It's with Faruk This Time

The sun has set, replaced by the faintly glowing moon in the dark evening skies. Glitter of stars scattered across the space, beautifying the time of night of the earth. It's calm, yet chilling air spreads to the entire Raskiel mountains. Those who aren't fit of the nightly cold wouldn't last an hour in that mountain.

The Silver Dragon rests in his cave, accompanied by the wizard and the dragon's little protege. Oria, tired after the lesson with Dux, has fallen flat on top of Faruk's back where his fur grows thickly. The dragon forbade her from sleeping directly on the cold dirt. At first, Oria was reluctant, but after Faruk stated that it's her reward for undergoing her first training without significant issues.

Dux, on the other hand, also wanted to lay down on top of his giant reptile friend's back, but oh, woe was his, Faruk turned him down. Eventually, the squid wizard poutingly sits on top of a high stone slab where he usually read his tome.

A few hours later, it's already midnight. Oria is still peacefully sleeping, hugging the cushy silver fur of her master. Meanwhile, neither Faruk nor Dux can comfortably rest like her. Their minds are swamped with a mystery that begs solving.

That's right. They are trying to figure out what does the [E-404] skill means.

The Silver Dragon, being a former Guardia, dives into his palace of memories, trying to find anything related to that one mysterious skill of hers. While Dux, on the other hand, reads his rather large book, also trying to find if anything regarding that skill pops out somewhere in that book of his.

Dux, who's already back in his squid form, asks with a sigh.

"So, got anything, my dear friend?"

Faruk opens his eyes. The wizard hopes for a positive answer, but no, the dragon lightly shakes his head.

"Unfortunately, I still found nothing," he said, trying to keep his voice down.

"Herrngh... I've guessed as much. Here I thought you might've known something about it. Heh, even a Guardia doesn't know everything, eh?" Dux said in a sarcastic tone.

"We Guardias are not gods. We're all bestowed with an enormous knowledge, but even that knowledge has its own limits. What I can say for sure, there must be a major change during the time I was sealed in this cave. You, being the one who acted as my eye during that span of time, supposedly know better, no?"

"Nyuhuhuhu~ I suppose you're right in some way. But nah... the world is just fine as it is. The system wasn't changed, and yeah, it's pretty much the same. Even after 'she' died," Dux casually said.

"Hmph. The world regained peace when I'm sealed off. But with me out in the open now, I wonder about the so-called peace in this land that 'she' had claimed."

"Huhu. Who knows? But I do wonder, though... I've yet to travel around the country during this week. I've gained no information of what's unfolding in the continent as of currently."

"Then you're going to go tomorrow, won't you?" Faruk immediately asked on the bullseye.

"Yeeeah... kinda like that. I'm confident Oria will be doing just fine. She has learned the basics in a fast rate, so I don't think there will be any trouble," Dux reassured.

"I hope so, too," the dragon sighed. "Even though I've been freed, I'm not entirely at liberty to go wherever I please. I'll continue counting on you for being my eyes around the world, Dux."

"Nyuhuhu, as you wish. Just make sure you keep an eye out of her. After all, she's already like a daughter to you, isn't she?" Dux pitched his voice, teasing the dragon.

"Heh. I barely fit the role of fathering her. I only look at her as my liberator, and most importantly, my protege. She can do whatever she wants when she's strong enough to leave the nest," Faruk replied in a deeper voice.

"(Isn't that alone what a doting father would do to his child? Nyuhuhu, what a dishonest creature he is.)"

"What's that smug look for?" Faruk asked in a calm but somewhat threatening voice.

"Ahahaha, it's nothing." Dux closed his book and climbs down the stone slab. "Well, better get some rest. Every one of us will be extremely busy starting tomorrow. I'll borrow that hidden chamber for the night, a'ight?"

As Dux leaves his sight, Faruk mumbles to himself.

"Yeah... you're right. Perhaps it'll be more than just 'busy'."

...

..

.

Early in the morning, the argent-scaled dragon wakes up his protege, who's still comfortably burying herself in his warm and soft white fur.

"Wake up, Oria. It's already morning."

"Mmmhh... heehee... Argent sleeaaash... zzz..."

The kid is mumbling in her sleep. Faruk exercises his patience by waking her up again in the same manner.

"Come on, now. You don't want to be late, do you?"

"Mmmm..."

She's waking up. ...Or at least, that's what Faruk hoped. She's not getting up, still glued to that fluffy surface of the dragon. Faruk keeps his cool. He tries one more time.

"O r i a."

"..."

Nope. She's still slumbering.

Faruk gets a bit irritated. He makes a grumbling sound that vibrates his entire body. For him, it's just a tiiiny bit of convulses. But for a human lying on him, that's outright tectonic earthquake. It instantly wakes her up. She's shocked that she thought there's an actual earthquake happening.

"Wawawawawa! E-Earthquake!?"

"There's no earthquake," Faruk said curtly as he stopped his vibrations. "Took you some time to wake up. Enough. Clean yourself already."

"O-Oh... I'm on it," Oria said. She's practically still half asleep.

"Whoa, careful there," Faruk's wing rose a little, blocking her from falling. "Good grief. Take care not to slip."

"Ahaha... I'm sorry."

Faruk slowly lowers his body and stretches out his wing towards the ground, making a slide for the little girl. Oria sits by the edge and slides down. For a morning time, it's already a bit of adrenaline for a kid like her.

Just before she goes to a wellspring in the cave, Oria turns around like she just remembered something.

"Oh, right... umm..." somewhat she's reluctant to say. But eventually, those words come out of her tiny mouth. "Good... morning... Faruk."

Listening to her greetings, Faruk can't help but reply to her. "...Hmph. Good morning to you, too, Oria."

The child smiles, happy that her master answers her greetings. She merrily goes on her way to the wellspring afterwards.

Meanwhile, three jade eyes are peeking from behind a tall stone slab. An evil yet funny giggle rings afterward. "Nyuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu..."

After the child finishes cleaning herself up, she returns to Faruk, who's currently sitting near the entrance with the wizard, Sqidral Dux. Upon reaching there, she finds the shrilly voiced magician tying up a sack to his wizard staff.

"Master Dux... what are you... doing?" she asked reluctantly.

"Oooh, good day, Oria. I'm packing up some things, y'see. I'm going to go out for a while," he said all in the most casual tone ever.

"You're leaving...?" Oria asked. Her eyes are looking all sad. But that sadness is swept away as Dux approaches her.

"Are you deaf?" he asked. "I said I'll go out for A WHILE! Please don't look at me like I'm leaving for good. After all, Faruk's my best buddy. There's no way I'm leaving forever."

"Ahaha... I-I see."

"Sheesh, you're being awfully rude, Dux," Faruk pointed out, his blazing white eyes glare at him.

"It can't be helped, right? It's not like I'm leaving forever!" Dux retorted.

"At least put some effort in your choice of words..." Faruk replied.

"No, it's okay, Faruk," Oria stated, smiling to them. Grabbing her own hand she says, "I just thought I was being a bad girl and you left me because of it. It seems it's not that. Hahaha... I'm just... a bit scared."

"Nyuhuhu, I suppose I owe you an apology for that outburst of mine. You're not a bad student, Oria. In fact, I wanna teach many things to ya. But ah, you know, some other things happened and I gotta go for a while. I'll be back before you know it."

"I... I understand. Please be careful on your way, Master Dux," Oria stated.

"It seems you two has developed quiiite the bond in a short time, eh?" Faruk jumped into their conversation. "But that's what I wish from us three. Having good relationships with each other will surely maintain order among the three of us."

"Nyuhuhu, worry not big guy. Oh, right... here's a bit of advice from me, Oria. Please, PLEASE prepare yourself. This big lug here might be a kind and loving father, but he's quite the terrible sla—I mean worker driver."

Faruk comments almost instantly, "Hey, hey... don't make it sound like I'm the bad person, will you?"

"Heehee. Don't worry, Master Dux. I believe in him!" Oria unexpectedly smiled.

"Once again, my worry is for naught. Well, if that's the case, I'll be going now. Good luck you two~!"

Faruk nods, "You too, Dux."

"Be careful, Master Dux!"

Dux waves his tentacles, saying his goodbyes and departs on his journey. He walks to the depth of the forest in front of the cave entrance and suddenly... he's just... gone. The rustling sound he made as he strode over dead leaves disappeared instantly as he stepped into the woods.

"Huh...? I wonder where he goes..." Oria got curious.

"Let him be. It's not Dux if he's not pulling some odd moves, even to his relatives," Faruk reasoned. "Well, then. We have our own agenda for the week. Are you ready, Oria?"

"Hm! I'm ready whenever you are."

Faruk taps the ground with his claw, generating a radiant magic circle. From there, a small backpack made of straw appears with some equipment along: an orb, a tent, a few sets of raw ingredients, and some other stuff.

"Let us begin, then."