I wake up in my cabin and go through my usual morning routine.
The sun is just starting to rise, casting golden light through the windows. I wash up, get dressed, and head to the kitchen to start breakfast.
I'm pulling out ingredients when I hear a familiar, low churr from behind me.
I glance down to see Donny already awake, his large shell catching the morning light as he slowly ambles into the kitchen. His head lifts toward me expectantly.
[Wright] "Morning, Donny."
He responds with a pleased churr, tail swaying slightly. Then I hear a knock at the door.
Opening it, I find Takeshi, Aiko, and Yuki standing there, along with Snow and Umbra. Snow is perched on Yuki's shoulder as usual, and Umbra is cradled in her arms.
[Wright] "You're all up early."
[Takeshi] "We wanted to get an early start. Figured we'd help with breakfast too."
[Aiko] "And we were hoping to join you for the meal!"
[Wright] "Come on in."
Their eyes immediately drift to Donny.
[Yuki] "Oh! Donny's awake already!"
Donny churrs again, enjoying the attention.
They didn't have to wake up this early, but here they are.
We work together to prepare breakfast. I keep it simple. Emberbread toasted on the stove, a salad made with Spiceleaf, dried fruit and nuts provided by the high elves, and some bacon I pull from my storage.
The kitchen fills with the smell of toasting bread and sizzling bacon. Yuki sets the table while Takeshi helps with the salad. Aiko slices the Emberbread into even portions.
Snow buzzes around the kitchen curiously, while Umbra watches from a safe distance, the gem on its forehead glowing softly.
I set aside portions of lightly cooked vegetables and thick-cut bacon for Donny and Umbra, arranging everything carefully on two wide wooden plates on the floor.
[Wright] "Here you go."
Donny lets out an enthusiastic churr and immediately digs in, munching contentedly. Umbra is shy at first, but soon starts eating with enthusiasm.
For Snow, I pull honey from my Storage and pour some into a small container. She buzzes around it joyfully before landing and slurping it up.
I plate the rest of the food, and we settle down to eat. Everyone digs in.
[Aiko] "This is so good! The Emberbread is amazing when it's toasted."
[Yuki] "The salad is really refreshing too."
[Takeshi] "Thanks for letting us join you, Wright."
[Wright] "No problem. So what do you all have planned for today?"
[Takeshi] "We're heading to the dungeon. Rhevan, Nym, and Lucien are coming with us."
[Yuki] "I'm so excited! This will be my first time in a real dungeon!"
Her eyes are practically sparkling behind her glasses.
At the word dungeon, Donny lifts his head sharply and lets out a loud churr.
Yuki pauses, then blinks.
[Yuki] "Uh… Donny says he wants to come too."
Everyone looks at the turtle.
[Aiko] "He does?"
[Yuki] "Yeah. He said it sounds interesting. And that he can help."
Donny churrs again, as if confirming it.
[Takeshi] "Donny is joining! Awesome!"
[Wright] "As long as you're okay with it, Donny."
He responds with another pleased churr and goes back to eating.
[Wright] "Have fun, but don't push yourselves too hard. Take breaks if you need to."
[Aiko] "We will. Rhevan and Nym know the dungeon well, so we're in good hands."
An idea hits me.
[Wright] "Actually, let me make lunch for everyone."
[Yuki] "Really? That would be amazing!"
I stand and open my Online Shopping skill interface. Time to make something portable and satisfying.
Japanese egg sandwiches would be perfect.
I start selecting ingredients. White bread, soft and fluffy. Japanese mayonnaise, the kind with the rich, slightly sweet flavor. Salt and pepper for seasoning. I already have eggs in my storage.
I add everything to the cart and click checkout.
My mana drains, a familiar sensation now. A cardboard box materializes on the counter with a soft thump.
Everyone stares.
[Yuki] "That's so cool! No matter how many times I see it, it's still amazing!"
I unpack the ingredients and pull out a pot to boil water. While waiting for it to heat up, I retrieve eggs from my storage. A dozen should be more than enough.
Once the water is boiling, I carefully lower the eggs in with a spoon and materialize a timer with Ananke to set. The key to good egg sandwiches is perfectly cooked eggs. Firm whites with creamy, just-set yolks.
While the eggs cook, I prepare the other components. I lay out slices of bread on the counter and grab the Japanese mayonnaise. The squeeze bottle makes a satisfying sound as I open it.
The Ananke timer goes off, and I drain the hot water, immediately running cold water over the eggs to stop the cooking process. Once they're cool enough to handle, I start peeling.
The shells come off cleanly, revealing smooth white surfaces. I place the peeled eggs in a bowl and transform Ananke to a fork to mash them. Not too fine, leaving some larger chunks for texture. Then I add generous spoonfuls of Japanese mayonnaise, mixing until everything is creamy and well-combined. A pinch of salt and a crack of black pepper finish it off.
I taste a small bit. Perfect.
Now for assembly. I spread the egg mixture onto slices of bread, making sure to go all the way to the edges. Then I top each with another slice, pressing down gently to help them stick together.
Using a sharp Ananke-transformed knife, I carefully cut off the crusts, then slice each sandwich diagonally into triangles. The egg mixture is visible at the edges, creamy and inviting.
I wrap several sandwiches in cloth and hand them to Takeshi, Aiko, and Yuki.
[Wright] "Put these in your storage. Share them with Rhevan, Nym, and Lucien when you take a lunch break."
[Takeshi] "Thank you! This is really thoughtful."
[Aiko] "They look so good!"
[Yuki] "I can't wait to try them!"
We finish breakfast and clean up together. Once everything is put away, we head outside.
The morning air is cool and fresh. The sun has fully risen now, washing the forest and fields in warm light.
I look up, taking a moment to appreciate how blue the sky is today. That's when I see it, a shape moving across the sky toward us.
It's small, maybe the size of a large cat, with red scales that shimmer in the sunlight. Wings beat steadily as it approaches.
A dragon?
What's a dragon doing here?
It lands a few feet in front of me, folds its wings neatly against its sides, and looks directly into my eyes.
For just a moment, I see something flicker in those golden eyes. Fear, maybe? Or wariness?
Donny immediately churrs, low and cautious, as a faint glow ripples across his shell.
Then the dragon bows, lowering its head respectfully.
Do all dragons bow when they meet people? That seems oddly formal.
I use Appraisal.
---
[Appraisal]
Ignatia, Ancient Fire Dragon Queen
The eldest and most powerful of all dragons. Rules over dragonkind with absolute authority. Two hundred feet in length, covered in crimson scales edged with molten gold. Her flames can reduce cities to ash and melt mountains. Has lived for thousands of years and possesses wisdom accumulated over countless ages. Fiercely loyal to her Spirit Queen, Aethra.
---
I stare at the small dragon.
Then at the appraisal text.
Then back at the dragon.
Is Appraisal broken?
This tiny, cute creature is supposed to be an ancient dragon queen who can melt mountains?
The description doesn't match at all. I was expecting something massive, grand, terrifying. Not... this.
The dragon seems to notice our confusion. She straightens up and speaks, her voice clear and surprisingly regal coming from such a small form.
[Ignatia] "I understand your confusion. I have transformed myself into this diminutive form for practical purposes. My true form is far larger and more imposing, as your appraisal skill no doubt informed you."
The way she speaks is so formal, so dignified. The contrast between her regal speech and her adorable appearance is jarring.
[Wright] "It's nice to meet you, Ignatia. What brings you here?"
[Ignatia] "I have heard of you from my Spirit Queen, Aethra. She spoke of someone whom even the Goddess respects, someone working to help those in need. I wish to offer my assistance in whatever capacity you require."
She pauses.
[Ignatia] "Specifically, I would like to become the familiar of the one called Yuki, to serve as her protector as she explores this world."
There's a moment of stunned silence.
[Yuki] "Me?"
She points at herself, eyes wide behind her glasses.
Donny churrs again, this time more curious than wary.
Yuki tilts her head.
[Yuki] "Donny says she's… really strong. And that he doesn't think she's dangerous."
Ignatia glances toward Donny, eyes narrowing slightly in interest.
[Ignatia] "You possess an unusual guardian, child."
Donny churrs in response, puffing his chest just a little.
Yuki stares at Ignatia for a long moment. Then, almost unconsciously, she reaches out and pets the dragon's head.
[Yuki] "Oh my god, you're so soft!"
Her surprise transforms into pure excitement.
[Yuki] "And so cute! Your scales are warm but not hot, and they're so smooth! This is amazing!"
[Takeshi] "That's definitely a strong bodyguard."
[Aiko] "I'm a little jealous. She's so cute!"
Ignatia's eye twitches slightly, but she maintains her dignified composure.
[Wright] "Thank you for offering to protect her. I appreciate it."
[Ignatia] "It is my honor to serve."
Just like that, Yuki gained the power of an ancient dragon.
She's really shaping up to be quite the powerhouse. Between her magic, her two other familiars, and now a dragon queen, she's going to be formidable.
Snow buzzes around Ignatia cautiously, wary of this new arrival. Umbra's gem glows brighter, watching from the safety of Yuki's arms.
After a few moments, though, they seem to relax. Snow lands on Ignatia's head, antennae twitching. Umbra sniffs at her scales.
Ignatia tolerates this with remarkable patience.
We head toward the fields together. I can already see high elves at work, tending to the crops under Liora's supervision. Rhevan and Nym are there too, talking near the edge of the farmland.
They spot us approaching and wave.
Then they see Ignatia.
Both of them freeze.
Even from this distance, I can see their expressions change. Rhevan's hand moves instinctively toward his bow. Nym's eyes narrow, and I can feel the buildup of magical energy around her.
They can sense something from the small dragon. Some kind of pressure or power that even her transformed state can't completely hide.
[Yuki] "Everyone, this is Ignatia! She's my new familiar!"
She's beaming with pride, holding the small dragon up like she's presenting a trophy.
[Rhevan] "That's... a dragon."
[Nym] "An ancient one, if I'm sensing correctly."
Her voice is cautious.
[Yuki] "Yep! She's the Ancient Fire Dragon Queen! Isn't that amazing?"
Rhevan and Nym exchange glances, processing the idea that this tiny creature is apparently one of the most powerful dragons in existence.
[Liora] "Wright!"
I look over to see Liora waving at me from deeper in the field. I excuse myself from the group and head over to her.
[Liora] "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
[Wright] "I did. What's up?"
[Liora] "Eldrin returned late last night. He'd like to speak with you when you're available."
If he returned that late, he must be exhausted.
[Wright] "I'll let him rest for now. I can visit him later this afternoon."
[Liora] "That sounds good. Come find me when you're ready, and I'll take you to his house."
[Wright] "Thanks."
I start helping with the fieldwork, pulling weeds and checking on the crops. The plants are growing well. Some are already starting to show early signs of produce.
As I was working, I spot Lucien walking toward the group near the field entrance, his white and gold armor gleaming in the morning sun.
The dungeon exploration party is assembling.
I watch as they gather together. Takeshi, Aiko, Yuki with her three familiars now, Donny, Rhevan, Nym, and Lucien. They're checking equipment, distributing the egg sandwiches I made, making final preparations.
Yuki waves enthusiastically in my direction. The others wave too.
I wave back.
[Wright] "Be safe!"
[Takeshi] "We will!"
They head off toward the forest, disappearing between the trees. Ignatia flies alongside them, her small form darting through the air with surprising agility.
I turn back to the farmland. I kneel down and get back to work, pulling weeds and tending to the plants.