His eyes first opened to see the ocean. He was drowning but somehow, he wasn't scared. He uttered one thing before he went unconscious:
"Traitor."
Then his eyes closed, his brain was at the verge of shutting down. Miraculously, he survived.
—
"Sir… Sir!!"
A man's voice. Loudly shouting was heard even though all he could see was an endless void. Not until the man's body heat felt way too close to his face.
His eyes immediately opened wide as he stood up.
"I… lived..?"
The man looked at him in surprise before smiling softly.
"Oh… luckily you are alive."
Everie observed this man from bottom to top. Tan skinned, tons of cuts on his fingers. Definitely a fisherman. The man was still smiling brightly. Hint of tears formed in his eyes.
'Does he even know me…?'
He looked around the place where he was sitting. It was the ocean's shore where tons of people came with their ships.
'A harbour.'
He got up, ignoring the man who was still kneeling infront of him then picked up a bag that was lying on the sand, slapping the dusts away.
The man glanced up at him with his head tilted before speaking.
"Have you recovered that quickly? How could a strong man like you even drown in that ocean?"
Everie flinched at his words. 'All he spat was nonsense', he thought. He didn't want to speak a word. He didn't even want to look at him but he did utter one thing.
"I'm powerless…"
—
In this world where people with magic sat at the top of the hierarchy, being powerless meant you were just a pawn for them.
Every being were created with mana inside of their heart, even the slightest to provide them a way to survive against monsters. No one knew where they came from or how they were even created. One thing they knew was to survive. No matter how it took. Which meant the powerless were left to die.
Not until a natural king was born hundreds of years ago. A king that was blessed by the dragons had changed how the world used to be. The strong must now protect the weak and the weak will provide the world with necessities such as with their crops or the fishes from the sea.
Ever since then, the world had lived in peace. Until now.
—
The man didn't say anything to him. Only stood up before patting his behind. But just before Everie could leave, he spoke.
"Then you must be an amazing person."
Everie froze hearing the man's words because he know they weren't true. Then finally, he faced the man. Making sure they made eye contact. All to prove to him that his words were wrong.
"You know nothing about me."
The man's eyes widened the second he layed them on Everie's. The sight of his right eye that was clearly different than the rest of the people at the harbour. Golden in colour. Shining like it had seen everything.
A dragon's eyes.
"You— You're a—Mmph—"
Everie covered the man's mouth with his hand just in time before sighing.
"If you're such a saint, then let me rest at your place for the time being."
The man nodded up and down with his mouth still covered before lending Everie a piece of cloth.
"Mmph mmh!"
Everie stared at him for a second before taking his hand off.
"Pwah! Use this to cover that eye for now… You don't want anyone to know you're a… you know!"
He nodded before wrapping the cloth around his head to cover his golden eye. Then, the man continued to lead Everie to the harbour.
The place was crowded with fishermen from all over the kingdom. Their ships filled the shore. Then he stopped when a man who looked like he's in his 50's greeted the man.
"Yo, Dean! Going home for the day? Who's that fine man behind 'cha?!"
The man flinched hearing the old man's loud voice before chuckling nervously.
"That's right… He's just a friend of mine…"
Before the old man could say another word, the man had already dragged Everie by the wrist all the way to the land.
"Hm? You could've just spent a little time talking to the old man. I wouldn't mind looking around by myself."
The man shook his head a few times before sighing.
"You don't get how scary it could get…"
As confused as Everie was. He just stayed quiet along the way.
—
The nation was always filled with people in every corner as it was a small land. It was lively and peaceful. It felt unfamiliar for Everie.
"My house is close by. But we should stop by the town first. I ran out of foods at home…"
—
The town wasn't an exception. It was crowded to the brim. Soft melodies were heard from a group of accordians. They then stopped by a vegetable stall.
"Hm… What would you like to have for dinner?"
Everie was silent as he think. Then his mind thought of something. Perhaps he had longed for it.
"Chickens…"
The man raised an eyebrow before speaking.
"This is a vegetable stall—"
"Chickens," he repeated.
—
"These are the finest chickens. Raised by myself!" a seller said.
The man looked inside of his small pouch with tears before pointing at the chicken's thigh.
"I'll get this part…"
Everie had a look of satisfaction for a split second as the man handed over his money in exchange for the chickens he wanted. They both then continued their way to the man's house.
—
"Home sweet home… It's not usual that I have a visitor."
He stopped his pace at the doorstep then turned to Everie.
"But I'm curious on why a dragon is at this humbling of a land."
Everie didn't say anything as he made his way in. The house wasn't fancy but it was cozy enough for someone to live in. The man then tapped Everie's shoulder.
"I'm Dean, by the way. You can trust me for sure. I have no reason to let your secret out."
"Why not? I thought the people had resentments toward the dragons. I could be burnt alive the second you shout a single word about my identity."
Dean shook his head as he washed the earlier bought chicken in the sink.
"I want to see from your prespective this time. Only a monster would kill without reasons."
Everie froze at his words.
"Dragons aren't monsters."
"How innocent you are, Dean," sighed Everie before sitting down at the dining table.
"So, would you at least tell me something about yourself?"
Everie opened the bag he had brought with him then took a peek inside. There was a blade that was snapped in half. Carved on it was a name he wanted to forget.
"Everie."
"Pardon?"
"The name's Everie. That's all I can tell you."
Dean chuckled before turning to Everie.
"Secretive much?"
"No, it's all that I remember."
The house went silent for a moment before Dean finally answered with confusion.
"Huh?!"
To be continued