Days passed. Aeron kept visiting the cave. More than usual. Every time he went, he'd just sit there beside the egg. Sometimes he just sat there and looked at the egg. Other times, he hummed softly or talked like he was talking to a friend. He didn't know why, but the cave made him feel safe.
But his mother began to notice his absence.
One quiet afternoon, Elarya walked to the Drenn household. She was starting to worry as Aeron hadn't been home much, and something didn't feel right. She hoped Ronan had answers.
She found Ronan outside, tossing stones near the well. "Ronan," she called. "Have you seen Aeron today?"
Ronan turned quickly. "No, ma'am," he said, as he brushed dust off his palms. "Not since early morning… maybe he's at the cave."
Elarya was shocked at that word. "What cave?"
"There's this cave he always goes to. It's behind a waterfall. It has some carvings… and an egg." As soon as the words left his mouth, Ronan bit his lip. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. Aeron trusted him. What if this made things worse? He thought to himself.
Her eyes widened. "What?"
Before Ronan could say more, the front door creaked open, and Varek stepped out, wiping his hands on a cloth. He stopped smiling as he noticed the expression on Elarya's face.
"Elarya," he greeted with a small nod. "Everything alright?"
She gave him a curt nod. "I was hoping so, but have you noticed Aeron's absence lately? Has he come around to help with work or training?"
Varek frowned. "I actually thought you were the one keeping him busy. I hardly see him these days."
"I thought the same of you," she said tightly. "But clearly, we were both wrong."
She glanced at Ronan, then back at Varek. "According to Ronan here… Aeron has been visiting a cave."
"A cave?" Varek asks.
Elarya nodded. "Yes."
Varek looked at his son. "Ronan. What's this about a cave?"
Ronan hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "It's hidden past the eastern ridge, not far into the woods. Aeron found it first. He said there was something special about it. And… there's an egg. A glowing one."
Varek blinked. "A glowing egg?"
Ronan nodded.
Varek's jaw clenched. "And you didn't think to tell me any of this before now?"
"I didn't think it mattered," Ronan mumbled. "He didn't seem hurt. Just… different."
Elarya stepped forward. "Please, take us there."
Varek didn't hesitate. "Go get your boots," he said to Ronan.
Soon after, the three of them, Varek, Elarya, and Ronan, set out for the cave. They passed the forest, climbed the rocks, and stopped at the foot of the waterfall.
Ronan pointed. "It's behind here."
They crossed together,
And when they stepped into the cave, Elarya's breath caught. She saw the markings and how weird the cave was, it scared her more than she wanted to admit. Ronan stood close to his dad. Even Varek looked a little tense. He never knew such a cave existed in Varnmoor.
And sitting there like a guard beside the entrance, was Aeron.
"Aeron!" his mother shouted. "What are you doing here?"
Aeron stood up quickly. "Sorry, Mom. I was about to come back."
"So this is where you've been frequenting all these while, missing your practices and studies, just to sit in this dark place? Why, Aeron? What's so special about this cave? Elarya asks her son.
Aeron couldn't say a word, he just kept silent.
Varek stepped forward. "Where is the egg? Ronan said there was an egg here."
Ronan led them to the corner where he had seen it, but it was gone.
Empty.
"This is it. This is where I saw it," Ronan said, confused. "I swear!"
Aeron just stood silently.
"Where is it?" his mother asked him.
"I don't know… maybe the owner came back for it," Aeron said while looking away.
Ronan glanced at his father, who gave him a slight nod. Maybe they believed him. Or maybe they just wanted to.
But Elarya… didn't.
She watched Aeron carefully. She knew something was wrong. Something wasn't adding up.
She took a step forward, with a more serious voice. "Then what are you doing here exactly, Aeron?"
He didn't look at her. "I come here sometimes. Just to think. It's peaceful."
"Peaceful?" she repeated, as she drew her brow.
Ronan broke the silence. "You know… sometimes, one just needs peace and quiet."
Even he didn't sound convinced.
Elarya looked from son to friend. She then decided to leave it and not push further. She only sighed.
"Let's go," she said finally.
They left.
But what they didn't know was that Aeron had seen them coming before they reached the cave and carried the egg carefully and transferred it deeper into the cave from where it was.
It was safe.
That evening, Elarya sat by Aeron's bedside. She didn't bring it up directly, nor did she yell or ask too many questions. She just placed a hand on his arm and said gently, "Just be careful, Aeron. Please."
He looked at her.
She continued, "I know you think you're grown, and I know the world feels like it's waiting for you, but there are things out there… darker things than dreams. I don't want anything happening to you."
There was something deeper in her voice, and Aeron wanted to tell her mother everything. But he just couldn't. Not yet.
So he simply nodded.
Could she change destiny? She didn't know. But she had to try.
"Promise me," she whispered.
"I will," he said. "I promise."
"..."
The next day, before the sun had fully risen, Aeron was already walking through the forest again.
He entered the cave with a torch in his hand as usual, made his way to the deeper passage, and brought out the egg.
He carried it gently back to the place he always sat, near the markings on the walls. He placed the egg at the corner, just as before, and sat beside it. The silence felt holy here. As if the world outside didn't exist.
He touched the shell, smiled faintly.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "Nothing will happen to you. Nothing will harm you. I'll make sure of that."
He said it like he was speaking to a person.
"You know," he muttered softly, "sometimes I wish I could leave the village. Go beyond the trees. Find the truth about this world."
He paused.
Then smiled.
"Maybe one day I'll do that. And I'll carry you with me."
That was when it happened.
Thump... A movement from inside the egg.
Aaron paused.
Thump. Again. Louder this time.
He stopped smiling.
Then came a crack.
Aeron jumped to his feet.
Another crack. Then another. The egg wobbled. Moved. Shook.
Aeron stepped back. His heart was pounding heavily in his chest.
"W-What… What's happening?"
Then…
The egg split open.
A small silver head slowly pushed through the crack.
Eyes. Shiny blue eyes. A tiny snout. Glimmering silver scales.
A dragon.
A real, living, breathing, baby dragon.
It let out a soft, high-pitched squeak. Then looked straight at Aaron.
Aeron stood there frozen. And just then, faintly, he heard it again:
[FLAMEBOND SYSTEM: STAGE II UNLOCKED]
"..."
"..."