Chapter 1501: XX Thinks You’re Cold

Enya had learned a great deal from Hragor and Balogor about the current state of Talrond and the Holy Dragon Principality—from the post-war reconstruction of social order to the dragons’ present living conditions, and even about some familiar names, whether still alive or long gone. In truth, she didn’t need to ask so many questions. With the neural network now established between Talrond, the Principality, and Cecil, much of this information was readily accessible online. Yet she kept asking, again and again.

The two ancient dragons patiently answered every one of her inquiries.

“…It sounds like things are improving,” Enya finally breathed out softly, a faint smile touching her lips. “The dragonborn are gradually reintegrating into dragon society, then…”

“Whether dragonborn or pureblood dragons, our kin need time and adjustment to adapt to this new life,” Balogor said with a calm expression. “But no matter what, the situation now is already thousands of times better than we initially expected. We can no longer afford to ask for more. Our best news is that all the hatchlings born after their coming-of-age rites are growing up healthy and strong… This is the first truly healthy and intact generation of dragons in over a million years. They have never undergone any implant modifications or used enhancers. Their genetic lineage is pure, and—”

“And they were born into an era without the mental steel seals,” Enya added with a gentle smile. “They are free from any divine shackles from birth. I’m currently helping care for two hatchlings myself. They’re lively, curious little ones—clumsy in many ways, but growing every day… This is the image of the ‘true dragons’ I remember.”

Hragor and Balogor nodded quietly, but for a moment, no one knew what else to say. The round table fell silent, the stillness so deep that only thoughts quietly drifted by. After an unknown stretch of time, Enya suddenly broke the silence: “The northern hemisphere has already entered deep winter… Is it cold in Talrond?”

Hragor paused before answering, “…Not too bad. Although we lost the Great Shield, each city has built small-scale barriers to block the cold winds, which works well enough. The Cecilians also helped us establish a centralized heating system based on magitech… Dragons themselves aren’t particularly afraid of the cold.”

“You’re flesh and blood too—no one’s immune to the cold,” Enya frowned slightly. “Regular heating systems and shields can’t hold back the Arctic winds… You should find a way to restart the Great Shield. It’s more effective than anything else. I overheard your discussion earlier—I know you’re capable of restarting it now.”

“…The plan to restart the Great Shield isn’t necessarily feasible,” Hragor hesitated. He wasn’t surprised that Enya had been eavesdropping on the meeting, but he still felt a bit uneasy about this new way of interacting with a ‘dragon god.’ “If we ultimately adopt the Homeworld Barrier plan, we’ll have to give up the Great Shield. Resources and time are limited…”

“Restarting the Great Shield doesn’t have to mean following the ‘Talrond Refuge’ route,” Enya interrupted before he could finish. “If no further modifications are involved, the resources needed just to reactivate the shield aren’t that much. I know that more than half of the power stations connected directly to the Great Shield are still intact; their main problem is simply that the equipment is offline.”

“Talrond isn’t that cold anyway…” Hragor’s tone grew a bit awkward. “Our focus should be more on—”

Gawain, who had been quietly watching nearby, finally couldn’t hold back. “Actually, I think Lady Enya’s suggestion is quite good. As long as it doesn’t involve the subsequent refuge construction, simply restarting the Talrond Great Shield won’t interfere with other plans. In the long run, a safer, more stable, and more livable Talrond benefits the entire alliance. After all, the magical tide won’t end overnight. We must ensure every member of the alliance is in the best possible condition to face the upcoming ‘Shelter Era.’”

He kept a serious tone, but inside he was thinking something else entirely—if your mother thinks you’re cold, just accept that you’re cold…

He didn’t dare say that out loud, though, imagining how awkward the atmosphere would become.

Hragor, of course, had no idea how many cheeky thoughts were swirling behind Gawain’s solemn face. Eventually, persuaded by the earnest attitude and well-reasoned analysis, he nodded slightly after a moment’s thought. “Alright, you’re right. No matter which plan we choose in the end, the people’s daily lives must be maintained. I will put restarting the Talrond Great Shield on the agenda.”

Enya smiled, her expression full of delight.

Hragor and Balogor rose to their feet. Though neither wanted to leave so soon, the weight of their responsibilities forbade lingering.

The former High Dragon Priest stood by the round table, looking at the golden-haired lady opposite him. Not long ago, he never imagined he would one day stand before her so calmly and peacefully. Even now, he still felt a bit unreal about what had just transpired. After a brief moment of daze, he spoke: “We should be going, my lady.”

“Leaving so soon?” Enya rose instinctively.

“…There’s still much work to be done in Talrond,” Hragor sighed. “And in the Holy Dragon Principality as well.”

“…Very well, you are indeed busy,” Enya hesitated briefly, then smiled faintly. “Go then, and do what you must.”

The two ancient dragons’ figures gradually dissolved into the air. The vast pure white flower field returned to tranquility. At the round table, only Gawain and Enya remained.

They quietly sipped the still-warm tea before them. After a long pause, Gawain suddenly said, “Do you feel a bit like a retired mother watching her children busy with work and too occupied to come home?”

“I’m still not quite used to your strange metaphors,” Enya glanced at him lightly. “I’ve never been a mother, but I can tell you enjoyed watching the show just now… Is eavesdropping on my conversation with Hragor and the others really that entertaining?”

“Watching the drama unfold is the greatest pastime of mortals,” Gawain said, finishing the last of his tea and raising an eyebrow. “Besides, I was dragged here to act as a ‘safety barrier,’ like an extra flowerpot listening to your chit-chat. I had to find some fun somehow.”

“…Thank you,” Enya said sincerely, seemingly missing the teasing tone in his voice. “The ‘chain’ between Hragor and me goes far beyond any bond between gods and mortals. This strong connection still influences him even after my divine half was completely destroyed, guiding him to find the remnants of my humanity… Though it has weakened and settled over time, I still dare not relax too much.

“In this situation, I need an extra layer of insurance to meet them boldly—while the anti-divinity barrier is good, an ‘Outsider’ who can stare down the ‘Mad Dragon’ at my peak and even devour the Overarching Narrator is far more reliable. I’m a cautious and conservative ‘human’ in this regard. Besides… isn’t helping friends just the right thing to do?”

“That’s not something you usually hear from the helped,” Gawain smiled wryly. “But yes, helping friends is natural. And I did enjoy the ‘show’—seeing a former dragon god and dragon priest converse so amicably in these circumstances is a rare experience. Enough of that, let’s get down to business. You overheard the meeting earlier—what do you think of the plans we proposed?”

“…Mortals’ creativity always amazes me, especially under the pressure of civilization’s extinction,” Enya said calmly, meeting Gawain’s gaze. “Whether it’s various refuge plans or your ‘Homeworld Barrier,’ these are paths I never considered.”

“Enough praise—I want something practical,” Gawain waved his hand. “I want to hear from the oldest god, with 1.8 million years of experience, and your understanding of the magical tide—what’s your evaluation of these plans?”

“…Don’t keep reminding me of a lady’s age, especially when I’m only two years old this year,” Enya glanced at him, then said casually, “My assessment is simple: don’t blindly choose the seemingly comfortable path. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned over the past 1.8 million years, it’s this: every step of retreat plants a dagger for the future.”

Gawain pondered. “…Sounds like you don’t trust refuges much either.”

“I once built a refuge. We all know how it ended,” Enya said softly. “Rationally, I can’t judge which is better between refuges and the Homeworld Barrier—they each have theoretical advantages and practical value, as well as fatal flaws and hidden dangers. Emotionally, though… I dislike retreating into a narrow shell, because what we casually abandon when we hide inside may one day cause everyone to regret it deeply.”

With that, the lady who had always worn an elegant, gentle smile stood up. She seemed ready to leave, but Gawain suddenly called after her: “I agree with your view, but perhaps it’s still somewhat one-sided.”

“Oh?” Enya stopped, curious.

“Though I proposed the Homeworld Barrier plan, from another perspective, it’s just a bigger refuge,” Gawain said solemnly. “One day, our civilization will develop to the point where even something like the Homeworld Barrier feels like a ‘narrow shell.’ For civilizations, there are never infinite boundaries—we always face one shell after another. The key is whether we can break through them.

“In that regard, both you and the dragons have succeeded. Building an eternal cradle isn’t a mistake; it’s a reasonable choice for a specific historical stage, and then a reasonable thing to abandon in a new stage.”

“…Building an eternal cradle isn’t a mistake…” Enya repeated softly, then broke into a bright smile. “That’s a good line.”

In the next moment, her figure dissolved into a faint golden mist that drifted away on the breeze.

Sunlight streamed into the room, warm and bright. In the spacious, well-lit “Incubation Chamber,” the golden egg basked in the light, its smooth shell shimmering with a dreamlike glow.

Suddenly, Betty, who had been resting on a chair near the golden egg, opened her eyes. She looked at Enya in the center of the room and cheerfully called out, “Lady Enya! You’re back?”

“Yes,” came a gentle, somewhat surprised voice from inside the golden egg. “But how did you notice? Everyone says they can’t tell my state from my posture, yet you always seem to sense my ‘gaze’ and ‘activity.’”

“I don’t know either,” Betty scratched her cheek. “I just felt you were ‘awake,’ so… I sensed it.”

Hearing such a distinctly personal response, Enya’s already good mood brightened even more. Betty glanced up at the sky outside and cheerfully suggested, “The sun’s shining beautifully today, ma’am. How about I take you out for a walk? Miss Tyr made a really stunning ice sculpture in the garden yesterday!”

“…Is the ice sculpture of herself?” Enya asked.

“No idea!” Betty shook her head vigorously, then quickly set about gathering everything needed for their stroll. The first thing she did was pull a thick quilt from a nearby cabinet. Enya couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. “Honestly, I don’t really need that. Cold isn’t a problem for me…”

“How could it not be cold? The temperature’s dropped these past couple of days!” Betty said firmly, draping the quilt over Enya’s eggshell. As she smoothed out the edges and fastened the straps she’d sewn herself, she muttered, “You always overlook these little things, but no matter how healthy you are, if you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll get sick.”

Enya sighed in resignation. “But I’m not even human…”

“Especially as an egg! If you keep getting chilled by the wind, you’ll never hatch!”

Enya: “…”

She watched helplessly as Betty bustled around, then saw her wheel over the little cart specially made for outings. Floating up and settling casually on the cart, Enya asked, “Are you looking forward to me hatching?”

Betty thought for a moment, then nodded. “A little. Mostly because I’m curious. Your voice is so beautiful, and I’ve seen your image in the neural network—it’s stunning. I just want to see what you look like in the real world, outside the shell. Besides, His Majesty once said…”

Enya caught the hesitation in the maid’s voice and casually prompted, “Oh? What did Gawain say?”

Betty hesitated less than two seconds before spilling the beans about her master. “He said he suspects you could have hatched long ago. Someone who can play cards nonstop for twenty-four hours in the neural network can’t possibly have finished ‘integrating humanity.’ He thinks you’re just slacking off… What does ‘slacking off’ mean?”

“It means conserving your energy,” the golden egg’s voice chimed in happily. “Come on, let’s go see the ice sculpture!”

(End of chapter)