Once everyone left, Alex returned to the cave. His smile never left his face, his first-day victory made him hungry even though he wasn't as he climbed onto his bed, where he kept a few handfuls of fruits. They were too delicious that he couldn't stop himself from eating one more leaving him with only five. Knowing he would be needing them for the next day, he stopped eating more.
Alex rested on his bed, as he touched his wound which wasn't hurting much. Knowing where it would hurt he trapped Marjun to hurt him. Maybe he could use his wound as a reason to postpone the archery to the last.
He exhaled softly as he closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
—-----------
Marjun was more than angered even though his father left him and still scolded him after returning. And the only reason for this whole thing was ALEX. The mere thought of him made him go crazy. Smashing the things to the ground, he tried to take out his anger.
"Argh! Alex!!" He yelled. "You are driving me mad!"
"Save that anger for tomorrow to punch the hell out of him instead of ruining my money and house!" Neron yelled at his son. Neron entered his son's room hearing breaking sounds and angry yells only to be greeted with this dreadful sight. Neron would not say he was not angry at Alex, but also at his son for being stupidly getting trapped into Alex's ploy!
If Marjun did not emerge as a winner in the next duel, he would deny him publicly. He couldn't bet on losing King's favor because of his stupid son.
Marjun sighed. "Anger will only make me lose, Father. Archery shall come first."
"Idiot. Archery shall be last since Alex is injured and might not handle a bow and arrow." Neron advised. Marjun smiled seeing his father cared about him.
"Thank you, Father," Marjun said with a half smile.
Shaking his head, Neron wished his wife had lived longer. Maybe things would have been different if she was alive. With her presence, everything was in place, and he has no worries. After her demise, he has to take care of his son and guide, him when he couldn't guide himself the best.
Marjun went to bed, dreaming of his victory against Alex. It was a satisfying dream that he decided to pay a visit to Alex the next day.
Alex heard Marjun's voice calling out his name, just as he walked out of the pool. Alex cursed his luck when he heard his words. Grabbing a pair of shorts, he immediately put them on and went out to find the most irritating man with a basket of fruits and meds.
"Hello Marjun, have you come to gloat?" Alex teased as a smirk rested on his face.
"Save it, everyone knows you did it intentionally." Marjun returned with a contorted expression.
"Is that so?" Alex gasped dramatically.
"You are so shameless, Marjun! How can you injure someone and still dare to accuse him? Is that how you are raised?"
Marjun's expression turned cold. "I can say the same to you."
Alex smirked. "What do you want? Are you here to wake my beloved dragon?"
"I only came to see how you're faring," Marjun said. "I brought these for you. Even though we're dueling for a position, it doesn't make us enemies."
"I hope you can still say this when I beat you at your own game," Alex said, collecting the basket from him. "Fruits. Meat would have been preferable."
Marjun tsked. "As if you get to eat it that often."
"No?" Alex answered. "That's why you should have brought it. At least if you get to eat it that often, it shouldn't be that much of a big deal to give a FRIEND. Unless I'm an enemy and you're only sweet talking me." Alex raised a brow at him as he uttered the last word, making Marjun mutter a few curses at him.
Alex had a way with words. "I am not here to fight or argue Alex. I am here to see you."
"To see if I am dead or alive?" Alex sneered.
"Alex, Jeez! For once, can you not be sarcastic?" Marjun groaned. He was getting upset. "I can see you're fine. Since that's the case, The duel continues tonight."
"What a nice reminder from the man who tried to kill me," Alex said. "You know, there's no winning to this game."
"Screw you!" Marjun yelled and rushed out of the cave. He didn't want to slip anything that could implicate him later on.
How could Alex be so good at manipulating people with words?
Alex laughed seeing Marjun run out. It was fun for him.
He took the fruits inside and place them beside his remaining five fruits. Thinking for a second, he went out and started digging a small hole and planted one from every type that Marjun has got for him with his good hand. With this, he also wants to check if they grow the same or different. Also, he didn't trust Marjun.
After returning, he leaned on the dragon and rested. Her cold scales made him comfortable. With time, he lost the fear he had for her to the point her scales no longer turned hot. And she turned into human form just to chat with him.
By the time he woke up, it was dusk. He didn't know he had slept for a long while leaning on Krystal. Unwrapping his injury, he noticed only a bruise was left surprising him. Never in his dream, had he thought this would heal this early. Alex thought it would at least take three days at the latest for it to heal.
Getting up while being careful not to disturb Krystal, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes widened in shock when he noticed a streak of red hair. When his hair was supposed to be golden honey color!
"Okay, What the hell?"