Departure

The lake was shallow, reaching barely to my knees, but the water was thick, almost like mud. Trudging through really sapped my energy, and coupled with my poor constitution, I sure felt 10 times worse.

Splish. Splash.

I dragged my legs through the syrupy, vile-smelling water, and into the dense fog.

"No wonder Fiona was nervous about going alone... the fog blocks my spiritual sense. I can only trust my eyes."

I squinted.

Afar, I could see a faint but large splash of water. 'Probably the base of the waterfall. I'm getting close to the snake beast. '

The fog is incomparably thick here... is that because of the beast? I'd better be careful then... I thought as I raised my guard. The air tasted sour. Well, it probably is, considering the reek of swamp coming from the lake. I can't get comfortable fighting in these conditions, it's irking me.

"Geez Fiona, what tests do you want to do here?" I muttered, feeling a little apprehensive.

I walked forward until I could see traces of black coming from behind the waterfall.

'Well, at least it's me that's in danger, and not Fiona. It's reassuring to know.' I thought as the snake beast lurched forwards, splashing water all over me.

CLANK! My dagger collided with its fangs.

"You damn snake, why so durable?" I yelled, as I gathered spiritual energy into my palms and threw a punch.

The snake beast roared and pulled back. I can see its domineering form, a massive serpent. Green scales traced all over its long and thin body coupled with rows of spikes along its back. Two slight bumps grew out of its body, almost looking like arms, although proportional to its size. Wait, do snakes roar and... have arms?

The so-called snake snorted and glared at me with dark, hazy but piercing eyes. What...? Is it trying to tell me something?

"Daddy!" Fiona cried out in worry. "Be careful!"

I continued to stare at the beast, as Fiona ran behind me, gasping.

"It's not a snake beast... it's... the rare wingless dragon! Fiona has seen none before, except in books. D... daddy?" Fiona asked, clenching my soaked shirt, nervousness drawn in her eyes.

"Hey, you vile beast. You really did a beating on my knuckles, you know." I pointed to its white underbelly. "Even though that's not covered with your scales, it's still just as tough, huh?"

The dragon crooked his head at me.

Fiona stiffened.

I grabbed and held her hands, forcefully stopping the shaking.

"You understand me, right? I heard dragons are intelligent creatures." I asked at ease. It doesn't want to fight... yet, at the very least. I curled my hands in Fiona's palm and pointed a finger backward. Hope she understands... that we need Burkan here.

The dragon turned his attention to my hand while holding the dagger.

"You... do you want this? The dagger?" I asked, confused. Why does a dragon want that? It's just a low-grade dagger forged from common materials by Burkan. Although the craftsmanship is good, it shouldn't be valuable, even in the eyes of greedy treasure hoarding dragons.

The dragon continued to gaze at it, not even paying to Fiona leaving. It didn't matter. A fifth-grade beast must be able to sense Fiona, who's at Nascent Realm.

I spun the dagger on my finger. "Care to tell me why?"

The dragon turned his eyes back to me.

"What can't you voice..... transmission?" I shivered as the dragon glowered in my direction. The pressure felt like a volcano about to burst, as it hurled a snarl, the air creating waves that flowed furiously towards me.

Dumbfounded, I clenched my fists, bearing the pressure that felt like hammers and shock waves vibrating within my body.

"Why... why's it angry?" I croaked.

A voice responded from behind, full of shock and disappointment. "You... Effie's scent?" Burkan whispered, barely audible.

The dragon glowered, its eyes red, seething with fury.

I would have collapsed if Fiona didn't support me with a barrier of her spiritual energy.

"Is the wingless dragon related to Uncle Burkan?" Fiona asked, feeding me a pill from her spatial ring.

I gulped it down and wiped the sweat off my face. "Looks like it. They seem familiar, too." I said while watching the two's staring contest. "Well, not enjoyable, it seems like."

The dragon roared again at Burkan. He stood there, unfazed, like a statue. A heartbreaking one. His face wrinkled up as tear droplets formed in the corner of his eyes. "Effie... she... wasn't her secret about you, the pet she loved? Why, why are you poisoned... no, there's no way... not by her?"

The dragon writhed in agony at the sound of that name, letting out a howl of pain. It directed the killing intent, growing stronger at Burkan, enraged at him for talking about that person in an intimate tone.

Burkan stood there as if he was unaware of the danger that he was in. He kept mumbling something like "there's no way" and "she wouldn't..."

The dragon loomed closer, each step sending loud thumps and crashing waves in the lake.

3 meters away.

2.

1.

"Burkan, get a grip of yourself!"

"Uncle!"

The dragon stood in front of Burkan, as he sobbed, "She would... right?" He asked, staring into the dragon's eyes, cloudy and in pain. It dropped its neck and laid its head on Burkan's shoulder. It cried sorrowfully, as the water in the lake receded, showing its disgusting, if not horrifying body. Pieces of its scales were peeling off of his skin, as the flesh corroded with a mushy mess. Its tail shriveled like a prune, with dead skin and dried blood all over.

I hugged Fiona, placing her head towards my chest and patted her gently. "This is not for you to see."

Hell, it wasn't for me, either. As a former assassin, I've seen plenty of death. Guns, knives, poison to name a few. But this level of corrosion and the decomposing process can make someone or something wish they were dead. How vicious.

Burkan stared at the dragon on his shoulder, then at the somber sky.

"I swear to the heavens and on this heavenly oath that I, Burkan, shall end my lover, Effillion Wismer, with my own two hands! Let the heavens take the punishment if I do not, and curse me, Burkan, Master Blacksmith, and my abilities!"

Lighting crackled from the skies, before disappearing along with the grim clouds. A beam of sunlight pierced down as the fog dispersed. The beautiful mountain scenery was back, but we heard no sound. It made the area seem out of place.

The dragon and Burkan both raised their heads at the same time and stared at each other in silence.

. . .

Burkan spoke first. "I'm sorry, it was me who implicated you."

The dragon shook his head. Burkan stared, jaw slacked. "No, that cannot be done. It was me that ruined your body, and now you want me to refine weapons from it?"

"Burkan, you dense, senile old man. Even I can tell its last wish is for you to end her together. Him as the blade and you as its wielder." I said with an inaudible voice.

The dragon blinked at me with respect. I nodded in return, throwing my dagger at Burkan. It splashed in a puddle under his feet. The dragon looked at him and closed its eyes, accepting his fate.

Burkan stood there. I could understand his reluctance, but this is the only way for him to truly get over the betrayal.

"Burkan. I said this before. I don't think I need to say it again."

He looked over at the dragon and whispered softly.

"I'm sorry, my friend. Since you're like this, I can't refuse. I'll refine the best weapons that I can with your remains. The man here will also receive one. I think you've accepted him already. And perhaps, when we meet above the skies, we'll both love the right woman this time."

The dragon said nothing. He didn't need to.

________

"Well, this is it."

"Uncle. We're leaving." Fiona whispered to a despondent Burkan, who still has his back turned.

Seconds past.

I frowned. Will we truly have to depart like this, when I received favor from him and helped to put him in this mood?

To my surprise, Burkan turned around with a warm smile on his face, and bent down to talk to Fiona. "Little Fiona, take care of the dagger, okay? Uncle spent a lot of effort to refine it!"

"Yes!"

He stood up and bowed to me. "Don't chide yourself over insignificant matters like this, Vincent. I know you meant well, and I don't see you as a selfish and pretentious bastard. You're a great man and a wonderful father. Take care of yourself, and Fiona."

I quickly propped him up. "I will. You take care too. Moving out sounds nice."

"Hahaha, I'll figure something out." he paused. "Well, I guess this is truly goodbye."

"Yes. Thanks for everything!" I waved as we exited the gate.

Fiona joined in beside me. "We'll meet again, uncle!"

"I'm sure we will!" He called out.

Clam. The gate shut.

We were moving on to Glendora.

________

"Uncle's craftsmanship truly is amazing, huh?"

"Yep! What is your dagger called, daddy? Uncle told me he named it personally."

"Oh, he told you? It's called Heartbreak."