Chapter 0007: The Red Dragon Eggs

Murray stared in disbelief at the two red dragons bound tightly by shimmering golden chains in the hall. The scene was spectacular, something most creatures never saw in their lifetime. However, his attention was quickly drawn to an even more imposing presence in the hall.

 

Standing between the two red dragons, one larger than the other, was a young girl with golden hair and eyes, dressed in a magnificent golden mage robe. Despite her small stature compared to the dragons beneath her, her presence was like the sun at noon—majestic, radiant, and impossible to ignore.

 

But what truly left Murray dumbfounded was the familiar aura emanating from the golden-haired girl. She was his mother, the legendary golden dragon, Artelis Elonsath.

 

"Well, Murray, you woke up earlier than I expected," the golden-haired girl said, her voice as warm and gentle as Murray remembered, like that of a noble lady.

 

"M-mother, I..." Murray stammered, only now realizing and reluctantly accepting the fact that the breathtaking golden-eyed girl before him was his mother. In his memories, his mother had always been a massive beast.

 

"Oh, Murray, are you so surprised to see my human form?" Artelis raised an eyebrow at Murray's shocked expression before smiling. Her voice was as gentle and warm as he remembered, like that of an elegant noblewoman.

 

"Um... yes, mother," Murray said, still dazed. Until now, he hadn't fully grasped the fact that the stunning girl with golden eyes standing between the horns of the red dragon was his mother. After all, in his memory, his mother had always been a massive beast.

 

"Ah, well, let me change into a form you're more familiar with then," Artelis said, and with a flash of brilliant golden light, the breathtaking girl disappeared, replaced by a majestic golden dragon towering over Murray.

 

"How's this?" The massive golden dragon lowered its head to Murray's level.

 

"Um..." The pleasant scent of mixed incense dispelled the sulfuric odor around Murray, calming him. The familiar smell completely eased his mind, a unique fragrance only found in golden dragons.

 

Honestly, because of his past life's influence, Murray preferred the human girl form he had just seen over the imposing dragon form. But he couldn't say that now.

 

"Too big," Murray replied.

 

"So demanding," Artelis muttered but then shrunk herself down to a "mini" golden dragon, about ten meters in length.

 

"Murray, how long do you sleep per day?" Artelis asked.

 

"About sixteen hours."

 

"I see. It seems you haven't completely left your dragonling stage yet. But you're getting there," Artelis said, furrowing her brow. Even in her dragon form, Murray could sense her concern.

 

"Is there a problem, mother?" Murray asked, puzzled.

 

"My dragonling stage lasted for ten years."

 

"Ten years." Murray was bewildered. "Isn't the dragonling stage for gold dragons usually five years? How could it be ten?"

 

"That's for ordinary gold dragons! Do you think I'm ordinary?" Artelis retorted.

 

Upon hearing this question, Murray fell silent for a moment. He had always thought his mother's size exceeded the norm. After researching in the library, he became even more certain.

 

But if Artelis was an ancient gold dragon, then his existence contradicted the norm. Ancient dragons were not supposed to be fertile. His existence could only mean one thing: Artelis wasn't an ancient dragon.

 

"No," Murray answered after careful consideration.

 

"Do you know which stage of growth I'm in now?" Artelis asked.

 

"I don't," Murray admitted.

 

"I entered adulthood twenty years ago."

 

"Really?" Murray was incredulous. After all, his mother was a legendary golden dragon, yet she had just entered adulthood. (Twenty years was a short time for dragons.)

 

"What's the matter? Do you find it surprising?" Artelis asked, noticing Murray's shocked expression.

 

"Um, yes, mother," Murray murmured, finally accepting that his mother had only recently entered adulthood. After all, her eccentric and unpredictable personality was not something an ancient gold dragon would have. Only a whimsical brass dragon could possess such traits.

 

"Ah, right, Murray, I haven't given you anything since you were born. Let me give you a gift now!" Artelis quickly changed the subject, not giving Murray a chance to react.

 

"Is this the gift you're giving me?" Murray once again stared dumbfoundedly at the six large red dragon eggs, each swirling with intense fire elemental energy and about the height of a person. His mind was reeling.

 

"Yes, Murray, are you happy?" Artelis asked with a smile.

 

"..." Murray couldn't understand why his mother thought he would be happy. These weren't chicken or duck eggs—they were dragon eggs! It was like a human mother giving her pre-weaned child a few snake eggs.

 

At this moment, Murray completely believed that his mother had only recently entered adulthood because of her whimsical and unreliable personality. In fact, he began to doubt her species. Such behavior wasn't something a lawful good-aligned gold dragon would do; only a capricious and silly brass dragon could.

 

"Well, it seems you're very satisfied," Artelis observed Murray's expressionless face and nodded to herself, pleased. "So, these red dragon eggs are yours to raise."

 

Murray remained silent, silently protesting with his actions, but Artelis completely ignored him.

 

"Phew!" Artelis yawned widely, a strong mixed fragrance entering Murray's nostrils. "If there's nothing else, I'll go to sleep now."

 

"Wait a minute," Murray suddenly remembered something. "Mother, do you know an ancient gold dragon named Demos?"

 

"Demos!" Artelis, who was about to leave, turned back to look at Murray, making him feel nervous. "That's my old man. You should call him your grandfather."

 

"Grandfather!" Murray was slightly dazed. His face turned slightly red, as if an invisible hand were slapping his chubby cheeks.

 

"Why do you ask about him?"

 

"N-nothing," Murray replied awkwardly, lowering his head. "I just saw the name in a book the other day and was curious because it's the same as my surname."

 

Demos Elonsath, his grandfather, had recently mocked him mercilessly. But now, he realized that this dragon was his direct relative and even an elder.

 

As the offspring of an ancient dragon with legendary strength who had entered adulthood at the same age, Demos couldn't be weaker than his daughter. So, Murray's judgment was wrong, and he was thoroughly embarrassed.

 

"Now you're starting to read? Hmm, that's a good habit. Keep it up," Artelis focused on Murray's reading habits, completely ignoring everything else. Apparently, Murray's reading pleased her, but it wasn't enough to stop her from wanting to sleep.

 

"Oh, by the way, I brought these dragon eggs specifically for you to raise. Don't eat them," Artelis reminded him before disappearing from the hall.

 

"Portal or teleportation?" Murray ignored Artelis's reminder and rubbed his chin, trying to guess how she had vanished into thin air. But he didn't think for long before focusing his attention on the six red dragon eggs at his feet.

 

"These are a handful!" Murray sighed and then turned to see Sofia and the four dragonborn maids rushing into the castle hall.

 

"You're a bit slow," Murray said to the five maids, whose faces turned extremely surprised upon seeing the two red dragons. Somehow, this made him feel good. After all, this was his mother's glorious achievement, and as her son, he shared in the glory.

 

"Truly worthy of being called the 'Golden Sunfire,' Lady Artelis's strength is truly formidable," Sofia, the head maid, was the first to recover, exclaiming with admiration. "Capturing two red dragons in one go—that's incredible power!"

 

"Golden Sunfire!" Murray smacked his lips. "Is that my mother's title? It's quite impressive."