"You can leave now," Kane said, his voice soft, almost reluctant. As he spoke, a doorway of shimmering light opened beside them, forming out of the air as if reality itself had folded back to reveal an exit. "Walk through that door and you'll find yourself outside the Nine Dragons Painting."
Max nodded in understanding.
"I will take care of the dragon egg. I promise." Max said solemnly to the black dragon.
Following that he didn't look back. He simply turned and stepped through the door, his figure swallowed by the glow, vanishing from the surreal realm without a sound.
A heavy silence followed.
After a few quiet seconds, the black dragon exhaled deeply, the sound like the rumble of distant thunder. "Why didn't you tell him the truth?" the dragon asked, its voice low and questioning. "Why keep the reason behind the existence of the Nine Dragons Painting hidden from him?"
