The dragon finally made his move to attack me. I closed my eyes tightly while giving a shrill scream. Wait, why did the attack didn’t hit me yet? I slowly shifted my eyes and saw Captain Kenny who was now facing towards the dragon, ready for a battle. The dragon growled fiercely towards his appearance and now, the heavy-downpour started to take place.
“We are so going to have a talk after this,” He said angrily.
I couldn’t reply him instead of nodding for his dictions as tears kept rushing down my cheeks that I was so scared just a minute ago. He continued his fight with that beastly creature and slashed it hardly until it died. As expected from the Devil of the Sea. He stood upon me and was glaring at me with an angry look. I couldn’t lift my head and show my tears at him. He gave a heavy sigh and took off his clothes to wrap my injured sole.
“No, don’t! You’ll catch a cold if you do so. You can’t walk bare-skinned,” I declined.
“Please don’t scare me like that. Is it that fun to make me worried?” He said while wrapping my sole.
“But...”
He lifted me and carried me, “We must find a place for shelter if not we’ll freeze to death.”
We managed to settle inside a cave and had a shelter there. It was nearing twilight and I was worried about Chast.
“Chast went to me and told me everything. He’s fine in an inn...” He uttered as if he knew what I was thinking.
“Are you sure that you’re okay? You look very cold,” I said anxiously.
“Whose fault to start with?” He replied.
I went to him and hugged him with tears in my eyes, saying, “Sorry and thank you.”
Instead of shoving me away, he dragged me nearer, “It’s okay. Mind sharing your body temperature? It’s cold like hell.”
I nodded. His sturdy body was very cold since he was bare-skinned and we did get drenched from the rain. We kept staying at each other’s side to keep us warm until we fell asleep.
The next morning, I woke up and got myself lying at his chest. I jolted away and was in complete embarrassment. When I looked at him again, he looked really defenceless in that state. He must have been tired from last night’s battle. He opened his eyes and saw me sitting next to him. He rubbed his eyes with his right hand and turned towards me, “Let’s head back to where Chast is waiting. I bet he’s worried to death.”
I nodded.
All along the way, everyone was staring at us as if we’re a romantic couple which he was now still carrying me bare-skinned. I hid my face from their view, not trying to show my ruddy cheeks due to the embarrassment.
After a long journey, we finally managed to get to the inn where Chast was and his expression was very vivid, showing his anxiety towards my current condition. Captain Kenny didn’t even utter a word instead of continuing his way heading towards our room where Chast had slept last night and put me down on bed. He then walked away, searching for something. Chast quickly leapt out towards me and hugged me while muttering, “Thank god, you’re safe!”
I hugged him back, “Sorry for making you worried.”
Captain Kenny’s stature finally returned. He sat at the corner of the bed and took my injured leg and wrapped my sole with bandages. I was completely speechless due to his acts. Chast went out for a tour inside the inn to see if there’s something to eat for me and Captain Kenny.
Captain Kenny’s cold hazel eyes were staring deeply into mine, “Why must women be so weak and fragile?”
“Because man is made to protect us,” I replied.
“Why must we protect you? Can’t you guys live as what you are?” He asked again.
“No. Women and men need each other. A man needs a woman to give him love and comfort and in exchange, he’ll offer his protection over her,” I answered.
“But I don’t need one,” He answered briefly.
“Because you’re an alien,” I replied.
“...,” He went blank and stared at me in bewilder.
“Without us women, men cannot be born!” I pointed towards him.
“Vice versa,” He uttered a single and piercing word.
“Well, women give birth to children. Can men do that?” I asked him back.
He patted my head and grinned, “Whatever. You win.” And so, he left.
I was astounded by his peculiar behaviour. How my brain worked two times harder than usual that day to interpret some reasons on why had he not throw a tantrum at me yet for going against his orders? He usually did if any of the crew did.
Not long after that, a beastly roar filled the whole town as if to mourn over a lost thing. All people in the town was too scared to go out of their shelter and prayed for it to leave the town as what it was, unharmed. I reckoned that it was the dragon’s parent who came to avenge her or his infant. Chast held my sleeve tightly as if to ask for protection. I could do nothing than just hugging Chast for comfort and was facing towards Captain Kenny who was sighing heavily.
“Poor mother, she should’ve given her son a few educations for not entering this town whenever he wants. But, she’s too late to do so that her lovely infant is now dead,” Captain Kenny said in a grief.
“What should we do? This is my fault,” I uttered.
“Do not woe over spilled milk. We need to find a way to stop her or else no one will leave this village with their soul attaches to their body anymore,” He said firmly.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“We need to convince the mother not to be angry over her baby’s death,” He suggested.
“I’d be furious too if you killed my child,” I muttered monotonously.
“You sure do love to break a person’s mood. Have you any good idea?”
I shook my head swiftly. It’s not like I was breaking his spirit or so. It’s just that it was impossible to calm a mother who had her infant killed by a stranger. I gave a deep thought but none came to strike my head.
The door of the room swung violently as the stature of the owner of the inn stood there with a very anxious look on his face. Captain Kenny, Chast and I looked at the sweaty face of the owner who was now trying to calm himself to give out a speech or so, probably a warning since that it was the most appropriate thing to be done in such situation.
“Don’t step out at any cost until the Dragon Lord returns from his meditation at the waterfall in the east of the forest,” He said while inhaling for breath.
“Please don’t be panic. This accident always happens,” He uttered with a crooked smile.
“The one who should be calm is you, owner. I see, I think that is not a bad thing either. Please take care of my little sister and brother for a sec,” Captain Kenny slowly paced towards the doorway.
“You don’t plan on going to him right?!” The owner questioned.
I understood his smirk and decided to follow him. Unfortunately, my sole prevented me from walking anymore so I couldn’t follow him.
“You are not to follow me, Eleanor!” He ordered.
“No, let me go with you! I need to mend up this mess. Please,” I begged.
“As if you could walk with that sole of yours... You’re expecting me to carry you all the way?” He replied.
I frowned and couldn’t think of anymore excuses. He left the room and headed outdoors to search for that so called Dragon Lord. The sky turned gloomy and rain started to pour down, wetting the whole town. The owner gave himself a face-palm that he wasn’t able to stop Captain Kenny from going out of the Inn just to find the Dragon Lord to clear off this mess. I was anxious and curious of what would happen after this.
The mother dragon started to blew off fire-breath towards the highest building in the town. The gloomy and rainy sky was lit with the light of the fire that was engulfing the building. I could hear shrill screams from the fearful citizens, scattering all over the place and was running to save themselves from the dragon’s wrath.
“This is turning ugly. I don’t think this town is a safe place anymore for us to stay,” Said the owner in despair.
“Don’t give up just yet! There must be a way to stop that dragon while Cap... I mean, my brother is searching for the Dragon Lord,” I gave him as much hope as I can.
“What hope can you find in this state?” He asked.
“If, there is a miracle... I’m sure that we will be safe! My Ca... I mean, my brother won’t let us down! He’ll never let his crew down!” I replied enthusiastically.
“You’re the one to say, Sis,” Chast slightly chuckled.
The owner was astounded, “Wait, are you guys sailors?”
“Uh, I guess you can put it that way. Why?” I asked.
“I know that this is not an appropriate time but, I’d like to know where you’re from and where’re you heading to. If that is not a burden to you, that is...” He retorted.
“Well, I’m from the fisherman village, Frest. We usually stop at random port so there’s no other way in knowing where our next location is. Or, this might be the last,” I answered.
“Where’re that spirits of yours have fled to?” Chast said with a monotonous look on his face, as if saying ‘you’re the one who said it just now, didn’t you?’
“Putting that aside. If you stopped at the Ele Kingdom, please give this envelope to a certain knight there. His name is Ale deFloid,” He paused. “Well, I couldn’t find the missing princess and I’m getting my age ahead of me. So, I think this is the right time for me to retire.”
“I see. I’ll help you,” I smiled. “What about the missing princess you were talking about?”
Before he could explain, the dragon seemed to give out fire-breath towards the inn, resulting fire at the west-wing.
“No time to waste! Let us find a safe place to settle in from that ferocious dragon,” He suggested.
“That’s the best to be done,” I nodded.
“Uh, sis... The dragon seems to dislike our statures,” Chast pulled my sleeve.
The dragon’s attention was now at us! She was observing our halted statures which stunned due to intense shock received from the situation. I could only pray for our safety. The dragon finally gave her fire-breath towards us. What luck had befell us, Rio, Sweeney, Scar, Hardy and all the crews except for the captain was here!
“My, my... Where’s that baby sitter of yours, Eleanor?” Rio mocked.
“He went towards the eastern forest towards the waterfall where there, a Dragon Lord was meditating,” I explained briefly.
“And he’s?” Howard asked while pointing towards the owner.
“Oh, he’s the owner of the inn. Captain entrusted him to take care of both Chast and me,” I replied.
“How do you do?” The owner waved a gesture while quivering.
“I don’t trust this rusty old man’s strength,” Sweeney added.
“That’s why I’m retiring and opened my own inn,” He replied.
“Hey, old man. Can you wield a sword?” Alfin asked.
“I used to. I don’t think my biceps could manage to wield one anymore,” He answered.
“Told you that he’s already rusty,” Sweeney mocked.
“Forget the owner and face what’s in front of you, you idiots!” Henry exclaimed furiously.
“Yes, sir!” Both of them retorted simultaneously.
I didn’t think that they could win against the angry dragon. What could be worse than being killed by its fire-breath? Oh, captain please be hurry!
