On the east and west coasts, small docks were built. These docks, while plain and simple, held the first constructs for boats that would set sail to the east and west continents.
Well, set sail would be a demeaning term for most during this time.
The boats were built like a triangle, with the back having a large, empty deck sizeable enough for a dragon to sleep on. Was this the case? Yes, it was.
Dragons would have thick metal chains attached to a harness that allowed them to tug the ship along at incredible speeds. At night, while extremely slow, sails would be deployed to keep them moving.
But why would dragons, guardians of the world, creatures who fought alongside Primordials against invaders from another universe, submit to being treated like livestock?
Ladies.
Dwarves were the only living creatures who could craft shapeless gems into works of beauty and just like dwarven women or Primordial Queens, the dragonesses adored them.
A single trip would reward a dragon with a large sack of finely crafted jewels. Otherwise, the dwarves had to make a slow sailing trip like any other species on the sea at the time, as they were not yet capable of making steam-powered ships that could take them on a round trip.
The dwarves, still skeptical of the dragons and Primordials, had become aware of the Weaver Wars after dragons returned home bloodied and wounded decades ago. As such, they began working on dragon armor in return for new materials, but nothing was more resilient than dragon scales.
And now, climbing the Summit clad in the finest jewels of the dwarven lands, Glacies Firebeard, accompanied by his leather-tunicked blacksmith, Rune Metallicum, made their way to greet the Primordial Queen Celeste.
Upon cresting the last boulders, met by a sea of glistening star jewels, three Primordial female dragons rested. Two, larger than any male of their species, slumbered peacefully behind a towering white Primordial female dragon. Her sapphire eyes were narrowed at a strange, heaped pile of bloodied materials before shifting to the dwarves.
"We greet the Queen of the Sky, An, Celeste," rumbled Glacies Firebeard after kneeling, briefly glancing at the pile. His ginger hair paled to that of his deceased father as he raised a sapphire gem carved into the shape of the largest star in the sky.
"I greet you, Glacies Firebeard. What purpose is your visit today?" Celeste's voice, while calm and feminine, shook the jewels beneath her.
"It would be a lie if I said I didn't enjoy looking upon this sea of gems and used every opportunity to see it," Glacies said. "Can't I visit without a purpose?"
"You never do."
"Hmph."
Glacies rose with a look of disappointment and displeasure.
"My people are unable to produce armor that matches your lesser kin's scales. Ah need ideas or, in your worldly travels, a destination so that we may acquire better materials."
"You are in need? Or is it him?"
Celeste eyed Glacies with amusement before shifting her gaze to the dwarf still kneeling beside him.
His garb was the opposite of many dwarves, lacking the fanciful gems and colors, and his hair was silver. It was by birth, not age, that his hair was silver. It almost earned him the name of 'Silver Grouch' with how often he looked moody. Thankfully, it never took after he revealed his incredible talent at handling magic, metals, and the runes gifted by the Primordials.
Glacies's face flushed red with embarrassment.
"What is the meaning of this?! Why do you disrespect us?"
"There was never any disrespect, only truth. You are not capable of making the armor or the gems gifted. And there is no shame in that."
"I am capable! This is a gift from me to you!" Glacies said, anger creeping into his voice.
Celeste fell silent, observing the enraged dwarf.
"Perhaps these will be suitable for your needs then."
Their gazes fell upon the strange heaped pile of materials. Rune began to raise his head when Glacies spat, "Keep your gaze down. Don't move."
In a furious stride, Glacies walked up to the pile and observed it with a knowing expression.
"This will be perfect!" he said confidently. "Rune! Collect!"
"Aye, sir!"
"This was not the way you treated him last time," Celeste mused as Rune sprinted forward and began shoving handfuls into a leather pouch he had. He paused briefly, eyeing it curiously as it sank around his fingers but never lost its form before dropping it into the bag.
"His lack of progress in a different matter has been disappointing," Glacies replied gruffly.
"Hm."
While Rune shoved handfuls of this unknown material into his bag, Glacies eyed the surrounding jewels greedily. He knelt, touching one of them with affection before rising again and turning to meet Celeste's observant gaze.
"I'd like to request new runes after I complete your kin's armor!"
"The materials of another universe are not enough?"
"They are interesting, but nothing compared to the splendor of Runeic magic enchanting jewels. When the jewel I gifted you receives full moonlight, it will glow beautifully. If I create armor stronger than their scales, or even your own, is it not fair?"
With his hand opened in an upward gesture as if it were a fair deal, Celeste eyed him silently again.
"If you can create armor more powerful than my scales, I will gift you new runes."
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Later in the night, while Celeste observed this new sapphire gem that softly illuminated her sparkling jewels under the full moon, Glacies stomped into the entrance of their dwarven kingdom.
These dwarves were not yet grand, and their entrance leading into tunnels was only slightly taller than humans, carved with unique patterns and art. It was silent except for Glacies's echoing footsteps and deep breaths.
"Those jewels are ours. When yah fuckin' figure this shite out, we can skewer her fuckin' skull and use her scales to decorate my new throne!"
"And her lesser kin will become slaves?" Rune asked.
"Aye… AYE! We'll use them 's our fuel and we'll use their runes to bind them to our will once you figure it out!"
Using his brute strength, Glacies ripped the head off a small dwarven sculpture embedded into the wall and threw it at Rune's head. He ducked just in time as it noisily banged off the wall.
"I will not be humiliated by a fuckin' lazy lizard again! But she plans it, I can feel it. What kind of fuckin' armor can I make out of that weak-"
" I can work with it," Rune Metallicum said abruptly. "Its properties are... unique. I poured a little of my mana into it and-"
"Then what are you standing here for?!" Glacies bellowed, raising his fists threateningly.
Immediately, Rune shut his mouth and sprinted down the dwarven tunnel. While Glacies was sometimes scary, this time he ran because of excitement. His grip tightened on the strap of his leather pouch, little realizing that one of the creatures he poured mana into twitched with life.
"Ah can't wait to test this 'material'!"