Chapter 62

The protagonist escapes a burning chamber with Ahvi and his newly hatched dragon after a dramatic rescue, only to discover that enemy soldiers are lying in ambush in the forest to attack their Kaan. Time is critical as they flee through the stronghold with a fragile newborn dragon strapped to the protagonist's chest.

Ahvi forces the protagonist to flee by setting the nest ablaze with dragonfire, revealing he can summon a protective shield. The protagonist rescues Ahvi and watches as the egg cracks open to reveal a pink, barely-feathered hatchling. After swaddling the newborn dragon, the protagonist carries both Ahvi and the hatchling on their back and races through the stronghold, passing corpses and devastation. As they escape, Ahvi reveals crucial intelligence: most of the soldiers are hidden in the forest waiting to ambush the protagonist's Kaan, explaining why the fortress felt unusually quiet. The protagonist realizes the soldiers they killed were only a backup contingency, and the real threat lies ahead. Despite the danger and the weight of now caring for a child and a newborn dragon, the protagonist pushes forward.