The dizziness is fading away and my awareness is coming back. As I snap out from the dazed that I am locked in, I find myself in a soft white bed. My body sank as I move and roll for a bit and what’s more, I feel like riding a cloud.

As I roll and roll and roll in the bed, I bump someone.

I lie flat on my belly and turn towards the one I bump. As I fix my head, I notice that my nose touches hers… Miss Asagao.

As our noses touch, we stare at each other for a good ten seconds before she initiates a conversation between us.

“Hibiscus, do you feel well now?”

“Y-Yes…I am well now. My memory is kind of vague but I do know where we are now.”

“That’s good to hear! I’m glad that you are fine!”

“Thank you for worrying Miss Asagao.”

“Hibiscus…”

“Yes?”

“Does my nose feel good?”

“Uwah!”

I immediately sit upright as she reminded me that our nose was still touching. I just kind of stare at her with admiration as our eyes met.

Miss Asagao is indeed pretty, unlike me.

Casablanca and Miss Asagao both has fair white skin and flawless. Ah, I saw Miss Asagao’s scar in her chest but that doesn’t degrade her prettiness. In fact, it looks cool.

“By the way Miss Asagao, where’s Casablanca?!”

“Just call me Asagao. Formalities are stifling so I don’t recommend it.”

“I see, then, Asagao.”

“Yup! That’s it!”

“Asagao, where’s Casablanca!?”

“Right here!”

Someone came jumping between me and Asagao. It was Casablanca who jumps on the bed and places her arm above me and Asagao cuddling us in a hug.

My heart calms as I saw the twin that I always yearn. Just knowing that she is fine and smiling makes me glad.

But I know that she cannot stick to my side forever and eventually, she needs to stand up on her own without me around. It sounds so sad for me but it would make her stronger and brighter. So for now, I want to cherish every moment that we are together.

“Casablanca, are you alright? I was quite out of it earlier.”

“Yes! I was with Asagao! We did talk a lot about this and that! She is so knowledgeable about foreign cultures and stuff!”

“I see…”

I’m supposed to be happy for her but my heart dictates otherwise.

But I have to ignore this aching feeling and show a smile so she won’t be worried. Asagao would be worried if I don’t show a smile to her too.

They only smile back at me.

It had me thinking… what do they think of me? What are they thinking right now?

There’s really nothing productive about thinking of what they are thinking of me. Since I cannot find an answer to that, we just leisurely chat as we are now away from any danger.

We chat as we lie on our belly on the soft and large bed until we ran out of what to tell to each other.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Conversation is quite tiring and hard but it pleases me to see Casablanca speak cheerfully to a friend. I know that she yearns for a friend whom she can talk endlessly like this. Not with someone like me who she is with for her entire life.

After that, Asagao told me that a food was served for us and ask me to eat.

Of course, being unable to eat for days was very sad so I accepted the food that she handed to me and eat it.

It was a salted stir fried vegetables that tasted really mediocre. I have to be mindful of myself so I won’t blurt out any stupid words.

As I satisfy my appetite, Asagao stands up and prepares to leave. Casablanca who notices this immediately approaches her and asks…

“Asagao, where are you going?”

“Ah, sorry, I was supposed to meet up with Pr’thcor so I need to go.”

“The old man?”

“Yes! There’s something I need to show him. How about you two? You can just rest here if you want.”

“I’ll go! Take me with you Asagao!”

“I-I’ll go too!”

I immediately followed up.

There’s nothing much to do and I already had enough rest. Also, I need to go where Casablanca will go. I feel like earlier ago, she is slowly drifting away from me. I don’t hate that she is trying her best for her new found friend but I am still worried.

Jealousy?

Of what? Of whom?

I don’t think that’s the case…

.

.

.

After a while of going around this large house like we are lost, Asagao, Casablanca and I arrives in a place filled with so many interesting stuff.

There are swords and spears hanging everywhere, a pile of gold and treasure scatters and weird shiny stuff litters around.

Asagao mentioned earlier that there’s a myth back in her world that dragons like to collect shiny items such as jewelry and gold. Oddly, it seems that dragons in our world are like that too base on what I have read in our library since they are depicted as a race who are obsessed with treasures.

“So how are my collections? Is it interesting?”

“Old man, this is not why I am here.”

“Yeah, but would just kindly look around tell how amazing these are!”

“Haa…”

“You two elves should also try to look as much as possible! I mean, you people are the first one to tour here for like, millennium. Well, we are partly living here for that duration of time so it can’t be helped.”

“I bet Master has more interesting artifacts than you.”

“We are talking about a legendary existence who, in his prime, can divide the heaven and earth. If you try to compare me to Lord Mrothgir, you are solely being a jerk.”

“And this legendary existence can’t help but look at one of my previous companion’s body.”

“Hahaha! Before we are dragons, we are men!”

“Haaa…”

Asagao does seem a bit exasperated from the conversation. I just thought how adult of her to converse freely like that. As someone young, we are taught to never cut in on a conversation between two adults.

As Sir Pr’thcor suggested, Casablanca and I started walking around the large hall and look at everything. I keep my eyes peeled to learn new things and to make reference to anything that I may see here.

There are armors with intricate designs that look awfully heavy and uncomfortable. I wonder who in their right mind would wear this in a battle.

Even some swords and spears are exaggeratedly stupid to the point that they are better off as a decoration.

“Everything here looks cool but they don’t even have any practical use…”

“WHAT’S THAT YOUNG LADY?!”

“Eeep! Nothing!”

Sir Pr’thcor snaps at me as I quietly muttered those words. I really need to check what words will come out from my mouth or I will be in a serious trouble.

But what I said is the truth…

“Maybe I could use everything here as a reference on what not to use…”

“Little lady, you are disturbingly cute and your tan skin is quite enticing but your mouth is quite sharp.”

“That’s sexual harassment, Sir. I’m sorry for saying what I honestly think!”

“What’s that?!”

“N-Noo…s-sorry…”

I did it again.

I better not anger him further or I would cause trouble for Asagao and Casablanca.

I quietly stare at random things and stopped thinking anything bad about them. Sir Pr’thcor will snap again at me if I did.

As I walk around aimlessly I saw something that sparks my interest.

An urn…

In a large rounded pedestal, an ominous urn sits. The urn is ashen in color and it has flapping wins as a motif. The carvings that it has is like fire and in the middle, a sun is depicted that lights all over creation.

I love it…

I began touching the urn without thinking. I caress the body of the urn and touch the wings decors that it has and smoothly slid my hand across its lid.

And…

CRASH!

…......Oh no!

Ehh..?!

“What’s that?!”

Sir Pr’thcor, Casablanca and Asagao approach me. Sir Pr’thcor saw the shattered urn beside me and intently stares at me.

His sharp pupils stared directly at my soul and I began to tremble and cry.

“Uwaa….I’m sorry…! I’m really sorry! *Hic*…sorry…*hic*”

“*Staaare*”

“I’m sorry… *sob*…I’m really sorry!”

“Old man, what’s that anyway?”

Asagao asks a question towards Sir Scary Pr’thcor. Casablanca immediately goes to my side and hugs me while patting my head.

I really didn’t mean to!

How much is it? How much does it cost?! Can I even pay it? Would it trouble mother if I need to do so?! Should I sell my limbs or my whole body for it?!

“Oh, that? Contrary to being a treasure, I’m actually trying to get rid of it.”

“What do you mean old man?”

“Look at those ashes. It completely covered that girl.”

“Now that you said it…”

Uwaah…!

It’s true! What are these?!

“That ash is special but it literally has no value. It is something that, the dragons cannot break. This breaking now means something.”

“What do you mean? Stop being so vague old man.”

“It must mean that it chose this girl as its new master.”

“Quit muttering to yourself and tell us what it is.”

W-What?

Master?

Who? Me?

But I broke something…!

“There are people who attempted to break the urn and they were able to do it but… the ash will burn you if it deems you not worthy.”

“Hey! Isn’t that dangerous?! We need to remove it from Hibiscus!”

“Nah, seeing her standing fine like that it would only be a matter of time before her body absorbs it.”

“Like what I am asking, what the hell is that?”

I…I am really worried too!

I don’t want to die and it scares me of what this is. I don’t want to turn into a freak or something that Casablanca will hate.

No, I don’t want that!

“It’s an ash of the legendary undying bird, Phoenix. It slumbers now and waits for a new master. It will serve as your spirit summon. Little lady, are you prepared to wield a powerful and bright power that represent the sun?”