TOTCF content because my brain go brr

You brought me my baby.

"Should I just destroy it all?" Cale mumbled under his breath. He looked on at the small baby in his arms and cursed. The little black dragon hadn't even had claws yet, but he had old scars scattered across his body. 

He was currently holding the youngest version of the little black dragons he's met. Barely even 5 months old, this baby could fly, speak, play with mana. However, there was a reason why they waited until they were two years old before leaving their parent's lair. 

His claws and teeth were dull, only small mounds of keratin. He was sleeping peacefully, quietly sucking on his fist. His physical defense mechanisms hadn't been developed yet. That's why he was supposed to be protected until 2 years old. 

This little dragon had mana restrictions since he was born. He was completely defenseless. He went with Cale, baring his little teeth. It wasn't scary, but it brought a little bit of hope for him. He still had a dragon's spirit. He still wanted to live and tried to defend himself even though he had nothing to protect himself.

Cale stroked the scarred and scaly body with anger coursing throughout his body. 

—

The five-month old dragon opened his eyes tiredly. He stretched his wings and little limbs with a big yawn. He blinked as he unstuck his tongue. White dirt clung to his claws. His neptunic eyes took in the new environment. 

There was a blinding white environment. It was peaceful. A natural cliffside surrounded the area, and a white bright light acted as the sun. Flowers, trees and other natural flora. Fruits glistening on the trees. Over-ripe fruits smushed against the grass, and the environment was seemingly perfect. But it was quiet. Too quiet to be real. 

Where was the human? He took a few steps forward towards the half-transparent barrier. He tried to peer through the spaces and to the stone building. He was inexplicably drawn to the building, but the stupid barrier a few feet away was blocking him. No worries, the human said he was a cool dragon and that he would be great and mighty once he had grown. He could break it with his mana.

He could also feel a presence familiar to himself. Once he took a step closer the barrier dissolved and there was a clearer path to the stone building. Trees surrounded the building, and vines covered the building. He flew in, and saw the glow that shone on a book. 

He was drawn in to read it. The Birth of a Hero. Once he opened the book, his eyes widened. The sigils were legible. That's the stupid stuff that the human taught him. Core-an? He could read it. The Birth of a Hero...

—-

Sherrit paced around her cage. She felt her son, her baby. He was flying, playing, walking around. Alive. Her baby was home. 

The brunet human had the power of the dragon slayer, and wore a black mask. He wore the white crown and held her little child in his arms. Scarred, bleeding, shivering. Her baby was snuggling into his arms. He was a 5-month old baby. 

She almost killed him then and there, seeing her baby. But he was seemed happy with himself, and the man was not a threat. They barely exchanged words as he ran past her and to the village. His back was strong and trustworthy, so she let him pass. 

And now, he'd returned. 

"Hello Dragon Lord-nim." He gave a quick but deep bow. "My apologies for atrocious manners, I must go." He then brought a piece of paper that he stuck to the wall. 

"Won't you tell me your name?" Sherrit said, informally but determined. A shield blocked his path. 

He shook his head. 

"It's not my name. Its not my place. Ra-The child needs a name. May I ask a favour?" He turned to her. But his foot quickly tapped. He needed to leave. He clearly wanted to go. 

"You're asking me a favour, benefactor? What is it?" Sherrit cocked her head to her side. She only said that she'd hear it, not that she'd do it. 

"His last name. Let it be Miru?" The man scratched his cheek, almost in embarrassment. 

"Is it your last name?" Sherrit's eyes narrowed. Was he trying to lay claim to him once he had grown?

"No." 

"Then?" 

"A secret. It is one favour Dragon Lord-nim. It is always possible to decline." He stood up straight but his tone remained respectful. He then ran out of the castle. The shield in front of him did not move, but he made it outside despite that. 

Blood poured from his body. There were cuts on him everywhere. He then bowed out once more, and quickly faded into a dot in the distance.

Sherrit huffed. What an odd man. Bringing her her child, teaching, healing and saving that child. Then asking her just to give him a last name. A last name that wasn't even his? She looked back to the piece of paper he had left. Her eyes widened in disbelief. 

'Eruhaben - Gold dragon. 

Attribute: dust

Age: ~1000 and will live for at least 400 more; artificially lengthened life

Will teach the child magic properly.

Is waiting for the child.'

Sherrit looked at the piece of paper in both shock and awe. The dragon-slayer fake knew two dragons? He barely looked 40. Was he also the one who lengthened his life? How did this one know all this? Was he one of those...

—-

"So, what do you think? Do you like the Miru last name?" Sherrit asked gently, as she went to pet her son's back. The little black dragon curled up on a couch and played with her hand. He went to bite playfully, but his little teeth grabbed into nothing but mana.  She really loved her baby. 

"I like Miru!" The little black dragon smiled. "Especially if you gave me it." He then brought his wings to his teeth and sharpened those teeth. He did it sometimes when he was in the torture chamber, just to distract him. 

"It matches my name!" Sherrit's eyebrows raised. 

"You already picked out your name?" 

"My name is Nareusya." That didn't sound like a name he would pick himself. Sherrit's gaze sharpened. That human definitely chose it. In the end, he got his way completely. Sherrit sighed before pulling him closer. It didn't matter to her. He was her baby, and he was back. 

"Na-reu-sya? It's beautiful."

"Mhm. It is just for me." He looked away from her love-dripping eyes. He hadn't given himself that name. 

"Nareusya Miru. What does it mean?" 

"It means me!"

—-

Nareusya means to fly. (FIRST KOREAN WORD)