ebookslot Chapter 4 Shadow Flame
Chapter 4 Shadow Flame
The young dragon's vertical pupils contracted slightly, and its neck tilted back a little, showing alertness.
But the contractual bond prevented it from sensing any malice.
It lowered its head, and its cool, scaly nose gently touched Will's dirty palm.
In that instant, Will felt a clearer and stronger stream of consciousness flowing through the contract—not in language, but in fragments of vague emotions and perceptions:
Impatience with the cramped surroundings, languor after barely satisfying the "eggshell meal" just now, complex feelings about Will's existence itself, and a very faint desire for more energy.
It retracted its nose, but its gaze remained fixed on Will, as if waiting for his next move.
Will felt a slight sense of relief.
He carefully used his other hand to clear away the remaining dragon egg, which was wrapped in rags, and then tried to gently place his palm on the back of the baby dragon near its neck.
The scales are smooth, hard, and warm to the touch.
The fledgling dragon stiffened slightly, but did not dodge or attack.
As Will's fingers carefully avoided the bone spikes and stroked the fine scales, the fledgling dragon emitted a very slight, almost gurgling tremor in its throat, its vertical pupils seemed to narrow slightly, and the dark red sparks on its eyes softened a little.
【Contract Dragon】
[Status: Newborn dragon hatchling. Satiety: 65% (Eggshell absorbed, maintaining basal metabolism, extremely high developmental needs).]
Body length: approximately 0.4 meters. Weight: approximately 2.3 kilograms.
[Abilities: Weak Dragon Might (Hatchling), Basic Fire Breath (Hatchling Level, to be activated), Scale Armor Defense (Hatchling Level), Sharp Claws and Fangs.]
[Growth Stage: Hatchling. Growth Rate: Slow.]
【Intimacy Level: 15】
The system interface updates automatically, and concise data outlines the current state of this nascent behemoth.
With a satiety level of only 65%, the energy provided by the eggshell is only enough to keep it from starving, far from meeting its growth needs.
The intimacy level was 15 points, a very low number, but the phrase "initial recognition" reassured Will somewhat.
"It's time to give you a name, little one," Will said in a low voice, his voice hoarse but carrying a gentleness he himself was unaware of.
He recalled those vertical pupils, a blend of dark gold and dark red, the black and red patterns on the eggshell, and the legend of Bellerion—the black behemoth that brought death and shadow.
"Shadowflame?" he called out tentatively.
The fledgling dragon, Shadowflame, raised its head, its dark golden vertical pupils looking at him. It let out another soft hiss, and the tip of its tail gently patted the tattered cloth.
There was no particular reaction, but it didn't seem to be averse to it either.
Will took it as a default decision.
He withdrew his hand, and exhaustion and the pressure of reality surged back.
Yingyan was temporarily full, but he was still hungry.
The wound on my back is still throbbing.
They can't hide in this crack in the brick forever.
He needs food, water, and a safer, more secluded place to settle down so that Shadowflame can survive the most vulnerable period of his hatchling stage and begin to grow.
The slums of Braavos are not a place to linger.
There are many people and eyes around here. Although the commotion of Yingyan hatching and eating the eggshell was restricted by the narrow space, it is hard to guarantee that no one with sharp ears or a keen sense of smell will notice anything unusual.
Moreover, there isn't enough food here for Shadowflame to grow—it likely needs large quantities of fresh meat, or even…
Will's gaze fell on Shadowflame's small yet sharp teeth.
He gently lifted Shadowflame from the tattered cloth.
The newborn dragon was heavier than it looked, with hard scales and a higher body temperature.
Shadowflame seemed unaccustomed to being held so tightly, its limbs shifting restlessly, its slender tail wrapping around Will's wrist, the sharp bone spikes carefully avoiding piercing the skin.
"We need to leave here and find a better place," Will whispered, as if speaking to Shadowflame, or perhaps encouraging himself.
He carefully withdrew from the gap between the bricks and stones, cautiously observing his surroundings.
The abandoned open space was silent and deserted, with only the mournful sound of the wind blowing through the gravel.
From the depths of the alley in the distance, the faint barking of stray dogs seemed to echo again, but they were very far away.
Will carefully stuffed Shadowflame into the tattered clothes on his chest, and used the remaining, barely intact strips of cloth to secure it around his waist, keeping the little dragon close to his chest.
Shadowflame struggled for a moment, but perhaps it was the warmth of Will's body and the rhythm of his heartbeat that gave it a sense of familiar security. It quickly calmed down, only peeking its little head out from Will's tattered collar, its dark gold vertical pupils alertly scanning the outside world.
Through the thin, dirty fabric, Will could clearly feel the outline of the little dragon's hard scales and the steady heat source.
This weight and warmth became his greatest support and motivation at this moment.
He discerned his direction—not back to the dead-end alley, nor towards the more chaotic port center, but towards the edge of the slums, closer to Braavos's famous, intricate waterways and abandoned warehouse district.
The area is relatively sparsely populated with more abandoned buildings, where one might find temporary shelter and an easier way to find unnoticed sources of "food".
As darkness fell, the perennial fog of Braavos began to spread, casting a gray veil over the dilapidated streets.
Will, holding his newborn dragon named Shadowflame, walked silently through the labyrinthine shadows and mist like the most inconspicuous orphan.
His steps were light, but each step was exceptionally firm.
The warmth continued to emanate from his chest, accompanied by the subtle rise and fall of Yingyan's breath.
Will looked down and could only see a small patch of black back with dark red markings, and tiny, thorny bone spurs that trembled slightly.
……
Before it got completely dark, Will finally found his way to the edge of the slums.
The air was salty and humid, with a noticeable increase in moisture, mixed with the faint fishy smell of silt, aquatic plants, and fish.
The hard stone path underfoot was gradually replaced by soft mud mixed with broken seashells, and the sound of gurgling water began to reach my ears. It was not the roar of waves crashing on the shore, but the whisper of a winding river.
Braavos, the city of a thousand islands, is made alive by water. In addition to the sea that surrounds the main island, countless waterways of all sizes crisscross the city.
This is clearly not the main canal, but a relatively remote tributary. It may have been used for small cargo ships to dock or for sewage disposal. Now, the banks are mostly filled with dumped construction waste and half-collapsed abandoned piers. It is rarely visited by people, and only the rustling of rats and nocturnal animals can be heard.
Will stopped in the shadow of a relatively intact stone revetment, half-submerged in the water.
Here, one can avoid most of the view from the shore. The water is relatively calm, and with the last bit of daylight, one can see dark shadows slowly swimming underwater.
They are fish, not very big, but there seem to be quite a few of them.
He carefully untied the bindings on his chest, took out the Shadow Flame, and placed it on a slightly drier stone next to him.
As soon as the little dragon landed, it immediately raised its head warily, its dark golden vertical pupils scanning the unfamiliar waters, a slight hissing sound emanating from its throat, and the bone spurs on its back standing up slightly.