Chapter 23

'Smart kid.'

Although he asked calmly, it was quite a sharp question.

'If I mess up, I might hurt his pride.'

After a brief moment of contemplation, Imugi decided to be honest.

He thought that if he tried to evade the question clumsily, it would hurt his pride even more.

“Yeah. Even though he didn’t tell me everything, I had a pretty good idea about what was going on with my brother.”

No matter how smart Christina was, she couldn’t have predicted this outcome exactly.

But in the end, it was the result she had hoped for, and Imugi had just added a little more to it.

'A shared goal.'

“Alright. I understand.”

Ferdikion nodded without further suspicion after hearing the answer.

Then, he took a deep breath of fresh air and pointed ahead.

“Look at that valley.”

At his words, Imugi turned his gaze.

Although a few golden hues remained, the gentle and powerful waves of light that had filled the valley were almost gone.

The forest was now even more vibrant, displaying its original colors.

Ferdikion, looking down at the scene, continued slowly.

“Do you know what Christina’s lair is made of?”

“No.”

Shaking his head, Ferdikion crossed his arms and fixed his gaze on Imugi.

“Her lair is built from the scales of the gold dragons that have lived on this land for generations.”

“Gold dragon scales?”

‘Does that mean this is their grave?’

Imugi’s eyes widened, feeling a strange sensation.

Seeing the young black hatchling’s expression, Ferdikion took a sip from the milk bottle.

“They’ve been carrying on the legacy of the first gold dragons. They say that before they die, each one of them removes a scale and leaves it in this lair.”

Nodding, Ferdikion continued.

“Because of the nature of gold dragons, which can convert light into power and emit it, this affects the vast valley directly.”

No wonder he had felt a strong positive energy since he was born; it was because the lair resonated with the energy of the sun.

‘One mystery solved.’

He nodded, having gained a new insight.

Chapter 25: How Do You Do That?

Ferdikion continued.

“That’s enough for the outdoor lesson. You’ve seen firsthand how the unique power of a clan can have a significant impact, so keep that in mind when you use your own power later.”

“My power...”

Imugi had become quite adept at handling basic mana and casting spells, but he had never tried to use his innate attributes.

Ferdikion added, looking at Imugi, who was staring at his hand.

“You’re a black dragon hatchling who mainly deals with darkness, so night classes will be helpful. Once I get Christina’s permission, we’ll start them soon.”

“Got it, bro.”

Feeling good about the prospect of gaining various powers to become stronger, Imugi unconsciously wagged his tail.

Seeing this, Ferdikion chuckled.

‘Am I being comforted by this little one?’

But it felt better than expected, even refreshing.

Ferdikion spoke in a lighter tone, as if something had been lifted off his chest.

“Your guardian, Christina, is an excellent elder of the gold clan. She was once considered a candidate for Dragon Lord. So... my father always compared me to her.”

Shrugging, Ferdikion looked up at the clear sky.

“Thinking about it, I was probably envious of Christina. Not only did she earn my father’s recognition as an elder, but she also helped other races affected by the great war, fulfilling her duty as a balancer perfectly.”

‘Hmm, compared to Christina.’

Imugi thought for a moment and then said.

“You could be a great elder too, bro?”

“Maybe. You don’t know how amazing Christina is.”

‘I have a rough idea.’

Even now, without fully mastering the inherited magic, he could feel her high status. He guessed that if he knew her better, she would be even more impressive.

However, he couldn’t explain that at this point, so he moved on to another topic.

“You can. You showed me just now.”

“Me?”

Nodding, Imugi continued.

“You know that affection exists in some form. That will definitely help you manage the residents of your lair.”

“Help?”

A voice of doubt rose from within, and Ferdikion frowned.

Undeterred, Imugi said.

“Protecting life is important, but so is protecting the heart. The capacity to empathize with those who live by remembering and loving others is a virtue needed in an elder.”

Everyone sets a direction and purpose in life.

Ferdikion’s purpose and direction were his father’s recognition, but he had unhesitatingly done things that hurt himself for it.

As a result, talents he could have discovered early were buried, and the grief over losing his mother had never been fully mourned.

“I don’t know if my lair residents would want that... But yeah, I’ve never thought about healing the heart.”

“There was power in your song.”

Imugi’s eyes sparkled.

“So, bro, teach me a song.”

Ferdikion, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, nodded.

“It’s not that difficult, so I’ll teach you.”

“Thanks, bro.”

After clearing his throat, Ferdikion began to sing.

As if drawn to the song, the wind started to swirl artificially.

“Go to where the wind blows.

Remember me in the frozen time.”

The wind, gently rustling his hair, flowed along the magical path created by the song.

When the song ended, the gathered wind dispersed.

“Now, try to follow.”

Although he had never properly learned to sing, Imugi thought he could manage it and tried to follow.

But before he finished the first line, Ferdikion frowned and waved his hand.

“How can you sing like a wooden statue? It’s so flat.”

Fortunately, Imugi wasn’t bad at singing, but what Ferdikion sang couldn’t be called a ‘word of power.’

“You have to imagine yourself in the place where the wind is blowing, standing in the time that’s frozen in your memory. You really have to feel it!”

“?”

‘What does that even mean?’

Ferdikion, standing in front of Imugi’s bewildered expression, seemed to dislike explaining and slightly frowned.

“You have to immerse yourself in the song.”

“So, how do you immerse yourself?”

“Just express yourself honestly and as you are.”

Imugi, feeling a headache from Ferdikion’s explanation, pressed his forehead with his index finger.

‘This is why geniuses are...’

Born with talent, it was tiring to learn from someone who couldn’t explain the process.

But he couldn’t rush it.

‘Stay calm. It’s a power that can move heaven and earth, so it’s natural that it’s not easily mastered.’

After a fruitless lesson, Imugi sent Ferdikion back and returned to his room, lost in thought.

Reviewing the information inherited from Christina, he found a relatively easy-to-understand word of power.

It was a contract magic made by invoking a dragon’s name.

The information that floated in his mind only gave him a fragmentary explanation, but upon careful consideration, he saw the harsh essence within.

‘A contract mediated by a name, but its essence is probably a contract backed by one’s own existence.’

Even if he didn’t know the details, a magic that carried the risk of failure was not something he could use lightly.

‘Now that I think about it, Ferdikion definitely...’

Imugi recalled what Ferdikion had said during the previous lesson about the true name of the White Night.

- It means creating a great destiny that wasn’t planned.

- A typical example is inherited magic.

- It’s not just a magic that implants knowledge. It’s a magic that engraves a part of the caster’s life.

‘Destiny, a part of life, a contract backed by one’s existence.’

Like a flowing stream, the words Ferdikion had said about his song when Imugi asked Christina came to mind.

- That magic is a ‘wish’ and a ‘meaning’ that you understand most perfectly in your life, given to create it.

Overlapping with Ferdikion’s words just now.

- You really have to feel it!

“...!”

Imugi’s pupils dilated as he realized something.

He didn’t even notice that the corners of his mouth were twitching at the conclusion he had drawn.

‘A power that moves heaven and earth, fulfills wishes, and even twists fate.’

All living beings have a destiny they are born with.

Some are born with golden rings, while others are born with mud rings.

And there are those who change their destiny.

The first thing such people do is ‘wish.’

It’s the act of engraving a ‘meaning’ to move toward a new destiny.

‘Right, the song is just a tool to realize the wish.’

Imugi’s red eyes glowed brightly.

‘The real essence is the unwavering belief that something not yet realized will definitely come true. What’s needed to realize it is not mana, but my soul.’

At that moment, the information about the word of power was updated and came to mind again.

- Word of Power: A top-tier magic where a high-ranking being realizes a strong wish through language.

- Far more powerful than ordinary magic.

- Can create infinite results depending on the user.

* The effect is nullified or enhanced depending on the rank.

* The ‘word of power’ of the caster is generated based on their life’s destiny.

There was also new information added. It seemed that the information restriction had been partially lifted due to his new insight into