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 Lizard’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 Lizard’s house where I hid a change of clothes. Dran comes along with me of course. Nobody lives in this small Lizard 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.