“ISHMAEL WHERE ARE YOU?”

I said as called out in the woods.

Soon, he came running and stopped right in front of me.

“Here I am Gia”

“Good I need your help”

“Oh, what is it? Do you want to spar with me again?”

He said rather enthusiastically.

I couldn’t help but smile and ruffle his hair.

“Haha, didn’t we do that this morning?”

“Yea but you weren’t being serious”

Ishmael said with a frown on his face.

“Tell you what, we can practice again after you come with me into town”

“. . . fine”

We walked on the path to town and started to chat.

“I noticed you don’t play the other kids a lot”

“Hm? Oh, yea I don’t really care about them”

“Aren’t you lonely?”

“. . . It’s alright, I have you . . and dad of course”

Ismael hurriedly turned his face away, but I could tell he was embarrassed.

“Aww how sweet hehe”

I went right for a hug and he struggled to get away.

“Giiiiaaa, stop treating me like a kid”

He said with a hint of red on his face.

“Oh, okay I won’t tease you anymore”

“. .I didn’t say I disliked it”

“What was that?”

“NOTHING. Let’s just hurry, I’ve been practicing in the woods. I’ll beat you this time”

It took a little bit, but by now the towns folk got use to my green hair and yellow eyes.

I never answered questions about my past, only offering some information on it on my own terms.

But I hear the rumor going around was that I was a noble from a fallen kingdom, possibly even a princess.

That was a funny thought, but dad did tell us that great grandfather was a ruler of a continent.

. . . . Before he was deposed and all the elder dragons decided to seclude themselves.

We went to the usual places to shop and got through my list quickly.

Soon we had all I wanted and prepared to walk back.

“Need any help?”

I said to Ishmael as I saw him struggle with a sack.

I was carrying two large woven bags in my arms, but I could probably handle his sack as well.

“Nope”

Someday, he’ll learn to depend on others. . hopefully.

"Suit yourself then"

With that we started to walk outside of town when . . .

“Wait”

I said suddenly as I tapped Ismael’s shoulder with mine.

“?”

WHOOOOSH

A rock came whizzing by our heads.

“RUN”

We turned back and saw five kids running away.

Ishmael dropped the sack and started run after them.

“Stop!”

“But—“

Suddenly the three boys and two girls “mistakenly” tripped over some rocks and fell down.

“OWW” “OMMPHH” “AHHH” “OUCH” “UGH”

“Gia, . . . what---?”

Ishmael said as he turned to me with a surprised look.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

I said as I started to walk away.

“Didn’t you use to play with them?”

I watched Ismael as he faced the ground.

“Yea, but I think training is more important now. I can’t just be playing around with them”

“heh pretty soon you’ll outgrow me, too right?”

“. . .”

“Ishmael?”

He suddenly looked me in the eye and made a declaration.

“I’ll make you recognize me one day Gia”

“Eh? Hahaha”

He frowned.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, you just looked so serious. It’s a far contrast than from the boy I flipped over this morning”

“T. That was, I’m ready now”

“Uh-huh. Catch up if you can!”

I said as I suddenly started to run.

“WAIT!”

Ten minutes later. . .

“Ugh”

Ishmael collapsed in front of the house just as I finished putting my things away.

“Here”

I threw Ishmael a fruit and took his sack inside.

MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH

“That was only a warm up, ready to spar yet?”

I grinned at him as he hungrily devoured the fruit.

GROWL

“Uh I can get some more food first?”

“Hahaha, sure I’ll prepare dinner. Master should be coming back soon anyways”

With Ishmael’s help, I prepared some stew for us that night.

When the stew was done, and being kept warm by the fire, I questioned Ishmael.

“ . . So why did that girl shoot a glare at me?”

“What?”

Ishmael quizzically looked at me.

“She looked pretty angry”

“Oh. . . that. Yea, I told them I had better things to do than to hang out with them”

“And she didn’t take it well?”

I turned to him with crossed arms.

“I . may have said some other things too”

I frowned and approached Ishmael.

THUMP

“Oww, my head!”

“You idiot, you should go apologize to them”

“NOPE!”

“Ugh, fine at least think about it then?”

Ishmael seemed set on not apologizing but getting him to compromise a little was fine.

“. . .”

“I’ll ignore you until you apologize then”

“!!! . . . I’ll think about it then but no guarantees”

“Good enough. Oh, I think Master’s back”

"Huh?"

Soon we heard the familiar footsteps of Master as he came in to the yard.

“Ishmael, Gia, I’m home”

“Dad” “Master”

“”Welcome back””

My master was in his late 30s, and currently had grown a beard.

Dark hair and eyes just like most people, and no noticeable traits of being related to nobility.

But he was extremely talented at the sword.

So much so that he became known as the “Crimson Tiger” after many a battle fought for his country.

I heard of his skills as I wandered this land initially and came to the conclusion that I would need them.

The humans managed to capture me and I have yet to know what they are truly capable of.

I heard humanity’s strongest were called “heroes”, so I sought the tutelage of one.

I don’t know why he came to this village with his son.

All that is clear is that he left after his wife died.

But we came to a silent understanding of not prying in to each other’s past.

“Here, dinner”

I smiled as I placed Master’s bowl at his place on the table.

“Thank you, it looks good”

He took his place at the table and we all started to eat.

We chatted for a while about random things until . . .

“ARAM! GET OUT HERE!”

An angry voice shouted from outside the home.

Ishmael looked his father.

“Dad what’s wrong?”

“Stay in here”

Master got up and walked outside.