Chapter 8: The Way of Freedom

Amphere Harrison

The Guardian’s Haven.

It is a floating island of five kilometers in diameter. There was a castle on top of it where the royal family, Pentagram Knights, government generals and other higher dukes was residing. Around the castle are facilities such as malls, barracks, theatres and the coliseum; where the Dragon Knight Tournament will be held.

Nobody knows why or how the island is able to fly. Somebody say that there was once a mage who made a huge chunk of earth levitated. But others say that this is due to the planet’s gravity being unstable. But even though, the sight of it is breathtakingly amazing.

The only means of transportation here are skyships; wooden gigantic arks that has a wyvern-like mechanical wings. It is powered by solar crystals which gets its energy from direct exposure to sunlight. Riding one is quite expensive but the duchess gave us tickets to avail this luxurious vehicle.

“Wooooow!” The duchess’ jaws dropped as she fell in love with the floating island. She was viewing in the windows with amazement like a twelve-year old child should be.

“This is amazing, totally!” Airi shouted jollily. “Look, Amphy, look!”

I have seen the Guardian’s Haven before. This is where the entrance examination of the Dragon Knight Academy was held. But I never strolled around the island because I was busy studying back then. And after the said exam, I immediately went home, not caring about how beautiful the place would be.

Duchess Corasell decided to leave her manor and stay in the Guardian’s Haven for better security, as Sir Estoff Wraith suggested. For that span of time, she will study a lot of things about developing the bill and supporting me during the tournament.

As soon as we arrive at the skyship terminal, a limousine went in front of us. When it opened its windows, a long haired blonde man smiled and greeted at us. It was a familiar face that can make my eyebrows jerk and get me irritated.

“Bonjour, Duchess Corasell.” He made a handsome charismatic smile. With sparkles.

“Sir Estoff!” the duchess jumped in joy.

It was an activist-terrorist alliance reunion, but they look more like a big brother and little sister. It was obvious when we hopped on his limousine and the duchess has been talking nonstop to Estoff. She has been storytelling like what kind of food she feeds on her goldfish and what types of daisies she propagates in her garden.

The Limousine’s driver is a young adult with a large sword scar on his left cheek. What’s notable is that this guy’s eyes are green and his hair is snow white. It is Gilliard, Estoff’s Dragonoid. He's wearing some leafy contact lenses to blend with the humans. He’s awfully silent, so there’s no way I could have any conversations with him. And also, his Fire Dragon form is scary, so I always keep my distance.

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In the course of this ride, my loud dragonoid was now completely silent. Because she’s asleep on my shoulder…drooling nonstop.

After thirty minutes of roadtrip, we ended up in a hotel. Estoff reserved two rooms for us; one for the duchess and one for Airi and me. Airi can’t get a separate room because dragonoids like her are treated as dogs. Airi didn’t oppose, but she happily accepted the only choice.

Nighttime came. Hours of watching movies after the dinner made Airi sleeping on her bed. I was about to sleep too when I heard a sudden knock.

“Amphere?” It was Estoff’s voice from the other side of the door. “I need to talk to you for a second. Meet me at my room.”

I went to his room after changing my clothes into my black “Metal Rockz” shirt. I know he will not think of me as a boring character if I wear this.

There was a couple of cushiony sofa in this yellow room. Estoff was there sitting comfortably and he’s holding a glass of pint with small amounts of ice. His facial expression became shocked as he saw my new shirt.

“What’s with that weird T-shirt?” He asked, obliging himself not to laugh.

“…So this won’t add personality in me at all?” I scratched my head.

“You’re not that boring. You’re just silent.” He said. Then he filled another glass of beer and reached it to me. “Here, drink.”

I accepted his glass, out of respect for him. I drink beer not because I wanted to, but because my comrade is forcing me. It doesn’t taste good anyway. But I know Estoff’s about to become emotional once he holds this kind of drink. He just wanted to talk about something to a man who silently listens to anything. He’s always like that to me.

“You know, Airelina used to serve me this kind of drinks every Saturday night in her inn. That’s three years ago. Before you joined us.”

“…” I want to say something like ‘I only joined because you referred me to become a Dragon Knight’ but then he raised his hand, telling me to keep silent and listening.

“I know that bombing a lot of government facilities won’t give Airelina and her fellow dragonoids a bright future. I just don’t know how to find a better way. I just wanted to save them from the abusive humans. But I don’t have the power…But you…I know you will have the best opportunity to lead them to their way to freedom. You will have to win the Dragon Knight’s Tournament for me. Win it for Airelina. Win it for the dragonoids who has been oppressed for centuries.”

“…” I wanted to say something like ‘I’ll do it!’ but then he muted me with his hand, telling me to finish him first.

“I once had a lover. She was very beautiful. She has beautiful ruby eyes like those of Airelina. She swore to me that she will be my dragon, and I will be her knight. That is why I had myself enter a military academy, to study hard dreaming to be drafted into the Dragon Knight Academy. Of course, I won. I succeeded in becoming a dragon knight. But I failed winning her. She was bought by an obnoxious rich noble that disguises as a hero. That bastard was known for sexually violating dragonoids he owns.  Whenever I meet her again, I would see bruises and scratches on her face…And I…I can’t do anything for her! I’m so powerless!”

Estoff ruined his stylish bangs and then started to cry. I know it’s hard to have that chaotic happening to the woman he loves. If that happens to Airi…I…I will surely torture that man nonstop…God forbid me.

Immediately, the ruined knight tapped both of my shoulders with a painful impact and then gripped it so hard.

“That is why you have to win. Winning the tournament will ensure the bill to be accepted by the government. And that bill will free them all.”