Kapitel 2: Chapter 2: Addorable Egg

"Father, may I venture forth to that enchanting flower field? Yonder, I glimpsed those dainty rabbits, and my heart aches to frolic amongst them," implored young Sebastian, his eyes brimming with innocence and wonder.

Sebastian's appeal carried the essence of both persuasion and youthful charm. As a mere child, his earnestness was irresistible.

With a cautious yet indulgent tone, Gerald, his father, responded, "Be cautious, my son, and tread lightly. Do not stray too far, nor venture deeper into the forest, do you understand?"

With a playful salute, Sebastian enthusiastically acknowledged, "Aye, aye, Captain!" and scampered off toward the destination he had pointed to. Meanwhile, Gerald began preparations for their evening meal, contemplating spending the night beneath the forest canopy with his beloved son.

However, Sebastian's professed desire to frolic with little white rabbits concealed a deeper motive. He was surreptitiously yielding to a beckoning voice he had heard earlier, harboring a secret mission of his own.

'Sebastian'

The young boy's ears perked up at the faint sound, guiding him towards its source. After a brief search, he stumbled upon an egg nestled beneath the foliage.

The egg was approximately the size of a human head, but what truly set it apart were the intricate runes etched all over its surface. Sebastian, however, paid little attention to the runic patterns. He reached down, retrieved the egg, and then, casting a cautious glance around, whispered softly, "Is anybody here?"

Sebastian turned his head, surveying the surroundings, but all he could discern was the swaying plants dancing with the breeze, devoid of any signs of life.

"Hey buddy," he murmured to the egg, and to his surprise, it responded with a slight movement as if it understood the child's hushed words.

"I'll take you home with me, just to be safe. There might be arcane beasts lurking here, and I don't want them to make a meal out of you. Alright?"

The egg nodded in a gentle, affirming manner, and a warm, almost thankful aura emanated from it as if conveying appreciation for Sebastian's decision.

'Sebastian'

For the umpteenth time, he heard the endless call of his name.

He had been following it for several minutes, yet he still couldn't locate its source. After a few more minutes, the young lad decided to return to the resting place his father had prepared when he spotted an elderly woman at the edge of the woods, clearly fatigued from her labored breathing.

The young boy rushed to where she stood. "Nana, are you okay?"

Gently, the child assisted the elderly woman, who happened to have a water container hanging from his waist.

"Nana, please have some water first."

He carefully opened the water container and offered a drink to the elderly lady. She smiled at the boy's kindness.

"What's your name, dear?"

"I'm Sebastian. How are you feeling?"

"Thank you for your help; the water you gave me seems to have a magical effect," the elderly woman gratefully replied, gently caressing the boy's head.

As the elderly woman's hand touched Sebastian's head, it was as if a small tree vanished into thin air, gradually entering the boy's mind without his awareness.

"Hehe, it was just water, Nana. I'm glad you're feeling better."

The elderly woman couldn't help but smile at the polite young Sebastian.

"You'll go far, my child."

"Nana, I'll call my father to assist you. It's perfect timing; he's preparing dinner right now."

"Very well."

The young boy hurriedly ran to call his father, but upon returning to the elderly woman's spot, she was nowhere to be found.

"Father, maybe Nana has left."

Gerald smiled at his son's kindness, always willing to help, even strangers. "Son, just be cautious with your help. It might lead you into trouble."

"Father, you taught me that, 'be the comforting rain that quenches the thirst of those parched by the arid deserts of life's challenges.' right?"

His father simply patted him and led him back to their resting place. However, just before they left, Gerald spotted an extraordinarily beautiful fairy, and it left him utterly astonished.

Sebastian held a large egg in his hands, his voice filled with excitement as he beckoned to his father. It was a peculiar find that had eluded him until now.

Sebastian's discovery left Gerald both amazed and perplexed. Despite the myriad tales of mysterious creatures that inhabited the forest, they had never before come across an egg like this. "Where did you find this?" Sebastian's father asked in astonishment, his eyes fixed on the egg. Despite having spent countless hours traversing this part of the woods, he had never encountered an arcane beast in the outer region. This egg was anything but ordinary, adorned with intricate patterns, as far as he knew.

Taking the egg from Sebastian, he asked, "Was it near where you saw the Nana earlier?"

Sebastian nodded, eager to answer his father's inquiry. "Yes, it was close to where I spotted Nana earlier."

"Show me the way, and we'll return it. Its mother might be searching for it," his father replied.

Upon hearing his father's decision, the egg suddenly came to life, dancing in the air before leaping towards Sebastian. "Hehehe. Father, Little Iggy seems to disagree," Gerald chuckled, delighted by the egg's reaction to his father's plan.

"Little Iggy? You sure know how to name things, Son," Gerald remarked, amused by both the peculiar behavior of the egg and his cheerful son.

In light of this encounter, Gerald decided it would be best to head home early to ensure his child's safety.

"SEBAAAASSSTTTIIIAAAAAAAAAN!" a young girl's high-pitched voice echoed through their humble abode as she burst in, drawn by the light.

"Good evening, uncle!" she greeted, her enthusiasm palpable.

"Hey Izy, you're quite the noisy one!" Sebastian exclaimed, his heart warmed by the arrival of the spirited girl."

"Why did you have to arrive just now?"

Izy's voice quivered with frustration as she confronted the father and son. Their extended absence had tested her patience. For days, they had ventured into the woods, tirelessly collecting firewood, seemingly determined to fill the family's storeroom to the brim. However, even though the woodfire supply remained far from depletion, her vexation grew as they persisted in their relentless quest for more.

Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle as he observed Izy's dramatic display. Her penchant for theatrical facial expressions and her tendency to exaggerate everything were nothing new to him. In fact, he found it endearing, as it was just one of the many quirks that made their friendship so special.

Sebastian and Izy were like siblings. Growing up in the same neighborhood, they had been childhood friends for as long as they could remember. Their bond was unbreakable, and they shared almost everything with each other.

"What's with the fuss?" Sebastian inquired, playing along with her exaggerated emotions.

Izy rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "What fuss, you ask? You almost missed the awakening ceremony tomorrow!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of concern and irritation. Tomorrow's ceremony held great significance in their community. This sudden adjustment greatly shocked Gerald and Sebastian...