"Can you probably not sniff me like that?"
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
"Oi, you silly dragon!"
"Don't talk to her like that. She will chop your head off." A smug voice spoke from behind.
Marjun turned to find Alex with a smug smile, matching the smugness in his voice.
"Alex! I... I was just trying to talk to her." Marjun stuttered. His ears burned red with embarrassment. More than embarrassment, he felt shame. He couldn't achieve what this peasant has achieved!
"Talk to her? I don't think she wants to talk to you~," Alex said with his raised brows, making him scowl.
"You cannot be sure about that," Marjun said. Marjun still had fear in the corner of his heart. Alex smirked at him as if he sensed his fear.
"OK! Then, go ahead, growl at him."
As if to prove Alex's point, Krystal's timely growl resounded in the cave. She wasn't growling at Marjun, but growling because of Alex's command.
Marjun was so afraid he quickly turned to leave when he heard her growl.
Alex taking the gifts to the dragon made him filled with envy and jealousy; he longed to serve the dragon, but it was too late. He needs to find a strategy to gain the dragon's regard and prove his worth.
Marjun set out to the dragon's cave, carrying a basket of fruit and a large gemstone to put his plan into action, wishing for her approval. But when he arrived and started appeasing her, Alex already came, which made him disappointed. It also filled him with rage.
Marjun felt many things, but there was nothing to do. He left the cave feeling defeated and dejected, raising his jealousy towards Alex.
On his way back home, he thought of many things and many plans to attain the dragon's favor. Suddenly, an idea struck. Controlling his horse's reins, he turned back to the dragon's cave with a plan in mind to challenge Alex to a duel to serve the dragon.
"Alex!" He yelled as soon as he got to the entrance of the cave.
"What do you want, Marjun?" Alex's annoyed voice said everything that he didn't like in his presence again.
"I... I want to challenge you to a duel! Whoever wins gets to serve the dragon!"
His bravery flabbergasted Alex. "Serve the dragon? Bro, do you even know what that entails? Do you?"
Marjun smirked at him. "I'm sure she doesn't care about who serves her. More so, I am a more worthy servant than you are! Are you afraid?"
"Afraid? Me? I'm only afraid of what will become of you, if and when you lose." Alex chuckled.
"Then, yes or no?" Marjun asked, stretching out his palm. He was sure that he would win the duel after all. He was confident that he took training from his childhood.
Alex smirked at him before hitting his palm against Marjun's, a sign of accepting the challenge. Marjun returned to his house feeling a little accomplished.
He had taken a risk, and it had paid off. He was now in a position to potentially gain the favor of the dragon to secure a place in his service.
Feeling proud of himself for taking up this risky challenge, he was determined to demonstrate his abilities. He was adamant about being the one to work for the dragon and was willing to do whatever it would take. He was determined to show the dragon that he was brave and capable of taking on any challenge that came his way.
He didn't realize that the dragon didn't want to acknowledge his bravery or his slavery!
Will it disappoint him when he gets to know that?
Maybe…
Marjun was immensely pleased that Alex had taken up the challenge, and he was now one step nearer to securing the dragon's approval, and he was raring to show what he was capable of. He was insistent to prove to the dragon that he was also brave, capable, and willing to take on any quest that came his way.
Marjun was now ready to take on the challenge and prove himself to the dragon. He was ready to take on the challenge and demonstrate his abilities to the dragon.
"What has got you so happy, boy?" Neron asked. "Where have you been?"
Marjun's voice was filled with enthusiasm as he cried out, "Father, I'm back from the dragon's cave and I've got something!"
"What is it about?" Neron asked his son. His son's enthusiasm surprised him.
"The dragon, she didn't choose Alex. She just has to put up with him. Also, I have challenged him to a duel for who will be the dragon's servant."
"You did what?! Marjun, did you ever stop to consider what the villagers will have to say? What the king will have to say?!" Neron cried in displeasure.
Marjun paused. "Look, Father, I will come up with something. Besides, Alex's background is too mysterious! What if he is a spy from some village?"
Neron quietened down at his son's logical responses. Pondering over his son's words, he was equally concerned about Alex's background.
Neron had never heard about this young man before the whole dragon fiasco, yet he had been celebrated by the entire village as if they knew him from roots. Neron was both intrigued and concerned by the situation. He wanted to know more about Alex but was hesitant to ask too many questions. He didn't want to be suspected by anyone.
More so, he was familiar with the concept of secrets, as his own family had them. He thought that Alex's background was one of those. Asking too many questions can cause him trouble.
At the same time, Neron was worried about the safety of his family. He wanted to make sure that Alex was not a threat, and know if there was anything he should be aware of.
Again, Neron was also curious about the outcome of the duel between Marjun and Alex.
If Alex was that mysterious, then wasn't it better to steer clear of him?
Wasn't it better to not want to fight him?
'If anything goes wrong, I will deny knowledge of this matter!' He declared in his heart.