The soft amber hues of early dawn crept through the windows of Luca's dorm room, painting long golden lines across the floor. A quiet stillness lingered in the air, broken only by the soft rustling of cloth as Luca moved efficiently through his preparations.
His backpack lay open on the bed, already half-filled. He packed with practiced hands—emergency rations, clean clothes, reinforced mana potions, a minor healing salve kit, a compass imbued with directional magic, and two sealed scrolls. One of them bore Professor Seraphina's enchantment—meant only for dire situations.
In front of him, seated cross-legged on the floor with her stubby arms flopped down and a curious tilt of her head, was a golden-haired toddler girl with ruby-red eyes.
His baby dragon.
