Ch.30

(Unknown POV)

I came to this world several millennia ago, after exploring around the nest my mother made. She was able to beat a gold dragon out of their nest taking it for herself, but in the process lost her mate. When I was a Juvenile, she kicked me out of the nest and I discovered a small cave nearby. When I entered it I saw the remains of an old kobold nest with a ritual spell carved into the back wall.

My curiosity took over and I followed the ritual spell instructions written on the walls. It then opened a portal, like the idiot child I was, I stepped through it. Then I found myself in this world, where magic was not as common and only humans lived. Once I became an adult, I shifted to a human form and worked my way into the small city they built.

The humans that made this place escaped on slaver ships and found this hidden cove to make a city. I helped them make the city greater and later formed the Iron Bank, and I was able to become the hidden, but real leader of this city. One that the other rich leaders know about and fear as they have called me 'The Red Mistress'.

Nothing happens in this city that I do not know about, nor do any rules or laws get passed without my allowance. I am the Queen of this city in all but name, I was tempted to extend my rule over other cities nearby. But I learned that gold rules this world and by ruling the biggest supplier of gold, I am basically the real leader of this world. So instead I focused on expanding the Bank's control.

However, everything changed when one day I was going over the latest reports on the bank's latest investments when some idiot servants of mine interrupted me. This sudden interruption pissed me off as they know the rules and what would happen if they broke them.

'Seems I am going to have to make an example again to those who do not listen to my rules,' I think to myself as my anger rose due to the sudden interruption.

I looked up to see who was stupid enough to interrupt me and my anger disappeared to confusion, nervousness, and surprise all at once. I saw a being that I thought was not in this world, another true dragon, but to make matters worse it was a gold dragon. A dragon that guides and watches over civilizations by keeping a distance, but it is still a guardian.

'Out of all the true dragons I could have run into this world, it had to be my kind's worst enemy,' I think to myself after dismissing the servants and standing up readying myself for a fight that was sure to come.

'I can only hope he is younger than me, or this will end badly for me,' I think to myself as I finally entered the Wyrm stage of dragon life a few centuries ago.

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(Talrit POV)

As the woman looked up, she seemed aggravated at the sudden interruption in her current work. Her eyes promised extreme pain and death as she looked at us, but her face contorted at seeing me with a fash of mixed emotions crossing her features. She schooled her features before speaking, with her eyes not leaving me and her body stiffening readying for a fight.

"Leave us now," the woman said in a calm, silky, and enchanting voice as the woman and guards I came with bowed before quickly leaving us.

An awkward silence took over the room as the woman kept her defensive posture prepared for a fight to break out any second. While I stared at her contemplating what to say as I haven't seen another of my kind since I arrived here, even if they are my natural enemy. As gold dragons and red dragons hate each other with a passion that could bring about the destruction of civilization.

"I am not here to fight you, not unless you give me a reason to," I say trying to calm down the intense atmosphere that was inside the room. Though my instincts are screaming at me to kill her.

"And what exactly would a 'reason' be then? Out of all the places, why did you come here gold dragon?" the red dragon says to me confirming my suspicions about them being a true dragon.

"Some reasons would be, you attacking me, you harming the innocents of this city… which so far I do not seem to have found outside the normal problems would expect from a human city. As for why I am here… well I am traveling the world and I'm glad I am as apparently I am not the only true dragon in it," I say to her and she stares at me contemplating something.

"...So… what now?" she says while relaxing just slightly seeing me show no hostile intentions, but not trusting me completely. Nor do I trust her as red dragons are the most cruel and cunning of their kind.

"Now… maybe we can talk. As I haven't seen another of our kind before you and I would love to speak with someone who is not a lesser being," I say to her and she stares at me for a few more seconds before nodding her head and gesturing for me to sit across from her at the desk.

"You drink wine?" she asks me grabbing a wine bottle in the large cabinet she has which is filled with an assortment of wine.

"Yes and thank you," I say to her as she grabs a bottle and pours us both a glass.

We then sip the wine while sitting across from one another in silence. Seems we both do not know what to say or how to act around one another. From her body language, it seems like me, I am the first true dragon she has met.

"May I have your name?" I ask her as she looks at me silently for a few more seconds contemplating my question.

"Sadridna is my name. Though the humans call me 'The Red Mistress'," Sadridna says to me and I nod my head.

"I am Talrit, with the humans referring to me as Lord Valtaris," I say to her and she nods her head, but becomes surprised at my name.

"I heard of a Lord Valtaris before. When the Targaryens came from a place called Valyria, I met with their head member when they came to the bank for funds. They spoke of you and how great of a magician you were or are. I was tempted to find you myself, but ensuring my bank's reputation and influence came first," Sadridna says to me having heard of me.

"Seems my reputation has spread… Speaking of the Targaryens, why did they lose all the wyverns they had and the magic I taught them?" I ask her and she smirks.

"The fools had a large infighting in their family, splitting the family in two. During this war, most of their family was killed, and the knowledge they once had was lost. Plus the books they passed down to teach each other magic that you say taught them, were lost or burnt, no one knows. Though I suspect it was the greedy and insane group calling themselves the 'Order of Maesters' was the reason behind the last part," Sadridna says to me with a smirk seemingly remembering the war that I read about that happened while I was resting.

"Why would that order steal or destroy the knowledge of magic?" I ask her since the ones I met seemed normal, normal for a human at least.

"That I do not know much about. Though I believe whoever founded the order feared magic users or envied them, probably both. So they stole the knowledge and hid it away, maybe even destroying it. Then the order even spread lies among the humans, saying that magic is evil and can lead to the destruction of the world. Seems these lies have spread and now magic is feared across the lands, for the most part," Sadridna says to me while sipping her wine and has relaxed significantly since I have no intention of fighting her.

"Do you intend on gracing the humans with this knowledge again?" Sadridna says while eyeing me with a smirk.

"No, I taught several humans in the past and even tried to help them better themselves. But they would not listen to me, nor does it appear they would listen to me now. I would rather explore this world and maybe offer my assistance again, but I do not care enough to do so now," I say to Sadridna honestly since I can tell she has been honest with me so far.

"Wow! I never thought I'd heard a gold dragon say they would stand aside as civilization goes to shit. Normally your kind would step in and do everything they could to influence the world into becoming a peaceful and happy place. No matter how impossible that dream was," Sadridna says with a snort at the end.

"Nor did I believe I would meet a red dragon who lives among humans, especially for as long as I am sure you have. Normally your kind kills all those in the way of your greed and terrorizes those who do not listen to your demands," I say back to her with a smirk making her grunt at me in annoyance.

"I guess like me this world has changed us slightly. Though I won't lie, the humans fear me, and for good reason too. They may not know what I really am, but the ones who do know me fear me for my magic," Sadridna says while flames dance between her fingers smiling at what I am sure are memories of burning her enemies to death.

"So… what is your next destination?" Sadridna says to me as silence takes over from her last statement for a few minutes.

"Not sure, I am traveling with a human who I enjoy the company of. He wants to go south from here and see what there is to see," I say to her with a shrug.

"Why am I not surprised you are traveling with a human… though I did not expect you to enjoy the company of a man," Sadridna says to me with an eye roll in the beginning, but a teasing smile at the end.

"Very funny… this human is just fun to be around. Though I prefer the company of the opposite sex," I say to her and then I see a flash of lust cross her eyes.

"I see… I would like to meet the human that you have shown interest in. As for enjoying the company of others, I'm sure you and I could enjoy ourselves," Sadridna says to me and it seems she wants to sleep with me. Though one can never be certain with their kind.

'Shit, seems my instincts are rising at her suggestion. As there has never been a relationship between a red and gold dragon before, but we both have not met another of our kind before,' I think to myself while feeling a mix of hate and arousal enter my system.

"Do not answer me right away. I am aware of the customs you gold dragons follow, though just know I am not asking you to be my mate. Just that you and I can release our… pent-up needs," Sadridna says to me with a very silky and suggestive voice, as my instincts scream at me to jump her and release my pent-up needs as said.

"I… I… We should speak with the human that I am traveling with, you did want to meet him," I say trying to change the subject as I know that if I think any longer I will succumb to one side of either kill or sex.

'She is a red dragon! Never before has one of your kind been friends with one, let alone sleep with one!' I think to myself trying to convince myself otherwise.

"Very well let's go meet this human," Sadridna says standing up and moving her body in a way that tempts me further on purpose.

'Shit,' I think feeling my instincts grow.