<h4>Chapter 41: - ck forest''s Egg Hunt</h4>


    I arrived at the ssroom and noticed Alora energetically waving and saying hello, though I couldn''t care less. I responded with a half-hearted wave in return.


    Taking my seat, which was conveniently not too far from Thalia''s, I was interrupted by a voice I hadn''t heard in a while, Rihane''s. I couldn''t quite understand her sudden interest in conversing with me.


    "Hello, Rihane ,It was good, and yours?" I asked out of courtesy, still puzzled by her motives for approaching me.


    "I heard from Thalia that your stomach got upset yesterday. So, I thought to ask if it''s okay," she said, and my expression remained stoic. I nced at Thalia, who conveniently averted her gaze. It seemed like I would need to have a conversation with my father about putting an end to this engagement. Thalia''s childish behavior was bing tiresome.


    "Yes, now it''s fine," I replied, not seeing any other option.


    "Like really, haha. Thalia said she was just joking, but really, your stomach was upset, haha," she continued, herughter drawing more attention to us. I couldn''t help but feel a tinge of embarrassment. After all, I was only human. Her loud demeanor made it seem like everyone''s gaze was fixed on us. I repeated my mental mantra, "Don''t think anything, don''t think anything."


    With a sigh of relief, I decided to escape the situation. "I''ll just take my seat," I said, avoiding any further interaction. Their behavior was nothing short of irritating.


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    The day had finallye when Professor Adriannel Riantain announced the long-anticipated practical session in the ck Forest. Excitement and uncertainty coursed through the academy, mingling with the whisper of legends about the forest.


    We reached the forest,Among the students gathered in the grand courtyard, I stood, my gaze focused ahead. The foresty in the distance, a realm of both enchantment and danger. Professor Adriannel''s authoritative voice reverberated as he emphasized the importance of vignce.


    I exchanged nces with Thalia and Alora, who had been sticking to me like shadows in recent days. However, my attention wasn''t on them but on those four troublemakers who had been brewing their secret n.


    Unbeknownst to everyone, those four students had ndestinely hatched a n to see the ck Dragon for themselves, a forbidden act within the academy. One of them possessed an artifact capable of rendering them invisible for a brief period, exining their sudden disappearance from our sight.


    With furtive determination, the nobleman students slipped away from the main group, their intentions hidden from their fellow students. They ventured deeper into the forest, their hearts pounding with the thrill of forbidden curiosity.


    What they didn''t realize was that I had been discreetly shadowing their every move. I had to make up an excuse about needing the restroom to slip away from Thalia, who had been increasingly persistent.


    Eventually, those students reached a clearing, and there, they beheld the magnificent form of the ck Dragon, Drakorath, fast asleep. Its obsidian scales shimmered in the dappled sunlight, its wings folded close.


    Unable to resist the allure of the dragon''s presence, they approached cautiously, their movements as quiet as shadows. They activated their artifact, vanishing from sight.


    With newfound invisibility, they ventured even closer to the slumbering behemoth. Their excitement surged as they neared a colossal, obsidian-colored egg nestled beside the dragon.


    Carefully, their fingers brushed against the egg''s surface, feeling its warmth. Their triumph was short-lived, for I had been tracking their every move.


    Invisible to their eyes, I moved with precision. As they reached for the egg, my hand shot out, seizing the artifact''s wielder by the wrist. A swift twist and an unexpected disarming maneuver left them exposed and defenseless.


    Students gasped as they suddenly became visible once more, their eyes locking with mine. Before they could react, a quick strike to each of their temples sent them tumbling to the forest floor, unconscious.


    I stood victorious, the stolen egg now in my possession. My n had seeded. These students, unknowingly, would serve as my means of acquiring the dragon''s egg, all while upholding the academy''s rules.


    As I stood my ground, a warm breeze brushed against my back, carrying with it a foul stench. I turned slowly, my heart pounding in my chest, only to be met by a pair of enormous, fiery-red eyes. My breath caught in my throat as I beheld the colossal ck Dragon before me.


    With great care, I ced the stolen egg beside a towering tree. I wanted to ensure its safety, for it was not the egg''s fault that I had taken it. I covered it gently with bushes, hoping that if I survive, I will take care of this child. Then, I turned my attention back to the beast.


    "Please," I murmured, my voice trembling, "Be gentle."