Arc 10 – Fireburp
Two weeks had passed since the finals of the Royal Knight Tournament held in honor of the Hero.
Summer had arrived in the Kingdom, bringing with it scorching heat.
And if it's summer… then it's time for the beach.
Young Wolf had discovered the perfect swimming spot years ago in the Forest of Wolves:
a deep, clear stretch of river where the shore was rocky and the water pleasantly cold.
The place had only one small drawback: it was part of the Earthstone Bear's territory.
But that didn't bother the team.
They had befriended the magical beast three years earlier.
The Earthstone Bear hunted wolves and goblins, never attacked humans, and had a particular fondness for gingerbread.
Young Wolf's group always brought it a large batch.
Thus the bear had become the peaceful, grumpy guardian of the Forest of Wolves.
Now that the team was strong enough not to fear it, the day of their first swim of the year had arrived.
Naturally, after morning training.
Noelle had baked the gingerbread at dawn — an especially large amount, because the bear appreciated generosity.
Meanwhile… something else stirred in the forest
Far to the south, in the wooded edges of the Volcanic Highlands of the Fire Dragons, a small red‑scaled dragon hatchling had gotten lost.
It was no bigger than a human child, but its eyes already glowed like embers.
The hatchling hadn't eaten in three days.
The hatchling's thoughts
"I'm hungry… I haven't eaten anything for three days.
I've wandered far from home. This forest is bigger than ours… and strange.
But I don't want to go back to the dragon nest."
Its eyes darkened.
"All the other dragons bully me. They mock me every day.
I decided to run away. I'll live alone.
No one will hurt me again."
Its stomach growled loudly.
"But I still can't breathe fire… so I can't hunt.
I can't even catch a small animal.
I can only eat fruit… but I can't find any more."
Then it heard the sound of flowing water.
"Water? At least I can drink."
It stepped to the river and took a sip.
"Hmm… this water tastes better than ours."
Then it smelled something.
A scent.
Strong, sweet, unfamiliar.
"What is that smell? An animal?
It's coming from behind that rock…
Maybe a small animal?
Maybe I can catch it…"
The hatchling crept toward the rock, cautiously.
It had no idea that it was walking toward the most important encounter of its life.
The hatchling dragon carefully fluttered behind the rock, stomach growling, eyes shining with hope.
It thought a small animal was hiding there… something it might actually be able to catch.
But it wasn't an animal waiting for it.
It was a massive magical beast.
The Earthstone Bear.
The bear was as large as a small adult dragon, its body covered in stone plates, its deep-set eyes staring at the hatchling as if a pebble had rolled in front of it.
The little dragon froze.
Hatchling Dragon:
"W‑Who are you? I—I'm a dragon!"
Earthstone Bear:
"Hm? You, a dragon? Don't make me laugh."
Hatchling Dragon:
"D‑Don't eat me! I'm not tasty!"
Earthstone Bear:
"You're small. And skinny. You really don't look tasty.
But I'm not interested in you anyway. It's hot today. They'll be coming."
The hatchling's ears twitched.
Hatchling Dragon:
"Who's coming?"
Earthstone Bear:
"My friends. They always come when it's hot.
And they always bring me that sweet treat."
Hatchling Dragon:
"Sweet treat? What kind of treat?"
Earthstone Bear:
"The sweetest, most delicious food.
You won't find anything like it anywhere else in the forest.
Only they know where it comes from, and they always bring me some.
Hmm… I can't wait for them to arrive."
The hatchling's eyes sparkled.
Hatchling Dragon:
"Can I eat some of that treat too?"
Earthstone Bear:
"You don't interest me…
but since you're the first one who can actually talk to me, maybe we'll give you some."
Hatchling Dragon:
"Really?!"
Earthstone Bear:
"My friends will decide if you deserve it."
Hatchling Dragon:
"What do your friends look like?"
Earthstone Bear:
"They walk on two legs. And they talk a lot."
The hatchling's eyes widened.
Hatchling Dragon:
"You don't mean… humans?"
Earthstone Bear:
"I don't know what they're called.
You'll see when they arrive."
Hatchling Dragon:
"And what's your name?"
The bear paused, as if this were the hardest question of its life.
Earthstone Bear:
"Name? My name?
Hmm… they gave me one, but I don't understand their words."
Hatchling Dragon:
"Then I'll ask them for you!"
The bear looked up at the hatchling — and for the first time, something that might have been a smile crossed its rocky face.
Earthstone Bear:
"You understand their language?"
Hatchling Dragon:
"I'm a dragon!
I understand human speech and the language of magical beasts too!"
Earthstone Bear:
"Hm… then you must be smart.
Fine. You can be my friend."
The hatchling's eyes filled with joy.
Hatchling Dragon:
"Your friend? I've never had friends before.
Okay! Let's be friends!"
Earthstone Bear:
"What's your name?"
Hatchling Dragon:
"I'm only eight years old.
I don't have a name yet.
Dragons only get their names when they turn ten."
Suddenly, the bear lifted its head.
Earthstone Bear:
"Do you hear that?
That's their sound.
They've arrived."
The hatchling turned excitedly toward the noise.
And then Young Wolf and his team stepped out from between the trees —
carrying freshly baked gingerbread in their hands.
From between the trees, Ironclaw burst out first — as always: full speed, full volume, full enthusiasm.
"I can smell Ursa Laci!" she declared proudly.
"He's over by his rock. Probably napping again."
Young Wolf smiled.
"Well, bears are lazy creatures. I suppose that applies to magical bear monsters too."
But Ironclaw suddenly lifted her head and inhaled deeply.
"I smell something else.
A strange scent… I've never smelled anything like it."
Young Wolf's expression sharpened.
"Another creature? Strong?"
"No. Weak.
Very weak."
"Let's take a look."
The group approached the rocky outcrop where the Earthstone Bear usually lounged.
And there he was — the bear, half-asleep and content, just as always.
But beside him… something entirely unexpected.
A crimson hatchling dragon hovered in the air, low and playful, like an oversized bird.
The Earthstone Bear clearly didn't consider it dangerous — and he was right.
The little dragon was only eight years old, and dragons at that age resembled curious, clumsy youngsters far more than fearsome destroyers.
The hatchling didn't look aggressive at all.
If anything… it seemed excited to see new faces.
Young Wolf's thoughts
Young Wolf's eyes gleamed as he examined the small creature.
"Hmm… a Fire Dragon?
No name yet, only eight years old, and female.
Magical element: dragonfire."
His thoughts raced.
"What luck!
Who would've thought I'd run into a dragon already, here in the Forest of Wolves?"
The hatchling spun in the air, wagging her tail, clearly delighted by the newcomers.
"Since she's still just a child… taming her might not be difficult."
A slow, confident smile spread across Young Wolf's lips.
The rest of the team didn't know it yet, but today would not be just a simple day at the river.
Today would be the day a Fire Dragon hatchling met the Wolves for the first time.
And perhaps…
…the day a new, incredibly powerful ally was born.