Draconian Bonds

Chapter 3: Lilies

I started to wake up as sunlight filtered through the leaves outside the window. I start to sit up but then pain shot through my arms and legs. I looked at my arms. They were bandaged with a line of red from the cuts.

I glanced around quickly but see no one here. It was a small room, with very few furniture. There was a drawer to the left of me that had some small designs on it. While to the right of me was a small chair.

I start to get up slowly as the wounds still sting with each movement. Then I start heading towards the door that was to the right of the bed. I turned the doorknob and looked into the hallway. There was a door across from me and another door to the right. To the other side was what looked like a living room.

I closed the door behind me as I head towards the living room. I look around the room as I stood by the doorway. What first caught my eye was an old man sitting cross-legged on a pillow.

He wore loose white pants and a loose white shirt. His hair was gray with a bit of white on the tips. Which he also had on his short beard. His eyes were closed with a serious and yet a serene expression on his face. His skin was a bit tanned with some muscles.

I thought that i shouldn't disturb him as I make another step. The man then opened his eyes. "I was wondering when you would wake up." says the old man with a gentle voice. I jumped when the man spoke and I turned to see him.

"You slept for two days you know. And Yui was worried that you would never wake up." says the old man. "You looked pretty beat up when you got here. But it wasn't anything too serious."

He grinned a bit with some pride. "Now come have a seat and let's talk a bit." he says as he motions to the space in front of him.

I walked over and sat on the carpet in front of him. The man then starts stroking his beard slowly. "First things first, you may call me Al." he says.

I start to open my mouth to speak but he raises his hand to silence me. "I know who you are Leon. Yui has spoken a great deal about you." he says calmly. "And I know of the events at which you two have met."

I shudder at the memory and thought, Oh boy. What is he going to think about that?

"Mind if I ask about the reason for this act?" he says. I start to rub the back of my neck uncomfortably. "I have been having a rough life." I said. "I had no job, no friends, and even my own parents don't want me around."

Al closes his eyes for a bit in thought. "I see... And do you know anything about this world of ours?" he asks.
I think for a few moments and realize that I don't know anything about this place.

"No, I don't know very much about this world." I say.
Al then sighs deeply. "Well for a start, this isn't a friendly world." he says. "There are dragon hunters, monsters, humans, dwarves, and more. Each of them try to harm dragons in one way or another. Humans in your world wonder what happen to all their myths. Well, they are all here in this world."

I looked at him a bit shocked as I listen closely. "Most of them are friendly, sure, but some races hunt dragons for a living. Do you get what i'm trying to say?" he says with eyes that were cold.

I search for the right words. "I-I understand what you mean." I say. "I'm not one of those people." I look back into his light green eyes and wait to see what he will say. Al then grins.

"Good. I wanted to hear that from you." he says. I realize then that he was testing me.
"Now don't give me that look. I had to make sure what kind of person you were."
"And what kind of person would that be?" I ask.
"Someone with a good head on his shoulders, that's who."

We both laughed then. He then clasps my shoulder with one arm. "You can find Yui in the front." he says as he gets up slowly. I get up with him. "It's through that door." he says motioning towards the door behind me.

I head towards the door. "Oh, and try not to disturb her if she is holding lilies. She would be paying respects." Al says as he heads to what looks like the kitchen to the left of the front door. Paying respects? Who could she...? I didn't finish that thought.

I open the door to see bright daylight. Holding up my hands to block the sun, I look around. There were blue roses all around the house. There were also trees around the the roses away from the house.

My eyes then catch something white. A white dress with white hair flowing in the small breeze. Yui walks through the blue roses while holding white lilies and red roses. She seems sad though with her light blue eyes looking at the flowers she carried.

She walks toward the left side of the house. I should head back inside. I thought as I start to turn around. Well... Maybe I should just join her. After she does her thing though.

I start to follow her, while trying to avoid stepping on the roses. She then stops on top of a small hill where a stone sits. That's probably the grave. I thought as I saw the stone. Yui then sets the flowers down next to the stone and holds her hands together.

"Hi mom." she says softly.

Her mom is here? Then could that man be...? I thought. "How have you been doing up there?" She continues as she looks up. "You won't believe what happened this week. I met this nice person in the human world."

Should I actually be listening to this? This feels wrong but...

"But those hunters came back again." she pauses for a bit. "I'm getting tired of all the attacks and having to fight for my life all the time. But i'll still be strong for you mom." She then starts humming something. Her voice was soft and the song sounds majestic and cheerful.

After she finishes she turns around and looks up. Our eyes then lock and her eyes widen. I then start to breathe a bit faster as i'm at a loss for words. Say something. Anything! I thought. "I woke up." I said as I try to smile.