My name was Lananon.
I usually only revealed my name to those who dared to challenge me, but I suppose whispering it to myself was permissible.
Honestly, I had imposed a rather troublesome restriction on myself. It made it nearly impossible to communicate properly. After all, who could be expected to trust someone who refused to identify themselves?
I really felt like giving my past self a good thrashing... though that would only have hurt me. Perhaps I should have just scolded her instead.
But I digress. Allow me to start over.
I was Lananon of the Age of Gods Dragon Race, the wife of the Dragon King Gulgrant. Do not mistake me for the common dragons found in these times. I was of the rare Divine Dragon lineage. Crude tongues might have called us serpents with limbs, but we were a type of ancient and noble standing.
Well, all members of the Age of Gods Dragon Race possessed noble standing, really.
Now then. The lifespan of our race was eternal. Even so, death did exist for us. We did not die from physical decay, but rather from a decline in spirit—a loss of vitality. Our sleeping hours would grow longer and longer until, finally, our bodies turned to stone and our lives came to an end.
Death had been drawing near for me as well. I was meant to pass into the next world through a long, final slumber. I was not afraid. My husband, who had departed before me, was waiting on the other side. My only regret was a slight sense of loneliness at the thought of parting from this world.
That was what I believed as I drifted off, only to be suddenly shaken awake.
What was happening? What was going on?
It was no use; I could not open my eyes. My eyelids had already turned to stone. Yet, I could feel my dragon body and spirit being forcibly dragged back to consciousness. What had been done to my petrified form?
I lacked information!
I forced my eyes open through sheer willpower. It was dark. Come to think of it, I had chosen the depths of a lightless cave for my final rest.
I did not panic. I was a Divine Dragon. With enough concentration, I could see through the deepest gloom.
I saw several small flickers of light and something moving nearby. Tiny creatures? I could not quite focus my gaze. No, it was not old age; I had simply just woken up. I tried to remain calm. I vaguely recalled hearing that looking at greenery was good for the eyes... or was that only for seeing things far away? In any case, there were no plants in a lightless cavern.
But what did that matter? I possessed an overflowing abundance of magic power! I would simply use it to enhance my vision.
There! I could see!
Let’s see... a tiny creature was sitting on the bridge of my nose? How impudent! And then, that little thing reached toward my eye and—
"Aaaaaagh! My eyes! My eyes!"
The tiny creature had smeared something into my eye! No, she had practically jammed it in! Who was this person? A Devil? Had their race come seeking revenge after all this time? To hold a grudge over such ancient history... this was exactly why no one liked them!
Wait...
My vision was becoming strangely clear. The pain had vanished.
I looked again. The tiny creature before me was not a Devil, but a human girl. And the substance she had shoved into my eye... was it some kind of herbal decoction? But that magic power... surely those were World Tree leaves?
Looking at her hands, she must have used dozens of them! Had I been anything other than an Age of Gods Dragon, the sheer potency would have mutated me! What a reckless, dangerous way to use such a resource.
But who was she? World Tree leaves were strictly guarded; they were not the sort of thing one could just carry around. To use dozens of them at once... did the world truly need my power that badly? Enough to wake me from my final sleep?
What were the other dragons doing? Had they all perished?
The girl was shouting something, but I could not hear her. My ears were blocked. I used my magic to clear them.
There. I could hear now. Very well, let us hear what she had to say. What did she want from me?
"Shift your body a little to the side!"
I beg your pardon? Could she say that again?
"Your body is blocking the city's water source! Shift to the side!"
I moved as she asked. My body had turned to stone, so it did not move easily, but I managed.
Wait... I thought I had been a bit more curled up when I went to sleep. Had my sleeping posture always been this poor?
As I shifted, water began to gush from the ground. The little humans were rejoicing. Ah, so my restlessness had been causing trouble for them? My apologies. Though, I was certain there had not been a water source nearby when I first lay down. Had the land changed over the long centuries?
I wanted to ask her about it, but—wait just a moment! She was trying to leave as if her business were finished! What about me? I had been forcibly awakened! She told me "goodnight," but my eyes were now wide open!
Good heavens. How much time had passed since I closed my eyes? What was the state of the world? I needed information!
"If you want to know my name, then challenge me!" I declared.
Wait. I did not think she would actually try to punch me. I did say to challenge me, but I had only just woken up! I could not move properly yet! It felt wrong to start swinging the moment someone opened their eyes. Surely there should have been a bit more dialogue first?
She looked at me as if I were a nuisance.
Communication was important, even if I was the one who suggested the challenge. Besides, she should have shown a bit more respect to a dragon. We were not the sort of beings humans could just chat with normally.
What? Her parent was an Age of Gods Dragon?
Do not lie to me. Ah, an adoptive parent? I suppose that was possible. And what was this dragon's name?
Hakuren? I did not know the name. But... the power I felt from it... could she be Raimeiren's daughter?
Oh! Raimeiren was my granddaughter. I see, I see.
Wait. If Raimeiren had a daughter, then her partner must have been little Dos. She had been quite obsessed with him, after all.
What? Little Dos was the current Dragon King? That boy? It was not that I felt uneasy; he was a serious lad, so I was sure he was doing a fine job. If he ever slacked off, I was certain Raimeiren would whip him into shape.
Did Hakuren have other children? Oh, biological ones this time. Hiichiro, Hikaru, and Himiko. I see. Having many children was a wonderful thing.
And one named Lananon?
Ho. Ho-ho. What an excellent name. I see, I see. Was she also Hakuren's daughter? No, Lastismoon's daughter?
So, Dos and Raimeiren had a son named Draim, whose daughter was Lastismoon, and her daughter was named Lananon. I see.
Well, then! I had to go and meet them to offer my blessing. I assumed she knew where they were? I requested her guidance.
What? My name? Since she had "challenged" me, I should tell her? That was not quite how it worked, but...
Fine, fine. Listen well. My name was Lananon. Lananon of the Age of Gods Dragon Race. A fine name, was it not? And what was her name? Urza? That was a fine name as well.
I told her I would pay her a reward for the guidance.
Wait? Where were the treasures I had gathered before I slept? Gone? Stolen? No, looking around, this was not even the same place where I had lain down. Had I wandered off in my sleep?
In any case, I had no reward to give her. I felt some resistance to the idea of relying on Raimeiren or little Dos.
And the reward she wanted was for me to help with her work? What did she think she was saying to an Age of Gods Dragon? We were demigods! She should show more respect—
Wait. There was an Age of Gods Dragon who grew daikon?
What? Eh? Field work? A dragon?
What on earth had happened to my race while I was asleep?