Terrae Dragons are primarily herbivores who prefer to eat from the tops of trees. However, due to their massive size, they must rely on small, specialized scales to absorb and convert energy from the sun. Since they live in tightly-knit groups, this form of energy absorption helps preserve the forests in which these dragons reside.

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.

The area called Charlie 1 is home to many different dragons, most of whom are omnivorous. At home, parents can supervise their children's meal habits and forage with them, but on the days the youngsters attend the Academy, no one can make sure they eat a balanced diet. That's where Edgy Veggie, the Academy's food planner, comes in. She only eats vegetation and can't cook, but she's good at empathizing and can keep numbers in her head. Rather than force the kids, she oversees the presentation and labeling at the dining hall and gardens. She reasons that healthy food that looks attractive will convince more diners to choose them. While the Academy administrators were doubtful at first and dismayed at the resources used to decorate buffet tables and garden paths, Edgy Veggie and her helpers took stats, and over time, they showed that her methods work, dispelling the admins' concerns. The heads of other institutions in the region have noticed and begun to do the same in their dining areas.