9. Talks
"The children can use this room"
"Thank you"
I am currently at the house of the girl named Amelia.
She said that since it was too late, the best option was to stay at her house for tonight and then figure out the rest later.
'They look peaceful'
I left the children in bed and went to the living room.
Amelia and that man named Nox were sitting there.
"Did you finish tucking the children in? Then, could we have a little chat?"
I nodded at Nox's words and sat down across from them.
"What do you want to talk about?"
I suppose both of them have their doubts; before, I avoided talking too much because there were too many people and it could have become annoying.
"Why were you in the forest?"
"I was living there"
"Living there...?"
"And how did you meet the children?"
"One day, Isla found where I lived, after that I found that place and took care of the people who were there. When I met Nash, seeing that he resembled the girl who had arrived at my home, I decided to take him after seeing that Amelia's group arrived at the place."
"So the presence I thought I felt that time was you..."
It seems that girl has good senses.
"And the reason I am with them is because they asked me to teach them how to live on their own. That is the extent of our relationship"
"It doesn't seem like it's just that..."
"Is there something you want to say?"
"N-no... it's nothing..."
When I finished speaking, Nox seemed to mumble something but I couldn't catch it.
Seeing that the man got nervous, Amelia steered the conversation back on track.
"You said you lived in the forest, can I ask for more details?"
"I lived in a cave, it's not a good place for children, that's why I made that request"
"I understand..."
"And about the gate, can you tell us what you saw?"
Do they still have more questions?
"...After eliminating the dragon the exit portal appeared and you should already know the rest"
Amelia was trying not to show the reactions going on inside her head.
The mere fact of being able to defeat a dragon solo is something incomprehensible to her.
And, if what the person in front of her had said wasn't a lie, then that meant she not only defeated it solo, but she even did it while having to defend two children and didn't even show signs of fatigue.
Amelia remembered the words Nox had told her: 'Whatever you do, don't make her your enemy'.
'If the person in front of me is really capable of something like that... I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if Nox hadn't stopped me...'
"You don't have any more questions?"
"...I don't"
"...About the... No, I have no more questions"
"You wanted to ask something, say it"
Seeing Nox hesitate, Lunaria insisted he ask.
"...Before, when I asked you what you were, you answered that we should consider you the children's guardian. Could you not satisfy this person's curiosity and answer again?"
"Nox!?"
"Hm..."
At Nox's question, Lunaria crossed her arms and stared at him.
After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, she finally opened her mouth.
"What do you think I am? A monster?"
But what came out of her mouth was another question.
Both Nox and Amelia started thinking about their answer and the first person to speak was the girl.
"No... Sorry about before. I don't think you are a monster. In the first place, it isn't possible to communicate with them, just that should be enough proof that you aren't one"
Amelia paused to organize her thoughts and continued speaking.
"It is clear that you aren't human, but you don't have traits of races like elves or dwarves either. I could say you are something like a demon because of the wings and horns you showed, but I don't think that is the answer. Honestly, I don't know"
"Hm... And you?"
After Amelia's answer, Lunaria waited for Nox's.
"...You said before you lived in a cave, right?"
"Yes"
"And if I didn't misunderstand, you defeated a dragon while defending the children"
"That is correct"
"Horns and wings, there is no tail but that monstrous strength you speak of... By any chance, could you be a dragon?"
Nox said smiling as if he were telling a joke...
"Correct"
"Right, that makes no sen... What did you just say?"
"That you guessed right"
Only for the pair to stay frozen upon hearing the confirmation.
"Then, if you'll excuse me"
Seeing their reactions, Lunaria got up and entered the room where she had left the children.
Thus, some time passed before they came to their senses.
"...Did I hear right?"
"..."
"Nox?"
"..."
WHACK!
Seeing that he didn't answer, Amelia hit him on the head.
"...And what was that for!? It hurts"
"You weren't answering so I hit you to see if you would react and it worked. So, did I hear the same thing as you?"
"...Don't try to change the subject"
Amelia simply ignored Nox and seeing that she refused to answer he decided to give in this time.
"That she is a dragon? Yes, I heard it too"
"And what do you think? Is she telling the truth?"
"...At this point, I have more reasons to believe it than to deny it"
"...Right"
Both sighed trying to organize their thoughts.
"...I'm tired"
"...? Ah, me too"
"Do you want to go eat something?"
"Your treat?"
"Haaah, I guess I owe you one. Come on, my treat. What do you want to eat?"
And both silently decided they were not going to report this fact.
"...Where...?"
"Did you wake up?"
It’s curious, I feel like this situation is repeating itself.
While resting my back against the room wall, Nash woke up in the middle of the night and asked where he was.
Isla is still sleeping next to him.
"A bed? Where are we?"
"Amelia's house. I brought you here after you fell asleep"
"...Who is Amelia?"
"The girl you saw when leaving the portal. The one who was next to the black-haired man"
Nash looked at me with confusion as if he still didn't understand why he is here but didn't keep asking. And, instead, his face started getting a bit more anxious.
"What's wrong? If you want to say something, say it"
"You..."
Without forcing his answer, I waited for him to speak.
"...Are you going to abandon us?"
What?
"Why do you think that?"
"It's just that... you brought us to this place. Isn't it to leave us here?"
This child.
He is worrying unnecessarily.
"You don't need to worry about that. I still haven't fulfilled the promise I made you, so I don't plan to abandon you"
"..."
It doesn't seem like he believes me.
I sat on the bed and continued speaking while looking at him.
"Nash, I made a promise to you. Do you remember what it was?"
"...That you would take care of us until we can look after ourselves"
"Do you think that with one week you can already look after yourselves?"
"..."
"I don't think so. And as long as I consider it so, you will remain under my care"
"...I understand"
It doesn't seem like he's going to keep doubting, at least for now.
"Go back to sleep. It is still late"
"And you? There doesn't seem to be another bed here"
"Don't worry about me, I don't need to sleep. I will stay watching until you wake up"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"...Okay"
Unsure, Nash lay back down.
But, before I could get up.
"...?"
"Isla?"
"Did you wake up too, Isla?"
Isla looked at me with a sleepy face while rubbing one eye with her hand.
She seemed to want to ask where she was.
"Don't worry, you are safe here. Go back to sleep, it is still night"
"..."
Is she not completely awake?
Isla is still looking at me with a sleepy face as if she hadn't heard what I said.
"If you are sleepy, go to sleep. You don't need to try to stay... Isla?"
"Isla!?"
But while I insisted she go to sleep, Isla grabbed me and pulled me to the center of the bed.
I didn't consider the idea of resisting her grip.
"Isla? What is it that you want?"
"..."
"Isla?"
She is sleeping.
She made me lie down in the middle of the bed to hug my arm and fell asleep.
I could slip out of her grip, but that would probably wake her up.
"Lunaria? ...Are you okay with staying like that?"
"...Yes, don't worry and go to sleep"
"...Sorry about Isla"
"I already said you don't need to worry"
"Yes..."
Nash, unsure, moved to my side and went back to sleep facing the wall.
How much time passed?
Amelia had left with Nox a while ago and there were no signs she was going to return soon.
The house was silent.
Only the breathing of both children next to me could be heard inside.
To my right, Isla was sleeping with a smile while hugging my arm.
To my left, Nash, who had turned around while sleeping, was gripping my clothes as if he didn't want to have to let go.
And I...
'This... is a strange feeling'
I didn't know what it was I was feeling.
