"It's just a dragon, Vivie... It is just a dragon." She repeats her words a few times like casting a spell.
Of course, it did not work! In so many places that creature can fall onto. Why on earth did a baby dragon fall in front of her? Not to mention it look directly into her eyes like seeing its mother. She would prefer to meet a big dragon instead of that little one.
"Look, I will pretend like I didn't see you. So just go somewhere, hiding or something. Alright?"
As she was about to leave the place a cute squeaking sound echoed into her eardrums. She froze. That creature seems to be following her. But what with the sound? Ain't a dragon supposed to be roaring?
"Hey... I'm not kidding. I need to kill you if people see us. See this sword? One slash and you'll be dead." she looks like a maniac at that moment. Talking to the creature that only knows how to make a sound.
"Vivie?"
Shocked by the voice she heard. Out of impulse, her leg kicked the small baby dragon into the thick bushes nearby. It flew like a ball.
Melierre Avstand approached her with a big step. "I know it's you!"
"How many times do I have to remind you? Call me Octavia." Meli rolls her eyes, protesting.
"It's too long. Your father calls you Vivie. So I'm calling you Vivie as well."
This stubborn brat. Octavia would smack her head already if she is not from Avstand. Their family is the proudest and mightiest one, even poking a strand of hair of their descendants will be considered as declaring war against them.
Unable to protest, she then left the girl behind before continue walking ahead like nothing ever happen. Meli follows her from behind.
"Is it true Aunt Eustice forces you to hunt humans?"
She stopped walking immediately. Turn her head towards Meli in horror. "The news even reached to your territory?"
"Undeniably. Yeap."
She groaned at the answer received. She just wants a peaceful life. Hiding her problems, finding a good partner, and leaving peacefully. Why is everything so messed up?
"Well chill, everyone has their own fear. If you don't want to kill, you don't have to. Just hire anyone to kill and take the credit for it."
"What do you mean by hiring?"
Meli blinks her eyelids a few times. Feeling strange at the question asked by Octavia. "You don't know?"
"Know what?" Obviously, she won't ask if she knows what Meli is talking about right?
"There are rumors everywhere about this one assassin."
Octavia's jaw dropped upon hearing the word. "Assassin? In vampire territory?"
As far as she knows, everyone is a hunter there. Who is stupid enough to decide to work as an assassin in that ruthless place?
"No. He is a human." More odd words came out of Meli's mouth.
"You are asking me, a vampire to hire a mere human assassin to hunt another vampire?" No matter how many times she pronounced the sentence. It would never make sense.
Despite all the nonsense she just said, Meli still nods her head.
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Atlas frown at the sight in front of him. A small baby dragon was laying flat on the ground, near the tip of his shoes. He almost wanted to kick it away for obstructing his path but the tiny creature seems to be jerking out of impulse trying to regain consciousness.
"Assassin? In vampire territory?" The sweet voice near him caught him off-guard.
He remains silent. Squatting down slowly, hiding behind the bushes accompanied by the unconscious baby dragon.
"No. He is a human." Another voice echoed.
"You are asking me, a vampire to hire a mere human assassin to hunt another vampire?"
Atlas stares into empty spaces, opposite the direction of the voices. 'Are they talking about me?'
"Humans are considered food to us, Meli."
He smirked sarcastically upon hearing it. Itching to show his skills to the owner of the voices.
"Indeed, but you need his skills to deceive those who oppose you as the Ashburn heir. Right?"
The sound of a heavy sigh could be heard even from the place he was at. However, the conversation ends only up to that point. There are no more traces of beings around the nearby area. Except for the one little creature that was staring at him.
"Are you lost like me?" He asks.
The little dragon squeak in reply. Well... Apparently, the dragon understands their language but both he or she has no idea at all what the squeaking sounds indicate.