The two went up various flights of stairs which took minutes to navigate. Syra had her hands behind her back, holding one to the other as she walked. Garlath strolled through the halls excitedly.

"I'm sorry to have to drag you all the way up here to present your present Syra, but I had to make some last minute preparations, make sure it was all to your possible liking, all that stuff."

"Your fine, Garlath." Syra chuckled as she was led through the fortress.

After another minute the trio made it before a large door that reached the ceiling at the end of the hall. Garlath walked forward and slowly opened the door wide. The room was completely pitch black, Syra was unable to make out any features of the chamber, be it furniture, walls, or decorations of any sort, with the exception of several fiery eyes with slit pupils glowing in the dark. Colors of Red, Green, Amber, all eye colors Syra was familiar with. After a few seconds ominous silence torches suddenly came alight each matching the eye colors of the beings inside and the room is illuminated, seeing four dragons in their true forms, her whole family was here, and it was time for the ceremony.

Syra turned back to Garlath who was grinning at her, she assumed he wanted to surprise her with the ceremony, she couldn’t help but smile warmly at him. Syra walked inside taking a look at the chamber. It was a massive room stuffed to the brim with various decorations, mainly of pure opulence, statues crafted out of valuable metals adorned with jewels, depicting the family's conquest over the mortals. On the table in the center of the room was a large banquet made up of various meats, lamb, pork, beef, varieties of poultry all giving off a scent of freshly spiced and cooked meat. She wondered if these we're all tributes and offerings made by those under her family's rule for the occasion.

Garlath continued to escort his sister into the chamber while she continued to examine her surroundings. Standing next to Ashna and Kargha where high ranking members of her parents forces, three half-dragons, mortals with dark hearts blessed with pseudo dragonhood with half a dragon's normal appearance with horns and a single dragon eye. 

On the other side of the room her uncle Malroth stood, not saying a word but simply staring down at her with a grin, a wave of uneasiness washing over her. 

Noticing her unease Garlath turned Syra around to the left of the room seeing plastered on the wall a large map dotting the entirety of the world with it's name engraved at the bottom, 'Isvarla' on each of the continents towards the eastern half of the map we're all engraved with dragon claws and other various markings each with a different color indicating the domain of each dragon.

"It's time for you to choose your land to claim, Syra." Kargha said proudly, smiling warmly with his dragon teeth, sparks of green flames shooting from his mouth.

Syra smiled at her father nodding before approaching the world map examining it. Most of the land on the eastern half of Isvarla had already been claimed. The large mile spanning island to the north and the continent that surrounded it was claimed by her parents, with an engraving of their claws of red and green, crossing over each other.

To the south we're four island continents, the leftmost island was a crescent shape with a teal eye and black pupil emblem, land owned by Ashrak, two smaller islands had emblems of fire, cobalt blue on the northern island for Nalcarr's domain, and indigo for Ulroth's claiming the south island. The eastern most island a clump of land was engraved with an amber sigil of a dragon's grinning jaws representing Malroth's land.

West just off the coast of her parent's domain's was Garlath's, and archipelago owned by dwarves covered with a purple sigil of a dragon's paw covering the entirety of the islands.

The northern and southern pole continents we're icy hellish wastelands and we're deemed cursed by the family as that was where Xyrak and Abyssar met their end, the former to the north, latter in the south, so those lands we're out of the question.

Syra continued to examine the map, finally managing to find a small handful of places to claim as her own, to the north there we're the northlands just below the north arctic continent inhabited by dwarves and frost wolf-folk. Instead she set her sights far to the westernmost reaches of Isvarla, untouched by the family, two large continents that we're broken up by a large channel of the ocean. 'Kasgara' it read, she could be far away in her own domain away from the rest of her family, a place where she could probably have full influence on the land she owned, away from Malroth and her cousins.

"This... this shall be my domain." Syra said, her voice getting louder with excitement, and she held her hand in the air, a surge of dark magic forming through her arm to her palm before unleashing, "Konrath!" she shouted in the dark tongue as a bolt of black and cyan shot forth from her palm striking the map, and an emblem started to take shape covering the entirety of the south continent. It took on the shape of a roaring dragon head in the color of cyan, this would be her banner when she claims her land.

Syra turned back, high on the sensation of power in the moment, feeling her inner nature coming to the forefront, "The people of these lands have lived away from our influence for far too long! I will bring them into our empire as their first tyrant!"

There was an applause from her parents, brother, and her family's highest ranking underlings for Syra's announcement, even Malroth had a grin of approval on his face.

After saying that the sensation of power and desire to dominate those below her faded. She blinked looking around before smiling trying to keep up appearances, it was the first time she ever embraced her draconic nature. It felt good, but... it felt wrong in a way she could not understand.

As the applause died down Garlath spoke up, "And a future tyrant needs something to showcase their might." he then took on his true form, towering over Syra and the various minions in the chamber before turning his head to the entrance and stomping his feet.

The doors swung open with a group of dwarves adorned in adamant chainmail that had a light teal hue to them. The head dwarf in front of the rest was an adamant plate and had a warhammer made of granite on his back while the others wielded war axes and shortswords. The dwarves in the back we're carrying what appeared to be a large obsidian cube with an ornate decoration on it.

The group of dwarves walked before Syra before getting on their knees before the princess and setting the cube to the ground. Syra looked at the cube and upon closer inspection she noticed a seem near the top of the cube as well as an ornate locking mechanism, with a keyhole in the shape of a dragon's claw.

"A gift from our master, princess." the head dwarf said, his voice impressively deep from a being so small. 

Syra turned to Garlath what was grinning and shifted how paw towards the box gesturing her to go on. She obliged  approaching the box, she felt a sensation through her horns detecting a hint of powerful magic as she approached the obsidian box. She looked at the unique locking mechanism and transformed her right hand into a dragon paw and inserted her claw into the keyhole, in an instant the box unlocked itself and opened up.

Inside the box was a blackish grey was a sword that was slightly longer than the average shortsword with a golden hilt sheathed in a scabbard that matched her dress. She reached inside the box slowly pulling out the sword and her eyes went wide, it was a sword crafted by both dwarf and elven hands, the blade was made of a blackish grey metal with red along the edges. On the sides of the sword we're engravings of elvish runes of magic. Her eyes went wide, it was a spell blade made of Isvarlite, a weapon designed to enhance her spellcasting capabilities and to infuse magic into the weapon itself.

"I... Garlath I..." Syra couldn't find words to say in the moment.

Garlath let out a satisfied chuckle that echoed throughout the room, "I'm glad you like it."

"Like it!?" Syra exclaimed as she was fastening the scabbard around her hips, "I love it!" she held the sword up grinning excitedly. The runes on her sword began to glow with cyan flames as the blade began to attune to her, "It's just this... and the dress." she looked at her parents, "All of it, thank you."

Ashna and Kargha smiled warmly at their daughter, Garlath turned back to his normal form before walking up to his sister and gave her a strong hug lifting her off her feet for a moment before setting her back down. After the hug Syra turned around to see Malroth behind her causing her to freeze up, before he finally spoke.

"Ah, what a nice gift from one's sibling, but it's a shame you have nothing to properly practice or test your new weapon on, wouldn't you agree my niece?"

Syra froze in place hearing what he said, knowing he had something unpleasant in mind, "I... I suppose." 

Malroth let out a chuckle, "Well I have good news for you!" he then stomped his paws on the floor. A second after that the door to the chamber slammed open as three more figures walk into the room, dragging a fourth by a chain.

Syra's cousins, Ashrak with teal eyes, Nalcarr with blue, and Ulroth with indigo, all three adorned in black robes with decorative threads matching their eye color. The three we're pulling on a chain that was leashed to the neck of a high elven woman with tan skin, covered in scars and adorned in rags.

Syra looked at the woman, dread flowing through her mind as she realized what Malroth had in mind.

"Brought to you from our isles the perfect target for you to test your weapon on." Malroth said with a wicked grin.

The trio took the elf yanking her harshly by the chain before presenting her to Syra. "This one's a little beat up, but should be fine for you test your weapon on right?" Ulroth said, his indigo eyes piercing Syra's. As the three put the elf in place, pinning the chain to the floor to ensure no escape and to keep her still Syra couldn't help but cover her mouth feeling sick, the elf before her looked to be no older than her friend Mithra, in her hundreds in elven years, the age of a young adult in their lifetime.

"Well now, don't keep us waiting, I'm curious to see what that weapon can do." Nalcarr spoke up.

Ashrak was silent, her teal eyes staring down at Syra inquisitively.

Unsure how to act Syra looked down at the elf noticing her head down, just from her little bit of body language she appeared to wanted it all to end, she also noticed all the scars on her body looked fresh. Syra felt her heart sink, she looked back at her brother who had a similar sense of discomfort, mostly for Syra herself but didn't object.

Syra lifted her blade as she began to conjure up some magic from within, a dark purple glow began to form around her spell blade, gravity magic, she would make it a quick end for this tortured soul, she raised her blade ready to bring it down, in that moment an opportunity came to mind as the gravity magic built up into the sword.

Syra swung downward, turning her swing to the side missing the elf and striking the floor, the shockwave causing the entire room to shake and the blade buried into the floor cracking it open. The elf fell to the ground from strike, Syra looked around seeing his brother grimacing at what she had done, her parents had a perplexed look but remained silent, Malroth, Ashrak, and Nalcarr had a look of frustration at her apparent show of mercy to an undeserving creature while Ulroth was fuming, indigo flames spewing from his mouth.

"We spent all that time dragging this slave through this whole fortress and what? You just go and make a waste of our efforts! She was meant for you to practice your new weapon on!" 

Syra grinned holding up a finger and putting it over Ulroth's mouth, causing him to go quiet and give her a confused look, "I had a thought just now was all, just realized going in to claim my own land I didn't have anyone yet to serve me, besides Mithra of course." she glanced around at all her family members, of each of them having a puzzled look, "And... given that I'm going to be gone for a long time claiming my own domain I thought it would be wise to have an extra hand keeping everything of mine here taken care of, and of course need them around to take care of my own castle." she looked back at Ulroth with a grin, "So... it wasn't a waste, you got me a servant."

Ulroth frowned at Syra, his head transforming into a dragon head as he began to take on his true form.

"And... if your upset that you didn't get to see me use it on the elf well..." she grabbed her sword pulling it out of the floor, chunks of marble being pulled out in the process, "That alone shows what I'm capable of with this. That and I'd rather use it on something that can fight back rather than something chained down, gives some gratification to the kill."

Ulroth rolled his eyes at her before simply sitting down on the floor. Syra looked at the elf on the ground, who had more of a look of confusion than anything else at the situation before she transformed her hands into paws and with a firm grasp around the elf's slave collar ripped it in half freeing her from the chain. She smiled at the elf before noticing that she still had a look of having given up on life.

"You are still too compassionate my cousin..." Ashrak finally spoke coldly.

"Now now everyone." Garlath spoke up, showing off a confident grin, "My sister has her own ideas on how to treat those under her, it's her right to rule as she wishes, as it is for all." He put a hand on Syra's shoulder pulling her against him, "if she wishes to give the slave a chance to serve her it wouldn't be right to deprive her of that, am I right?"

Syra turned her head to Galath before turning back grinning.

Malroth was about to speak before Ashna finally held up her paw and he was silenced, "Yes... it's important let her rule as she wishes... besides there is something dangerous about a ruler who holds back their wrath... until it erupts." Ashna grinned warmly at her daughter.

Syra felt the darkness inside her stir with that comment.

"As for the elf... it would be wise of her to not let your mercy go to waste, wouldn't you agree Syra?"

Syra shook her head at her mother trying to find her words, still caught off guard by her mother vouching for her in her own way, "R-right!" 

After that moment of unease Kargha decided it was time for the feast as everyone turned to the table stacked to the brim with food. Each of the dragons taking on their mortal forms to be able to enjoy more quantities of food rather than devouring everything at once. 

Time passes Syra sat down quietly, only nibbling on each of the different types of meat, passively ignoring the taste of the lamb and cuts of steak she feasted on. She felt sick inside thinking about what transpired, it wasn't the first time she had witnessed death, but being pressured by her extended family to slaughter someone who had been through whatever hell they could conjure made her feel disgusted. After several long minutes of not being able to enjoy her dinner she decided to excuse herself from the rest of her family, promising she'll return later.

She escorted the high elf out of the chamber heading towards her room. There was a long silence as the high elf followed behind her. "I... I'm sorry you had to witness that." she turned around looking at all the fresh scars on the elf's body. "Here, let me take care of that." She transformed her left hand into a dragon paw and sliced her right hand, drawing out her own blood and converting it into healing magic before casting it on the elf, all her wounds instantly healed and the scars began to fade. "There we go, I can't imagine how much that hurt all this time."

The elf simply nodded at her in thanks.

"Oh, you don't have to keep silent around me, your always free to speak to me as you wish, I'm not like-" Syra paused as the elf showed her neck to her, showing a long horizontal scar across it this one being from long ago, Syra immediately had a look of horror which then turned to sadness, "Oh... I-I... understand." Syra drew out some more blood, creating another healing spell and casting it on the elf's neck. The scar did not fade and Syra felt even worse, "That was from so long ago... my magic can't fix that... I..." she looked back at the elf before noticing that she was smiling, appreciating what she could take care of and the gesture despite it all.

After some more walking the two found Mithra, looking exhausted from all the work she had just done. Syra introduced her to the high elf explaining to her what happened. Mithra offered to help take care of her, promising to meet back up with Syra in her chambers later. After the two left Syra let out a soft sigh before heading to her chambers and locking the door behind her with magic.

After she was alone she she let her body slump against the door sliding down to the floor, as thoughts of what her uncle or cousins could've done to that elf flooded her mind, various images of violence of all types filling her he later. After the two left Syra let out a soft sigh before heading to her chambers and locking the door behind her with magic.

After she was alone she she let her body slump against the door sliding down to the floor, as thoughts of what her uncle or cousins could've done to that elf flooded her mind, various images of violence flooded her mind making her feel sick. Suddenly, the darkness inside her very being as a dragon stirred once more, thoughts of committing the same violence upon those defiant to her started to flood her mind, 'maybe some do deserve that fate...'. 

Syra let out a horrified gasp, that such thoughts would lurk in her mind disgusted her, she began to pant breathlessly trying to pull herself together. "No, this is not me! This is not me!" she repeated to herself, placing a hand over her heart feeling it beat at an incredible speed. A few minutes pass and soon it passed, the dark thoughts faded away, the fear of what she could be like gone, for now...

After she had calmed down she got back to her feet, stumbling slightly and she walked towards the balcony going outside and leaning over the railing overlooking the ashlands. The light of he day turned from a lime green to a ruby red, she looked in the distance seeing the pools of lava and volcano outside the fortress, the color of the magma reflected the light in the sky, what was once a bright green was now a bright red that was nearly blinding. 

She let out a sad sigh, thinking about all that transpired along with the desolate sight of her home adding to her depressed thoughts. She wondered if large swathes of land conquered by her family inevitably become hellscapes like this. As such thoughts occurred to her she rested her head on the stone railing of the balcony.

"It doesn't have to be this way, I will rule my kingdom how I please, my subjects will kneel and cheer in joy for me, not in fear of what I'd do to them." she said to herself trying to get out of these depressing thoughts.

A knocking came from her chamber door. "Syra? Are you there?" her mother called out.

"Come in." Syra said quietly. Ashna unlocked the door with her magic and walked inside, back in her normal form. Despite locked doors meaning nothing to them at least both her parents had enough respect for their children's privacy. Ashna walked next to Syra, leaning on the railing as well.

Syra stood there quietly, waiting for a lecture from her mother that didn't come, instead her mother waited for her to relax some before speaking. Syra let out a puff of cyan fire that coalesced into a sphere in front of the two. "Did you want to talk to me about earlier?" Syra spoke.

"A little bit, I could tell that your uncle and cousins made things uncomfortable for you, I hope it didn't spoil your big day."

"I'd be lying if I said it didn't... it's just, why force that upon me!? Do they think I'm too soft or something!?"

"While I feel that could've been done better it's simply how they do things, they saw a slave of theirs who wasn't long for the world, and well you've witnessed the rest. How you acted doesn't really help with that rumor of yours."

"Even with that, they could've used anything else for me to try out my weapon on! A target dummy, or hell even a beast chained up, that would've been more of an impressive feat to showcase rather than a helpless mortal with fresh wounds! I mean, us being able to slaughter them is nothing to us, why would THAT be any different!?"

"Just a matter of how they view things, for us we find value in all our servants, what they can do for us and what they can potentially be for us, to an extent, once they start showing acts of defiance or fail too many times, well you know. By contrast they take everything of their worth till they drop, and then there is always more for them."

Syra felt her heart sink at that thought, claws forming in her hands as she scraped against the railing, "I will not be like them..., call me weak or compassionate I see potential in all the mortals around me, they will become my finest servants, my finest warriors." as she spoke she froze realizing what she said, "Considering how I am compared to my whole family I... I wonder how am I even a dragon?"

Ashna put a hand on Syra's shoulder trying to reassure her, before letting out a puff of red fire, the flames taking on the shape of nine orbs. With a wave of her hand eight of the orbs took on colors matching the eyes of the family. "For countless years starting with your two grandfathers each member of our family has ruled how they wished, as is our birthright we are gods among mortals." She looked at flaming sphere Syra made, "How we wish to rule is shaped by from the beginning of our birth to now, and I believe once you've claimed your domain be it through conquest by yourself or in whatever way you wish..." The cyan flame took on the shape of a dragon and it began to glow brightly, the flames roaring as the other colored spheres circled around it, "I believe you will shine above us all my Syra." and she pulled Syra into a hug.

Looking at the show of flames then turning back to her mother taken aback slightly she hugged her back, "You really believe in me?"

"Always have."

Syra held the hug for a moment, for the first time in a long time feeling like she felt a connection with her mother.

"Thank you... I feel ready."

Ashna smiled at her daughter.

"I know I said this already but thank you for the dress." Syra said before moving towards the mirror, admiring her form, both what was shown off and what was left to the imagination.

Ashna let out a soft laugh, "We knew you've always had a fascination with the elves, especially when we brought you to their inhabitable land, I suppose it rubbed off on you, so we thought why not have them fashion something by them, made fit for a future tyrant." she grinned, her sharp teeth showing in the smile.

"...it'll remind me of home and my time in the unburned elflands." looking back at her figure in the mirror Syra then let out a grin, "And it might help me find a special someone worthy of being my king." she chuckled, Ashna letting out a laugh as the two enjoyed this moment.

Suddenly the doors opened and the two turned, seeing Mithra and the high elf now given better servants attire at the door.

"WHAT!?" Ashna yelled as she quickly took on her dragon form.

"M-my queen! I-" Mithra started, stuttering.

"CAN'T YOU SEE I'M SPENDING BONDING TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER!?"

"Mother it was me! I told them to meet back in my chambers so I could help get my new servant situated with her new life!"

Ashna looked down at Syra, then back to the two elves then back to Syra, "Is that so?" she said with a deep voice.

Syra nodded, "I just didn't think to tell them when to stop by." she put a hand on the back of her head a bit embarrassed.

Ashna took a deep breath as she shifted back to her normal form, "Well, wouldn't be right for me to torch your two servants on a whim, would be mean to destroy something of yours," she smiled back at Syra.

Syra tried to hide her discomfort from that comment before turning back to Mithra and the high elf, "We can visit some more in a bit mother if that's alright."

Ashna nodded, "The feast is still going if you want anything."

"I'm fine... appetite was lost after that fiasco from my uncle."

Ashna nodded before leaving the chambers.

Syra and Mithra let out a sigh of relief for a moment.

"Sorry I intruded on that, we-"

"Think nothing of it my friend." Syra smiled before turning to the elf, "I'll be gone by tomorrow but I'll make sure you both are protected for when my kingdom is ready, then you'll both be far away from my family, especially my extended family." she looked at the high elf, thinking for a moment before pulling out a piece of parchment from her dresser and held out her claw that glowed with a cyan flame at the tip. "If you have a name I'd like to know it, just guide my hand."

Confused the elf walked over Syra gently taking her paw and using her claw like a makeshift writing utensil, leaving a light scorch mark where it touched, eventually spelling out a word, 'Lau'na'.

"Lau'na?" Syra asked her and the elf nodded, Syra smiled at her, "I'll make sure your safe, whatever you experienced before I'll give you a life better than that."



The chamber was silent as the family sat in a circular position mimicking a round table in their true forms, lost in thought at they sat before Ulroth finally broke the silence.

"Do you honestly believe that she is ready to rule? She seems to compassionate to those below her."

"Give her a chance!" Garlath exclaimed, "She's her own person, with her own ideas and desires of how to rule, just a late bloomer, she'll be the tyrant I know she is once she claims her promised land."

"...She better, or those she wishes to conquer will make an example of her." Ashrak said coldly, shooting teal flames from her mouth.

"I have faith in our daughter," Kargha spoke up, "And I hope she enjoys herself in Kasgara, a land untouched by our family, and given how much she attaches to people she could take advantage of them with her compassion."

Malroth couldn't help but grin at that, "Hopefully she does brother... being a beacon of hope and love, luring them in... promises of wealth and all they would desire, earning all their trust." He then slammed his paw into the floor scraping his claws against it, "and before they realize it, under the paw of a tyrant queen!" his smile faded slightly, "Would make up for that weird act of mercy for that slave I giftwrapped for her, but I suppose it wasn't a waste... despite how undeserving that creature was..."

"Ah uncle, you just gotta realize she looks at the world differently from most of us! She's always had a fascination with mortals despite her true nature, but she'll bring them to the fold and that continent will be part of our empire." said Garlath, "And if it's still a concern that she is too kind to those she conquers I'm sure one of us can keep an eye on her and nudge her in the right direction if need be."

"Sounds like your putting a lot of thought into all of this for someone you have trust in, but if it's as you suggest..." Nalcarr spoke up, "I'm sure that one of us could take care of it, after all it would give us more time with our dear cousin..." he gave a slimy grin.

Garlath had a look of discomfort, "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. If need be I'll be the one to take care of it."

"That was quick, do you not think that we could do a fine job with that?" Nalcarr retorted.

"It's just, we have a better connection is all, growing up together for years, I've guided her just as much as my parents have, she'd be more open to listening to me."

Nalcarr gave a playful frown, "Oh Syra, never has time for her extended family it seems, even when she's about to claim her kingdom, she'll probably just stay there forever and away from us."

"...I'm convinced she is too passionate..." Ashrak interjected, "If she gives into it and wastes it on mortals undeserving of it, is the truly a tyrant like us?"

"Maybe some time trying to deal with all of them will bring out her darkness within, happened with me no problem and now everyone who has self preservation instincts knows to not mess with me." Ulroth said, "I'd say let's wait and see, plus if it ends in disaster for her it would make for a good laugh and example of what not to be-"

"My family!" Ashna called out, her voice echoing through the chamber, "Despite her flaws she is still part of our family, and it would be unbecoming of us to not support her in her divine right." Ulroth fell silent at his aunts speech, "Now, tomorrow is a new day for her and the day of reckoning for those in Kasgara. They thought they we're safe from us, but this world was once ruled by our fathers Xyrak and Abyssar, and it is our right to take it back in their name, in our name! Let's be proud of Syra in her time of conquest."

There was a moment of silence as the whole family listened to Ashna, befor the silence was broken once more.

"Though, what if she does falter? What if she shows mercy to the mortals she's meant to conquer." Nalcarr asked.

"My husband and son have spoken my thoughts and feelings on the matter, but IF and ONLY IF she falters in such a manner, we'll set her on the right path, and should even that fail... well, we'll have ways of correcting her behavior and mold her into the ruler she's meant to be, and we'll claim her land and make it ready when she is ready." Ashna said calmly, "Now, this day comes to a close and a new dawn comes for our family and for Isvarla. Return to your conquered lands and may we ever reign till either times end or beyond."

The seven dragons all let out a breath of fire in unison as their meeting ended.