"That's a good idea"
Ina smiled with evident relief. She truly didn't want to endure the whispers and indirect questions from everyone, asking who this newly emerged dragon was or if she had stolen the dragon's lineage through some nefarious means.
She transformed into a black dragon after she defeated Nidhogg, the black dragon that sought to destroy the World Tree. However, Ina had strong doubts about the existence of this dragon in the dragon's knowledge. To her, Nidhogg felt like a boss character created solely for a game experience since dragons like Ahti and Telyssa didn't recognize its name.
With the crisis averted, the dragons dispersed. Ina invited Ahti, Luciano, and some familiar dragons to her restaurant. Ahti recounted their early experiences in the Old God Ruins as they walked.
At that time, the Ghost Vines were undoubtedly the rulers of this area. They left traces everywhere, and countless humans, beastmen, and goblins were dragged into the thorny thickets before they could even react, drained of all their blood and flesh. Their party had lost a third of its members almost instantly.
Eventually, the stronger beings from various races recognized the peril of the Old God Ruins. They hastily led the survivors back to the portal they had come from, but the space gateway slowly closed. They only realized they had fallen into a trap, possibly forever barred from returning to the Moro Continent.
After a period of chaos and despair, they decided to unite temporarily to clear an area for temporary shelter.
But their challenges were far from over. The encroaching Ghost Vines constantly reduced their livable space. A mage who had ventured into the ruins out of love for exploration found that his Vistan's Breath could transform the pervasive white fog above the ruins into an easily combustible black mist.
This discovery gave everyone a glimmer of hope. They converted the mist into small areas and then ignited it, carving out a territory. However, a particularly robust Ghost Vine soon snatched away the Vistan's Breath.
This was dire news. Vistan's Breath constantly turned the abundant white fog of the Old God Ruins into unstable black mist. If this black mist filled the entire space, even a minor spell cast by the mages could trigger a massive explosion powerful enough to overturn the earth.
Lyssalian, the Dragon King of that time and the most potent being there took it upon himself to retrieve Vistan's Breath. The Ghost Vines were even more powerful and numerous than now, fueled by fresh blood and flesh and at their most ferocious. Lyssalian succeeded in retrieving Vistan's Breath but was trapped, drained of his magic, in a cage of countless intertwining vines. Serasihel tried her best to rescue him. Though Lyssalian handed her the Vistan's Breath, he eventually fell into an eternal slumber in these lands.
Serasihel's greatest regret was her inability to recover her brother's remains, Lyssalian. The Ghost Vines that had absorbed Lyssalian's power were incredibly resilient. In an environment where magic couldn't be replenished, escape was near impossible if these vines ensnared you.
Serasihel rose as the new leader of the dragons. She collaborated with the leaders of other races, and together, they developed a cooperative mode of existence within the Old God Ruins. Over three hundred years, she collected the remains of countless beings whose lifetimes had expired, vowing to bury them in the Moro Continent. Yet, she couldn't grant her brother Lyssalian that same peace.
Now, Serasihel gently touched her brother's eyes, believing that even if she never returned home in her lifetime, her brother could rest in the serene dragon tomb.
---
On the day Vilanthe claimed her fourth territory, the people of Elvysto gifted her two gemstones: a large, clear, droplet-shaped ruby and a square-shaped aquamarine.
Accompanying the gems was a letter. It stated that one of the gems was a gift from the Silver Empire, while the other was sent on behalf of Ina. Ina's message read, "Perhaps it can be used on your coronation crown."
Vilanthe touched the sparkling gem with her fingertip, murmuring, "That's a good idea."
---
The trend of Practical Magic Realism began to rise; at least hints of it were evident in the Silver Empire.
Many business associations established their workshops, or they brought the workshops they had long built into the light of day. Elvys ratified guidelines on the construction and operation of these workshops, recognizing their legitimacy to some extent.
Several practicality-oriented mages, including Professor Derick, occupied influential positions in the Magic Association. They immediately marginalized the traditionalists who had been vocally criticizing the workshops. Although the official reasons given weren't directly related to the workshops, everyone could see why they were being sidelined.
In fact, most mages, the lower-level ones, were quite supportive of the workshops' emergence. At first glance, this matter seemed irrelevant to them. However, it offered these less affluent mages a viable way to earn money—by charging Gold Veined Magic Crystals with energy.
The workshops consumed vast amounts of magic crystals during their production processes. Modern businesses now prefer to use the newly available Gold Veined Magic Crystals. These could be recharged and reused, making them far more cost-effective than regular magic crystals. This new demand paved the way for many low-level mages, mostly of commoner or lesser noble backgrounds, to find dignified employment. These mages often struggled financially from the cost of their magical education and avoided mundane tasks like serving the daily needs of the rich or nobility. Now, recharging these crystals has become a respectable job.
While other business associations highlighted mass-produced everyday items in their general stores, the Dragonflame Association didn't compete in this market. Instead, they collaborated with alchemists and mages skilled in magic machinery. They introduced a plethora of intricate, practical magic machines and some improved inventions like a new type of candle. Incorporated with a cheap magical material, this candle burned with a steady flame and produced no odor.
These minor innovations quickly won the favor of the common people. Their old candles, made from animal fat, emitted an unpleasant greasy stench when burned and produced a lot of smoke and soot. The new candles only had a slight modification, yet they significantly reduced the odor and eliminated the smoke.
Out of necessity, commoners began visiting the Dragonflame Association's general stores, filled with magical machines. They soon discovered that these magical devices were practical for daily use and were not as expensive as rumored.
Gradually, the populace became accustomed to browsing the Dragonflame Association's stores. Whenever a new practical magic device appeared, they would inquire about its functions and price, even taking home what was previously considered exclusive goods for the mage elites.
---
**Dragonflame Restaurant**
*Level:* 9
*Experience Points:* [Value not given]
After opening a branch in the Old God Ruins, the restaurant's experience points soared not only due to trades with the dragons but also thanks to Ina's efforts, who went from village to village with a cart selling food, significantly contributing to the restaurant's experience points.
At this rate, the restaurant would take less than a week to level up to 10. However, Ina was impatient and wanted to speed up the leveling process.
Mist Town.
Once, Mist Town was divided into the Fog Moon and Clear Moon phases. When the fog lifted, the townspeople were astonished to discover that the town had distinct seasons. The previous year saw heavy snowfall. Many had tears as they looked at the snow-covered world, reminiscent of their emotions when they first witnessed a sunrise in the town.
The town was no longer shrouded in gray, dependent only on paints for a splash of color. Yards and doorsteps of the townspeople bloomed with various vibrant flowers, captivating passersby with their beauty.
On the polished stone pathway leading to the Dragonflame Restaurant, meticulously designed tulips of various colors were in full bloom. Visitors would instinctively slow down, allowing themselves to be drawn into the picturesque scene.
The subtle fragrance of flowers greeted one's senses, and if there was a hint of tea aroma, it meant you were on the right path, approaching the town's most popular spot - Dragonflame Restaurant.
Today, the restaurant was hosting a special event. For a mere copper coin, guests could relish the signature dish: boiled fish. After some tweaks to the recipe, they offered the dish in four spice levels: mild, medium, normal, and extra spicy. Yet, most preferred the original level, where the true essence of the dish was experienced - making one's forehead sweat and lips tingle from the heat.
Inside, every seat was taken. The town's population had burgeoned over time, with many mercenaries who had passed through the Midnight Marshes choosing to settle here. Mist Town, with its idyllic scenery and simple, honest townspeople, might be a bit secluded, but for those mercenaries seeking a life away from their dangerous adventures, it was the perfect haven.
Red-haired werewolf Keira, with eyes shimmering with excitement, went from table to table, raising her mug in toast. After downing her ale, she turned to Hana, who was slicing into a bacon-wrapped melon roll, and exclaimed, "To the finest baker in our town!"
Hana shot her a playful glare, leaned back slightly, and clinked her mug with Keira's, retorting, "To the biggest ranch owner in our town."
Keira's face lit up in joy, and she quickly moved to the town's mayor, Rosa, announcing, "To our diligent mayor and to Lilith, who brought the sun back to us."
With hearty laughter, Rosa gulped down her wine, replying, "I'll drink to that. And for Lilith, cheers to you, too."
Lastly, Keira leaned against the bar counter, lifting her mug to Lesley behind the bar, declaring, "To the Dragonflame Association and Miss Ina, who changed everything for the better."
Lifting her glass of apple juice, Lesley echoed, "To Miss Ina."