dragon's pride 11
#12 of Dragon's Pride
Our World
Avila had returned to the kingdom again. Her return was cherished by all of the dragons that knew her when she was nothing but a small young dragon. When she declared to be a guardian, there was no more joy than that, and thus that night the dragons and the humans made a party event hosted by the king, both to declare their victory on the attack and for Avila's return.
That night, Jaradas was feasting on a freshly fire breathe-grilled meat. The feast was great, unlike any kind of meats he had ever eaten in his past life. As a dragon, he really was happy after leaving his past of being the enemy of the dragons. Jaradas was luckier as a dragon than as a human, as he was hated by most of them because of being a ruthless dragon slayer.
Now, he could be a happy dragon with a new mate.
"Feeling better already?" said one of the dragons Jaradas had befriended to.
"Never better," he replied. "This life is better than what I had previously. I liked having the feast, the event, the atmosphere, everything. Are dragons normally like this?"
"Now, we're civilized dragons, Jaradas," he said with a smile. "We shared our knowledge with your former kind, and you shared yours. Dragon fairy tales are now nothing but a fiction."
"Oh, right..."
Jaradas was still thinking about the dragons. If what his friend's claim was true, he'll be alright. The problem was, from what he vaguely remembered when he was a human, dragons were also tricky creatures and vile reptiles, only thinking on gold and ransom, showing how magnificent they were. Yet, everything he was taught never happened here. The dragons were all like humans, talking, arguing, fighting, laughing, and even having romantic feelings to each other. The green dragon felt he was like a stranger in the middle of the big community of civilized dragons.
When he wanted to find fresh air out from the feast, he wanted to fly back to the cave given to him by Seraphor and his mate when he realized he saw a black dragoness near the place he sat. The dragoness was fairly beautiful, with feathery wings and glittering scales under the moonlight. Jaradas realized almost suddenly that she was Avila, the dragon currently having the party with.
"Wait," said Jaradas. "I saw you there just now. When did you walk here?"
Avila somehow knew she was the one Jaradas was talking to. She turned her head and said, "That is my illusion. I have been here since the sun had first set."
"Uh, don't you feel a little lonely? It's a big party there. Why don't you return there?"
"I would love to, but without any dragons to worry on the defense of this kingdom, I can say we're not going to survive the next assault. Don't worry; I have friends with me, all able."
"Uh huh...."
As he wanted a friend to talk, at least when Asola was still having a party, he sat beside the black dragoness. There was a comet coming by, where Jaradas watched with awe, while Avila just watched with normal solemn expression on her draconic face.
"The star is falling," said Avila. "Much like how a life ends."
"Yes, but it can also make you a wish."
Avila made a chuckle. "Seriously, you believe in human's belief?"
"I was once a human, so it's alright for me to love childhood. I don't really remember my childhood since I've been in this body for a long time. Around 40 years, I must say."
"Really? There's a thing like that? Dragon transformation?"
"Things like that are in fiction. Well, that's what I really thought before I become this."
"Can you wield sword, then?"
"What? You think this is some sort of a sick story about dragon swordsmen? No. I wish I can, but that human knowledge has been removed from me after I become a dragon. Though my hands remain, and if I haven't lost them, there's no sword big enough for me to carry."
"That's too bad. You can be a force to be reckoned with, like Armwutz."
"Armwutz?"
"Guess you're not familiar with dragon history," said Asola popping out from behind Jaradas, startling him. "Don't worry. Eventually you'll know."
"Oh, you're?"
"My name is Asola, a red dragon hailing from the continent of Ternor. You might have never heard of the place before. I was one of the dragons born there."
"Ternor?"
"A continent further west from here. An exploration team was employed to find new places to trade and establish culture. Ternor was, in fact, a fairly strong place, but lack civilized dragons. All we know there are Lycans, hounds, and so many unique races not found here..."
Jaradas was also hearing Asola's story, while trying to know on the diversity of the dragons. He was astonished by how Asola described her world, while Avila in turn also gave her the information on the place she had been stranded to (though Jaradas felt uneasy on the place she fell through).
As night became more and more late, Avila wanted to go to her friends when one of her friends came.
"Oh, Coraero," she said to the jet black dragon. "How is it?"
"Uh, do you have a minute? Something's up."
Avila turned her head to the dragons she had enjoyed to talk with, and with Asola's nod, they walked away to the direction of the crowd of the black dragons. Asola then turned her head to Jaradas, where they sat on the comfy grass and lay down on the green grass.
"Hey, it's nice to be under the stars for a while, especially out from the crowded city."
"Yeah, I guess so."
As they lay silent for a while, Jaradas turned his head away from Asola. "Uh, Sola, about that day, I'm sorry..."
"There's no need for sorry," interrupted Asola while she extended her wings to embrace the smaller Jaradas. "That effort gave us generations."
"You mean..."
Jaradas was quickly surprised when Asola whispered in his ears. He thought he heard it wrong because of the frills covering his real ear, but he realized Asola's yellow eyes were telling the truth.
"B...but Asola, I..."
"You're a dragon, now, Jaradas. What I heard from humans, having children is the best thing in life. Won't you agree with that?"
"But...but, I..."
"It's not a problem if our world is different. For a human transformed into a dragon and a feral dragon, it's very weird for them to be one. I'm waiting for the eggs to hatch into our offspring, giving help to those needed."
She paused a moment, gently massaging her own belly which was a little bulged. "We are living in a world full of surprises. This is our world, after all.