Reem placed her hands on Milsia's shoulders, pressing down with trembling fingers. Her eyes widened as if she were witnessing a nightmare, and she said in a hoarse, shaking voice:
"A dragon? Are you saying that bag contains a dragon egg—the creature that hates humans the most—and that there's an entire organization behind this egg?!"
Milsia felt flustered; her brows drew together for a moment. She hadn't expected such a terrified reaction from Reem.
…
Rin's eyes widened, and Farid swiftly snatched up the egg as though afraid it might fall, astonishment etched across his features.
"Incredible… this is a real dragon egg!"
Farid was immersed in his shock, unlike Rin, whose mind was crowded with millions of terrifying scenarios.
"We were attacked because of this, and it belongs to a larger organization. That means we're in constant danger." His face turned pale as he spoke.
"What if they discover the truth about the bag? What if our lie to Iron about something this big is exposed?" He began pacing back and forth nervously.
Eugene looked toward Farid, who seemed lost in thought, fear glinting in his eyes.
He approached Rin and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Rin, what's wrong… Don't worry. If you're afraid because of the organization, we're safe inside the academy. Besides, they don't know we have the egg. Kanfi was the one who took it, he's rich, and the old man fainted."
"That keeps us out of suspicion—if there's even still an organization."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Farid lightly tapped the egg with his finger, as if provoking it for an answer.
"I wonder what kind of dragon this is."
Rin interjected anxiously, "Forget the type—what are you going to do if the egg hatches?!"
Eugene lowered his gaze for a moment in thought, then said, "Simple. I'll raise it during my time with the Border Guard."
Rin sprang to his feet and shouted sharply, "You're building your hopes on something that might never happen!"
Eugene smiled dismissively, his tone indifferent. "Man, don't stress yourself. If it's exposed, I'm the one who'll be punished, not you."
He turned fully toward Farid. "And how long does it take for the egg to hatch?"
Farid lifted his gaze from the egg, fell silent for a moment, then tilted his head thoughtfully as he examined it. "I don't know. It depends on the type of dragon and when it was laid."
Eugene leaned back, a weary sigh filling his chest. "Then I should ask Milsia?"
…
Milsia patted Reem's shoulder. "Reem, calm down a little."
Reem gasped in protest. "Calm down? How can I calm down when there's a dragon egg in the academy?" Her voice trembled between fear and disbelief.
Milsia gently touched her arm. "Don't worry. I think the egg won't hatch for years. By then, we'll find a way to raise it and take care of it." Her voice carried a mixture of excitement, fear, and hope.
Reem raised her hand to her forehead, rubbing it tiredly, then fell silent for a moment.
"Why did you give it to Eugene specifically?"
Milsia jumped up from the bench and brushed off her dress. "Farid is busy, Rin would get extremely anxious, you're busy and would be in danger—especially with Ralph hating you—and Eugene is confident. He's certain he'll go to the Border Guard during the training period."
Reem looked up at her. "Border Guard, really… What if he doesn't go?"
Milsia fell silent, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. "I… I honestly don't know."
Reem took her hand and began walking back toward the first-year dormitories.
"Hey, Reem, where are you going?"
Without slowing down, Reem replied, "Where do you think? I want to see the egg."
"Aren't you fighting with Eugene?"
She paused, took a deep breath, and said, "You're right."
Milsia bit her lower lip, her expression saddened.
Reem turned to her. "What's wrong?"
Milsia's voice caught as she kicked a pebble along the ground. "I'm the reason you two fought… and the reason you're in danger."
Reem raised an eyebrow. "You're sensitive, apparently."
"Anyway, I was already angry at him. If he had told me from the beginning, it would've been better."
Milsia's eyes lit up. "Right, I forgot to tell you—" Reem looked at her attentively. "About your cat—" Reem's eyes sparkled. "Do you know about his fight with Ralph?"
Reem nodded slowly.
Milsia said with childlike enthusiasm, "I think this will ease the tension between you."
"Oh? And what is that?"
Milsia gestured as she explained. "According to Eugene, he fought Ralph…"
Reem listened until she finished.
She raised her hand to her face again, rubbing her cheeks. "You mean he fought a rich man's son at a wealthy gathering and nearly died, under the eyes of the Head of the Border Guard?"
She exhaled bitterly. "Ahhh… he never stops causing trouble."
"And how exactly does that reduce our fight?" Reem asked.
Milsia replied eagerly, "He said he did it, first, to stand out in front of Thor so that going to the Southern Guard would be easier, and…"
"And what?"
"He wanted to repay the debt for what Ralph did to your cat. That way, he'd take the beating instead of you and keep trouble away from you."
A wave of conflicting emotions swept through Reem: a faint warmth spreading in her chest, sorrow for having wronged him, fear because he had opened the door to trouble for himself, and frustration because she had been the one who wanted to hit him.
Milsia snapped her fingers in front of her eyes. "Hey, Reem, what's wrong?"
Reem jolted as if returning from another world. "Right—the egg! Come quickly."
…
Farid jumped up from the bed energetically, went into the bathroom, and ran water over the egg.
Eugene and Rin stared at him wide-eyed in astonishment.
After a few seconds, Farid cradled the egg gently in his arms.
Their eyes widened even further.
He stepped out and quietly closed the bathroom door.
"I think you need to find a way to provide a suitable environment for it first," Farid said seriously.
Eugene stood up. "Why?"
Rin's eyes widened. "Right—we forgot it's an egg!"
Eugene looked at them in confusion. "Rin, what are you talking about?"
"Hold it," Farid said, extending it toward him.
Eugene took the egg with both hands, feeling its surface. "It's somewhat warm."
Rin turned it over in his hands. "It's a dragon egg. Eggs need warmth to survive—especially dragon eggs. They require more heat than ordinary ones."
He carefully placed it on a chair and said innocently, "So… should I sit on it?"
Farid burst out laughing.
Rin stared at him in disbelief. "How could you sit on an egg? It would break!"
Eugene frowned. "Didn't you say it needs warmth? Don't chickens do the same thing?"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Rapid knocks on the door.
All four of them jumped in alarm, scrambling around the room like ants trying to hide the egg.
Eugene hurriedly buried it beneath Farid's blanket.
Farid opened the door.
"Huh? Why do you look so pale?" Reem asked.
Relief washed over Eugene.
Farid exhaled deeply as well.
Milsia stared at them in confusion.
"So, where's Eugene?" Reem asked.
"Come in first," Farid muttered.
They removed their shoes. Reem suddenly looked down.
"Why are there muddy footprints inside your apartment?"
There were indeed muddy shoe prints.
Rin glanced at his shoes. "Heh… sorry. I forgot to take them off."
He removed them, then tugged hard at Eugene's shoe.
Thud! Eugene fell to the floor.
"You could've asked me," he muttered.
They entered. Farid brought chairs.
Eugene glanced at Reem; her gaze was sharp as a blade.
"Why are you this scared?" she asked.
"I'm afraid you'll grab something heavy and throw it at me," he replied.
"If I wanted to, I would've done it already."
Rin carefully pulled out the egg.
Milsia held it curiously.
"It's fragile!" Farid warned.
Reem examined it. "It's a real dragon egg."
"Do you know when it was laid?" Farid asked.
"No," Milsia admitted.
Disappointment crossed their faces.
"Where will you keep it?" Reem asked. "It needs warmth."
"There are two options," Farid said. "Buy a heating device—expensive and suspicious. Or wait until this creature"—he pointed at Eugene—"goes to the Border Guard. But that's worse."
"Worse? Why?"
"They love fighting and protein. If they don't know it's a dragon egg, they might think it's a giant chicken egg… and eat it."
A chill ran down Milsia's spine.
Rin grew more anxious.
Reem thought silently.
And Eugene wondered inwardly: What does dragon egg taste like?
The sunlight dimmed. Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
They stopped at Farid's door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Before anyone could react, the door opened.
He stood at the threshold before stepping inside.
His shadow stretched into the room, cast by the corridor light against the apartment's dimness.
End of Chapter.