CHAPTER 16(Edited)

"This should be it. Rain forests, tall mountains, and colorful parrots...yep, this is it." I whispered to myself while overlooking the environment before me.

Looks like an Amazon flora mixed with a Southeast Asian rainforest...

I wonder which trees are the goldenheart ones, maybe I can get some of them for fair trade.

Its wood is fabled to make the best bows, except for dragonbone, of course...

While I was contemplating, a pair of small hands found themselves clutching the side of my pants, "Is this it, my lord, the Summer Isles?" An innocent pair of eyes questioned me, curiosity written all over them.

Taking hold of her grip, I gave a small smile before speaking, "It seems so little Nass. You want to go and explore it with me?" I asked her, only to receive a tightness in my grip in response.

"Yes! I want to meet a colorful parrot! They say you can find countless going around," excitedly exclaimed her, almost jumping on her feet, "Can we keep one, pleeease?" She begged me, making a puppy face.

Urgh. What is this small, adorable being?!

"You don't need to ask it," I chucked. A parrot would give a nice color to the ship, and if they have the ability to communicate, then that would be even better.

"Let's see, *WHISTLE!" I whistled, calling the attention of those flying over us

.

*Crrác crrác!* *Ruffle!* *Tac!*

3 parrots, of the colors green, red and blue, landed close to the ship's prow, ruffling their bountiful feathers for all to see.

"Hello to you. We are traveling adventurers," I greeted them with

a wave.

They don't become my buds immediately. I need to first convince them to accept my authority.

But it's almost always a guaranteed yes, so it's just procedure at this point, "Name's Art, and this," I gestured to Ness at my side, who was ready to jump at the poor birds, "Is Nissany. She wants to be friends with you three. Is that alright with you all?" I asked, ignoring the looks my crew was giving me.

They still find it a bit unbelievable the fact that I can comprehend all of my animals...

They looked at me, and then Nass, finally accepting it with a cry, "*Crrác!" They flew over to us, two settled in her shoulders, but carefully as to not hurt her, and the last, and bigger one, stayed in my right shoulder.

"*Ruffle ruffle* *Crrác*", They ruffled their wings for a more comfortable position, tickling Nass as a result, "Hehe, stop that! Let's see...I'll call you 'Sky' since you're blue as the day, and you 'Ray', as the sun's yellow rays!" She giggled, "Come on, let's find Nocky, I'm sure he'll love you!" And with that, she went to pester Noctur, who was sleeping at the back of the ship.

Poor birds, they are in for a scare of their lives.

"Children, am I right little...guy?" I sighed, glancing at the parrot on my right, "A girl huh? Guess I'll call you Eve then(as in the red of evening)" In response, she gave me a head rub on the neck.

That got a smile out of me, "Now, can you tell me if there are others like us, somewhere on this island?" I asked as we have yet to discover where exactly our location is.

"Crrác!" She nodded at me, taking flight, "So you want us to follow you huh. Fine. Xue!! Follow that red parrot, he'll lead us to civilization!" I instructed her from the other side of the ship, pointing at the bird in front of us.

She was currently at one of the mast sides, observing the map to better locate us.

Raising her golden eyes from the map, she followed the direction in which my finger was pointing, speaking afterward, "Aye aye Captain!!" She looked a bit skeptical but decided to follow my orders nevertheless.

Men were yelled orders, and so, the ship entered a flowing clean river between three green peaks. "Let's see how they welcome a beast tamer" I chucked, hoping for a traditional kiss on the cheeks for a greeting...

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[3 Hours later]

"Crrác!" Eve landed on my shoulder, requesting a back rub as a reward, and crying cheerfully when receiving it.

She delivered her mission alright. I could already see the port from here...

It was simple, with a design made of a mixture of Indian and Mesopotamian architecture. It seemed clean and organized as well...

"HALT!!" Commanded a dark-skinned man, probably a guard of some kind. He wore a colorful cloak strapped to his boiled leather suit body together with an extravagant feather cape and was currently pointing a bow at me since I was at the ship's prow.

"Nakho! Zohhe!(Translation: Stop! Down!)" I commanded my bloodriders, or else the guard would wake up in his hot piece of heaven in no time.

I turned back to observe the guard's reaction, and I was plenty surprised.

He didn't have an ounce of fear in his behavior, not even with the animals and Noctur laying around...

Maybe it's confidence in his compatriots? Or he's just that loyal to his duty?

Regardless of it, I straighten my back and bowed my head a little, "Forgive my crew's reaction, they are very overprotective of me," I apologized to him.

The poor guy is just doing his job, "My name is Art Murlin, an adventurer, explorer, and occasionally vigilant to the common folk" I introduced myself, joking a bit at the end.

The man looked weirdly at me for a minute but ended up introducing himself too, "Greetings foreigns. I'm named Jholoh Mho. And this is the port of Red Flower Vale," He gestured towards the colorful port, "May I enquire the purpose for your stay?" He added, carefully interrogating me.

I smiled at his distrust and simply answered, "We're here for trade, I have gold and I wish to obtain your merchandise, as well as new crew members that wish to join me when I leave" And possibly learn their ways in traveling...and magic.

He eyed me, most likely scanning for lies, but gave up when seeing my honest stance, "Very well, you may pass. Just leave your bigger beasts inside the ships," warned him, but continued after it, "And that your stay is pleasant" He bowed his head, gesturing for us to pass.

"Thank you Jholoh, may we meet again" I waved at him, with my ship going towards the city dock.

"What are we supposed to do now, my lord," Asked a petite brunette girl named Lirah, she's also an ex-slave that I liberated, but didn't have a family to go back to. I believe she's sixteen.

"Humm, you guys can explore the city if you want, just don't cause any trouble, and remember to always carry at least one animal companion with you," I reminded them of the rules, especially for my Dothraki, "You can spend your money in any way you want. However, spend smart and always walk in trios. If you need me, just warn your best companion, and I'll know where you are. That's all, we re-group here in the evening." I ended as the ship started to be docked.

A rumbling sound, along with some shaking occurred when the conveyance parked sideways, "Nass! Let's go!", I yelled at the rascal who was trying to climb on Noctur's back.

The lizard in question didn't even acknowledge her pestering, opting to nap until called, or until dinner...

"The bigger ones stay on the ship! No, not you, with your appearance, I doubt anyone would be suspicious" I turned towards Mr.Fluffy, who seemed to want to go with me.

As much as he is bigger than normal, no one would fear him anyway, so no problem there.

Running towards me, Nissany gave a big smile, with the duo parrots still hanging in her, "Let's go, my lord!" She grabbed my hand, pulling me in the city's direction.

More specifically, the silk street...

"This is going to be a long day" I sighed, already seeing both Niss and, surprisingly Mei, robbing me of my money, all while making me wait seated in the food section, with a lot of bags.

*Shiver*

Retaining a lot of Vietnam flashbacks right now...