The Draconian Story Epilogue
#23 of The Draconian Story
Rezer Karnash's Tradition
The damp prison greeted Richard as he went into the main chamber, still with his hands tied behind his back. He heard so many loud voices swearing and saying inappropriate things, and also the fact that unlike most of the prison cells, he also saw some cells hanged over them, with at least two prisoners trying to kill each other (Richard could say that since he could sense killing auras), but their movement was held by some chains binding their hands and legs. He also took a glimpse when a warden electrocuted them both, saying "Discipline!" after that. The collar around Richard was also the fact that he was also a prisoner here, and he knew it would be hard to hold himself to start a massacre in the prison. He also wished the chains could be strong enough.
"Okay, you scoundrel," said the draconian pulling him. He was a dark emerald draconian like Solomon, but then he had a distinctive three-line of scar running down from his right eye to his chest (the chest part was obscured by his clothes) to differ him with Solomon. He also had yellow eyes and it made Richard became relieved to find other similarly colored slit eyes in this world. His tail wiggling around wildly while he caught a thrown bottle toward him and threw it to the ground without even watching the thrower. Richard was also lucky his tail's movement wasn't obstructed so he could use his tail to catch another bottle and throw it, unfortunately, back to the prisoner throwing it with pinpoint accuracy that it shattered in the draconian's hand and hurting him.
"Hey, do you even know the...nevermind, you're new here. We have limited resource on medics, so you need to refrain on hurting them. Killing is not advised, though. Anyway, what's your name, scoundrel? I'm your warden now, so go with my orders."
"I'm Richard Andaluvia. How's yours?"
"To be exact, I never found any fucking scoundrel around here wanted to reply in one question or before being shocked by this baton. Wanna try?"
"But..."
Before he could even say something, the draconian swung the thing hard to him. Richard didn't feel any electrocution, but he still felt the iron rod was painful enough.
"Ouch, man! That thing is hard!"
"Really? I never thought I ever see a scoundrel here not affected by the electricity."
"Of course I'm not! I'm a fucking electricity dragon! I absorbed it!"
"What the..."
When the draconian turned to his baton, he saw that the battery was empty. It was lucky the place was very crowded, otherwise the draconian could be humiliated by all of them.
"Well...you're lucky I'm not the vengeful type. Otherwise, this is your last time humiliating me."
"I'm not!"
He then sighed, then said, "You did ask my name, right? My name is Termeth Ros Hecksar. Just call me Termeth, and I call you Andaluvia, okay? Richard is kind of...weird."
"Yeah...I feel my name...seemed weird, too," said Richard slowly. "Oh, and uh, where do I..."
"Just don't make any weird things until we reach it. Your inmate clothes are there and we'll have to confiscate your current clothes and everything, including your weapons in here. If you're living here forever, they'll be given to us, okay?"
"Okay, just...where will this end?"
Termeth didn't reply him until they went to another block, where the rowdy voices seemed louder than the previous block, but then the place was gloomy, unlike the previous block. It was also invaded with some sands, so Richard knew it was desert around the place. After a while, Richard realized his cell was the one at the middle of the place and it was the hanging cage he saw earlier. When they reached the place (by a lift), he found out that despite of its bad lightings, the room was at least cozy, for Richard, of course. There was also a separate room for a toilet.
"Here, a VIP one, I can say," said Termeth. "My office is beside this room, and don't try anything stupid! I'll be watching you all day, and you can only ask me if you want to go to restroom. I'll be guiding you and your inmate if there are any activities like shower, eating, gardening and all things. Do I make myself clear?!"
"Clear!"
"Okay...though that's not the answer. Your inmate will be here. By the time, I'll be chaining you to your own bed. Relax, Andaluvia, the chains are long enough for a good movement. I'm not a torture type, and you don't look like a bad drake either. I haven't seen your reports, though."
"Oh, and...can you tell me about my inmate?"
"You'll be quite surprised to see him."
Richard didn't know anything Termeth said, and he waited in a great worry on who would be his inmate. If it was a nice one, then it was okay, but he should be wary that now Engrak wasn't there with him to calm him down when there was a Nation-class criminal as his inmate. He tried to think anything to stop himself on killing others.
What he expected, though, was very surprising...
"Hey, this is the new inmate for him," said a voice. "Careful, prisoner! There's a desk over..."
There was a loud thud, followed by the cage swinging. Richard could also hear a sigh and Termeth's voice saying, "Is he a dimwit?"
"No, he's blind. Maybe the confrontation back at that criminal-ridden town had robbed his eyesight."
"Ah, damn...but can you talk?"
"I can."
The voice was the familiar voice Richard thought could never be heard anymore. But, this was like a coincidence! There's no way the randomized cell could be like this.
"Okay, your name is..."
"I'm Schrosharx Fidelrung."
"Yes, well, now since you're blind, I guess it ends the tradition. Hey, Andaluvia, check this out! This is the one you're trying to kill, eh?"
When Richard turned his eyes, he saw Schrosharx, still the same without bandages, walked through the door with Termeth. The black red draconian's eyes were closed, and it made Richard very, very sad to know that it was him that robbed his eyesight. After Schrosharx was chained like Richard did, Richard exclaimed, "Schrosharx, I..."
"It's okay, Richard," said Schrosharx facing a direction different to where Richard was. "You know, one of the glass shards cut one of the nerves that provided my eyesight. Well, the doctor said I'll have to learn to walk without seeing things. Oh, uh, Richard, I don't want to make this personal. It's the consequence to fight a good friend of mine."
"Wait a sec, I thought you both are enemies! The tradition said two inmates with grudges with each other must be put together so they could feel the pain of it and to hold their lust to kill each other. Since he's blind, he couldn't even fight, and now you're saying you two are friends?!"
"We're friends, but a different fact made us enemies. Well, we won't gonna fight and risk our lives, right?" said Richard smiling to Termeth. "Anyway, uh, Schrosharx, you can turn your head to your right a little bit, then extend your arm."
When Schrosharx did like that, Richard then embraced Schrosharx, then he cried in tears that not only Schrosharx was okay, he could also felt the innocent life of the once depressed draconian. Because they did that for almost 5 minutes, Termeth made a smile while the other warden just flew away in disgust. Termeth then said, "Oh, now you two are lovers! We never got some..."
"We're not lovers, you fucking piece of shit!" exclaimed Richard. "Oh, why am I in this shit?!" with Termeth laughing.
"Oh, actually, I really kind of like..."
"You're not into this shit, too, Schrosharx! Please, man! It's disgusting!"
Although the fact that the place was as cold as hell and as dry as desert, with many draconians condemned for evil, there was still warmness, and then, for the next five years, the friendship of them three started to bloom, and then...
Well, it's up to you on how they would start a new life. At least, for now, Richard is happy.
At least...
This is the end of "The Draconian Story"
But Richard's journey doesn't end here...