"Yes, you did. Good thing I warned you earlier." Logan began inching closer to the eggs, only as far as he felt Scorch and Blaze would permit. He was careful not to imprint on them, as he had no intention of taming them just yet. He didn't want every infant to grow prematurely to their adult size.
The eggs quivered a little more, swelling with mana until they reached half a meter in size.
"I can hear small chirps." With each movement of the eggs, one began to develop cracks across its shell. Everyone remained silent as Blaze, Scorch's mate, moved closer, ready to assist if needed.
Scorch, meanwhile, stood tall, asserting his dominance to every creature in the vicinity. His protective demeanor was so intense that even those familiar with him instinctively stepped back.
Logan, however, did not fear his beasts. He understood they only wished to ensure the safety of their offspring, making it clear that no one should interfere.
"Interesting…" Victor's voice broke the silence as he observed the process intently, taking notes on his new terminal.
Logan's gaze never left the eggs. One of them began pushing fragments of its shell aside, its small snout biting through with enough force to send bits flying. Soon, it had cleared a space large enough to release a small jet of flames.
The mother remained calm, refraining from interference, though she called out softly to her hatchling. Meanwhile, the other infant in the second egg began following the same process.
"If you can recall, Scorchwyrms aren't naturally kind to their young; otherwise, we wouldn't have so much trouble collecting their eggs. It seems their intelligence has developed to a point where affection plays an important role in raising their offspring, and this is just their first generation... Very interesting. You don't just alter them physically, Logan. Your evolutions could be described as... genetic, was it?" Victor spoke thoughtfully, recalling the scientific books Marie had introduced him to. They had made it easier for those in the scientific field to explore areas that were still underdeveloped in this world.
"I hadn't considered it that way…" Logan admitted, his attention fixed on the two new creatures as they began to fully emerge from their eggs, their skin glistening like oiled fried chicken from the remnants of their egg liquid.
Their mother gently licked away most of the liquid, lovingly tending to them as they adjusted to breathing and began wobbling around.
"What cute little babies; they look almost like tiny versions of Scorch," Alma said, trying to hold back her urge to rush over and hug them.
Logan waited a few seconds longer, ensuring he wouldn't imprint on the hatchlings, before walking over to congratulate Scorch, who patiently waited for Blaze's approval to approach as well.
"Nice kids, Scorch. You must be happy," Logan said, patting the massive creature's leg. Scorch let out a booming roar in response—only to receive a swift whip to the face from Blaze, who grunted angrily in rebuke.
"Well, that was deserved," Logan chuckled, amused by Blaze's indignation.
[Forgive me, I was happy...] Scorch lowered his head toward his offspring, nuzzling them gently. The hatchlings responded with small, delighted shrills.
Taking this as a sign that it was safe to get closer, Logan approached and carefully placed two stones and some food on Blaze, trusting her to know what to do with them. She had already hunted beforehand, but the meat Logan provided was fresher, having been stored specifically for this moment. The fire stones were also a welcome addition to aid in strengthening the younglings.
Logan was about to leave when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning back, he found a small, adorable snout gripping the fabric—a sight that instantly brought back memories of his first day with Scorch just a few months ago.
"To think I would see a member of my creatures so soon." Logan couldn't resist hugging the small creature, which stood just shy of a meter tall.
Within moments, the other infant followed its sibling, nudging for attention. Logan was quick to oblige, giving it plenty of pats before stepping back to allow the others to join in. The group spread out carefully to avoid overwhelming the hatchlings. Among them, Victor Rosengard stood out, eagerly measuring and studying the young creatures while the two mages meticulously documented every detail.
Amid the excitement, Rubina found herself in front of one of Scorch's offspring just as it sneezed. A small flamethrower burst forth, but Rubina effortlessly deflected it, leaving her completely unscathed—not even a single strand of her hair was burned.
"Easy, little one. You need to learn to control that," Rubina said with a warm smile, gently tapping its tiny snout to prevent another outburst.
The moment Scorch's chirp rang out, the raptors assembled and began producing harmonious shrills, as if forming a choir to honor their leader.
Scorch and Blaze joined in, and the two infants eagerly mimicked the adults' behavior. Seeing the healthy newborns, Logan decided it was time to let them rest. The sight of the whole family together was truly heartwarming.
"Alright, we should get out of here before my mana runs dry. Keeping the shields up to protect you from the heat is getting tough," Logan said, prompting the girls to start gathering their things. The team began traversing the magma-like floor to reach the entrance. Only the fire mages and Rubina seemed completely unfazed, walking across it as if it were nothing more than warm beach sand.
"Good thing they hatched safely. So, Mr. Rosengard, what's your take on the beasts? Do we need to give them anything special?" Logan asked, considering whether they might require something akin to vaccines, as he had once provided for his dog.
"No… They seem very healthy. The fire crystals will ensure proper growth without any issues. Fire and light creatures tend to be among the healthiest in terms of diseases but are also more vulnerable to ailments stemming from their environments," Mr. Rosengard replied thoughtfully.
Relieved, Logan was glad to know he had more than enough fire crystals to provide for the two younglings.
"Well then, we'll split here. Let's regroup tomorrow to work on a strategy," Logan announced, already aware he needed to speak with a certain someone.
"Lisa, we should talk later... If you can make some time, please come by," Logan requested.
"Sure, no problem. I'll be in your room later," Lisa replied without hesitation.