“...”

How do I even react to this? There is literally an old skinny man sitting on a rock in his underwear, fishing into the lake.

Is- is he waving at us? Did he notice us? No way right?

“Um Aras, I think it is really dangerous here…”

“Yea we should leave right now!”

“I get that it’s an old man in his underwear, maybe he's a hermit leaving in these parts? Worst case scenario his just a weird old pervert and we just have to catch him and report him back to Mabrosa maybe?”

“No no no, can you not see the aura his emitting? His mana pool is enormous, this is larger than anything I have ever seen Aras!”

“I agree with Daami Aras, since you can use magic, can’t you also see the magic aura?”

“Well yes but I’m use to this aura, I’ve seen something like this before.”

“Before? Aras are you ok? I didn’t think a lack of common sense would be this bad…”

“Quiet you! Like you could talk.”

“Um I’m not sure what Daami is talking about, but Aras, you did live deep in the mountains with your mentor right? And the next person you had ever met was Daami yes?”

“Well yeah. Kind of…”

I guess she doesn’t need to know about the slime and dead otherworlder.

“So how could you have met anyone with a crazy large mana aura like this?”

“Well my mentor was like this?”

“Wha- so your mentor was also a monster like this?”

A monster?

“No not a monster just a strict old man.”

“Aras, anyone with an aura like this can’t be normal, I still think we should get out of here.”

All whilst we were busy emerging ourselves within the little conversation we are having, the supposably monstrous aura old man appeared right behind us.

“Hohoho hello there youngsters.”

“Hiiii!”

“Ahhh!”

The girls scream out from the sudden visit.

“Hohoho no need to be suprised, I bring you presents, come join me.”

What is this old man, a perverted santa claus?

I question the sight in front of me, the old man had lizard like pupils of emerald in colour, with short bowl cut hair and long beard + mustache combo primarily in the colour white, but hints of green can be seen. As the old man in underwear stands with his one of his hands on his hips while the other presents some weird looking fish held by ropes in his hand…

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ah! That’s the pest that we were suppose to exterminate at this lake.

“P-please don’t hurt us! We mean no harm!” (Milia)

“A-Ah Aras! Do something!” (Daami)

Daami is vigorously tugging away on my shoulder sleeves while Milia is performing a surrender pose.

“Ok ok, stop tugging my clothes… Um hello there sir, we are just adventurers and are here to do an activity for the Adventurer’s Association, can I ask who you might be? My friends are quite afraid of you since you are a stranger to us all.”

“Ho ho ho, quite composed for someone who I just met, most people react like the two young girls over there because of my aura.”

“Ah well my mentor had similar aura to you so.”

“Mentor eh? Hmmm very well. My name is Eminos, a Dracoren, this is my holiday location, I was just sunbathing in my swimsuit while fishing a little in the lake.”

So it seems he wasn’t a pervert, the underwear was just a speedo looking swimwear.

“So young ladies, there is no need to be afraid, I’m just a simple tourist, I mean no harm.”

“Oh! Why didn’t you say so, scaring us for no good reason.”

Daami, your change of attitude is a bit too fast isn’t it?

“A Dracoren…”

Milia seems to be more focused on his race, or title?

“Um what is a Dracoren?”

“You haven’t heard of the race Dracoren Aras?”

“Hooh, young man you say your mentor had similar magic aura to me yet you don’t know of my race.”

“Well, my master didn’t particularly tell me about his race. I assumed he wasn’t a Humankind since he had lizard like pupils but I wasn’t sure what race he was.”

“Ho ho ho, I see, well come to my cabin for some tea and I shall explain to you.”

“Oh perfect timing! I am thirsty after all the traveling, let’s go Aras and Mili!”

“You seem to be too carefree now Daami… but thank you Eminos.”

“Ho hoh you’re quite welcome, now follow me.”

~*~

After a short moment walking past the lake towards and past the trees on the other side we arrive at a relative small single roomed cabin.

“Welcome to my humble abode. I won’t be long with the tea.”

And so as we all gathered at a simple table sitting off-centred towards the left of the cabin while Eminos put the weird fish looking monsters in a bucket and prepared tea for us at the back.

As I looked around, the cabin was extremely simple, a bed at the back right, simple kitchen built at the back left with the table at the centre left where we are right now. A bookshelf with a reclining chair situated at the other end of the right side, opposite of the bed.

Everything seemed to be made out of wood with minimal metal products around beside cooking utensils. The place and furniture inside appears to be well taken care off despite the cabin supposedly being a holiday location rarely visited.

Eminos had finished preparation and brought over tea in simple ceramic cups.

“Here we go, enjoy.”

“Thank you, ah I am Aras by the way, the carefree girl is Daami and the younger girl is Milia.”

Both Daami and Milia greet in response as Eminos presents the tea to each one of us.

“Ho ho, very good, now I presume I should explain from a point of considering no one has a good knowledge of my race correct?”

I looked at Milia as Eminos sits down in his chair to begin explaining.

“Well I heard of the Dracoren race when I was a child in stories but I do not know too much about the race other than they are very rare and elusive.”

It seems Milia had the knowledge from her childhood back in the Dark Elvin village.

“I see, then I shall explain from the beginning.”