The dragon shoved open the circular iron manhole cover. Moonlight spilled into the tunnel like silver knives, and a cool breeze blew over his scales, contrasting the damp stink that filled the tunnels.
It wasn't the same tunnel Jayden had started this breathtaking but rewarding journey from, but hey, man-eating rats or gators with hidden blades weren't here. It felt like leaving a mini hell for Jayden.
The dragon rushed into the shadow of a building and dropped the bottled core, together with the access control card, from its maw.
"Tch", it hissed, falling with its belly in frustration and exhaustion as the bottle came into sight for the first time.
"A wind core!" Jayden cursed, his voice ringing in the dragon's mind. "I thought we agreed on an Earth core!"
Now Jayden really felt like the universe was trolling him around. This minute, he was Lady Luck's boyfriend, and the next minute, he was like her ex.
"We both know I wasn't in any position to take a look back there, and who the hell do you think you are to shout at me after I save your ass?" the dragon snappishly said.
"All cores were labelled, you just let your scared, nonchalant attitude get in between your vision", Jayden protested, equally frustrated himself.
"Says the guy who chose a flash drive over his own cultivation. Don't forget you failed in getting the crystals too".
Jayden wanted to throw more words at the dragon, but deep within, he knew what had happened had happened, yet it was hard to accept, but he couldn't deny the fact that if he had gone straight for the earth's core, none of these would have happened.
A sudden silence followed, one that carried both acceptance and self-disapproval, especially for Jayden.
"So, in the end, it's wind." The words came quietly from Jayden, somewhere between reluctant acceptance and self-loathing.
"Yah. Unless you wanna unfuse and fetch your precious Earth Core yourself," the dragon said with a grin. "But I'm not stepping a foot back there until you give me some proper cultivation."
Jayden smiled faintly, tossing the dragon a shred of motivation. "Don't worry. We've got all the elements to ourselves. Let's just roll with this first."
"I thought you doubted my grace", the dragon said with a proud smile.
"No way... I saw those cores within me. In fact, how about we give you a name that suits your supremacy," Jayden said, with a placating tone.
"How about Tydrion?" Jayden added with finality.
"The fuck" the dragon rasped, "what do you think? I'm some ancient tiger?"
Jayden laughed.
"Call me—Draco," the dragon smirked, standing with its hind limbs and placing both fore limbs on its sides.
The name sounded somewhat familiar to Jayden, maybe from an ancient movie he had once watched. He wanted to ask where the name inspiration came from, but for him, now was not the right time; it was his first moment to laugh with the dragon ever since they bonded, so why spoil it?.
"Thank you, lord Draco, for saving my ass back there," Jayden purred, giggling faintly
"Yes. Kiss my feet, human," Draco gave a proud smile.
Jayden didn't reply to that, he let silence creep in for a moment and said.
"Mennn, I'm starving, let's swap."
"Is that a command or what?" Draco's voice spiked.
Jayden clenched his teeth, just exactly what he was trying to avoid, while hyping the prideful dragon.
"N-No. Not all!. You can't get us food, but I can. I'm just politely offering!"
"Hmmm" Draco thought for a second, "I command you to swap and get me turkey"
"Yes, sir!" Jayden replied in thought.
They both focused within themselves once more. This time, Jayden found it easier than before, and just as the dragon vanished, he animated, kneeling on one foot and golden aura shimmering along his skin.
He smiled. The irony of the day was still unbelievable in his mind. Gaining a four-core elemental dragon. Maybe whoever had failed to record his English exams had just unknowingly gifted him the biggest blessing of the year.
But now there was this one problem; an MAGEO staff, maybe by now the whole of MAGEO were aware of his existence, but luckily, not his identity.
Jayden picked up the bottled core as well as the access control card, pocketed them and walked into the streets.
The streets were cold and silent, lit up with lights from signboards and the occasional headlight of passing cars.
Though Jayden was not familiar with this part of the United States, he knew what he was looking for, and he had just found it.
He entered a clothing boutique and changed his clothes into a Nike hoodie and combat joggers. They had just enough pockets for all that he was carrying, and thanks to the ATM card Mom had handed him, he was able to pay off the bills.
Jayden came out and turned to enter the next building which was a restaurant
A sign at the top of the restaurant caught his eye: Mr Jane's Plant Restaurant.
Such a name was enough to drive away high-ranked beast tamers blessed with mammalian beasts who made up the population of the rich. This place clearly catered to the plant and insect tamers.
"Welcome, child," greeted a man who looked in his late fifties, as Jayden opened the door. The aroma of fresh meals hit Jayden like a punch to the gut—his stomach immediately growled with hunger.
Draco chuckled in his mind at the word child, but Jayden ignored him.
"Good day, sir," Jayden replied.
"What can I help you with?" The man smiled warmly, plant tentacles wriggling behind his back like an octopus, green veins crawling up his arms.
Two tentacles extended forward, offering Jayden the menu.
"Heyyy, I commanded you to get turkey remember?" Draco purred in his head with the energy of an impatient child.
'Shut up,' Jayden thought, annoyed. Then to the man: "I'll take a plate of peanut-oil beans and two chicken laps."
Beans were his favourite and packed the protein he needed for quick regeneration of the few injuries mana rats and incurred on him. As for the chicken laps, Pure spite—just to deny Draco the turkey he craved.
"As you wish, sir," the man said, bowing slightly. Plant vines drew him back to the kitchen. Meanwhile, others wrapped gently around Jayden, lowering him into a seat inside the blissful, plant-filled space.
"Whoa… guess plants aren't that bad after all," Jayden muttered, smiling as he admired the calm environment.
The room was alive with plant and insect tamers—chatting, laughing, no prejudice in sight.
Plant tamers bore green, yellow, or black vines sprouting from their backs or even woven through their hair. Insect tamers flaunted fairy-like wings, transparent or vibrantly colored depending on their bonded species. Some had hard exoskeletons, others had twitching antennae.
"These are people proud of themselves," Jayden said softly, a smile of admiration crossing his face.
"Brace yourself," the waiter's voice cut through his thoughts as the plate landed. Beans sat at the centre, flanked by the two chicken legs.
"Now that's what I call beautiful," Draco smirked inside.
"Thank you, sir," Jayden said quickly, reaching for his spoon—only for it to be snatched away by a green vine.
"Mmm… mmm…" The man shook his head with a smile, rubbing two fingers together before sliding a card reader across the table.
Jayden grinned, slid in his ATM card, and paid up.
"Enjoy your meal," the man said with a wave.
Jayden didn't wait. He attacked the food like it would vanish if he chewed first.
"Unfuse with me, I want to taste that," Draco begged sharply.
"Not happening," Jayden muttered through a mouth full of chicken and beans.
"Come on… no one will see me, I promise!"
"Nope."
Draco was left to suffer, forced to only watch the bones crack and hear every juicy crunch from inside Jayden's mouth. But that didn't stop him from begging—every bite made it worse.
☆☆☆
Minutes later, full and satisfied, Jayden downed a whole bottle of water. Now he stood by the roadside, still quiet, with occasional taxis blowing past.
"Bornfire Street," he told the driver, one hand on his stomach like a pregnant man, the other holding Reese's written address.
"Sure. Hop in, kid."
Jayden climbed in, studying the driver. The man's skin bore insect markings, and from his back sprouted four transparent wings—dragonfly wings. His slightly bulging eyes were a confirmation of his beast.
Dragonfly tamer.
The mana flow of insects was different from that of dragons. Jayden could see the mana flow. In insects, mana travelled from the body's base upward, concentrating in the head. At C¹ rank, they gained a hint of wind control—not enough to summon a storm, but enough to lift an object.
'Every beast has some degree of elemental control depending on its type,' Jayden thought, his eyes drooping with sleep. But only dragons can master it.
Sleep claimed him.
☆☆☆
"Hey, kiddo, wake up," the driver called, tapping Jayden's shoulder.
Jayden's eyes fluttered open reluctantly as he took in the streets around him. Unfamiliar, but the signboards confirmed he was in the right place.
"Sorry, I dozed off," Jayden muttered, pulling out a few dollars to pay the fare before stepping out.
He checked Reese's note again while stifling a yawn.
"This should be it—Bornfire 3," he whispered as his gaze fell on a small sign across the tiled road, pointing to a regal bungalow.
He walked up to the door. For a moment, he hesitated—thinking of the time. It should be around 4 a.m. now.
But he finally knocked, just once. The door opened instantly, almost too perfectly timed.
'Oh, jeez. Grandma,' Jayden thought as his eyes met a woman who looked no older than her early forties.