Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1069: Chapter 1068: The Gift

It’s been a long time.

Seeing the blue dragon landing in the square provoked a peculiar thought in Gawain’s mind—although in reality, it had only been a little over two months since he last saw Melita Ponia. Yet, the feeling of change and transience persisted until Melita slightly nodded, bringing him to realize the source of such feelings.

It’s not merely due to the countless earth-shaking events occurring within these two months, nor solely because of the tremendous changes within human history and Talronde at this turning point. The prevailing reason involves the distinct change in the aura felt from the grand and majestic blue dragon—along with notable physical alterations.

Descending the platform, Gawain approached Melita. He noticed visible scars on her massive body, the most startling one extending down from her neck, covering nearly half of her body. The once immaculate scales tended by mechanical caretakers and advanced compounds now bore signs of wear and tear, accompanied by new marks that seemed recent surgeries scattered across her limbs.

Not only Melita but the dragons landing alongside her shared similar scales of damage. These wounds lay exposed for all attendees surrounding the square to see, leading many to fall subconsciously silent at the sight of these battered dragons.

Many among the attendees remained oblivious to the happenings in Talronde, and could not fathom how the dragons incurred such injuries. Yet, these fearsome wounds served as silent symbols, carrying tales of bloodshed and smoke from the deicide battlefield. This aura felt distinctly stronger than the dragons’ inherent pressure, invoking genuine reverence.

Gawain reached the delegation formed by seven dragons. The palpable aura enveloping the square finally eased with his steps, drawing numerous gazes toward the square’s center. Melita slightly moved, gracefully lowering her long neck to converse with Gawain, "Greetings, Emperor of the Cecil Empire. I am here representing Talronde, bearing peace and goodwill to visit your realm."

The former agent of the Mithril Vault now stood before him as an ambassador of the Dragon Kingdom. Such a serious diplomatic event and formal dialogue was inherently uncomfortable. However, Gawain remained composed, nodding slightly and smiling, "On behalf of the Cecil Empire, I welcome you visitors from the Dragon Kingdom—friendly guests are eternal friends of this land."

Melita seemingly attempted a smile—a smile discernment rather complicated at this moment. However, Gawain suspected the row of razor-sharp, meter-and-a-half-long fangs signified a grin. Subsequently, the blue dragon inclined her body slightly, allowing one wing to touch the ground, "Additionally, I bring your envoy—Lady Cassandra plays a significant role in this exchange. Furthermore, I bring gifts from Talronde, hoping to meet your satisfaction."

For reasons unknown, Gawain sensed a slight pause while Melita mentioned "Lady Cassandra," yet this minor curiosity failed to occupy him long. Soon, a beautiful lady with black hair and a mole by the corner of her eye appeared from Melita’s back. Her figure was a blend of human and serpentine, elegance and maturity. After greeting the nearby crowd with a wave, she slithered gracefully down the dragon’s wing toward Gawain—a serpent-like fluidity capturing many guests’ attention. Some experiencing surprise, while others instinctively redirected their gaze to Sea Demon Tiel, watching the scene unfold from the stage.

The sea demons remained a mysterious and rare race for ordinary Cecil folk. Having seen sea demons among the city dwellers, most impressions derived solely from the local Sea Demon Tiel. Given insufficient publicity and knowledge dissemination, many assumed the sea demons’ unique form of locomotion involved coiling movements...

Such minor errors caught even Gawain off guard—fortunately, they were harmless.

After all, the sea demons maintained open hearts.

Simultaneously, dragons accompanying Melita began arranging numerous packaged boxes fixed to their backs onto the ground with the aid of magic. Prepared vehicles and personnel stationed around the square advanced to register and receive gifts—those journalists recording the event spared no moment from capturing each moment, swiftly shifting numerous focus points over lighting apparatus.

The day’s events were unprecedented, holding unique significance with every recorded scene. Present scholars and journalists clearly understood each captured fragment could appear within historical documentation years later.

Gawain’s attention also drifted toward the various boxes, graze merely over them without inquiring abruptly—the occasion marked an official engagement adhering to stringent protocols, and the moment wasn’t appropriate for accepting gifts. Curiosity awaited the latter half of the banquet process.

Nonetheless, gazing over the boxes led a peculiar intuition to arise, instinctively directing his focus upon a specific box.

That box appeared extraordinarily sturdy, a solid metallic structure covered densely in Dragon Language Runes—guards were seemingly appointed, with three dragons maintaining an unwavering gaze on the box, indicating its high priority.

"That box..." Unable to restrain himself, Gawain questioned aloud, trusting the intuition arising from his legendary prowess not being a passive indulgence, "What is it?"

Melita lowered her head: "It is a most special ’gift,’ despite its exclusivity remaining off the gift list. Eventually, I shall deliver it personally to you."

Gawain: "...?"

...

As night fell, starlight covered the land, the grand and ceremonial welcome finally concluded, proceeding immediately to an equally grand banquet within the "Autumn Palace" situated near the Cecil Palace.

Possibly the grandest banquet hosted here since Typhon’s special envoy Matilda visited Cecil last, court chefs determined to fully showcase human world delicacies to dragons during this banquet—invited officers and representatives from all fields vowed to exhibit humanity’s sophistication and elegance—the dragons for humanity remained almost mythical entities, lingering within various curious tales for countless years. Today marked the unveiling of mystique.

The spacious banquet hall illuminated brightly, fragrant aromas from exquisite cuisines permeating between tables and chairs, light-hearted music calmly resounding, dragon envoys in human form served with grand hospitality, especially Melita Ponia, Talronde’s ambassador, naturally situated beside Gawain.

Only then, Gawain found a relatively relaxed pause to engage Melita in conversation.

"As you arrived at Northport, Cassandra briefed me regarding certain matters," Gawain addressed Melita, "She mentioned events in Talronde—a portion of events. You shattered the cradle, the entire north pole continent reduced to wasteland amidst warfare—survivors numbered just one-tenth. Despite mere fragments described, I can envision the scenario. Honestly, I’m stunned, even somewhat admiring—the war unimaginable, as well as the unbearable price."

"We’re aware of occurrences within the human world," Melita drew her gaze from the banquet hall’s direction toward Gawain, "An equally decisive war for species survival that shocked us as well."

"We’ve also paid a heavy price—perhaps incomparable to your sacrifice, yet essentially, we undertook similar actions," Gawain shook his head, swirling the wine glass, the bright red liquid swaying under the fragmented lamplight, reminiscent of the battlefield’s flames and explosions he witnessed at Winterhold Fort Battlefield, "We... killed our own gods."

"We killed our own gods," Melita faintly reiterated Gawain’s words, "In the name of freedom and survival."

"This world is merciless, so much that many times we’re left unqualified to decide our own paths," Gawain quietly stated, then gazed into Melita’s eyes, expressing solemnity, "But regardless, from the harsh ice, we’ve finally chiseled the first crack; mortal races of the world have gained a moment to breathe."

"Yes, we have achieved this great feat together," Melita Ponia smiled calmly, "so now the dragon and humans have become natural allies."

At this point, she paused for a moment, then continued solemnly, "We know you are working to establish a new order among the Realm of the Mortals to unite the mortal powers of the whole world against the calamities of this world. I can promise you here that we are here for this purpose. Talronde will support your great feat, and under any circumstances, as long as you remain true to your original intention, the Dragonkin will always be the Cecil Clan’s allies."

Gawain’s expression became solemn and serious. He met Melita Ponia’s gaze, and after a moment of looking at her, he said, "I knew your intention as soon as I received Cassandra’s message, but I didn’t expect you to be so determined... and it sounds like you’ve placed all your trust in the Cecil Clan."

"Because this change begins with the Cecil Clan, and in the foreseeable future, it will follow the path you envisioned," Melita Ponia said seriously, "As for why we are so determined..."

She smiled, showing a hint of self-deprecation on her face.

"Talronde has changed from what it used to be—you mentioned Lady Cassandra’s report just now, but I have to say, no matter how detailed her report is, the real situation in Talronde is even worse than you imagine. The Dragonkin have fallen into a predicament. We are now relying on our powerful innate conditions and the remnants of materials on the wastelands to maintain our dignity as a ’civilization.’ To be frank, if we want to survive next, we might even require external aid. In such a situation, we don’t have many choices left, and naturally, there won’t be any unnecessary pride or hesitation anymore."

Gawain looked at Melita Ponia with some surprise, "You’re being very honest with me."

Melita Ponia smiled back, "Because we are friends."

"...Alright, then I also hope Talronde and the Cecil Clan can be friends," Gawain smiled and raised the wine glass in his hand, "For friendship—and our mutual survival."

"For friendship and mutual survival," Melita Ponia raised her glass in response, then she glanced towards the banquet scene, hesitated for a moment but still reminded, "Do you remember the dragon’s special way of ’eating’?"

Gawain was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted, "Of course, you need ’two meals’—don’t worry, we’ve prepared ample food outside of this banquet. You and your friends will receive the best hospitality."

Melita Ponia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, while Gawain, after a little thought, couldn’t help but ask, "By the way, what’s in that ’special’ big box you mentioned?"

"You seem very interested?"

"Sort of," Gawain nodded, "Mainly because I have a feeling... I can’t describe it, but I seem to be able to sense some kind of aura. Whatever is inside that box seems to have some sort of attraction to me."

For a moment, Melita Ponia’s eyes widened slightly. She then shook her head with a hint of amazement, "I see... No wonder it was given to you. It seems everything was arranged."

"Arranged?" Gawain raised his eyebrows, "So what’s really inside that box?"

"It’s about time..." Melita Ponia looked up and saw the atmosphere of the banquet transitioning to calmness, with a new batch of servers entering the hall, and the band changing tunes. Based on her understanding of human society, it marked the formal banquet nearing its end, "I’ll tell you what it is after the banquet."

...

The banquet ended, and all subsequent matters were arranged properly. Gawain returned to his palace, and not long after, Melita Ponia visited as agreed.

In the first-floor hall, unrelated personnel had been dismissed in advance. According to Melita Ponia’s prior reminder, only Gawain’s most trusted personnel remained: Amber, Aunt Heidi, Rebecca.

A large metal box, protected by layers of magic symbols, was placed in the center of the hall. Gawain and the others stood in front of the metal box while Rebecca curiously looked at the big box in front of her, barely restraining the impulse to poke it twice, but couldn’t help but say, "Ancestor, what is this?"

"Melita Ponia, you can reveal the answer now," Gawain looked at the blue dragon lady standing next to the box, "What exactly is this?"

This time, Melita Ponia finally didn’t keep it a mystery. She placed her hand on the surface of the box, and as the magic symbols lit up one after another, a slight mechanical sound of unlocking around the tightly sealed box was heard. Then its cover slowly opened in all directions, and a sphere emitting a pale golden glow appeared before everyone’s eyes.

"This is a dragon egg," Melita Ponia took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Now it is entrusted to your care."

Gawain: "...Ah?"

At the same time, three pairs of eyes also came to rest on him.

Melita Ponia took another deep breath, her expression more solemn: "Our goddess left an oracle after her fall, entrusting this egg to you."

Gawain: "...Ah?"

The surrounding three pairs of eyes became stranger.

(Support for the "Record of Unusual Creatures" comic is much needed. The Airrim Chapter is nearing its end, and it feels like the time to strike. Follow the comic at Bilibili Comics.)