There. Third floor, corner room. A familiar presence that made my heart skip.

I slipped past the main seating area and climbed the stairs, my Sphere extending to map the building's interior. The door was closed, but not locked. Dragon arrogance—who would dare disturb a princess at her tea?

I pushed it open.

She sat by the window, silhouetted against the impossible view of floating islands and inverted waterfalls. Golden hair caught the dying light. A cup of tea steamed in her hands, and for a moment she looked so perfectly at peace that I almost turned away.

But I didn’t. Because memories rushed through my mind, reminding me of her fierce defense against the Obsidian Vampires at Lockdarn, her gentle guidance through my first months at Waybound, her choice to remain silent despite knowing I’d killed a Holy Knight, the way she'd looked at me over candlelight when she fed me chicken nuggets. 

I didn’t know why she liked a random kid like me this much. But one thing was clear, her liking me wasn't some passing infatuation born from proximity. Our connection was forged through shared battles, mutual respect, and that undefinable something that had crackled between us from our first meeting.

Perhaps noticing me standing there, then she spoke without turning. "How many times must I tell you? I don't need room ser—"

She froze mid-word, eyes widening as she finally looked at me.

I leaned against the doorframe, letting a grin spread across my face. "Hey there, Dragon Princess. May I enjoy some of that tea?"

The teacup slipped from her fingers.

I guess not.

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