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.

Kir has the unfortunate destiny of being the offspring of a Shadow Walker father. While in itself this wouldn't pose much of a problem, his father was as loving a parent as any, it messed up something in Kir's genetics. His Walker inheritance leads to him becoming (partly) incorporeal at random intervals and being a Black dragon, Kir has no control whatsoever over it.

A fighter whose claws and fangs become immaterial at the most inconvenient moment is not worth much. He can't work as a messenger since intangible wings don't carry a physical body. And he can't even find a mate because kissing and cuddling only work if both dragons are on the same plane of existence.