The Forbidden Forest is not a place for people who like noise. Here, time feels like it stops under the giant trees that block out the sun. In the center of the forest stands the ruler: The Eternal Willow. This ancient tree is so big that its roots look like the backs of sleeping dragons, splitting the ground and creating streams of clear water.
Rey sat leaning against one of those roots. His messy black hair covered eyes that looked very tired, like he had lived for thousands of years. As an Obsidian Dragon, he could feel every vibration in the forest—from a walking ant to the breath of the wind.
But this afternoon, something felt different.
"Be quiet," Rey whispered to the air. "I just want to sleep for one hour."
Instead of staying quiet, the forest became even more silent. The birds stopped singing. Wild animals ran away as if death itself were chasing them.
Then, Rey heard it.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
The sound was heavy and deep, coming from inside the Eternal Willow. It wasn't the sound of wood rubbing together; it was a heartbeat. Rey stood up. His tired eyes changed into sharp dragon slits. He balled his fists, and instantly, hard black scales like obsidian stone appeared on his arms.
"This tree... has a heartbeat?"
CRACK!
The trunk of the ancient tree split open with a loud sound. A thick red light shot out from the crack. It was so bright that Rey had to cover his eyes with his arm. Inside the tree was a giant red crystal shaped like a flower petal. The Rubedo Crystal.
The energy from it was so pure and old that the ground began to shake. Wildflowers suddenly grew and bloomed in seconds around Rey's feet.
The crystal started to break. Small pieces fell and turned into gold dust. A tiny hand reached out, breaking the rest of the crystal into pieces.
A small child was curled up there. Her hair was as red as blood and glowed with energy. As she stood up and stepped onto the grass, the whole forest seemed to breathe a long sigh.
Rey froze. As a dragon, his gut told him: DANGER. The creature in front of him was not human. He felt an aura like the legendary weapons that destroy worlds. But his eyes saw a small child who looked confused and fragile.
The child turned around. Her big red eyes looked at Rey.
"Gya?" she said, tilting her head.
Rey stayed alert. "Who are you? What are you?"
The child didn't answer. She walked closer, ignoring Rey's sharp claws. With her tiny hand, she touched the black scales on Rey's arm. Her touch was warm—so warm that Rey accidentally let his dragon power fade away.
Suddenly, the child turned around to chase a butterfly. On her small back, Rey saw a red symbol glowing dimly before it disappeared. It looked like the number "00" mixed with tree roots.
"Hungry..." she whispered, holding her stomach.
Rey rubbed his forehead. "This forest just gave birth to a goddess or a weapon, and the first thing she says is that she's hungry?"
He looked at the grilled fish he had cooked. His peaceful life was over. He didn't know why the tree gave birth to her, but he knew one thing: if he left her alone, the world—or the child herself—might not survive.
"My name is Rey," the Dragon said. "And you... from now on, your name is Momo."
Momo looked at Rey and gave a big smile, showing her small fangs. "Momo! Eat! Rey!"
"No, I am not food!" Rey shouted, feeling panicked.
Far away, an ancient signal turned on. The hunt for the "Key" had begun. But in the middle of the forest, a strange new family was born.
.....
What Will Happen in Chapter 2?
Momo begins to show scary abilities, and Rey realizes that taking care of an "Ancient Weapon" is much harder than fighting an army. They will start walking out of the forest and meet Zeth, a squirrel alchemist who is in big trouble!