Pope Joseph was really mad after knowing their plan about leaving the village, and other villagers showed their concerns toward them. Really, they literally showed their expressions in a very expressive way to the point it made her feel a little bit bad about it. Even though the term of leaving the village was not uncommon, as, in fact, many youngsters from this village already left to find their fortune. But, in their case of course they will be dramatic enough to show their disagreement toward her decision.

Irisha knew that pretty well.

She is deaf and mute.

She is a disabled person.

What thing that she could do outside the world? What could she do by herself while taking care of a child like her sister?

Of course, she understands it pretty well and she is really grateful for their concerns about them because it means that they worry about them, right? So at that time when Pope Joseph fumed because of her decision, instead of feeling discomfort, she felt so warm and tried to respect his feeling toward them. Because, from the first to the very end, he was the one who took very good care of her and her sister.

[ I have already thought about it for a long time. I already planned all of it to ensure that my decision will not give us any harm. So please don't be worried.] she said to the old man who still shows his disagreement. [ I signed a contract with a merchant Southern Merchant to work with them. You also knew about them too, right Pope? They are kind people so I feel safe to entrust my life and my sister with them.] and tried hard to persuade and soothe him, but seemed it failed.

" So now you are saying that you will bring your sister to a place you never once stepped in?! Do you even know how dangerous the world could be?"

[ I know pretty well-]

" It is so far away, it took two months with the carriage. The weather is not friendly, and many bad people that could harm you."

[ I know but, please listen to me-]

" Don't be so naive, Irisha! I know that you are admiring the outside world but it is not all about beauty! there are so many bad things around it and you are mature enough if you try to avoid them!"

[ Please, listen to -]

" What thing someone like you could do?" he said, with his reddened face that stiffen after he then realized what he said. The villagers around them also stopped all they did as the atmosphere became heavy.

She could see that the atmosphere became so much awkward as they were all know how taboo it was. Even though, she, herself never thought about her disability in such a way. But, some people also just tried to appreciate her in a way that created this awkwardness. Then, she just needed to understand that. That was why, she started to talk,[ I know pretty well that I am mute and deaf. Yet, are not you the one who is seeing me the way I am, Pope?] asked her while holding his hand dearly.

and Pope Joseph looked at her eyes while holding her hand tight and used his one hand to say " ... yes, I am the one who knew how wonderful and beautiful you are," he said and all of the fume on his face somehow soften and he looked like a father that will lose his child. Somehow she could see tears in his full of wrinkles face." I just worry if something happened to both of you... I am not there, on your side."

... in that very second time, somehow she could replay her memories from her past life. The memory of a very old man that once she despised and cursed. The one that she decided to leave and, the one that died alone with his wrinkled skin.

Is that man also felt this feeling too?

Even though the image of him in her memories was not clear enough to make her remember his visual, but the vivid and painful feeling that lingered in her heart was something she regrets for the rest of her life.

" If I knew, I wish I could make you happy." and repeat the wish that could not be fulfilled.

Then, in the most painful way- from her very deep heart and while trying to move and live her life, she vainly said,

Please forgive me, Papa.

While embracing the craving feeling to meet and say in front of his face- the words and feeling that she could not even say with her own mouth when she still had the opportunity. A simple word yet so magical,

I love you, Papa.

and that very memory, somehow similar to the feeling she feels to Pope Joseph.

[ I will be okay, Pope.] she said while smiling warmly. [ and if there is a time I am not okay, I will come back to you immediately because I know you will protect me as soon as possible. But, please don't be worried, as I am also the daughter of yours that you taught to be a strong woman, I will be able to overcome any problem.] and after hearing that, the stiff-faced Pope Joseph who some people were afraid of, cried himself out loud while hugging her and Arisha. He truly looked like a miserable parent that did not want her daughters to leave his side.

.

.

.

Even on the day when they left, his tears still coming down.

[ We have to write a letter to the villagers.] she said, while they were inside one of the carriages of Southern Merchant she once talked about. It is a big carriage with many goods to sell and they sit in the front seat near the coachman.

Arisha who looks so excited nodding her head happily even she was cried so hard when they left the village. " I will write all of them a letter," she said. " I am so happy! I am really excited to see many things outside the village!"

[ We may not go around the world that fast, but people said that the Southern area is unique.]

" What is unique about the Southern area?"

" It is known as an ancient land among Althera." and said the coachman to Arisha, suddenly. His name is Haya, one of the workers in the place that Irisha is about to work with. He is a young man that looks much older than her and a native from Southern who is being assigned to help her and her sister to come to their company. He sits down in the coachman's seat and is looking to the front, so she could not see his lips nor did he does some sign language, but seems they are talking about the Southern area as Arisha still used sign language while answering him out of reflex.

Arisha listened to the coachman excitedly and asked many questions about the holy dragon. Well, for Irisha who once lived in the very sophisticated world where human-created technology, to hear that dragons exist and there are people who inherited their blood kinda makes her skeptical. So, skeptical to be precise. Even though she has already seen many people talk about it as it is a norm but, she could not just believe it does not she? The golden imperial family that is being blessed by the two suns god, the family that is blessed by the god of blue fire, then the dragon that inherited the blood to humans-seems in this world, there are so many gods and the gods sure have so much free time.- is what she is thinking.

" Oh-ho, I am sorry- I forget to talk with sigh language!" then Haya turned to her and showed his apologetic expression that frowned her forehead.

[ What is it?] asked her while smiling.

and Haya panicked. " Eh, what are you saying? I am sorry, I still learning-"

" It's okay, I will translate it for you," Arisha said while smiling widely.

and Haya becomes calmer and then adjusts his body to make sure that now Irisha could see his face. " Just like I said before, the name is Malum Empire and known as the dragons' tamer. You will see many dragons so don't be too surprised because most of them are tamed," he said while showing a funny expression that full of admiration." They are so sacred and so majestic that it will be cool if I can ride one."

" You can ride the dragons?"

" Yes! but only for several people. Dragons have a kind of pheromone that will weaken an ordinary human body. So to be able to ride them you have to be immune to the pheromone." and then, he shows a very disappointed expression followed by his sigh. " Well, they said the training was so hard and to be able to gain the respect from the dragons is even harder."

[ What do you mean by respect?] asked Irisha.

and after listening to Arisha explanation, Haya looks at her. " To put it simply, even though you are already immune to the pheromone, you have to gain respect from the dragon in order for you to ride them. They are descendants of the ancient holy dragon, so of course, they are prideful," he said. " Even you are a high-tier Holy Knight, but if the dragon does not like you, it's all vain."

[ It is so sad.]

" Oh, but... all dragons obeyed to the imperial family naturally."

" Why?"

" Because they are the people that the holy ancient dragon inherited his blood to them." Haya said who then takes a little bit of break before expressing a little bit of discomfort, " But, I don't really like the Imperial Family."

" Are they bad people?"

" .... they are all tyrants, basically," he said that somehow trembling while talking about them " But, they created good policies so that I don't mind it. For ordinary people like us, there is no way we meet them on a daily basis so I am really grateful about that. My advice is just don't break any rule. Then, you will be okay."

That story that Haya just told us, is something that she finds intriguing for a long time. Tyrants, in her eyes, is not a good thing. Not even once she thinks good about it, so she should think twice about coming to that place, right? but on the other hand, she possibly could not get another opportunity to get the job in the place where Arisha could get proper education such as the one that the head of the southern merchant offered her. So, she could say that it is a really important matter that she should accept despite anything.

Is it really important to go outside?

For her, it is important. To see the beauty of the world and appreciate all the things inside it. Yes, it is important. As she once never did that and regretted it every second in her life and asked herself, why she could not take a bit of time to appreciate it while she could? Why could not she realize how wonderful the feeling is when you see the beautifulness of the world?

So is it worth it to take the consequence?

Yes.

As she is now seeing Arisha enjoying every moment in the journey. Even though the journey takes a long time, but there are only smiles on her lovely face.

To see giant trees along the road with her own eyes, to swim in the sparkling red river, to be approached with some wild and unique creatures, or to have a conversation with many different races that they meet along the way... it is a fantastic experience.

Even she could not hold her surprise when she sees a dragon flies above her head.

A real dragon.

With a black wing and creates a powerful wind. Flies so majestically.

" Woa..." even Irisha amazed unconsciously with her sparkling eyes. Looking at Arisha with an excited expression that even Arisha has never seen. [ There is a dragon!]

and it makes Arisha feels so happy,

" Woaaaah, there's dragon!!" and Arisha screamed while jumping and vibing excitedly that make people from their group caravan like Haya smile and cheer them as their feeling truly contagious.

So is it really worth it?

Of course! it is truly worth it!

***