Chapter 1160 — A New Direction of Endeavor
Blade of Dawn · Page 3 of 4
"The harsh living environment is testing our will, and the chain reactions set off by the ebbing of divine power are tormenting the priests and attendants who once came from the lower and middle ranks of the temple system. We have crawled out of the cradle, but it is cold outside the cradle, so those among us who are not firm enough cannot help but miss its warmth. But Leader Hragor, as the highest authority of the former temple system, has already steadied the situation in that regard. All the dragons are steeling themselves again."
A gentle, mild pale-gold radiance flowed across the surface of the great egg, and Enya gave a soft sigh, and in that sigh was relief: "It seems that even without me, you truly can walk on by yourselves... Hragor served at my side for many, many years. Whatever heavy burdens lay behind that companionship, in the end it deepened our understanding of one another. I am certain that so long as Hragor stands firm, the revival of Talrond is only a matter of time. As for Anqian and Bayangor... their wisdom and experience are Hragor's greatest support, and your most precious treasure."
"Please rest assured, we understand that very well," Noretta the white dragon said at last, entering the conversation with a solemn nod. "We have already established a new refuge city at Agondor. In the more stable and secure regions, pioneering camps and forward bases have gradually taken root. The three leaders are guiding our people each in their own way and with their own strength, and the great majority of us... know very well what we must do."
"That is good, that is good..." Enya said slowly, her attention finally settling on the dragon egg beside Meitzen, a size smaller than herself. "I noticed you brought a dragon egg? And it appears to have already reached the third stage of incubation."
"This is an egg we adopted together," Noretta said at once with a nod. "We found a great many healthy dragon eggs in the ruins of the incubation factories. The dragons are adopting them in temporary 'families,' and through the old methods of incubation, these healthy eggs will become the first truly healthy, pure dragons this world has seen in one million eight hundred and seventy thousand years..."
"The healthiest hatchlings in a million years, facing the harshest Talrond in a million years... They carry a mission, and the lives ahead of them will not be easy," Enya said in a calm, gentle tone. "But I shall bless them all the same... though my 'blessing' no longer carries much effect."
Meitzen lowered her head and said with utter sincerity: "Such a 'blessing' is already precious beyond measure."
"They hope to leave the egg here to incubate," Gao Yang said, seizing the moment to interject. "Preparations on the embassy side will take a while yet, and the two of them have only just been posted here, with plenty of work of their own—they likely cannot care for the egg properly. There are incubation facilities ready here, and royal attendants to help watch over it. It seemed fitting to me. Of course, it is your opinion that matters."
"I guessed as much the moment I saw the egg," Enya said with a laugh. "Of course it is fine. I have no objection—I would even be glad to. When it comes to caring for dragon eggs and hatchlings, I do have a little confidence in myself."
At that she added, still smiling: "And after all, even I am a 'lodger' boarding under your roof, just like those two little ones who refuse to leave the Shadow Realm. How you arrange your own property is none of our concern."
That last remark was clearly no more than courtesy, and Gao Yang paid it little mind. He only nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze to the two envoys of Talrond: "Does this arrangement suit you? The egg can stay in the incubation room here, and Enya can help care for it. That is surely more reliable than entrusting it to anyone else, and you can come by to look in on it whenever you like."