The sprawling city of Virelith bustled as usual, but for Rodensky and Emmanuel, the next three days were far from ordinary. Every moment was spent in preparation, every action fueled by the weight of their missions and the knowledge of the Black Snake Guild looming in the shadows.
Rodensky leaned against the balcony of their rented room in the guild's quarters, watching the sun rise over the city. The golden rays bathed the ancient spires and cobbled streets, but his mind was elsewhere. He could hear the faint sounds of Emmanuel tinkering with a map at the wooden table behind him, muttering under his breath as he charted potential routes.
"We need to be ready for anything," Emmanuel said without looking up. "The Black Snake Guild could be anywhere along the way. We don't even know how many spies they have in the city."
Rodensky nodded. "We'll stay sharp. The last thing we need is an ambush before we even leave Virelith."
Emmanuel set the map down and turned his attention to a small, black dragon egg resting in a velvet-lined case on the table. It shimmered faintly under the room's dim light, exuding an ancient and almost oppressive aura.
"This egg…" Emmanuel murmured, running his fingers over its smooth surface. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen. I've been trying to figure out how to hatch it, but there's no information in the guild's archives. Even the elders seemed baffled."
Rodensky stepped closer, eyeing the egg warily. "If it came from the God's Vault, it's bound to be extraordinary. Maybe we're missing something—a ritual, a specific condition."
Emmanuel sighed. "I've read about dragon eggs needing intense magical energy or environments with extreme elements, but this one doesn't react to anything we've tried so far."
Rodensky placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. For now, focus on what we can do—getting stronger and protecting our families."
Day 1: Beast Evolution
The first day of their preparation was dedicated to their beasts. The training grounds buzzed with activity as challengers honed their skills, but Rodensky and Emmanuel carved out a secluded area to focus entirely on Rokura and Abaddon.
Rokura, Rodensky's Lion-like beast, growled softly as his glowing blue eyes fixed on his master. His muscles rippled as he prowled the training grounds, waiting for Rodensky's signal.
"We need to push you further," Rodensky said, crouching beside him. "You're strong, but I know there's more potential inside you."
He pulled out a vial of beast essence, an incredibly rare resource he had acquired during their recent missions. The essence glowed faintly, and as he poured it into Rokura's food, the Lion growled appreciatively before devouring it. Moments later, a surge of energy coursed through his body, and a brilliant light enveloped his form.
When the light faded, Rokura had grown noticeably larger, his fur shimmering with streaks of silver and her claws exuding an almost metallic gleam. His aura was stronger, more feral, and Rodensky felt a surge of pride, now that he has a beast in adulthood middle stage.
Emmanuel watched the transformation with a grin. "Looks like it's my turn," he said, turning to Abaddon, his sleek, serpent-like dragon.
Abaddon's red scales shimmered as Emmanuel guided him through an intricate series of training exercises, combining physical attacks with bursts of elemental energy. Emmanuel held a crystal infused with dragon energy, channeling it toward Abaddon.
The dragon roared, and the crystal shattered, releasing a wave of power that seemed to resonate with Abaddon's core. As he entered Adulthood peak stage his body expanded slightly, his wings becoming more pronounced, and the flames he breathed took on a darker, more intense hue.
"Good boy," Emmanuel said with a smirk. "We're getting closer."
Day 2: Gathering Information
The second day was spent in the sprawling libraries and archives of Virelith. Izabella had suggested they look into the city's older records, hoping to uncover any clues about the Black Snake Guild's movements and, more importantly, the mysterious dragon egg.
Rodensky sat at a long oak table, poring over ancient tomes filled with cryptic symbols and faded illustrations. Emmanuel, on the other hand, scoured maps and expedition logs, searching for any mention of dragon nesting grounds or hatching rituals.
After hours of research, they finally found a lead. Rodensky flipped through a book titled The Forgotten Beasts of the Ancients and stopped at a passage about a phenomenon called the Eclipse Hatch.
"It says here that certain rare dragon eggs can only hatch under specific celestial conditions," Rodensky explained, pointing to an illustration of a dragon egg under a darkened sky. "A total solar eclipse creates the ideal environment for these eggs to awaken."
Emmanuel's eyes lit up. "When's the next eclipse?"
Rodensky pulled out a celestial calendar from the nearby shelf and quickly scanned the pages. "It's about a month away, but it'll be visible on the second continent. That means we'll have to take the egg with us."
Emmanuel nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Then it's settled. We'll make sure it's safe until then."
Day 3: Tracking the Black Snake Guild
The final day in Virelith was spent investigating the Black Snake Guild's activities. Izabella had mentioned that spies might already be in the city, and the two friends couldn't afford to leave without knowing what they were up against.
Disguised in plain cloaks, Rodensky and Emmanuel wandered the bustling markets and shadowy alleys, listening for whispers and watching for suspicious activity.
By midday, they spotted a group of cloaked figures loitering near the Challenger's Association. The insignia on their sleeves, a coiled black snake, was unmistakable.
Rodensky's jaw tightened. "They're here."
"We can't confront them now," Emmanuel said, his tone measured. "We don't know how many more might be hiding."
Rodensky reluctantly agreed. Instead, they followed the spies at a distance, observing their movements and eavesdropping on their conversations.
By nightfall, they had learned enough. The Black Snake Guild was indeed tracking them, but their forces in Virelith seemed minimal, a scouting party rather than a full assault team. Still, it was clear that leaving the city would only escalate the danger.
As they returned to their quarters, Rodensky and Emmanuel felt a mix of relief and apprehension. They had prepared as much as they could, but the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty.
A New Resolve
On the third night, the two friends sat by the window of their room, gazing out at the city lights.
"We're ready," Rodensky said, breaking the silence. "We've done everything we can here."
Emmanuel nodded, his hand resting on the dragon egg. "And we're not stopping until we see this through. No matter what the Black Snake Guild throws at us."
Rodensky smiled faintly. "For our families."
"For our future," Emmanuel added.
With their preparations complete, the two prepared to leave Virelith, their beasts by their sides and their resolve stronger than ever. The journey ahead would be their greatest challenge.