Pyralspite dragons are small, swift dragons that can breathe an intensely hot flame. They get their name from their resemblance to and affinity for garnets of the pyralspite family—they hoard such gems, preferring garnets that match their variant, and can tell the type of garnet from how it tastes. The dark red variant is known as Pyrope. They tend to be fiercely loyal and noble, and have a stronger sense of justice than other Pyralspites. They live primarily in volcanic areas.

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.

Daemyn has always been able to tell that he was different. When he was a newborn hatchling, he saved a pygmy egg that had been abandoned because he was appalled by the injustice of killing such a small, defenseless egg, and brought it to Gemstone Mountain. He created a nest for it on a flat above the volcanic core where it could be kept safe and warm. Later, when he was older, he moved into Gemstone Mountain and lived on that very flat. Even though Daemyn's parents did not want him to leave, he had to make sure that the pygmy he saved was never in danger, or else he would feel that he never did her justice.

Daemyn mostly lies next to the volcano since the pygmy has grown up, but now he watches over the eggs that she saves, making sure they hatch safely.