Black Soldier
My mind raced as I tried to recall any legends I had heard of Kai, the Keeper of the Key. I turned to ask my twin, then cursed softly as I remembered that she had grew up on Earth. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I my brains found bits and pieces of something Sha had told me.
" The Dragon Kai, Keeper of the Key is a calculating dragon. In fact, he's the smartest and most cunning dragon in the entire Balance Realm itself. He defeats his opponents by matches. " she had said.
" Matches? " I asked her.
She nodded. " Bets, games, anything that he can win. Before starting the game, he would list out the conditions first. Losers do whatever the winner wants them to, for example. Then, he will win the game and defeat you. So, if you want to defeat him, you will have to think from his perspective. Find his weaknesses and strengths. Suggest a game to him, something that sounds exciting. Market it, like advertisements do. But make sure you are confident you can win or the game will take place on your strength areas. The idea of something new will surely intrigue him. In his eagerness, he will get clumsy. That's where you play against his weaknesses by using your strengths to corner him in one of his own silly conditions that he listed. " Sha explained.
Before this, I hadn't understood a thing she had said. But now, I knew what she meant, and decided to use her idea- but with a little bit of improvisation. Okay, so maybe I didn't use her plan at all. I mean, I didn't exactly want to fight a mighty powerful dragon. I just hoped it would work. And it could only work if Sirena was a good actress. " Talk and delay him. " I hissed to Sirena. She nodded slightly, and began distracting the dragon by saying something.
"So, uh, Mr Kai, do you live here alone?" she asked, putting giving the dragon a dazzling smile.
The dragon exhaled. " Yes, unfortunately. " " I used to live with my wife, Zerelda, but.." he said sadly.
"Zerelda? " Sirena asked. " What a beautiful name. Who is she?"
" She was my wife. " the dragon replied.
" Well, what happened to her? Can you tell me? " she asked the dragon, who was tearing by now.
" Let me tell you the whole story. "
I grinned to myself. My twin was smart. While Sirena kept talking to the dragon, I sneaked away and looked around for somewhere the key would be. My sharp eyes spotted a tiny box just behind the dragon. It was placed on a red cushion, along with a faded piece of paper. Great. I tiptoed behind the dragon, and caught Sirena's eye. Her eyes widened. I forced a smile, signing her to pretend that nothing was happening. Then I pointed to the box and mouthed, " Don't let him turn". Thankfully, she understood.
" My wife, Zerelda and I were a happy dragon couple. We had just moved into this cave, when one day, a few strangers walked in. They introduced themselves as humans - hunters that is. We were delighted to have company, and welcomed them in our cave. We gave them food and drinks and treated them like kings. They stayed for a few days. " Kai said.
Sirena nodded. " Then what happened?" she asked, hanging on to his every word. I couldn't blame her, I wanted to listen to. But I had to get the box. I took out some spare rope and groaned silently. The rope was too short to make a lasso. Looks like I just had to get it with my hands.
"One of them were injured. So my kind wife prepared a special healing soup made of one of her scales. You see, our scales aren't just scales. These scales have magical healing powers. So anyways, she gave the soup to the injured man and healed him. That night, my wife and I left to sleep, leaving the men alone. Without us knowing, they whispered plans to each other. They wanted to steal our scales to sell it to doctors and scientists to get money. So they decided to hunt a dragon and take it home. The next day after breakfast, they sneaked up on Zerelda and stabbed her in the back. They shot her and injured her, and killed her. Then they brought her along with them on their way home. "
" Weren't you there? Why didn't you help?" Sirena asked.
By now I had reached the box. Light streamed through a small hole in the ceiling of the cave. Now I could see more clearly, I noticed the box was on the cushion and the cushion was on a dragon-sized stone pillar sort of thing. The faded piece of paper I saw earlier was just beside the box.
" I went out to get some berries. But the hunters bumped into me on their way back, and, overcome with anger, I ate them all up. It was then I decided to be a carnivore. Meat tasted surprisingly delicious. So now, whenever I see humans, I eat them because their kind killed my wife. " the dragon replied. Then he continued in a booming voice, " And so, I will eat you as well!"
Sirena gulped. I frantically shook my head, telling her to do something - quick. " Uh, do you have a, a picture? " She asked.
The dragon froze. " A what now?"
Sirena became more confident. " A picture. A picture of your beautiful wife Zerelda. After your heartbreaking story, I insist on knowing how she looked like. " she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
" A picture. Hmm... " While the dragon made up his mind, I quickly opened the box, emptied it, and placed it back on the cushion. " Well, I don't see any harm of it, after all, you'll die soon anyways. " the dragon said and swung around. It was then I realized that the faded piece of paper was actually a picture of his wife and him! I panicked, and hid behind the pillar. Luckily, the dragon didn't spot me.
" There you are! This is a picture of our wedding day. Doesn't she look pretty?" he asked.
Sirena nodded. " Very pretty. With her pink scales and warm brown eyes, she looks very kind. " she complimented.
"True. She was a great dragon, Zerelda. " the dragon said, a big fat tear rolling down his cheeks and landed with a plop on the picture. I know this sounds weird, but I actually felt sorry for the guy. That is, uh dragon. Seeing such a majestic creature be in so much pain because of something my ancestors did, well, that just makes me very sad. But considering the fact that he wanted to eat us alive, I didn't think feelings could help.
Sirena steered the dragon around 180 degrees, gesturing for me to leave and meet her outside. I ran outside, stuffed the key in my backpack and geared up. I waited, but she didn't come out. So I cautiously entered the cave and tried to hear what was going on.
" I'm very sorry about your wife, sir. " Sirena said after a pause.
" Me too, girl. Me too. But there's nothing we can do about it, can we? I can't leave my job, so I'll have to be all alone again. "
" But why can't you leave your job?"
" I've been cursed so that I can only leave when the intruder wants me to come with him or her. " the dragon said sadly.
" Wait. Hold it right there. I have an idea. Kai, if we let you follow us, will you promise not to eat us?" Sirena said, and idea forming in her head.
" What? Yes, of course! " the dragon exclaimed. Then he frowned. " But then I wouldn't be able to eat you. "
" True, but you will be free to go wherever you want, and to eat so many varieties of food! After all, just eating meat would make you unhealthy. " she coaxed him.
The dragon thought about it for a while. " Fine. "
Sirena grinned. " So do we have a deal?"
" Deal." And they sealed it with a paw-handshake. ( a handshake, with a paw)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYING OR REPRODUCING THIS STORY IN ANY FORM OR MANNER IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
No comments:
Post a Comment