[-Selia-
I endure the unpleasant feeling from the wet and muddy water covering my clothes and body, while holding onto the leather flask and rinse out my mouth. Dran who sees me in such a state, puts up a troubled look. Unlike me, who is suffering from the muddy water covering my body, Dran on the other hand, is completely dry from head to toes.
When I give him a curious look, he shrugs his shoulder and then gives out a small laugh. I wonder if I did something strange? Or is there something funny while I am rinsing my mouth?
“You should hurry up and get the mud off of you, or else you might catch a cold. You do have spare clothes right?”
Dran was telling me so as his eyes gestured toward the bag I am carrying over my shoulder. With muddy water covering the bag, I hardly think that the contents inside are actually safe.
But it’s alright!
When I decided to walk through this swamp, I carefully wrapped food and clothes inside the bag just in case they get wet. And what do you know? It was very helpful to be prepared just for this occasion.
When I try to rinse my mouth one last time, and making sure not to be seen by Dran, I spit it out and wipe my lips quickly. Was that a bit too vulgar? My Mom might get angry if she see this.
“Yes, since there are places inside the Kobold’s house, I can probably change my clothes.”
After I said that with just a little bit of pride, Dran smiles again. It wasn’t a strange thing to say so why does he laugh? Does this man have some ill-personality?
As I approached him in order to return the flask, he takes it while saying.
“Since Selia is different from what I had imagined what a Lamia would be like, it is quite interesting. Oh, and since when we met, Selia had putted up a puzzling look, but because of the circumstances, that had faded away. I think it would be a good idea for you to be more wary of Humans.”
Hearing what Dran is saying, I agree with him. Dran is a Human. While I am a demon Lamia. A Human being scare of Lamia is a given, it wouldn’t be hard to believe if Dran points his blade at me. After the fight with the Berserk Earth Spirit a while ago, I carelessly forgot what I shouldn’t have. The truth is I did not intend to get so close and stretch out my hand to hand him the flask.
“Oh, er, please, I’m sorry.”
While not knowing what to say, I apologised to Dran. Then Dran shrugs his shoulders. That gesture suits him very well.
Dran has bright, gentle blue eyes. With the same color of a day with clear sky, it is the color that helps calm one’s mind. If you look at Dran’s eyes, your heart and mind will no doubt be settle. I wonder why Dran didn’t attack me when he could have easily done so. Does he have another motive?
“There is no need to apologies. I did not intend to cooperate with you either. Apart from that, finish changing your clothes.”
Apparently, Dran is not going to tease me.
Since my parents taught me not to approach a man carelessly, this honest Human being is quite scary. Therefore, I am able to feel relief in Dran’s gentle words and expression.
Now that both side have understood that there is no ill intentions, I can go over to the Kobold’s house where I hid a change of clothes. Dran comes along with me of course. Nobody lives in this small Kobold village anymore, most houses have a collapsed roof, broken walls, no longer have a floor, and overall, it is not a very good place to live in. Still, I managed to find the cleanest looking house for me to hide my clothes and judging from the look of it, it must be the house of the village chief.
While I am changing my clothes and wiping the muddy water off of my hair, Dran is waiting outside the house. Even though I said this was the best looking house, the walls are partially broken and I am nervous that Dran might peep, but Dran stays outside and does not show any signs of checking out the house.
After I finish changing my clothes, I walk out to Dran with a bag that is covered in mud in one hand and a bag where I stored my other stuff on my back. When I see him, his gaze is directed toward the west. That reminds me that the sun is setting in the west and dusk is fast approaching. Because it is still early spring, even as the sun is setting, it is still early.
“It’s bests to prepare the camp soon. I will prepare some food and then dry my clothes. My plan now is to camp here for the night. Selia, what’s your plan?”
“I’m also planning to spend the night here. Because my whole family has a strong water attribute, this place, where water and earth mixed together, is strong so it feels comfortable.”
When I say that the clothes might easily get wet, Dran looks back with a little troubled expression and walks away to look around the surrounding. In order to prepare dinner, fire is necessary and a place that is away from the wet ground would be better. I point at a tree that had fallen in the distance. It is not completely dried but it is dry enough to sustain a fire. After the sun sets completely, it will be dangerous if the camp is not set up, so it is best if both of us get everything done before that.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Yes!”
When I see that the food I brought from home is safe and that there is enough for both Dran and I, I feel a little happy. We set up the camp away from the swamp, where it’s dry. There’s also a large rock right next to the campsite, heat is radiating from the rock.
To sleep, all you would need is a sheet spread on the ground and a blanket. Also, we have a fire burning in the middle so it won’t get so cold at night. At night, to keep the fire going, Dran and I will have to rotate to maintain it.
Lamia is a species that is weak to the cold. So, I curl up my snake body and put a blanket on top of it and also another smaller blanket for my human top. The blanket for my lower body is what occupied most of my luggage. It is very exhausting to carry it around because it is heavy, bulky, and big. But it is something that I cannot throw away because the night is cold. I get a glimpse of Dran while being inside my blanket, he is eating dried meat with vegetable soup, and sitting comfortably on a rock.
Normally, it is dangerous for a Human to set up camp after dusk and cook with fire because wild animals are usually more attracted to the fire than afraid of it due to the smell of cooking. However it is alright tonight because of my presence. In fear of the demon that I am, no wild animals will dare approach. At times, I feel very lonely knowing that no animals will approach me out of their own will.
While wrapped in the warm blankets, and laying close to the fire, I find it very pleasing to have someone to talk to after such a long time. It surprises me to the point where I wonder when did I want to start talking to another person. And so, I start telling Dran my side of the story.
I was born and raised in a Lamia tribe village in the mountain further North. A baby lamia is born between a Lamia and her husband, which is of another race, living in the village. Within the village, there is a law for a Lamia once she reaches the age of seventeen. At that age, she must venture out of the village to search for her husband. When I turned seventeen, I left the village and am now searching for a husband according to the law.
Lamia is a species with a special trait of being consisted only of women. Boys can also be born from a Lamia but the child has a 100% chance of being the same race of his father, no exception. Therefore, it had became necessary for a Lamia to take a partner from another race, but not just any male.
Long ago, the Lamia tribe originated from Humans, and was cursed by a God. The cursed ancestors of the Lamia passed down their curses to all Lamia, from part-snake body, to venom blood, sweat, saliva, etc. A Lamia chooses her husband base on whether he can withstand her poison or not.
If not, if I…let’s see…yes..or..kiss him when we make children, he might die from the poison, and it would be a horrible death.* Uhhh, my face feels very hot. Because Dran is a good listener, I did not intend to talk about that subject carelessly. When my story is finished, the meal is also finished and the pot is empty.
It is a saying that the bond between an elder brother and a younger brother is strong and it each of them play a role in listening to another’s story at home. In addition, I also mentioned that I’m good at taking care of the village’s children with a proud attitude. But was it a bit childish? I feel like I was being rude toward him. Dran is sixteen this year and I turned seventeen not long ago, because of that, am I the older sister?
While I am holding the dissatisfaction to my chest like that, Dran is cleaning up the pot and spoons to put them away, all the while saying.
“When you’re puffing your cheek like that, you look so childish.”
“Oh, did something come out of my mouth?”
When I replied instinctively in a hurry, Dran is already laughing! My reaction must have been very funny.
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a fool out of Selia. It’s just that you look cute.”
“I won’t be deceived by such flattery.”
“I am very sorry, I honestly did not intend to offend Selia. Please accept my apology.”
“Funda.”
“I think it is a bit troubling. For Selia to sulk…Oh dear! The way your navel is bending doesn’t look very natural, Selia?”
I turn away still irritated by the way I’m being treat like a child. If I turn toward him, he’ll most likely shrug his shoulders and look at me as a spoiled child.
Mmmm, somehow I feel like I am acting more and more childish.
When I think back about it, what I said to him certainly made me look childish. Well…There is no way. If I rise a white flag here, I would be digging my own grave. Once again, I turn toward Dran’s direction and stare at him.
“It’s my loss. I’m childish, OK? As for my navel, it is because it’s where Lamia’s body starts to become snake-like.”
After