Maple High School Academy Year 1
The Dragon in Gingko Forest - The Voices in Autumnland

The Voices in Autumnland

SHAL SMILED HAPPILY looking at the candy cloud in his grasp. Cloud candy is a mini-colored cloud-shaped snack that floats around a long thin lightning-shaped stick. When licking and inhaling cloud candy, you can feel how the taste and aroma of a color.

Impatiently, Shal licked the light gray and purple clouds he had bought earlier. There was a cold sensation as his tongue and nose touched the fog of the candy cloud. Surprisingly, Shal felt something rather sweet, but bitter as he licked the gray-colored clouds, and the jasmine tea-like taste when licking the light purple ones. Shal's passing is also like smelling peanuts and ink.

Shal laughed cheerfully. Trying a variety of sweets at the Autumn Festival is indeed so fun!

“Shalima!”

Someone called out to him and instantly the muscles on his face formed a smile. Shal turned around and bowed respectfully to the man who was now in front of him.

“Why is it so stiff?” The man, Eero Iziah, stretched out his arms as if preparing to receive a hug. Shal blushed in embarrassment. He came over and hugged Eero. The embrace was very comfortable and warm, like the embrace of a father.

What am I talking about!

Shal immediately let go of his embrace as he felt ashamed of what he had just thought.

“Wow! Candy cloud!” Eero smiled as he looked at the wisp of clouds hovering above Shal's hand. “It seems that I have forgotten the taste and aroma of light purple color. Can?” Uncle Eero smiled as he raised his index finger, asking Shal's permission to sample the cloud candy.

“I licked it earlier.” Shal smiled shyly.

“No problem.”

Eero then turned his index finger on Shal's purple-colored cloud. There was a fog that escaped and moved around his index finger. After licking and inhaling the cloud candy on his finger, Eero laughed loosely. Shal was curious how Uncle Eero's tongue and nose felt a light purple color.

“It's like wax taste and wet clothes aroma.”

Shal laughed at hearing that. With a funny look, Eero inhaled and licked his cloud candy until it ran out.

“How about now we are looking for lava drink?” bargain Eero.

Shalima nodded and followed Eero. This was a time that she was very much looking forward to, where she could chat and talk loosely with the kind-hearted man that she was eager to adopt as a father.

 Shalima swallowed his saliva. Callia, Eero's wife, introduces him to dr. Saja Forta, Maple Island Zoologist team leader. Eero then recounted Shal's great desire to do research in the field of health.

“I really like young people who are talented and passionate,” reply dr. Fortas. Shal hides under the chair in shame.

While waiting for the Lynean show to begin, Eero and Callia greet some of their acquaintances, who are mostly important people. They also introduced Shal to those people. Shal felt uncomfortable, but tried to keep his attitude as good as possible. Shal, Eero, Callia, and dr. Forta then sat in the audience seat in the same row. The seat beside Shal was empty and he knew it must be Thann's seat.

Shal prayed in his heart that Thann would not come, but the prayer did not work at all because Thann had occupied his seat just as the show began. The boy seemed to be growing older since the last time they met. His jaw was getting firm, his neck looked firm, his chest was more muscular, and his shoulders were wider and straighter.

Oi! Stop talking about men's bodies!

“Newly come?” Shal tries to shift his mind by greeting Thann.

The boy looked. With his heavy voice as well as his denouncing gaze, Thann replied, “Do you think?”

From the very beginning, Thann had already underestimated him because he came from the race and the human world. There were many things he did not know about Maple Island and it became a matter of scorn for Thann. Although Shal was 1 year older than Thann, the boy never showed him the slightest respect.

Shal chose to give his full attention to the musical drama that was being shown. Lynean was the main character in the show. It is no wonder that Lynean is a prima donna because he is like a complete package: his looks are beautiful, his voice is beautiful, his smile is charming, and his dance is mesmerizing.

Shal was swept away in the show until suddenly a large hand tried to clench his jaw. He glared at Thann who again gave him a mocking look.

“Your saliva can really drip if you keep opening your mouth like that!”

Shal was embarrassed, but tried to cover it up. “Lynean singing is very beautiful. What's wrong with me being amazed?”

“Amused?” Thann smiled cynically, “You admire people who envy you.”

It's bullshit! There is no way an angel like Lynean envies a duck like himself!

Shal did not trust Thann, but continued to reflect on his words. Lyneans never show a friendly attitude when they spend time together. Although he was a bit offended when Thann called him a nobody, Shal admitted he was nothing compared to Lynean and everyone on Maple Island.

Suddenly there was a very melodious singing voice along with the presence of a long-tailed bat that flew around the stage. Unknowingly, Shal closed his eyes in wanting to enjoy the sound. He seemed to be able to forget all the heartache and confusion he felt. He better not do anything and just listen to the song.

Aw!

Someone touched Shal's forehead until it left the pain. He immediately opened his eyes and looked at Thann sharply. Who else would have done it if not that guy!

“You enamored siren singing?” Thann mocked him, feeling absolutely no guilt.

Shal had never heard the siren singing before. All he knew was that the sound of the siren was so captivating that the sailors who heard it became lulled. Shal ignored Thann's question and tried to find the siren on stage. Thann snickered and the daughter felt Thann was laughing at her.

“You don't know nuskabadori, huh? Jesus, Shal! What did you learn at the academy?” Thann mocked him again.

The nuskabadori?

“Truly don't know?” Thann smiled disdainfully, “Nuskabadori is a kind of mute chiroptera, but good at picking up chants. They can convey the song to the intended party, if they want. It was nuskabadori who took the siren singing and delivered it here.”

Shal was silent at Thann's explanation. It seems that the animal belongs to the normal-middle level of the supernatural because it has never been discussed in the first year. However, Shal lazily protested at Thann. Shal instead tried to remember if he had seen the animal before.

The singing of the siren stopped as the nuskabadori disappeared in the darkness of the night. There was a moment of silence before the colorful fireworks shot into space. The siren chant was an unexpected cover for the Autumn Festival and finally the boisterous sound of audience applause broke out in Autumnland. Shal clapped his hands, but his heart was suddenly hot as soon as he heard Thann snorting like a horse. Now what?

“If you think nuskabadori is part of the show, you are wrong.”

Shal frowned. So, that nuskabadori wasn't part of the show?

“Siren was singing using the ancient language of the Fallen Angel race. Well, the language is so ancient that not all Fallen Angels can understand it.” Thann made a bland smile as he looked straight at his older sister who was standing on stage with the other artists. “Siren was singing a song about a deceitful angel who sings without using the heart. The Nuskabadori took siren singing and delivered a reproach for Lynean on his own stage.”

Shal stopped the clapping of his hands. Callia tried to clap her hands, but the gloom on her face could not be hidden.

Suddenly there was a noise like a scream from the sky. Everyone immediately closed their ears, looking surprised and confused. This is not a common voice. Shal could feel his eardrum shaking strangely and his heart beating very fast. After a few seconds, the voice finally passed.

“That agitated dragon voice ...” Shal heard dr. Forta whispered to Eero. There was a pause for a while before Mr. Forta continued his remark, “If it was the dragon of Portessa, our excited young girl would probably have a chance.”

 “As usual, Shalima Shero who is very enthusiastic and excited.”

That was the first response The Prof gave after Shal submitted his plea. Shal could only look down embarrassed. Was he too presumptuous to make repeated requests to The Prof?

There was a long pause before The Prof finally continued, “Now the Zoologists are making contact with the dragon heard in Autumnland. They want to make sure of everything. Although his voice sounded restless, it was not necessarily the dragon Porsisa.”

The Prof was silent for a while, while Shal confirmed his heart to believe that it was really the dragon of Porsesa.

“I will consider your request. We recommend that you find as much information about dragons and mosses, while waiting for more information. I hope you can also be patient because this process can take several weeks or even months.”

“Good, Prof!” shal exclaimed enthusiastically. Somehow his premonition this time said he would take part in taking the Porsisa moss at Gingko Forest. His chest seemed like he was about to jump when he imagined himself doing field observations and meeting dragons.

Later that night, Shal fantasizes about meeting a dragon until he falls asleep. He woke up to feel something flying outside his bedroom window. Shal opens the window and is shocked to see a nuskabadori.

Oh, lazy girl, wake up. Don't just sleep and complain!

Nuskabadori flew away and Shal looked at him with a vengeful gaze.

That's Ugly Thann's voice! Using nuskabadori to mock me, huh? Fucking thann!

Shal cursed in his heart. He noticed the wind-blown nuskabadori tail and inexplicably hypnotized him to see the dangling nuskabadori tail. Shal regained his senses from his daydream, then immediately closed the window and the curtain violently. Pretty creepy heard the voice of Thann singing just now, even though only through the medium of nuskabadori.

After returning home from the Autumn Festival, Shal soon finds out about nuskabadori. Nuskabadori is hard to find, very sensitive, moody, and picky. They do not take songs. For example, naturally their ears will reject the chant of a mantra, not interested in taking the chant if the singing voice is not pleasant to hear, and only deliver songs with deep and beautiful lyrics.

So, what about just now?

Shal had to admit that Thann's bass was so good in his ears. However, the lyrics delivered were certainly far from deep and beautiful! Shal had to acknowledge the prowess of that boy from the Fallen Angel race! How could he trick nuskabadori into delivering such an unimportant song! Thann was a bitch, but it didn't stop surprising her.