The Crown's Fire - Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Purposedly Hatched
Asura took good care of the remaining three eggs. Following Kasper’s advice, she talked to them once in a while, hoping that one of the eggs would recognize her voice and choose her as its dragon rider due to familiarity.

“I’m back again, lovely dragons! It’s me, Asura,” she greeted the three eggs as she gently opened the cache to look at them. They were stored inside Levi’s tent, but Levi and the others were now in the clearing, training with their dragons under Kasper’s supervision.

She pulled up a chair and stared at the three eggs. They were adorned with red, blue, and white metallic dragon scales. “You three are all so pretty. I’m sure you will look majestic like the rest of the first hatched. Right now, we have four: a gold one named Aurum, a black dragon named Onyx, a silver one named Ember, and a green dragon named Jade.”

“Where were we again? Yesterday, I told you a story about a princess and the beast, right? It’s a love story, and I’m not sure if all of you prefer it, so this time I have something new, an adventure about the giant and the beanstalk,” Asura cheerfully stated.

She enjoyed moments like this since she was a natural chatterbox. Besides, she had nothing else to do for now, so she spent her time entertaining the baby dragons inside their shells. According to Levi, they were all alive inside, so she had to be careful not to touch them, as they might glow at any moment and hatch.

Asura was in the middle of her storytelling when the white egg suddenly glowed and wiggled. Startled, she unknowingly backed away, causing her chair to fall back with her.

“Awww!” she winced at the pain in her back. She quickly moved, ending up sitting on the ground while staring at the white egg that was slowly hatching.

She should have called the rest, but watching the white egg hatch was so mesmerizing that she couldn’t help but keep her eyes glued to the small white dragon emerging from it.

“So beautiful!” she gasped as the baby dragon slowly opened its eyes. She blinked several times, seeing it smile at her. Asura even rubbed her eyes to be sure of it. It was indeed smiling at her and giggling as it fluttered its beautiful lashes. It was as white as snow!

Her body stiffened when the dragon slowly walked toward her.

“Oh my, please don’t bite me. I’m a friend,” her voice started shaking as she inwardly cursed herself.

She should have asked someone outside to call for Katelina or Levi. But the dragon was still small and couldn’t breathe fire or fly at this rate, so she shouldn’t overreact.

‘But it can still bite,’ she thought. She gave the dragon an awkward smile.

The baby dragon tilted its head curiously at her and then let out a small, melodic chirp. Asura’s heart melted at the sound. Summoning her courage, she slowly extended her hand toward the dragon.

“Hey there, little one,” she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m Asura. We’re going to be great friends, okay?”

The dragon paused momentarily, sniffed her hand, then nuzzled against her palm, emitting a soft purr. Asura felt a wave of relief and a growing bond between her and the baby dragon.

“You’re so precious,” she whispered, gently stroking its head. The dragon responded with more happy chirps, making her laugh.

Realizing she should inform the others about the new hatchling, she carefully stood up, the dragon still nuzzling her hand. “Alright, little one, let’s go meet everyone. They’re going to be so excited to see you.”

With the baby dragon in her arms, Asura walked out of the tent. All eyes were on her and then the dragon in her arms. She had a wide smile as she beamed, “The white dragon hatched.” She then turned to a royal guard and said, “Can you inform His Majesty and Her Majesty about it? Please tell them that I will bring it directly to Crown Prince Levi!”

The royal guard nodded and hurried off. Asura, still holding the dragon, walked towards the clearing where Levi and the rest were practicing. Levi was the best person to give the white dragon to first since he could communicate with the dragon just by looking into its eyes, even if there was no bond between them.

Asura couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. She knew King Ezekiel could talk to the dragon, but she was aware that he and Queen Katelina were together, and those two were often not to be disturbed when they were inside their tent.

As she approached the clearing, everyone paused in their training, their attention drawn to the new hatchling. Levi stepped forward with a wide smile on his face.

“It’s so pretty!” Levi beamed as he touched the little dragon in Asura’s arms.

“Yes, Levi, it’s so pretty!” Asura replied, her voice filled with excitement. “It hatched while I was telling them a new story. I thought it best to bring it to you first.”

He approached slowly, extending his hand to the baby dragon. The dragon chirped and nuzzled against Levi’s hand. “Hello there,” Levi said softly, his eyes meeting the dragon’s.

A playful smile spread across Levi’s face as he suddenly said, “You should give it a name, Lady Asura!”

“Me?!” Asura blinked rapidly at Levi. She turned to Kasper, who winked at her and pointed out, “Look, it seems she likes you. See? She doesn’t want to leave your arms.”

Asura looked at the white dragon, overwhelmed and not realizing how attached the little creature had become to her.

“I told her to come to me so I could carry her, but she said she wants to stay with her mother,” Levi commented.

“Mother?” Asura burst out, pointing at herself. “Me?”

Levi chuckled. “Yes, you, Lady Asura. Congratulations. You’ve been chosen as her dragon rider. She said she purposely hatched as soon as she could so she could be with you. She likes your voice and the entertaining stories you always tell them!”

Asura gulped as Levi translated what the white dragon wanted to say to her.

“Oh my… Is this really true?” Asura murmured, pinching her arm to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating or dreaming.

The gentle nuzzle of the white dragon against her neck confirmed it. Tears welled up in Asura’s eyes, and she looked at Kasper with a mix of disbelief and joy. What he told her was so effective! Later, she would definitely reward her man well for this success. She finally had a dragon, one of her dreams, because of Kasper’s help!

“I’m so happy for you, Lady Asura,” Cora congratulated her.

Asura nodded at Cora with a wide smile. She then looked back at the baby dragon, who was lazily curled in her arms. It was so adorable when it suddenly yawned and sluggishly opened and closed its eyes.

“What will you name her?” Luis curiously asked.

“What should I name you?” Asura asked softly, looking into the dragon’s luminous eyes. She thought for a moment, remembering the pure, shimmering beauty of the dragon’s scales. “How about Snow? Her scales shimmered like freshly fallen snow under the first light of dawn, each one glistening with a delicate, opalescent sheen.”

The little dragon seemed to respond, its eyes gleaming with recognition as it nuzzled closer into her arms. Then it yawned again, making Asura chuckle. “Snow it is since you radiated a serene and calming energy.” Asura declared, her heart swelling with joy.

The dragon chirped happily, and Levi nodded in approval. “Snow it is. A beautiful name for a beautiful dragon.”

Asura hugged Snow tightly, feeling a new bond forming. “Thank you, Snow, for choosing me. I promise to take care of you and be the best dragon rider I can be.”

Snow yawned again, her tiny mouth opening wide before she nestled deeper into Asura’s arms and fell asleep. Luis chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Looks like Snow doesn’t radiate a serene and calming energy but rather a lethargic energy!”

Asura laughed softly, looking down at the sleeping dragon with a tender smile. “Maybe she just feels safe and comfortable,” she said, stroking Snow’s soft scales. “Or she’s saving her energy for when she really needs it.”

Cora joined in the laughter, adding, “Either way, she’s clearly found her place with you, Asura. Congratulations again.”

“But it will take time until you’re bonded with her since Her Majesty is still recovering,” Kasper commented.

Asura looked at Kasper and muttered, “We’ll protect Snow well, right? Cast an extra protective spell around her and make sure she won’t be snatched away from me while the dragon bond between us is not yet formed, or else…”

Asura hung her words, leaving the threat lingering in the air.

“Or else?” Kasper weakly murmured, sensing the gravity of her tone.

Asura signaled him to come closer and whispered in his ear, “I will not let you sleep with me for three months, and I mean it!”

Kasper’s eyes widened in surprise and then softened with a playful resignation. “Understood. Snow will be the most protected dragon!” he promised, already thinking about the strongest spells he could cast.