" The emperor defending a human woman ? " Barok discussed among his fellow elders the lines of surprise drawn along his forehead . " It is unheard of . " " I am quite surprised myself , " Myrka drawled , before he corrected . " Surprised and frustrated , if he is being stubborn about something like this , he is likely to do it . " " We cannot allow that , " Adolrth muttered , his eyes blazing with fury as well , " A human woman , empress over our heads ? I can't think of a more befitting abomination ." " I think we should calm down as well , " Barok concluded . " We don't want to act rash and then lose our heads ." " I would rather lose my head than watch a worthless human become empress over our precious dragon lairs , " Jun answered , his long white hair let down , cascading across his broad shoulders . " Our fathers and the ones before them have cultivated these lands for the last ten thousand years , we lost our shifting powers because of a mistake our ancestors made , and now we are going to watch that hatchling make the same mistake ." Jun seemed angrier than the rest , maybe because he came from the angry tribe of the storm dragons , who are usually always angry . " We should do something about it , " Adolrth advised . " That is exactly my point , and I am also saying , getting angry out loud is pointless ," Barok stated as he turned to face the rest of his fellow elders . " Let's send the emperor our congratulations . " " And then what ? " Jun yelled even more . " Support this madness ! We allowed his father to create him , and look now , we can't control him . We are afraid of the day he comes to claim our lives . I didn't spend the last seven hundred years of training to be killed off by a dragon who hasn't reached puberty . " " Calm down , " Myrka advised as he nudged him . " The emperor has passed puberty , though , but let's listen to Barok first . I am sure he isn't pleased with the news as well ." " Thank you , Myrka , " Barok cleared his throat . " Let's send the emperor our congratulations , and also pick out the best gifts for his future wife . No matter how strong a human is , she is still a human woman , and they are most fragile . " His eyes darken . " Who knows , we could all wake up and she would be dead . " The information registered faster than intended , as they glanced at each other in agreement , if that was the only way they could get the emperor to give up on committing the abomination he is insisting on . " You think that is going to work ? " There came the still voice , the only one who had refused to join their conversation . The verdant dragon , Lucivar , his green hair had darken with age , and he kept it short , just above his forehead . He probably became a monk in his free days , the other elders disliked him greatly , and as he was rarely in support of anything they agreed on . 11:06 Tue , Sep Chapter 17 55 vouchers " You think the emperor is going to believe his healthy human toy just died from an accident one day ? " He then chuckled as if laughing at their efforts to restore cultural peace . " Then what do you suggest we do ? " Jun faced him ready to fight if it got down to it , " Fold our arms sit in the shadows and laugh ? If the emperor himself isn't going to regard the culture of our nation then don't you think we will be hypocrites for enforcing it on the people ? " " But the emperor is right , he is the law , which means if he sees fit , he could restore such broken law , " Lucivar answered with a blunt smile on his face , a little satisfied with the outburst of his fellow elder . " I believe there is nothing wrong with finding mates in a human . We are only here today because one of our ancestors found his human mates , even though he was a hideous beast . " Everyone watched him in awe of his foolishness , Myrka and Adolrth trying their best to hold it in . " Humans are pure creatures born out of love , they can love no matter the form or shape . " He continued . " Maybe someone can love him for being the demon of destruction he is . " " I understand your point , Lucivar , " Barok answered with a distasteful hiss . " But anything else but a human . It was because one of our ancestors mated with a human that's the reason we had taken this hideous form ." He stared down at his skin like it was a sin . " I hated looking anything like those weak creatures , " Barok continued , his eyes flashing red . " Dragons are majestic beasts ; those are what we would have been , but we are not dragons , neither are we humans , we are in between . We can't even shift , because of this so - called love . " " Azmaveth is the closest thing to a dragon ," Lucivar reminded . " He risks awakening the true dragon , and you see how we all fear him . " " Because we are weak ," Jun added . " Because we are more human than dragon , we should all be like Azmaveth . " " You want us to be demons , causing chaos and destruction , unable to control our emotions ? " Lucivar asked with confusion , and then the elder quieted . " The emperor will not sit still if you hurt his woman . At least let her be for now , this is the first time he is interested in a woman , let's see if she lasts or if he will kill her himself . " " I would like to go home , " Jun hissed . " I can't waste my time talking to old fools . " " If you hurt her , the emperor wouldn't sit still , " Lucivar thought to advise them , " You think he doesn't know that someone among us , the elders , has been sending assassins to kill him . The bodies , the guards , the aids he kills , do you think they are for no reason ? " Barok's eyes flashed . " Did the emperor tell you he is being attacked by assassins ? " He asked curiously , and Lucivar shrugged . Myrka inched forward . " Do you have any idea what you are accusing us of ? " He yelled . " That's treason ! I am tired of your nonsense . How would you conclude that whoever sends the assassin is here ? " " Because no one would dare if not one of the elders of the tribe . " He continued . " And out of the respect the emperor has for us , he blames it on his madness , and everyone thinks he kills people for fun , because he is a 11:06 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 17 mindless killer . " " Then this means ... " Adolrth muttered . " Yes , there is a traitor amongst us ." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!