Dragon Realm
Episode 4

When they finished, the sword shone and pulsed. Slowly, the light dimmed, as if the force was absorbed by the object itself. After a while, the sword returned to its original state, except for a slight tremble. Another rider replaced it to his scabbard.

The two stared at each other, communication occurred at a much different level than male communication. They nodded. What to do is necessary. Then the newcomer kicked his mount and left. He was not heading towards his kingdom; instead, his destination seemed to be to the south.

The remaining rider watches until his partner is lost from sight. His gaze momentarily turned to the vast mountains and to Kivan Grath in particular. Then, turning around, he left in silence.

The water door has been opened.

...ll...

WHERE'S ALEKU?”

The Wyvern's Head Tavern is known for the diversity of its customers, some humans, many of whom are not. One that was not human was the ogre who was now clenching his fat fists, breaking most of the table. His attitude matched his face—kejam and ugly.

His eyes looked for the black-haired human in his twenties who was even now in a hurry to fill the cup with beer and cursed the inaction poured from the tap. To the ogre, his face was as ugly and incomplete as any other human, but by human standards, they were ordinary. His face was not the face of the heroes, but his strong chin, slightly changed nose, and attentive eyes gave him a kind of rough good looks.

The customer standing nearby formed an unintentional barrier that hid it from the sight of the thirsty creature, but humans knew it was only a matter of time before the ogre came looking for it.

Cabe rushes forward, nervous, but forced to face the ogre because he is the tavern's waiter. Quickly, he dropped the heavy cup on the table and almost turned pale when a drop almost hit the ogre's face. He waited for his rather dull life to appear before him.

The creature looked at him with a murderous gaze, but decided that beer was more important. Throwing a coin at Cabe, the ogre took a cup and drank vigorously which would defeat most men. Cabe retreated quickly to the kitchen.

“Kabi! Bring Deidra a gift, right?” A deft and slender hand freed him from the coin and a well-endowed form wrapped around his body. Deidra gave him a long, moist kiss and then cleverly stuffed the coin into his blouse, a piece of clothing that did little to cover his generous attributes.

He flicked his dirty blonde hair back and smiled when he saw the man staring at his huge chest. “As a view, right? Maybe later." Cabe is always late, never now.

Deidra turned around, shook her back, and carried the tray out to the shop. Cabe notices her until she is lost from sight and then remembers the coins she lost. It might be worth—toh later.

She knows that Deidra likes men with money, but she still seems interested in him. Admittedly, he is not ugly, and even though he is not a hero, he is still able to handle himself in a fight. For some reason, Cabe almost always retreats if the fight seems close. That is why he works in a tavern and does not find his way in the world, like his father, who is a hunter of King Mito Pica. Although Cabe was useless in the hunt, his father never seemed too upset about it. She even seemed happy when her son told her that he had managed to get a job at a tavern and a small inn. A rather strange behavior for a warrior, but Cabe loves him.

She flicked away a bundle of her black hair, knowing that somewhere under her touch was a lump of silver she always covered or colored. Silver streaks were supposed to be the sign of witches and necromancers. Cabe didn't want to be killed by the mob just because he had witch-like hair. The problem is, it seems to be spreading.

“Kabi! Get yourself out of here, filth basilisk!”

The call by his employer is one that Cabe will obey even if he is not hired here. Cyrus was a human mountain, and beside him, even the ogre looked small.

He rushed out. "Yes, Cyrus?"

The owner, who looked more like a bear than a human, pointed to a distant table in a dark corner. “I think I saw a customer there! See what he does and if he plans to buy something!”

He blinked and looked again. There's someone in there! How he failed to see her for the first time was beyond his reach. In a hurry, he moved to the table.

A robe. It's all men, if it's men, it seems. A hand, a left hand, slipped into sight and placed a coin on the table, and from under the hood of the robe, a powerful but unreal voice spoke.

“A beer. There's no food."

Cabe stood up for a moment and then realized that he should have gotten the customer's order. With a muttering apology, he walked back to the bar.

The beer was immediately handed to him by Cyrus, but as Cabe began to return through the crowd, he was caught by a large hand.

Ogre dragged him and put the coin into Cabe's hand. “After you're done there, bring me another beer! Save in the tank this time!”

Reaching the table, he put down the beer carefully. As he did so, the gloved hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Sit down, Cabe."

Cabe tried to loosen his grip, but it was as if the hand was stiff from death and would never let go. With resignation, he sat at the opposite end of the table. When he did, the hand let go.

He tried to see the face under the hood. Either the tavern light becomes dim or there is no face under the cover. Cabe jerked back in fear. What kind of man has no face? Worse, what would such a creature want with someone as insignificant as him? As if amused, the stranger turned his head for a better examination.

But there's a face. It was a little unfocused and always half shadow. He caught a glimpse of silver hair in the middle of the brown field.

Magician!

"Who are you?" That's all he can get out.

“You can call me Simon. This time."

"This time?" Those words made no sense to Cabe.

"You're very in danger, Cabe Bedlam."

"Danger? What—Sialan? I'm not—"

“Cabe Bedlam's. Can you deny it?”

He started talking, and then thought. Regardless of what he thought, Cabe could not make himself deny the strange accusations from this witch. No one had ever called him by that name, nor had he ever thought of it. … But for some reason, it sounds right.