The dawn light spilled gently over the rough, black rocks outside the volcanic lava cave, like golden powder brushed from a painter’s hand, casting a warm halo across the jagged terrain. The air carried a peculiar fragrance, a blend of damp earth and the sweet, wild allure of berries. It was as if invisible threads of scent had coiled around the nostrils of Agnas and Catilia, softly awakening their slumbering senses.

  The two young dragons opened their sleepy eyes almost simultaneously, their nostrils twitching with excitement like newborn beasts eagerly capturing the first fragrance of the morning.

  “What’s that smell?” Catilia murmured softly, her amber eyes brimming with curiosity. Agnas tilted his head slightly, his dragon whiskers trembling as he exchanged a questioning glance with his sister.

  The aroma grew stronger, as if silently calling to them. Without a word, the two young dragons rose to their feet and stepped out of the cave with light, eager steps.

  Not far away, their elder brother, Seratus, was busy tending to a small fire. Flames licked at the skewered food on the makeshift grill, and the tantalizing scent wafted from there.

  “Brother!” Agnas stretched his neck eagerly, his whiskers quivering with excitement. His tone was filled with childlike glee and curiosity, firing off questions in rapid succession. “What’s that delicious thing? The smell even crept into my dreams! Tell us about it, and share some with us, won’t you?”

  Seratus slowly raised his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, as if a small prank had succeeded. But the moment he noticed his siblings’ expectant gazes, the smirk faded, replaced by a feigned indifference and impatience.

  He glanced at the pair out of the corner of his eye, his mind racing. These two little ones had such sharp noses, picking up the scent from so far away. The Sunlight Mushrooms were the result of his meticulous care—watering, fertilizing, and nurturing them to grow just this small batch. Each one was packed with incredible energy. To share them so easily? Hmph, that would be giving away his hard-earned treasure to these little gluttons.

  He cleared his throat, his breath carrying a hint of warmth, and spoke with deliberate nonchalance. “These are just wild mushrooms I found nearby. If you want some, go look for them yourselves.” His tone suggested that these precious Sunlight Mushrooms were nothing more than ordinary fare.

  Catilia eagerly stepped forward, her amber eyes fixed on the golden-brown mushrooms. She couldn’t help but marvel, “Wow! These mushrooms… they’re like little suns! The life energy they contain is incredible! Brother, tell me, where did you find them?”

  Agnas also leaned in, examining the roasted mushrooms with a thoughtful expression. He gently tapped the surface of a mushroom with his claw, feeling the warm, vibrant energy emanating from it. His brow furrowed slightly, and he remarked with a hint of regret, “The life essence in these mushrooms is so rich, but roasting them must have destroyed some of it. What a shame.”

  Hearing his siblings’ admiration for the Sunlight Mushrooms, Seratus remained outwardly calm, though inwardly he felt a twinge of satisfaction. Perhaps revealing a bit of the mushrooms’ “value” would only heighten their curiosity and make them more eager to uncover his “secret.”

  With an air of magnanimity, he split the skewer of golden, fragrant mushrooms in half and pushed one portion toward Agnas, who had praised them so highly. “Here, since you seem to appreciate them, take this.”

  Agnas accepted the half-skewer and took a small bite. Instantly, a surge of pure energy burst in his mouth, as if the lingering injuries within his body were rapidly healing. He sighed with genuine admiration. “This is truly amazing… These mushrooms are brimming with life essence. Where did you find such a rare ingredient? I’ve never seen anything like it around here.”

  The slightly charred edges of the mushroom evoked a flood of memories from his past life as a human, when he had enjoyed such delicacies freely and without restraint. Though he had been reborn as a dragon, the familiar taste stirred a deep longing for those lost days.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Seeing that there were still mushrooms left on the fire, Seratus carefully tore the remaining Sunlight Mushrooms into pieces, skewered them on moist branches, and placed them back on the fire to continue roasting.

  As the flames danced, the rich aroma of the mushrooms filled the air once more, as if awakening all the dormant energy of the earth.

  Before long, Catilia could no longer sit still. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and a hint of reproach. She couldn’t help but speak up, her tone carrying a touch of authority. “Brother, you can’t just eat all by yourself! Don’t forget we’re family too! Share some with me. After all, I’m the future Queen of the Red Dragon Calamity!”

  Seratus looked into her playful yet eager eyes and finally relented, slowly handing her the other half of the skewer. “Alright, alright, here’s your share.”

  Catilia took the skewer, sniffed it eagerly, and then took a big bite. The rich life essence exploded in her mouth, filling her with warmth and strength.

  Seratus leisurely finished the last skewer, licking the lingering aroma from his lips with satisfaction. Only then did he rise to his feet and carefully tend to the fire, ensuring every ember was extinguished.

  This wasn’t just out of concern for the surrounding vegetation; it was also a subconscious effort to leave no trace that might reveal his secret.

  Agnas, now fully satisfied, patted his belly but remained curious about the origin of the Sunlight Mushrooms. He leaned in and asked again, “Brother, these mushrooms are incredible! You still haven’t told us where you found them. We’ve never seen anything like them around here.”

  Faced with his brother’s relentless questioning, Seratus’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. He glanced at the two pairs of expectant eyes and quickly weighed his options.

  He knew that if he revealed the truth about the Sunlight Mushrooms, these two would undoubtedly become relentless in their curiosity and actions. His secret field would be at risk, and his carefully laid plans would be disrupted.

  With that in mind, he chose silence, his expression turning deliberately enigmatic. No matter how much his siblings pressed him, he kept his lips sealed. The morning light cast a mysterious warmth over the scene outside the volcanic lava cave.

  Just moments ago, Seratus had been carefully roasting the plump Sunlight Mushrooms—each one meticulously prepared, roasted to a perfect golden brown, exuding a rich life essence.

  Yet, this exquisite delicacy had sparked curiosity and greed in his companions.

  Seratus felt a pang of unease, his face briefly betraying hesitation. Thoughts of “cultivation” and “harvesting” echoed like warning bells in his mind. If he revealed the secret of his carefully tended Sunlight Mushrooms, his siblings would surely swarm in, destroying his hidden field. But outright refusal would seem too cold. Bound by blood, how could he risk damaging their bond?

  His eyes flickered as an idea formed.

  He deliberately adopted a troubled expression, leaned in closer, and spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. “Want to know? It’s a secret… But you must swear not to tell anyone, or else… well, you’ll never hear another secret from me!”

  Agnas and Catilia’s eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement, and they quickly swore, “Brother, we promise we won’t tell anyone!”

  Seeing that they had taken the bait, Seratus allowed a sly smile to creep onto his face. “Well… I stumbled upon a magical storage pouch. It suddenly opened, and out fell this mushroom! The pouch is long gone now, but the things inside are still here.”

  With that, he extended his sharp claw and reached into a hidden system space, pulling out a tiny seed. The seed glowed faintly yellow, exuding a vitality similar to the Sunlight Mushrooms. He held it up and said in a low voice, “See? This is the seed of the Sunlight Mushroom. Its glow matches the freshly roasted mushrooms, proving they grow from this. Perhaps it’s a secret left behind by some ancient plant enthusiast.”

  Agnas and Catilia listened with a mix of belief and doubt. Catilia leaned in to examine the seed closely. “Brother, this seed does contain a rich plant life energy, just like the Sunlight Mushroom. But did you really just happen to find it? That seems too convenient!”

  Agnas pressed further, “Seratus, are you really that lucky? If so, cultivating such precious mushrooms must take a lot of time and effort. Why don’t you take us to see for ourselves?”

  Seratus sighed inwardly. If they discovered the location of his secret field, it would spell disaster. His carefully tended crops would be trampled. He shook his head with an air of mystery. “This… I can’t just tell you. Some secrets are only for those who truly appreciate them.” His tone was tinged with feigned regret.

  Though Agnas and Catilia were still full of questions, they reluctantly agreed to keep the secret. They exchanged knowing glances, silently vowing to follow Seratus in a few days to uncover the truth.

  As the flames died down, the aroma of the roasted mushrooms lingered in the air. Agnas couldn’t resist asking once more, “Brother, where did those mushrooms really come from? Don’t lie to us. We’re family, bound by blood!”

  Seratus met their probing gazes, knowing that revealing the truth would jeopardize his plans. He decided to change tactics, buying himself time to grow more mushrooms while also enlisting their help with the farming tasks assigned by his system.

  He leaned in closer and whispered, “Listen, I was skeptical at first too. But look at these seeds. If we plant them, we’ll have more Sunlight Mushrooms. Think about it—they’re packed with life energy and taste amazing. I’ve tried growing them myself. If you don’t believe me, why not try planting them?”

  Agnas and Catilia exchanged uncertain glances. As red dragons, farming like humans was hardly their forte. But the mushrooms were undeniably delicious, and the life energy they contained was undeniable. They couldn’t help but feel that Seratus wasn’t entirely lying.

  After some whispered deliberation, the two dragons decided to give it a try. If they couldn’t grow the mushrooms, so be it. At least they were doing something.

  Catilia turned to Seratus and said, “We’ll take your word for it, but we’re not exactly cut out for farming. Can you really grow these mushrooms? How long will it take to harvest them?”

  After some more discussion, the two dragons decided to secretly follow Seratus in a few days to see what he was really up to. With that, they headed back to the cave, planning to tail him later.

  As Seratus watched them walk away, he suddenly felt an odd sensation, as if someone was watching him. He turned sharply to find Agnas and Catilia still standing not far off, their eyes filled with a knowing, almost mischievous glint. His confident smile faltered, replaced by a complex mix of emotions—unease at the thought of his secret being exposed, and a tinge of resentment at being doubted by his own kin. Meanwhile, the two dragons exchanged a meaningful glance, their lips curling into sly smiles, as if hinting at the brewing storm of suspicion ready to erupt…