MTLNOVEL Chapter 108: Shoot Down
David was the young lord of Skanis from the Old Continent. He was also, perhaps theoretically, the first heir to the Crimson Calamity after countless ages. At dusk, he arrived at the Dragon Nest encampment in the Wei'e Mountain Range. The High Elves had labored for nearly two years to develop this site, which was now beginning to take shape.
Nifadora, the acting camp steward and a Green Dragon, had already been informed of his arrival. She organized the hundreds of working Elves to stage a welcome that could rival the triumphant return ceremony of Dewensen's warriors.
Amidst a deafening blast of horns, High Elf prisoners of war lined the brightly torch-lit path. They seldom had the chance to don their confiscated Dewensen military uniforms or take up their swords again. Now, they knelt on one knee, swords raised to their foreheads in unison, as if submitting to their king.
Even David's father, the Silver Dragon Attilicia, had somewhat psychologically prepared himself for the extent of his son's holdings. Yet, witnessing the dramatic and awe-inspiring scene of several hundred High Elves personally welcoming their draconic lord, he still couldn't help but stare agape. It was as if he had been transported back to the bygone era when Dragons ruled the land.
Ah, this... this isn't very appropriate... Attilicia thought, stunned. The spectacle before him far surpassed any ceremony for triumphant warriors; it was fit for an Elf King's coronation! After all, High Elves, unlike barbaric humans, did have some respect for 'human rights.' Normally, when facing superiors, they would merely offer an elegant bow. If word of this reached the New Continent, it would surely provoke 'passionate protests' from the Elven council members, who would then likely urge Elf King Ailiando to personally lead a campaign against the Old Continent. However, considering this place was guarded by the Crimson Calamity itself—a source of planar crisis—Elf King Ailiando would probably choose to turn a blind eye even if he found out. Besides, given the complex and treacherous situation on the New Continent, the High Elves, preoccupied with their own affairs, likely wouldn't have the leisure to concern themselves with the inhumane treatment these prisoners of war suffered, or the offense caused by his Red Dragon son. The greatest irony was that the names of these High Elf prisoners of war had probably already been struck from the Elven Kingdom's rosters, listed as casualties in military exercises.
Attilicia promptly suppressed the urge to advise his son to be more discreet and instead continued to look around the camp. But after a long while, he still couldn't find his Silver Dragon daughter, Tania. A wave of disappointment washed over him, and he felt somewhat indignant towards Pafila. It was one thing for her not to even show her face for her son's long-awaited return, but to not even let their daughter meet her brother...
He was completely oblivious to the fact that if Pafila *had* brought Tania to this occasion, he would most likely, driven by instinct, have transformed into a small turtle, found a corner to hide in, and held his breath with all his might.
In contrast to Attilicia, whose mind was elsewhere, the Drow Mage and Alianna, who had recently defected from Spider Nest City, were far more excited. Having been treated like street rats by the High Elves for years, they found it incredibly satisfying to see this group of High Elf prisoners. Despite nearly two years of toil comparable to digging potatoes, and the constant demoralizing cycle of fighting and losing, these captives—their faces haggard—were still forced to maintain an air of elegance. The Drow couldn't help but feel a sense of vindication. These High Elves, who usually strutted about with their noses in the air, are truly best suited to be slaves!
Of course, it was only when these High Elves—who were, on average, nearly twenty centimeters taller than them—knelt in welcome that they, as Drow, had their first chance to metaphorically (and literally) look down their noses at these 'bean sprouts.'
Just as these two Drow were reveling in their smug sense of superiority, feeling as if the High Elves were kneeling to *them*, Green Dragon Nifadora made her entrance. She had been eagerly waiting at the camp gates, her eyes shining. Smiling warmly, she immediately led forward a group consisting of Red Dragon Lizrite, White Dragon Mofei, High Elf Yevgeny, and Hiatt and Ahmed—who had returned a year prior—to greet David.
With her tail held low respectfully, the Green Dragon presented David with a scepter, held in her claw, that symbolized authority. This signified her willing return of the authority that had been entrusted to her to David, the original master of the Dragon Nest.
"Welcome back, my dear friend, the Red Dragon leader whom I follow—David Euthyphro! Your scales seem even more brilliant than before; your journey was clearly a fruitful one. Come, please take this. It's a scepter I had the High Elf artisans craft hastily. Although it's more for appearance at the moment, it's made from genuine materials, including a good deal of gold nuggets confiscated from those Barbarians. Given your impressive advancements in Alchemy, I'm sure it won't take you long to forge and enchant it into a true scepter of magical Authority."
David accepted the dragon-headed scepter, which was almost entirely wrought from gold and encrusted with gems. He maintained a dignified smile and offered rare, direct praise, "Thank you, Nifadora, you have done well in my absence."
David, who was normally indifferent to such displays and hadn't been particularly moved by the Elven prisoners' flamboyant 'performance,' found himself, for some reason, quite receptive to Nifadora's gesture.
How to put it? He knew, of course, that she'd learned from Hiatt about his fruitful journey. And knowing Nifadora's temperament, he'd also anticipated she would prepare some 'small gift'...