#173

The gently sculpted low voice echoed in the air. The small but clear words hovered in the silence between them, then slowly sank to the floor. It felt as if the air was being pressed down heavily.

The Dragon stood frozen, looking at Cullen. Not even a breath was heard. His golden eyelashes were raised, and he gazed at Cullen with his elongated pupils. Cullen also remained silent, simply waiting for the Dragon to accept it.

“…No.”

After a long while, the Dragon parted his lips. His dry, pink lips parted heavily. A thin voice escaped.

“No, you wouldn’t have made that choice.”

The Dragon continued to deny, as he had before. This was unlike him. The Dragon was firm, rational, and not swayed by emotions like humans. Even when Kia died, he had gathered his emotions not long after.

At that moment, the image of the Dragon, screaming while holding Kia, flashed through his mind.

…He wasn’t completely fine. The Dragon had never kept someone as close as him by his side for long. So, perhaps his death had affected him, even a little, as much as Kia’s death had. Was that why he was acting this way?

“That’s not like you. You were the most… kind among the humans I’ve seen. Didn’t you say that to me? Even in death, you said you would… like me.”

The Dragon’s voice began to crumble. Even though it was just formless sound, it could be felt. It felt like tiny fragments were breaking off and scattering. His pupils repeatedly narrowed and widened.

The Dragon embraced Cullen again. He held Cullen tightly in his broad arms, as if he would never let go. However, Cullen felt his hands shaking uncontrollably.

“You said you would… like me.”

The murmur echoed faintly. His large hands repeatedly wrapped around Cullen’s back and clenched. Even though it was the Dragon embracing him, it felt as if he were clinging on and holding on. The Dragon, whose chest heaved, asked softly. It was a precarious sound, barely audible unless one listened closely.

“The love you felt for me… has it also disappeared?”

He asked. Cullen thought calmly. While past feelings surfaced whenever he looked at the Dragon, he no longer felt pain looking at him as he once did. His heart was calm. The turmoil he felt whenever he touched the Dragon was nowhere to be found.

“It probably has.”

Cullen spat out dryly. It wasn’t a tone of complete certainty, but it conveyed his state clearly. He heard the Dragon inhale. The giant figure holding him tightly trembled. He gasped like someone facing panic, letting out a pained breath.

“…No. Humans are not beings who express emotions as much as others. Even the goddess cannot do such things. Surely, surely…”

He continued his monologue, then pulled away. The Dragon, holding Cullen’s firm shoulder with a soft but strong grip, met his eyes.

The Dragon, denying various things, seemed unwilling to believe what Cullen had conveyed. He hadn’t learned how to respond in such situations. Or rather, it was difficult to recall. The Dragon’s actions were incredibly… emotional.

Unlike him.

“I will bring it back.”

The Dragon whispered to Cullen, lowering himself to his eye level. His small voice carried a strong yearning. He looked desperate and pained. As if vowing to himself, the Dragon spoke each word with conviction. Or perhaps it was like making a wish.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then opened them. His eyes, when they met, looked pleading.

“You have just returned. So perhaps, some things haven’t been fully recovered. For now, yes…”

A pained expression briefly crossed the Dragon’s face, then disappeared. The Dragon seemed to have exhausted his energy, looking very tired and weary. He let out a deep breath and said,

“You are here before me, so that’s enough.”

Having said that, the Dragon slowly released his hands from Cullen’s shoulders. Hesitantly, he extended his arm and touched Cullen’s hair. His touch was cautious. It was so delicate, as if handling something fragile, that Cullen thought it was also unlike him.

“For now… that’s enough.”

The Dragon finished speaking and lowered his hand. As the hand that had been touching him withdrew, the area around his chest tingled slightly. His eyes almost twitched without his realizing it. It was strange.

“It would be best to wash off the blood. I will prepare a bath, so wait here for a moment.”

Actions uncharacteristic of the Dragon continued. While he had always looked after Cullen, he had never volunteered to do something for him. He was usually the one to scold him.

“It’s alright. I will do it.”

Cullen stopped him. There was no reason to make him do it.

“Do not move from here.”

However, the Dragon did not accept the rebuttal. He finished speaking with finality and slowly turned. His half-turned feet hesitated to leave. The Dragon looked at Cullen for a long time before finally moving.

Then, for the first time, Cullen saw his bare feet. A tingling sensation similar to before flashed and disappeared.

“I’ll be back soon.”

The Dragon left the cabin, leaving his words behind. The sound of the door closing echoed, and Cullen was finally alone. As the tumultuous reunion ended, his head felt empty.

Cullen stood blankly and surveyed the cabin. It had changed slightly from the past. Traces of habitation remained. The kitchen, once covered in dust and cobwebs, was clean, though devoid of ingredients.

Cullen slowly scanned the interior. He first passed by where his parents’ room had been. There lay a rolled-up blanket, twigs, stones, and flowers. Seeing two of them, it seemed to be where two of the three children slept.

The center of his chest ached. Cullen raised a hand and rubbed his chest, where a large white scar remained. The bare skin revealed through his worn clothes was tightly fastened. He wondered why these sensations kept flashing and disappearing. Was it a lingering effect of being revived?

He turned his steps and examined Sasha’s small room. There were several drawings inside. Drawn with charcoal, the walls were plastered with quite detailed drawings of cats. They depicted various poses, from crouching to bristling fur.

Seeing them, he strangely felt he knew the owner of the room. It was an inexplicable guess. The image of the blonde child, resembling the Dragon’s appearance, appeared and vanished.

Finally, Cullen headed to where his room had been. Unlike the other rooms, his room had no particular traces. However, the blanket on the bed was disturbed.

He slowly turned his steps towards it. The bed, barely large enough for the tall Cullen to squeeze into, was so old that it was remarkable it still remained.

He sat on the bed. Then, he slightly turned his head and touched the blanket with his palm. The blanket, which he expected to be cold, felt as if someone’s body heat magically lingered. It was warm. As he felt the cozy warmth, his body grew languid. He hadn’t expected to feel tired, having slept for so long, but a sense of lethargy washed over him.

Hesitantly, Cullen lay down. Lying at an angle and pressing his face into the blanket, a faint scent rose. It was a familiar scent. The scent of lilies he used to smell when he was close to the Dragon.

Did he sleep here?

Imagining the Dragon curled up and lying down, Cullen mulled over the actions he had shown him one by one. The Dragon continued to act in ways he hadn’t seen in the past. Lasano’s words about the Dragon having changed flashed through his mind. Perhaps the Dragon had truly changed. More emotionally.

Guilt might have turned into longing, or perhaps mixed with other emotions. However, even if the Dragon liked him, Cullen had no emotions left to return. All he could do was stay by his side, as the Dragon had said.

That much wasn’t difficult.

He was the one who saved him, so he could consider it repayment of a debt. Then the Dragon would also be satisfied.

He must have dozed off. Unlike the time he was lost in floating darkness, the sensation of waking up felt unfamiliar.

The moment he regained consciousness, Cullen met three pairs of eyes looking down at him. The small children, huddled together, were by the bedside. It explained why he hadn’t sensed their presence. With Dragons sitting there, it was impossible to know.

“You’re awake.”

The blonde child said. With sparkling eyes, as the child tried to climb onto the bed where Cullen lay, the black-haired child stopped him.

“Shh, be quiet. The Guardian told us not to wake you.”

“But he’s awake.”

The blonde one retorted and sat on the edge of the bed. As Cullen slowly sat up, three pairs of eyes moved with him. Their appearance, with small Dragon wings and elongated pupils, was like that of small beasts. The thought that perhaps Dragons were like this in their youth flickered through his mind.

“Hello.”

The child with black hair and the child with white hair greeted him simultaneously. Then, they introduced themselves.

“I am Black, and this is White. The one in the bed is Gold.”

“I’m not Gold!”

The blonde one exclaimed indignantly. The child, flapping their wings as if genuinely upset, turned to glare at Cullen.

“Lasano said that Cullen is good at naming things. Name me too!”

“It’s Cullen-nim. The Guardian told us to use -nim.”

Black corrected quietly. The blonde one made a huffing sound and tugged at Cullen’s clothes again.

“Please give me a name, Cullen-nim!”

It had been so long since he had received such a request. He wasn’t particularly skilled at naming, so he didn’t know why Lasano had said that. The first and last time he had ever thought hard about a name to give someone was for a Dragon. It was also the first time he had agonized over a decision for so long.

“I am not good at naming.”

When Cullen replied, White tilted their head.

“Why are you speaking so formally? You are someone the Guardian cherishes, so please don’t.”

“Don’t humans decide titles by age? We’ve only just turned three years old.”

Black and White spoke in turn. The blonde one continued to pester him for a name.

“Please give me one…!”

As he remained silent, unable to grasp what name to give, a Dragon entered the room. Accompanied by Lasano, the Dragon gazed expressionlessly at the Young Dragons.

“Gold.”

When the Dragon quietly spoke the name, the blonde one’s face fell.

“I’m not Gold…”

“I will look for a new name, but for now, you may leave. They are human, so you must prepare something edible for them.”

At those words, White flapped their wings. A subtly excited expression flickered across their usually impassive white face.

“May I try making it?”

Then, Lasano behind them chimed in with a jest.

“This is an honor. To have a meal prepared by a Dragon himself.”

White looked up at the Dragon as if seeking permission. The Dragon nodded. As soon as permission was granted, White spun around. Then, they grabbed Black and the blonde one and pulled them along.

“Let’s go!”

The sound of hurried footsteps faded, and the room grew quiet. He had thought they were calm children, but they were children after all. Lasano glanced between Cullen and the Dragon, then followed the Young Dragons out.

Left alone again, the Dragon approached. Then, they placed something beside Cullen. It was a bundle wrapped in cloth.

“I went to find a human village. I picked out things you might be able to wear… take a look.”

It felt strange for the Dragon to do something for him. Cullen gazed at them quietly, then touched the cloth. It was then that he remembered his body was still covered in blood.

“I should wash first.”

“The bathwater is ready. It’s easy to reheat, so follow me.”

The Dragon spoke as if intending to go with him. Cullen blinked.

“You intend to accompany me?”