Deviant: No Longer Human

Crack... Crack...

As Wang Xiao focused his energy on the dragon eggs, the violet shell speckled with dots began to show the first signs of life.

Cracks spread like a delicate spider web across its surface, the shell giving way to reveal the creature within.

"Squeee~!"

From this egg emerged a small black dragon, its scales dark as the night sky.

Tiny horns protruded from its head, curving back with a hint of deep red, matching the vibrant red membranes of its wings that fluttered slightly as it took its first breaths.

Crack!

Simultaneously, the deep white egg with golden patterns also began to fracture.

The intricate designs seemed to glow even brighter as the cracks expanded, finally parting to unveil a beautiful white dragon cub.

"Squeeeee..."

This dragon's scales shimmered like fresh snow under light, and its eyes sparkled with a fiery orange.

Its wings, tinged with a soft peach, unfolded gracefully, casting a warm light around the icy surface beneath it.

The two newborn dragons blinked into the world, their gazes curious and alert.

The black dragon let out a tentative hiss, testing its voice, while the white dragon cooed softly, a gentle sound that resonated softly in the cold air.

"Squeee!" The black dragon cub suddenly squawked, its voice a mixture of surprise and delight as it explored its new surroundings.

Wang Xiao watched them both with a mixture of surprise and relief, he didn't expect them to hatch directly.

Aura, having watched the entire process with bated breath, now exhaled deeply, her massive form relaxing as she observed the young dragons.

Her voice, filled with a mother's warmth, echoed in Wang Xiao's mind. 'Thank you. You've not only saved time; you've brought new hope to my lineage.'

Aura was visibly shaken by the raw surge of power that Wang Xiao demonstrated.

Her expectations had been set far lower; she had hoped at best he might accelerate the dragons' hatching by a few years.

'I have greatly underestimated him...'

She reflected bitterly, the corners of her eyes tightening as she watched the interaction between the human and her newborns.

"Squeeeee~!"

"Squee!"

The dragon cubs, named White Snow and Blueberry by Wang Xiao on a sudden impulse, clambered onto his shoulders, their eyes gleaming with mischief and delight.

Their tiny wings buzzed erratically, struggling for balance but brimming with youthful energy.

Wang Xiao couldn't help but smile at his choice of names, thinking to himself,

Thankfully, his daughters aren't here to criticize his spontaneous naming skills yet again.

As the cubs frolicked, Aura's eyes widened in confusion and a slight hint of hurt. 'Why do they seem to bond with him more than with me? Their own mother?'

Seeing her puzzled expression, Wang Xiao explained gently, "It's typical for newborns. They often bond with the first figure they interact with closely, seeing them as a parent."

"??"

Aura tilted her head, her massive eyes flickering between Wang Xiao and the playful cubs on his shoulders.

A pang of loss stabbed at her heart, making her feel strangely alienated.

Sensing her distress, Wang Xiao quickly offered a compromise, "Let's strike a deal. I'll ensure they're safe, but they'll be raised alongside my daughters."

"!"

Aura's gaze sharpened, her maternal instincts now flaring with a mix of indignation and protectiveness.

"Roaaaar!"

'Audacious human!' The thought roared through her mind louder than her physical roar, echoing her fierce protectiveness.

Wang Xiao stood his ground, his face set with determination. "Consider this, Aura: if your existence becomes known, you and your cubs would be targeted endlessly. With demonic beasts running wild and mages and warriors on the hunt, your family would be in constant danger. My protection is not just an offer—it's a necessity for your survival in this world."

'Threat?'

Aura was staggered by his forthrightness.

She struggled to digest his words.

'Is he manipulating me, or genuinely offering help?'

The internal conflict was growing every second.

In the ultimate resolution of their parley, it was decreed that Wang Xiao would assume guardianship over both nascent dragons, whilst Aura would imprint upon them a mystical essence, enabling her to continuously perceive their condition and whereabouts.

Wang Xiao's intent was simple; he sought charming companions for his daughters, indifferent to the dragon's deeper desires as long as the younglings remained under his protection.

His mind, ever strategic, harbored contingency measures should the ancient dragon renegade on their accord.

Once the matter of the cubs was settled, Wang Xiao mounted Aura, and they headed directly towards the Tibetan plateau.

Whoosh!

Upon reaching the Tibetan plateau, Wang Xiao sat patiently as Aura began her search for the energy signature of Aurora.

Days passed in their quest, testing Wang Xiao's patience.

"Are you sure she's here?" he asked with a frown, his frustration evident.

Aura snorted, her own temper flaring. 'The energy signature is definitely from here, but something is deliberately obscuring it, as if the location is shifting its essence like sands in the wind, masking her true whereabouts. There's some kind of formation concealing her.'

Wang Xiao's expression turned sour. "How much more time do you need?"

'It could take a few years,' Aura responded matter-of-factly.

Wang Xiao was momentarily speechless, then took a deep breath. "Then continue searching for her. Once you find the whereabouts, seek me."

"?"

Aura was stunned.

Was she now expected to not only locate Aurora but also to track down Wang Xiao afterward?

Couldn't he wait a few years?

For Aura, a few years were but a blink in her long life, but Wang Xiao needed to return to Xianthera to be with his daughters.

His sole reason for venturing out was to find Aurora.

Whoosh!

Without waiting for Aura's response, Wang Xiao carefully scooped both dragon cubs from his shoulders into his hands and leaped from her back, determined to return to his daughters and resume his life, leaving Aura to her monumental task.

As Wang Xiao descended through the air, his thoughts veered eastward, towards the lands governed by the current Qing Dynasty, the realm once known as China.

After a moment of hesitation, a decision crystalized within him, and his body shot forward, transforming into a blazing ray of light.

Whoosh!

Propelled by a profound internal force, he tore through the barriers of speed, one after another, his figure streaking across the sky like a comet.

The landscape below blurred into mere whispers of color as he crossed vast distances with celestial swiftness, bridging the gap between the mystical and the mundane.