Chapter 26：Hatching the Egg

Adrian then returned back to the Paradox Plane in order to look for Jianna so that he could finish the quest. He asked around from the other NPC's and was led to a shop that had a rock formation shaped like a flask. It was a bit of a walk to get there but he quickly reached the shop. Adrian went inside the shop and upon entering there was an aroma of medicine, herbs and other items that gave off a scent. He also saw an assortment of potions that range from restorative potions to elixirs that cured status ailments. He was looking at the wares when suddenly a female djinn came garbed in what looked like a gypsy attire.

"What can I help you with cutie?" the female djinn said as he winked at Adrian.

"I am looking for someone named Jianna. I am here to turn over the quest item for the flame sac." Adrian said shyly since he was flustered by the female djinn's acts of flirting.

"The one you are looking for would be meeee. I am Jianna. The alchemist of the Paradox Planes. At your service." Jianna said playfully.

Adrian then gave her the flame sacs needed for the the quest to be considered complete. Jianna happily gathered the flame sacs and excused herself for a moment to get the reward for the cute imp in her shop. After a few seconds, the female djinn returned with a hexagonal white stone in her hand. He handed the stone to Adrian.

Item: Engraving Stone

Tier: Rare

Effect: Used as a catalyst to engrave the rune stone on an item. Can only be used on weapons or armor of the same tier or lower as the stone. Disappears once used.

Description: A peculiar stone said to have been used since the inception of rune making as a catalyst to bind rune stones to armors and weapons.

Adrian then thanked Jianna. He bought some consumables like HP and MP potions and a Small Elixir even though it was a bit costly.

Item: Small Elixir

Effect: Cures any minor status effects.

Adrian was about to say goodbye and go away until he remembered about the egg that he managed to 'get' at the Flaming Burrow. He then asked Jianna if there was a summoner or something like a monster breeder that can distinguish egg species here in the Paradox Plane. Jianna then answered gladly and said that there was a monster breeder here but he was a bit eccentric and do not know if he would even entertain Adrian.

"I could at least try. I mean there is no harm in trying, right?" Adrian said.

" If you insist. There is a an establishment a couple of minutes from here that has different creatures roaming. He is usually there tending to his ranch." Jianna iterated.

Adrian thanked Jianna for her help and bid her goodbye. Just like the alchemist said there was a ranch at the direction she pointed. Adrian managed to reach the ranch in about 20 minutes or so. There he saw an imp who looked old and was about four feet in height because he was hunched. Adrian then came close to the old imp only to be berated to go away and not bother him.

"Go away. Can't you see that I am very busy right now" said the grumpy old imp without even looking at Adrian.

Adrian was shocked because the old imp did not even looked at him. The old imp even turned him away without batting an eye. Adrian was flabbergasted by the rudeness of this NPC. It seems the programmers have vented their frustration using this NPC. This NPC must have been the incarnation of the programmer's evil thoughts upon making this Paradox Plane. Usually NPC's are supposed to have neutral stances unless you are of course from different empires. Adrian did not mind the old imp's behavior and continued with his request since he was warned that the person in question was eccentric.

" I am sorry to bother you Sir but I have a monster egg and I would like to know what kind it is and maybe how to hatch it if possible." Adrian said in a polite tone.

" An egg you say" the old imp's ears perked up from what he just heard and faced Adrian. He then continued " Well, where is it then. I do not have all day." the old imp demanded.

Adrian was speechless and just took out the egg from his inventory and let the old imp viewed it. The old imp eyes sparkled when he got to see the egg as if he found treasure. The old imp immediately grabbed the egg without Adrian even noticing.

" Don't worry, I will not steal your egg. Oh... what a beauty. Its red scales that glistens when light shines upon it." the old imp said as if praising the love of his life. He then suddenly looked at Adrian and asked " Where did you obtain this beauty?"

Adrian then recounted the whole encounter to the eccentric old imp. The old imp then introduce himself as Pann. Pann then gave Adrian back his egg and told him Adrian that it seems he was blessed by luck. If Adrian knew that almost every first explorers were given a monster related item as a guaranteed reward, he would have laugh at himself for thinking he was blessed by the god of luck. Adrian then awkwardly thanked Pann but the old imp was already petting Sirius and playing with his soulbound. Pann then answered that what Adrian was carrying was a dragon egg but he did not know just what kind since dragon's were quite rare after all. When Adrian then inspected the egg, it now displayed a different description.

Item: Unknown Dragon Egg

Tier:???

Description: An egg of a dragon. Extremely rare to find. Close to hatching.

Adrian was happy to see that he managed to get a rare monster which he could seal once it hatches. There was a dilemma though. How can he hatch the egg? Pann then smiled and told the young imp to follow him inside his home as if knowing the predicament Adrian was facing just by reading his face. Inside Pann's house there was what looked like a gigantic bed made of hay. Pann then told Adrian to put the egg there and wait for it to hatch. He knew that Adrian was a summoner based on the weapon he was wearing. Adrian placed the egg at the hay bed and a timer appeared in front of him.

[1 hour left before egg hatches]

Since it was only one hour left, Adrian told Pann that he was going to wait near the bed. One way of sealing a monster is to wait it to hatch. At least that was what Pann said since the first being that the monster sees would be imprinted by the monster. Imprinting is where a monster views the first seen as a parent or someone that it could trust. Now all he could do is wait.