Soft rays of morning sunlight filtered through the small window, warming the quiet room with golden light. A gentle hum filled the space—subtle, magical—coming from the incubation artifact nestled beside Riku's bed.
Inside it, the dragon egg rested on a velvet cushion, safe and still. Its black shell glowed faintly under the artifact's gentle enchantment.
[Incubation Artifact Activated]
[Hatching Progress: 72%]
[Progress Rate: +1% per hour]
The house was quiet. Only the sound of Riku's breathing stirred the silence.
Time passed.
[Hatching Progress: 73%]
...
[Hatching Progress: 74%]
Riku stirred in his bed. His pale ears twitched slightly. He blinked once… then slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he just lay there.
Then, he turned toward the egg beside him.
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"You're still here, huh?" he whispered. His voice was soft and rough with sleep. "I thought maybe you were just a dream."
He reached out slowly, fingers brushing the smooth, warm shell.
"I don't know what you are," Riku said. "But you're warm. Not like the cold that's been inside me lately."
His eyes drifted shut for a moment. He took a breath.
"I used to be strong, you know. Before the curse."
His fingers curled slightly against the egg.
"It happened five months ago. I was leveling outside the village—like I always did. But something went wrong. I don't remember what. I just woke up… weaker. Broken."
His voice trembled for a moment, then steadied.
"They said I was cursed. That it was dangerous for me to go outside anymore. That maybe I wouldn't awaken like the others."
A pause.
"But you… I don't know why, but I feel safe when I'm near you. Like you're listening."
He smiled again, smaller this time.
"I'll get stronger again. Somehow. And when you hatch… I'll protect you. That's a promise."
[Heart Echo Detected]
[Emotional Connection Strengthened]
[Heart Echo Progress: +5%]
[Current Heart Echo: 26%]
The egg pulsed faintly with warmth.
Riku leaned back into his pillow. "You're like a little brother, aren't you?"
He chuckled lightly. "A really big little brother."
At that moment, a soft chime echoed in Ren's mind.
[Life Signature Detected: Approaching Entity]
[Scanning…]
→ Name: Elder Maru
→ Race: Foxy (Beastkin)
→ Age: 62
→ Profession: Spiritual Elder & Village Educator
→ Affiliation: Whispering Vale Settlement
→ Status: Non-hostile
→ Relationship: Riku's Mentor
The door creaked open gently.
An elderly Foxy stepped into the room. His fur was silvered by age, and his steps were calm, careful. A long wooden staff rested in his hand, adorned with healing charms and small crystal feathers.
"Well now," the elder said with a warm smile, "you're awake earlier than I thought, young Riku."
Riku sat up, wincing slightly but smiling. "Morning, Teacher Maru."
Maru walked over and sat on a nearby stool. His gaze was kind as he placed a hand over Riku's forehead, checking his temperature.
"No fever today. That's good. And you look brighter."
"I feel... a little better," Riku said. "I think the egg is helping."
Maru chuckled. "The egg, huh? Always the odd things that comfort us."
He didn't seem to pay much attention to it yet.
"Teacher," Riku asked quietly, "can you tell me more about the world again? I want to understand... everything. Especially if I'm going to get strong again."
The elder's smile grew thoughtful.
"Of course. Let's begin from the top," he said, tapping his staff softly on the ground.
"This world is shaped by conflict and growth. Every being, no matter their race, gains strength by defeating monsters. It's how we level up—how we grow."
He lifted a finger.
"There are five main races in the world: Humans, Demons, Beasts, Vampires, and Monsters. Each has its strengths—and weaknesses."
"Humans," he continued, "are the most dominant. They do not have bloodlines like the others, but they awaken special classes at the age of five. Mage, Warrior, Priest, Thief—many paths. Through awakening, they grow powerful."
"Demons," he said, "are beings of strong bloodlines, often feared, but not all are evil. Their nobility is known as the Arch Demons."
"Beasts, like us Foxy," he smiled gently, "have bloodlines too. But ours is... lower. That's why we are gentler, weaker in battle, but gifted in healing and magic support. Other beasts, like the Phoenix line, have legendary blood. They are born to lead."
"Vampires are cunning and immortal, blessed with charm and strength. The nobles of their kind can drain both life and magic."
"And then there are Monsters," his voice grew quieter. "They are not born like us. Most are mindless. But the high-level ones... they are terrifying. Rare, but powerful."
He paused.
"There is one more race," he said, lowering his voice. "But only in stories."
Riku leaned forward. "You mean... the Dragon race?"
Maru nodded.
"They say Dragons once ruled the skies. Not just powerful—but divine. Some old myths speak of the Primordial Dragon. A creature so ancient and mighty that even time feared it."
"But none have seen a real dragon in generations. Most think they are gone… or never existed at all."
Ren, within the egg, listened closely. His heart stirred with something old. Something proud.
Maru shifted topics again.
"Now then... bloodlines," he said, looking at Riku. "You know this already, but the stronger the bloodline, the more potential a person has. Foxy like us have lower-tier bloodlines. That's why no one from our village has been accepted into the Royal Academy in sixty years."
Riku looked down.
"But," Maru said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder, "there's still hope. You were strong, Riku. You could become stronger again. And if you do… you could be the first Foxy in generations to step through those gates."
He leaned back and smiled.
"The Royal Academy is in Silvermist City, one of the grandest cities in the southern region. It's operated by nobles of each great race: a Saint of Humans, an Arch Demon, a Phoenix Beastkin, and a Vampire Lord."
"The entrance exam is brutal," he warned. "Written, magical, and combat. Only those with both talent and determination survive it."
Maru rose slowly to his feet.
"You still have a chance, Riku. But only if you can break that curse."
Riku nodded quietly.
Maru turned to leave, his cane tapping softly on the floor.
Then he paused.
His eyes drifted… to the egg.
He blinked.
"…That's a rather large egg," he murmured.
He stepped closer, curiosity rising.
But before he could ask, Lily entered the room with a soft smile.
"Oh, Elder Maru," she said lightly. "Thank you for visiting."
Maru raised a brow. "That egg… is it—?"
"Just something Kael found on a trip," she said quickly. "It's nothing dangerous."
She held his gaze, calm but firm.
Maru studied her in silence for a moment.
Then nodded.
"I see," he said, tapping his staff once.
"I won't pry."
With a soft smile, he bowed slightly.
"Take care, Riku. Keep getting stronger."
And with that, he left.
Ren, warm within his shell, felt the stirrings of destiny begin to gather.
This world was larger than he'd imagined.
But it was also full of hope.
And he was no longer alone.