Chapter 157: Seeking Dragons

Muria had invested so much in the five-colored dragon flock that he himself had lost track, and that was only counting the tangible resources. There were also intangible investments, such as his energy and time.

Now, his once vibrant five-colored dragon flock was disappearing. The Golden Dragon Mother was exiling his nurtured dragons one by one to various places in the world of Eralasia, and all he could do was watch helplessly.

The five-colored dragons that Muria had released at the foot of the mountain had all vanished into twelve spatial vortexes, evenly distributed, with about six dragons per vortex under the Golden Dragon Mother's arrangement.

Now, only four dragons remained by Muria's side: the three Red Dragon sisters and the scholarly White Dragon, Clodia. They stayed in the courtyard, unchained.

"It's your turn, my four beautiful girls," said the Golden Dragon Mother, catching the Red Dragon sisters and White Dragon Clodia in Muria's indifferent gaze and throwing them into two spatial vortexes, exiling them to different subcontinents.

Muria noticed that the vortex into which the Red Dragon sisters were thrown led to a vibrant, beast-roaring primeval forest, while the White Dragon Clodia was exiled to a desolate, snow-covered tundra, rarely trodden by man.

Each dragon was exiled to a realm well-suited to its survival. In fact, the Golden Dragon Mother had no intention of dooming them.

"Muria, does it hurt?" the Golden Dragon Mother asked, her expression emotionless. "When I returned to the castle a few days ago, I felt this way. Now, it's your turn to experience it."

"Oh, and there's one more," the Golden Dragon Mother said as she lifted the White Tiger, Troy, into the air. In her bewildered expression, the Golden Dragon Mother grabbed her, intending to throw her into a spatial vortex.

"You can't be left out!"

"Why are you grabbing me? I didn't do anything!"

"But you are Muria's partner, my cute little cat!"

Seeing this, Muria's eyes nearly burst with rage, and the weapons within him trembled fiercely, ready for battle. He managed to partially break free from a paralyzing spell, regaining some ability to move and speak.

"Mother, Troy is not a dragon! Don't exile her!"

"Hmm, I know," the Golden Dragon Mother said with a smile, looking at Muria. "Though she's not a dragon, she is your partner. Losing her, you'll understand my sorrow even more."

Then, Muria could only watch as the large cat that had been with him for nearly twenty years was thrown into a spatial vortex, landing in a place filled with ancient trees, perfectly suitable for the White Tiger, Troy.

"After discarding all your hard work, I feel much better," the Golden Dragon Mother said, clapping her hands as the twelve spatial vortexes slowly closed and then disappeared.

"Ah! Not bad, little Muria. You managed to break my paralyzing spell, though only partially. The rest, I suppose you can free yourself from gradually, so I won't help you."

The Golden Dragon Mother smiled warmly at Muria, then with a gesture, she easily tore through space, and Atreus stood before a dark, eye-catching spatial crack, leaving him with one last statement.

"Little Muria, as your benevolent mother, I've left you an opportunity. What I've lost cannot be reclaimed, but what you've lost can be, if you're willing. How does that make you feel?"

Watching the Golden Dragon Mother step through the spatial crack and leave the Titan's realm, Muria finally freed himself from the rest of his bindings and regained his ability to move.

He stared grimly at where the Golden Dragon Mother had disappeared, then looked around the empty courtyard, feeling a deep sense of loneliness. The gentle breeze was the only sound, marking the absence of the once ever-present dragon roars.

"Muria." A soft voice called out to him.

"Cassio." Muria's golden eyes flashed with thunder and flames as he stared at the spirit, "Why betray me? If you hadn't snitched, my dragons wouldn't have..."

"Even without my words, all your dragons would still have been exiled by Lord Atreus. It was already decided," Cassio said, his gaze calm.

"Before you returned ten days ago, your mother, Lord Atreus, had already tested each of your dragons' magical abilities and decided on today's actions.

She once said that even legendary metals, without being tempered and forged, are just metals, not legendary weapons.

Now, it's time for you and your dragons to face the world's tempering."

"Was that last statement also from my mother?" Muria looked at Cassio.

"That's my own belief, Master," Cassio said, bowing slightly to Muria.

"My original plan was to leave the Titan's realm when I came of age and travel the world," Muria said, looking at his pale and delicate skin.

"Have you changed your plans now?"

"Yes, I've changed them, just now," Muria smiled, realizing that what was called punishment was merely an excuse. The Golden Dragon Mother must have anticipated that he would retrieve his exiled dragons, one by one.

"My mother is indeed merciful, leaving me a chance to reclaim my dragon flock."

"I think I can offer you some help," Cassio said, spreading his hand to reveal scales of various colors flying towards Muria.

"These are scales shed by the dragons while they lived here. They should help you find your dragons."

"Did you collect these?"

"Yes!"

"Good, with these, finding them is just a matter of time," Muria said, collecting all the dragon scales. As a (half-baked) mage, having enough physical tissue of the target, such as scales, hair, or blood, makes finding dragons a much simpler task.

"Are you leaving now?"

"No, I need to make some preparations," Muria thought for a moment, deciding to bid farewell to some friends in the Titan's realm before starting his journey to find the dragons.

"Oh, and let one of the lords know that our realm's space should be reinforced. We can't allow it to be breached so easily," Muria suddenly said to Cassio, as if remembering something.

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