"Why would the Empire have the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scales?" Leon asked, his brow furrowed. After a brief pause, he added, "And I still don’t fully understand what these scales really are. People say they’re like a detonator, but that doesn’t quite fit. Are they just some energy storage organ? Seems like something more."

Noa took it upon herself to explain. "The Heart-Protecting Dragon Scale is extremely important for dragons. Its function isn’t as simple as storing energy for a last-ditch explosion. In truth, the scale acts more like a safeguard."

"A safeguard?" Leon asked, intrigued.

"Yes," Noa nodded. "Dragons with …