Chapter 47: Interest

In fact, Demos didn't venture to other parts of Taiji Island; he never left the Five-Color Dragon Castle. To him, everything on Taiji Island seemed like child's play.

Having traveled across Erathia in his lifetime, Demos had seen countless wonders. Many giants considered the grand City of Giants and its resplendent White Jade Palace at the center as the largest and most luxurious constructs in Erathia.

But to Demos, these buildings were insignificant. Erathia was home to many more impressive structures, such as the Sky City suspended by powerful magical formations, the Mage City with its thousands of towering mage towers, and the City of the Dead, built from endless bones…

Within Taiji Island, what truly captured Demos's interest were the over a hundred young evil dragons in the Dragon Castle, diligently studying magic.

"This number," Demos mused as he observed the young dragons busily memorizing magical models from their spellbooks, smacking his lips, "Atrelis was even more ruthless than I was in my time, to gather so many evil dragons for my grandson."

"Yet, my grandson is more intriguing, making evil dragons learn magic." Demos watched the young dragons with great interest as they bobbed their heads, trying to memorize spells.

As Demos wandered through the study room, none of the dragons could see him; it was as if he didn't exist.

"All the dragons are learning different spells," Demos muttered after observing several young dragons. "It seems my grandson has invested a lot of effort in them."

Suddenly, Demos stopped beside a white dragon memorizing a spellbook, "Ice Spear, a third-level spell."

"A bronze third-tier white dragon learning a third-level spell," Demos observed the unique white dragon, "This demeanor doesn't fit a white dragon; it's more like a crystal dragon, yet it's indeed a pure-blooded white dragon."

"Have you memorized this third-level spell yet?" the focused Claudia suddenly heard a gentle male voice by her side.

"Yes, almost done," Claudia replied instinctively.

"Can you construct it in your mental sea?"

"No prob..." Claudia turned abruptly, her gaze meeting a golden-haired young man smiling at her.

Seeing this seemingly insignificant human, Claudia bristled, instinctively retreating. She knew instinctively that this was no ordinary human, perhaps not a human at all.

Claudia looked around in horror, realizing none of the other dragons could see the young man beside her. Trembling, she asked, "What are you?"

Demos didn't answer but looked down at himself, then back at the visibly trembling Claudia, "I've concealed my aura completely; can you still sense my power?"

"I can't," Claudia stuttered, aware the young man exhibited no extraordinary power, appearing just like a normal human youth. Yet, only a fool would consider him ordinary.

"Then why are you afraid?"

"Please, stop teasing me. I'm just an ordinary white dragon. There are so many dragons here; go bother someone else," Claudia pleaded, close to tears.

Demos looked around, then had an epiphany. He understood that it was his "ordinariness" that terrified her, the fear of the unknown being the most terrifying.

"Smart white dragon, you indeed stand out. You haven't answered my question: can you construct a third-level spell model in your mental sea?"

"Yes." Claudia, now less frightened and more composed, realized that if this being wanted to harm her, nothing she did would make a difference.

"And you can cast a third-level spell while only being bronze third-tier?" Demos asked in surprise.

"Yes." Claudia, bolstered by the question, stood proudly. Among the dragons in the castle, she was the only one capable of casting beyond her tier, a source of great pride.

"Incredible," Demos marveled at the confident white dragon before him. "Even among gold and silver dragons, it's rare to find such talented dragons capable of casting beyond their tier. Are you sure you're a white dragon?"

"Of course."

"What a pity," Demos sighed. Among all dragon kinds, white dragons were the weakest. Such a talented dragon born into the weakest kind was unfortunate. "Do you enjoy studying magic?"

"I do."

"Why?"

"Because learning magic compensates for my innate weaknesses. I'm the weakest white dragon, but with magic, even red dragons wouldn't dare provoke me."

Claudia echoed Muria's teachings: "In Erathia, for every ten dragons that die, seven are white dragons. To not end up slaughtered, I must study magic diligently and become strong enough that no one dares to provoke me."

"That makes sense," Demos nodded. "Being the most hunted by humans, it's true for white dragons."

Muria had told her, "Even as a white dragon, you are still a dragon. You should not live aimlessly like ordinary beasts. A dragon should live as a dragon ought to."

"What does a dragon ought to live like?" Demos, intrigued by his grandson's words, asked.

"True dragons emerge, and all beasts prostrate, all spirits revere."

"My grandson is truly interesting," Demos laughed, appreciating Claudia's response.

As he laughed, an idea struck him. Acting on his newfound interest, he moved to the front of the study room, making himself visible to the young dragons.

"Who is he? When did he come in?" All the dragons in the room noticed Demos, the "small human" compared to their current size.

"Is that a human?" A red dragon eyed Demos, licking its lips, drooling slightly.

"Idiot." Cynthia, a young dragon beside it, smacked its head to the ground. "How

 could there be humans here? Use your brain."

"Big sis, then who is he?" Another red dragon turned to Cynthia for answers.

"Don't know. Definitely not human. Better behave if you don't want trouble."

Demos then declared to the classroom, "From today onwards, as my grandson Muria has just entered his slumber, I will be your magic teacher. Any objections?"

"I have no objection!" Albert, a young dragon, immediately voiced his support, clearly understanding the implications of Demos's relationship with Muria.

With one leading, the others followed. No dragon in the room was a fool; years of structured learning in the castle had made them different from the typical chaotic evil dragons. They were orderly and reasoned well.

"Good," Demos nodded in satisfaction, pleased with how well his grandson had trained the dragons.

Outside on the castle's platform, the golden cocoon containing Muria continued to absorb elements from the wind, thunder, and fire around it. Inside, Muria was undergoing a crucial transformation in his life, while inside the castle, Demos taught magic with growing interest.

Time passed quietly, seemingly unchanged, yet everything was transforming.