Chapter 70: Beast Hatching
Strangely we all were sitting in a forest, a real one, and on the grass no less.
We all watched as Instructor Elara took out a large blue egg, patterned with intricate silver swirls, from a padded bag at her side. The egg seemed to shimmer in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding forest.
"This," she continued, holding up the egg for everyone to see, "is a Frost Drake egg. A rare and powerful magical creature that hails from the icy peaks of the northern mountains."
The class murmured in awe, the anticipation palpable in the air as we watched her closely.
"In order to hatch a beast egg and establish a bond with your magical creature, you must first understand the process," Instructor Elara explained. "It requires patience, dedication, and a deep connection with your beast."
She gestured for us to gather closer as she began to demonstrate. Placing the egg gently on the ground, she closed her eyes and focused her energy.
"Establishing a bond is about forming a connection with your beast, allowing it to feel your presence and trust," she continued, her voice calm and steady. "You must project your thoughts and emotions into the egg, communicating your intentions and welcoming the creature into your life."
"I'm sure I already taught to how to communicate with them in the previous lesson. Everyone must have had some results, right? At least you should have felt a connection with the life inside the egg."
"And, you will immediately know when the beast is about to come into life. Like right now, this little one has expressed his will to come out. And... Look, it's already starting."
As Instructor Elara spoke, a faint crack appeared on the surface of the Frost Drake egg. The crack grew wider, and soon a small piece of shell fell away, revealing a glimmer of icy blue scales underneath.
The class leaned in closer, captivated by the sight unfolding before them. With each passing moment, more of the eggshell broke away, revealing the creature inside.
"It's important to remain calm and focused during this process," Instructor Elara advised, her eyes fixed on the hatching egg. "Your energy and emotions will influence the bond you establish with your beast."
As the last of the eggshell fell away, a tiny Frost Drake emerged, its wings still damp with egg fluid. The creature blinked up at Instructor Elara and then turned its attention to the students gathered around.
"In order to establish a bond, you must approach the creature with care and respect," Instructor Elara continued, her voice gentle yet firm. "Offer it your hand and aether and allow it to come to you on its own terms. And there's no need to feed it your blood as the rumors say."
Then she showed how it is done by herself.
As the tiny Frost Drake emerged from its egg, Instructor Elara approached it slowly and calmly. She extended her hand toward the creature, emitting a gentle aura of aether as a sign of goodwill.
The Frost Drake chirped softly, its small wings fluttering as it sniffed the air. With cautious steps, it approached Instructor Elara's hand, its curiosity evident in its bright blue eyes.
With a gentle touch, Instructor Elara stroked the Frost Drake's scales, murmuring soothing words to reassure it. The creature seemed to relax under her touch, its demeanor becoming more trusting with each passing moment.
Then, suddenly brilliant golden light illuminated centering between them. That must have meant the bond was successfully established.
As the golden light enveloped Instructor Elara and the tiny Frost Drake, warm energy radiated from their connection, filling the air with a sense of harmony and unity. The students watched in awe as the bond between beast and tamer was formed right before their eyes.
Even, I, an avid reader of beast-taming novels couldn't help but marvel at the real thing.
Gosh, I want to have my own beast!
'Hmm?'
Suddenly, I felt something faint, it came from the silver egg beside me.
'You want to come out as well, buddy?' I murmured in my mind while my lips curled up.
Maybe, it was going to hatch soon!
But to my disappointment, I lost the connection.
Disappointed but still hopeful, I continued to watch as Instructor Elara finished establishing her bond with the Frost Drake. Once the process was complete, she stepped back, allowing the tiny creature to explore its surroundings.
"Now, it's your turn," she announced, turning her attention to the rest of the class. "Each of you will have the opportunity to hatch your beast eggs and establish a bond with your magical creatures."
"You can first try to communicate with them. And if successful, some of you may be lucky to hatch them today." She said, giving us hope and motivation. "Now, you may start."
I nodded and closed my eyes, placing the egg on between my hands.
As I concentrated, I projected my thoughts and emotions into the egg, hoping to establish a connection with the creature inside. I could feel a faint response, a flutter of life within the egg, but it wasn't as strong as I had hoped.
Come on, little guy, I silently urged, willing the creature to respond to my presence.
After a few moments of intense concentration, I felt a subtle shift, a sensation of warmth spreading from the egg to my hands. It was a sign that the creature inside was awakening, responding to my efforts to communicate with it.
But, just like earlier, the feeling disappeared in a few moments leaving me puzzled and frustrated. Could there be a problem with the process? Or with the egg?
Frustration gnawed at me as I opened my eyes, staring down at the still-intact silver egg. It seemed the little creature inside wasn't quite ready to emerge yet, despite my efforts.
"Having trouble, my young student?"