Salovis had no idea how long it would take her to figure things out.
In any case, Leon was growing a bit impatient. He stood up, stretched his neck, and said, "Well, even if you’re my sister, since you’re here, let me show you around... Meet my girlfriend, my subordinates, wander around a bit, and grab something to eat."
Unable to make a decision for the time being, and since no immediate decision was demanded, Salovis came to terms with it. She stood up, following Leon, and said, "I’m a teenage dragon, and you’re a teenage dragon too, right? And you already have a girlfriend?"
She now called him "big brother" incredibly smoothly, as if she’d been doing it her entire life.
"Had one since I was a juvenile dragon." Leon shrugged.
The reception room wasn’t far from the game lounge.
"This is Tassera, a Blue Dragon, and my girlfriend."
Today, Tassera was wearing an off-shoulder blouse—designed by Leon, of course—exposing her graceful shoulders. The fabric across her chest was so taut that the buttons looked ready to pop. Paired with form-fitting jodhpurs, her curves, especially her hips and thighs, were accentuated in a way that broke from her usual style.
"This is Cecilia, a Green Dragon, and my Chief Maid."
As always, Cecilia was dressed in a maid outfit. Unlike Tassera, she didn’t care much about her clothing. In fact, she preferred staying in her dragon form.
"And lastly, this is my sister, Salovis."
Leon ended the introductions and gave them a quick look. Three people, three distinct styles: Tassera exuded intelligence and allure, Cecilia appeared sharp and competent, and as for his sister—as long as she kept her mouth shut, she was fairly adorable.
Leon had expected his sister to stir up some drama—after all, she was a chaotic and evil Red Dragon—but he hadn’t anticipated that it would happen so quickly.
Salovis might act docile in front of Leon, but she was entirely different with others. Her chin tilted upward as she looked at Tassera, her eyes narrowing when they fell on Cecilia. "So, you’re my brother’s girlfriend? You don’t seem like much... And a Green Dragon? The best you can do is be a maid."
No dragon could compare to a Red Dragon’s arrogant demeanor. They saw themselves as sovereigns, with all other dragons beneath them. This was glaringly evident in Salovis at that moment.
Though Red Dragons held themselves in high regard, that didn’t mean other dragons shared their sentiments.
Even if Leon was powerful, Tassera didn’t feel inferior to him, and she certainly wouldn’t let Leon’s sister insult her unchallenged. "I always thought someone as exceptional as Leon would have an equally exceptional sister. I didn’t expect someone so boorish."
Cecilia, as a Green Dragon, wasn’t accustomed to such straightforward confrontation. She preferred ironic jabs: "My lady must be exhausted, traveling so far while serving as a mount for that Githyanki Knight. This lowly maid shall go prepare a hot bath for Her Grace."
A Blue Dragon and a Green Dragon daring to talk back to her?
"Brother, look how they’re speaking to your sister..." Salovis turned to Leon, "Aren’t you going to teach them a lesson?"
"You teach them yourself. Don’t bother about sparing my dignity." Leon, however, wasn’t the doting brother type.
"That tone... You don’t think I can beat them, do you?" Salovis countered.
Heaven only knew why she was so confident. Perhaps it was simply a Red Dragon’s inherent overconfidence—fearless and reckless.
"What else am I supposed to think?" Leon shot back.
"Just a measly Blue Dragon and Green Dragon." Salovis sneered coldly.
Leon suddenly recalled past events. His sister had never learned her lesson the hard way—she only remembered the sweets, not the beatings. Mediation wasn’t an option; a battle was inevitable.
There wasn’t an official arena on the volcanic island, but there was a large, empty space near the beach.
For the first match, it was Salovis versus Tassera, with Cecilia standing by gleefully to watch.
Salovis was the first to revert to her dragon form. Compared to Leon’s dragon form, the size difference was stark: one was large, the other colossal. Their scales were also markedly different: hers shimmered like rubies, while his were a duller shade. However, their body proportions bore striking similarities—no doubt they were siblings.
Human form against dragon form? Tassera wasn’t that overconfident; she quickly transformed into her dragon form, which was slightly larger than Salovis’s.
"Begin," Leon, serving as referee, declared.
"She’s my sister, so don’t go too easy on her," Leon added, addressing Tassera. "Teach her a proper lesson—just don’t kill her."
Tassera nodded understandingly, prompting Leon’s reminder.
As a teenage dragon, Salovis hadn’t yet mastered Frightening Majesty. Her arsenal was limited to sharp teeth and claws, and Flame Breath. The former required close proximity to attack, while the latter demanded deep breaths to charge.
Tassera, on the other hand, moved faster. With a guttural growl, she unleashed Frightening Majesty and immediately began casting spells.
Secondary Illusion, Mirror Image Technique, Invisibility Technique...
Without True Sight, Salovis was at a complete loss against Tassera’s illusions, flailing like a toy.
Arcane Missiles, Arcane Missiles, and yet more Arcane Missiles...
Tassera clearly preferred spellcasting over close combat, and Arcane Missiles were absurdly effective against Salovis’s floundering efforts.
"What kind of spell is this? All you do is hide and dodge?" Salovis shouted, her frustration mounting as she took hit after hit from Arcane Missiles. Unable to land even a single blow, she was growing furious. "Are you brave enough to fight me up close?"
"Since you’re so eager for close combat, I’ll grant your wish."
Tassera emerged from invisibility and tackled the Red Dragon head-on. While close combat wasn’t Tassera’s preference or forte, her larger size meant greater strength.
Among the Colorful Dragons, Red Dragons were ranked first in combat ability within the same age group. But with a difference in age and size, besting a Blue Dragon—the second-ranking—was no easy feat.
In this scenario, Tassera wasn’t merely a Blue Dragon; she was also a Storage Dragon and a Mage. Her spellcaster level wasn’t low, and she excelled at shaping energy and illusion magic. Even her physical combat wasn’t weak by any stretch. Salovis simply wasn’t a match.
Though Salovis refused to admit defeat, a loss was a loss.
Next up was Cecilia, who had recently awakened Spirit Energy through a Resonance Stone, enabling her to unleash Confusing Heart Breath—a wave of dissonant spiritual energy that covered a cone-shaped area. Besides inflicting psychic damage, it weakened both the enemy’s attacks and resistances.
Cecilia faced more difficulty defeating Salovis than Tassera had, but after some back-and-forth, she still emerged victorious.
"Satisfied now?" Leon asked.
Salovis, drained and sulking, still appeared somewhat defiant. "They’re young dragons; I’m just a teenage dragon. Losing is normal."
And yet, there was no changing the fact that arrogance invites beatings, and for now, Salovis had calmed down—if only slightly.
"Tassera’s a Storage Dragon, not just a giant dragon but a high-level Mage too. Cecilia has Jade Dragon blood and just awakened Spirit Energy—she’s bound to master more abilities in the future. Once you grow into a young dragon yourself, I’m sure you’ll defeat them," Leon "consoled" his sister.
"It’s not fair," Salovis finally cracked, "Why does everyone else have something special, and I’m just an ordinary Red Dragon?"
After spending a few days on Leon’s volcanic island with Biska, Salovis decided to leave. However, she vowed to return, but only after packing up all the treasure she had pillaged over the years.
Leon didn’t particularly care about Salovis. If she weren’t his sister, she’d be merely another teenage Red Dragon to him. No, what really intrigued him was the potential opportunity to collaborate with the Githyanki—a chance to secure a Golden Finger as a reward.