The pair of pink orbs stared back at them with indifference and emptiness at first, like an empty vessel or someone in a trance, looking at something yet nothing in particular. Then it turned its head fully towards them with a slightly wider gaze and a tinge of hope. Then the gaze softened.
“Erie… You came…”
Darrion could only blink and breathe and blink and breathe as he stared back at the creature back. “I-I’m not Erie…”
But then the creature tilted its head, and still with a soft gaze, it spoke. “How I missed you so, Erie…”
Darrion swallowed his saliva. “I-I’m not Erie!”
The creature then frowned slightly. “Erie… Who is that with you?”
Darrion glanced at Jai, who still had his left hand stretched in front of Darrion and his other hand holding onto the Oliviers, before looking back at the creature.
“He looks… Famil
A young man with brown hair that was styled up into flame stood straight in the middle of a road. His face was cute square, smooth, and seemed well maintained. His clothes were consisted of a pair of dark boots, dark pants, a knife holster on his thigh, and white shirt underneath a black leather jacket. There was a green cloth that was connecting both sides of his jacket and ended up hanging on his right chest right to half of his stomach.He was standing in the roadway where all three paths leading to the Fire Border met. It would be awkward to stand in the middle of the road with no significant reason, but this man was waiting for someone. He looked at his watch before looking back to the road, the left road.“It’s almost 5 PM. What could they possibly be doing?” he pursed his lips, looking slightly annoyed. He crossed his arms on his chest. “I know this is the first time for them to be here, but… They’re strong, rig
“Here you are, Aumer berry juice! I squeeze them myself so you don’t have to worry about the kids getting dirt on it…” the ‘dragon’ said, handing them each some sort of small bowl that looked like hardened pumpkin. There was a purple colored liquid inside it.Darrion immediately looked at the content and gave it a sniff. “It smells like Aumer drink! Is this really made of Aumer berry?!”She smiled. “Yes, Erie… It’s your favorite, isn’t it? We grew these berries a lot in your absence. The kids also love it and it’s also healthy for them.”“By kids, you mean…” Jai looked at her in confusion.She turned around and waved her hands to the lake. “Them. They grow so fast that I can’t wait to show all of them to you. This small heaven is having lots and lots of families!”Jai noticed she was being more cheerful than she was before. &ls
Darrion looked at his friend. “Why do you seem surprised when she said young man?”“I didn’t know the boy is actually almost the same age as us,” Jai said. “Torfo and the uncle didn’t say anything about it,” he gave Darrion Torfo’s letter and the windlet read it.“How do you know he’s a young man?” Jai asked her.She only blinked with a tilt of her head. “I just do.”Jai nodded slowly, looking doubtful, but well, he let it slide. ‘She’s a dragon~’“Can dragons read the future like you, DeGift?” Darrion asked.“Yes…” she answered with a frown. “Erie… Why don’t you call me with my name?”Darrion wasn’t prepared for it, so he didn’t manage to answer immediately. But Jai spok
Erietta patted both of her hands in very soft claps with a small smile. “I think it’s better for you to leave now… Someone needs your help,” she winked at them.That seemed to remind the two that they had to hurry. “Can you help us out of the forest?” Jai asked.Erietta nodded and she floated up. The second she floated, the vine seat loosened and it turned into grass. “I will open the portal for you…”Both Jai and Darrion set their cups aside and put down the Grenyas, then they stood up. Although the Grenyas didn’t seem like wanting to let them go, they immediately jumped on their feet and climbing up their clothes to their shoulders. Even several other Grenyas joined in.“Hey guys, I’m not a scratching post,” Jai chuckled, standing on the spot helplessly while more and more little Grenyas climbing up his hands and eventually took turns to sit on his head.Darrion happi
They were questioned by the guards as soon as they arrived at the Fire Border. Because it was night time already when they reached there, and according to their knowledge, there weren’t many people crossing the border at night.“But isn’t the Waldekit Village’s road is closed due to a dangerous monster?” asked the soldier in charge of checking their permit.“Ah, no, we went through the Affedor,” Darrion answered for them. He didn’t notice the brunette beside the guard, who had arrived there with them and was now writing his identity in the guest book, looking at him with suspicious and curious look.‘Lies!’ he said, in his mind. ‘I turned my head away for a second and you suddenly appeared. Out of nowhere. This blonde’s Air Barrier level shouldn’t be higher than me, yet I didn’t notice him at all.’As he was pondering about it, and Darrion talked with the guard, Jai
When Jai was done taking a shower, it was Darrion’s turn. The windlet took not more than seven minutes to take a bath and he dragged Jai up to the roof to get some air.The twin grey moons accompanied by thousands glittering stars was immediately in their sight. Jai was always amazed by how clear and beautiful the night sky in this world. He could never see the millions of suns coloring the night sky back in his world like this, and it became one of the things he was grateful to see here.There was a guard patrolling around the stairs upstairs, and two more guards around fifty meters in each side of the roof. Jai and Darrion walked to a spot near the edge of the wall and leaned on the big brick while looking at the other side of the wall.“Jai, come and take a look,” Darrion smiled and pointed to other side.Jai stood next to him and looked as the other side of the wall. He leaned his head forward a bit to see better. “Is that a fo
Alex was once again brought flying in mid-air. And again, he was not fond of this method. But he was being kidnapped, he hardly has any say in how they’re bringing him. Though maybe, just maybe…‘I prefer in the barrel again… This is worse,’ he thought as he fought the urge to throw up. He was riding the orange feathered bird with the nicer guy of the three and the wind was ravaging every inch of his body thin clothed body. He kept swallowing his saliva over and over again and his breathing became frantic for a few moments. He couldn’t focus on where they’ll be going as he was nauseous when he looked down, but he could see the rows of trees not far from them.‘I’m not afraid of heights… But why is my vision blurry when I look down there?’ he wondered. He swallowed his saliva again and leaned forward a bit, putting his palms on the bird’s back to keep him sitting straight.The nice guy wit
Alex woke up to the feeling of warmth and the scent of baby oil. He knew he was currently tucked in a bed, and that means he’s indoor. He was sure because the noises weren’t that much compared to when he was held in the barrel, and the fact that there’s a smell of baby oil couldn’t possibly mean anywhere else than a loving home.‘Unless it’s just a front and they make the room smells like this to lower my guard,’ he thought to himself. He wanted to scoff. ‘They might be nice, especially the big guy. But they’re still my kidnapper. I’m not falling for this.’There’s a sound of people talking in the background. He couldn’t hear it clearly at first, but as his senses returned to him, he could hear bits and bits that they were talking about him, although faintly.“…the boy?” a heavy but soft voice asked.Then he heard Hayate’s voice said. “Oh he’