7:44 AM
Golden Fields Region, Verdant Haven
Réel Residence
In Aubert's bedroom, the morning light peeked through the window, painting the room in soft hues.
Aubert stirred from his sleep, his eyes fluttering open as he woke up slowly.
He yawned and stretched, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, and standing up.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Aubert shuffled towards the door, his movements still heavy with drowsiness.
The door glowed red and swung open by itself, but Aubert, lost in his morning fog, did not notice.
Descending the stairs, Aubert entered the living room, expecting to find his father there, but the room was empty.
"Papa?"
Aubert called out, his voice tinged with sleepiness, as he looked around the empty room.
He then walked into the kitchen, hoping to find his father there. But Maurice wasn't around.
Curious, Aubert peeked around the corner and spotted something unexpected—a baby red dragon curled up and sleeping peacefully.
His eyes widen in surprise. It was the same dragon he had seen at the Coral Cove Market yesterday.
With cautious steps, Aubert tiptoed closer to the dragon, his heart pounding with excitement and curiosity.
The dragon's ears twitched, and its eyes slowly opened. The first thing it saw was Aubert, who was getting closer.
Aubert stopped moving as he noticed the dragon opening its eyes.
"Grr!"
The dragon let out a defensive growl, showing signs of being wary and protective.
Aubert raised both of his hands, showing he meant no harm. "Hey there, little dragon," he said softly. "I won't hurt you; I promise. I just want to be friends."
"Grr!"
Despite Aubert's gentle words, the dragon remained wary and growled defensively.
Aubert then looked at the fridge and got an idea. He decided to give the dragon some chicken.
Carefully, Aubert opened the fridge and took out a piece of chicken. Holding it out to the dragon, he hoped to show his goodwill and make a friendly gesture.
The dragon's eyes fixated on the piece of chicken as it sniffed the air, intrigued by the enticing aroma.
Slowly, the dragon began to approach Aubert, its cautious demeanor gradually giving way to curiosity.
Aubert's smile widened as he watched the dragon inch closer, relieved to see it responding positively to his gesture of friendship.
The dragon reached the chicken, and with careful movements, it began to chew on the offered treat.
Aubert's face lit up with joy as he witnessed the dragon enjoying the food.
"Yay! I knew you'd like it."
Unbeknownst to Aubert and the dragon, Maurice stood silently at the doorway, observing the heartwarming scene unfolding before him.
His eyes softened with a mixture of pride and fondness as he witnessed Aubert's gentle approach and the dragon's cautious acceptance.
Maurice approached them with a warm smile on his face. "Looks like you've made a new friend, Aubert."
Aubert turned around and saw Maurice, his smile widening even further.
"Grr!"
The dragon, however, became wary again and let out a low growl, its eyes fixed on Maurice.
Maurice chuckled softly, understanding the dragon's cautious nature.
"It's all right, little one. I won't harm you," he reassured, extending a gentle hand towards the dragon. "We're here to be friends, just like Aubert and you."
The dragon hesitated for a moment, glancing between Aubert and Maurice. Slowly, it seemed to recognize the genuine warmth in Maurice's eyes, and its defensive posture softened.
With cautious steps, the dragon slowly walked towards Maurice, its movements tentative yet curious.
Aubert beamed, proud that his new friend was getting along with his papa.
"See, dragon? Papa is nice!"
As the dragon approached Maurice, its curiosity grew, and it began to sniff Maurice's shoes with cautious interest.
Maurice remained calm, allowing the dragon to explore at its own pace.
Aubert, noticing the dragon's curiosity, quickly handed the chicken to Maurice.
"Here, Papa! Maybe the dragon will like this too," Aubert suggested eagerly.
Maurice smiled at Aubert's suggestion, appreciating his son's kindness and willingness to share.
Taking the chicken from Aubert, Maurice extended his hand towards the dragon, offering the savory treat with a gentle gesture.
"Would you like some chicken, little friend?"
The dragon hesitated for a moment, its gaze shifting between Maurice and the offered food.
Sensing Maurice's sincerity, the dragon cautiously approached and delicately took a bite of the chicken.
Aubert's eyes sparkled with admiration as he observed the dragon's antics. Unable to contain his excitement, he turned to Maurice with a hopeful expression.
"Papa, can we keep the dragon? It's so cute!"
Maurice, recognizing the genuine joy in Aubert's eyes, couldn't help but smile. However, he knew the responsibility that came with caring for a creature like a dragon.
"I'm sorry, Aubert, but we can't keep the dragon. Dragons are magical creatures, and keeping them as pets is not only impractical but also illegal. Besides, this little friend belongs to the wild, where it can live freely."
Aubert's expression faltered for a moment, a hint of disappointment crossing his face.
However, Maurice continued, "But we can still visit and be friends with the dragon whenever it wants to come by. How about that?"
Aubert's disappointment turned into understanding, and he nodded. "Okay, Papa. As long as our dragon friend is happy."
Maurice smiled warmly at Aubert's understanding and glanced back at the dragon, still happily munching on the chicken.
"So, what should we name the dragon, Aubert?"
Aubert pondered for a moment, stroking his chin. As he looked at the dragon's red scales, his vision glitched for a second, and he saw a red diamond. Blinking, he shook off the strange moment.
However, the red diamond he saw for a second made him think of a name for the dragon.
"I want to name it Rubis!"
Maurice chuckled. "Rubis, huh? That's a unique name. Why Rubis, Aubert?"
Aubert grinned, explaining, "Because its red scales remind me of a Ruby stone. And Rubis sounds fancy and special, just like our new friend!"
Maurice smiled at Aubert's creativity and nodded in agreement. "Rubis it is, then. A perfect name for our magical dragon friend."