When Water Dragons mature, they lose the ability to survive on land, entering the water permanently. They are adept swimmers and eat whatever fish are in the lake they live in. They tend to inhabit the same lake for their entire lives, although a few live in the ocean and swim all over the world.

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.

When he was a mere egg, Yaya was separated from his parents in a storm and washed up onto the beach of a very wealthy couple and their young daughter. The little girl, upon finding the egg, kept it safe and hidden in her pond, where the young dragon residing inside became accustomed to the sound of her voice and soon hatched to be with her. Fun times were had by both of them as they learned about each other. Unfortunately Yaya, as the girl named him, became much too large to hide in the pond and her parents found out. Forced into the ocean where he had once come, Yaya remains in the general vicinity of her house, hoping she'll come out to play some more. He does not know this, but humans live a much shorter lifespan than dragons. The girl, the girl's children, and the girl's children's children are already dead and gone.