Dragon eventually awoke, drenched within cold water. He gasped for air but found water. He coughed it up once the figure withdrew the bucket.

“O-ai! He’s awake.” The slaver pulled away from Dragon, who growled as water flowing from out of his nostrils. They flared angrily, like a … dragon.

He continued to glare as a slaver tentatively drew closer. “Now now, ain’t no need for that lad, ay?” They swallowed. Dragon had been struck a few dozen times before he fell unconscious.

“Ay, that’s right, just relax now.” Another called.

Dragon didn’t react.

He was led back to the other slaves, bound even tighter than before. He looked down to see that he had been bandaged.

The little girl stared in wonder. Her eyes were beaming at him. He felt his gut churn slightly, the girl seemed… unnaturally happy to him. He didn’t work very well with those kind of folk.

“Are you alright, mister?”

Dragon nodded.

She smiled. “That is well. What nasty business, don’t you think? At least you are awake to eat now, are you hungry?” She asked.

He shook his head.

“Can you talk?”

Dragon nodded.

“Will you talk?”

He shook his head.

“Are you sure?”

Dragon nodded.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Are you embarrassed?”

He shook his head.

“Okay.”

Dragon nodded.

There was a long time where she didn’t speak.

“Why are you here, mister?” She finally asked.

He shook his head.

“That’s no good mister. No one else is going to talk to you.”

Dragon nodded.

She frowned.

He sighed.

She smiled.

“Business.” He whispered, nearly growling.

She grinned. “You talked… Which means you lied to me.” She smiled a sly smile, like a fox.

‘…’

“…” She blinked at him.

‘This brat…’

The corners of his lips tilted upward for a moment.

She frowned. “You shouldn’t be happy about that. Mother and father said…” She trailed off and then frowned further. She pulled away and looked down.

“Are they dead?” Dragon asked.

She nodded.

“Sorry.”

She shook her head.

Evening came and food was served. Dragon glared once more when the slavers were handling the others. They struck some of the slaves for fun, and others they tormented with black-hearted words.

Killing intent filled the camp and the slavers fell back.

“Boss, what do we do about him?” One yelped like a dog. He shook as he stood beside his boss, who stood tall.

The boss could feel a cold sweat cover his body. “As long as he’s here, don’t anythin’… No more playin’ around. Tell ‘em.”

The lackey couldn’t protest, so he marched off to tell the other men. The killing intent caused no protests among them.

The boss walked up to Dragon who let up his killing intent.

“Looks like you’re a softy after all, ay? Ah thought yeh were a little… more tha’ type.” He sat opposite Dragon. “Wha’s yeh name?”

Dragon remained silent.

Boss sighed. “I wan’ this ta go smoothly, d’nt wan’ any trouble…”

Dragon glared at him.

“If yeh don’t want to play nice, ah won’t either. I get that yeh’r a dangerous fella, but am sure my men and ah can do a lot more than you can in yeh’r state. How many yeh think you can take out like that? Am not averse ta damagin’ some of tha m’chandise.”

Dragon narrowed his eyes.

“Yer name.”

“Dragon.”

“Dragon?”

Dragon nodded.

The boss seemed to shift a little, though Dragon saw confusion within their eyes. It seems he hadn’t yet heard of Dragon of Caster.