"It's my first time seeing one like this." Uncle said from behind.
"I haven't seen many of them, but this child certainly looks special." Grandpa said beside him.
"You are looking far too pleased with yourself, teacher." Granny said with narrowed eyes.
"Why shouldn't I?" Teacher replied immediately, looking far more satisfied than she was trying to hide. "Your grandson actually hatched that damned egg."
My entire family had somehow gathered around us.
Meanwhile, my attention remained fixed on the tiny drake lying on the ground before me.
The hatchling rolled a rubber ball between its paws, completely ignoring the crowd surrounding it. Its dark scales shining beneath the morning sunlight, and every now and then the golden markings running across its body gave off a soft glow.
Blue orb floated around it while a translucent light repeatedly swept across darke's body.
"Look, he is playing with it." Perpetua said softly as she reached down and gently rubbed the drake's head.
The little drake immediately leaned into her touch.
"Fua!"
From atop my head, Faux leaned forward excitedly, his tail swishing back and forth.
A low growl came from near my leg.
I glanced down to see Baloo frowning with a mix of suspicion and territorial annoyance.
Then my gaze shifted to the ball.
Ah.
That was Baloo's ball.
The drake happily rolled it away.
Baloo's frown only deepened.
Perpetua picked the ball and gave it back to the drake.
Baloo moved closer.
This is either the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
The drake suddenly grabbed the ball and hugged it possessively.
...or a complete disaster.
Baloo growled as its ears twitched with restrained anger.
The new born drake didn't back down, he rumbled back without a shred of fear.
Two of them simply stared at the eachother.
As if throwing in a challenge, the drake pushed the ball forward between them.
Baloo's eyes moved from the ball to the drake and back again.
He placed a strong paw atop the ball.
The drake immediately pounced, their paws clashing against the ball.
The ball shot upward bouncing around.
One chased after it and the other followed right behind.
Within seconds both of them were running through the garden together.
"..."
For a second, we remained silent then a small laugh passed through everyone.
"Looks like they've already introduced themselves." Grandpa said.
"Now we have another special addition to the family." Granny said, her eyes returning to me. Then they shifted toward Faux sitting atop my head. "It's been some time since I've seen you two together like this."
"Well, we had a..." I looked up at Faux, and he looked down at me with a smile, "...talk."
She nodded with a smile. "Good."
"By the way, why are you two standing so far away?" I asked, noticing Nidrik and James standing behind everyone else.
Both of them shared a look before slowly raising their hands.
"...Bit me." "H-he clawed me."
They held up their freshly bandaged hands, James wincing at the memory.
"He must have been surprised by the new faces, I am sure he meant nothing bad," Perpetua said, moving to stand right next to me.
"She is right. Baloo was the same when he first came here, remember?" I said, offering them a reassuring nod.
A growl immediately sounded from across the grass.
Hmm?
Baloo stopped chasing the ball and turned toward us with an offended look.
"What?" I asked.
He let out another grumble.
The drake copied him.
Baloo narrowed his eyes.
The drake narrowed his eyes.
Both of them looked less like pets and more like two rivals challenging each other.
Then the drake proudly rolled Baloo's ball away.
Baloo chased after him without hesitation.
Grandpa laughed loudly.
"I think they'll get along just fine."
"But isn't he a little too active for a creature that hatched only last night?" Granny asked, glancing toward Teacher.
"His egg had reached maturity long ago, I am sure he could hear and feel everything going on outside unconsciously, and it's not like it started walking the moment it came out, it took the whole last night and..."
She gestured ahead.
Right on cue, the drake's tiny legs tangled together and tumbled to the side. "... He is still wobbling."
A soft laugh escaped Perpetua as she walked over and carefully picked him up.
The little drake squirmed in her arms, clearly unhappy about being interrupted.
"So?" Teacher crossed her arms. "Has the trainer decided on a name?"
"I have."
A smile tugged at my lips as I turned toward the field.
"Baloo."
The cub immediately lifted his head.
Without hesitation, he smacked the rubber ball toward us.
The drake's eyes lit up.
The moment the ball started rolling, he wriggled free from Perpetua's arms and charged after it with surprising determination.
His tiny legs pumped furiously.
The ball reached my feet.
I stepped in and picked it up, bringing him to a halt. He looked up at me with big, innocent eyes that seemed to hold a world of wonder.
Baloo trotted over and sat beside him.
Perpetua followed shortly after.
Handing her the ball, I knelt down and placed a hand atop each of their heads.
I let my mana flow into them.
The response was immediate.
The drake greedily drank in every bit of mana it could get, while Baloo accepted it calmly, almost familiarly.
I felt a thread snap into place, anchoring our souls together like I had suddenly gained two new limbs.
"His colour changed?" Uncle's surprised voice came from my right.
Opening my eyes, I noticed the change immediately. Baloo's muzzle, once a stony gray, had changed to a clear white. The thick tuft of fur beneath his neck had transformed to match, and he even looked slightly larger than he had moments ago.
On the other side, the drake looked exactly the same.
Both creatures opened their eyes, locking their gazes onto mine with an intensity that pulled at my heart.
"Baloo."
At the sound of his name, he leaned deeper into my touch.
"Drav."
The drake looked confused for a fleeting second, his head tilting to the side, he looked towards Baloo and he let out a soft sound before leaning into my touch as well.
"Drav? Are you sure?" Uncle asked, his brow furrowed as he watched the two creatures stumble across the grass.
"What does the name mean?" Grandpa followed, his eyes remaining on the small drake with curiosity.
"I don't know." I admitted with a shrug. "I just randomly came up with it. That's how I've been naming them anyway."
"That sounds lazy," Uncle answered, crossing his arms with a disapproving shake of his head.
"He seems to like it," Perpetua said, kneeling next to me. She rolled the ball away across the field, and both Baloo and Drav immediately scrambled after it.
Faux followed after them.
"I am Back!!!" A loud, annoyingly familiar voice breaks through the peaceful afternoon. We all turned to see a shadow perched atop the mansion, the figure leaping down with a dramatic spin before sticking a perfect landing right in front of us.
He turned to face us with a flourish, "Did you miss me?"
We all just stared at him, the silence stretching out between us.
"You have come earlier than usual," Granny said, completely ignoring his theatrical entrance.
"Welcome, Zayn." Grandpa followed.
"Uh... is that all?" Zayn asked, visibly deflating. "Nothing else?" His shoulders sagging in disappointment.
"Yo, how's life going?" I asked, raising a hand in a lazy greeting.
He looked around at all of us before scratching his head.
"I expected everyone to be a little depressed, but..." He waved it off. "Forget it. Good to see all of you are doing well."
His eyes then moved to Uncle, "Erik, how have you been? We talked before, but it's been eleven years since we saw each other face to face." A grin spread across his face. "You look exactly the same."
To my surprise, Uncle visibly flinched. "I–I am well, sir." He straightened his posture and even bowed.
"Come on." Zayn laughed as he walked over and wrapped an arm around Uncle's shoulders. "No need to be so stiff. We're comrades who went through life and death together. Relax a little."
"R-right." Uncle nodded quickly. "I am s-sorry."
Yet somehow he looked even more nervous than before.
... Huh? Why is he reacting this way?
"And Sieg!"
He suddenly pivoted toward me, his face alight with anticipation. "Here's what I promised!"
His hand disappeared into his pouch before emerging with a red egg covered in green marks.
Ah.
"Happy, right?" He knelt in front of me with a lopsided smirk and held it out proudly. "It's a Crimson Streak, one of the rarest drake eggs around. Tell me you're taken aback."
"I no longer need it."
"Huh?"
The smug look vanished instantly.
I gestured sideways toward the grass, and he followed my gaze. His eyes narrowed instantly as the reality of the scene registered.
"Is that… a drake? What breed is it–No, where did you even get an egg?" He asked, his voice thick with surprise.
"I am the one who gave it to him," Teacher said, stepping forward.
"Oh." Zayn stood straight up, his demeanor shifting into something more respectful. "You must be Lady Serena, if I am correct?" He placed a hand over his chest. "I have heard a lot about you from Lady Fors and, lately, from my student Siegfried too. It's an honour to meet someone of your caliber."
"I am sure their words could not properly explain my greatness," Teacher replied without a trace of embarrassment. "But they likely provided you with a general understanding. I have heard about you too from my student, Siegfried Fors."
For some reason, both of them smiled, not friendly smiles, but not hostile ones either, they were the kind people exchanged when they were quietly sizing each other up.
...What is going on here?
A glance toward Grandpa revealed an amused smile, whereas Granny looked tired and Uncle looked like he wanted to be somewhere else.
Zayn let out a satisfied breath.
"Looks like Sieg is in good hands." A grin spread across his face. "He is smart for his age, but still dull in some areas. So please go easy on him."
"Easy? As if you can say that." I shot back immediately.
"I have been going easy until now, but that will not be for long," Teacher said, casting a knowing glance in my direction.
A chill ran down my spine.
Great. More suffering.
"But now, what should I do with this?" His eyes moved down to the egg resting in his palm.
"I am sure you know four more children you could give it to?" Granny asked, raising a brow.
"One among them prefers horses, another doesn't have interest in riding and the other two already have their own eggs…" He trailed as his eyes moved past granny and grandpa.
"Oh, hey James, and you must be Nidrik," Zayn moved closer to the two, his grin bright and disarming. "Hope you both are enjoying your time in Fors?"
James nodded shyly, his shoulders hunched, while Nidrik gave a small nod.
"Good, good." Zayn smiled before raising the egg in his hands. "How about it? Does either of you want this egg?"
Both of them immediately took a step back.
Nidrik shook his head firmly from left to right, while James shuddered behind him, his voice barely a whisper, "I-i am good."
The refusal came so fast it was almost impressive.
Zayn looked genuinely confused.
"What's with you two?"
"Drav gave them a stingy hello." I explained.
"Drav?" Zayn repeated before looking toward the little drake chasing the ball. "Ah, I see."
He looked at the bandaged hands of James and Nidrik and let out a hearty laugh. "That's it? Things like these are common while raising a drake; one or two more bites and you both will get used to it."
At that, James's face paled, while Nidrik remained expressionless, though the slight tension in his shoulders told me he didn't know how to respond to such a casual dismissal of their injuries.
"Hello."
A cheerful voice came over.
Zayn turned his head toward the girl who had approached him.
"Hello, young lady. And who might you be?"
She took a graceful step back and slightly raised the hem of her dress. "I go by the name Perpetua. Sir Zayn, I have heard great things about you from Sieg."
Huh? When did I ever tell her about Zayn?
Zayn chuckled.
"I'm not sure about 'great,' but I'm glad my name is spreading." He smiled warmly. "I hope you don't mind me asking for your family name."
"It's just Perpetua, Sir Zayn."
"Is that so?" His eyes remained on her for a moment before he nodded. "Hmm... So what can I do for you?"
Perpetua's gaze dropped to the egg in his hands.
"If you don't mind... can I have the egg?"
"Wait." I stepped beside her. "You want it?"
She nodded without hesitation.
Zayn looked from the egg to the girl, his expression unreadable for a moment before he offered a shrug. "...Go ahead."
Perpetua carefully accepted it with both hands.
"Are you sure?" Granny asked. "Isn't that egg quite rare?"
"It's fine." He waved it off. "If nobody wanted it, I would've just taken it back anyway."
Perpetua stared at the crimson egg with sparkling eyes.
The excitement on her face was impossible to miss.
"I will call her Dina."
"Weird name… How do you know it's a girl?"
"I just know."
She hugged the egg a little closer and smiled.
For some reason, she sounded completely certain.
"Come, let's make a sling bag, so it's easy for you to carry." Granny said.
"Okay~"
Perpetua followed after her with a bright smile, clutching the egg carefully against her chest as both of them vanished around the corner.
Grandpa and Uncle soon left as well, accompanied by a subdued Nidrik and James.
The moment they were gone, the area felt strangely quieter.
"What a strange girl." Zayn said with a smile.
"Yeah, I know."
"So... where is she from?"
I looked toward the path where she had disappeared. "I have no clue. She hasn't explained anything. She seems to be ill, and she can use magic, but I can't sense her mana at all. It's just like you, Mother, and Teacher. She says she goes home every day and can use space magic, so I believe she uses that to travel back. There's also a weird creature she calls Peri who sometimes appears and disappears."
I scratched my cheek.
"That's all I know about her."
"She sounds stranger and stranger by the second."
Zayn's eyes moved towards the direction Perpetua had gone, a thoughtful look settling over his face.
A scoff suddenly reached us, and both of us turned to look at Teacher.
"To me, she seems more and more like you," she said, her eyes locked onto mine.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's not my place to tell a young lady's secret," she countered, her lips curving into a cryptic, knowing line.
Asking questions seems too stupid these days.
"Sorry for jumping in," Zayn walked forward, his presence shifting from playful to professional. "Lady Serena, I hope you wouldn't mind if I taught Sieg a few things while I am here."
Teacher's expression immediately soured, as though someone had personally offended her.
"...Normally, I wouldn't allow such a thing, but I am quite busy these days, so feel free to break a leg."
With that, she turned on her heel and started walking away.
"Thank you for understanding." Zayn slightly bowed his head, but I noticed his smile widening into a smirk. "Things must be quite tense at the boundary."
Boundary?
Teacher stopped instantly. She looked over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes until they were mere slits of cold intensity.
"They are." She turned slightly to face him. "The situation in the north with the Sovereignty is also looking tense. Are you sure you should be wasting your time here?"
Ignoring the sharp edge in her voice. Zayn knelt next to me, his hand coming to rest atop my head with an uncharacteristic warmth.
"No time invested in this child is a waste," he said, his smile softening the hard lines of his face.
A satisfied smile crossed Teacher's face, the icy tension in her expression finally breaking.
"You are not wrong about that."
With those final words, she vanished into the air.
"She is quite dramatic," Zayn said, standing up and brushing the grass from his knees.
"As if you can say that," I shook my head, the memory of his absurd entrance still fresh in my mind. "So what are we going to do? Want me to show you my improved sword skills?" I stood taller, feeling a rise of confidence in the hours I had spent refining my technique.
"Before that, I actually brought another thing for you." His hands dove back into his pouch.
"Something tasty?" I asked immediately, recalling how Mother asked him to bring sweets from the capital whenever he returned.
"Better than that. Think of it like a late birthday gift."
Late by about eight months.
"Here."
He held out both hands.
"Wow."
My eyes widened.
Resting on his palms were two gauntlets. One was dark red, while the other carried a deep blue hue. They looked sturdy, yet strangely elegant.
"These are for me? It's not a prank, right?" I asked, hesitating for a split second before reaching out.
Zayn nodded.
"Try them."
I snatched them before he could change his mind.
The dark red gauntlet slid onto my right hand, while the blue one settled onto my left. They didn't just fit, they seemed to meld with my skin, shrinking and adjusting until they felt like a natural extension of my own body. I opened and closed my hands, the movement felt natural. Almost like a second layer of skin.
"How do they feel?" Zayn asked.
"Amazing."
A grin spread across my face as I clenched both fists, the sensation of power flowing through the metal intoxicating.
"Now try reinforcing them."
I did as asked and poured my mana into them. The gauntlets reacted instantly, emerald lines spread across their surface and moving all the way up to my knuckles.
My eyes widened.
The amount of mana they could contain without showing the slightest sign of strain was absurd.
Far beyond anything I had used before.
"Now come here." Zayn said, raising both open palms.
I didn't need to be told twice.
Pushing off the ground, I shot forward.
My fist slammed into his palm.
BOOM
A shockwave burst outward.
I twisted and followed with another punch.
BOOM
Then another.
And another.
Each strike carried enough force to rattle the surroundings. The distant glass walls of the greenhouse trembled, several cracks spreading across them with every impact.
Normally, the thought of Granny seeing this would have terrified me.
Right now?
I couldn't care less.
The exhilaration rushing through my body drowned everything else out carrying me to seventh heaven.
For the first time in a long while, I simply enjoyed myself.
I landed lightly and stared at my hands.
The gauntlets felt like a part of now, just like Faux, Baloo, and Drav now.
"Looks like you've bonded with them already." Zayn lowered his hands with a satisfied smile. "You see, the materials used to forge them developed a will of their own."
So they're like powerful wands...
Or Mother's axe.
As the green lines faded, I noticed small gems nestled under the wrist of each gauntlet.
A blue one on the red gauntlet and a red one on the blue. "Are these just for decoration?"
At that, Zayn's smile widened. "Direct your mana specifically at the gems, starting with the blue one."
Curious, I focused my mana as instructed.
The gem lit up.
A moment later, a beautiful silvery white bow materialized in my hand.
"This is..."
"The gems are individual storage units that can only be accessed by you." His eyes shifted toward the bow. "I heard you've been brushing up on your archery skills, so I had that made. Do you like it?"
I didn't answer immediately.
My fingers ran along the grip. I slowly pulled the string back and released it. The thread vibrated with a melodic frequency that felt soothing against my palm, a sound so calming it felt like a lullaby to my senses.
Even though I was gripping it through the gauntlet, the connection felt as tactile and immediate as if my bare skin were touching the metal
A smile crept onto my face.
"Faux."
Understanding my intentions without a single word, Faux manifested multiple square emerald barriers in the air before me.
I raised the bow, calling upon the techniques Aifa had shown me. Three arrows of solidified mana coalesced along the string.
I let them fly with effortless precision.
The barriers shattered as the arrows pierced through them.
Under my guidance, the projectiles curved through the air, changing direction wherever my mana directed them.
Within seconds, every single barrier exploded into fragments of emerald light.
Zayn let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by the display.
"This is a good bow. Thanks."
This is more than good.
Now I won't have to worry about threads snapping anymore or accidentally crushing a bow because I put too much strength into it.
"Now it's the red one's turn."
My eyes moved to the red gem.
Definitely a sword.
Unable to wait any longer, I poured mana into it.
Something immediately wrapped around my legs.
"W-what is this?"
Looking down, I found armor forming around both legs, covering everything from my knees to my feet. The metal carried the same colors as the gauntlets, fitting snugly against me as if it had always been there.
I tentatively lifted my leg, shaking it to see if they would shift, but the armor felt as fixed and immovable as if it had been forged onto my very bones.
"How is it?" Zayn asked.
In truth, disappointment hit me almost instantly.
My shoulders slumped.
"What's with that face?" Zayn asked, his brow furrowing as he caught my shift in mood.
"...Nothing. It's good," I replied, not bothering to hide the flatness in my tone.
"Woah. You've started becoming ungrateful just like your mother." He rubbed his forehead. "Listen, leg armor is just as important as body armor or a helmet. In a fight between opponents of equal skill, targeting weaknesses and fighting dirty is completely normal."
"I understand that..." I muttered while looking down at the armor. "But after showing me these amazing gauntlets and that incredible bow, this feels a little underwhelming."
Zayn shook his head, a look of mock pity crossing his face.
"You can be seriously dull in such things."
"What?"
My eyes narrowed.
Excuse me?
I was not the one giving leg armor after showing off a magical bow.
That sounded perfectly reasonable to me.
"Every one of these pieces is made from Cold Iron, the fifth strongest metal known in existence." He tapped one of the gauntlets. "They won't break easily, and they'll grow alongside you, so give them a proper chance."
My disappointment lessened slightly… Slightly.
"As for the sword, I commissioned that too." He continued. "But the smith said he needed a break after creating the bow, so I had no choice. I promise, I will bring it by your next birthday."
"Birthday?" I stared at him. "That's a long time away."
"It's just five months."
"Five very long months."
"Learn to be patient."
I let out a sigh.
"Very well. Just make sure it's sturdy."
"That was always the intention."
"Sir Zayn."
Both of us turned to see Silvyr was approaching at a brisk pace.
The head knight came to a stop before us and gave a respectful nod.
"Hey, Silvyr." Zayn waved casually. "Are the preparations done?"
Silvyr nodded, though he slipped a few concerned glances in my direction. "...They are. But are you sure?"
"I am."
The confidence in his answer immediately put me on guard.
My eyes narrowed.
"What are you two talking about? What preparations?" I asked, a sudden prickle of apprehension rising along my neck.
Zayn slowly turned back toward me with a smile… A smile he wore whenever he was about to ruin my day.
"I asked for his help to prepare a test for you."