Editing Talk:Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 1 (section)

=== Part 2 ===
Ash's curtains blocked the gradual light of dawn, keeping his room dark, when all of a sudden the harsh <nowiki>*</nowiki>—Dong*  of a large cannon being fired made Ash abruptly snap open his eyes.

After a few seconds, as his mind was waking up, he came to the realisation that the huge sound was actually the Oracles releasing fireworks into the air. 

Ash's room was in Apollo House. This meant that he lived in the dormitory where male students of the Advanced Course<ref> There seems to be another name for the courses such as Yunios for Basic Course as seen in the manga, since my raws used the terms "Basic Course" and "Advanced Course", I shall leave it be</ref> resided.

A few months earlier, after completing three years of basic courses, Ash had successfully become a first-year student of the Advanced Course and had earned the qualification to live in the Apollo House. 

The biggest difference between the Apollo House and the other dormitories was the one person, one room system. Compared to the past where three people had to squeeze into one small room, life in the Apollo House was like heaven.

"Uuu...it's cold!" 

Ash's shoulders shivered the moment he got out of bed. 

The dawn of early spring still carried a deep chill. Bearing with the impulse to rush back into the warm safety of his blankets, Ash walked over to the curtains, and pulled them open. 

Ash's room was on the third floor. If one stood by the window, they could see the whole field of the school campus. 

There were many students working hard in the field at dawn carrying out preparation work for the "celebration". There were also a lot of riders on their dragons. 

Ash saw teams of Stradas<ref> Literally air/winged dragon (second interpretation was from my translation from Chinese), the only dragons other than Maestros that can fly</ref> in the distance, their wings spread majestically, soaring across the horizon as they helped their masters prepare for the celebration that was about to start.  

The Asias<ref> Literally land/earth dragon, it's pronounced as "Aahsia" instead of the way we pronounce the name of that particular continent</ref> were as lithe as the Stradas were majestic, their tails would sway left and right for balance, chasing their giant lizard-like body that was situated on sturdy, powerful legs that ran at high speed across the field. 

"It is about to start." 

The expansive field was shrouded in a mysterious and unusual atmosphere. Ash stared at it nervously. 

"Yo, Ash! Time to get up!" 

At that moment, Ash heard his friend's voice accompanied by the sound of the door knocking. 

"Raymond? Give me a moment!" 

Ash frantically took out a long bandage from the first-aid box. 

He wrapped the bandage around his left hand to cover up the «Seikoku»<ref> "星刻", literally star-marked/carved</ref> on his arm.

The pattern on his arm was the proof of a Breeder. 

When Ash was seven years old, he took part in the «Orphan Ceremony» held in Albion Forest and a dragon larva was inserted into his body. 

Unfortunately, Ash's memories of that time were foggy with a lot of parts missing. 

Since he obtained the «Seikoku», technically  he should have seen the Mother Dragon within the deep parts of the forest. However, Ash did not even have the slightest impression of having any memories of that scene. 

<i>I really messed up</i>, Ash thought in self-mockery. 

Compared to other students, the «Seikoku» pattern on Ash's arm was especially large. 

The «Seikoku» resembled a jet-black tattoo of tribal design, covering his whole arm from his elbow to his wrist, with the shape of a snake head at the wrist end.

"...Sorry to for making you wait." 

After Ash finished wrapping his arm up with the bandage, he walked towards the door, and opened the door to his room. 

His good friend Raymond Kirkland stood there with a hearty smile on his face.

"The bandage again? Why don't you try something new?" 

"Hmph, a normal person like you wouldn't understand my feelings at all." 

Ash looked at Raymond with a displeased expression. Raymond could not help but shake his head with a bitter smile. 

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up... Hnn? Your face is red. Do you have a fever?" 

"No. It's weird,...I've been having these weird dreams since last week." 

"Weird dreams? What kind of weird dreams?" 

"A beautiful girl crawled into my bed, then...she did a lot of things..." 

Ash could not help but feel embarrassed speaking about the lewd dreams to other people. He started to blush as he described his dream. 

While Ash was talking Raymond couldn't resist bursting out in laughter. 

"Are you <i>that</i> desperate for a girl? That dream is too exaggerated!" 

"Are <i>you</i> any better? We are in the same situation!" 

"Nonono, our situations are completely different. It's not that I'm unpopular with the ladies; it's just that I've not yet found someone suited for me." Suited? Suitable?

Raymond took out a small mirror and started admiring himself. 

Almost all the students of Ansarivan Dragon Riding Academy knew that Raymond had severe narcissism. To be fair, the same people acknowledged that Raymond was a handsome young man. However, people did not dare to get close to him due to that personality of his that destroyed the great impression his looks gave off. He was a living example of the idiom "ruining your own image the moment you speak".<ref> This is a more literal translation of the expression used</ref> 

"...What are you visiting me for so early in the morning?" 

Ash said unhappily. Raymond walked into the room as if that did not concern him. 

"Did you forget? The long awaited competition that we were looking forward to starts today. Actually, talking about the competition, you had better not forget to flirt with the girls there!"

"What does flirting have anything to do with the competition? You should be out there entering the competition with me!" Ash responded indignantly. 

"Hmm..." Raymond was smiling evilly "If I recall correctly, aren't you oldest Advanced course student in Ansarivan Dragon Riding Academy's history to still have a larva in their body?" 

"Uuu..." 

Even though he wished that what Raymond said was a lie, he could not deny the truth of the matter. At the end of the day Ash's dragon companion was still sleeping inside his body, refusing to give any symptoms of arousal.

Ever since he was chosen to be a Breeder, obtaining his «Seikoku» at the age of seven, there had not been a single change to this day.

To the students of Ansarivan, rousing the dragons in their bodies from slumber was the number one priority, and all of the students had obtained their pals in the first year of basic lessons. All of them except Ash. 

—Pal. 

The sacred word Pal was very important, representing "a dragon that had finished nurturing in the Breeder's body". A Breeder could therefore not refer to a larva that was still sleeping inside of his body as a Pal. 

"Ash, to participate in today's competition, you seem to need something." 

"Yeah, I need a dragon." 

"That's right. So, did you want to borrow my pal?" 

Raymond had named his pal Brigid. 

Borrowing Brigid was, of course, one of the options Ash had considered. Actually, Ash already knew that Raymond was planning to skip the competition this time. 

However, just accepting Raymond's goodwill like that really hurt Ash's dignity, so Ash decided to tactfully refuse. 

"I can also borrow Arianrhod<ref> A goddess from Celtic mythology, "arian" meaning silver and "rhod" meaning wheel, many names used in the series are related to Arthurian legends or myths of the same culture</ref> from Max. He's a member of the Student Council and thus cannot take part in the competition."

Student Council members made up the executive committee of the competition and were unable to participate. Max also clearly stated his intention of not participating in the competition. 

"You're too naive, Ash. Do you think that Max will lend you his pal?" 

"What am I lending?"

"Uohh!" 

Raymond jumped in surprise. As Raymond turned around, he saw that Max was there casually leaning on the side of the door looking at the two of them. 


"Good morning, Max." 

Ignoring Ash's greeting, Max silently adjusted the position of his glasses with his hand. 

Maximilian Russel was one of Ash's friends and classmates. An honour student with dark hair and square glasses, he was bestowed the title of Dragner by the paladin, and managed to secure the position as treasurer for the Student council.

"You two are far too noisy this early in the morning, what happened?" 

"Ash was crying and begging me to lend him Brigid to participate in the competition." 

"Who was crying and begging you for anything?! Max, would you let me borrow Arianrhod for today's competition?" 

Ash wasn't asking to borrow a dragon for no reason. Today's competition had particular importance to him, and he had to participate no matter what.

"You want to borrow my pal? In your next life."<ref> Chinese expression meaning that it is impossible to do or achieve it.</ref> 

"There's no need to be so ruthless, right?" 

"How about we drop this subject for the moment..." 

Max sized up Ash with his sharp eyes. 

"Look at the state of your room! If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, keep your room clean!" 

Max walked into Ash's room with an overbearing attitude, walking around the room cleaning everything he touched. Ever since Ash had moved into the Apollo House, his room had become a mess - and stayed that way. 

"This sure is nostalgic" 

Raymond watched Max, who was working hard to clean the room, and could not help but shake his head with a bitter smile. 

—Ash, Raymond and Max. 

When they were still Basic Course students, the three of them had been roommates together at Merk<ref> Couldn't really find a name with a mythological reference, so I chose one that had Scottish links, do tell me if you found the right name that sounds the same</ref> House. At the time, having a private room was still a faraway dream and the three of them had to squeeze into a small room. Ash and Raymond had a hard time dealing with the neat freak Max, who almost took it to obsessive compulsive levels.

"...I have always wondered." 

After Max finished cleaning, he turned towards Ash, looking at him curiously and asked "Why are other peoples pals fine with you riding them?" 

"Well...how should I say this..." 

"The norm is that dragons will only allow their own masters to ride them. The amount of Breeders that have tried and failed to ride other peoples dragons isn't a small number. 

"Well, even though that's true... Since the teacher doesn't mind if I ride other dragons, it should be fine right?"

"You haven't changed at all, still as indecisive now as ever. Sheesh, if you really intend to compete, just borrow Brigid. I'll inform the Student Council President." 

Ending with that authoritative tone, Max left without turning back. 

"I wonder who's the one that hasn't changed..." 

Raymond shook his head with a bitter smile once again. 

Ash suddenly drew close to Raymond. 

"You will lend me Brigid, right?" 

Raymond nodded his head, his eyes having a peculiar glow. 

"Of course, you must make that princess change her impression of you!" 

Hearing that, Ash's expression instantly became serious. 

"Yeah, that's my intention."