Hilris the Dragon.
One of the rare dragons who dared to openly declare her draconic heritage while roaming the continent.
Officially, she was listed as a magically gifted dragonkin subspecies—but Cecile knew Hilris was no mere dragonkin.
She was a pure-blooded blue dragon, one with the potential to ascend as the Dragon God.
Pure-blooded dragons… an exceedingly rare species in this era.
She was also the Empress of Yahar City, revered and feared by all.
Her strength was formidable—undoubtedly capable of rivaling Euphemia’s divine avatar.
Her story in the game had been thrilling.
Midway through the game, the protagonist had "coincidentally" encountered Hilris upon entering Yahar City, sharing a brief but fateful meeting.
Upon hearing the news, the Pride Witch casually played her card: Helena.
Though Yahar City was rife with internal strife—factions despising one another—they united with eerie synchronicity when outsiders dared to meddle.
Within half a day, they declared a temporary alliance to confront Helena, who sought to slaughter the protagonist and raze the entire city.
After the protagonist’s party suffered heavy casualties and retreated, Yahar’s forces arrived just in time. They held Helena back at the cost of their lives, preventing her from delivering the final blow.
Without them, several party members would have perished.
It was Hilris’s timely arrival that ultimately turned the tide.
Only because Hilris, transformed into her true blue dragon form, had fiercely restrained Helena did Euphemia successfully ascend to her divine avatar—spurred on by the protagonist’s impassioned words.
What had been a desperate stand became a powerful counteroffensive.
Cecile privately deemed that moment an infamous deus ex machina.
Hilris’s stated reason—that she wished to spare Yahar further destruction—was utterly baseless.
That battle had already reduced the city to ruins. Countless lives were lost. Even if rebuilt, its former prosperity would never return. The tensions between the Five Factions had reached their peak: some remained strong, others teetered on collapse.
The Arcane Assembly alone had sustained seventy percent casualties.
Rebuilding the city would inevitably shatter its existing order.
Yet, Hilris did not bear the title of Empress lightly.
In the late game, she succeeded.
She eradicated the remaining factions one by one, ascending to the pinnacle of Yahar City.
Later, she often provided crucial aid when the protagonist moved to overthrow the Pride Witch—truly a timely ally.
A character like this—destined to oppose her, wielding immense power and cunning, pivotal in future plotlines, with that eye-catching figure and pure blue dragon bloodline…
*She must become her dragon knight!*
Cecile rose and gave Hilris a slight bow. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Cecile, a mage. These two are my apprentices, Winnie and Helena."
"We came to Yahar City seeking a livelihood. Many here advised us that mages should join the Arcane Assembly..."
Hilris rested her chin on her hand, cutting her off. "Many told you to join the Arcane Assembly for survival? Outsider, your lies are as clumsy as they are obvious."
*Of course they are. How else would I cement my ‘outsider’ identity?*
Cecile dropped the feigned surprise and helplessness, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Empress Hilris, your insight is truly sharp. You saw through my disguise instantly—unlike those fools outside."
Simultaneously, she activated the Authority of Arrogance upon Hilris.
An Authority’s power didn’t solely affect its wielder; it could also influence those nearby—though only negatively.
The Authority of Arrogance would make others around her equally arrogant.
For Cecile, this was an absolute advantage.
She could consciously resist its effects—but others wouldn’t even realize their own arrogance had deepened.
The nature of Authorities was elusive and enigmatic; no one could truly define their essence.
"Hah. So you dare compare me to those tedious street rats? How utterly foolish." Hilris lounged back in a single armchair.
"Outsider. What is your true purpose in Yahar? Truth or lies—I care not. But if your answer displeases me..."
"Understood, Empress Hilris," Cecile lowered her stance, her tone turning deferential. "I seek cooperation."
Arrogance clouds judgment. It inflates self-perception beyond reality.
*Then shatter that arrogance.*
"Cooperation?" Hilris frowned slightly, lifting her gaze to Cecile. A silent invitation to continue.
Cecile smiled. "Yes. A mutually beneficial partnership."
That piqued Hilris’s interest. She leaned forward. "Oh? Explain this ‘mutual benefit’."
"I’ve long heard Empress Hilris desires to unify Yahar City—"
"Ridiculous! Where did such rumors originate? I merely uphold order and peace in Yahar!" Hilris snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes.
Cecile remained calm. She knew this was mere pretense.
Yahar’s factions had ears everywhere. Even a careless whisper in an empty room could be caught by magical devices.
A soft *click* echoed from the door—locked. Then the faint hum of a silencing ward activating.
Only then did Hilris settle back into her chair, studying Cecile with keen interest. "Speak, outsider."
"Empress Hilris’s caution is commendable. Then I shall be blunt." Cecile’s smile deepened. "You lack a powerful external force to disrupt the balance among Yahar’s Five Factions. We can provide exactly that. And afterward, we will vanish from Yahar without a trace."
"Then, Cecile—what is your price?"
"Merely a generous grant for magical research. You know better than anyone how costly such studies are. And Yahar, I hear, is the wealthiest city on the continent."
*—Everything you have.*
The unspoken words lingered in her mind as Cecile leaned forward slightly, the corners of her mouth lifting.
Her goal was never to crown this Empress. She intended to raise a pliant young dragon sovereign to rule Yahar in her stead.
Yahar City belonged to her—the Pride Witch.
"It sounds like a profitable deal for me. Prove your strength. Show me you can truly shake those vermin."
Hilris needed tangible proof—not empty boasts.
"Winnie."
Winnie chuckled, stepping to the center of the room. "Forgive my rudeness."
***BOOM!***
A blinding fireball erupted, its heat radiating like a towering pillar of flame.
Hilris instantly sensed the sheer magical density within it. One strike would level an entire city block.
These three were no common frauds.
Still, caution was warranted.
"Accepted. I recognize your strength." Hilris’s gaze sharpened. "Now—let us discuss what you will do..."
