Black Dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Ezekiel's father was the leader of a respected clan of dragons, well known for their magical prowess. But although his father was just and kind, some thought that he was weak because of his mercy, and one day the leader of the discontented, a dragon known for his cruelty, murdered Zeke's father. Ezekiel was still in the shell at the time, and was tossed from the nest in the fight, rolling down the mountain until his egg fell into a river. He would have undoubtedly drowned if a mint dragon had not noticed him and, risking its own life in the rapids, dove in and rescued him. This mint became his adoptive mommy, and he was raised by a tribe of mints who were enslaved by the very dragon that had killed his father. The trauma of falling down the mountain had stunted his growth, leaving him weak and delicate in body, so he fit in well, eating fruit and refusing to fight, although his magic is potent. A prophecy was told that he would someday save his kingdom, and free the mints.