The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains. Ashna’s voice rang through the hall, getting the attention of everyone in the house.

“Amyra, there's a package here addressed to you. It’s... leaking ice mana,” Ashna said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she held the slightly frost-covered parcel, her gaze shifting between her daughter and the unusual package.

Amyra blinked in surprise, rubbing her eyes as she joined her family, who were now gathered around. “A package? But I didn’t order anything.”

Ashna raised an eyebrow, her tone doubtful. “Are you sure? Perhaps you just forgot?”

“No, I’m positive I didn’t order anything,” Amyra said, examining the box with cautious curiosity. The edges of the box shimmered faintly with residual mana, sending a cool wave of energy across the room. Avince, who was observing quietly, remained calm, his face carefully composed as though he had no idea where the package had come from. He watched as his mother passed the box to Amyra, who opened it slowly, anticipation and uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

As the lid was lifted, the family’s collective breath hitched.

Inside lay a glistening ice-blue egg, radiating a gentle but palpable aura of freezing mana. Veins of frost crept along its surface, giving the shell a crystalline texture. It was undeniably beautiful, mesmerizing even, but there was no mistaking its true nature. The size, the mana intensity, the way the air around it seemed to chill — it was a dragon egg. And not just any dragon egg, but one already attuned to ice.

Ashna and Erwin exchanged glances, both alarmed and curious.

“An ice dragon egg,” Erwin murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Amyra, where on earth did you get this?”

Amyra, just as bewildered, blinked in confusion, shaking her head. “I don’t know… I really didn’t order anything.”

She then thought back to the previous day, recalling the strange interaction she’d had online. Her gaze dropped to the package, and she noticed the sender's name: IceyGuy566.

Amyra blinked, a puzzled expression crossing her face. “I… it might be from that anonymous account I spoke to yesterday.” She shook her head, muttering to herself. “That weird account… IceyGuy566.

Her parents’ skeptical expressions only deepened.

“An anonymous account?” Ashna repeated, frowning. “Show us the details. I don’t understand how someone could give something so valuable and remain unknown. Dragon eggs aren’t exactly given away lightly.”

Amyra fumbled for her phone, pulling up the conversation. She handed it over to her parents, who began examining the details, their faces growing more dubious as they scrolled through the exchange. The account was new, unverified, and seemed to have no reliable history.

Erwin sighed, setting the phone down. “This account doesn’t seem very credible. There’s no verification, no transaction history. It’s practically a ghost account.”

Avince cleared his throat, adding a seemingly casual comment. “Maybe someone from the clan sent it? It wouldn’t be unusual if one of the elders took an interest in Amyra’s progress and wanted to support her.”

Ashna nodded thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. “That’s a possibility. Someone with influence could have bypassed the usual channels. It wouldn’t be the first time our clan has helped quietly like this, especially given how rare and significant this gift is.”

Erwin took a long, contemplative breath before speaking. “But even then, a fertile dragon egg... Those are extraordinarily rare. The last expedition that returned from the tundra where one could get one of these was years ago, and as far as we know, no one claimed to have found an egg.”

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. “Then again, that’s not unheard of. It’s possible someone kept it a secret to avoid the risk of it being stolen. The tundra is treacherous, especially near the lair of the ice dragons. Even S-rank teams avoid venturing too deep without the right gear and team composition.”

“What makes the ice dragon lair so dangerous?” Amyra asked, her curiosity piqued as she looked down at the egg.

“It’s located in one of the most inhospitable regions,” Erwin explained, his expression grim. “Temperatures are brutally low, and the lair itself is rumored to be guarded by dragons at the peak of A-tier. The dungeon boss is an elder dragon—some say it’s above even S-tier. Only those with abilities that can counter ice, or specially crafted gear for extreme cold, have any chance of reaching the lair’s depths.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“The environment around the dungeon shapes the type of monsters within, and in turn, the dungeon itself can influence the region, amplifying its natural harshness. With an ice dragon lair, for example, the dungeon radiates intense cold, making the surrounding climate even more severe over time. It’s almost as if the mana pouring out of the dungeon sinks into the land itself, spreading the dungeon’s influence.”

He continued, “This cyclical effect—where the environment makes the dungeon harsher, and the dungeon makes the environment worse—adds to the danger. It’s part of why dungeon breaks in these regions are especially devastating, bringing out even tougher, ice-infused monsters adapted to the brutal cold. The surrounding area becomes a hazardous extension of the dungeon itself.

“But the problem,” he continued, “is that this dungeon is rarely delved. Its remote location and deadly conditions keep even seasoned teams from clearing it frequently enough. Because of that, mana within the dungeon builds up, leading to periodic dungeon breaks. Whenever it happens, monsters spill out and start inhabiting the surrounding area.

Ashna’s gaze softened as she looked back at Amyra, her maternal instincts surfacing. “With how dangerous these dungeons are, we should be thankful this egg found its way to you. It could prove invaluable, especially if you manage to bond with the dragon.”

Amyra’s eyes sparkled with excitement, though a touch of nervousness crept into her voice. “You think I could really tame it?”

Ashna gave a reassuring nod. “It should be fine for you to tame the dragon. Even if the original owner wanted it back, the Alliance wouldn’t allow it—they’d risk too much damage to their reputation. That conversation you had online about the egg was recorded on the Alliance Trading Center website. They have logs of every interaction for cases like this, ensuring both buyers and sellers are protected. If that person ever tries to reclaim it, you have proof that it was gifted to you. Besides, our clan would protect us if anything happened, especially if you did manage to tame it. So go ahead, Amyra.".

Avince watched as Amyra nodded, summoning her mana and extending her hand over the egg. A visible strand of icy mana coiled around her fingers, weaving gently toward the egg. The egg reacted instantly, pulsing with a defensive surge of cold energy, as if resisting her influence.

Amyra’s brow furrowed with concentration. She channeled her mana deeper, feeling the dragon’s presence within the egg, testing and pushing against her power. The resistance was fierce, almost aggressive, but she held firm, her own mana resonating with the dragon’s.

The struggle continued for several tense minutes. The egg glowed brighter, a frosty aura wrapping around it as the egg’s instinctive defenses fought against Amyra’s control. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she poured more mana into her attempt, her determination unwavering. Finally, with one last surge of effort, she felt a faint connection solidify, the dragon’s resistance fading as it yielded to her influence.

A triumphant smile spread across her face, and her family clapped, each with a look of pride and relief.

“Well done, Amyra,” Erwin praised, his eyes filled with pride. “It won’t be easy raising a dragon, but with its bond to you established, you’ll have a lifelong companion and protector.”

Amyra laughed, breathless but exhilarated. “I can’t believe it worked!”

Ashna stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Now, keep in mind, that was just the first step. This dragon egg needs a very specific environment and resources to fully hatch. The ice cores we have here won’t be nearly enough.”

Ashna thought for a moment before continuing. “Thankfully, I should have enough contribution points within the clan to redeem some materials from the vault. The clan keeps a store of rare ice-related items for cases like these, perfect for supporting unique abilities—or creatures like this dragon. We should be able to gather everything we need to sustain the egg until it’s ready to hatch.”

Amyra’s face lit up even more. “Really? That’s perfect! We should go back to the clan as soon as possible. Let’s get everything we need to hatch this little one.”

Avince watched, managing to keep his face composed, though he couldn’t help feeling a spark of satisfaction as his plan unfolded smoothly. This way, Amyra would gain a powerful companion to aid her in the future. He’d successfully given his sister a valuable resource without revealing the secrets of his own abilities.

As they shared breakfast, the conversation remained lively around the dragon egg, now bonded to Amyra.

“So, now that it’s bonded, what’s the plan?” Avince asked, hiding his satisfaction behind a curious expression.

Ashna smiled, her voice light but filled with purpose. “First, we’ll head to the clan vault. I’ll use my contribution points to get some ice materials for sustaining the dragon. We’ll need a steady supply to help it hatch and mature properly.”

Amyra grinned, her excitement evident. “I can’t believe it actually bonded with me. I felt it connect—like it recognized me as its own.”

Erwin chuckled, setting down his coffee mug. “Just remember, Amyra, dragons recognize strength. They’re powerful creatures, but if their owner falls behind, they won’t hesitate to push back. You’ll need to keep growing, or it might start questioning the bond.”

Amyra’s eyes widened slightly, then she nodded with a renewed determination. “I understand. If it’s going to respect me, I’ll have to stay worthy of that respect. I won’t let it down.”

Ashna placed a reassuring hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “That’s the spirit. You have the ice affinity and the right abilities to connect with it, but maintaining a bond with a dragon is no small feat.

As they wrapped up their plans over breakfast, Avince felt a deep satisfaction settle over him. For now, his part in the egg’s arrival was safe, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride watching his sister bond with the creature. His family was none the wiser—his plan had played out