TitoVillar
patreon
TWL Chapter 347: The Duke and the Dragon
🕑 Added 2025-04-01 23:16:29 +0000 UTCAlthough dragons are regarded as representatives of chaotic energy, they can indeed absorb chaotic energy almost instinctively and spontaneously. However, few people have actually seen dragons perform magic. Most of the time, they rely solely on their powerful bodies and various breath attacks to kill enemies.
Under such circumstances, folk songs and legends have circulated for some time, claiming that dragons can transform into human forms and walk the earth, even leading to the invention of a fifth color of dragon, beyond red, white, green, and black.
A dragon skilled in magic—the golden dragon.
Some scholars believe that the existence of the golden dragon is based on a miraculous mutation caused by a young dragon absorbing too much chaotic energy while still in its egg. Folklorists, however, argue that the golden dragon is purely fictional. After all, only imaginary creatures could have 'golden scales', which perfectly align with human aesthetics.
In reality, golden dragons do exist. Geralt once met a middle-aged man who called himself 'Borch Three Jackdaws' in his early years. This man was generous and had two Zerrikanian female warriors as his followers year-round. After Geralt discussed with him the golden dragon and the boundary between order and chaos, he spent a night in a massive bathtub with the middle-aged man and the two Zerrikanian female warriors.
Geralt later joined a dragon-slaying team to defeat a green dragon, and Yennefer and Yarpen were also in the team at that time. However, they soon encountered internal conflict and were nearly killed, only to be saved by a golden dragon that suddenly appeared. They fought side by side with the golden dragon against the dragon-slaying army and eventually formed a bond of friendship.
When Geralt and the others asked the golden dragon why it had come all this way to help the green dragon, the golden dragon showed them a baby dragon. It turned out the green dragon they had sought to defeat had just given birth, providing an opportunity for humans to strike.
Saskia was the little green dragon that Geralt had helped, and the father she had always spoken of, who taught her the concept of racial equality, was the miraculous golden dragon Villentretenmerth, also known as Borch Three Jackdaws.
Thinking of this, Lann flipped his left hand and took out a cloak from the [Inventory], stepping forward to gently drape it over Saskia's body. Although the cold wind in the mountains could not possibly give a true dragon a cold, it was not knightly behavior to let such a naked lady stand in the wind and snow.
If he truly wanted to admire her, there was no rush, right?
Although Saskia was a dragon, she had learned much about etiquette and manners from human society over a long period. At this moment, she covered her vital parts slightly. She seemed very pleased with Lann's gesture and smiled slightly: "This is the etiquette of a knight, right?"
"But you haven't answered my question yet, Lord Lannister. When did you know I was a dragon?"
"You haven't answered my question yet, Lady Green Dragon." Lann shook his head. "How is your injury?"
Another irrelevant question. But this irrelevant exchange swept away the slightly heavy atmosphere from before, and the two people—who had become strangers after once being familiar due to Saskia's true identity—once again found the tension easing.
Saskia couldn't help but smile and gave in first: "The Ferenc clan has obviously planned to slay the dragon for a long time, and their weapons are indeed exquisite... but they didn't hit any vital parts, and I still have the magic my father taught me, so it's not a serious injury."
"Also, if you can, please don't call me 'Lady Green Dragon'."
"You called me 'Duke Lannister' first." Lann took a step back, maintaining a polite social distance. "Then it's my turn to answer the question next."
Taking a breath, Lann organized his words and used the excuse he had prepared from the beginning.
"Your story is full of contradictions: a lady from Zerrikania went alone to the North, but she had no weapons; you conversed with the Scoia'tael, yet you looked like a human; you spoke of lofty ideals, racial equality, and the establishment of a nation—but have you ever considered how shocking such topics are?"
"The most important thing is that you and Geralt are too close, and he has long noticed something off. Geralt had a friend similar to you, and this friend later gave him a big 'surprise'."
Saskia sighed: "It was my father? He told me the story of the White Wolf. I should have paid more attention to it... I am still too inexperienced."
Lann shrugged: "I have another excuse, one that I hope will make you feel better—you’ve heard of the Elder Blood, right? I can use it to see fragments of your past. But it was never clear, and I could only confirm it when I saw you in this form with my own eyes."
Saskia nodded: "The Elder Blood, the power destined to save the world. My father told me about that too."
At this point, the question seemed to have been answered. But both of them knew the real conflict had yet to be addressed.
After a short silence, it was still Saskia who resumed the conversation.
"... What 's next?"
Lann deliberately showed a puzzled look. "What's next?"
Saskia hesitated. Despite her strength, her lack of social experience was evident. "Now that you know I am a dragon, what are you going to do next?"
What am I going to do?
Lann chuckled inwardly. Why do you think I pretended to be ignorant when I already knew the truth? I knew you were a dragon, yet I still welcomed you into the team and tried to gain your favor. Why do you think I spent so much time discussing racial equality and philosophy with you? Do you think I, a duke working tirelessly for my nation's restoration, have nothing better to do? Can any beautiful woman with a good figure just sneak into my team and take up my time like this?
Didn't you notice how Geralt has been looking at me lately? Or how Milva has been looking at you?
Lann took a deep breath and carefully controlled his emotions.
He smiled, appropriately sincere and confident: "We share the same ideals and beliefs, Saskia. So I believe you understand how difficult it is to achieve such a goal."
"Cintra is my home, and I also believe it can be the first step in realizing your dreams."
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and extended his hand toward Saskia. "I know that you initially joined my team out of curiosity and a desire to learn, treating it as an inspection. Now that there are no secrets between us, I sincerely invite you once again—I hope you will join Cintra."
"Saskia, Cintra needs you—I need you too."
The cold wind lifted the edges of her cloak. Though she could not feel the chill, Saskia still tightened the cloak Lann had given her and buried her face in it.
She was about to say something when a distant roar interrupted her thoughts.
"My God!"
The ground trembled as the ice giant finally emerged over the mountains and hills, having taken its time to arrive.
The giant glanced at his master in the field, then at the other little human who looked oddly unclothed. After a moment of hesitation, he scratched his head in confusion—where was the big lizard?
"My God?"
Lann glanced at the ice giant with an empty expression. He hadn’t expected this big guy to arrive so quickly and interrupt at such a crucial moment.
He felt awkward with his hand still extended, but suddenly, a warm touch filled it. The fingers were not delicate; they were far from the hands of the noblewomen he had held before. There were even rough calluses on them—the kind only warriors possessed.
Yet Lann felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
After all, the hand that reached for him belonged to a dragon!
And the power behind this dragon was far greater than just that.
"I heard my father tell the legend of the ice giants. He may be the last of his ancient race. You can even command such an ancient being... I don’t know how to describe you," Saskia said softly.
Saskia took a deep breath and murmured, "I lost two very important things today, Lann."
"Hmm?" Lann quickly snapped out of his thoughts and assumed a listening posture.
"I once thought that the people of Mahakam could coexist peacefully with Keltullis, and that she would be one of my role models. But it turns out that the peace between them was too fragile and full of hidden dangers."
"And then, when I faced my kin who slaughtered the dwarves, my first instinct was to calm her down and ensure she was safe." Saskia sighed. "I was protecting my kin—even though I had only just met her. That was wrong. If a true multi-ethnic nation is to exist, my actions would only fuel racial tensions."
"I lost a goal today—and I also lost part of my beliefs, Lann." She sighed again. "The knowledge and ideals my father taught me are too grand. Now I realize how small my own power is."
Then she raised her head and grasped Lann’s hand in return. "I... don’t know how to continue this journey. Can you show me the way?"
The wind in the mountains lifted Saskia’s hair and cloak, making her eyes shine even brighter.
Lann nodded. "Of course, it would be my honor."
