Silence filled the cavern.
The egg sat on its pedestal, warm and pulsing with faint energy. The mark on my hand still burned, a silent reminder of the responsibility that had been forced onto me.
Rhia looked at me, concern in her silver eyes. "Leon… we can't just stay here forever."
She was right. We had to decide.
Leave the egg and walk away. (But could I really do that?)Take the egg with us. (But that would make us targets.)Stay and learn more from the Warden. (But time was against us.)
I exhaled sharply.
"We're taking the egg."
A Guardian's Warning
The Warden's golden eyes narrowed. "You are certain of this?"
I nodded. "If the cult is already after it, leaving it here isn't an option. It's safer with us."
The Warden was silent for a long moment. Then, it exhaled—a deep, rumbling sound that shook the cavern.
"Very well. But know this—carrying the egg is not without consequence."
A heavy pressure settled in the air.
"The moment you take it, the Cult's eyes will turn toward you."
I swallowed hard. I already knew that.
"Then I'll deal with it," I said.
The Warden studied me, then nodded. "Then take it. And may the Ashen Wyrm's will guide you."
A Power Unsealed
I stepped toward the pedestal. The egg was beautiful—a deep crimson with golden veins running across its surface. It radiated warmth, almost like it was alive.
The moment my fingers wrapped around it—
[System Notification!]
[You have acquired: Egg of the Forgotten Bloodline.][Warning: This item cannot be stored in inventory.]
A rush of heat flooded my body. My mark glowed, and for a split second, I saw something—
A vision of a burning world.
A dragon's roar echoed in my mind.
Then—silence.
I gasped, nearly dropping the egg.
What… was that?
Rhia stepped forward. "Leon? What happened?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. But I think this thing is… more than just an egg."
And I had a terrible feeling that I wasn't the only one who knew that.
The Chase Begins
"We need to move," I said, tightening my grip.
The Warden gave one final nod. "Then go. I will hold off any pursuers for as long as I can."
Rhia and I exchanged a glance. We both knew—there was no turning back now.
I took one last look at the cavern before stepping into the tunnel.
The hunt had begun.
And we were the prey.