"An Aberrant Dragon?"
I curiously regarded Winters; this was yet another novel term.
Hearing my query, Winters smiled and elucidated, "The Draconic Clans are broadly categorized into three primary divisions: True Dragons, Terrestrial Dragons, and Aerial Dragons.
Among the True Dragons, there exist five subcategories: Metallic Dragons, Quinquecolored Dragons, Crystalline Dragons, Elemental Dragons, and Aberrant Dragons.
Aberrant Dragons are also known as Hybrid Dragons.
Any dragon that does not conform to the preceding four categories is classified as an Aberrant Dragon.
For instance, Sanctum Dragons, Umbral Dragons, and, of course, your sire, among many others which I shall not enumerate here.
Initially, there were no Aberrant Dragons within the Draconic Clans, but as various Dragon lineages merged and intermingled, some dragons underwent mutations and could no longer be simply classified within those four established categories.
They may possess all manner of unique talents and are the most singular individuals among the True Dragon species.
Some have appeared but once throughout history.
Perhaps, your sire possessed a talent for prodigious strength, and now, that talent has been inherited by you."
"Then am I considered an Aberrant Dragon?"
"Indeed, you are!"
Seeing my eyes suddenly illuminate, Winters quickly added, "However, to ascertain specifically which type of dragon you are, a more in-depth examination is requisite."
At this, I was first stunned, then clutched my tail, regarding Winters with profound wariness.
"Do you still require my Dragon Blood?"
Winters feigned not to see my pathetic demeanor and said with a smile, "If you still wish to ascertain what manner of dragon you are."
Hearing this, I looked at my tail and hesitated.
To be candid, I had already begun to harbor doubts about the Celestial Dragon of the Starry Expanse in my inherited memories.
Both my dam and I resembled Argent Dragons, and although my sire's aura was immense, it did share many similarities with Red Dragons.
Therefore, I was actually more inclined towards the Aberrant Dragon explanation.
Although there is nothing inherently wrong with being an Argent Dragon, I still yearned to know specifically what Dragon species I belonged to.
Contemplating this, I tremulously extended my claws, then scratched the end of my tail, barely managing to squeeze out a trace of blood.
But when I looked up at Winters, she was still staring intently at my tail, the look in her eyes clearly conveying that these few droplets of blood were insufficient.
A moment later, Winters contentedly secured a substantial drop of Dragon Blood, glanced at me—hugging my tail and nursing my wounded pride in secret—and without further ado, strode towards the exterior.
"Very well, it is time for you to behold your future abode.
It is the common home we shall protect with our very lives – Desidero!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Winters had already reached the entrance of the cavern.
The sunlight dispelled the gloom within, and the rocky vault above was supplanted by an azure firmament.
We five young drakes gaped, staring in astonishment at the sky above and the mountains in the distance.
So the dark cavern was not the entirety of existence; this was the true world!
I glanced at the other four with disdain.
I had grown weary of such vistas in my inherited memories.
I even knew that the blue sky was not the ultimate reality; the starry expanse was the truth.
That being said, I too was surreptitiously gazing at the sky.
My sire resided in the depths of that starry expanse.
"Sooner or later..."
Muttering thus, I retracted my gaze, only then noticing Winters' eyes quietly observing me with a hint of an amused smile.
"Hmph!"
Taken aback, I snorted coldly and turned away.
Having been compelled to offer a large drop of blood, I had no desire to engage with Winters at that moment.
However, upon seeing this, the amusement in Winters' eyes deepened.
I acted with great maturity, but only in relation to the other four wyrmlings.
In her perception, my efforts to appear mature merely exposed my underlying immaturity.
"Alright, little ones, your gaze should not be fixed upon the heavens.
You will have ample time to behold it in the future, enough to induce ennui.
You should look downwards, at our Desidero!"
Hearing Winters' words, the other four young drakes exchanged glances, then scampered to the edge of Winters' massive paw.
As they clung to the scales at the precipice and looked down, they all fell silent.
I, who had curled myself into a ball, opened my eyes.
My gaze towards the four held a hint of curiosity, and a modicum of apprehension.
I hoped Desidero was a paradise—ah, that seemed the appropriate term—but I also feared my previous forebodings would materialize.
Looking up at Winters, I saw she was gazing downwards with a smile, her eyes so gentle… and proud.
Could a dragon with such eyes truly be a minion of some nefarious entity?
I did not know.
But after a moment of silence, I slowly rose and walked towards the edge of her paw.
Noticing my movements, a hint of surprise flashed in Winters' eyes, which then softened.
She had, in fact, noticed long ago that I harbored a strong sense of vigilance towards her, towards Desidero, and even towards this world.
But she made no attempt to offer explanations.
She was no stranger to this kind of wariness.
Many wyrmlings, after birth, would exhibit such behavior when they had not yet found the familiar aura from the depths of their bloodline.
But there was no remedy for it; after all, these Dragon Eggs all originated from the wilderness.
True Dragons are inherently free, and the solitary Dragons beyond were even more so.
There were myriad reasons to abandon Dragon Eggs, and only a few were willing to protect them.
She, too, had once been like me, wary of everything around her, but eventually, she had integrated into Desidero.
So, she believed that I, too, could integrate, just as she had.
And now, I had begun to attempt contact with the outside world, which was auspicious news.
On my side, I had no inkling of Winters' ruminations.
In truth, I was already captivated by the place below, known as Desidero.
It was a colossal canyon, unimaginably vast.
Enormous plants of diverse shapes and hues filled the chasm, rendering it a vibrant, kaleidoscopic paradise.
Unknown creatures flew out from the canyon in flocks, circled, and then vanished amidst the large flora.
And on the opposing cliff face, dark apertures were scattered in a well-organized array.
Occasionally, something could be seen emerging from those dark spots and descending to the valley floor.
An atmosphere of peace and tranquility permeated the entire canyon.
"It's quite splendid, is it not!"
I looked up at Winters, saw that she was also looking at me, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
"What are those dark spots on the other side?"
"Those are Dragon Dens.
You will reside up there later!"
I nodded thoughtfully, then looked around.
I then noticed that the cavern from which we had emerged was situated on one side of the canyon, and it appeared quite elevated.
"What lies above the canyon?"
"It is a wilderness, a wilderness fraught with dangers.
Do not attempt to fly out.
It is exceedingly perilous for you beyond its confines."
Hearing this, I withdrew my gaze and then looked down again.
Perhaps, she could be trusted, for now.