Chapter Text
A Dragon.
"Nyuuu."
A dragon was in Cale's bowl.
Cale had planned to bake an apple pie, but when he cracked an egg, instead of finding the expected egg white and yellow, a tiny black dragon plopped out, splashing butter everywhere.
Now, a little dragon paddled in the leftover butter, his wide blue eyes staring at Cale. He tilted his head and let out an adorable noise.
“Nyuu?”
Frozen, Cale's eyes wandered to the cracked eggshell. He hadn't noticed it when he grabbed the egg, but he now realized his mistake. The shell was completely black.
His gaze darted to the carton he had bought the day before. All the remaining eggs were perfectly normal: brown, as they should be.
It must be some other kind of weird creature. One that closely resembles a dragon. In a world filled with magic and different kinds of species, that made more sense, right?
It's really ridiculous; there is no way a dragon egg could accidentally be placed in a carton of eggs.
“Nyu!”
Cale's train of thought was interrupted when he saw the remaining butter floating in the air. He barely managed to avoid getting hit, and the window behind him suffered the fate instead.
Watching the display of magic wiped away any excuses Cale had left. Dragons were known for their natural affinity with magic, and seeing a newborn creature control mana so effortlessly left no room for doubt.
It was a dragon.
Cale took a deep breath. The bakery was closed, with no customers and no awkward small talk about pastries. It was supposed to be a day of peace, or at least, that was the plan.
Why was there a dragon egg in the first place? Why was it the size of a regular chicken egg? In Cale's mind, dragons were huge, which meant their eggs should be huge as well.
However, there was no time for useless questions. Cale had to get rid of the dragon.
Many rumors about how many dragons lived on the western continent circulated in the Rowoon Kingdom, but it didn't matter how many different answers Cale heard. All of them guessed it was less than twenty.
In this chaotic world, where dangers lurked at every corner, Cale still wished for one thing: a peaceful and quiet life—preferably a slacker life.
The little dragon would certainly draw attention, especially if he kept using random magic.
Dragons couldn’t be trained or controlled; they were intelligent, proud creatures. They were beloved by nature and the strongest among all beings.
A mere human, especially one with no combat experience, had no chance of controlling one. Not that the thought even crossed Cale's mind. Only a lunatic would think that was possible.
Cale carefully picked up the bowl where the dragon still sat. The butter was completely gone, spilled across the kitchen, with most of it dripping down the window.
Looking at the dragon, Cale found him unbelievably small. It was maybe the size of a newborn kitten, which was perfect. Cale could leave him outside without anyone noticing.
“Nyu?”
“Don't worry, little one. I will get you outside immediately.”
Was it the smartest move to let a dragon out near the alley behind his bakery? Not exactly. But Cale didn’t want to risk being seen. Too many people knew him as only a few bakers lived in town, and his crimson hair didn’t help him blend in.
‘He would leave, I am sure.’
Even though Cale hated the thought of having a baby dragon near him, he owned a few books about them. He was curious about dragons. He wasn't going to lie about it.
The books were the reason why he was calm in the first place—at least calmer than any other person would be.
Dragons were not only known to be proud and arrogant; they also lived in solitude. They hated interacting with anyone, and other dragons were no exception.
In theory, once Cale had placed the bowl behind the massive tree that grew even higher than the city walls, the dragon would leave and never return.
“Nyuu?”
“Keep the bowl if you want. I can get a new one.”
The bowl might be ordinary, but it could be a great starting point for hoarding treasures.
“B…bowl.”
“Such a smart dragon,” Cale said softly. Dragon or not, he was a child, and he could at least praise him for learning so quickly.
Cale stood up and was about to leave when he heard a small thud. He turned to see the bowl toppled over, with the dragon crawling towards him.
Immediately, Cale reached out and picked up the dragon to place him back. However, the dragon clawed into Cale's palm.
“...This hurts.”
The kid stared at Cale’s expression, glancing at his hand, which was bleeding from his claws before finally letting go.
Without hesitation, Cale gently placed the dragon back into the bowl. As he did, he suddenly remembered a bonbon he had stashed. He dug through his pockets, found it, and set it beside the little creature in the bowl.
Without looking back, Cale returned home and let out a deep sigh. The day had just begun, but Cale was in desperate need of a nap. Yet, he had to clean up the mess first and finish the apple pie.
‘Should I keep the bakery closed for another day?’
Cale wanted to take another day off, but it wasn't financially wise, and customers would likely complain.
They might go to the other few bakers, resulting in a loss of customers.
‘How exhausting.’
Cale gazed outside the window, watching the people passing by.
‘Let's hope tomorrow goes smoothly.’
—
Four days had passed since Cale last saw the dragon. He checked the alley a few times, just in case, but thankfully there was no dragon in sight and no other strange occurrences.
A dragon had a mind of its own after all.
Cale struggled to sleep and often misplaced items, some of which were still missing.
He was becoming increasingly frustrated because many items were essential for his job, and Cale was confident he had returned everything to its proper place.
Cale repeatedly noticed movement in the corner of his eye. Concerned it might be an insect, he cleaned his bakery thoroughly but never found a nest or any insects.
“Oh, Mr. Cale, your hair is messy.” Ron, a regular customer, remarked with a light chuckle. He had been visiting Cale’s bakery since it first opened.
Ron owned a shop with his son, where they sold various kitchen utensils. On the very first day, Ron boldly advertised his shop and invited Cale to visit.
Cale had declined each time; there was no need since he had everything he required, but there was another reason as well.
“And eye bags as well. If anything or anyone is troubling you, you can tell this old man.”
The old man's benign demeanor was deceiving; Cale noticed the dangerous glint in his eyes. His voice may sound kind and warm, but every time Cale heard it, a shiver would run down his spine.
“No, it's fine, thank you for your concern–” Cale barely finished his sentence when he noticed a black blob moving in the corner of his eye.
‘It couldn't be?’
But then Cale saw it clearly. It was the black dragon.
‘Why is he back?’
The misplaced items…was it him? Suddenly, Cale remembered that pastries had gone missing over the days as well. He had pushed his suspicions aside, believing that the lack of sleep was messing with his mind.
Cale bagged the bread rolls Ron had chosen and handed the bag to Ron, trying to hide his tension.
“It’s a pity. My son is a cook with passion, and he would love to exchange knowledge with you.”
‘What is up with him today?’
Normally, Ron wouldn't comment further when Cale declined his invitation, and he wasn't one to engage in chit chat either.
“I am sure at some point I will be able to,” Cale slipped out, regretting his words almost instantly.
Ron narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Cale, while a benign smile spread across his face.
“This Ron will be waiting in his old shop until then.”
Cale was cursing in his mind; however, at least Ron had left the bakery, and fortunately, no one else was here.
Cale took the opportunity to search for the dragon, who was easy to spot among the cakes and other sweets.
Surrounded by apple pies, the dragon happily munched on one without a care in the world.
‘He got bigger.’
It was surprising that Ron didn't notice him; however, if Cale didn't act immediately, someone else would.
Cale picked up the dragon and the apple pie he had been eating before carrying the kid to the back of the bakery. He gently set the dragon down on the counter and spoke in a soft voice, hoping he hadn't upset the dragon by taking him so suddenly.
“Stay here.”
“You stay?”
“No, I must go back.”
Cale didn’t have time to process that the dragon could talk quite well already. But considering that it was a dragon, this wasn’t really surprising.
“I go back!”
“If you stay here, I will give you more tasty treats,” Cale promised, pointing at the pie.
The dragon's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of a treat, and he enthusiastically nodded his big head.
With his mind eased, Cale decided to close the bakery in two hours to take care of the problem later.
…
At least, that was what he had hoped for.
Not even thirty minutes had passed since their parting, and Cale heard a loud bang. Three customers almost died of a heart attack, asking Cale what the sound was.
However, Cale couldn’t concentrate on any of them. With an apology, he quickly handed over their baked goods, wished them a good day, and closed the shop earlier than usual.
As soon as the door closed behind the last customer, he hurried to check on the dragon. What he found was complete chaos. Several bowls had been shattered into tiny pieces, shelves were left open, and the kitchen looked as if a storm had swept through it.
The culprit?
The dragon.
He was lying on the ground with teary eyes and a few cuts. The wounds were mostly caused by the dragon trying out magic.
“Human…”
Cale ran his hand through his hair before kneeling beside the dragon to examine the cuts.
“What are you doing, hm?” Cale asked in a tired yet tender tone. He would scold the dragon another time.
‘I really hate the sight of injured kids.’
His hand hovered over the dragon. Slowly, a dim, reddish-gold light appeared and enveloped the dragon's body.
The cuts closed one by one until the wounds vanished.
The dragon was amazed as he looked at his healed body, moving every limb as much as possible while jumping around.
“Magic? Teach me!”
‘Such a loud voice.’
Cale wiped the sweat from his forehead. He knew healing a dragon might be challenging, but even tending to a few minor wounds had left him more exhausted than expected.
‘I want to go to bed.’
“It’s not something you can learn. Healing is different from mana.”
“No mana? I powerful…can learn.”
The dragon was enthusiastic, but Cale didn’t have the energy to explain. It didn't matter how smart the dragon was; Cale couldn't afford for him to try out his magic again and break things just to imitate Cale and fail.
Luckily the kid seemed to have noticed Cale's lack of energy.
“Human hurt?”
“No, I am just tired.”
“Weak human.”
Cale wasn't offended by the kid's words; they were true, after all.
“Yes, I am weak. That's why I can't take care of you since you are so strong.”
The dragon, which had been circling Cale in concern, suddenly stopped. His eyes widened slightly, revealing a faint tremble in his gaze.
In a sobbing tone the dragon asked. “You not want me?”
Cale wanted to curse but held back. He might not be a kind person, but he wasn't a monster. He couldn't kick out a dragon baby again after he had expressed his desire to stay.
He had to find a better solution.
“No, it's fine. You can stay, but understand you are an almighty dragon and humans are scared easily.”
“Humans scared? Dragons so strong and scary for human,” the dragon mumbled. It appeared he understood what Cale meant.
“Precisely. As expected from the almighty dragon.”
“Look!”
Without waiting, the kid vanished into thin air. Cale blinked. He’d never seen magic used so effortlessly. Honestly, he was a little impressed.
He gave an approving hum before turning his eyes to the broken bowls. Cale had to replace them if he didn't want to face further troubles.
Which meant that Cale had no other choice but to visit the old man's shop.
Imagining Ron’s benign smile gave Cale a chill.
“Then how about we give it a try and go outside and see the result of your powerful invisibility?”
- Dragon can do all.
Cale was taken aback when he heard the dragon's voice inside his head.
Once he stood up, Cale could feel him positioning his tiny paws on his shoulder, but when he looked, he saw nothing.
“Alright.”
—
The town was buzzing with life. People filled the streets, chatting about their day, sharing jokes with friends, and strolling leisurely through the lanes. They enjoyed the soft spring breeze that carried the scents of blooming flowers. It was the perfect weather.
Though small, the town was incredibly diverse. Travelers from various backgrounds mingled with locals, merchants in fine cloaks, weary adventurers coated in dust, and scholars bent over notebooks at outdoor tables.
The reason was simple: the town sat near the border between the Rowoon Kingdom and the Mogore Empire. It was a convenient rest stop offering cheap rooms, decent food, and a place to catch breath for those passing through. Most didn’t stay more than a night, yet their short presence was enough to change this otherwise quiet town.
Cale’s bakery was located in a more secluded section away from the town's plaza; he chose the location intentionally.
It was far away enough that on rare occasions a soldier would come by. Tired from their routines and facing troublemakers or drunks, they would sacrifice some of their hard earned money for a sweet treat and then leave without a word.
Most of his regulars were townspeople living close by. Many of them were comfortable enough to try and chit chat.
Though Cale wanted to avoid unnecessary talks as much as possible, the customers sometimes came with interesting gossip or rumors.
Given how danger could jump anyone, Cale was willing to engage them not only to get information that could be useful but also to earn a bit of extra cash.
If people liked you enough, they wouldn’t hesitate to give a little extra, especially if that person had a nice face, and Cale was well aware of his good looks
- Human, look! The one wear shiny cloth.
Even though Cale couldn't see where the dragon was pointing, he knew who he was talking about.
“It's called clothing. Those shiny items are accessories,” Cale whispered to help the dragon learn more words.
‘A noble from the empire…’
Among the recent rumors Cale had heard was about a high-ranking official close to the imperial crown visiting the kingdom and staying in town for a few days.
‘Nothing good will come out of staying here.’
Just as Cale began to walk away from the town's plaza, the dragon once again spoke in Cale’s mind.
- black fluffy human is staring. Is he good?
Cale stopped his tracks. He had also noticed the black-haired knight. He looked young, close to Cale’s age.
A rookie wouldn't be allowed to accompany a high ranking guest, which meant the young man was possibly some kind of genius who achieved knighthood at a young age.
- He is strong! Not powerful like dragon but very strong.
‘I don't want to know!’
Cale kept his eyes forward, ignoring the stare directed at him. He quickened his pace, hoping the dragon wouldn’t burden him with more unnecessary chatter
Knights, soldiers, magicians, anyone working for the crown—Cale wanted to get away from them as much as possible.
The reason was simple.
It was plastered almost everywhere.
• Upon awakening as a healer, immediately report to the crown and follow a new path to a promising future. Those who do not comply could face potential imprisonment.
Healers were said to be blessed by God and were destined to help those in need.
All that was just fancy talk.
During peaceful times, healers were primarily assigned to heal stuck-up nobles. In times of war, however, they were tasked with treating countless wounded soldiers and knights, often working until their energy was completely depleted.
Cale refused to become part of the endless cycle.
He didn’t care at all about how supposedly rare healers were; if the kingdom was so desperate for them, they should be treated better.
- Upset? Sad? Dragon can burn paper
‘Why are you so vicious all of the sudden?’
- much paper. What does paper say?
So, the dragon hadn’t learned to read yet. Maybe Cale could give it a try and teach the kid a little, at least until he figured out where to send him, someplace the dragon could eventually call home.
Reading and writing were important skills after all.
In a low voice, Cale spoke to the dragon because he couldn't use magic.
“The kingdom is searching for healers.”
- Human, you are one!
Cale flinched at the dragon's sudden loud voice; he didn't understand why the kid would be so excited by this.
“I have no interest in becoming the kingdom's healer.”
- Why?
He expected the question, and Cale had many reasons, but a kid like him didn't need to know the cruelty of war or the side effects Cale faced when healing.
“I’m content with where I am. There’s no need to change that. What matters is that you live the life that feels right to you.”
Cale nodded to himself. What use did life have if you lived for everyone but yourself?
- Dragon love staying by your side!
Cale flinched. It wasn't a statement he wanted to hear. Instead of commenting, he walked towards Ron’s shop.
He would find a solution eventually.
Ron’s shop was near the plaza just around the corner. The shopkeeper frequently told Cale how to find it, saying Cale would immediately recognize the store by its beautiful, high-quality display of cups, plates, and bowls.
The shop was small but tidy and well-organized. Rows of wooden shelves lined the wall, each of them filled with various items from pans to knives and bowls. Polished to perfection, they reflected the sunlight and bathed the shop in a pleasant golden light.
“What a surprise to see you today, Mr. Cale.”
Cale was greeted by the old man. A hint of surprise was reflected in Ron's eyes, barely noticeable.
Right behind him was Vicross, Ron’s son. On rare occasions, Vicross would come along his father and buy bread from Cale.
Unlike his father, Vicross was quiet. When he did speak, it was in short sentences, his tone weary and tinged with a hint of grumpiness.
Cale recalled Vicross speaking nearly in a whisper, saying that Cale's pastries were passable.
Despite their differences, both shared an unsettling aura that made Cale's skin crawl and his mind scream to escape.
“I have broken a few utensils by accident. I am here to buy new ones.”
Ron hummed as he inspected Cale; it felt as though he could see through him, sensing that Cale wasn't entirely honest.
“Hoo….what an unfortunate event. This Ron has everything you need.”
Fortunately Ron wasn't one for idle chatter this time.
Yet the weight of the old man's stare was impossible to ignore; every shift Cale did wouldn't go unnoticed.
It was frightening.
Cale tried his best to ignore his goosebumps and continue looking around.
As Cale looked at a bowl, he was surprised by how clean it was; there wasn't a trace of dust in sight. Each item had its own unique pattern and color, with some being bold and others more subtle. The shapes also varied: some were smooth and rounded while others had sharp edges, giving the entire collection a handcrafted, thoughtful feel.
- bowl is like me and you! Take bowl, human.
The black bowl was hidden behind many others. It was surprising the kid had spotted it. To make the dragon happy, Cale grabbed it off the shelf. It could become the dragon's second treasure though it hardly could be called one.
‘Wait…what happened to the other bowl?’
At this moment, it wasn't important.
Cale grabbed a few bowls and other items. When he turned around, he almost jumped in shock; Vicross stood in front of him, holding a set of knives.
“Even a baker should possess a good knife.”
Without waiting for a response, Vicross placed the items on the stacked bowls. For a brief moment, Vicross glanced outside before walking away. However, Cale misinterpreted it as an eye roll.
‘Is he doubting my knives?’
His advice seemed more like a threat.
Not wanting to linger any longer, Cale made his way to Ron and dropped the coins on the counter.
“Mr. Cale, you are quite clumsy if you've broken that many bowls. Please be more careful.”
‘Scary…’
Just like Vicross, Ron’s advice had a menacing undertone.
Cale, not wanting to talk or interact more with the shopkeeper, bowed and left the shop as fast as possible.
—
After a longer day than planned, Cale finally plopped on the couch as the sun was setting.
The dragon?
Still here, of course.
He kept talking about what pastry could be made in the black bowl and repeatedly asked if any black cake existed.
“Yellow cake fine as well. I like yellow.”
“You meant applie pie?”
Cale had ignored the dragon's chatter until now, but for some reason, the kid never stopped talking. He already missed the time when he could make only random noises.
“The weird human watched and followed all day. I don't like it.”
Wait.
Cale sat up to look at the dragon, unsure if he heard correctly.
“What are you saying, what do you mean by weird human?”
The dragon, realizing Cale’s concern, replied in a growl, “The strong human! Should dragon burn him?”
A sudden dread hit Cale. Why was the knight following him and why did the dragon not mention it sooner?
“How long did he follow us?”
All of the sudden, a sharp bang pierced the air, echoing like the snap of a whip, followed by a heavy thud as something crashed to the ground outside.
‘No way…’
Cale rushed outside, already fearing what awaited him. As he stepped outside, the dragon made himself invisible and perched on Cale's shoulder.
Soon, he saw the black-haired man from earlier, slumped on the ground with a small puddle of blood spreading beneath one of his feet. Thin cuts marked his body, scattered across his arms and shoulders, with parts of his clothes torn.
Next to the knight was a branch, seemingly broken off from the tree.
‘Did he climb the tree and the branch broke under his weight?’
Cale had many questions, but he didn't want to ask any of them.
It was more concerning that the place where the branch had broken off seemed to point directly to one of Cale’s windows.
To be exact; his bedroom window.
Cale looked back at the knight, whose cold and unreadable expression grew more intense with each passing second. The knight's gaze sent a chill down Cale's spine, causing his hands to tremble.
‘Shit.’
Walking away and pretending Cale hadn't seen him wasn't a solution. The stranger would return and accuse him of a crime for leaving him bleeding and helpless in an alley.
“Can you walk?” Cale asked. The knight's foot appeared quite injured.
‘A bandage would do its job.’
There was no way Cale would use his healing powers on him as doing so would mean being immediately dragged to the capital to work as a healer.
The knight remained silent, narrowing his eyes further. His hand inched toward the sword’s hilt, but he did not yet grip it.
“Are you hungry? I can feed you.”
Food was the best way to build trust, and Cale wanted to seem as harmless as possible to prevent the knight from attacking him based on his suspicions.
After a brief silence, the knight struggled to stand and grumbled, “I won’t take long.”
Cale exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The knight was less wary than before, though Cale noticed a glimmer of distrust in his eyes.
It didn’t matter as long as the knight wouldn’t come for him anymore and would leave Cale alone after he helped him.
Cale offered his shoulder for the man to lean on; there was hesitation at first, but the knight accepted the offer.
“Choi Han,” the black-haired mumbled.
“Huh?”
“My name is Choi Han.”
Choi Han was an unusual name, and having black hair and eyes was uncommon in Rowoon as well. Choi Han must be a foreigner now living in the Rowoon Kingdom.
“Cale. Pleasure to help you.”
Cale gave Choi Han the gentlest smile he could muster. He really didn't want to be killed in his sleep, though the chances were slim with a dragon by his side.
- Scary smile, human.
Cale ignored the dragon's voice in his mind.