"Alive?" Krystal repeated.
"Poo being alive… you mean?" she asked with a contorted expression on her face.
Alex's face turned red with embarrassment and disgust at her question combined with her facial expression.
"How can poop be alive? Alexander, are you dumb? If you are, then I put it that you cannot serve me." That's it, it broke something in him.
Alex scrunched up his nose in mild disgust at the sight in front of him. The dragon was sure proud.
"No no, I'm not dumb. I wasn't serious just now." He laughed off his embarrassment. "Of course, it's not alive. How can poop be alive?"
'Yes, how can poop be alive? Am I stupid? But the thing is sure disgusting!' he couldn't help but think in his head.
"This is the dump where I come to poop. Those moving things are worms and different kinds of bugs. That valley is their habitat, since I began to use it as a dump, their habitat ruined." Krystal explained.
"Okay. What is expected of me?" Alex asked. He was getting bored with all the history talks. He wanted to do something fun already. Also, a part of him wanted to leave this poop area. His stomach was churning already.
"From now on, I won't have to come all the way here to use a dump. I will poop in the cave and you will clean it up." Krystal said as she let out a lazy yawn.
Alex: "..."
'Ha-han-handle her p-p-poop!' dark clouds formed on his head at that very sentence.
Alex dared not to show the disgust on his face.
"The waste materials from dragons contain a part of us. With some time, you will find some of your kind to collect it," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Alex: "..."
Alex's jaw dropped at the newfound information. There were even retards who collect that disgusting thing too?
How!?! How could they stand that!?!
Don't they feel disgusted?!
But… why do they even need that shit!?!
He has many complaints in his heart unfortunately he has to keep them to himself.
Alex's disgust rose tenfold when he heard this.
"Why th-... do they do that?" words slipped out of his tongue without his knowledge.
Maybe his curious mind couldn't handle this shock.
"Well, look at all these plants," she pointed to the vast area covered with healthy greenery that made people feel at ease just at the very sight.
"Have you seen anything like them around the shadow world? No!" she continued proudly. Alex nodded his head in agreement with her words. After all, the growth and life of these plants were on a different level. He couldn't deny her.
"That's because they are the result of my poop!" she declared making his jaw drop.
"What!?!" he exclaimed.
"My poop contains a small part of magical abilities, that nourishes the ground." he nodded understanding where she was coming from.
"Fruits grown on the trees, which had my poop as fertilizers, will keep your kind young and strong. One fruit can keep your hunger at bay for a week and can give you a year's worth of youth to your body. Of course, it's temporary, but you humans would do anything for power," she said sniggering at the last line.
As much as he was fascinated by the newfound information about her or precisely about dragons, Alex was offended by her last line. Sure he knew that men were monsters when they have power, but he didn't like hearing it from a wayside dragon.
Even if he was offended, she was not someone he could mess with. Gulping down his opinions he asked, "So how shall we dispose of it properly?"
"You can burn it up," Krystal said as she waved her hand unbothered.
"Burn it up?" Alex reiterated her words.
He could see gold and silver burning down along with that 'disgusting' poop in the fire. His brain already thinking of ways how to make money with it. But… burning it up?
Why!?!
Was this dragon stupid?
It contains a small amount of her magical prowess!!!
Krystal smirked at his expression. "You asked, I had to answer."
Her unbothered and lazy attitude was irking him up. But he has to endure it after all she was his golden goose right now.
Alex chuckled. "You can't burn up poo. I think I can just use it to farm in the cave there. Use it to feed me."
"Suit yourself, Alex. The only thing is that you must ensure that you are the only one who can have access to those waste, to prevent these bugs from adapting to the content and becoming monsters."
"I still find it hard to believe you're a dragon." Alex suddenly said earning her attention.
Krystal growled glancing at him. Yes, she had altered her appearance to match his kind.
"Such a drag," she commented as she moved some steps away from him.
Alex watched as two coiled horns protruded from her skull. Her once smooth and soft skin turned dark and scaly as talons elongated from her fingers. Her once black eyes turned into a blackish-red color akin to red granite stone, sending a chill down Alex's spine. Her dress transformed into a warrior's garment on her body.
He gulped at the sight of Krystal's half human half draconic version.
'This is the monster that killed me almost. Didn't expect it to be a beautiful woman in her human form. Maybe the saying 'looks can be deceiving' came from these kinds of monsters shapeshifting,' he thought.
"Do they come out from you?" Alex inquired, pointing to her clothing.
"How do you change them?" he added further.
"They are a part of me. Like the scales that protect me, these ones protect me as well. Once in a while, they fall off."
"So you shed?" Alex asked curiously.
"It's not particularly shedding, like those crawling creatures. It's more like falling off. The scales, the hair, and even my sweat, and tears carry some amount of my power. The power may not be a lot but for your kind, it's a lot." Krystal explained with a yawn raising a gust of dust in the cave.
"Your job is to gather these things and burn them up. If your kind begins to access these things, the world can never be safe anymore."
Alex nodded in understanding. "Can I touch them?" he asked, walking ahead which made her pull her guard up.
People were usually afraid of her. How come Alex was curious and even wanted to touch her?
Was that how much brave he was?
Was he just brave or stupid?
She cannot figure it out.
One of the reasons for her to bring him to the poop valley was to disgust him and make him run. Yet this man wasn't flinching. She noticed the disgust on his face and his suppressing emotions. It's just that she chose to ignore them. She came out of her thoughts when he came closer.
She backed off a little at his sudden approach. Alex stopped and stared up at her.
Was she afraid of him? He smirked.
An arrogant expression crept on his face feeling proud. The dragon that tried to kill him was scared.
Such a boost to his ego!
"I just want to know what it feels like underneath my palm." He explained slowly.
"It will burn your skin. The temperature of my scales varies from my mood. The exuded from them can be a stark contrast to my mood," Krystal answered focusing her gaze on his face to notice any change of expression.
"Okay cool. Can I feel it now?" He asked again.
Alex took a careful step towards her as she stayed still. Resting his hand on her, he felt her cold skin which gradually turned hot as she warned. Her skin was harder than a stone, and sharper than a sword making his eyes shine in excitement.
"Wow! So hard! How can you burn this? It's almost metal yet it feels like skin. Like a porcupine's thorn." He exclaimed.
Krystal stared at him.
"Stop caressing me, Alex. The scales can get beaten up to dust. It will take a long time to achieve that," she paused.
"I am asking one last time, are you ready to do this? If you must take care of me, you must know that you will not have your freedom. You belong to me solely. You will have no time for yourself and your personal life whatsoever." Krystal said sternly. Iciness dripped from her voice which said she was not going to let him do whatever he wants.
Alex nodded and said, "I did know that before accepting to come."
"Not like I have anything to lose." He murmured in a low voice.
Krystal smiled as she turned into her human form again. "Good! Let's return to the cave!"
"I wonder though." Alex began as they slid down the hillside. "How did I wake up?" he stared at her exhibiting one of his biggest doubts.
"How is none of your business," she said without caring a glance at him.
"Since you will take care of me… I will tell you. I bought you back to hear you out before you die." she reasoned her previous statement.
"And… you are brave," she added.
"Of course. I am as brave as they come." Alex bragged as he started flying in the imaginary sky.
"It was a little scary." He whispered to himself.
Krystal chuckled upon hearing his words. She revealed many of her secrets but her hearing ability. Hearing his mutterings were some musing snippets for her.
Following back, he watched her turn into her beast form. Her wings tore off from her back. Her horns grew longer yet thicker, and child horns grew from the base horns giving off a scary vibe. Her hair turned into sharp spikes along the length of her neck. Her once smooth skin turned into thick dark reddish black colored scales.
As the wings grew bigger, her body morphed into a huge scary beast.
Alex's heart raced in fear, facing her dragon form. Her previous transformation was nowhere near this original and complete transformation.
Looking around the cave, his eyes again drawn towards the dark tunnel. He finally understood why those light bugs had abnormal sizes.
It's all because of… HER POOP?