The crimson egg trembled.
A fine web of cracks spread across its shell, each fracture glowing with molten gold.
The heartbeat that had echoed throughout the underground chamber only moments before became faster, stronger, almost impatient.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Drake instinctively stepped backward, his fingers tightening around the handle of the strange black hammer he had just inherited.
Though it looked ancient, the weapon felt perfectly balanced in his grip, as if it had been crafted specifically for his hands.
The blue flames within the colossal forge surged higher.
For the first time since entering the hidden chamber, Drake noticed that the flames produced no smoke.
They did not burn the surrounding stone, nor did they give off the suffocating heat of an ordinary furnace.
Instead, they radiated a steady warmth that eased his aching muscles and sharpened his senses.
Every instinct told him he stood within a place that defied the laws of the world he knew.
His eyes never left the egg.
Another crack echoed through the chamber.
Then another.
Finally— Crunch!
A small piece of crimson shell broke away and rolled across the stone floor.
Silence returned.
Drake frowned.
“…That’s it?” The heartbeat had stopped.
The chamber fell eerily still.
Even the blue flames seemed to lower, as though waiting.
He cautiously approached the egg.
Years of working beside blazing furnaces had taught him never to trust appearances.
Molten iron could seem calm moments before erupting into dangerous sparks.
Whatever waited inside the egg deserved even greater caution.
He lowered himself until he was only an arm’s length away.
Nothing moved.
No heartbeat.
No glow.
Perhaps…
It had died.
The thought unexpectedly filled him with disappointment.
This strange place had chosen him.
The ancient forge had acknowledged him.
The mysterious book had spoken of forging life itself.
Could it all truly end before it had even begun?
He slowly extended one finger toward the cracked shell.
The moment he touched it— CRACK!
The entire egg exploded.
Drake threw his arms over his face as fragments of shell scattered in every direction.
A burst of crimson light flooded the chamber, momentarily blinding him.
“What the—” A tiny weight landed on his shoulder.
He froze.
Something warm rubbed gently against his neck.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
He lowered his hands.
Perched upon his right shoulder sat a creature no larger than a house cat.
Drake blinked.
It certainly wasn’t what he had expected.
Its body resembled a dragon hatchling, yet it possessed no wings.
Instead, small golden fins stretched along its back like the crest of an ancient sea serpent.
Its scales shimmered between deep crimson and black, changing color whenever the blue flames reflected upon them.
Two tiny horns curved backward from its forehead.
Its eyes…
Its eyes were unlike anything Drake had ever seen.
Instead of ordinary pupils, each iris resembled a miniature forge.
Within those golden eyes flickered tiny blue flames.
The hatchling tilted its head.
Then…
It sneezed.
“Pff!” A tiny spark escaped its mouth before disappearing into the air.
Drake couldn’t help smiling.
“So…” “You’re the legendary beast?” The hatchling chirped happily before licking his cheek.
Warm.
Soft.
Completely harmless.
For a brief moment, Drake laughed.
The sound echoed through the enormous chamber, breaking the oppressive silence that had surrounded him since his fall into the underground forge.
“I was expecting something a little more terrifying.” The hatchling puffed out its tiny chest as though offended.
It released the smallest roar imaginable.
“Raa!” Drake laughed even harder.
“I’ll pretend that was intimidating.” The creature blinked.
Then it bit his ear.
“Ow!” Drake rubbed the side of his head while glaring at the tiny dragon.
“You’ve got quite the temper.” The hatchling merely looked pleased with itself.
A gentle chime echoed throughout the chamber.
The ancient voice returned.
“First Forged Beast successfully awakened.” “Bond synchronization initiated.” Before Drake could react, the mark on the back of his hand began glowing once more.
A thin stream of golden light emerged from the symbol and connected to the hatchling.
The tiny dragon paused.
Its playful expression vanished.
It looked directly into Drake’s eyes.
Images suddenly flooded his mind.
Not words.
Feelings.
Warmth.
Curiosity.
Hunger.
Excitement.
Confusion.
He gasped.
The hatchling wasn’t speaking.
Yet somehow…
He understood every emotion it experienced.
Likewise, the little dragon seemed capable of sensing his own thoughts.
Its head tilted again.
This time, Drake sensed a question.
Friend?
The feeling was unmistakable.
Drake hesitated for only a second before gently placing a finger beneath the creature’s chin.
“Yeah.” “We’re friends.” The hatchling happily rubbed against his hand.
The golden connection between them shone brighter before disappearing entirely.
The voice echoed again.
“Soul Bond complete.” “Beast Blacksmith and First Beast successfully linked.” Drake slowly exhaled.
“So that’s what this mark does…” He examined the symbol upon his hand.
Unlike earlier, it no longer burned.
Instead, it pulsed gently in rhythm with the tiny dragon’s heartbeat.
One heartbeat.
Shared between two lives.
The realization filled him with both wonder and responsibility.
If this creature truly depended upon him…
Then he couldn’t afford to make mistakes.
The hatchling suddenly sniffed the air.
Its tiny nose twitched repeatedly.
Without warning, it jumped from Drake’s shoulder and sprinted toward the massive Origin Forge.
“Hey!” Drake hurried after it.
The hatchling stopped only a few feet from the forge.
It stared at the blue flames.
Its entire body trembled.
For a moment, Drake feared it was frightened.
Instead…
The tiny dragon opened its mouth.
A small blue flame drifted from the forge toward the hatchling like a feather caught by the wind.
Rather than burning it…
The flame disappeared into its chest.
The little dragon closed its eyes.
Golden light spread beneath its scales.
Its body grew slightly larger.
Only an inch or two.
Yet Drake noticed immediately.
“So…” “You can absorb the forge’s fire?” The ancient voice answered.
“Origin Flame.” “The eternal fire that shapes life.” “Only beasts created by the Origin Forge may inherit its blessing.” The hatchling opened its eyes.
The tiny blue flames within its pupils now burned brighter than before.
A satisfied chirp escaped its mouth.
Drake stared at the forge.
Questions filled his mind.
How many beasts had once been created here?
How many legendary creatures recorded in history had first opened their eyes before these blue flames?
And…
Who had been the last Beast Blacksmith to stand where he stood now?
His gaze drifted toward the murals covering the chamber walls.
Until now he had been too overwhelmed to properly examine them.
He walked closer.
Layer after layer of dust covered the ancient stone.
He brushed part of it away with his sleeve.
A breathtaking image emerged.
A blacksmith stood before the Origin Forge.
Around him knelt creatures of every imaginable form.
Dragons.
Phoenixes.
Griffins.
Giants.
Sea serpents.
Even creatures Drake could not name.
Yet none looked enslaved.
None appeared bound by chains or magic.
They looked…
Loyal.
As if they had gathered willingly around the one who had given them life.
Drake continued cleaning the mural.
The scene expanded.
Behind the blacksmith stood dozens of others wearing similar robes.
Men.
Women.
Young.
Old.
All carried the same emblem now branded upon Drake’s hand.
The Beast Blacksmiths.
There hadn’t been just one.
There had been an entire order.
Masters who had shaped life with hammer and flame.
At the very top of the mural, ancient letters had been carved into the stone.
Although Drake had never seen the language before…
He somehow understood every word.
The moment his eyes rested upon the inscription, the meaning flowed naturally into his mind.
He read aloud.
“Life is not conquered.” “Life is not owned.” “Life is entrusted.” “A Beast Blacksmith does not create servants…” He paused.
His heartbeat quickened.
The final line slowly revealed itself beneath centuries of dust.
“He creates family.” Drake stood frozen.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the tiny crimson hatchling, now happily chasing fragments of its broken shell across the stone floor.
Family.
Not a weapon.
Not a tool.
Not a slave.
Family.
The realization settled deep within his heart.
If this truly was the path of a Beast Blacksmith…
Then history had remembered them completely wrong.
Or perhaps…
Someone had wanted the truth buried forever.
Behind him, the blue flames of the Origin Forge suddenly surged toward the ceiling once more.
A deep metallic rumble echoed through the chamber.
Ancient mechanisms hidden beneath the mountain awakened after thousands of silent years.
Stone gears turned.
Massive chains rattled.
The floor trembled beneath Drake’s feet.
The hatchling stopped playing.
Its playful expression vanished as it stared toward the darkness beyond the forge.
Something…
Or someone…
Had been awakened.
And it was coming.
To be continued…