The Legendary Dragon Egg I

I

Eliot's ears rang, hearing Rob's response. As the wind rustled the tall grass, tension filled the air. They took their stances, eyes locked, bracing themselves for the imminent clash. "You will pay for this!"

Without hesitation, Eliot lunged forward with incredible speed and precision, his silver sword glinting in the fading light. He aimed to exploit Rob's aggressive nature, parrying his swirling attacks with graceful movements. Each clash of their blades sent bright sparks flying, illuminating their fierce determination.

Rob smirked, his eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and cunning. He adeptly switched from a defensive stance to an aggressive assault, using unexpected acrobatic moves to catch Eliot off guard. His blackened sword whistled through the air, leaving trails of darkness with each strike.

Eliot's face tightened with determination as he countered Rob's relentless attacks, employing a combination of dexterity and honed skill. The battle shifted fluidly between intense bursts of speed and calculated pauses, each swordsman constantly adjusting their strategies in an intricate dance of blades.

But wait, how did it come to this?

-Rewind

<<< 14 hours before the incident.

Time can't tell how long Lily has waited for this moment. His merchant father promised to visit his family during Tel Am. He always left their village to sell goods that he bought from the pirates.

Tel Am is a tradition in Riversville where the people make boat lanterns and freely drift them into the river. It is how they remember the dead. They always make sure to make offerings like their ancestors before them. Tel Am is when heaven opens its gate to allow the dead to visit the land of the living.

Today is Lily's 5th birthday. "Thank you, Mama." She smiled while admiring her breaded, thick, curly, reddish-orange hair. "Did you like it?" Her mother asked.

Lily nodded. "I hope Papa will like it too."

"He will." She gently kissed her forehead. Her heart felt like a cold, metal fist was squeezing it. She knows her daughter misses her father, but she can't stop him from leaving the village. His work is why they lived with a roof above their heads and food on their table.

"Now come, we will wait for your father outside and eat breakfast together." She motioned for her daughter to take her hand. "Okay, mama," The kid happily smiled.

They left their cottage and went to their front yard, where her mother prepared food. The sweet scent of blooming flowers from the garden filled the air and the melodic chirping of birds.

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy. Their cottage was located miles from the village market. Eliot built it for them when they married at the top of the mountain surrounding the forest.

"Lily, can you please get the vegetables for me?"

"Yes, mama." Being too short to reach it, Lily knew she had a challenge ahead. She hatched a plan in her imaginative mind. First, Lily grabbed a nearby wooden chair and dragged it towards the table. She climbed onto it, her tiny hands gripping the table's edge as she stretched her arms toward the vegetables from the table. Finally, Lily reached it. Her face lit up with joy as she held the vegetables triumphantly. She slowly got down and gave the vegetables to her mother.

"Thank you, love." Lucy smiled proudly.

The sounds of a caravan approaching coming from the mountain road surround the forest. Both of them look to its direction. A glimpse of Eliot's face appeared from the distance.

Lily didn't remember her father's face, but her heart knew it was him. Eliot removed his hat—the morning light was hitting curly orange hair as his caravan approached his wife and tiny Lily. He greeted them with a smile from afar.

Lucy's eyes widened with anticipation as tears fell, and she could hardly contain her excitement.

He dismounts from the caravan and affectionately pats his sleek black horse as they reach their destination—the horse whinnies in response.

As he walks towards his wife and daughter, his heart races excitedly. They have been eagerly waiting for him for what feels like an eternity. His wife's face lights up with a brilliant smile as he finally reaches them. He knew how emotional his wife was. "Papa!" Lily jumps into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Lily, you've grown so much." It's a beautiful moment that he wishes could last forever. He matched her height to embrace him as tight as possible.

Eliot's heart skipped a beat as he looked up at his beautiful wife. "Lucy," he exclaimed, his face lit up with a joy that words couldn't express.

When she heard him say her name, "Eliot," she responded. Emotions rush over her. She tried to hold back her tears, but they flowed out of her like a river.

He gently placed Lily on the ground, wrapped his arms around his wife, and pulled her into a warm, loving embrace.

As he held her in his arms, Lucy whispered, "We missed you." Her warm breath against his skin sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn't help but hold her even closer. "I know. I am here now."

The embrace took a moment to settle. Lucy wiped away her tears and smiled at her daughter, who was now beaming with joy.

"Lily, come," she said, extending her hand towards her daughter. "Let's prepare the plate now. Papa is hungry from his long journey."

Elliot's eyes lit up as he took off his long black coat. "Oh, the aroma of that food is simply irresistible! I could smell it from miles away," he exclaimed with a grin.

"We cooked your favorite."

"Thank you, honey. I have tasted different dishes from every town I visited, but nothing beats your cooking skills, honey." He helped Lily sit beside him. "It always tastes like home."

"I can't help but smile every time you find a way to flatter me," she said with a grin.

"It's true." He laughed.

"I know." She kissed him as he continued to hand the food to the table. The smell of garlic herb butter roasted chicken filled the air.

"I think I will eat more than I expected."

Lily's heart swelled with joy as she gazed at her parents, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"You've grown so much, Lily."

"Do I, papa?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, as a shy smile spread across her face.

"Mhm," He nodded, cherishing his daughter's face. Her fair skin glowed in the morning light, and he proudly admired her sparkling green eyes. "Oh, I loved your hair. Did you braid it yourself?"

"Mama braided it for me," she said with a proud smile, looking at her mother, who winked back at her.

"I think something is missing." He stands up and heads to her caravan to retrieve something. He returns with a jade box embroidered with a golden rose pattern. "Here it is."

Lily opened the box and removed a golden hairpin with a shiny green stone at the center of a rose. "Happy birthday, dearest."

As she gazed at it, she felt admiration. "It's so beautiful," she exclaimed.

"Allow me," Eliot pinned it to her hair and said, "Looks more beautiful when you wear it."

As Lucy gazed upon their happiness, she felt a warmth spread through her heart that she couldn't help but express through a grin from ear to ear.

"Happy birthday, my love," she said, handing her a brown box as a gift. Lily gently grabbed it with her tiny hands. "You can open my gift later. Let's eat first."

She couldn't help but feel grateful. "Thank you, mama," he said with a smile. Turning to his father, he added, "And you, papa, thank you so much."

The family embraced each other in a warm hug, feeling grateful for the love and warmth they shared.

"Alright, time to dig in!" exclaimed Lucy, settling back into her seat.

"Yes, I'm so hungry."

"Me too!" Lily added. "I can eat all of that." She said as she pointed her tiny finger to the whole roasted chicken.

"Of course you can, my dear," Eliot encouraged with a smile.

They all start laughing and then heartily enjoy breakfast together, savoring every bite and moment of togetherness.