The Chimaera's Crystal

1

My heart felt like a frantic bird, desperate to escape from its cage, as I looked down at the nest in front of me. Everything around me glowed in a beautiful light that resembled the softest moonshine, its silvery blue glow enveloping the contents of the nest like a snug cocoon. A single egg rested there, oblivious to the chaotic world outside of its zone of safety, and unaware of how soon it would join it.

It had been months of waiting, sitting quietly by the egg that in all respects aside from the promise of a mount was as good as a rock. A little spiderweb crack suddenly appeared on the side of the pale egg, stretching across the smooth surface, a single imperfection conquering the otherwise unmarked surface. A tiny chimaera was desperate to escape. I just knew it. My mount, I thought, a ripple of electric excitement charging over my skin at the thought. Finally. I hummed a tune on instinct, before starting to sing. I wanted my mount to feel safe with me, and to know my voice. "Look at the water, shinin soft, come dance through the fields-" As I sung to the soon to be creature, I heard a soft ahem. "Seon. What did I tell you about singing? This is a serious occasion!" The man's voice was low, like firewood stocked against a hunting lodge, its bark peeling off and spiders and snakes making homes in the moist caverns between logs, waiting to strike some unsuspecting victim. Annoyance tainting the edges, it felt like he might genuinely do so.

"Father! I'm sorry, I just-" I sighed, letting my long, brown black locks fall into my face as I hung his head in shame, though deep down I was so frustrated. Music was my peace, and it was so beautiful too. How could someone hate it with such a passion?! "I'm sorry. It won't happen again," I promised, in a steely monotone, inflecting all my words in the most respectful way I knew. A way fit for kings, which one day my father hoped to be. I knew the tone would please him, perhaps even get him to leave. What a blessing that would be my thoughts huffed angrily.

"Hmph," my father growled. What a jerk, I thought, watching his fine green coattails swish as he slammed the door, the gold bead that hung down his back swinging and making a delicate song ring throughout the hall. He was nothing but a nobleman, a distant cousin of the king. He did not deserve such finery. I waited, hearing the click clack of his shoes against the stone floor of the long, winding halls in the rider stronghold until they faded out, before continuing, making sure I sang even softer this time around. "-with me, kick your shoes off, not a care in the world, you're safe with me. It's written in the stars, It's our destiny..."

I searched the entirety of my mind, through halls decorated with all my memories and emotions, for songs to sing, and when I came up with nothing, I looked down at my egg once again. The little cracks that I had seen hours earlier before Father had come in had widened into a vast network of breaks, and after a moment of staring a little head popped out of the egg. My heart beat faster, if that was even possible. Chimaera were very special creatures, I knew that once it hatched it would be perfect, and I wasn't disappointed. My beautiful little girl, I thought, sighing, before scrambling to help her out of her eggshell as I'd been taught.