Kael and Andre remained motionless, waiting for the egg to do something after the second knock. A full minute passed while Kael held the black shell between both hands, watching the purple veins glow beneath its surface. He expected another twitch, a crack, or some sign that the creature inside intended to emerge.
The egg remained completely still.
Kael turned it slightly and listened before tapping the shell with one finger. Andre's frown appeared almost immediately.
"Don't do that. We know nothing about what's inside, and provoking it before it hatches seems like a poor way to introduce yourself."
"It knocked first," Kael said. "I'm only answering."
"That does not make this a polite conversation. If something inside an unknown monster egg starts knocking, sensible people put it down and move away."
Kael looked at the egg again. "You moved away. I'm still holding it. Between us, the risk appears reasonably distributed."
