"Normal Speech"

'Thought'

***********************************

Cale took out another item from the box. A map without detailed information. It just showed the general landmarks around the Henituse territory. It was used by most merchants going to and from Henituse territory.

Cale spread it in the empty place on the bed to show the siblings. "Do you know how to read maps?"

On tapped her tail on the bed in response. "Of course. We were potential successors to the Fog Cat tribe at one point."

Hong echoed his sister. "My Noona is right. We learnt it before."

Cale smiled and pointed to the map. "You two are awesome. So, we are here, in this village."

Cale then moved his finger to the mountain on the right of the village. "You see this mountain?"

"I see it."

"Very easy to see."

"If you go toward this mountain, you will see a villa in the distance, and behind that is a cave" Cale patted them. "Don't go near there at all. You can't let yourselves be caught."

Cale only assumed about what they had been through by what they told him before. Needless to say, he was confident that they could do this, but he still gave them enough warning, to not let them met any harm on the way. It would be bad if their curiosity led them to go around the cave.

It stood to reason that there are no mages around the black dragon, as mages practically worshipping Dragons, the masters of magic, so there would be no way for them to join Venion and his people to torture the object of their worship.

Naturally, they had knights and soldiers instead. And those knights were all trusted by the Marquis to put around the cave and the villa. And there were also a bunch of people to help Venion do the dirty works.

"There is someone being tortured inside the cave. We are going to rescue him, so you have to be careful not to get hurt, okay?"

"T-Tortured?" Hong's breath hitched.

Cale answered sadly. "Yes. Even though he is even younger than you, Hong."

"....Even younger than me?" Hong couldn't believe it at all. 'But I-I am just seven years old.'

Cale hugged Hong to calm him down. "Yes. He is four years old."

On who was a bit more composed than Hong asked. "Are we going to save him from there?"

"Yes. So, I need you to bury this orb in the mountain in your cat form. Have you calm down, Hong?" Cale patted his head a little, then put the orb inside a small pouch and placed it over On's neck like a necklace.

Hong got out of Cale's embrace. He was fine now, so he listened to his sister and Cale attentively.

"Where should we bury this?" On asked with a solemn expression. She wanted to help someone, just like how they got helps from Cale.

"Anywhere on the mountain is fine. It doesn't matter, as long as you remember the place and could retrieve the orb back later."

"Okay, got it. It's very easy then."

"Yes, we managed to get past the Elders to escape."

"Mn. I am depending on you two now. Only you two could do it without getting caught. I only ask because I know it'll be easy for you."

The kittens meowed proudly. It was the first time since their parents that someone was to unconditionally believe in them. It was the first time someone relied on them instead of just how they depended on each other until now.

They, who nearly got killed by their own tribe, for not having ability because they never even given a chance to learn; Finally had a family who could say with confidence that they could do something useful to help.

Cale seemed to understand what they are thinking about. So he reached out to hug them both this time.

"It's okay now. I won't let anyone hurt you again. So go with ease, let's eat dinner together to celebrate your successful first job after you return."

The siblings nodded and left Cale's hug.

"Meat is good, Cale."

"Cake is good, too, Cale."

"Yes, let's eat all we want to eat. Then sleep all morning after."

The kittens smiled widely and jumped through the window stealthily headed into the mountain.

*************************************

Cale was a person who would do what he said. Evidently, he slept all morning and woke up when it's about lunchtime.

Cale only woke up because he had people he needed to talk with and plans he needed to execute.

Cale had called for Choi Han, as he was drinking the slightly bitter lemonade after his very late breakfast. Somehow he got used to the taste now.

Cale asked Choi Han a question out of blue. "Have you ever seen a Dragon?"

"....a dragon?" Choi han didn't expect the question at all, when Cale said he wanted to talk.

"Yes."

"I've seen something similar once."

Cale knew immediately what Choi Han was talking about. The novel has described some of the monsters that Choi Han had fought and killed inside the Forest of Darkness. One of them was a creature that was somewhat in between a lizard and a dragon.

Choi Han had killed the monster as soon as he advanced from middle stage to final stage of his Dark Destruction Sword Arts.

"You did? How was it?" Cale pretended that he didn't know and asked with curiosity.

"It was a monster."

"How so?"

"Its appearance, its strength, everything. It's a monster in all aspects."

"Hmm, is that so? Then you have not seen a Dragon." Cale said confidently.

"Excuse me?" Now it was Choi Han's turn to look at Cale with curiosity.

"Dragons are like human." Cale tapped his finger to the table. Tab. "Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, Beast people, they are all just like human. They have their own emotions and their own lives."

Cale explained in a serious tone. "However"

Tap.

Choi Han noticed Cale's change in demeanor, he sat up straight and focused on what Cale was going to say next. He had learnt from the period of time of knowing Cale that whenever Cale had that kind of expression and tone, it's something he had to listen attentively to.

"Such an existence has fallen into darkness ever since he was born. The only light he ever seen was the light from torches. What kind of life do you think he's having?" Cale tapped his finger once again. "He had to suffer through loneliness, without family or anything to relied upon. He is being forced to become an existence without rationality."

Choi Han's gaze was following Cale's finger as it tapped on the table. He had his fists clenched hard under the table, to the point that his veins started to flare up.

Cale continued without knowing that. "He is being tortured and abused everyday just for the fun of other people and is only left alone when he's barely alive."

Choi Han's expression stiffened and clear anger appeared in his eyes. Cale didn't wanted to use this method, but it's the only efficient way to get the point across to Choi Han fast.

As expected, Choi Han caught on to the reason Cale brought up this story. Cale took a deep breath and finished the story. "That existence is nearby."

A short silence filled the room. Cale looked at Choi Han and before closing his eyes to let Choi Han, who had the bloody aura surrounding his body, to think.

Cale tried very hard to hide his own shivering that was due to the aura. Cale could guess why the aura made its appearance. He hope it would disperse soon, or Ron would come very soon.

Finally, Choi Han had noticed his own mistake, and kept the aura under control. He had learnt to do it better now.

After seeing Cale looked a little bit better, he swallowed the guilt for now and break the silence. "Will you save it and try to tame it?"

Cale looked a bit pale but he made sure to look straight toward Choi Han when he answered. "I will save him, that was my plan all along. However, you were wrong about me wanted to try and tame the Dragon. I'm not qualified for that, in fact no one should even attempted to do that."

Cale smiled sincerely. "Choi Han, Dragons are existences that represent Freedom. Furthermore, the guy who was tortured by human for years wouldn't want to be anywhere near another human right after being rescued, right?"

"Ah. I-I see. Then?"

"Then what?" Cale chuckled. "Why are you asking such an obvious question? We, of course, let him go wherever he wants. He has the right to decide his own life. Shouldn't a Dragon live like a Dragon? Prideful, Independent, and Free."

".... I see" Choi Han relaxed his clenched fist and smiled in relief. "Let's go save him from those bad guys who tortured him."

"I want to do this as quietly as possible. So that means no killing unless necessary."

'They are bad guys, but they are not the enemies I wish to kill.' Cale thought to himself.

"Cale-nim, you really are—" Choi Han spoke with admiration only for Cale to cut him when he looked at the time.

"Quick, there's no time. Go tell Ron to prepare alcohol at the first floor. Right now."

"Diff— huh?" Choi Han really couldn't keep up with this person, he sighed.

"Go on. We need to hurry." Cale said, shooing Choi Han out. 'Hmm let's drink for a few hours, that would be my alibi.'

***********************************

Tsuki: done another one. Enjoy.

Guess what is the third and finally aspect?