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Chapter 858: A Dining Hall for Fire Dragons
Chapter 858: A Dining Hall for Fire Dragons
Perhaps due to the unusually hard shell, the fire dragon eggs showed cracks but didn't seem ready to hatch just yet.
Newt placed them in a peculiar box with a metal mesh bottom, occasionally allowing Norbert to assist by spraying flames to keep the eggs warm.
Kyle observed this scene, feeling a sense of familiarity, as if something was missing.
Perhaps... some cumin and chili powder.
If Newt were to brush some oil onto the eggs, he'd be like a skilled barbecue chef.
As if reading Kyle's thoughts, Newt produced a brush.
Of course, he wasn't hungry and wasn't preparing a snack for himself. Instead, the brush held a liquid extracted from Bubotuber stems and cactus flowers.
According to Newt, this liquid helped distribute the flames more evenly on the eggs, aiding the fire dragons inside to hatch more easily.
Newt spent the entire night crouching beside the eggs, until the next morning when two fist-sized fire dragons emerged from their shells.
"See, they're very healthy, aren't they?" Newt smiled, attempting to pick them up.
But the two tiny creatures, their eyes still closed, instinctively dodged him, wobbling towards Kyle, or rather, Norbert behind him.
To be honest, it was the first time Kyle saw such clear fear on a fire dragon's face, mixed with a hint of panic.
It was as if two hundred-foot-long Hungarian Horntails were walking towards him instead of juvenile fire dragons.
Norbert hastily retracted his neck, knocking over numerous objects in his haste, leaving the room in disarray.
Then, he flew away at top speed, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye, leaving the two little dragons behind, crying out in distress.
"They must be used to Norbert's flames, considering her as their mother." Newt shook his head, explaining, "But fire dragons are highly intelligent and will soon realize the difference between themselves and Norwegian Spiked Dragons."
Kyle couldn't help but reach out to stroke the slightly larger Ukrainian Ironbelly, asking, "What should I feed them? Chicken blood mixed with brandy?"
"I assume you've read the book 'How to Tame Fire Dragons'," Newt said, "This food is indeed suitable for young fire dragons, but to be honest, it's a bit outdated.
"And it's unlikely for fire dragons to find an entire barrel of brandy in the forest or on cliffs to feed their young."
"So, what should I prepare?" Kyle asked.
"Usually, fire dragons bite into Flamestone, mixing it with meat to feed their young," Newt explained.
Flamestone, also known as Fire Stone, is the product of dragon flame constantly melting and solidifying the rocks in their lair over time.
When exposed to dragon flame, this unique stone emits high temperatures, making it a favorite of fire dragons. The more Flamestone in a lair, the stronger the resident dragon.
It's a bit like the Galleon's significance to wizards.
However, while it sounds high-end, it's of little use to wizards, only a few rare alchemy spells require it.
Flamestone...
Kyle thought for a moment. Flamestone could be found in Norbert's cave; he had seen it when he went to place gold coins there.
"I'll go get it now, but I'm not sure if there's enough." Kyle said, preparing to run out.
"No need to rush." Newt smiled, "If you take the Norwegian Spiked Dragon's Flamestone, she might get upset. We have a better option.
"What?"
"Ideally, it's best to mix in some Fire Serpent Ash. This helps fire dragons grow faster through their juvenile stage. If not, fire lizard tails and fire crab shells will do.
"Hmm..." Kyle opened his mouth.
Newt's suggestions were all unfamiliar to him; fire lizard tails were manageable, but the other two were challenging to find.
Kyle smiled at Newt, blinking repeatedly.
"Don't look at me like that." Newt's heart skipped a beat, "They're your dragons, and these things are available at the Fire Dragon Sanctuary. You can go with the bond; it's written here, right? They'll cover all expenses for your dragons."
"But the bond hasn't taken effect yet." Kyle continued to smile, "And they only cover expenses for the other two dragons, not these two."
"Then buy it yourself." Newt said, "You should have the money."
"I'm short on funds now." Kyle sighed, "I have just over a thousand Galleons left, and I want to open a shop.
"Besides, they are dragons you hatched; you can't just ignore them."
Newt's mouth hung open.
Finally, he understood Kyle's intention for seeking him out. Was he treating him like a dining hall?
But seeing Kyle's amused expression, and his genuine interest in studying these fire dragons, Newt had no choice but to agree.
With the desired response, Kyle couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Newt sighed deeply.
Raising a Fire Dragon is an expensive endeavor, given their towering size, often reaching several dozen feet in height. Their voracious appetite, especially during their juvenile stage, is the primary reason for this cost.
To grow quickly and develop tougher scales and store Dragon Flame within their bodies, these dragons seem to have bottomless stomachs, constantly eating or on their way to eat.
Newt still remembers the first Fire Dragon he ever raised. During that time, there was a period when he could barely afford to eat, surviving on water-soaked stale bread for days.
While the current situation is undoubtedly different, Newt has the scars of that experience. Moreover, this time, he has to raise not one but two Fire Dragons, including the Ukrainian Ironbelly, known for its enormous appetite.
The Ukrainian Ironbelly gets its name from its iron-like stomach, capable of consuming and digesting vast amounts of food. Even as a hatchling, it can devour an entire cow leg, larger than its own body.
However, Newt's concern isn't about the food costs. He worries about his carefully collected Fire Ash Viper eggs and Fire Lizards.
Two Fire Dragons—how much will they eat?
Newt calculates in his mind, considering whether he should sneak into the Hungarian Horntail's lair at night to collect some Flamestone.
The Romanian Longhorn Dragon can be raised more delicately, but the Ukrainian Ironbelly... no matter how much extra food he has, it won't be enough for this beast. He'll just have to add some quantity to the food.
Newt ponders in his mind.
On the other hand, Kyle is feeling quite relaxed.
First of all, he isn't treating Newt as a free meal ticket. The primary reason is... is his fear of not being able to properly care for the juvenile Fire Dragons.
Yes, that's right.
Saving money isn't the main goal; it's just a convenient byproduct.
Why is he smiling? It's because he's thinking of something delightful... He's about to own his own shop soon, and with the extra money, he can even afford a few better shelves. He's overjoyed.
"I have one more question..." Kyle thinks for a moment and continues, "What if the Time Turner causes the Fire Dragons to hatch early, will it affect other magical creatures?"
"I understand." Newt looks at Kyle deeply, "I'll go and check it out."
"You're the best." Kyle says sincerely.
"But I have one request." Newt says.
"Not just one, ten are fine." Kyle pats his chest.
These words come from the heart. Even without this situation, Newt wouldn't refuse if Kyle asked for help.
"Just one thing." Newt says, looking at the parchment with Birdman's signature, "After the Fire Dragon Sanctuary gives you two dragon eggs, I hope you can get a Chinese Fireball Dragon."
The Chinese Fireball Dragon, also known as the Lion Dragon, is a species native to the East. It's not common in Europe, and according to Kyle's knowledge, only a couple exist in the Romanian Fire Dragon Sanctuary.
"Why?" Kyle asks curiously.
"Because, of all the known Fire Dragons, my understanding of the Lion Dragon is the least." Newt says, "I've always wanted to expand the 'Where are the Magical Creatures' section about Lion Dragons, but I've never had the chance."
"Impossible." Kyle doubts, "This type of dragon is also rare in Europe, right? Why not go to their native land for research? I remember you also have a Zouwu."
"It's different." Newt's face turns slightly red, looking a bit embarrassed, "Because of some matters... I can't go into specifics, but after a certain event, I feel awkward about going there again."
"Oh, I understand." Kyle nods, seeing Newt's conflicted expression, and doesn't ask further.
Moreover, Newt has been blacklisted by almost every country, so it's normal that he can't go there.
"My side is definitely no problem." Kyle thinks for a moment and says, "But whether the Fire Dragon Sanctuary agrees is uncertain, after all, the contract only states that they'll give me two dragon eggs, without specifying that I can choose freely."
"Don't worry about that." Newt says, "I'll go with you when the time comes, leave it to me."
"Then there's no problem." Kyle nods.
...
In the following days, Newt spends most of his time in Kyle's trunk, caring for the juvenile Fire Dragons while also observing other magical creatures... and eventually concludes that they are unaffected by the Time Turner.
"Perhaps it's because they experienced the complete process from the past to the present."
During a dinner, Newt explains, "Only the dragon eggs are an exception, they only experienced a part of it."
"Of course, this is just my speculation. The specific reason is probably only clear to those who research the Time Turner. Why don't you ask Diana?"
"Ask Diana?" Kyle shivers, "If she finds out I bought two Fire Dragons, she'll kill me and my dad."
"What does Chris have to do with this?"
"I need to pull someone in to split the damage." Kyle spreads his hands, "Maybe there's a chance to survive, getting half-dead is better than being killed."
Newt's mouth twitches, looking at Kyle silently, "Does Chris know?"
I don't know, and I don't need to know." Kyle calmly took a bite of his grilled steak, "If the same thing happened to him, he wouldn't let me off the hook either."
"I still remember when he and Mr. Weasley got drunk, and he stepped on the hydrangea Mom planted at the door when he was little."
"Did he say you did it?"
"No, he didn't." Kyle shook his head, "But he tricked me, and he kept my shoe with the petals as evidence."
"Okay." Newt fell silent.
...
A few days later, Kyle started to feel bored. Mainly because Newt had taken over the care of the dragons, leaving him with little to do.
He decided to help Newt with his trunk, only to find that Dobby had already completed the tasks, which were becoming more and more proficient. In the distance, on a small island in the lake, he could always hear a whining sound, which was quite scary at night.
Kyle remembered that the place seemed to be the territory of the Hungarian Horntail. Although he was curious about what was happening, he didn't dare to go and see without Newt by his side.
After all, the Hungarian Horntails were known for their bad temper, and with the scent of other dragons on his body, going there alone would likely be seen as a provocation.
In order to find something to do, Kyle walked out of the room after finishing breakfast one day.
"Mr. Kyle, where are you going..." Dobby hurriedly ran over and asked.
"I'm going to Diagon Alley." Kyle said, "There's an empty shop that needs cleaning."
"Cleaning?"
Perhaps it was just a feeling, but Kyle felt Dobby's eyes light up.
"Dobby will go with you."
"No, no." Kyle waved his hand, "It's just cleaning, don't you have a lot of work to do?"
Ever since Newt started taking care of the little dragons, all the tasks in his trunk, including feeding, cleaning, and mediating their fights, had fallen onto Dobby. Every day, he was fully occupied with work.
"It's okay, Mr. Scamander said he's going back today, and Dobby has time to accompany Mr. Kyle to clean."
"Okay." Kyle thought for a moment and felt that bringing a house elf along was a good idea.
"I'll pay you a fair wage."
"How generous!" Dobby's tears immediately flowed, and his body trembled as he choked, "Mr. Kyle is actually offering to pay Dobby a wage."
"No, it's not right, sir." Dobby stared with his two big red eyes, "Dobby is helping you, not working, and can't accept a wage."
"Then I'll treat you to ice cream, how about hazelnut peanut?"
As expected, Dobby cried, and his tears fell on his denim outfit, creating light and dark patches as if he had been caught in a rainstorm.
Kyle didn't understand why Dobby was still so emotional after being here for so long.
After calming the excited house elf, they finally arrived at Diagon Alley.
Kyle used the Magical Bond to open the door and stepped inside, immediately hit by a strong, unpleasant odor.
He had to use the Bubble-Head Charm to block out the smell.
Kyle had initially wanted to cast the spell on Dobby as well, but he shook his head, indicating he didn't need it. Kyle didn't insist and cast a Swish and Flick Charm to ventilate the room before starting the cleaning.
...
Bringing Dobby along was indeed a wise decision.
Perhaps it's true that specialization leads to expertise. House elves are far superior to wizards when it comes to cleaning. Kyle had barely cleaned a small area, and Dobby had already cleaned half the shop. He even carefully picked out pixies from the cracks and placed them in a basket.
"Many little creatures like to eat pixies. This will be enough for them to have a good meal." Dobby explained.
"You're not coming along for nothing." Kyle said, watching him carefully cover the bamboo basket.
But Dobby was right. Although pixies are poisonous, for some magical creatures, the poison not only has no effect but also adds a unique flavor, similar to a seasoning. It's quite a good snack.
With Dobby's help, the cleaning was completed quickly. The originally dirty and dusty shop was transformed, looking as if it had been washed, and the colors were much brighter.
Kyle kept his promise and bought Dobby a large, luxurious ice cream with all the possible nuts added.
The elf cried again with joy.
After cleaning, it was time to set up the shop, but there was no rush. They could take their time, setting up a shelf today and a table tomorrow, which was a perfect way to pass the time.
During this period, the two young dragons' bodies grew larger and larger... No, they couldn't be called young dragons anymore, especially the Ukrainian Ironbelly, which was like an inflatable, growing a circle larger each day. It was now taller than Kyle when it stood up and could knock him over if it charged.
A few more days passed, and there was still no news from Dumbledore, but the Magical Bond on the parchment suddenly lit up.
(End of Chapter)
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