13 Volume 02 - Chapter 01: Birth

/// Kiyotaka Ayanokoji ///

"Still hell bent on not coming out... huh?" I spoke gently, slightly caressing the smooth surface of the egg Sylvia had entrusted me with. 

The unborn life inside it- Sylvia's child, was still unready or rather unwilling to come out. 

Dragons. One of the most heavily debated creatures in my old world. 

The legendary myths of dragons have always depicted the creatures to have a massive serpent-like body along with the capability to fly. Though most dragons are imagined having four legs, they have two legs or no legs in some myths. In the folklore of medieval Europe, dragons breathe fire, fly, and are generally perceived as malevolent creatures. In eastern cultures, the notion of dragons is contradictory, as they are wingless and accompanied by the weather, specifically flood and rainfall, and they are considered as auspicious beings. 

The word "Dragon", itself was derived from a Greek word "Drakon", translating not to dragon but a huge serpent. In another words, the word dragon literally means an over-grown lizard but with wings. 

Their anatomy in itself was questionable. Like the question "How can dragons fly?" It was a logical question, considering their mass which no matter what happens can't be supported by the wing structure we know. 

The fact that no one had ever found a dragon skeleton made this question even difficult. After many years of research and using only the historical records as reference it was decided that these fantasy and mythological animals have the anatomy to support them. First, dragons have wings made of bone rods. Some assumptions state that the dragon wings are not real wings.

The bony trunk protruding from the chest only acts as a support for the gliding membrane. Then how can dragons fly? To fly, the dragon's bones need to be hollowed out and then reinforced with internal balancing ropes.

Dragon wings would be thin membranes with light scales or have feathers. The dragon's strong muscles will support it to flap its wings. Now that you know all these facts, do you believe dragons can really fly?

In the end, even after all the research it just became a matter of faith with no concrete evidence to support anything. But, in this world dragons existed. Sylvia and this egg were the living proof of it. 

Well, not Sylvia since she's dead. 

(A/n OUCH!)

No matter what's the origin, dragons were always depicted as extremely strong creatures, capable of wiping civilizations in the mere blink of an eye. I had never seen the extent of Sylvia's real power. Her comprehension of mana was impressive, but it proves a simple point. 

The dragons have an extremely narrow-minded way of comprehension and gaining insight into magic or what they refer as mana arts. The sheer lack of innovation in their knowledge was troubling. In other words, if they weren't blessed with the innate talents such as the superior physique, they wouldn't have fared any better than normal humans. 

From what Sylvia told me, she made it sound like there were only dragons in this world. Logically speaking, it's impossible. How can a world have such an unbalanced system? 

If there exist only dragons, how are they are not ruling over this continent?

If dragons are the only deities in this world, why was she so scared of the one coming after her?

How can she be killed, and other dragons never showed up to save her?

It was clear she didn't tell me everything but blaming her was just me being hypocritical. After all, I did the same with her.

I let out a shallow sigh, as I sat and placed the egg in my lap.  Leaving it in the middle of my lap, I closed my eyes. Spreading the mana from my secondary core, which was light orange, I placed my hand over the egg and directed the flow towards it. 

Fire. The first element that came to mind when the idea of forceful hatching crossed me. However, after just a few minutes of injecting fire mana, I came to conclusion that it wasn't what it needed. The mana was being repelled, rejected by it. After imbuing every element separately, in double and triple combinations, I finally understood that I can't awaken it using elemental affinities. 

A thought crossed my mind. Something, I had seen with Kei, during one of my dates with her in my previous life. A show based on dragons and people who tame and bond with them. Something, I heard replayed in front my eyes like I was walking through a memory lane. 

"Dragons hatch when they feel secure." 

In another words, the egg needed to be near her kind to hatch. However, I wasn't going to find a dragon den, just so this baby dragon, that has no use to me could hatch. A sudden thought crossed my mind. 

"Do I really have to do that I wonder." 

Closing my eyes, I reached out for the borrowed dormant power inside me. My secondary core. The mark over the core spread in a nexus of complex engravings joint together. 

I had gained enough insight to use this form, however, no one except me knew about it. The reason behind it was the astronomical amounts of mana build-up in process. I placed my hand over the egg once again, 

"If you won't come out naturally... I'll pull you out of there", I spoke as I closed my eyes. Mana around me swelled like an inflated balloon, ready to explode. Mana surged with-in me and all around me. A warm feeling encompassed my body. 

Opening my eyes, I saw a pair of hands embracing me from behind. The hands were milky white, and the touch was soft. The went from the top of my shoulders and embraced me tightly. The force was subtle; however, it had an unnaturally warm effect. It was... comforting.

Sylvia. 

I spoke under my breath. 

The room rumbled, a crevice running through the wall. My gaze remained fixed on Sylvia's arms. Runes similar to mine covered her arms. Yet, they looked somehow more... majestic. Shining brighter than me. Was it because of the better comprehension?

**crack**  

My focus wavered as I looked down. The rumbling died out as I saw a crack run through the egg. 

Then another. 

Soon multiple cracks ran through the egg. A faint golden light intruded from the small cracks but soon died out. 

An arm came out of the egg, kicking the shell out. Then another. Soon the whole thing was out of its egg. 

The newborn dragon looked like a small black kitten but with scales. The sclera that is usually white in the human's eyes is black. Her pupils were sharp slits that would typically make it look menacing, but with the body of something akin to a small feline animal. The most noticeable difference between Sylvia and Sylvie is that Sylvie has two horns on its head. It curves outward around her head and then, sharpening into a point in the front.

Her head was shaped like a cat, but the snout was just a little bit more pointed, otherwise the same. Sylvie's tail looks exactly like 's tail. It was a reptilian tail that has two red spikes at the end. Along the spine, there were small red spikes that match the color of Sylvie's eyes. She doesn't have wings, but where the wings would be located are two small bumps in its stead. Her belly does not have scales, but it looks leathery. 

She looked at me and tilted her head. Her face showed a smile for a split second but then mirrored my own neutral face, as if mocking me. I grabbed her by her arms and placed it near me. Suddenly, she pounced on me and bit on my arm. What surprised me was that there was no wound where she bit, but instead there was a mark that looked like a dragon's maw. 

A proof of bond?

"Kyu?" "Mama?"

A childish voice chirped in my mind. I looked down at the baby dragon. Looks like she deems me as her parent. The thought of having off-spring never crossed my mind. And seeing my nature I don't think I'll have one. Nor do I intend to work for that. However, using this baby dragon could be a good way to practice. After all, I have decided to live an ordinary life this time. 

"Call me papa. I am a boy", I replied back. I don't know if my voice sounded monotone even in my mind since the dragon looked teary. Looks like I have one more thing to work on now. 

The door busted open to reveal 2 figures. Virion and Tessia Eralith. Virion was dressed in a formal attire whereas Tess was wearing her training robes, covered in sweat. 

"OI BRAT! WHAT HAPPENED?" Virion asked, getting uncomfortably loud. 

"Tone it down, will you?" I shot back, a bit exhausted because of the technique. My 7 years old body was not strong enough to handle it as of now. 

"The whole castle was shaking from the monstrous amount of mana coming from your... Oh my deity! What is that in your lap?" Virion turned pale like he had seen a ghost. 

"It's a cat, but with wings" I replied, trying to keep my expression as neutral as possible. Well, I don't need to try to seem emotionless. 

"You know you are bad at lying", Virion shot as he got closer. Tessia followed closely behind him. From her expressions I could discern she was itching to hold my newly acquired paw- bond, but she kept quiet. Most probably because of me grooming her.

Picking the little dragon up, I threw her at Tess, "Go take Sylvie for a walk. I need some time alone", I said. I had decided to name her Sylvie after her mother, since its simple, convenient and didn't require much energy to expend on this mundane task of naming.

"Can I?" Tess spoke, catching Sylvie mid-air. 

"Of course. Return her before dark", I said as I saw Tess hopping and leaving. 

The dragon was interesting. I could feel it trying to learn from my emotions and memories. Although my control over my mind was strong enough to net let her intrude where I didn't want her, it was good. I could guide her into specific memories, make her as I desire. A weapon strong enough to stand by my side. 

My equal.

"Brat?" Virion's voice brought me out of my stupor. "Still don't trust me enough to tell me a secret or two?" 

"It's not about trust, Virion. I trust you. It's a matter of preference. I choose not to disclose it to anyone since I deem it really personal. If I ever decide to open up, you'll be the first person to know of it." I said as he stroked his beard. 

"If you say so. I'll leave for now since I have an official meeting. Let's have tea and play... what do you call that game?"

"Chess." I reminded him for the hundredth time.

"BAHAHA. Yeah, tea and chess. Exactly. Let's do that later tonight. I am itching for a fight...", he paused as a sudden melancholy loomed over him, "...or utter humiliation. Either way, see you later brat", he said and left in the blink of an eye. 

Virion Eralith. 

Someone who I deemed capable enough to lead the masses. In case something wrong happened. The possibility of another continent exists. And if it wages war while I am alive...

I will crush that continent. 

Reduce it to atoms if needed if it ever tried to mess with my normal life. 

And Virion Eralith would be the face of Dicathen. A puppet attached to strings that are further linked to my fingers. He will do as I say. As I desire. When the time is ripe. 

Shaking my head, I got rid of these thoughts as I remembered something.

I walked closer to the mirror in my room and closed my eyes. Placing my fingers on the edge of my lips I curved it up, trying to form a smile.  Removing my fingers and trying to sustain the smile without the help of fingers, I opened my eyes.

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I fell on the bed with a plop and placed an arm over my eyes. The result of my many days struggle to smile replayed again and again in my mind.

"That was scary."

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(A/n *wheeze* Ehmm, anyways, hope you liked the chapter, lol. I am trying to make him normal while not deviating from his true personality. Now don't bitch me about that he will never smile blah blah. He desires a normal life ok, it's just that his way of obtaining normal life isn't normal.

Anyways, hope you enjoy the chap. 

See ya all next time. 

Sayonara)