Ryo sat in his study, reviewing trade documents for Eldoria, ensuring the new policies he had implemented were running smoothly. Trade agreements with neighboring territories, resource allocations, and diplomatic correspondences cluttered his desk. He sighed, rubbing his temples. Handling the affairs of a growing nation was far more tedious than battle. Just as he reached for another document, the system's voice rang in his mind.
[System Alert: ???? Egg is trying to hatch.]
Ryo's eyes widened. "Wait, what?! It's hatching now?!"
He immediately pushed back his chair and stood up, glancing at his storage ring where the mysterious egg had been kept all this time. Without hesitation, he left the study, moving swiftly towards the outskirts of the castle and into the forest beyond. This was something he couldn't afford to let others witness just yet.
Finding a secluded clearing deep within the dense forest, he finally retrieved the egg from his storage space. The egg was large, nearly the size of a human torso, with a silver sheen that shimmered under the moonlight. Ryo's sharp gaze caught the subtle movements—the egg was shaking, small cracks forming along its smooth surface.
Then, with a sharp crack, the shell splintered. A tiny, clawed hand pushed through, followed by another. With one final break, the shell shattered completely, revealing a small, silver-scaled dragon with piercing sapphire-blue eyes. The infant dragon blinked up at Ryo, tilting its head in curiosity.
"It's a dragon, huh?" Ryo muttered, his voice filled with fascination.
The baby dragon let out a small chirp, stumbling slightly as it stepped out of its broken shell. Its body was sleek, adorned with shimmering silver scales that reflected the surroundings like liquid metal. What caught Ryo's attention, however, was the sudden shift in the dragon's appearance. As it exhaled a small gust of flame, its silver scales took on a fiery hue, glowing red and orange. Then, when it inhaled deeply, releasing a frosty breath, its body turned an icy blue.
"Wait…" Ryo narrowed his eyes. "A dragon with multiple elemental affinities? That shouldn't be possible. Dragons are only supposed to have one or two elements at most."
Then it struck him—he had received this egg as a reward from the system's trial. It was no ordinary dragon. Of course, it would be different.
He crouched beside the baby dragon, watching as it stretched its tiny wings, which also shifted colors depending on its movements. The system chimed in again.
[System Notice: This dragon possesses Elemental Adaptation, allowing it to change its form and attributes based on the element it is actively channeling. The elements available will grow stronger as it matures.]
Ryo exhaled. "So it wasn't just luck… this thing is a real monster in the making."
The dragon let out a pleased trill, rubbing its small head against Ryo's hand. He smirked, picking it up gently. "Alright, let's head back before someone starts looking for me."
Ryo returned to his castle with the dragon in tow, making sure to keep its abilities under wraps. As expected, his fiancées were quick to notice his new companion.
Selena was the first to speak. "Ryo… what is that?"
"A dragon," he replied nonchalantly.
Seyra's eyes widened in shock. "You found a dragon?! Where?!"
Ryo shrugged, keeping his tone casual. "In the forest. It was abandoned. So I brought it back."
Lilith crossed her arms, giving him a knowing look. "You just happened to find a dragon in the forest?"
Ai leaned in closer, observing the dragon's shimmering silver scales. "It looks different from normal dragons… there's something special about it."
Lyra, ever the curious one, extended a hand towards the dragon. It nuzzled her palm affectionately. "It's adorable! What's its name?"
"I haven't named it yet," Ryo admitted. "I figured you all might want to help with that."
That was all the encouragement they needed. His fiancées immediately gathered around, throwing out suggestions.
"How about Argent? Since its scales are silver," Hilda suggested.
"No, that sounds too serious! Something cuter, like Sylvie!" Selena countered.
"It needs a regal name! Perhaps something like Dragnar?" Seyra proposed.
"Hmm… since it changes elements, maybe something related to nature… like Tempest?" Lilith mused.
"How about… Nova?" Ai finally said. "It shines like a star when it shifts elements."
The baby dragon perked up at the name, letting out a happy chirp. Ryo chuckled. "Looks like it likes that one. Nova it is."
His fiancées nodded in agreement. "Nova it is!"
Just then, the baby dragon suddenly shifted again. This time, a soft green glow enveloped its body, and its scales shimmered like emerald leaves. Ryo's eyes sharpened. "It changed again… so it really does take on the properties of the element it uses."
Selena was fascinated. "Does that mean it can use wind magic now? Or maybe nature magic?"
"It seems so," Ryo murmured. "But I have a feeling this is just the beginning."
Seyra, being a dragon princess, studied Nova carefully. "Ryo, this dragon is beyond rare. Even in my kingdom, no dragons have the ability to shift elements like this. If word gets out, powerful figures might try to take it from you."
Ryo scoffed. "Let them try. No one's taking Nova from me."
Nova let out a small huff, as if agreeing with Ryo's statement, before curling up in his arms. Ai smiled. "Looks like you've got another companion."
Lyra grinned. "More like another member of the family."
Hilda nodded. "We should all take care of Nova together."
Ryo sighed, glancing at the tiny dragon. "I guess that means I have one more responsibility now."
His fiancées giggled, and for the first time in a long while, Ryo felt a sense of warmth that had nothing to do with battle or power. Nova had found a home with them, and Ryo knew this was only the beginning of their journey together.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter—Nova's finally here! Ryo's life just got even more chaotic with the addition of this little elemental-shifting dragon. From its unique ability to adapt to different elements to its growing bond with Ryo and his fiancées, Nova is definitely going to play an important role in the story moving forward.
What do you all think of Nova? What element do you want to see it use next? Let me know in the comments!