Chapter 55: Laying Eggs and Incubation
Two years later, on the last night of the sixth month.
In the main hall of the Lava Dragon Court, Livia was sprawled in the center of a temporarily constructed birthing room, surrounded by Dragons.
Kalendil stood at the very front, trying hard to appear composed, but the tip of his tail betrayed his nervousness—it was swaying like a willow branch in the wind.
Valerion crouched to her left, holding a freshly dug ruby in his two foreclaws, ready to hand it over at any moment.
Aetheriel crouched to her right, small arcs of electricity crackling on his claws, staring intently at her belly while muttering, "Steady, steady, steady. Don't electrocute, don't electrocute, don't electrocute..."
The Kobold Chieftain knelt at the cave entrance with forty-seven Kobold, their heads pressed to the ground, chanting prayers no one could understand.
The Fire Hawk King perched by the Lava Lake, with fifteen Fire Hawks lined up behind him, all staring uniformly in the direction of the birthing room.
The Fire Dwarf Chieftain stood at the entrance of the forge workshop, holding up a newly hammered bronze gong, saying he intended to "strike it when the child is born to celebrate the arrival of the new life."
Livia glanced at this group of fellows, then remained silent for three seconds.
Then she spoke, her voice as calm as if discussing what to have for dinner:
"Everyone out."
Kalendil froze, "Mother, we must stay with you—"
"Out."
Valerion looked up, his eyes watery, "Mother, I want to watch my little brother and sister be born—"
"Out."
Aetheriel raised a hand, "Mother, I can help with the delivery! I can discharge electricity; if an egg gets stuck, I can give it a little zap—"
Livia stared at him.
Aetheriel silently lowered his hand and retreated three steps.
"G-going now."
Three heads disappeared through the cave entrance.
The Kobold scrambled and crawled their way out.
The Fire Dwarf Chieftain put down the gong and retreated sheepishly back into the workshop.
The main hall finally grew quiet.
Only the sound of the boiling Lava Lake and Livia's own heavy breathing remained.
— — — — — —
Three hours later.
The first egg dropped onto the ground.
It was red-based with gold patterns, about half a person's height, its surface flowing with a gentle luster. Fine patterns were faintly visible on the shell, like intricate, carved riddle symbols.
Livia looked down at the egg and was silent for a second.
Then the second egg fell.
It was grayish-blue, slightly smaller than the first, its surface as smooth as polished jade. It had no patterns, no lines, lying quietly on the ground like an ordinary stone.
The two eggs lay side by side, reflecting different halos under the glow of the lava.
System pop-up:
[Egg-laying complete]
[First Egg: Red Dragon × Copper Dragon hybrid, female, excellent genes, estimated hatching time: 3-5 days]
[Second Egg: Red Dragon × Copper Dragon hybrid (Sub-dragon regression), male, stable genes, estimated hatching time: 3-5 days]
[Special Note: The second egg has a tendency toward camouflage; it may have inherited its father's 'hiding things' habit. Close observation is recommended.]
Livia stared at the four words "tendency toward camouflage" for three seconds.
Then she extended a claw, intending to pull both eggs close to her.
As her claw touched the second egg—
The egg vanished.
Livia froze.
She looked down at the empty space. The grayish-blue egg that had just been lying there had disappeared into thin air. Only the first egg, with its red base and gold patterns, lay alone on the ground.
She was silent for three seconds.
Then she took a deep breath and spoke:
"Come out."
No response.
Livia: "I know you're there. Come out."
Still no response.
Livia raised her right claw, and a small cluster of flames emerged from the tip.
"I'll count to three. One—"
The egg rolled out from behind a pile of treasure.
Right under her nose, the egg slowly rolled across the flagstones, rolled up to her front, and stopped. A few gold coins and half a piece of parchment were stuck to the shell.
Livia stared at the egg.
The egg lay quietly on the ground, motionless, as if nothing had happened.
The system pop-up appeared again:
[Second Egg Current Status: Pretending to be an ordinary stone. Camouflage success rate: 78%. Estimated camouflage duration: until exposed or it forgets it is camouflaging.]
Livia closed the panel.
She extended her claws and gathered both eggs close, encircling them with her tail.
The first egg was warm, like holding a small ball of fire.
The second egg was ice-cold, like a real stone—if it weren't for the occasional slight tremor.
— — — — — —
Three days later.
The first egg cracked.
The crack started from the top, spreading outwards like a spiderweb. Golden light shone through every fissure, growing brighter and brighter.
Kalendil squatted nearby, his eyes wide open.
Valerion held the ruby, trembling nervously.
Aetheriel stood three meters away, his whole body flickering with electricity, desperately controlling himself not to discharge any.
The Kobold knelt on the ground, heads pressed to the floor, chanting under their breath.
The Fire Hawks squatted by the Lava Lake, stretching their necks to watch.
The Fire Dwarf Chieftain held up the gong, ready to strike at any moment.
"Crack."
A large gap split the eggshell.
A small claw stretched out from inside, its nail sharp and emitting a faint gold hue.
Then came the second claw.
Then the head.
The head emerged from the shell: copper-colored scales, golden patterns, and amber eyes—the eyes flickered with a cunning light, as if assessing this unfamiliar world.
She looked around, sweeping over Kalendil, Valerion, Aetheriel, the Kobold, the Fire Hawks, and the Fire Dwarves, finally resting her gaze on Livia's face.
Her small mouth opened, emitting a tender yet clear cry:
"Mihariel Fanlenxiu Siaeser!"
The sound echoed in the cavern.
Kalendil was stunned, "What did she say?"
Valerion blinked, "Sounded like a name?"
Aetheriel raised his hand, "She named herself! That's amazing! When I hatched, I only knew how to cry!"
Livia looked down at the little one who had just hatched.
Mihariel Fanlenxiu Siaeser.
A Copper Dragon-style name, carrying a strong flavor of riddles.
The little one looked up at her, her amber eyes full of curiosity. Then she turned her head to look at the other grayish-blue egg that hadn't moved yet.
That egg still lay quietly on the ground, like a real stone.
Mihariel extended a small claw and poked the shell.
No reaction.
She poked it again.
Still no reaction.
She tilted her head, stared at the egg for three seconds, then spoke in a milky voice:
"Little brother, come out."
The egg didn't move.
Mihariel leaned close to the shell and whispered, "I see you. You were rolling yesterday."
The eggshell trembled slightly.
Then—
The egg began to change color.
It slowly faded from grayish-blue until it matched the color of the surrounding flagstones exactly. If she hadn't watched it change, one wouldn't have noticed there was an egg there at all.
Mihariel froze and turned to look at Livia.
"Mother, little brother hid again."
Livia stared at the 'flagstone'.
The flagstone shook slightly.
She extended her claw and pressed it onto the stone.
The sensation under her claw was smooth, cool, and carried a slight tremor—not the trembling of stone, but the trembling of a little thing inside trying desperately not to laugh.
She was silent for three seconds.
Then she withdrew her claw and looked at Mihariel.
"When he is willing to come out, he will naturally come out."
Mihariel blinked, nodded, and then began cleaning the egg fluid off herself.
As she cleaned, she suddenly stopped and stared at her own claw.
"Mother, there are riddles on my claws."
Livia looked down.
On the palm of the little one's right claw were several shallow lines, resembling small symbols—not naturally formed scale patterns, but patterns deliberately formed.
Mihariel stared at the symbols and read aloud:
"'I have wings—' I can't see the rest..."
Livia's pupils contracted slightly.
She looked at the system panel.
[Mihariel Fanlenxiu Siaeser, newly hatched]
[Special Note: Riddle markings are naturally present on her claw palms, a dominant trait of the Copper Dragon bloodline. As she grows, the markings will gradually become clearer, eventually forming a complete riddle. The answer is related to her own destiny.]
Livia closed the panel and looked down at the little one who was intently studying the markings on her palm.
Mihariel looked up, her eyes sparkling, "Mother, will I be able to solve many riddles in the future?"
Livia was silent for a second.
Then she extended her claw and gently stroked the little head.
"Yes."
Mihariel grinned, her whole face lighting up with happiness.
Nearby, the 'flagstone' trembled slightly again.
Livia glanced over.
The flagstone shook even harder, as if desperately holding back laughter.
She averted her gaze, tightened her tail slightly, and circled both eggs—one already hatched, the one still pretending to be a stone—within her embrace.
In the distance, Kalendil leaned closer and whispered, "Mother, when will the second little brother come out?"
Livia looked at the continuously shaking 'flagstone' and said calmly:
"When he forgets he is camouflaging."