Seasonal Dragons take on the characteristics of the season during which they are born. Thus, eggs that are laid in spring match the pink flowers and green buds of spring, and those that are laid in the summer grow to depict the bright green of the forest trees and the yellow of the sun. Eggs laid in autumn display the bright colors of leaves falling from trees, and those that are laid during winter take on the appearance of the icy snow.

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.

Sveva is the unfortunate product of inbreeding. Her mother was an abandoned egg who was picked up by a human, because her grandmother was an irresponsible parent. This egg grew up to be a winter dragon who then mated with an autumn, who, unfortunately, turned out to be her father. Before Sveva's mother, Fulvia, could ask the human to kill the egg, it had hatched, and the human refused to destroy a hatchling's life.<br/>Sveva's mother tried to fix the harm done, and nurtured the hatchling with more care than most other dragons did. The father, Ulrik, was disgusted with himself, and never visits Sveva or her mother. Now Sveva, though told the contrary by everyone she knows, feels a bit useless and unwanted. She eats only plants, and seems to take no joy from anything in the mortal realm. Some dragons try to get close to her, but she sleeps more and more in the snow. Perhaps the spring weather will thaw her apathy, or perhaps she will only climb to snowier climes and continue her sleep.