Chapter 8: Premonition (Part 1)

Dragon: "Well, congratulations. Now you know you can never kill me."

The dragon says with a smile. To be honest, it really annoys me to know that if we ever fight each other, he'll have this big of an advantage on me. But as long as I can sort things out without any need for violence, there's not all that much I need to worry about.

Dragon: "You look awfully at ease right now."

Kais: "I'm hardly at ease. It's just that I'm just not losing my mind."

Dragon: "Is that so?"

He asks as if he's really curious. He's hard to read sometimes, and sometimes I can understand exactly what he must be thinking. That is what I expect of someone who isn't human, but it's still troublesome to deal with.

Kais: "Tell me; you are really the dragon who befriended Ozyllus?"

Dragon: "I thought that was obvious."

Kais: "I suppose."

There's a reason I'm asking the question even though I already know the answer.

Kais: "Then did you gain this ability to transform into human form from him?"

Dragon: "Well, something like that."

Meaning – not exactly true.

Kais: "So, why are you looking like Ozyllus?"

Dragon: "That's the big mystery for you, isn't it?"

He looks at me with a similar gaze as before but his aura tells me he is actually troubled by this question and is trying to think of how to answer.

Kais: "Well, I guess."

There's one theory that comes to mind for this. That's that he is trying to hide something. He is trying to choose his words carefully so he could not divulge any information on what he doesn't want me to find out.

Dragon: "You know …"

Kais: "What is it? Finally prepared an answer in your mind?"

The dragon clicks his tongue as I say so.

Dragon: "Well, even if you know that, it won't make a difference if I don't tell you anything."

Kais: "That might be true."

That might be true … for the time being.

Dragon: "So what about her?"

So instead of answering, the dragon throws a question back at me turning his attention to Sona. I turn to look at Sona who has suffered from the shock of defeat and loss of her probably most powerful spirit.

Kais: "I'm not so sure what she would do now."

Dragon: "Aren't you going to help her or something?"

Kais: "Do you think I'm some kind of noble knight or something?"

Dragon: "Well then, what are you?"

Kais: "Well, considering I didn't even flinch in holding a normal conversation with someone who almost killed a little girl, I must be a demon."

The dragon's eyes widen upon hearing my little joke. The expression of surprise was obvious on his face.

Dragon: "You know Kais; you shouldn't be throwing the word 'demon' around like that. It has more significance than you think."

Kais: "Oh yeah – how? Why don't you start answering some questions for me already?"

The dragon sighs – closing his eyes, then opens them and looks at me firmly.

Dragon: "Well, even if I tell you, it won't be of much use now."

Kais: "I should be the one to decide that."

Dragon: "I guess that's right."

In the conversation so far, I have managed to not waver and hold my ground against this monstrous creature. But I can't guarantee I'll be able to do the same if the conversation keeps going like this. I'm already getting nervous by him constantly stalling instead of answering my questions.

Dragon: "Well, for starters, why don't you go inside the tomb?"

Kais: "Ah-"

I didn't think he'd say that. Sure I want to and probably would need to go in at some point. But shouldn't I try to gather some answers before I do that.

Dragon: "You nervous about what would happen there?"

Kais: "Isn't that the normal way to react in this situation?"

Dragon: "So you say."

He looks as if what I said just now was joke. But in all honesty, I don't think anyone with a normally working mind would just go in there when he asks them to without questioning it first.

Dragon: "Let me think – 'most people would act the same way so why does he act like it's something strange?'"

Kais: "What- You!"

He guessed my thoughts from my face. In return, he is keeping his thoughts concealed under that façade on his face.

Kais: "Tch! don't act so smug."

Dragon: "Well, that wasn't my intention."

A hint of smile begins to surface on his face. I wonder since when in this conversation would he have started smiling he wasn't doing his all to suppress his emotions.

Dragon: "Anyway though, you should definitely go in the tomb if you want to find out any answers. I guess being cautious or nervous is a valid reaction to my words, but it won't be necessary here."

He puts up a hand to draw my attention to it and then points at the tomb entrance.

Kais: "You expect me to believe whatever you say just like that?"

Dragon: "Of course I don't. I have a few things to back me up."

Kais: "And they are?"

Dragon: "Well, the first – this woman."

He points at Sona.

Sona: "What!?"

I'm surprised too. How is she supposed to know about this? She does seem to know a few things more than me, but it didn't seem to me that she knew things about the tomb and it's interior. I hope he's not trying to confuse me with some random bullshit here.

Sona: "What do you …?"

Dragon: "Don't be so surprised."

Sona: "But how am I supposed to …"

Dragon: "It's obvious, isn't it? You came here to fight me knowing I would come out of the tomb whence you reach close to the tomb."

Sona: "I did know that."

Dragon: "Didn't you know the reason why I'd do that."

The dragon looks at Sona fully expecting the answer. So what did she know?

Sona: "You would do that to see who has come near the tomb."

That's strange.

Kais: "Shouldn't he be able to know by other means?"

He's quite capable after all.

Sona: "Generally he should. And that means would be the little girl."

I see. So that is why Sona …

Dragon: "And hence you attacked and destroyed her."

Sona: "It's not like she's dead or anything."

Sona shows irritation at the dragon accusing her of 'destroying her', but it is a fact that she did attack her really brutally.

Dragon: "She's made of energy so that just isn't possible."

Sona: "So? Get to the point."

Kais: "Please accept that request."

Dragon: "Well, the point is – what's the reason for me coming to see you?"

Sona: "Isn't it to protect the tomb?"

Dragon: "You think I need to?"

He looks back and forth between the two of us. I can see that Sona is surprised; I am probably the same.

Dragon: "The tomb belongs to Ozyllus. No one can dare step foot in if his soul does not allow them to."

I can now sense admiration for Ozyllus among his hidden emotions.

Kais: "So you mean there's a different reason?"

Dragon: "Well, duh."

I click my tongue.

Kais: "Okay, that was annoying."

Sona: "Just spill it already."

She gets on her feet. She has regained some composure ever since the dragon brought her in this conversation. It may be because she has been distracted for now … or it may be because she also wants to find some answers.

Dragon: "Well, the reason is to see if that person meets my standards. If they do, I welcome them into the tomb."

Kais: "And I suppose this means that I meet those standards, even though I don't know what they are?"

Dragon: "It's simple – they have to be a competent enough psychic."

I did think of that possibility. The fact that psychics get dropped off on the island only makes sense if the standard are something like that.

Dragon: "Not surprised?"

Kais: "Being a fairly competent psychic is all I am, so if it had to be anything, that's it."

Dragon: "You seem to think too low of yourself."

Sona: "His self-esteem is not the issue here."

I turn my attention to Sona. Does she have something else she wants to ask? I don't know all that much about this tomb and can't think of any appropriate questions to ask this dragon.

Sona: "Can you tell me what you're standards for deciding who's a competent psychic and who's not are?"

Fair question I guess. Psychic abilities are not all offensive so it's not like one can just put an estimate on how much damage a psychic deals and judge how competent they are. They are not all defensive either. I myself rarely use an offensive or defensive ability. So I am getting curious to hear his answer.

Dragon: "Well, there's a simple way to judge a psychic's competency."

Kais: "And that is?"

He raises his right hand and puts up his index finger pointing at me.

Dragon: "Fear."

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