Aeron didn't know what to do.
His legs froze and his mouth stayed open. Right there, before him, was the egg, no longer an egg.
It had cracked open. And out came something beautiful and strange.
A baby dragon. Eyes like the silver moon.
Tiny wings tucked to its side.
It made a small, soft sound. It wasn't scary. Not to Aeron. It was... beautiful.
But Aeron still couldn't move. He wanted to run. He really did. Every part of him screamed, "Get out! This is too much!"
But something else, something much deeper, held him in place.
More like a connection. As if the dragon was calling to him. He could feel it. In his chest… in his head… in his heart.
A silent whisper: "Come closer."
And he did. Step by step, slowly. He was trembling, but he moved closer to the baby dragon.
The dragon didn't run. It didn't hiss or hide.
Instead, it looked at him with big silver eyes. It blinked once.
And that blink gave Aeron the courage to reach out.
He touched it.
Just one finger, gently. The scales were rough, but the surface felt smooth, almost soft, it felt so alive. Aeron gasped a little, but the dragon didn't flinch.
His fear began to melt. His breathing slowed and his heart no longer thundered.
And then, he smiled.
He touched it again, with both hands this time, gently stroking its head and tiny folded wings.
It purred.
Yes. Purred.
Without even thinking, Aeron laughed. A soft and joyful laugh. He lifted the dragon. It was heavier than it looked. And just then, the voice goes again:
[FLAMEBOND SYSTEM: STAGE II UNLOCKED]
« Bond Confirmed: Drakeling Imprint Complete »
| Flameborn Companion Linked:
– Species: Drakeling (Silver-Fire Class)
– Name: [Pending]
| Soul Synchronization Level: 8%
| Elemental Channeling: Activated
| Trait Unlocked: Dragon Whisper I – Emotional Transference Enabled
| Affinity Bonus: +10% Fire, +3% Air
| Warning: Bond Link is permanent.
The dragon blinked once more. And Aeron understood it.
He sat down slowly. His hands didn't stop moving as if they kept tracing the soft ridges of silver scales. The little creature curled into him like it belonged there. Like it always had.
They began to play.
The dragon flapped its tiny wings, hopping from one rock to another. Aeron laughed as he chased it, slipping on stones, sometimes catching it, sometimes not.
It didn't feel strange at all, not to him. It felt... meant to be.
But soon, the dragon began to slow down. Its flaps became weak. Its steps got slower. Then it quietly walked to a corner of the cave and lay down.
Aeron panicked. "What's wrong?" he asked out. Of course, it didn't answer. But it looked too tired. Maybe sick?
He didn't know. He had no idea, he wasn't a dragon expert! So he did the only thing he could think of.
He ran outside and picked up some fruit.
Bananas, berries, and an apple. He rushed back and placed them in front of the dragon… Nothing.
Then he ran out again and grabbed some grass and roots. Maybe it eats like a deer? He laid them down.
Still, nothing.
The dragon didn't even sniff them. It just lay there, breathing slowly.
Aeron sat down beside it, confused and scared.
He couldn't let it die.
Not after everything.
Then suddenly, he had an idea.
Yvarra.
She was smart. She knew things. She loved stories and legends.
Maybe... just maybe… she could help.
He got up and ran straight to the village.
When he reached her house, she sat outside, reading as usual. "Hey, Yvarra!" he called.
She looked up. "Aeron? What's wrong? You look like you ran a thousand miles!"
He forced a smile. "I have a weird question."
She raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"What do you think about dragons?" he asked.
She blinked. "Dragons?"
"Yes," he nodded quickly. "Do you think they're real?"
Yvarra laughed a little. "Most people say they're just myths. Stories. Legends passed down from old times. But…" she paused, looking thoughtful, "...I actually believe they once existed. Maybe still do."
Aeron's eyes lit up. "So you believe?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"What if," he said slowly, "someone told you they saw one… a real dragon?"
She looked at him like he had grown wings. "I'd faint," she said. "You're kidding, right?"
He shrugged. "Of course. Just curious."
"You're acting weird, Aeron."
"I know," he laughed nervously. "So, uh… what do you think dragons eat?"
"Food, obviously."
"No…" Aeron said too quickly, then added, "I mean… not just any food. Something specific."
"Well," she said slowly, "if they're like other big creatures, maybe they eat meat? Could be carnivores, right?"
Aeron nodded. "That makes sense."
"Why are you asking all this?"
"No reason. Just... had a dream. A really real dream."
Yvarra squinted. "You and your dreams. Creepy ones."
"It felt like it actually happened," he said. "It felt real."
She rolled her eyes. "You sound crazy."
"I probably am," he laughed again.
Then he asked, "Do you have any books on dragons? Anything about them?"
"I don't. But…" she thought for a second. "I think I've seen one in my father's library. I can check."
"Please," Aeron begged. "Just help me find it."
She sighed. "I'll look. But don't drag me into your strange dragon dreams, okay?"
"I won't," he promised. "Just the book."
"Alright," she said. "I'll bring it to you if I find it. But seriously, Aeron… whatever this is, be careful. Dragons may be beautiful in stories, but they're dangerous in reality. If they exist, that is."
Aeron smiled and nodded. "Thank you."
But in his heart, he knew…
They exist. He had seen one. He has bonded with one.
"..."
Aeron didn't waste a second after Yvarra gave him the idea. He rushed out of the village like a madman. Meat… Maybe that's the answer, he thought. He ran to the market, quickly bought some raw meat with the little money he had, wrapped it up, and sped back to the cave.
By the time he reached there, he was panting, sweating, and almost out of breath. But he didn't care. All he could think of was the little dragon that was lying weak in the corner.
He unwrapped the meat slowly and placed it carefully in front of the dragon. "Here… I brought you something," he said softly.
The dragon lifted its head slightly and looked at the meat. For a moment, Aeron's heart skipped… Is it going to eat? The dragon crawled forward, sniffed it, and opened its mouth… but then, suddenly, it paused. It turned and looked directly at Aeron.
Its eyes… oh, those eyes. So large. So deep. So full of emotion.
Aeron blinked. "What now?" he said, frustrated. "What else do you want? I've tried everything. I even ran through the village like a lunatic just to get you this."
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Or do you want me to feed you myself?" he said, jokingly.
But the dragon just stared at him most adorably with its eyes wide, almost… smiling?
Aeron raised his eyebrows. "Wait… you actually do want me to feed you?"
The dragon tilted its head, almost as if saying yes.
Aeron chuckled nervously. "Alright then… here goes nothing." He picked up a piece of meat with trembling hands, his heart thumping. What if it bites my hand along with the food? He thought.
He stretched his hand out, slowly and carefully, offering the meat.
And to his surprise… the dragon didn't snap. It leaned forward gently, opened its mouth, and took the meat straight from Aeron's hand. Aeron's mouth dropped open. "Whoa."
He quickly picked another piece and gave it to the dragon again. Same thing, gentle. Polite. It was as if it didn't want to hurt him. Again and again, he fed the dragon until it was full. The joy on its face was unmistakable.
And in that moment, Aeron knew, this dragon trusted him. Completely.
***
Days passed. Then weeks. Aeron visited the cave every day, bringing fresh meat and sometimes other foods. But nothing made the dragon as happy as meat did. It would still eat other things when meat ran out, but it didn't enjoy them as much.
Aeron also started talking to Draco as if it were a person. Yes, that's what he had named the dragon, Draco, it also means dragon. He would tell stories, jokes, how his day went, or how annoying some villagers were. And though Draco never spoke back, it listened. Its eyes said it all. It understood him. And Aeron… he felt heard, always.
He kept everything a secret. From everyone.
Not even his mother knew. He told no one.
Because Aeron knew… if people found out about the dragon, they would panic. They'd call him insane. Or worse, they might try to kill the dragon. And he couldn't let that happen.