Chapter 10 - A Western Dragon in the Forest
Ex and Hiroe went home together and I think they cut classes again. Wow, I can't believe that my brother is falling in love with her. Because of her attitude, my brother became a better man but I think he still don't want to go home. I want to go home where I could stay or feel better but Ex will consider me as a traitor. The sun is setting where the sky is purplish-orange in colour. I am heading to the base alone for Draco went home and so as Claud. I sighed when I look above until, "Airi?" I jumped in fright when a voice called my name. I turned around, only to see…mom Asia and dad?! Oh no, I'm so dead! Well, I have no choice but to talk to them, "What?! So you really reformed the ORC?" asked dad as if he's going to freak out. We are sitting on a bench near a river sight on a park, "I'm not supposed to tell you for Ex will hate me," I said as I clutched to my skirt with my face looking down. I felt that my mom hold my hand and I look up to her, only to see that she's smiling, "Airi, you're brother wouldn't be mad at you. I'm sure he'll understand for he's older than you. How is he?" she said and at the same time asked, "He's totally fine. He's taking his training seriously and he's an expert in using swords!" I said, "Wow, I think Ex really changed, right dear?" said dad as mom nodded, "How about you, Ai?" he asked, "Well, I can use nature, summoning and transportation magic. Mr. Vali said that I'm good in hand-to-hand combat which I don't give an actual credit," I said shyly, "Combat?! Nobody would expect that a sweet girl like you can do martial arts!" said dad.
I never expect that my parents would be proud for us two, "By the way, is Tina and Yuki alright? I want to talk to Tina at school always but Ex always keeps me from them," I shrugged, "Don't worry, they're okay now!" replied dad. I sighed in relief when I heard it from them, "Oh! It's getting late! I have to go now," I said as I got up from the bench, "Come on, we'll walk with you," said my but I shook my head, "No, I'm fine! I can do it…" "As if we don't know where you two are staying. You're at the base when Akeno figured it out," said my mom giggling. Geez! I forgot that they were part of the club back then and they probably know where we are staying, "Alright, you won," I said. As we walk, I noticed that the two of them are out here, just the two of them, "What are you two doing outside anyway?" "Well, we…were…just, having a walk until we saw you," said mom blushing. I laughed because of that.
Ex's POV
"Is Airi not home yet? Its 7:00 in the evening," I asked Hiroe as we got home, "Well, I think so. Her things aren't already here," said Hiroe when the bell from the door rang, revealing Airi who had got home late, "Hi guys!" she said smiling. What's with her? I thought when she entered our room. Maybe Claud did something nice for her this day. The two of them are getting close lately, after our training.
Airi's POV
Saturday in the morning, today I went out of the base and go to the garden. Wow, the garden is blooming everyday! Daisies and roses are very pretty when blooming or butterflies are sipping their nectars. "Leaves awaken, stems risen," I chanted and the plants started to grow and some started to bloom, such us flowers. Gardening is a perfect way to enhance my nature magic. When I finished, I heard a loud stomp coming from the forest. I got terrified because of that for it sounded…like…like a dragon! I go back inside our club where the others also heard it, "Tell me you heard it too, right, Airi?" Ex asked as he swayed his left arm, readying his Sacred Gear, "Don't get excited in using your Sacred Gear, Ex! You know it's still unstable and you need to master it," scolded Uncle Yuuto to my brother, "Oh man! This sucks!" he exclaimed as he swayed it back, returning into his normal arm, "Come on, let's check where the sound comes from!" said Ex and the four of them run to the door, leaving Uncle Yuuto and I inside, "This is not good! It could be a dragon or maybe not," I said as I clenched my fist against my chest, "Do you think, Fafnir?" I asked while I look at the glowing purple orb on my arm, "I also think that it is a lost dragon, Ms. Airi," he replied, "They didn't encounter some real dragons, right?" I asked to Uncle Yuuto as he shook his head, "We need to find them as soon as possible," said Uncle Yuuto.
Ex's POV
"This mission is sort of dragon hunting thing, right?" Draco asked shaking. We are very fast and we didn't even notice that we went into the deepest part of the forest. I'm sure that this is going to be fun for our first mission. I'm not very attach to dragons so I don't care if we slain them, "Ex, this is very dangerous!" Draco whispered, "You better come back to Airi. Thought that I could trust her!" I said. Lately, I found out that Airi met up with dad and mom Asia. Oh…I really hate him so much. Thanks to Hiroe when she got some Airi's sweat, she showed me about what happened, "Ex, don't get mad at her, she's still your sister!" said Hiroe, "also, she's younger than you and she missed her parents. You and Airi have different personalities and don't you dare hurt her," Hiroe scolded. I got quiet by that time. Suddenly, we saw a figure that is 30 feet tall I think and it is looking at us, "Look out!" Draco exclaimed as it breathed green fire! Luckily we immediately avoided it. I think it's time to use my Sacred Gear, "Boosted Gear: Diabolos!" I said as I swayed my left arm, revealing my red dragon arm, "Galatine III!" I summoned my second Sacred Gear which is my signature sword, "Blade Blacksmith!" Claud summoned his sword as Hiroe released water energy from her hands. Only, Draco hid behind a tree as the three of us fought the dragon, "Water Serpent!" finally, Hiroe used her serpent to fight the dragon. Her water serpent and the dragon fight but Hiroe's serpent is defeated by the dragon. After that, it roared loudly. I felt that my eardrums are going to explode. "Water Shield!" Hiroe chanted as a shield surrounded us.
Airi's POV
"Where did they go, Lily?" I asked as we searched for the four of them. Lily flew all the way to south and leads us to a darker part of the forest, "Uncle, what is this place? It looks scary," I whispered, "This is the deep part of the forest so you better be careful," said Uncle Yuuto, "Take this you bastard!" wait, isn't that Ex? I heard his voice towards the direction to where Lily's going, "Come on!" ordered Uncle Yuuto and we ran to that direction. As we run, we saw Draco hiding behind a tree, "Draco!" I called, "Airi! I'm glad that you're here!" he said, "What's going on?" "I know you wouldn't believe me but they are fighting a dragon, a western dragon! As I observed, it is colour purple that breathed green flame! It looks uncontrollable," said Draco shaking, "When I tamed Lily, I looked at her in the eye…that's it! But I don't know if I can control her," I said. I run to the direction where they fought. Unfortunately, the dragon got down where I almost died by going under its abdomen. I used a transportation magic to teleport on its face, "Airi?! How did you?" Ex asked.I turned around, only to see the dragon in anger, "Whoah! Easy, please. Calm down big fella," I said as I raised my hands towards the dragon. The dragon seemed to calm down but suddenly, it disappeared out of nowhere.
"We could've have kill it! Thanks to you, Airi that our first mission gone wrong!" shouted Ex angrily at me. I never see him do this to me, "But, I only help you…" I was cut-off when Ex yelled at me, "HELP?! WHAT KIND OF HELP?! NOW TELL ME, AIRI, YOU ONLY LET THE DRAGON GET AWAY BECAUSE OF YOUR TAMING ABILITIES OR…WHATEVER! JUST DON'T DO THAT AGAIN, UNDERSTAND?!" I can't believe he did it. I tried to hold my tears from drifting on my face. Because of that, I run away from the base back to the forest, "Airi!" Hiroe called but I didn't look back.
Ex's POV
"Why did you do that to her?! It's not right to yell your sister that way!" Hiroe scolded but I didn't listen, "Ex, even though your sister met up with your father it doesn't mean that you should treat her like that," she continued. Then I realize that what if something's happen to her? Mom Asia will get worry about her when she's gone. I went out of the base to look for her. Damn it! What have I done? I promised that I'll protect her and now I scared her away.
Airi's POV
I run and run until I reached the deepest part of the forest. I don't care if I go somewhere. I just have to go further from the base so they won't find me. I kept running until…."AHHHH!" I fell into a deep opening when I stepped on a soft land at the forest.
Third Person's POV
While Airi fell into the hole, at Hyoudou Residence, Asia suddenly jolt up from their bed where Issei and her fellow wives sleep, "Airi!" she exclaimed. She looked around the room only to realize that she's only dreaming. They are all asleep and she is on Issei's left side. She sighed and go back to sleep.
Airi's POV
My vision is blurred when I woke up from what happened. I felt my body lying on a stony ground as I touched it. When my vision got clearer, I tried to sit up and observed the surroundings. The surroundings is like a temple! Old bricks were used to build this place and some torches with no fire surround the area. The only light that I can see is from above where I fell, "HELLO?" I called but I received no answer. Suddenly, I can feel smoke or huff from behind. I turned my head behind me, only to find out that there are golden eyes staring wide awake at me. I move back a little as it gets closer, it started to reveal its face and now, the whole head, "Don't be afraid child, I'm not going to hurt you," said the creature. As I scan her, she was the dragon that they fought earlier! Wow, she's like Fafnir who could talk, "I'm sorry if I scared you," she said, "No, it's okay! May I ask your name?" "My name is Roma, I'm a western dragon who got cursed by a witch a long time ago," she said, "I'm Airi. What kind of a dragon are you?" I asked, "I'm a forest dragon. Forest Dragons can hardly tame by anyone. You are the first one who tamed me," she said, "For real? By the way, I'm sorry about what happened to you earlier. I should've been there so you won't get hurt," I apologized, "It's not your fault, Airi," said the Roma, "I want you to know my buddies," said I as I summon Lily and I talk to Fafnir, "Fafnir? Are you there?" the gem on my skin started to blink, meaning that he's talking, "Hello, Ms. Airi! Wait, where are we right now?" "Well, I kinda ran away and I fell in the hole," I said, "Who is that beside you? Even though I'm inside your longinus, I can still sense it," he said and I giggled about that, "Fafnir, this is Roma. She's a forest dragon," said I as I showed him Roma, "Forest Dragon? Such a rare species of western dragon, I bet," said Fafnir as my light blinked, "Oh! And this is Lily, my familiar and also my buddy. She is a sprite dragon," said I and suddenly, Roma glowed green and said, "You are a kind maiden, Ms. Airi. I will enter your magical spirit so you could summon me in case of trouble," after she said it, she disappeared and I found myself back on the forest, not in the hole but beside a tree. So Roma is a part of my summoning magic now? What could happen in case trouble approach us? "Airi!" someone called me. I turned around and it is Ex, running towards me. He suddenly hugged me, saying sorry and I forgive him.