Mettora’s wedding ceremony was underway, though dragons didn't actually have much in the way of wedding customs or culture.
Usually, they did little more than report the news to their parents and siblings. Even then, they were likely to receive reactions no more profound than “I figured as much” or “About time,” so these announcements weren't particularly high-stakes affairs.
While parents might occasionally pick out a partner, the individual’s personal will ultimately took priority in the end. Besides, there were some among the dragon race who felt a destined connection the very moment a potential mate was born and would immediately rush to their side. As a result, dragons tended to celebrate the birth of a child or the hatching of an egg far more extravagantly than they did a marriage.
Such was the nature of a dragon wedding. Since there were no special rituals to follow, they kept the proceedings flexible. Furthermore, it had been decided that when they were in their human forms, they could simply imitate human customs. That was how the weddings scheduled for the Royal Capital and the village for Tiselle’s nation-building project would be conducted.
As for the Village of the Great Tree? Apparently, they were going to do it in their dragon forms.
I wanted to ask why it had to be that way, but since that was their true appearance, I suppose it couldn't be helped. The only ones who could stubbornly argue that their true form was human were Hiichiro, Lananon, and the other children who had actually been born as humans.
Fortunately, we held the ceremony at the racetrack in the village south, so there was plenty of space for everyone.
The ceremony began. It was just before noon, and the sky was clear and bright.
Gienel the groom and Mettora the bride entered together in their massive dragon forms. They walked slowly toward Dos and Raimeiren, who waited at the front of the venue in their own draconic glory.
Male dragons lined the right side of the path, while female dragons lined the left. This arrangement was the direct result of everyone finding it too troublesome to decide on a formal seating order. While the specific order of the lines wasn't strictly enforced, the Age of Gods Dragon Race—Draim, Hakuren, Guronde, Giral, and the others—stood closest to Dos, while the Mixed-Generation Dragons gathered near the entrance.
Mettora’s younger sister, Toshira, was positioned right at the boundary between the Age of Gods and the Mixed-Generation dragons, so I suppose some level of consideration had been shown for her status.
The village residents who couldn't transform into dragons attended by standing next to Dos and Raimeiren, where they were safe from being accidentally stepped on. I assumed I would be standing there as well, but for some reason, I was seated in an incredibly high chair placed right between Dos and Raimeiren. It might have been a gesture of respect because I was the Village Head, but they really didn't need to go to such lengths for me. Still, they told me all I had to do was sit still, so I complied.
The bride and groom reached the area in front of Dos and Raimeiren—or rather, right in front of me. Seeing them like this, Gienel and Mettora looked quite impressive. They looked powerful. Of course, they likely couldn't hope to match Dos, Raimeiren, or the others like Giral, Guronde, and Hakuren standing in the rows to either side.
The ceremony proceeded without any issues. Then came the formal marriage declaration.
“W-We are getting married!”
“We are getting married!”
The two of them shouted in unison, sounding very much like athletes taking an oath at an opening ceremony. In response, Dos performed the ritual confirmation.
“If there be any who object to the union of these two, let them speak now.”
A brief silence followed. This was the standard flow of the ritual... or so I thought, until Toshira spoke up.
“Don’t get married!” she shouted.
I wondered how Dos would handle that.
“...Hmph. It seems there are none,” he declared.
He simply ignored her. It was actually quite impressive.
“Then, I acknowledge the marriage of these two. Everyone, raise your voices in blessing. Those who cannot speak, clap your hands. Those without hands, stomp the earth with your feet.”
On his command, the dragons began to roar as one. The air vibrated intensely from the sheer volume, but strangely, it didn't hurt my ears. So this was the blessing of the dragons. The bride and groom looked appropriately bashful.
Then, the atmosphere around Dos and Raimeiren shifted. I knew they usually suppressed their power in a sort of economy mode, but this was something else. Perhaps their feelings of celebration had surged so much that they had decided to get serious. They felt even more divine now than they had during the parade last spring.
Looking around, the aura of the other Age of Gods dragons had changed as well. Even Hiichiro and Lananon, participating in their dragon forms, were the same. The Mixed-Generation dragons, however, had stopped roaring and were bowing their heads low.
The bride and groom were frozen stiff in the face of the overwhelming divinity emanating from Dos and his wife. The village residents standing nearby were similarly paralyzed.
However, I noticed someone else was still moving: the Ice Monster. I wondered if he was actually a more significant entity than I’d realized. He didn't look like much while he was glancing around restlessly, though.
Dos and the other ancient dragons, their presences transformed, continued to roar without paying any mind to their surroundings. It was as if they had entered a collective trance. Even watching them, I felt no sense of worry. For some reason, I was certain that they would return to normal once the roaring ended. I took it as a given, despite never having seen anything like this before.
Perhaps it was because the air itself was being purified by the roars. There was no sense of impending danger; instead, the atmosphere grew clearer by the second. I could tell a truly sacred space was being forged.
Then, the aura of Dos and the other ancient dragons shifted once more, ascending to yet another level. Even as the roaring continued, a voice rang out.
It didn't just reach my ears; it bypassed the noise entirely. It felt as though it was speaking directly into my mind.
“O new pair of the dragon race who dwell upon the earth. I bless thee.”
Whose voice was it? Somehow, I knew. I understood it instinctively, even if I couldn't immediately process the logic behind it. Before I could even ask why, I realized the owner of the voice was a god. It was a deity I didn't know, but there was no mistaking their nature. I couldn't have doubted it if I tried.
“I also acknowledge that which the male of this pair intends to do,” the Voice of God continued, ignoring my confusion. “I have a lot I want to say, but you must endure. Do your best. Give it your absolute all. I’ll be watching over you!”
With that, the voice faded away.
I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but suddenly, the roars of Dos and the other ancient dragons ceased. Every member of the Age of Gods Dragon Race looked dazed. The bride and groom remained motionless, and the Mixed-Generation dragons kept their heads lowered. Even the village residents were still.
The only ones moving were myself and the Ice Monster. He actually waved at me and called out, asking what we should do. I wasn't entirely sure myself.
Umm... for now, I spoke to the dazed Dos to keep the ceremony moving. All that was left was the exit of the bride and groom, after all. I needed to make sure the ceremony finished properly.
“Come on, don't just space out,” I urged. “Mixed-Generation dragons, lift your heads. Everyone, give the bride and groom a round of applause as they leave.”
I also had to reassure the younger sister. “Toshira, calm down. Those two aren't heading off on a journey just yet. You’ll see them at the wedding reception soon enough.”
The reception would be held in human form. We simply couldn't prepare enough food to satisfy everyone in their dragon forms, after all.