Chapter 123: Lysandra

Linda spread the map across a table in the drawing room.

Vincent leaned over it while Vivienne pointed toward a dark patch occupying a considerable portion of the Central Region.

"This is the Dark Forest. The hunters permitted to enter mostly remain near its edges. You shouldn't assume that their paths will take you to the ruins."

Her finger moved farther inside.

Vincent studied the distance between the nearest road and the place she indicated.

"So we'll need to find our way through this part?"

"Yes. I'll have the available records brought here. Read them before deciding what to take."

"Do we know what we're looking for inside?"

"Something that can help restore her Origin. I can't promise the ruins will contain it."

Vincent nodded. He would have preferred a definite answer, but having somewhere to begin was already good.

He straightened and looked toward Linda.

"Can we see her first? Is she awake?"

"She was when I checked before breakfast."

"Let's go, then. I still haven't properly spoken to her."

…

The guest room smelled faintly of medicine.

Morning light entered through half-open curtains, reaching a padded basket beside the bed. The egg rested inside, its dark shell threaded with familiar azure lines.

A pale hand lay against it.

The Dragon girl was awake, propped against several pillows. Her dark-purple hair fell over a shawl, and her two small black horns were visible above her forehead.

Her golden pupils narrowed slightly when Vincent entered.

She looked him over before her gaze returned to his face.

"You look different."

"I had a problem with my bloodline. It's been dealt with."

Vincent approached the bed, stopping where she could see him without turning.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better."

She glanced at Linda, then Vivienne.

"They've been helping me."

Her voice was quiet but considerably clearer than the few words he had heard in the Highlands.

Vincent smiled lightly.

"I'm Vincent, by the way. I realized I still don't know your name."

"Lysandra."

She paused, looking down at the egg.

"I remember what you gave him."

"The crystal?"

Lysandra nodded.

"Thank you."

Her fingers moved over an azure line. Vincent pulled a chair closer and sat down.

"It helped?"

"His Origin is steady now. Before, I could feel him getting weaker."

She swallowed and continued rubbing the shell.

"He should have hatched already. He was trying, but he couldn't finish developing properly. I couldn't give him what he needed."

Vincent's smile faded a little.

"You were hurt."

"I know."

She said it without looking up.

Vincent couldn't think of anything useful to add. Knowing why something happened probably didn't make it easier for a mother to accept.

"We're looking into something that might help you too," he said. "There's an ancient ruin in the Dark Forest."

Lysandra finally looked at him.

"Your mother mentioned it."

"Do you know anything about the place?"

"No." She hesitated. "But if you find something, let me examine it before anyone tries using it on me. I can feel where my Origin is damaged."

"Of course. We'll discuss it together."

She nodded, her shoulders easing slightly.

A faint scraping sound came from the basket.

Lysandra's hand stopped.

Vincent looked at the egg, then at her.

"Was that…"

The sound came again.

Something tapped against the shell from inside. This time, a tiny white mark appeared near the top.

Lysandra drew a sharp breath.

"He's coming."

Vincent immediately stood, knocking his knee against the table beside him.

The medicine bottles rattled.

He caught them before they fell and looked helplessly toward Linda.

"Do we need something?"

"Give him room," she answered, moving the table aside.

Vivienne helped Lysandra sit more comfortably while Linda lowered the basket onto a folded blanket beside the bed.

Vincent crouched near it.

Another tap came.

The white mark split, becoming a short crack. He could see movement through the narrow opening, although he couldn't make out much.

"Should I help break it?"

"No," Lysandra said immediately.

Vincent withdrew his hand.

"Let him do it. If the shell tilts, hold it steady."

He nodded and settled his hands against the sides.

For a while, nothing else happened.

Vincent waited, listening to the occasional scrape inside and the ticking clock on the mantelpiece.

Then a claw pushed through.

It was small and pale, hooked into the crack with surprising determination.

The claw disappeared. A moment later, something struck the same spot from inside.

A piece of shell broke loose and fell into the basket.

Vincent leaned closer.

One golden eye stared back at him.

"Hello."

The eye disappeared.

He heard a muffled little noise, followed by more scratching.

"I think I scared him."

Lysandra made a soft sound. Vincent looked up and found her smiling, although her eyes were wet.

"He's trying to turn around."

"Oh."

That made more sense.

He shifted his grip as the egg rocked. Another section cracked, and a small black snout pushed through the opening.

The hatchling stopped, drew a breath, and sneezed.

Vincent felt droplets land on his hand.

"Well, good morning to you too."

One foreleg emerged, followed by another. The little Dragon planted both claws against the shell and pulled, but his folded wings caught against the opening.

He struggled harder.

Vincent glanced toward Lysandra, resisting the urge to simply lift him out.

She made a low, gentle sound.

The hatchling became still.

She repeated it, and his head turned toward her voice. He pulled one wing closer to his body, wriggled, and finally dragged himself free.

Vincent caught the shell before it rolled after him.

The little Dragon tumbled onto the blanket lining the basket.

For a moment, all Vincent could see were limbs and an offended-looking tail.

Then the hatchling pushed himself upright.

He was roughly the size of a house cat, with black scales, two small bumps on his head, and wings that seemed to trouble him whenever he moved.

A faint azure sheen showed beneath their thin membranes.

Vincent grinned.

'Holy shit. An actual baby Dragon.'

The hatchling shook himself, nearly fell over, and caught the basket's edge with his claws.

Linda extended a hand toward him.

He opened his mouth and produced a tiny hiss.

She stopped, allowing him to smell her fingers before carefully checking him.

"His breathing is good," she said.

Vivienne watched for another moment before nodding.

"His Origin is stable too."

Lysandra covered her mouth.

Vincent pretended not to notice when she wiped her cheek afterward.

The hatchling had already found a new problem.

His mother was above him.

He climbed over the basket's edge, hung there briefly by his front claws, and dropped onto the folded blanket below.

Vincent reached out, but the little Dragon had already scrambled upright.

He waddled toward the bed.

His claws clicked against the wooden floor when he left the blanket. One wing dragged behind him until he stopped, looked back at it, and awkwardly folded it away.

"Take your time," Vincent said.

The hatchling ignored him.

He reached the bed, raised his head, and made the same small noise Vincent had heard inside the egg.

Lysandra answered softly.

He immediately tried climbing the bedspread.

The fabric shifted under his weight. His hind feet slipped, and he landed on his bottom.

Vincent pressed his lips together.

The little fellow looked far too serious for him to laugh.

He tried again.

This time, Vincent placed a palm behind him before he could fall.

"All right. I understand. You want your mother."

The hatchling twisted and caught his sleeve between his teeth.

"That's my shirt."

He chewed harder.

Vincent looked up at Lysandra.

"I think he disagrees."

She laughed quietly and reached down.

Her arm trembled before she could touch him.

Linda moved at once, supporting her shoulder as she tried to lean farther.

"Slowly."

Lysandra stopped. Her smile remained, but she looked at her outstretched hand for a moment.

"Could you bring him closer?"

"Of course."

Vincent carefully lifted the hatchling, supporting his belly and hind legs. He squirmed until Lysandra touched his head.

Then he released Vincent's sleeve.

They settled him against her, with a pillow beneath her arm to help carry his weight.

Lysandra bent her head until her cheek rested against his scales.

The little Dragon pressed closer.

He made a small sound and pushed his nose beneath her palm.

Lysandra stroked him again.

"I was afraid I'd never hear your voice," she whispered. "You were so quiet for so long."

The hatchling caught a strand of her hair.

She carefully freed it, only for him to reach after it with both front claws.

Vincent glanced at Vivienne.

His mother was watching the bed with a faint smile. When she noticed him looking, she squeezed his shoulder.

Vincent sat back, watching her fingers slowly trace the two bumps on his head.

The maps could wait a few minutes.

Afterward, he would read everything his mother brought him.

He wanted Lysandra to hold her own child without needing someone else's help.