In a vast cavern, stalactites of varying lengths hung from the ceiling, a testament to the passage of time. Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground, and a slender stalactite snapped, plummeting downwards. It struck an oddly shaped, meter-tall oval egg with a resounding crack.

The stalactite shattered into pieces, but the egg, it seemed, was quite resilient.

Beside it, a neat array of eggs of different kinds, yet similar in size, were meticulously arranged on a conical pile of stones. Then, as another tremor rippled through the cavern, a colossal creature emerged from the shadows of a nearby corner.

Its massive form, hundreds of meters tall, was exceptionally spectacular. Dark red, diamond-shaped scales covered its entire body. Its two thick hind legs, with each stride, could make the entire cavern shake. Its thick and long tail, dragging behind, could crush any stones in its path into dust with a casual swing.

The pair of thick arms that hung by its sides and swung naturally seemed to contain infinite power. Its sharp claws were as sharp as knives. On its back, the fleshy wings were covered with a layer of fine, red scales.

On top of its thick, short neck was a head also covered with red scales. Its protruding cheeks were filled with a mouth full of sharp teeth. The breath it exhaled was so hot it distorted the air around it.

Above its head were a pair of curved, ribbed horns. Further down, a pair of golden pupils gleamed with the light of wisdom!

After entering the cavern, this colossal creature made its way straight to where the eggs were placed.

"Hmmm... I wonder if there are any little ones who can't wait to hatch and see the world for themselves!" it muttered in a low voice.

Although it was a low mutter, the sound was incredibly loud, causing the stalactites above to shake.

Strangely, her voice was a stark contrast to her fearsome and ferocious appearance, and it was inexplicably pleasant to the ear.

Looking down at the eggs, which were no bigger than pebbles to her, the colossal creature bent down, bringing her gleaming golden eyes closer.

Though her face couldn't display any expression other than ferocity, she exuded a sense of tenderness and diligence.

"Wow! By the Creator Dragon, there are five little ones this time!" she exclaimed.

As she spoke, the hot breath that billowed from her mouth settled on the eggs atop the cairn.

The breath, potent enough to warp the surrounding air, was as gentle as a whisper to the eggs, leaving them unaffected.

After a careful examination, she picked out five eggs, placing them on the ground, and then lay down, her eyes brimming with anticipation as she watched over them.

...

"Um... where am I?"

Upon opening its eyes, all it saw was darkness, its golden vertical pupils reflecting a sense of confusion.

"So tight!"

He squirmed, and that was the first thought that came to his mind.

So, he must be wrapped up somewhere right now.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and then, a flood of memories poured into his mind.

Looking at these unfamiliar yet fascinating memories, a multitude of questions arose in his heart.

"What are those moving things?"

"Those are humans!"

"And the ones on four legs?"

"No! Those are dogs!"

"What about those square things that run around?"

"Those are cars!" 

"What about the square things that don't run?"

"Those are buildings!"

...

Question after question surfaced in his mind, and a mysterious voice provided answers to these queries.

Gradually, a world filled with novelty and danger emerged in his thoughts.

It was a world dominated by creatures called humans, inhabited by a variety of other beings, and filled with things created by humans.

So...

"Is that the outside world? Is that the world I'll live in once I'm out?"

"No, that was my world. Your world, you have to discover for yourself!"

"Who are you?"

"Me? I am your father!"

"Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

"I am among the stars. If you wish to see me, you must find your own way!"

"The stars? What is that place?"

"Stand on the ground, look up, and what you see is the starry sky!"

"Why are you there?"

"We come from the stars, and the stars are our dreams, ambitions, future, and home. We are the cosmic dragons. The stars symbolize freedom, and so we are born free!

Remember your name, Farble Witter!

Remember... I am waiting for you among the stars!"

"Stars... Freedom..."

Witter repeated these two words softly, his golden vertical pupils gleaming with the light of dreams!

Suddenly, a faint sound of cracking reached his ears!

"Du-ao!"

With an innocent yet fierce cry, a tiny, golden new life emerged into the world!

Then... it turned its head and began nibbling on its eggshell!

Beside it, a little creature covered in red crystal-like scales watched, its mouth watering, before it hesitantly started to approach the golden newcomer.

But a sudden gust of wind swept in, flipping the red crystal-scaled creature upside down!

Immediately after, a voice as loud as thunder bellowed out.

"No! Billy! That's not for you!"

The little dragon with red crystal scales, known as Billy, reluctantly averted its gaze, accepting the command with a hint of discontent.

He noticed that the golden little dragon's gaze towards him had taken on a hint of hostility. Observing the other's robust form, Billy wisely took a few steps back.

According to his inherited memories, this glittering golden creature, known as the Golden Dragon, was a being whose mind was as strong as its muscles.

It was a pity that among the four who had hatched, there were no kin.

With this thought, he cast a glance at the other two who, upon hearing the commotion, were looking their way. Then, he shifted his attention to the last of his siblings.

He hoped that this one would be of his own kind.

However, as he looked at the shimmering silver eggshell, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of resignation.

If his ancestral memories served him correctly, the one inside the egg shared a closer bloodline with the golden creature beside it, rather than with him.

Suddenly, a sound of shattering echoed through the air.

Five pairs of eyes instantly focused on the last unbroken eggshell on the ground.

However, amidst the expectant gazes, the silver dragon that emerged did not seem interested in socializing. After a cursory glance at the others, it began to eat on its own, showing no intention of interacting.

Witnessing this, the affectionate look in Wynterth's eyes shifted in an instant.

“Wyrm!” (A term used in this context to describe a dragon lacking self-awareness, as will be explained later in the story.)