No Strings Attached (Kalgara x Oc) COMPLETE

Where it all began

A young woman, age 37, walked the streets of her kingdom. She was a retired adventurer and geologist. She was married to a man with two beautiful children both girls. She loved them both. She was never able to have children of her own. Even before meeting her husband and kids, she found a baby dragon and raised her as her own.

"Almani! You came for the usual I see?"

"Haha, yes. All of the food I stored up are always gone by the next day."

"Oh, your children and husband are in so much trouble when they find out about who did it."

"Yeah, well, you know I can't punish them."

Almani Tatsumaki. A powerful yet beautiful woman. She was raised by a rich couple in town after finding out her parents died on a tragic accident at sea. She was a baby at the time. She didn't know or remembered what her parents looked like. It was a shame that such thing has happened to her.

"Hey, Almani-san!"

"Noland? What are you doing here?"

"I came looking for ya! I was wondering if you'd like to join my expedition to find the City of Gold!"

"Well, I guess I could go. I would have to go back home and let my husband and children know..-"

A large crowd was running and screaming at a distance. Almani and Noland looked at each other in confusion and ran outside to see what the commotion was all about.

"Almani-san!"

Almani stared at the burning house in horror. Her husband and children were inside. Tears began to form on her eyes. She ran inside the burning house.

"ALMANI! COME BACK!"

She didn't listened. She covered her hand with her sleeve and looked around the burning house to find her children and husband. They were nowhere to be found. She ran to the backyard to see he husband and children on the floor. Their faces were covered in blood. They had cuts and bruises on their bodies.

The fire was put out on that same day. Everything that Almani collected over the years were missing, destroyed or burned to ashes. Noland held her as she cried her eyes out. She had lost her family to an unexpected killer.

''Al...."

''Al....ni''

"Alm...ni''

"Almani-san!"

"Huh?! huff.... huff...."

"Are you alright? You were tossing and turning in your sleep for the past hour!", shouted Noland, clearly concerned for his friend.

"I-.... I keep having that same dream over and over again....", she said softly.

"It's that bad?"

She nodded as she wiped her sweat off her face.

"Why don't I make you some chamomile tea? Maybe it'll help you calm your nerves.", said Noland.

"Yes, that would be great. Thank you, Noland...", she said with a small smile.

.

.

.

.

.

.

He poured the hot liquid onto his cup after pouring it in Almani's. She used her powers to lift the cup and grabbed it with her hands and drank the tea with elegance.

"You haven't talked with that demon of yours, Almani?", asked Noland.

"No. When I first found out about her, I specifically told her that I don't want to talk with her nor I wanted to know anything about my, er, her powers.", she said, "I regret telling her that but I did promise her that I would find her past lover. But there was no sign of her."

"You know, when we first met, you were quite the chatterbox," chuckled Noland.

"Yes, well, I was a curious girl after all. Besides, there is always a point where even the most talkitive girl, goes silent.", said Almani.

It was silent between them. Noland could tell that his best friend was hurt. She used to tell him everything even before and after she got married. He never had feelings for her. People teased him to the point where he refused to fall for his best friend.

"Ah! Azari!"

Noland looked to see Almani's dragon on her lap rubbing her face on Almani's.

"Hahaha! Hey, Azari!", laughed Noland.

The dragon reached over and jumped on Noland's chest and licked his face. Almani smiled and rested her hand on her cheek.

"You know, she always picked favorites between crew members. Isn't it weird for her to always come to you even if I'm around?", asked Almani.

"It's almost like if I'm her first mate!", he laughed,"But it's cute. Plus, I've helped you in caring for her when you went out to sea to explore!"

She nodded and giggled a bit after. She grabbed her cup and drank the rest of her tea and sighed softly. Noland reminded Almani of her late husband in some ways. Her husband was kind, gentle, handsome, great with kids and always had a positive attitude. But he was also a bit clumsy at times.

"H-honey, you shouldn't be up there!"

"Don't worry babe! I'll be fi.. WOAH!"

"XXXX! Are you okay!? Here let me heal you!"

"Hahahahah! I'm fine, Almani. It's just a scratch!"

"Please, don't do that again."

"No promises!"

Noland noticed a tear falling on Almani's face and handed her a handkerchief catching Almani off guard.

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright, Almani-san?", he asked.

"Y-yes. I'll be fine. I just need to clear my mind that's all.."

"Tell you what? Why don't you read the new book I had gotten for you? Maybe that'll help."

"...I already read them-"

"HUH?! WHEN? HOW? WHAT?!"

Almani laughed at his shocked expression and wiped a tear forming on her eyes.

"Noland! I read those books before I took a nap! Silly man," she giggled.

"Oh yeah! I forgot about that!", chuckled Noland.

Azari looked at Noland and smacked his face with her claws in frustration.

"Ow. Okay, I deserved that, haha!"

"Where did I go wrong in raising that dragon..?", mumbled Almani.

Chirp! Chirp!

"Azari, you know it's true."

"Sometimes I forget you can understand her.", said Noland placing Azari down.

"It took me a while to understand her. I had to read books on dragon languages. She is a rare type of dragon after all. Fur soft as silk yet a powerful creature known to man.", she said.

"She is a beautiful animal. How old is she now?", asked Noland.

"She is turning 27 in a few months. I just hope the indigionous people don't try to harm Azari. The natives and dragons were never meant to get along."

"That's true. Maybe these people could be different!", said Noland.

She giggled at his optimistic personality.

'Just like my late husband.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1099 words