Chapter 6: The Egg Arrives

(2,659 words)

Eragon stretched as the morning sun filtered into the small kitchen of the farm. Roran and Garrow were already up, moving about in their usual routines.

Roran sat sharpening a sickle, while Garrow checked the supplies of dried meat hanging by the rafters. The air smelled of woodsmoke and breakfast, but Eragon's mind wasn't on food this morning. His mind was on Saphira's egg. It should arrive any day now, and he couldn't afford to be caught unprepared.

He cleared his throat, gaining their attention. "I'm heading out on another hunting expedition," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll be gone for a few weeks, so don't worry about me."

Roran's brows furrowed, but there was no surprise in his expression. Eragon's expeditions had become commonplace over the past year. "A few weeks, huh?" Roran set down the sickle and met his eyes. "You just got back from the last one a few days ago though."

Eragon shrugged, keeping his tone light. "The game's been good lately. If I head deeper into the Spine, I can bring back enough to last us through winter again with some surplus to sell at the village. Plus, it'll give me some time to clear my head."

Garrow looked up from his work, studying Eragon big frame with those deep, weathered eyes of his. He seemed to weigh Eragon's words before giving a slow nod. "Alright, lad. I trust you. Just be careful out there."

A flicker of satisfaction passed through Eragon as he nodded back. A year ago, Garrow wouldn't have let him out of his sight for more than a few days, but after seeing how strong Eragon had grown, how capable he had become, Garrow had started to trust him more. "I will," Eragon promised.

After a quick breakfast, Eragon packed his gear and slung his bow over his shoulder. He waved to Roran and Garrow, who stood at the edge of the yard, watching him leave. The wind tugged at his cloak as he began the familiar trek into the Spine, his heart thudding in anticipation. The Spine was his sanctuary, a place where he could push his body to its limits, and more importantly, it was the perfect place to wait for Saphira's egg.

---

Eragon climbed higher into the mountains, following the narrow, winding paths that led deeper into the Spine. After hours of hiking, he found the small cave he had discovered months ago, nestled in the crook of two rocky cliffs. It was a good spot—well-hidden, dry, and with enough space to set up camp. He set down his pack and started a small fire, the crackling flames warming the cool mountain air.

Sitting by the fire, he spoke aloud to himself, as he often did when alone in the wild. "Alright, Eragon," he said, half-smiling at his own voice. "The plan for the next few weeks is simple. Train, hunt, and wait. That's all I have to do. The egg should arrive soon, so I need to be ready."

He felt a mixture of excitement and impatience bubbling up inside him. After an entire year of hard training and preparation, the moment he had been waiting for was so close. He could almost feel it. Saphira's egg was coming, and with it, everything would change.

For the next three weeks, Eragon threw himself into his training. He ran the mountainside trails at dawn, faster and lighter on his feet than ever before. He practiced with his bow, his knives, and his bare hands, pushing his body to its limits. Every day, he felt his strength growing, his speed increasing, his senses sharpening. His body moved with a grace and power that no ordinary human could match. He had become something more, something stronger.

---

One evening, after another long day of training, Eragon sat by the fire in his cave, staring into the flickering flames. The cool mountain air nipped at his skin, but he barely noticed it. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his messy hair. "Still nothing," he muttered. It's been 3 weeks and the egg hadn't arrived yet, and though he had tried to stay patient, the waiting was beginning to wear on him.

He glanced at the sky, where the first stars were starting to appear. "I guess I'll head back tomorrow," he said to himself. "I've been gone long enough. I don't want Garrow and Roran to start worrying… not that they would come looking for me in the Spine, but still."

He sighed again and laid down on his bedroll, closing his eyes. But even as he tried to sleep, his mind kept drifting back to the egg. He imagined it appearing out of nowhere, as it had in the original timeline, shimmering with magic and power. He couldn't wait to see it with his own eyes, to finally hold it in his hands. But for now, all he could do was wait.

---

In the middle of the night, a sudden explosion rocked the cave, jolting Eragon awake.

BOOM! Rumble~ Rumble~

"Wha-??" He jumped to his feet, knife in hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound had been deafening, like thunder crashing right next to him, but to his satisfaction, he felt no sharp pain in his ears and no disorientation. His enhanced hearing absorbed the impact of the explosion without any discomfort thanks to the Sensory Overload Resistance he had developed over the past year.

He scanned the darkness outside the cave, his eyes sharp and alert. There, in the distance, he spotted a faint blue glow, like a gemstone reflecting moonlight. His breath caught in his throat as realization dawned on him.

"Could it be?" he whispered, his voice trembling with excitement. He sprinted toward the source of the glow, his legs moving faster than any normal human's could. The terrain blurred beneath him as he raced forward, his enhanced body carrying him effortlessly over rocks and roots.

Finally, he reached the spot where the explosion had occurred. There, lying in the pit, was a large, perfectly round stone. No, not a stone. A dragon egg. A beautiful, sapphire-blue egg that shimmered in the moonlight.

Eragon stared at it in awe, his heart pounding with excitement. "She's here," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "She's finally here!"

He knelt down and gently lifted the egg into his arms, cradling it like a precious treasure. The surface was cool to the touch, smooth and flawless. He didn't know if he is imagining things but he thought as if he could feel the magic thrumming inside it, like a heartbeat.

"Hello, Saphira," he whispered to the egg, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "I've been waiting for you. I hope we'll be good friends hehe."

With a wide smile, he carried the egg back to his cave. He placed it carefully next to his bedroll, then sat down beside it, his fingers gently tracing the patterns on its surface. He tried to go back to sleep, but the excitement bubbling inside him wouldn't let him rest. Instead, he spent the rest of the night gazing at the egg, wondering how long it would take to hatch.

'How long will she take to hatch?' he thought to himself, his fingers brushing over the egg's smooth surface. 'A few days? A few weeks? I suppose there's no way to know for sure.' He smiled to himself. 'But it doesn't matter. I've waited this long. I can wait a little longer.'

The thought 'what if the egg doesn't hatch for me?' didn't cross his mind. Or more accurately he didn't let it come up, more out of fear then anything else. After all, he doesn't have magic and the only way he knows how to get my magic is to become a Dragon Rider.

Without magic, so what if he have a powerful body and some resistance? With one word the other party can cause him to have an heart attack or an aneurysm. No... magic is the way to go, and he must have it if he wants his dreams to come true, and for that Saphira must hatch for him. She must!

---

The next morning, Eragon carefully tucked the egg into his pouch and set out into the forest. His heart was still racing with excitement from the night before, but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand: hunting. He needed to bring back something substantial if he was to return to the farm without raising suspicion.

He moved through the forest like a shadow, his footsteps light and silent. His enhanced senses picked up every detail around him—the rustling of leaves, the faint scent of animals in the air, the soft crunch of twigs underfoot. His body felt powerful and light, as if he could run for miles without tiring.

After a few hours of tracking, Eragon picked up the scent of a wild boar. He followed the tracks through the underbrush, his eyes sharp and focused. Finally, he spotted the boar grazing near a small clearing. It was a massive creature, easily weighing over 200 pounds, but Eragon didn't hesitate.

'Well here we go..' Moving with incredible speed, he approached the boar silently, his knife ready in his hand.

Snap! Swoosh~

"Hoink! Hoink!" The boar noticed him and tried to bolt, but it was too late. Eragon lunged forward, his body a blur of motion. In a matter of seconds, he had caught up with the animal and delivered a swift, lethal strike to its neck. The boar fell to the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless.

"Hunting is getting easier and easier nowadays. And soon when I have magic and could project my thoughts outwards I could kill animals with flash of my mind hehe" Looking at the bleeding boar Eragon was gratified.

Eragon wiped the blade of his knife on the grass and hoisted the boar onto his shoulders with ease. The weight was nothing to him now—his enhanced strength made the task feel effortless.

"It's time to go back" With the egg safely tucked away and the boar on his shoulders, he began the journey back home.

---

When Eragon finally reached the farm, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the fields. He called out as he approached the house, "Roran! Garrow! Come help me with this!"

Roran emerged from the barn, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw the massive boar slung over Eragon's shoulders. "By the gods, Eragon! You caught another wild boar?? That's sick!" he exclaimed, hurrying over to help him.

Garrow appeared in the doorway, a smile spreading across his weathered face. "Well done, lad," he said, his voice full of pride. "We'll be eating good meat well into the next month by how fat this boar is."

Eragon grinned as he dropped the boar to the ground with a thud. "It wasn't too difficult," he said casually, wiping his brow. "I spotted its tracks near the river two weeks ago and just followed them. When I finally found the boar, before it knew what happened, I had already killed it."

Roran clapped him on the shoulder, shaking his head in amazement. "I swear, Eragon, you've changed so much over the last year. You've got so big and strong, you even move like a cat now—no, faster than that. It's a bit unnerving sometimes seeing, if I'm being honest."

Eragon chuckled, though he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of pride. His hard training had paid off in more ways than one. "I just practice a lot, that's all," he said modestly, though he knew his transformation was far beyond normal.

Garrow came over to inspect the boar, his weathered face softening with a proud smile. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep at it. This boar will last us for a while. Let's get to work on skinning it before the light goes or we might attract some wild wolves and bears."

The three of them set to work, skinning the boar and preparing the meat for curing. The sun dipped below the horizon as they worked, the sky fading into deep shades of purple and orange. The farm was peaceful, with only the occasional sound of animals settling in for the night and the steady hum of crickets in the tall grass.

As they finished up, Roran wiped his sweaty face and leaned back as he stretched his arms. "We should celebrate tonight. With the meat you've been bringing in lately, Eragon, we eat like kings compared to last year."

Garrow smiled warmly at Eragon, his eyes filled with pride. "Aye, and it's all because of you, lad," he said. "You've done more for this family than we could ever ask for, and I'm truly thankful. You're a skilled hunter now, Eragon, and when you settle down one day, any wife and family of yours will be fortunate indeed."

As Garrow spoke, Roran's expression tightened ever so slightly. He cast a sidelong glance at Eragon, a flicker of envy in his eyes. Thoughts of Katrina weighed heavily on his mind these days. He longed to marry her, but the burden of how to provide for her, to be the man she deserved, kept him awake at night.

While Eragon thrived as a hunter and was respected throughout the village, Roran felt the pressure of uncertainty, unsure if he could give Katrina the life she deserved. The ease with which Eragon seemed to excel only deepened the quiet worry gnawing at Roran's heart.

However besides slightly jealous, Roran wishes for Eragon all the best and still love him dearly as family. He's not a petty person after all...

Eragon looked at them back with a smile of his own. If he is being honest he kind of got fond of Garrow and Roran this past year, so hearing their kind words of acknowledgment and approval - a feeling of warmth swelled in him.

Looking at their happy faces, he thought to himself 'They look so happy but they have no idea how much things are about to change, how easily their simple life can be disrupted by forces beyond their control. I should tread carefully from now on and not attract and imperial soldiers or those monsters Ra'zac to Carvahall. Roran and Garrow are good people and have been kind to me, they don't deserve what happened to the in the book..'

They ate well that night, feasting on the fresh boar meat and preserved the rest for later. Laughter and conversation filled the air as they shared stories and memories. Eragon felt a sense of contentment settle over him as he listened to Roran and Garrow talk. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over their faces.

As the night wore on, Eragon stifled a yawn and stretched. "I'm going to head to bed," he said, rising from his seat. "It's been a long day. No, a long month hehe"

Garrow waved him off with a chuckle. "Of course you're tired. You've been off in the Spine for three weeks. Go get some rest, lad. You've more than earned it."

Eragon nodded gratefully and headed to his room, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over him. Once inside, he carefully tucked Saphira's egg from the hidden corner of his room he put her there before and cuddled with it while lying down on his bed.

His heart still raced with excitement at the thought of what the future held, but for now, he needed sleep.

As he drifted off, his last thoughts were of the egg, and the dragon inside it, waiting to hatch. Soon, everything would change.

---

[Pain Resistance Level 134]

[Radiation Resistance Level 146]

[Fatigue Resistance Level 158]

[Abrasion Resistance Level 122]

[Heat Resistance Level 132]

[Blunt Force Resistance Level 93]

[Oxygen Deprivation Resistance Level 67]

[Vertigo Resistance Level 60]

[Irritant Resistance Level 23]

[Cold Resistance Level 135]

[Poison Resistance Level 37]

[Sleep Deprivation Resistance Level 140]

[Alcohol Resistance Level 12]

[Cut Resistance Level 22]

[Hunger Resistance Level 69]

[Pressure Resistance Level 18]

[Dehydration Resistance Level 58]

[Sickness Resistance Level 3]

[Virus Resistance Level 3]

[Sensory Overload Resistance Level 42]