There was also a large underground lake inside, which was one of the things he had been trying to find, a water source. There was no way people could live without water, right? Even these red-skinned fire wielding people needed to satiate their thirst from time to time.
Surrounding the big underground lake there were over fifty large tents built out of animal pelt and large bones. And of course, they were not unoccupied, as there were over a hundred red-skinned people roaming all around the place. They were all similar to Nadia and Mina, red-skinned with black horns and fiery orange and red eyes, with silver hair, red hair, orange hair, and even black hair.
The girls walked through spiraling stairs that led below, as they were greeted with two guards. The entrance to this small village also had two guards, both male. Meanwhile, the ones that greeted them to this deeper area were two women this time. This made it clear there wasn't any difference between genders, both males and females could become this physically strong and act as guards.
"Eh? Mina, what kind of lizard did you brought this time?" Sighed one of the guards.
"Natasha, this is not a common lizard! This is the Wielder of the Origin Flames!" Said Mina.
"You said that the other day when you brought that other lizard." Said the other guard.
"T-That was not the one! This one is! Right, Nadia? It hatched from the egg!" Said Mina.
"Yes, it's true, this dragon hatched from the egg in the shrine," Said Nadia.
"Say what?! Nadia you never play along with this dork!" Said one of the guards.
"Because I am telling the truth, I saw it with my two eyes," Sighed Nadia.
"Alright then… Bring it to the Elder if you're telling the truth… I thought that egg was just a painted rock…"
The girls carried the dragon inside another tent, as they were greeted by an old, red-skinned man, he was completely bald, with two long black horns and a long white beard. Although he was an old man, he was just as tall as the girls.
"Sigh… What kind of creature you two brought now?" Sighed the Elder.
"The Wielder of the Origin Flames!" Said Mina once more, pointing at the dragon while smiling towards the Elder.
"Graaoo!"
The little dragon attempted to say something, but only a little roar came out, accompanied by some flames.
"What?!" Asked the Elder.
"I saw it, she used a strange spell using her Saint Blessing and… the egg, the thing we all think is a painted rock left by our ancestors… It was actually an egg, it hatched, and this dragon came out. It might be small but the Mana Core on his chest seems to be overflowing with mana," Nadia explained things.
"Is that so?! Nadia would never play around with this dork… T-Then the prophecy was real… The egg left by the Guardian of Muspelheim… the one resting besides our mountain… It really is… real! This little dragon…! It truly might be the descendant of Muspel!" Said the Elder, as he carried the small dragon.
The dragon's mind was completely confused!
Muspelheim? Wasn't that the realm of fire giants in Norse Mythology?
And the descendant of Muspel?
Could that be the name of his mother, the owner of the skeleton outside?
…
After Mina and Nadia presented the young Fire Dragon to the Elder, the Elder then presented him as a Sacred Beast to the entire Tribe. Many of the Fire Giants were not convinced at first though, so a lot of them moved into the shrine and made sure that the egg had actually cracked and indeed, they found it wide open and filled with some gooey yolk.
After that, it became more believable, and Mina started to tell the others to worship him as something like a God, not many did, but the more naïve kids and elderly did so, and as the day was coming to an end, our little Fire Dragon found himself feasting in some meat of a mysterious origin.
Several people surrounded him as he ate his meat. None seemed to have ill intentions, but the little dragon really felt pressured by their stares. They seemed to adore him due to his divine bloodline, although he had no clue whatsoever.
"(I don't even know what this world is, but I guess I am already a figure of worship… Are Dragons so special? I mean… Yeah, I guess.)"
He couldn't help but think he was rather weak, but perhaps that was only because he was newborn. They had said he would grow up as he grew older, and would become bigger and stronger, hopefully.
From what he could recall, the Elder said he was the child of Muspel, the Primogenitor Dragon Goddess of all Fire Dragons. The skull over there were her remains after she died in an event named the Ragnarök, according to the Fire Giants.
However, she left eggs behind, each egg became a Fire Dragon, some became evil and others good, and their descendants usually come to his skull every thousands of years to lay eggs, his egg was found there abandoned hundreds of years ago, and it has been guarded inside the shrine ever since.
"(Damn, I took a long time to hatch.)"
"Oh, great Wielder of the Origin Flames, please bless my child so he can grow strong and healthy…"
A brave Fire Giant mother stepped forward, carrying an adorable baby in her arms.
"Grao!"
Without hesitating, he groaned softly and then licked the baby's forehead.
"Oh, thank you!" The mother was so happy she offered him another piece of meat, which he happily ate.
Back then he never really ate raw meat before, but since he started eating in this life, he found it quite appetizing.
He began to consider his new life as a dragon and found it not at all how he expected it would be. He was being given free food and adored as a little god of sorts, and whenever they asked for a blessing, he simply did what he just had done and everyone would be happy.
"(I can get used to this kind of life…)"
