For a moment, Eryke didn't know what to do. But in the end, he sighed, took the baby dragon into his arms, and looked up at the dragon crying in the skies.
"Hey, you big lizard!" he shouted.
The dragon squeezed its eyes shut, forcing back its tears. Then, with a sudden snap, it opened them again, its gaze locking onto Eryke.
A terrifying pressure rippled through the air as its stomach began to glow.
The very atmosphere coiled and trembled under the overwhelming force as the dragon opened its jaws, a beam of light building within, ready to strike.
But just then, its vertical pupils landed on the small figure cradled in Eryke's arms.
At the nick of time, the dragon turned its head skyward, and the beam shot upward, piercing the heavens in one go.
For a moment, the entire sky blazed orange, so bright that even the sun seemed to retreat behind its brilliance.
The beam lasted a solid two minutes before finally fading, leaving the sky clear and devoid of clouds.
