Game Still Going On (1)

One final touch will complete Rihan Daniel's appearance. This morning was His Holiness' first meeting with all the Dragons. At least Rihan wanted to look his best in the premiere as a Dragon-Honesty One.

I don't know why he's so excited today. Not just like him.

Rihan is quite careful to style her hair up with pomade. He had been standing in front of the mirror for an hour before nodding in satisfaction with his creation. After that he started to take three steps back to tidy up his clothes. A white shirt combined with a maroon V-neck sweater.

"Sis, still not finished?" Raka who was impatient finally went up to the third floor where his brother's room was.

"Alright, come on..." At the same time, Rihan left the room. The new appearance amazed Raka.

Raka's gaze could not be separated from Rihan. "What demon do you have?" spontaneous comments.

Rihan just smiled without an answer.

"Sis, are you really Daniel?" Raka followed Rihan who went down the stairs first. He still refused to believe his own eyes.

"Raka, it's not good to doubt your own brother's charisma." Rihan replied when he was already on the second floor and was about to go down to the first floor. At this point, he accidentally crosses paths with Alvi. The woman also gave a look of shock mixed with disbelief that was exactly the same as Raka's.

"Morning, Veena," said Rihan with a mischievous smile and then continued his steps downstairs.

Raka immediately shrugged his shoulders when he received a questioning look from Alvi.

"You don't have to go out of your comfort zone to look good in front of the Dragons." Arken, the head of the family was also surprised to see the change in his eldest son.

"I don't change. Just back to normal appearance," replied Rihan. He didn't understand why the people in this house thought he was forced to change his appearance. Had he been impressed so messy and perfunctory?

"Normal? Does that mean you've been performing abnormally all this time?" Raka's mind was like a tangled thread.

*****

It's been a long time since Tanah Agra hasn't been this lively. The Dragons looked out of their respective homes. The shape of a gigantic dragon filled every space around the great castle of Tanah Agra. Roar after roar echoed each other. But the moment Arken—in human form—appeared on the veranda on the top floor of the great castle, the atmosphere fell silent for an instant.

Ares Kennrich Vaiskyler gave a brief speech before the main stage was handed over to Rihan Daniel. Not only the Vaiskyler family who were surprised and amazed at Rihan's change. The entire Dragon Race also reacted the same way.

The figure now standing in front of them was very different from the image of a Rihan Daniel. But the moment the man smiled, all of the Dragons immediately became convinced that he really was the same Rihan Daniel.

That mischievous smile, no one can imitate!

"Today I want to tell you a few things." Rihan started.

"Honestly, being the Venerable of the Dragons is not what I want. This status was given because I was the only one who managed to pass the test of the ancestors and revived the dragon form in the Land of Agra," he continued.

"If someday there are Dragon People who are more worthy and capable of surpassing the nullified flames, then I will not hesitate to hand over the status of Venerable to him. Don't worry, as long as my fire is still burning at the top of the ancient temple, then during that time I will protect this land, protect you, protect the Dragons." Rihan speaks with a low intonation and pronounces word for word very clearly.

Miraculously, not only the appearance that has changed. The way of speaking and the choice of words also changed to be more thoughtful and formal.

"Daniel. You can call me like calling a snotty kid on the side of the road. Don't force yourself to say 'Your Highness' if you feel uncomfortable. I'm more uncomfortable with that kind of calling myself." The more Rihan humbled himself, the higher the respect of the dragons.

Of course Rihan himself did not realize that. He then took a deep breath. "Lastly, it might disappoint you."

The Dragons looked at each other confused.

"What I want to protect is not only the Dragons or the Land of Agra. Twenty years have passed and that determination still hasn't changed. Promise to protect him." Rihan seemed to be speaking for himself.

Although not mentioned, the Dragons can already guess who the person in question is.

Rihan ventured to sweep his gaze at the Dragon People. "If one day I was again given the choice between the Dragons or him, I might still choose to betray this land." His hands clenched tightly as he said that.

"But I hope a day like that will never happen." Rihan smiled again before stepping back and disappearing from behind the castle veranda.

Right, let's hope that day never comes.

*****

"Daniel, come here for a moment." Arken suddenly called out as Rihan withdrew from the castle veranda.

Rihan was ready to be scolded by his father.

"About Rei and Luna. You already know that your aunt and uncle's condition has not been very stable since returning from Atlan. Their physique had probably recovered. But their power energy is not improving at all." Unexpectedly, Arken was talking about something else.

"The day after tomorrow your mother and I will take them to the Center. There was an old friend. He's a great doctor." Arkin continued.

Center is the name of a skyscraper located in the Shadow Dimension. This transitional dimension that exists between the human world and Beta Urora.

"That fast?" Rihan looked at his father in surprise. The decision was too hasty.

"It's a bit rushed. But the sooner the better." Arken didn't want to delay. Rei Nathanael and Luna Endley's lives could be in danger.

"What about Veena?" asked Rihan.

"He's coming too," replied Arken.

Rihan couldn't hide his disappointment. He was still a little hopeful. But it was clear the Endleys didn't want to be separated after the painstaking regrouping.

"You can come if you want, kid. Here, let Raka and Demita and other family heads take care of it." Arken finally spoke his true meaning.

Rihan thought for a moment. "I can't come. Do you remember the discussion about the spirit-without-body? I want to quickly find out about him," he said.

Arken didn't expect Rihan to refuse his invitation. But he was sure his eldest son had his own considerations. Arken gave an understanding nod.

"Daniel, don't act rashly. Wait until I get home." Arken lightly patted his son's shoulder.

"Father is also careful." For the first time Rihan used a sincere tone of voice.

Arkin smiled in relief. The relationship that had been cold seems to be slowly starting to thaw. He promised that when he returned later he would fix the times they had missed.

*****

The door to the dressing room in a circus tent was slightly ajar. A very bright light from outside bursts in to illuminate the very dark inside. The silhouette of someone changing clothes can be seen there.

A person in a pink fur bunny costume was standing inside. Working all night to entertain circus goers made him want to go home and rest.

The figure's two hands moved silently, placing the rabbit's head on the table. Then he moved on to the zipper that was behind the back of the costume. It was pulled down and the hot costume was allowed to fall.

"Marc Horizon has failed and ended up being trash. Damn you Lucie!" he cursed annoyed at the noise outside.

"It seems that my plan is far from being successful. Endley and the Dragons were really the biggest stumbling block. Should I intervene myself?" He kept mumbling until he came out of the changing room.

No one is aware of its existence. Including the five people who sat in a circle in front of the changing room door once.

"No, no. The land of Agra has recovered and is no longer in the land of Beta Urora. If Endley chose to stay in the holy land then my plans would have to be delayed somehow. Sneaking back into the ground must be much more difficult than the Arina attacks back then." The figure was getting lost in his thoughts.

"Come on, think Kirra Anggriawan. You must have an idea. For your sister, for revenge against those who betrayed her…" he insisted to himself as he walked out of the circus area.

His face looked very nervous and impatient. He started biting his thumb nails as he waited for the pedestrian traffic sign to change from red to green. The countdown at the sign seemed very long.

When the color she was waiting for lit up, Kirra immediately quickened her pace across the street. "Should I look for the Other People?" he muttered considering the least desirable option.

"The transitional dimension of many wasted peoples. Maybe I can use them like the Arinas. Argh! Unlucky! My plan had to be redone from scratch," Kirra cursed as she kicked the trash can on the sidewalk.