Salia sat by the rim of the water mirror, and spoke to Sheto, who was busy with morning preparations.
“Good morning. You’re awake quite early.”
‘Ah, Salia. Morning.’
He had already destroyed the oven and buried the helmets that he had been using as pots. The shack was also taken down as he erased the evidence of their life there.
“Is it really necessary to destroy everything?”
‘When leaving a place you lived, everything must be broken. To not leave, your feelings.’
Salia was not sure what to say to that. And so she turned her attention to the small dragon.
“Good morning, Fi. How are you today?”
‘I’m alright. Still sleepy from having to get up so early.’
He had looked a little depressed for some time, after hearing Sheto’s confession. But she could see that he was back to normal now. While a dragon, he was still young, and likely quite sensitive.
“Apparently, the Seer’s army is going to march south. And he means to destroy you, ‘along the way.’”
‘…I…just along the way…’
“He is not like those other gods. Well, it does not change what we have to do. Search for a weakness and figure out a way to defeat him.”
She did not tell them that the chances of a successful assassination were incredibly low. There was no point in making them worry more than they were now.
‘What is with this…Seer? So, he’s like top dog, right? Why would he want your territories all of a sudden?’
Fi grumbled as he sat down in front of the grilled fish they were having for breakfast. Salia chuckled.
“That is just what gods do. These games are really just about expanding your territory. An excuse to battle… It doesn’t matter if you are already on the top.”
She no longer felt any anger or exasperation in regards to that.
To borrow Sheto’s words on that night, it was a waste to feel anger and hatred towards a person who cannot even imagine what it feels like to lose something.
‘What about…you? After winning this much…doesn’t that make you one of them? The winner gods.’
“That’s harsh. But I’ve already figured it out. And I will not be swept away.”
Just as Sheto had spoken of determination, Salia herself had her own resolve.
Well, she had gained the opportunity to do something she had once given up on.
“On the night that we win this battle. I intend to end this system. These games of the gods.”
‘…Is that even…possible?’
“I don’t know. However, at the very least, it should be possible to suspend it temporarily, or change the system and rules. For instance, perhaps we could make an arena somewhere and have gods and demons fight directly.”
‘So it will be a fighting game next! That way, it won’t cause trouble for anyone else!’
The dragon said happily. Salia replied with a little sadness in her voice.
“Though, I could never compete in such a game. But I never liked to fight anyway… Besides, I could never even beat the dragon god…”
‘Oh? You played a fighting game with the old man?’
“Aye. But he beat me before I even knew what was happening… Really…he is so childish sometimes…”
‘Alright then. When I get back, I will avenge you.’
“Aye, I will count on it.”
That being said, after they played, the smaller dragons had banded together to punish the dragon god already.
‘…It’s time to go.’
Sheto, who had already finished eating, was attaching the traveling gear to Guto.
The saddle, reins, and bags. While it was strange to attach such things to a creature of the wild, the star wolf was still and did not complain.
“Guto. Sorry to cause you trouble. And thank you.”
‘…Wuff.’
“That being said, I will not make you take on that burden as it is. Yesta.”
“Yes.”
The clock staff moved towards the mirror, and then a white glow enveloped the wolf.
‘Oh, he has Regen now. I can see it.’
‘Good, eh? Guto.’
‘Wuff.’
They said as they continued to make preparations.
Sheto was trying on the new mithril gloves and leg guards. After putting on his traveling clothes, he picked up his bow and quiver, and then put on the cape made of wyvern skin.
Fi rummaged awkwardly through the bag strapped around his torso. He checked the contents and made records on his smartphone.
Guto yawned as he watched them. It was as if he barely noticed what was attached to him now.
‘By the way, Fi. I, forgot, to give this to you.’
‘There’s something else?’
The kobold handed him a hatched in a cloth sheath.
‘What’s that for?’
‘All men who enter mountains, take hatchets. For cutting branches, firewood, crafting. It has many uses.’
‘When did you make this…’
The young dragon unsheathed it. The silvery mithril shone in the light as he held it up to the sky.
‘Why is it open right here?’
‘To insert, long stick. Can turn into, a spear that way.’
‘And so I have to fight too?’
Sheto smiled and shook his head.
‘Using like that, just a last resort. Normally, it is used to catch, large fish.’
Sheto smiled gently as he helped to strap it on.
‘It’s yours. Take good care, of it.’
‘Yeah…’
Sheto must have made it while working on the arrowheads.
For a hunter, hunting tools had to be protected at all cost. They were your life and soul. And so having an elder or village chief give you, it was proof that you had been accepted as one of them.
Though, Fi was not likely to understand the significance.
Or how Sheto felt when passing it on.
‘Let’s go.’
After everything was ready, Sheto climbed onto Guto, and then offered his hand to the young dragon.
‘…Yeah.’
The anxiety and fear on Fi’s face turned into determination.
And then, with both passengers on, Guto began to run.
Through the bushes and trees, away from their place of peace and rest.
Thank you again!