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What happened next was something that no human there would forget for the rest of their lives. At first there was no sound, and no reaction from the tree itself. Ethan was only at half strength when in his human form so it didn't surprise me that he wasn't able to yank the tree up at first. Ethan was trying to make it look easy at first, but then the definition of his muscles started to show as he actually started to apply his full strength. The tree ground, and the ground itself started to come up as Ethan simply yanked the whole tree out of the ground with brute strength alone. 

It was a well known fact that Ethan was a telekinetic, but since his ability had evolved into a magical one no ability user watching would know he used his telekinesis at all. I would be one of the few that knew the only magic he'd used was literally just to anchor his feet. Ethan smirked with an unusual amount of cockiness, and tossed the whole twenty foot tall tree to me. It was a simple matter for me to catch the tree using only my tail. Anyone could see I only had barely a single loop of my long tail wrapped around the tree as I opened the ground up to swallow it's roots once again, and started pulsing magic through the tree to heal it. 

The bark closed up, and the roots stretched far beneath the ground. I would only find out later that this simple act not only added ten feet to the height of the tree, but would allow the plant to awaken. For now I was just undoing the damage I'd done before the humans could complain. Completely forgetting the humans around me as I pulsed pure calming light through the tree for nearly ten minutes. This gentle healing act would spread through my aura, and cement a favorable opinion of me into the young minds of the human children within range of my aura. 

I wouldn't know about this effect either until many years later. I realized I'd gotten side tracked, and refocused on the soldier who'd asked me the question. 

"Was that demonstration enough to confirm the truth in my words?" I removed my hand from the tree, and crossed it back over my other arm. 

Making myself appear disarmed once again. The stillness my body radiated was both ethereal, and disturbing to the humans around me. I knew that fact from the way their emotional hues reacted when I did speak or move. Human curiosity had driven them to ignore their fear, and come here to see the beast that wished to make peace with them. While some of them reacted with fear that was to be expected. 

Letty appeared next to me. 

"Did they come to a decision?" I asked without looking at the terrifying entity that appeared next to me. 

It didn't take much to know that his presence alone was enough to terrify even a dragon since my scales stood on end the moment he appeared. The soldiers were probably the only ones that would notice the sudden change in my demeanor, but I doubted they would know what that change meant. 

"They have decided to honor our cease fire for the next ten years," Letty announced in a voice nearly as loud as my own, "Trade agreements are to be discussed on an item to item basis, and Schnider wishes to continue monitoring us for the time being."

"What about my plans to establish a magic based academy?" I wanted to find more humans to bond with dragons, and those who possessed magic had a higher chance of being compatible. 

Plus an exchange program would be a good opportunity for non magical ability users to have a shot at bonding to a dragon as well. The younger they were the less set in their ways they would be. The less set in their ways they were the easier it would be to change that mindset. The way I was thinking about it now would almost sound as if I planned to brainwash them if people could hear my thoughts. I really should be careful how I word stuff like this in the future so I don't give people the wrong impression. 

"They're not a hundred percent on board with that idea since mages are a rare, and valuable resource," Letty spoke more quietly now. 

Channeling his voice so only I could here what he was saying. I decided I could do the same. 

"Not for much longer," I snorted, "With the amount of ambient mana increasing a number of the people that are incompatible with abilities will start to awaken their cores."

"Then I suggest we revisit this discussion again in a year," Letty advised, "By then they should start changing their tune since they lack the resources required to train those budding mages."

I nodded in agreement, "Should I stay here longer for moral support?"

"There is a symbolism to remaining in the open without fear so yes," Letty scanned across the crowd, "I believe it would be beneficial for you to stay here for the time being."

I sighed heavily. I didn't really want to remain here after those stupid officials arranged for me to be attacked. 

"Do you think I should go observe the talks?" I narrowed my eyes at Letty. 

Turning my head to focus my full attention on Letty for the first time since the conversation began. 

"I don't see any point," Letty smirked, "You have trouble remembering people's names. You wouldn't remember what they talked about anyway. I think you decision to sit here, and interact with the common people was the correct choice for you."

"Then I'll continue to remain here," I shooed Letty, and he vanished again without a trace. 

Escaping even my own senses. I often felt as if he didn't exist until I laid eyes on him. Once I saw him I could see his aura, and his emotions were plain for me to see, but until I saw him I couldn't sense him at all. He registered less then a random bush on my spatial senses yet he was strong enough to kill me on a whim. I snorted to myself once again before releasing my influence on the surrounding air that had kept me quiet a moment before.