665 19
I debated on interacting with them directly, but I was supposed to be acting like a dragon king right now. Then again who said a king had to be some distant figure that wasn't allowed to speak to the people. I turned my attention to the people from the surrounding crowd.
"I will permit each one of you to approach, and ask me a single question," I announced, "Single file. One person at a time."
The military men that were guarding the park looked over their shoulders as if I'd grown a second head. I ignored them, and waited for people to approach. They opened up a path, but no one moved for a good while. The first person to approach was a well known reporter who'd shot up the ranks after a certain dragon refused to speak with her boss. She walked with an air of purpose to her steps.
She wasn't nearly as broken down as she used to be. Granted having your reputation boosted by managing to talk to a literal fire breathing beast made interviewing humans almost boring by comparison. I resisted the urge to wink at her. Such a gesture would suggest a closeness we simply didn't have. Sure I might have made her career, but that didn't mean I had the time to brag about it in front of all these people.
I was powerful enough to make my own reputation without open bragging. I lowered my head to her eye level. She asked the question that was on everyone's mind. Her cameras would catch my entire interaction. Although the ones that got within twenty feet of my body were damaged by the density of the mana surrounding me.
"Viewers want to know," she started in a loud confident tone, "Will the dragons really go to war if the world government decides to reject your proposal for peace?"
"Without hesitation," I snorted, "This is my world. I was born on this planet just like you humans. I refuse to give up on my home world simply because you humans tell me no. If you move to exterminate me then I will take steps to stop you. If those steps require war, then I will not hesitate."
"I understand I'm only allowed one question," she tensed.
"I'll allow another since you were the first to approach," I smirked slightly.
"Why are you so insistent on peace?" she asked.
"That's a good question," I smirked, "Do you know how long dragons live?"
She shook her head to confirm that she didn't know.
"The maximum lifespan of a dragon is around twelve hundred years," I shrugged dismissively, "We mature quickly, but after we reach maturity a very long lifespan stretches out before us. That means we're not motivated to reproduce or do much of anything without being pushed." I let my focus drop onto the reporter once again, "Humans on the other hand have a short lifespan. They constantly push the bounds of what they believe is possible. I believe dragons will benefit from that kind of driving force. It's either that or risk nearly going extinct a second time." I felt a pang of guilt for not remembering the woman's name, but that pang faded quickly, "Does that answer your question?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I believe it does."
She moved to walk back to the crowd.
"Wait," I thumped the back of my talon on the stone sidewalk, "Would you like to stay here, and film the other people asking questions? I believe they will be more comfortable with another human up here."
She nodded, and stepped to the side so more people could come up, and ask their questions. The next person to step forward was one of the military men guarding the perimeter. His superior officer tried to call him back to the line, but he didn't listen.
"What benefit do you believe you dragons will bring us humans?" He practically snarled.
I stared at him for a few minutes. My head cocking to the side slightly. I leaned in closer. This one had no fear. I didn't know if it was him being cocky or he took my word as truth.
He was a good bit stronger then I expected from a human although it was obviously concentrated in an ability so it was hard to gage exactly how strong he was.
"You're an interesting one," I showed off my gums in a large smile, "You have a great deal of raw strength, but from you're rank I'm guessing that you don't have a combat based ability." My teeth slowly made themselves know as my smile went away, "You're not suited to me. Your aggression is too quiet for my taste, but I would like for you to meet the other dragons."
He just scowled at me as if I'd just insulted him, "Are you going to answer my question or not?"
"The simple answer is pure brute strength," I scoffed at the way he dismissed my offer, but showed no other outward sign of irritation, "Like I said before. Dragon mature really quickly. Take me for example. I've barely reached maturity, and I already posses the strength required to make your leaders take me seriously as a threat. I'm not even five years old yet. Just think of the implications behind what I'm saying." I pointed at my face, "I was nothing more than a squirming little hatchling four years ago. I posed about as much threat as the average dog. From hatching a dragon can go from squirming hatchling to full grown adult threat in just five years. It takes a minimum of twenty years for a human to do the same. Granted we don't have the same drive to reproduce that humans do, but we can share that strength to our riders. Take Ethan for example."
I gestured to Ethan. Ethan took that cue. He walked over to the trunk of a tree that he might be able to wrap his arms around if he really tried, but still quite a bit larger then himself. He anchored his feet into place with his telekinesis, and slammed his hands into the trunk of the tree all the way up to his wrists. Then he strained.
