Chapter 139: Home
A voice echoed in their minds, not through their ears. "Who dares disturb my slumber?"
Mela took a step back, her needles buzzing around her. "What was that? Show yourself!"
Serian placed a hand on Mela’s shoulder. "Wait. This is not a force we should provoke."
Nox ignored them and walked toward the cave. The pull from the egg in his chest was undeniable, a compass pointing him home.
"Human, are you insane? That is a lair! Something powerful lives there!" Mela shouted.
"Yeah, I know. That’s the point."
He stepped into the darkness, and the two elves, after a moment of shared hesitation, had no choice but to follow. The cave was not dark inside. A soft, warm light emanated from the very rocks, illuminating a vast cavern. Piles of gold, jewels, and ancient artifacts were scattered around like a child’s forgotten toys. In the center, a huge, ancient dragon was lying on a bed of treasure. Its scales were a dull, faded gold, and one of its wings was torn and scarred. It looked less like a fearsome monster and more like a tired old man. It lifted its massive head slowly, its golden eyes focusing on them.
"Three little mice," the dragon’s voice echoed in their minds again, though its mouth did not move. "An angry elf, a lost star, and..." its gaze fell on Nox, and a flicker of something ancient and knowing passed through its eyes. "And a walking void. How strange."
Mela just stared, her face pale, her needles hovering uselessly around her. Serian, recognizing the ancient power before her, gave a respectful bow. "Great one, we did not mean to intrude. We are merely lost travelers."
The dragon ignored her, its gaze fixed on Nox. "You carry a heavy burden, child of the void. An unopened sun. An heir of my kind."
’A dragon. Of course, it’s a dragon. And it knows about the egg.’
"What do you want?" Nox asked, his voice blunt.