After breakfast, Sheto took the young dragon on a trip to climb up the Elephas mountain.
“Do you know, what the most important thing is, when walking in mountains?”
As they got closer to the peak, the ground became covered in boulders and sand, and the slope was steeper. Fi clutched his staff and shook his head while panting.
“To make sure. That is most important.”
“Make…make sure?”
“Of everything. The sun, weather, forest trees, the ground, the birds, your own body. Things like that. All of it.”
Due to the ravaged ground, Fi was walking slower than usual.
Unlike the kobold, dragon legs were not as suited for walking. Sheto understood this, and stopped, allowing the dragon to get some rest as he explained.
“B-but…there isn’t much around here to check.”
“That’s not true. The boulders around us. Look carefully. Or you will die.”
“What!? Wh-why would that happen!?”
The dragon spat out the water he was drinking. The kobold pointed down the incline.
“Rocks everywhere. Dry land. Brittle grounds. A startled rat may kick a rock. Sometimes, that rock can move a boulder.”
“…You’re…you’re kidding, right?”
“It’s true. Happens a lot. And so we only approach rocky places, when there is need.”
“Fi-fine.”
“The rock, you kick yourself. If it moves boulders, your friends below will be in danger. Must be careful.”
“Then why the hell did we come out here today?”
“To teach, of the mountain’s danger. Also, there is something I want.”
“What?”
Sheto found it in the shadows of the rocks and approached it.
“This.”
“A plant. Is it a medicinal herb?”
“Dry the roots and use. Boil and drink as tea. Heals fevers.”
“We came all this way just for that?”
“This, what I wanted first. But there are many more things to search for.”
He dug it out carefully and placed it in the bag around his waist. With a puzzled expression, the young dragon also ‘stored’ the herb in his device.
“That, an amazing tool. Can make pictures, that look real.”
“The camera? Yeah, you could say that.”
Fi smiled and tapped the screen a few times before passing the device to Sheto.
“Here. Point it towards the foot of the mountain.”
“…Woah…?”
It showed the grove near the bottom. And when he moved it, he saw the clusters of pine needles and the campsite beyond it.
“From here to the hut, so far away! The pictures can do this!?”
“Camera, not pictures. According to that old dragon, it can zoom at a DSLR level and record at 50 megapixels.”
The image quality was so clear that he might as well have been looking at the real thing with his own eyes. He could even see Guto sleeping nearby.
“This. Not just make pictures. It can show maps. And you can talk with others.”
“But it doesn’t hunt for you. Though, it’s still useful.”
“Quite amazing. A dragon’s treasure?”
“…I don’t know about that… Probably…not…”
Fi said with a strangely vacant look as he accepted it back. And then they continued on their way.
“Hey, how far are we going to go today?”
“Up to the top. And then, find a different way back. And that, is all the work of the day.”
“In other words, herb gathering… Did we really need to wake up so early for that?”
The young dragon grumbled. The kobold answered patiently.
“On mountains, the weather changes quickly. Night, dark and dangerous. And so work must be finished, during day when there is light. Also, morning herbs are more potent.”
“I see. So everything should be finished quickly…”
“And so, Fi. Get up when told. You have trouble in the morning, because you stay up, using that board.”
“…Fine.”
The dragon puffed out his cheeks and walked. Seeing that expression reminded Sheto of something.
“Fi.”
“What?”
“Are all dragons, like you?”
Fi was surprised by this sudden question, and he scowled.
“Like me…what do you mean by that?”
“Never, met a dragon before. You are, the first I spoke to. How are the others?”
When fighting those one hundred Heroes, this dragon had fallen from the sky.
He had been sent by the dragon god to help Sheto, and so they now lived together as a team. But Sheto knew nothing about Fi.
“Umm… I don’t really…know about the others. But like how humans are all unique…dragons are unique too.”
“I see…”
“…Why are you asking me…this?”
The young dragon’s face darkened as if this was a subject he did not wish to discuss. Sheto regretted it a little.
“Dragons of old stories. Strong, and big. Wise. You, not at all like that. And so…”
“Well, excuse me then! I’ve only just been born! I can’t help it!”
“Just born? And you were sent, here?”
“Do…don’t get it twisted! I’m still seventeen years old! But as a dragon, that’s like an infant!”
“I see…sorry.”
The dragon was in a bad mood now, and stormed off ahead. Sheto couldn’t help but chuckle.
This dragon had none of the awe and mysticism you would expect. Just a child. Sometimes, he felt oddly mature. But at others, completely clueless.
Like a troublesome…
“Ah..”
“…What?”
“No, nothing. Watch your feet. Even when sulking, be careful.”
“Right.”
A stupid thought.
Different in age, height and race.
Had things gone differently, they would have never even met each other.
And yet…
“Hey. Is that the top?”
Before they knew it, the rounded mountain peak had come into view. Behind it, the sky was a bright blue, and large white clouds floated high.
“Yes. You did well.”
“Hahh… That was rough.”
They found a rock that was the right size to sit on, and then the young dragon took out his water and snacks.
“What a great view.”
“…Aye.”
Sheto sat next to him as he looked around.
This mountain and the others were all enveloped in green. An unending world filled with life. Rivers flowed through the valley, and passed the area where they lived.
His eyes followed it towards a wilderness filled with rocks in the distance. He pointed at it.
“There. The Anoshtat Plains.”
“That’s what it’s called?”
“I, walked there. Filled with rocks and little food. I had to eat, many rock rats.”
The dragon scowled. The kobold chuckled.
“…I won’t ever eat those.”
“They are not bad, though?”
“Stop that! You just enjoy bullying me!”
They ate dried strawberries and felt the mountain wind. And the dragon took many ‘pictures.’
It was an uneventful, peaceful day.
With a feeling of gentle comfort, the kobold let out a sigh.
Just then…