"Senior Titus, please follow me."
With a soft croon, Aurora drew a teleportation rune from between her scales.
As the rune flickered with light, the surrounding space warped, and a massive portal wide enough for a dragon to pass through materialized within the cavern.
Sensing the unfamiliar spatial fluctuations, Cassius's golden eyes gleamed, seeing straight through to the portal's destination.
A demiplane.
It was an extradimensional space similar to any ordinary plane, yet of measurable size and limited access.
While other planes could theoretically be infinite, demiplanes were strictly bounded, sometimes spanning no more than a few hundred feet across.
Demiplanes could exist for many reasons. They could be created through arcane or divine magic, or formed by the wish of a powerful deity or other forces. They could also arise naturally, perhaps as folds of a cosmological system pinched off from a universe, or as nascent demi-universes growing in energy.
Recalling knowledge he had acquired before, Cassius stared into the spatial passage and asked in a low voice, "Is this... a demiplane?"
Aurora replied with evident pride, "Yes! Our loth possesses its very own demiplane, called the 'Realm of Eternal Order.' It is the shared home of the hidecarved dragons, and our finest sanctuary for training."
"The Realm of Eternal Order... sounds promising," Cassius murmured, repeating the name as he sensed the faint spatial coordinates.
"Of course, Senior Titus! Once you step inside, you will see—it is far grander than you could imagine."
The two gold dragons, one large and one small, folded their wings and entered the portal one after the other—though for the thirty-some-meter-long Cassius, squeezing through required a bit of extra effort.
They traveled through a conduit within the Ethereal Plane. In just a few minutes, Cassius had completely deciphered the route leading to the Realm of Eternal Order.
Demiplanes almost always anchored themselves somewhere to a larger parent plane. Usually, this was the Material Plane, though portals leading to demiplanes could be found across the Astral Plane, the Ethereal Plane, and any of the Inner or Outer Planes.
These demiplanes had access restrictions: first, they could only be entered from a specific location on their corresponding parent plane. Some demiplanes connected to multiple planes, in which case a distinct gateway existed on each plane linked to it.
Such demiplanes often served as bridges between otherwise unconnected planes, or meeting grounds where different cosmologies converged.
And the Realm of Eternal Order was precisely such a unique sanctum, linking the Material Plane to Mount Celestia. From within the ethereal conduit, he could see several astral conduits reaching toward the Outer Planes.
With a soft flash of white light, the vista opened up before Cassius's eyes. The scenery transformed abruptly, shifting from monochrome into vibrant color.
He had finally emerged from the ethereal conduit into the so-called Realm of Eternal Order, the home of the hidecarved dragons.
"This demiplane..."
Cassius looked around. Before him stretched undulating mountain ranges, babbling brooks, and vast, open highlands.
It was an enormous floating island hundreds of li across, enshrouded within a mysterious, pale-gold force field. Beyond the island lay empty void.
A sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the earth and casting brilliant rays of light in all directions.
Cassius could tell at a glance that this was no true sun, but a projection of the Material Plane's sun. Everything here—the flora, soil, running water—operated under rules simulated from the Material Plane, with only subtle differences.
For instance, under the influence of that mysterious force field, the Weave functioned with greater regularity, and magical reactions were remarkably placid, making it extremely difficult to unleash destructive spells.
Basking in the sunlight, lush vegetation grew in profusion. Benevolent, beautiful creatures such as pegasi, forest stags, and unicorns were everywhere to be seen.
Within this demiplane, every living creature seemed cloaked in a hazy sheen of light.
Wind rustled through dense canopies, and water tinkled over stones, harmonizing into a concerto of peace and tranquility.
Deep within the mountains, cradled by woodlands against a cliffside, stood a magnificent monastery built of pristine white stone, its walls carved with intricate, mystic reliefs.
Gazing upon those harmonious patterns, even Cassius's true body resting in the outside world felt a soothing calm wash over his mind.
It was as though a gentle breeze brushed through his thoughts, effortlessly sweeping away the lingering urges of slaughter and bloodshed.
Cassius could not help but sigh inwardly with admiration. *Truly a marvelous place. As expected of metallic dragons—they're filthy rich.*
Aurora looked toward the distant white palace and introduced it with serene yet uncontainable pride: "Senior Titus, we have arrived. This is the Realm of Eternal Order—a sanctuary of peace for the soul, a monastery for those who seek supreme order, and the gathering place of the hidecarved dragons."
She paused, blinking playfully, and asked with feigned mystery, "By the way, can you guess what makes our loth so unique?"
"What is it?"
Before Aurora could answer, the buffeting of wings stirred the air from the white palace in the distance. Cassius turned toward the sound.
To his surprise, several gleaming gold dragons soared into the sky, flapping their rippling wings with lithe grace.
Beneath the sun, their scales glistened brilliantly, as if bathed in a sacred aura.
Aurora beamed and replied, "You guessed it, Senior Titus. Every single member of the Loth of Eternal Order is of our kin—the noblest and most graceful of dragons, the favorites of Lord Bahamut: gold dragons."
Seeing this young gold dragon heap such lavish praise upon her own kind, Cassius secretly chuckled, though he was hardly surprised.
Gold dragons never concealed their pride. From the moment of their creation, they had fancied themselves Bahamut's eldest children, natural leaders of metallic dragonkind, and the living symbols of goodness and justice.
And in truth, that was usually the case, even if the other metallic dragons loathed admitting it.
Cassius feigned astonishment. "All the hidecarved dragons in the Realm of Eternal Order are gold dragons?"
Aurora spread her wings, involuntarily puffing out her chest. "Indeed! When Lord Ferdinand created this demiplane, he declared: 'Unlike the naive indolence of silver dragons, the eccentric curiosity of bronze dragons, or the tiresome chatter of brass dragons, we gold dragons are calm and composed—natural-born carvers. Only gold dragons can become the finest hidecarved dragons, wielding ancestral power to uphold justice and order across the world.'"
As for dragons beyond the metallic families—chromatic dragons, gem dragons, half-dragons, and the like—Lord Ferdinand had not even deigned to mention them.
In the eyes of gold dragons, such creatures were at best an uneven lot, whether filthy and wicked or of inferior blood, unworthy of comparison.
*Typical gold dragon arrogance,* Cassius mused inwardly.
He smiled and said aloud, "Quite true, Aurora. Your Realm of Eternal Order has indeed given me quite a pleasant surprise."
*Roaaar—*
The distant gold dragons flew toward them one after another, letting out brisk, welcoming roars.
Evidently, they had spotted the thirty-some-meter-long dragon beside Aurora and rejoiced at the prospect of another venerable ancient gold dragon joining their loth.
The adult gold dragon at their lead alighted not far before Cassius. His body was likewise inscribed with exquisite runes, far more intricate than those on Aurora's scales.
"Aurora, wonderful! You've returned so quickly, and brought a guest with you."
"Of course, Uncle Elhernan! Senior Titus has already agreed to join the Realm of Eternal Order."
The dragon named Elhernan turned to Cassius, bowing his head respectfully, bending his forelegs, and pulling in his wings in strict accordance with the etiquette of gold dragons.
"Good day. You must be the renowned 'Dragon of Dawn.' You are truly as powerful and noble an elder as the tales say."
Only then did Elhernan raise his head, the corners of his mouth curving as his barbels fluttered, a smile appearing on his majestic draconic visage. "Welcome to the Loth of Eternal Order, Senior Titus."
Cassius nodded in greeting and said, "I am indeed willing to become a hidecarved dragon. However, I must assist the Mountain Kingdom in eliminating the orc threat for the time being, so I may not be able to remain within the Realm of Eternal Order at all times."
Elhernan sighed in admiration. "Senior Titus, your devotion to justice is truly boundless—you are worthy of the name mortals gave you, the Dragon of Dawn! That will be no issue whatsoever. Our Realm of Eternal Order was founded precisely to pass down the legacy of our ancestors and better uphold justice."
Elhernan turned and pointed toward the white palace in the distance. "In that case, let Aurora show you around our monastery first."
"Very well."
Aurora chimed in cheerfully once more, "Senior Titus, please follow me!"
The demiplane was truly custom-tailored for them. Gliding through the Realm of Eternal Order with the undulating flight unique to gold dragons felt remarkably effortless, as though every passing breeze rose up to lift their wings.
At the same time, the gold dragons flew with remarkable speed, soon arriving before the gates of the white stone monastery.
With a low rumble, the massive gates slowly swung open, revealing a grand, lofty corridor spacious enough for an ancient dragon to walk through, its flanking pillars etched with complex patterns.
On the walls and vaulted ceiling stretched vivid, exquisite murals depicting lifelike dragons.
The first of these dragons had sought to transcend draconic instinct in pursuit of pure order, attempting to carve mystic runes into its own scales.
This was the origin of hidecarving.
Aurora explained, "As you likely know, the Hidecarved are a unique order composed of dragons and half-dragons. Our name derives from the sigils inscribed upon our scales, which grant wondrous, mystical protections. Hidecarved dragons are disciplined beings dedicated to personal perfection and mystical transcendence."
The young gold dragon pointed to the mural. "Most hidecarved dragons are true dragons, as drakes, landwyrms, wyverns, and other dragonkin lack the thick, heavy scales required to bear the carvings. Of course, more importantly—they lack the intellect and willpower needed to become one of us.
"Yet, not every hidecarved dragon seeks pure order. Over the past thousand years, vile chromatic dragons like blue and green dragons have basely stolen the power of carving, seeking to forge their own wicked order."
At this, Aurora's face instinctively showed distaste. But quickly, she smiled and added, "Still, creatures like red dragons—with heads full of nothing but muscle and magma—will never be worthy of becoming hidecarvers."
A red dragon joke—a rare piece of humor favored by the typically stern and rigid gold dragons.
Cassius's lips twitched faintly. *Your rules are about to be shattered by a red dragon disguised as a gold dragon,* he thought.
Aloud, he kept an entirely straight face and said, "Indeed. Chaotic evil creatures like red dragons will never comprehend the true essence of order."
Aurora led Cassius to the end of the corridor and into an even vaster hall hundreds of meters high. It was impeccably clean and orderly, with several gold dragons inside.
They rested upon individual raised platforms, some meditating with eyes closed, others using specialized conical crystals to carve runes into their scales, thoroughly absorbed in their disciplines.
Indeed, the training of hidecarved dragons bore a strong resemblance to that of monks, and they likewise possessed honed bodies, iron wills, and supernatural power.
The hall was utterly quiet, save for the occasional chime of a distant bell.
Cassius looked up. At the apex of the hall hung an enormous disk nearly a hundred meters across, its surface engraved with intricate tracery.
At the center of the disk rested a dull, lusterless silver scale, similarly inscribed with mystic runes.
What startled Cassius even more was the overwhelming aura radiating from that scale, an aura so potent it stirred an urge within him to prostrate and worship.
Looking upon the runes etched into the disk and scale, he felt a profound sense of flawless order.
It seemed the physical embodiment of justice and order, representing supreme authority, so much so that even his soul felt on the verge of being cleansed and purified.
For a split second, Cassius was seized by an impulse to revert to his true form. Fortunately, he forcibly suppressed it, keeping his Ancient Dragon Form intact.
He could not help uttering in astonishment, "This is..."
Beside him, however, Aurora was gazing quietly at the disk, having unknowingly slipped into meditation, deaf to the elder dragon's words.
Suddenly, a calm, pure female voice drifted down from above.
"That is a shed scale of Lord Lendys, the dragon god of balance and justice. Thousands of years ago, Ferdinand used this very scale as the foundation to create this demiplane—what you know as the Realm of Eternal Order."
Cassius raised his head to see another massive gold dragon, likewise thirty-some meters long, gently descending from the heights of the monastery on broad, sweeping wings.
Her golden eyes were placid and still, coolly appraising the dragons below—including Cassius amidst their ranks.
Aurora snapped awake from her trance. Looking up, she spoke with delighted reverence, "Teacher Beatrice!"
Fearing the newcomer might be confused, Aurora hurried to explain, "This is Teacher Beatrice, daughter of the great wyrm Ferdinand, and an elder of the Realm of Eternal Order.
"She is also the 'Bestower' within our loth; our initial runes were all carved by her hand. That is why nearly every kin in the Realm of Eternal Order respectfully calls her 'Teacher.'"
Yet at that moment, the ancient gold dragon called Beatrice fixed Cassius with a piercing, scrutinizing gaze.
Their eyes met, and the ancient gold dragon spoke with deep meaning: "Good day. You must be Titus, the 'Dragon of Dawn.' The Realm of Eternal Order welcomes any of our kin who pursues order. But why is it... that upon you, I see a mist of concealment?"
Chapter 582