"Why did you go over there, anyway?" This talk of a dragon got the kids riled up, as two of them began imitating the beast in their minds eyes, though one managed an inquiry. This one being perhaps, their most sincere question. After all, the old man did mention that such a monster had the ability to swallow him whole. The man lost his balance on a hat, he most certainly wasn't in a position to fell a Wyrm. Especially one with his own island named after him.

"I'm just here out of curiosity"

"Hath thou knowledge of my existence prior?"

"Yes, well…I suspected you were dead…"

"Art thou disappointed?"

"Curious about what, though?" Now they were really asking the good questions. The other two had settled down now, no longer splashing water every which way. Very impressive to have gone this long, considering they swam for hours earlier. Maybe they would harbor the same sense of adventure as Serge, perhaps one day they would find their own Dragon. Though hopefully that wouldn't be for quite some time.

"Well, children…I wanted to know why Serge…why he went there." Water seeped into the open mouths of those hearing the old man's tale, followed by aggressively spattering salt out. Clearly, he was the one to break such news about Serge. Whether it was right or not to tell didn't matter at this point, everyone in Arni deserved to know the truth. Everyone deserved to know that an emissary of Arni was that fearless.

"No way!" The kids remarked in unison, still emptying their system of saltwater in the process. "He…just went over there like that?!"

His initial shred of uncertainty melted away. A warm smirk now sat in its place, "He certainly did! Never had I seen the likes of such bravery!" Now speaking in grandiose tone, infecting the children's expressions to mirror his own. Many a child had experienced sordid tales of scooping up monstrous fish, but never had they known anyone to face off against a Dragon. Knowing such a thing existed in the same archipelago as they did caused their small hearts to race. Their excitement didn't stop there, as one by one they began climbing up the pier to hear what he was saying even better. Knowing he had captivated these kids was, in some way, an even bigger victory than stepping away from a Dragon unscathed!

The prune-handed youngsters settling closer meant the old timer had to turn around and face the opposite side of the pier for a change. He didn't mind, of course, as it meant he could carry on with his story. "And not only that…but they sparred!" Given they were slippery from the sea, one of the children nearly fell off the pier, only being saved by another. Though they were often rambunctious, they possessed a Crab in a barrel mentality. "And wouldn't you believe it…the Dragon lost!" Once excited faces slowly drowned in skepticism.

"He…he beat a Dragon? That dork that keeps trying to date Leena?" One of them asked with a raised eyebrow. They never did approve of Serge, at least not as someone that deserved to date Leena. Leena picked on him, too, but in a playful way. Of course, the kids were under such an assumption that she was antagonizing him all the same. Unfortunately for them, that wasn't at all the case.

"One day you'll like girls, too, ya know?" The old man assured them.

"No way! Yuck!" The salt water had been well out of their systems for a short while now, but that didn't stop them from spitting all the same.

"Haha! Anyway, should I get back to my story?" He asked, with an inviting grin.

"If Serge could take out a Dragon, I bet I can!" It was only a matter of time until they formed this opinion.

Slumping his head, the old man then halted them where they sat. "Maybe one day…but you kids could barely handle a baby Komodo Dragon, I suspect." Clearly, he had a gift for riling up these young'uns.

"What?! Let's go to Opassa Beach right now! I'll prove you wrong!" They stood up promptly, then punching and kicking at invisible Dragons.

"Settle down," He murmured. "I know for a fact that your parents would worry. Maybe in a few years."

Now grouchy, they aggressively plopped themselves back down. "Okay! But how did Serge beat the Dragon? He's so weak!"

"Son of man did possess indefatigable will. But his friends did share this as well."

"And…had he been alone?"

"Nay. Never had anyone prior devastated me into submission."

"N…never?"

"He was the first!?" Eye contact jumped around between the three kids, disbelief sat nestled in each of them.

The old man simply nodded, that very same smirk playing host once more. "That's right. Not only was he brave enough to travel there, but he also accepted the Dragon's challenge…and won." To have earned a Dragon's respect is one of the highest honors anyone could have. Though, managing to convince one that a Dragon exists is on a similar plane. Had he done that today? All he wanted after today was for these kids to constantly ask the question 'what if?'.

The sun above began to hang low, not that the old timer needed any indicator that he was out baking for far too long, rather, his yawning was evidence enough. "Woo…I dunno about you kids, but I'm gonna need to turn in soon." Frowns hit them like a Cat Burglar.

"Aww, man! How about tomorrow? Can we continue! If…Leena isn't back, I guess?" Their interest rose to a peak at this point, pressuring the old man to carry through with the same momentum the next day.

"Sure thing. I'll be out here early, so I'll be waiting!" He exchanged, then standing and carrying his fishing rod over his shoulder. The kids waved, and he simply held up his hand in response. For years he sat outside with those kids, and not once had he attempted to converse with them outside of nagging at them to behave. My how things had changed.