A Friend

I finished my breakfast while Rahil and my mother chatted about this and that. At last when I was done I stood up to go to my room and rahil followed me. We were in the hallway now.

" Neff ! What happened last night ? Who were you fighting with ? " He asked.

" Monsters…" I said.

" In the palace ?? " He was confused.

" No, I was leveling up in the Carnia forest…" I said as calmly as possible.

" What !!! You are allowed to go out ??!! " He shouted.

" Of course not. I sneaked out. " I said.

" But..! Isn't that…aren't your….you shouldn't do that…!! "

He tried to say a lot of things at once… and I understood what he was going through. But he was going to be with me all day from now on so I had to make him understand why I wanted to do this and more importantly he was my friend. I wanted to share the things I found out with him. It was weird calling a 4 year old friend but he was far more clever than even some of the people I had met in college. Guess in this world you have to grow up as fast as possible !

" Listen, I get it. It's dangerous out there. Yesterday has taught me at least that much. But that is exactly why we need to level up fast right ? Don't you want to level up and learn new skills ? " I said.

He looked conflicted for a while then he said,

" I understand. But promise me you won't go out again without me…! "

" Didn't you listen? It is so dangerous out there !! " I said.

" I know. But I am your retainer now, it is my duty to protect. I can't protect you if I am weaker than you…and I have fought with monsters before with my brother…"

" You sure ? I am level 5 you know ?? "

" What !!??? How did you ? It takes more than 7 years to reach level 5 you know ?? "

" Ohh actually I got help from someone…. "

" Who can help a person level up so fast !!?? "

" A Dragon "

" A Dragon !??? "

Then I told Rahil everything from the start to how I fought an army of monsters and how I let such a creature die….

" A dragon in carnia forest ! That's impossible !! "

" I know right ? It might have been from somewhere else. It was badly wounded when I found it. "

" And you said it didn't disappear after dying ? "

" Yes. All the books lied about the dragon being a monster I guess…"

" There was one book I had read that said dragons were intelligent beings and lived in their own colonies. It also said how different they were from bloodthirsty monsters. I didn't believe it at the time because the author was not that famous. But I guess it was telling the truth after all." He said.

" You remember who wrote that book ? "

" No. I was too small when I read it. "

" You are just 4…just how early you started reading !!? "

" I know ! even I don't remember ! "

" You are a weirdo "

" I know ! But so is the girl who fought an army of monsters with a dragon as companion I guess !! "

" Oh ! Aren't you a cheeky brat !! "

We reached my room and I started erasing wall to go into my secret lair.

" You just live there ? Isn't it like hot or something ? " Rahil asked.

" No, I have taken care of such problems. "

" Just how ?? "

And he froze as he saw my couch, fan, bookshelves and freezer. I had even built an air conditioner. It was hard and it was not as efficient as I had back home but I had jumbled stuff together and made a working model. It worked perfectly though.

" What are these things ??!! " He bellowed.

" Just some tools I have built with my skill. Don't ask how though because I can't explain it and you can't understand it yet. " I said.

" You built all this ? And why does it feel so cool here ? "

" it's one of the tools, it makes the air cold. " I said.

" woah ! So cool !! " For a while he forgot everything about lady and oaths and proper respect as he said it, and just came back to his natural geeky self of overly curious kid.

" Yes, I know " I said.

He was ogling at everything in my room so I just left him on his own. I brought some papers from the table and sat down drawing blueprints and plans to build an incubator. I had to keep the egg warm. I didn't know how long it was gonna take to hatch or what I was even supposed to do with a baby dragon !! But I made plans for an incubator for now. After looking at everything for an hour rahil came next to me and looked at me with his starry curious eyes.

" What ? " I asked.

" What are you doing ? " He said.

" I am trying to build something "

" By drawing ?? "

" Yes, I have to plan it first.."

" Ohh yeah…what are you Makiing then ? "

" A tool that can stay warm at certain level "

" Ohh like this thing that keeps it cool ? "

" Yes, something like that. But it's not for me. " I said.

" For wha….ohh for the egg ?? " He was clever alright.

" Yes. You catch up quick !!

" What will you do with it once it hatches ? " He asked hastily but I did notice his ears turning red.

" I don't know…I will think about it when it happens.."

" I have never heard about what a baby dragon is like at all !! "

" Neither have I ! "

" We will have to read everything there is written about dragons…What do you say ? " I Continued.

" Ohh yes..of course !! " He was beaming with joy.

" Books in the library won't be enough. You think we can get some from the town ? " I asked.

" Ohh yes I saw some books stores in waccar town when we were shopping here last time…"

" Good. What do you think their rates are like ? "

" Hmmm, I think a gold coin for two books in a regular size from this century. More older we go more pricey it will be. "

" Hmm " I nodded.

" But why are you worried about money ? Surely you can buy anything once you tell your dad…" He asked.

" Oh there is a ban on us from going to town. "

" Ban !?? "

" Yes "

" You can't even go to buy something ? "

" Not until we are 8. And if I ask for more books he won't allow it "

" Your father won't allow you to read books ? "

" He allows us pocket money each month, we have to use it wisely.."

" What happened to your money then ? "

" I turned it in to magicules "

" What !!? How is th…" But I cut him off.

" You were allowed to go outside ? "

" Uhhm yes. If we had something important to buy or some good reason to do something. "

" Ohh how lucky !! "

" So how are you gonna convince him this time ? "

" Hmm ? I am not. I am gonna sneak out. "

" Sneak out ? To town ??! Aren't you afraid ? "

" Afraid of what ? "

" Being robbed, or getting kidnapped or anything can happen you know ? "

" That can happen to anyone…we can't just hide in fear of something like that. Besides, I wouldn't go outside if I couldn't handle myself you know…I may not look like it but I never act without being prepared…. " I said.

" Ummh when will you go ? can I come too ? "

" Of course you will. Who will show me those bookstores ?? "

" Okay !!! Thanks Neff. What will we do about money ? "

" Ohhh don't worry about it. I have a plan. " I smiled.