The Adulthood Trial
Rune opened his webbed fingers and replied.
[Are you worried about doing something alone? Or... about me?]
The warmth still lingering on the hand wrapped in his front paw. Amelia, who had briefly fiddled with his fingers, looked back at him.
“Um... Perdikion is like that, but more than that... I'm afraid of facing something... unknown.”
The vague fear that comes from doing something no one has ever tried before. Anxiety.
Amelia, who had imagined it, took a shallow breath and finally opened her heart.
“I'm used to being alone... But I've had very little direct experience of actually doing something... myself.”
[Gu Yue.]
Rune nodded, sympathizing with her words.
At the same time, his mind raced.
*As a young hatchling, I need a way to give Amelia courage.*
Rune, spotting a good idea, looked at the fish-like monsters swimming through the sea.
[I might tell Brother about it, but I don't know if he'll really let you come along.]
The words came out with lingering worry.
Amelia's eyes lit up.
“Ah...”
She might be turned down.
A small air bubble escaped from the mermaid's mouth, filled with a bitter taste.
With a gentle face, Rune continued.
[You know my personality, right? If I'm rejected, it would be incredibly embarrassing for me too.]
“U-um... Yeah... it is...”
Empathy through good-natured teasing, as always.
Of course, he wasn't trying to badmouth Perdikion.
It was simply a way to understand the worry Amelia felt.
Watching Amelia nod in affirmation, Rune spoke in a softer tone.
[But if this helps you, no matter the outcome, I want to try it. Because...]
Just stepping forward already requires courage.
It would be good if he could lower that threshold even a little.
[If it works out, you'll get something very good.]
Amelia looked at him quietly.
*Amelia is the one who shared the Water Seal with me. The stronger I get, the more she likes it.*
The thought was tucked away in a corner of his heart, and Rune raised his front paw and shrugged.
[I know it's a burden. But if there's something good to do, I want you to try it.]
“...”
Amelia blinked with a gentle gaze.
Despite her deep familiarity with the cold sea, she always felt strangely warm when she met Rune and his companions.
‘I...’
Thinking about the hidden kindness in Rune's words, Amelia lowered her eyes slightly.
*Be courageous and make a choice for me.*
The clear meaning gently touched her cold heart.
A vague hope that it would turn out well.
Anxiety that it was unpredictable.
For an mermaid who had lived in a world where she never had to make a choice, this was unfamiliar and difficult.
Yet...
‘I... I have decided to remember those who pray for my happiness.’
Amelia clenched her fist lightly over her chest and spoke.
“I... I've decided.”
[Gu Yue.]
The mermaid's watery eyes gazed at Rune, waiting for his answer.
Her round black body shone like a ruby in her red eyes.
Unlike the cute features of a young creature, there was a deep gaze there.
Amelia nodded.
“If Perdikion is fine... then I want to go too.”
“!”
Rune nodded in satisfaction.
“Gu Yue!”
[You've made a good decision, Amelia.]
The proposal had been made, but Amelia had to find the courage to make the final choice herself.
Rune smiled with genuine delight.
*Now I need to persuade Perdikion.*
That moment...
- **Mokoji Stone!**
Rune's communication device glowed.
**Rune! You left only a note and went alone to the Blue Dragon Lair?**
Perdikion's text appeared.
*Perfect timing.*
After confirming the content, Rune immediately sent a reply through the device.
**Yeah. I'm still at Amelia's lair. Are you coming too?**
**Of course.**
Perdikion's reply came quickly.
*His temper is as quick as ever.*
Rune tore his eyes from the device and looked at Amelia.
[Brother called. I have to go for a bit.]
“U-um... Yeah.”
Watching Amelia answer obediently, Rune asked with a suddenly recalled expression.
[By the way, what about that dolphin spirit?]
Amelia fidgeted with her fingers, looking flustered.
“Ah... Lamel, um... I was worried you might feel uncomfortable...”
Although abbreviated, it was enough to understand what she wanted to say.
[Gu Yue.]
[It's fine. That spirit probably follows you because you're its master.]
The dolphin spirit Lamel and Amelia looked like a master and a puppy.
*Would it threaten my master?*
Or was it a puppy simply unwilling to show interest?
“U-um... Yeah. Even though he's no longer my parents' spirit...”
Amelia looked confused, but Rune had several things he could guess.
*My power was the root that had made Amelia's family suffer. It must be that she figured it out.*
Although he had never spoken of it directly, Rune was quite confident in his guess.
The power of the Darkness Clan had long tormented the Blue Dragon Clan, sea creatures, and spirits.
It was only natural that it would be instinctively dreaded.
Rune lightly opened his beak.
[Gu Gu.]
[Time will probably make it better. Don't worry too much.]
When the mermaid let out a long sigh, bubbles formed.
“Then... that would be good...”
Shrugging his shoulders, Rune said as he created the power key.
[Gu Yue.]
[I'll go for a moment and come back.]
“U-en.”
Opening the door with the key and exiting the passage, Perdikion appeared holding a note in the room.
Rune calmly waved his front paw.
[Gu Yue.]
[I'm here, Brother.]
Perdikion's furrowed brows instantly erupted in scolding.
“What do you think leaving just a note like this does?”
*Annoying. It's just a short trip.*
Rune changed into human form, wearing his golden bracelet.
“Sorry. Amelia just woke up.”
“A young one shouldn't wander around carelessly.”
He showed an uncomfortable expression, but it ended with light advice.
“More importantly, Brother, there's one thing I need you to do.”
Perdikion showed interest in the continued words.
“A request? What is it?”
Rune smiled with a gentle face.
[When Brother performs his trial, let Amelia come with you too.]
“What?”
The Flame Dragon youth's face twisted.
His eyes looked as if he was about to shout any moment.
But Perdikion only stared at Rune briefly before checking his intentions.
After a moment, the Flame Dragon youth crossed his arms and spoke.
“Tell me, Rune. Why do you want to take that mermaid with you for the trial?”
Perdikion immediately asked for the core reason.
Rune felt the flow was good.
*I sensed it from the time we helped the Water Clan. He has a personality that won't ignore the crisis of the same dragon clan.*
Rune recalled the memory of jointly conquering the Wave Dungeon.
Despite the plea from his sworn brother, if it had been an unyielding personality, he wouldn't have joined in the first place.
He had even shown willingness to help as a fellow future elder at the time, so mentioning that point would be enough to bring Amelia along.
“Brother, Amelia's adulthood trial is coming soon. But she seems to be in a tough situation.”
Rune explained Amelia's parents' dragons' slow recovery.
He poured out stories of the outside world she had never set foot in before.
After hearing the full story, Perdikion spoke.
“I get the situation. However, it's someone else's clan anyway. Even if it's your request, I don't need to accompany you from the start.”
It was the reaction he had expected.
Rune looked into Perdikion's red eyes and continued.
“What if Amelia personally requests it?”
Perdikion narrowed his brows at those words.
“The immature future elder?”
Surprised, as expected.
The Flame Dragon youth touched the tip of his chin with his right hand.
“Yeah. He said it's a great opportunity to build up lacking experience, and as long as Brother is fine, he wants to come along.”
Perdikion hummed briefly after hearing the answer, buying time.
“Having the attitude of acknowledging one's own shortcomings and striving is admirable.”
Quite complimentary.
Rune gradually pulled on the fishing line.
“Brother has already decided anyway. He wants to create a lair where he can boldly demand what the weak believe is right.”
Perdikion nodded and replied.
“Of course. It's also the big framework of my upcoming trial.”
“Already decided what kind of trial? You're fast, Brother.”
“Just about.”
Trials had various meanings.
Activities to prove oneself or achieve results.
Experiences that let one feel the world with their own skin and think about how to live.
Realizing something one wanted to do.
Achievements like dungeon breaker, battle, or research.
Extremely broad, such as leisurely art activities or traveling to pursue romance.
One's own power and abilities. Those one supports.
Just seeing how they are used would help Amelia.
*Asking for help from an adult dragon or using one's own power is all determined by the hatchling during their trial.*
In a good way, the freedom is very high, and in a bad way, one might not know what to do.
That was the 'trial' of a hatchling reaching adulthood for the first time.
Perdikion's mood improved, and he gave a quite positive answer.
“It's quite a good person to perform the trial with at the right time. Seeing the courage to improve something in difficult situations.”
Rune smiled slightly.
“Yeah. If Brother's trial is that, it fits perfectly.”
Perdikion looked at Rune silently, then nodded once and said.
“I'll decide after seeing it myself. I won't force someone who doesn't show resolve.”
“Of course.”
Rune, agreeing, took out the power key.
**Uwoong!**
While walking through the mana corridor, Rune quickly sent Amelia a message on the communication device.
**I'm on my way with Brother. I'm going to tell him directly and decide.**
Precisely, it was the words 'show resolve,' but if he sent it as is, it would lead to excessive tension.
Rune told her the reason for the visit in words she would easily accept.
**Yeah. I understand.**
After confirming Amelia's reply, Rune pushed his body through the water wall first.
**Swoosh!**
Next, Perdikion entered, and in front of him was Amelia, welcoming the two.
“W-well, welcome, Perdikion.”
The mermaid smiled gracefully and slightly lowered her head.
A pearl ornament with Baekya's feathers on her head gently swayed.
“I want to accompany Brother on his trial.”
Perdikion's tone, arms crossed, had a somewhat arrogant tone.
“Yeah. The Water Lair is almost ready too. It will be stable... and Perdikion, you... will learn a lot if you come together, I think...”
Rune inwardly admired Amelia.
She had prepared her heart, but the tremor in her words was much reduced, and she felt calm.
Perdikion also noticed the change and asked seriously.
“If I come with you, what help would it be to me?”
Amelia steadied her breath.
Her tense fingertips trembled, but a calm explanation followed.