The First Slumber

Grimm lifted his eyelids, a flash of wariness crossing his cloudy, grayish-green eyes, though it was quickly suppressed.

“Additional terms?” Grimm's voice dropped slightly, though he did not show any displeasure. “You certainly know how to pick your timing. Speak, little fellow. What else do you want?”

Leopold was in no hurry to speak. He first turned his head to glance at Blake and Isabella, who were crouching on the rocks not far behind him.

Blake's ears were perked and the tip of his tail was held completely straight, clearly waiting for his answer. Isabella was calmer, but her icy blue eyes were also fixed unblinkingly on him.

Leopold turned back to face Grimm once more.

“During our slumber, we require absolute safety and protection. You have already promised this.”

“But besides that, I hope you can provide food.”

“That is only natural.”

“And one final point,” Leopold said tentatively. “The duration of our slumber shall be counted toward the years of protection.”

“I recall that the first slumber of your dragon clan lasts for four years, does it not?” The old goblin laughed. “Are you saying that these four years of your slumber should also count toward the duration of your ‘protection of the Bronzebeard Tribe’?”

“Exactly,” Leopold nodded. “Furthermore, you and your family will be fully responsible for our care during this time. As far as I know, this is not a losing deal for you.”

Grimm fell silent for a moment. He understood the black dragon's meaning.

“You black dragon,” the old chief chuckled helplessly.

“But you are not refusing,” Leopold said, bowing his head slightly in a respectful yet unyielding manner.

“Fine, I agree!”

“Then the contract is established,” Leopold smiled.

Isabella and Blake leaped down, seemingly quite satisfied with this outcome.

“I, Leopold Aldrick von Tann.”

“I, Isabella Sigrid von Kaelthas.”

“I, Blake Aisling von Nord.”

As soon as the words left their mouths, fine cyan lines emerged from the crevices of the surrounding rocks—these were the contract runes carved by the successive chiefs of the Bronzebeard Tribe. Grimm raised his withered left hand.

“I, Grimm Anvil Bronzebeard, in the name of the goblin chief, hereby respond to your blood oath.”

Just like that, the three young dragons signed a family contract with Grimm.

Grimm lowered his hand. Not much expression could be seen on his aged face, but his gaze lingered on Leopold for an extra moment.

“...Very well.” The old goblin turned around. “Fran, take them to choose a spot.”

After the agreement was signed, the atmosphere in the Bronzebeard Tribe's camp visibly relaxed. Although the goblins still kept a wary distance from the three young dragons, at least no one was pointing mining picks and bows at them anymore.

“The slumbering site needs to be chosen in a quiet enough place,” Blake said as they walked. “It also needs to be well-ventilated and dry. It can't be too far from the main water source, but it shouldn't be too close to geothermal fissures either.”

“Mm, and it would be best if we could display plenty of gold coins and jewels, which would better reflect my, Blake's, nobility...”

The grayish-blue young dragon babbled on, seemingly completely oblivious to the feelings of those around him.

“I only want to undergo my slumber with Leo,” Isabella quietly leaned close to Leopold's side and said in a voice as soft as possible. “Is that okay?”

“...Undergo our slumber together?” He turned his head to look into Isabella's icy blue eyes. The white dragon's gaze was open and earnest.

“Sure...” Leopold had just spoken when he was interrupted by Blake beside them.

“Yeah, the three of us can choose a cave that's large enough so we don't have to sleep separately.”

“Isabella is right. Sleeping separately only increases the risks. We'll choose a big cave and just squeeze together.” Blake talked to himself, completely failing to notice Isabella's expression.

“How wonderful, the first slumber...”

“Eh? Wait a minute, Isabella, what are you doing? Stop, ouch, stop!”

“Hmph.” Isabella released her claws. The white dragon flicked her tail and turned her face away.

Blake arched his back and retreated behind Leopold, lowering his voice. “This white dragon is way too fierce...”

Fran walked at the very front carrying an ore lantern, turning a deaf ear to the bickering of the dragons behind him.

“Here,” Fran said, raising the lantern to illuminate the way ahead.

The cave was not large, but it had a neat layout with a flat, dry floor. There was a narrow natural fissure above, from which air slowly flowed in, carrying a trace of the scent of vegetation from the surface.

“There is a geothermal fissure nearby, so the temperature is stable year-round.” Fran paused. “The chief said you would most likely be satisfied with this.”

Blake had already stepped deep into the cave and sniffed around. “...Indeed, it's quite good.”

Isabella followed him inside, her white wings spreading and then folding back in the cave.

Leopold stood at the entrance. Instead of rushing inside, he turned to Fran and said, “Please tell the chief that we are very satisfied.”

Fran nodded and, without another word, turned and walked back the way they came.

As soon as Leopold walked in, he placed the leather pouch on the ground.

Blake looked up and saw the dozen or so crystal stones shimmering in the darkness, immediately perking up.

“I almost forgot about this!”

There were sixteen of them in total, varying in size and shade. However, each one rippled with a faint wave of magic. To the three young dragons, these things were like sweet spring water in a dried-up riverbed.

“Five for each of us,” Leopold began to distribute them. “As for the remaining one...”

“Give it to Isabella,” Blake said after careful consideration. “Her bloodline has the greatest potential. An extra one might awaken more things.”

“Alright, then this one goes to Isabella.” He pushed the largest crystal stone in front of Isabella, then divided the remaining fifteen into three piles based on the depth of their color.

Leopold closed his eyes, taking a long time to finish absorbing them. The energy of the five crystals dispersed within his body, spreading along his blood vessels like a warm stream, washing away the remnants of the wound on the side of his neck.

My magic feels a lot more abundant, Leopold couldn't help but marvel.

He opened his eyes; the cave had already grown dark.

Blake lay on his left, a thin layer of white frost forming on his grayish-blue scales. Blake had already fallen into his slumber.

Leopold turned his head. Isabella was not far to his right.

The white dragon had not yet completely finished absorbing. The last crystal in front of her was gradually dimming. Leopold stared at her for a brief moment.

The light of the crystal slowly went out between her claws. She opened her eyes, her icy blue vertical pupils shining even brighter than before, as if tiny starlight was swirling deep within them.

“How do you feel?” Leopold asked.

Isabella blinked and slowly lowered her head to look at her front claws. “...Very warm. Leo, I feel... like there are more things I can do now.”

Leopold nodded. He wanted to say more, but a wave of weariness suddenly surged from every part of his body—the energy of the crystals was triggering the sleeping instinct within him.

Isabella had clearly felt the same summons. The white dragon's eyelids began to grow heavy, and her breathing gradually slowed.

“Sleep,” Leopold said.

He took a few steps toward the inner part of the cave and chose a relatively flat rock surface to lie down on, where a thin layer of moss grew on the ground.

Just as Leopold lay down, a white claw gently nudged the moss beside him.

“Squeeze in,” she whispered.

“...Hmm?”

“The moss... only this patch is the thickest.” Isabella lowered her head, making it impossible for Leopold to see her expression. “Please move over to the left.”

Leopold was taken aback for a moment, then backed away a few inches to the left. The white dragon lay down beside him, folding her wings against her sides.

Leopold glanced at her sideways. Isabella's eyes were already half-closed, and her breathing was becoming steady. He hesitated for a moment, then spread his left wing and gently draped it over her back.

“This is warm...” Isabella closed her eyes.

“Mm...” Leopold also lost consciousness.