Chapter 242

The Shade Caldemonium was licking its wound out of habit when Litia and Rohanes approached, and it lifted its head.

"Grrr......."

"Can I come closer?"

At the soft, quiet voice, the creature narrowed its eyes. In all its life as a dragon, it couldn't recall a human ever speaking in that tone.

It growled for a moment, then looked at the hatchling cradled in Litia's arms.

"Peep!"

From its earliest days, it had known nothing but pain, fear, submission, and helplessness. But this hatchling — and the human beside it — gave it something it had never felt before: peace.

Everything new it had ever encountered had brought it nothing but pain, but these two were different. At least, so far, nothing hurt.

And it had been freed from whatever had always bound its body. That was why it let Litia stay close.

Rohanes kept his eyes on the Shade…