199 Little Lina (1/2)
Now the shaking was constant, rocking back and forth as Lunara's energy was being poured into it.
”Crack!”
Crackling sounds filled the large room, echoing off the walls. The shell started to break, with cracks slowly covering its surface.
”Crack! CRACK!!”
A piece of the eggshell fell to the floor, shattering on the stone floor. Another piece fell, doing the same. Now, there was a hole the size of a human head.
”...rrrraaaaaaa…”
A soft whine came from the egg, filling all eighteen of Lunara's eyes with tears. She and Sterfen immediately stopped wasting their energy, taking a moment to catch their breaths and watch their daughter finally be born.
”...rrraaaaaa… RRRAAAA....”
The whining got louder as the shell continued to splinter and break apart. Finally, a single hydra head poked out from the now open shell. It's baby blue scales beautifully reflected the magical lights of the room.
”...Rrrrraaaaa…”
”Linala…” Lunara's voice trembled as she said her daughter's name.
All of Lunara's heads gradually surrounded the baby hydra as the rest of the shell was destroyed. It crawled around for a few minutes before it learned to use its cute, stubby legs. Recognizing Lunara as its mother, the baby hydra cuddled up to the giant mother hydra.
Sterfen also appeared next to the baby hydra, holding out his hand to pet her.
The baby hydra hesitated but soon felt a sense of familiarity with the man in front of her. That familiarity came from her bloodline, letting her know that the man's blood was also running through her veins. She didn't know how, but the baby didn't question her instincts.
As Sterfen pet the baby hydra, he got closer until he was hugging her tenderly. It was as big as Bowzer's adolescent form, so it curled its long body around Sterfen, happy to be pet.
Lunara then shrunk down to her human form and joined her husband in hugging their child. It was a moment that they had waited almost a thousand years to see. A moment they thought they would never have.
The others had watched the whole thing from the stairs, touched by the tenderness that both parents showed. Though gods were also imagined as all-powerful, this was a rare moment that showed how gods were just like everyone else. They would never forget that.
A few minutes passed until both parents carried their daughter to the stairs and then up to the great room.
Jack's party followed them. They all wanted a turn to pet the baby hydra.
”Here.” Jack pulled out a velvet bag filled with EXP pots, startling Sterfen.
”You weren't kidding when you said you had plenty,” laughed the new father. ”You should give them to her. That way she really will see you as her big brother. Otherwise, it may be hard to get her to listen to you while traveling.”
”You have a good point.”
”Jack, you're my son now. I would rather treat you like the son I never had, then for it to just be a name. So, know that I'm entrusting your sister's safety to you. If you need us, we're just a call away.” Sterfen smiled.
”Well, technically I didn't have any parent in the first place since I was summoned here. If you're serious about being my parents, I wouldn't mind, Dad.”
Moved and still emotional from the baby's birth, Sterfen's eyes watered a little bit. ”My boy.”
The father reached out and hugged his son, finally happy to have a son he can call his own. To make sure Jack knew that, a white glow surrounded Jack and seeped into him.
”There, now you're truly my son. It's not much, but now not even legend-tier items will be able to see through you. Just like me, you're truly unreadable.”
”Thanks, Dad.” Jack hugged him again. ”Is there anything in specific you want me to teach little Lina?”
Sterfen got a chuckle out of Jack's nickname for Linala. ”It's up to her, but I'm a master of knives and illusion type magic while your mother is a master of water type magic and has her bestial form. If I'm not mistaken, little Lina should have both illusion type and water type magic. Help her surpass us, that's all I ask.”
”Will do, Dad.”
”Well, since you're all leaving, how about I say goodbye to your lovely wives and your future wives.”
”Dad!”
”Come on, you know is fathers joy and responsibility to embarrass his son with the honest truth,” joked Sterfen. ”Take good care of all my daughters-in-law, it'll be good for little Lina to have so many sisters.”
He then hugged each of the girls one by one, thanking them for returning their daughter, as well as asking them to take good care of both his son and his daughter.
It made them all proud that Jack was officially the son of two gods. Even if he was adopted, it was still an honor that no one else had ever earned in history. And it was the man that they cared about the most.
Sterfen reached Maynard and said, ”Make sure to tell Jin I said, 'Hi.' Jin's like a brother to me, so I know you'll be in good hands.”
”As for you,” Sterfen looked to Rydel, the man who he had given his legend-tier blessing. ”You're traveling with my son, so I hope you represent me well.”
”Of course, Master Sterfen.”
”Good.” He placed both hands on Rydel's shoulders, giving him an encouraging nod. ”I look forward to seeing and hearing all about the great things you've done in my name.”
Another couple of hours passed and everyone trickled into the great room, where Lunara was now standing with a sad smile on her face.
Sterfen approached her and wrapped his arms around her. ”Luna, everything will be fine. Our son will protect her and they can reach us if they ever need help. It's time.”
She nodded slowly, agreeing with her husband. Lunara walked to Jack. ”Jack… no, Son, please take care of her.”