Drak was unsure as to what was happening, but he had a feeling that he shouldn’t interfere, and just watched in silence as the green flame surrounded the broken egg. The flame began to lift the body out of its shell and seemed to be burning its scales, turning them into the same shade pf dark green as Nogh’s. It took but a few moments for the child’s scales to all turn into that shade of dark green. It was as if this was a process, a precursor to a some ancient magic. And right on cue, the body of the little drake was entirely engulfed by the flame, covering every inch of the cub.

Before long, Drak felt a new living presence in his cave, the source was weak but it most certainly came from the cub. Soon enough, the cub was released by the flames as it gently set it down on the cold cave floor, the child was sleeping quietly on the floor.

Drak looked between his cub and the kobold child in mute shock, his child had regained its life, and it seems like the lantern weaved the two kid's lives together. He was unsure as to how it would develop, but he knew, he knew, that the kobold had a long and arduous journey ahead of him. But at least, he wouldn’t be alone, no, his very own son would follow his lead and accompany him on the journey.

A dragon being a guide was utterly unheard of, let alone a small kobold. He was sure that such things would be proudly documented by the elders of the past, meaning that this was the first time such a thing happened, well at least as far as they knew. As he stood there astonished, Howlena grabbed his attention by grabbing Drak by the cheek, and then she pointed to the floor before scratching out a word on the stone floor.

It read Perry in Draconic and the green energy that marked the floor disappeared, leaving a barren stone floor. Then she looked back at the child with a warm but forlorn smile. Her intentions were clear, she wished for their last cub to be named Perry. It was a simple non-threatening name, such names usually meant the parents wish for their cub to live a long and peaceful life, if such a thing was possible.

The name seemed really out of place considering the task that the kids had been given, but her meaning to the name was simply for him to live a happy and long life. She didn’t wish him to live a life full of war and hatred, he was meant to be a peaceful reminder of what can be. Although Drak wasn’t in favor of such a simple name, he accepted Howlena’s decision and spoke the ritual phrases that a dragon is meant to say when naming their child. These draconic verses were as old as time, and only the elder dragons knew what they truly meant. Although the kobolds could understand it, they simply couldn’t comprehend it. It was as if there was a magical wall blocking them from understanding the meaning behind it.

It wasn’t all that surprising, considering what a dragon's name meant to them. It was a source of immense power, just as much as a leash keeping them tied to their words.

Once Drak finished the ritual, a warm red glow spread out from him and enveloped the child, bestowing upon him his name and the power within it. Drak also bestowed upon the cub a portion of his name and power as well as some of his knowledge in hopes of giving him an edge in the future. The cub currently was only the size of a puppy, but he would grow quickly in the following years, and he will grow even faster when he starts hunting other creatures and absorbing their strength. But until then this cub shall be small enough to hide from most predators and other such threats.

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This will become useful later on as the group of kobolds will be able to easily hide Perry during their travel. Since dragons grow to become walking calamities for most countries, hell, their nobles hunt young dragons for sport and peasants can be granted titles if they manage to kill a young dragon. As it’s considered protecting the realm from major future threats.

Anyway, once the ritual was finished, it didn’t take long before Drak collapsed from exhaustion. Usually a simple name bestowal was fairly simple and effortless for an adult dragon, but he was greatly weakened, and it had sucked him dry of his energy.

Nogh was still in a trance and technically unconscious as he controlled the lantern’s flame, he was completely unaware of the events occurring around him. As Drak laid on the cold cavern floor, he looked at Nogh and then the druid and his own son.

“Druid… Look after the child and teach him how to be strong. My cub will eventually become strong enough to protect him, but that won’t be a reality for at least another 30 years. So until then, the child… Nogh shall need to fill my boots, and you shall have to stand in as both of their parents.” he announced.

Raouk looked at the dragon stupefied, but he firmly acknowledged his demand. “Of course! I will look after them as if they were my own!”

Ralk took a knee and bowed his head before vowing, “I shall treat and protect them as my own brothers!”

“Good… Then It feels like it is my turn to leave now… I shall be joining Howlena and the kids… It was truly an honour to meet the next Guide… Tell him that I apologize for not being able to personally thank him.” Drak mumbled weakly.

Before the kobolds could respond, Drak’s head fell to the floor, and he closed his eyes. Soon after, the same green energy left his body, and it eventually formed into his majestic flawless body and all its glory as he joined his mate. It lasted but a few moments, but the scene was serene and beautiful. However, all good things must come to an end, and the lantern cut the moment short and began absorbing all the souls surrounding it. Before long, the green light that lit up the cave disappeared, leaving the kobolds in the dark and surrounded by the dead bodies littered within.

As the group of kobolds stood there in the dark stunned, they heard a thud and a slight clanking sound as they watched the small green flame inside the lantern take a dive towards the floor. Ralk quickly ran over to Nogh worried about the poor child. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dark conditions, so when he got close to the child, he quickly noticed that Nogh had simply just passed out from overexertion. Ralk held his gaze on Nogh’s face as he slept, he was deep in thought. However, he was eventually shaken out of it by the small green that was dancing in the lantern.

The flame was dancing gently inside its cage, acting as if nothing had just happened, well not that the flame had a conscience, right? Raouk slowly walked over to his son and put a hand on his shoulder as he watched the flame as well. Ralk looked over his shoulder to meet his father’s gaze before both of them returned to looking at the flame.