The airship's wreckage still smoldered in the valley below. The monastery was quiet save for the distant calls of birds and the whisper of wind through the trees. It was a fragile moment of peace, one that Kaito knew wouldn't last.
But for now, they had earned it.
A Strange Discovery
Kaito wandered the forest just beyond the monastery, his body aching from the battle but his mind restless. He needed time alone, a chance to process everything that had happened.
The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting shifting patterns of light on the ground. Kaito tightened his grip on Kagekiri, its presence a steady comfort.
As he walked, a faint sound came to his ears, that of a low rhythmic hum, a pulse of energy. He turned toward the origin of the sound. The sound grew louder and drew him deeper into the woods.
Minutes later, he stumbled upon a clearing bathed in golden light. In the middle stood an ancient stone altar overgrown with moss and ivy. Lying on the altar was something odd: a large, shimmering egg.
The egg was unlike anything Kaito had ever seen. Its surface appeared to ripple with some sort of soft, inner glow that continuously shifted between hues of silver, blue, and gold. The hum of energy grew louder as he approached, filling the air with a strange warmth.
"What is this.?" Kaito murmured, reaching out toward the egg.
The moment his fingers brushed its surface, a spark of light erupted from the egg and a wave of energy surged through him. He stumbled backward, his heart racing.
"Kagekiri," he breathed upon it, looking at the blade in his hand. "Do you know what this is?"
The whispered murmur from within the sword was faint but insistent. "A bond. A promise. Take it."
Kaito wavered, and something inside him whispered the blade was trustable. He stepped forward again and carefully lifted the egg off the altar. Surprisingly, it felt warm and heavy, its glow pulsating lightly against his skin.
Returning to the Monastery
When Kaito finally returned, the rest were waiting in the courtyard, deliberating their course of action. Daichi was whetting his weapons, Ayame tended the wounded, while Kaede paced about nervously.
As Kaito entered, all eyes went to him—and the egg cradled in his arms.
"What. is that?" Kaede asked, her eyes wide.
"I don't know," Kaito admitted. "I found it in the forest, on an altar. It feels. alive."
Ayame approached him cautiously, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "This energy. it's ancient. Powerful. Where exactly did you find it?"
Kaito explained the area he had seen and the altar at the center of it, and Ayame paled.
"That's an old draconic shrine. It was thought to have been abandoned centuries ago."
"Draconic?" Daichi asked frowning.
Ayame nodded. "The dragons said to leave behind the relics of their power, remnants of their once-great civilization. If this is a dragon's egg.
Kaede stepped forward, her voice cutting. "If it's a dragon, the empire will stop at nothing to take it. They've hunted dragons to extinction for their power. We can't let them find out about this."
Kaito's grasp on the egg tightened. "Then we keep it safe. Whatever it takes."
The Reaction of the Egg
For the next several days, Kaito kept the egg near him; its soft glow was comforting to behold. It seemed to react to his touch-the pulsing getting stronger when he held it in his hands.
The other girls were cautious yet curious. Ayame performed her rituals in hopes of divining the nature of the egg. Kaede watched from afar, her expression unreadable.
One evening, he was sitting alone with the egg when suddenly it moved in his hands. A crack etched across its surface, like some sort of thin line of light that spider-webbed.
"It's hatching," he said softly, his heart pounding.
The crack widened, and a little claw emerged, followed by a scaled snout. The creature within pushed against the shell and emerged in a final burst of light.
Kaito stared in awe as the hatchling emerged—a small, silver-blue dragon with glowing eyes and delicate wings. It let out a soft chirp, its gaze locking onto Kaito's.
"You're. beautiful," Kaito said, reaching out to touch its head.
The dragon leaned into his touch, purring softly. A surge of warmth filled Kaito's chest, and he knew in that moment that they were connected.
A Growing Bond
The hatchling quickly turned into a source of fascination-and concern-for the group. It was playful and inquisitive, getting into mischief at times as it made its way around the monastery. But it was also fiercely protective of Kaito, never straying far from his side.
She watched the bond that had formed between Kaito and the dragon with both awe and apprehension. "Do you realize what you've gotten yourself into?" she asked one evening as the dragon curled up at Kaito's feet.
Kaito looked up from stroking its scales. "I didn't choose this," he said. "But I won't turn away from it, either.
Kaede sighed. "The empire will come for it. For you. You've just painted an even bigger target on your back."
"Let them come," Kaito said firmly. "We'll face them together."
The Empire's Eyes
Far away, in the imperial capital, the advisor stood before the emperor, their hood casting a shadow over their face.
"The monastery's defenses are stronger than anticipated," the advisor said. "But there is something else—something unexpected."
The emperor leaned forward, his eyes glowing golden. "Speak."
"A dragon's egg," the advisor said. "And it has hatched."
The emperor's expression darkened, a cruel smile curling at his lips. "A dragon. How delightful. Send word to Commander Tsukasa. I want that creature alive. And bring me the boy who wields Kagekiri."
"As you wish," the advisor said, bowing low.
The Road Preceding
Back at the monastery, Kaito, Kaede, Ayame, and Daichi huddled around the map once more. The dragon, whom they had now named Shiro for its silver-white scales, was perched on Kaito's shoulder, chirping curiously.
"We can't stay here," Ayame said. "The empire will send everything they have to claim the dragon. We need to move."
Daichi nodded. "The temple is still an option. Its wards might protect us, at least for a while.
Kaede hesitated. "But if we go there. we risk unleashing something even worse."
Kaito looked at his companions, then at Shiro. The dragon nuzzled against his neck, its warmth giving him strength.
"Whatever happens," he said, "we face it together. We're not running from this fight anymore.
And with Shiro at his side, he knew they could face whatever came next as the shadows of the past loomed ever closer. But this time, there was a spark of hope: a small light in the darkness.