The blue light pulsed one last time along the outline of the sculpted dragon—
and then the voice returned.
Less cold.
Less aggressive.
But much, much more attentive.
As if it had just woken from a forced sleep… and was now truly seeing.
The stone vibrated with a deep murmur, like the purring of magma beneath ice.
"I see."
The tone softened, but the authority remained intact.
"One of our own… albeit corrupted by the ancient shadow."
Strax smiled crookedly, his fangs clear, a feral glint in his eyes.
"Corrupted? …hahaha, I heard worse."
But continue: you're already accepting that I wasn't lying.
The wall seemed to breathe.
The sculpted wings trembled with light, like muscles awakening.
The carved eyes lit up—now alive, burning, focused on him. — And this egg…
The voice lowered, becoming almost a whisper of recognition.
"…shouldn't exist."
The egg vibrated so strongly that Strax had to adjust it on his arm to keep it from escaping.
