Ronan and Yvarra stood there frozen, with their mouths slightly open, they were unable to process what they were looking at.
A dragon. A real, massive, living dragon. It just lay there right in front of them.
They saw its scales and how it shimmered faintly under the light in the cave, each movement made it look like there was fire beneath its skin. The air around them was heavy, almost too heavy to breathe. And all these while they thought all that Aeron was saying about dragons was just stories, never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that it was real indeed.
They have now had a shocking realization that their best friend, Aeron who was now quiet, had been staying with a dragon.
Aeron, who saw that his friends were not moving, decided to call them back. "Hey! Are you guys still here?"
"Aeron," Ronan finally muttered, as he took a small step back, "What is this? What’s going on?"
Yvarra’s eyes were still very wide open, and her hand unconsciously grabbed Ronan’s arm. "Is this... is this real?"
Aeron looked at them and smiled like it was nothing. "Oh, you guys are still here? I thought you had run off in a dream world."
"Are we supposed to not run?!" Ronan almost shouted. "That thing behind you could eat us whole!"
Aeron raised an eyebrow. "He won’t. This is Draco. Remember that egg we found here six years ago?"
Ronan’s eyes flicked back and forth between Aeron and the dragon. "Wait... are you saying... that little egg that we saw here all those years ago... turned into this?"
Aeron nodded slowly. "Yes. I’ve been raising him. In secret."
Yvarra’s mouth dropped open. "You mean to tell me, all those times you were sneaking out, telling us stories about dragons and bonding with magical creatures... You weren’t just making things up? You were actually serious?!"
Aeron scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah. I mean, you guys laughed, so I just let you believe it was fantasy."
Yvarra stepped closer; now it was becoming real to her. She smiled with awe. "Can I touch him?"
Aeron gave a soft nod. "Extend your hand first. Let him see you."
Yvarra did as told, she stepped forward slowly, stretched her hand, and allowed the dragon to see her reaching for him. Draco stared into her eyes and saw those big, beautiful eyes. He blinked... then slowly, he lowered his giant head.
Her fingers touched his warm, scaled skin. It was smoother than she had expected.
"Oh my God," she whispered. "This is... this is amazing. I’ve never felt something like this my whole life"
She turned back to Ronan, grinning. "Come on! You have to feel this!"
Ronan shook his head rapidly. "No, no, no. I’m not touching that thing. I’m still trying to believe I’m not dreaming."
They all laughed. Even Draco let out a low rumbling sound that might have been a chuckle. Either way, Ronan strongly refused to go very close to Draco, and they sat down in the cave.
It was almost nighttime, so they had to leave. Aeron hurried back home. To his surprise, his mom hadn’t been back, so he slipped into the house before the town meeting ended. He got lucky.
In the days that followed, the trio, Aeron, Ronan, and Yvarra returned to the cave every chance they got. What had once been Aeron’s secret world now became their shared haven. The bond between the three of them and the dragon grew stronger. They didn’t just hang out anymore; they lived in that secret space and were creating memories no one else would understand.
They brought books and read them aloud to Draco. They tried to see which stories the dragon seemed interested in, he liked tales of ancient wars and flying beasts. Aeron even taught them how he communicated with Draco, the subtle signs, the way the dragon’s breath changed with mood, how his eyes moved.
But what fascinated them the most were Draco’s powers.
Aeron explained how, during moments of high emotion, especially when he was afraid, in danger, and even when he was happy, his connection to Draco became stronger. Sometimes a strange screen would flash in his mind. Stats. Abilities. But it barely happens though.
"Like that time our village was attacked?" Ronan recalled and suggested to him. Aeron affirmed immediately. "Yes, that’s one of the moments I saw a stat."
Ronan leaned in. "So... if I get you right, something big has to happen for it to appear?"
"Exactly," Aeron said. "I don’t know how to control it. I just wish I did."
"Don’t worry," Yvarra smiled gently. "Time will teach you."
The only thing Draco wouldn’t do... was fly.
They tried. Oh, how they tried. Aeron would coax him to the mouth of the cave. Yvarra would even run ahead and try to entice him with food. Ronan, though never too close, cheered from a safe distance. But Draco refused. He had grown attached to the cave. It was his sanctuary.
Ronan groaned one day. "I wish I’d just see him spread those massive wings and fly across the sky. And then you’d ride him."
"No," Aeron cut in. "We would ride him."
"Not me," Ronan raised his hands. "As I’ve not touched that thing, I’m not climbing it either."
They burst into laughter.
Back in the village, Aeron’s mother, Elarya, remained concerned about his constant absences. But she eased up a little, knowing he was often with Ronan and Yvarra. Ronan’s mom, Elira, wasn’t so relaxed. She constantly complained that the kids were out too much, that they were neglecting their studies. But Varek always calmed her down.
"Let them enjoy this time," he’d say. "At least they still read and still practice. Let them be kids and enjoy this moment of theirs. It won’t last forever; life will eventually hit them."
Varek knew that the fun would be ending soon. He knew what was coming.