Days passed since Ragno's birth inside the crystalline cave — days filled with new sights, warmth, and lessons he never thought he'd experience again.
Every morning, the cave shimmered with thousands of colors. Rays of sunlight pierced through the crystal walls, scattering light across the floor like tiny stars. Ragno would stretch his wings — still small and clumsy — and yawn so loudly that it echoed through the cave.
"Good morning, little one," Ruby said one day, her deep, calm voice rumbling like a gentle flame.
"Morning, Mom," Ragno replied, his voice still squeaky from his young dragon body.
Each day was a new adventure. He explored the surroundings of their home — a hidden cave deep inside a mountain forest, where monsters roamed freely. Ragno had already seen a giant spider with a skull-shaped pattern on its back, a diamond-scaled lizard that shone under sunlight, and a serpent longer than a river.
"Don't go near them," Ruby warned. "They are older and stronger. You are still young."
Ragno puffed his cheeks. "But I'm strong too! I can breathe smoke now!"
Ruby chuckled. "Smoke isn't fire, my son."
"I'm getting there!" Ragno said proudly, flapping his small wings.
His daily training was both fun and painful. Ruby first taught him how to fly. "You must feel the air, not fight it," she said, her huge wings spreading wide like sails.
Ragno took a deep breath, ran forward, flapped his wings — and faceplanted into the dirt.
"Ugh…" he groaned, spitting out dust.
Ruby giggled. "You'll get there. Every dragon learns by falling."
And he did — again and again. Sometimes he managed to hover for a few seconds before crashing down. Every successful flap made him grin like a fool.
When he wasn't training to fly, Ruby made him practice breathing fire. "Feel the mana in your chest. It's your heart's flame," she explained.
Ragno concentrated hard, closing his eyes. He exhaled — and released a puff of gray smoke.
Ruby smiled. "That's a start."
The next day, a small spark appeared. The day after, the spark grew brighter. By the end of the week, a tiny flame flickered from his mouth, golden and warm.
"I did it!" Ragno shouted. "Mom, look! Real fire!"
Ruby's eyes softened. "You've done well, my little one."
She leaned down and gently nuzzled him with her snout. Ragno laughed and rolled onto his back. "Hehe, stop, Mom! That tickles!"
Their bond grew stronger each passing day.
Afternoons were Ragno's favorite time. Ruby would lift him onto her claw and soar through the skies.
The wind rushed through his scales as they ascended above the mountains. The world stretched endlessly below — rivers glimmering like threads of silver, forests spreading like green oceans.
"Whoa…" Ragno whispered in awe.
Ruby smiled as she glided gracefully. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's amazing," he replied. "How big is this world, Mom?"
Ruby thought for a moment. "Vast — bigger than you can imagine. There are lands where mountains breathe fire, oceans that hide sleeping gods, and skies where even dragons fear to fly."
Ragno's eyes sparkled. "Can we go there someday?"
"When you're older," Ruby said, her voice warm. "When your wings can carry you freely."
Ragno nodded, feeling her scales against his small body. He felt so… safe. In his previous life as Kaito, he'd never felt this kind of warmth.
His parents had scolded and abandoned him. His wife betrayed him. His daughter — no, her daughter — called another man father. The pain of that life used to crush him. But now, in Ruby's embrace, that pain began to fade like smoke in the wind.
Tears welled in his eyes.
Ruby noticed. "Why are you crying, my son?"
"Ah—uh, just… dust in my eye," he said quickly, rubbing his face with his claws. "Definitely dust."
Ruby chuckled. "Then I'll fly higher where there's no dust."
They soared across the crimson sunset, golden light reflecting on their scales. Ragno gazed down at the world and whispered to himself, I finally feel alive.
When they returned home, Ruby hunted for dinner. Ragno watched as she took down a horned wolf, her movements graceful yet terrifying. She roasted the meat with a single burst of fire, the aroma filling the cave.
"Mom, I could've cooked it better," Ragno said, crossing his claws.
Ruby raised a brow. "Oh? You think you can cook without hands?"
"Uhhh… maybe if I hold the meat in my mouth?"
Ruby laughed so hard that the cave echoed. "My son, you are truly strange."
After they ate, Ruby curled her massive body around Ragno. Her scales were warm, her breathing steady. Ragno nestled close, feeling her heartbeat through his chest.
"Good night, my child," she murmured softly.
"Night, Mom," he whispered.
Before sleep claimed him, Ragno thought, I want to protect this warmth forever.
Morning arrived with the sound of dripping water echoing through the cave. Ruby had gone hunting again, leaving Ragno to his training.
He stretched, looked at the boulder nearby, and grinned. "Alright, time for solo practice."
He inhaled, focusing on the mana within him. "Fireball!"
A tiny flame shot out and hit the rock with a soft pop. It left a small burn mark.
"Yes! Progress!" he cheered. "The rock didn't explode… but it burned!"
He kept practicing — breathing, clawing, jumping. His claws grew sharper, his scales harder. When he tried flying again, he actually managed to hover for a whole ten seconds before landing safely.
"I did it!" Ragno shouted proudly. "Wait until Mom sees—"
A shadow loomed. Ruby returned, carrying the body of a massive red bear. Its fur shimmered like steel.
"Whoa…" Ragno whispered. "That thing could flatten me like a pancake."
Ruby placed it down gently. "Before we eat, you'll have your first battle."
Ragno blinked. "Wait, what? Against that bear?!"
Ruby chuckled. "No, of course not. This."
She lowered her claw and revealed a pink slime bouncing gently in her palm.
"…Seriously?" Ragno said flatly. "That's my opponent? Can't I fight something cooler?"
Ruby smiled. "Every warrior starts small. Even dragons."
The slime suddenly lunged at him. Ragno yelped and jumped aside.
"Hey! It's fast!" he cried, dodging another leap. "Mom, I thought they were weak!"
"They are weak," Ruby said calmly. "But not slow."
The slime struck Ragno's tail, knocking him down. "Ow! That's it!" he roared, grabbing two rocks with his claws.
He slammed them together, trapping the slime between them. It wobbled violently before bursting into a puddle.
Panting, Ragno stood tall. "Ha! Victory for Ragno the Dragon!"
Ruby clapped her wings proudly. "Well done, my son. You've won your first battle."
Ragno puffed his chest. "Of course! I mean, yeah, I'm awesome."
Ruby chuckled. "Do not underestimate even the smallest foe. Someday, the enemies you'll face will be far stronger."
Ragno nodded, feeling both proud and thoughtful. "I'll remember that, Mom."
Weeks rolled by, and Ragno grew quickly. His flames became brighter, his wings stronger. He could now fly across short distances without crashing and breathe small streams of fire.
He often begged Ruby, "Mom, can I learn water magic now?"
Ruby shook her head gently. "Patience, my son. Water magic flows differently. You must master the fire first — only then can you balance both."
Ragno sighed. "Fine… I'll just burn more rocks then."
Ruby laughed. "Do what you must."
Each night, Ragno fell asleep beside Ruby's glowing scales, watching the reflections of crystals flicker on the cave walls. He had never imagined that death in his old world would lead to a new life — one filled with warmth, laughter, and love.
But deep in his heart, a small flame of curiosity and destiny burned brighter. He wanted to see the vast world his mother spoke of — the lands beyond the mountains, the skies that stretched forever.
For now, though, he closed his eyes under the safety of his mother's wings, whispering softly,
"Thank you, Mom… for giving me a reason to live again."
Ruby smiled in her sleep. "And thank you, my child… for giving me a reason to hope again."
Outside, the moonlight bathed the crystal cave in silver, and the gentle breathing of a mother and son echoed together — two dragons bound not by blood alone, but by love reborn.