Chereads / The Good Loser System / Chapter 17 - Jules Loses A Thorn in Her Side

Chapter 17 - Jules Loses A Thorn in Her Side

There is a children's tale in the world of Dracaelfia, it is told to nearly every human child, though at some point everyone (of every race) has heard of it, it originates from the northeastern regions of Elvish territories, predating even the epic of Gilgamesh from Chk'ulehy's previous life.

At a time where Dragons and Elves were the only hyper-intelligent creatures of the land, save for the Circadian Wolves that shook the world with their howls to chase away the celestial bodies; there lived a simple lonely Elvish farmer by the name of Pandora. 

Every morning she would tend to her crops, give thanks to the Circadian Wolves, then trudge through a snowy forest, and up a small rocky hill to reach the ancient Elvish city of Erek, all while carrying a large pouch of supplies and food. Upon arrival, she would tend to her late father's art collection in a grand hut just off the outskirts of the city.

Now the bachelor elves of Erek, who feigned intrigue in her father's art just to get a chance to talk to her, would ask the same question after their courting attempts failed: "Our people live for thousands of years, art evolves faster than our children have their own children. Why do you take care of such decrepit sketch pieces?"

Pandora, with her infinite patience, responded to them all, "I love my father. That is reason enough." 

She loved everyone. When children would bother her, she would give them honey covered pastries, and tell tales of grand adventures. When the Elvish soldiers went off to fight against tyrannical dragons, she would be there to offer them food. When the Elvish hunters crossed on to her land, she offered them tea and a bed to sleep. When the Elvish bachelors would ask her hand in marriage, she would tell them, "My heart cannot belong to one."

So on an awfully cold day, Pandora was on her way to the stony hill when a group of elves stopped her. They told her that the path to Erek had been blocked due to a nasty thunder storm blasting away the hill, causing rockslides. A common dragon trick to bring misfortunes to the meekest of people. They suggested for her to return home and wait for the dragon to be slain.

She thought of her father's art collection. Upon the striking of lightning against the stony hill, she demanded for the suspected location of the dragon. They refused to tell her, and so she backed away from them and searched. 

She searched and searched until her feet went blue, her fingertips purple, and her fair complexion shined with red in the cheeks. She found the dragon in a heap of snow. There had been no signs of any other person, so she approached the dragon and asked, "Why do you curse my people so?"

The dragon groaned and with a hefty belch replied, "I do not do it on purpose. I am hurt and my magic has gone wild." The dragon got up, shaking off the snow and revealing to Pandora that its underbelly had been wounded by a sword. 

Pandora, with her infinite compassion, love, and care for all things opened her pouch, retrieved ointment and offered some of it to the dragon. It slathered the entire supply of ointment on its wounds, bathed in its own avarice, then seized Pandora in its sharp claws. 

The dragon would have been delighted in her torment as it squeezed the life out of her. However, she did not utter a harrowing scream or word of discontent. She smiled in the face of the dragon. The vile creature ate her.

The brave warriors of Erek would find the dragon eating her and slay the beast. She died. 

Children, you must always remember no dragon is capable of compassion, care or love. Those who rule the sky do not understand the troubles of earthly beings.

THUMP!

The air rushed out of the path of the Dragon of Chaos. The air slammed against the dust on the ground and carried it along with them as it rushed past Chk'ulehy, diving into the cave, trembling against the updraft like a wall.

"Hold on." Chk'ulehy, who's name was translated to Jules within her head by the System as a test run of the new skill, laid on the ground and shielded her eyes from the migration of dust. Her left horn and right ear were chipped at its tip. Her arms and legs, as stiff as stone. Her nails were filed down to a stump during her trudge up the stairs. The side of her stomach stained her maroon dress a brighter shade of red. 

[Yes?]

"You can't possibly imagine I can fight this thing."

[No, the quest is to hug it.]

[0/1 Hugs Given]

The Dragon of Chaos was a large snake-like creature with wings, two arms, and two legs. When it landed, it landed on all four of its limbs. It had a snout that puffed out streams of fire. Sharp whiskers and horn-like boney structures protruded out of its head. A mohawk of long silver, messy hair ran from its forehead to the end of its tail. Reptile-like scales covered its entire body. 

A single finger of the Dragon of Chaos was the size of Jules. It brought its head down next to her. Its tongue slithered out and smacked the ground around Jules.

CRACK! WHIP

The dust lingering in the air escaped.

"Ah. I suppose this would be the punishment I deserve." An image of the miner's dead body and Rose and the boys flashed into Jules's mind.

She looked up at the Dragon of Chaos. Its eye was purple, swirling around with an accent of orange colored stars within them. The skin of the Dragon of Chaos was a deep maroon, the texture of the scales matched Jules's scales on her joints.

Its tongue wrapped around Jules, it felt like a thousand razors embedded into rope had wrapped around her body. It tightened, forcing her own horn deeper inside her while raising her several feet in the air. She let out a screech, as she felt her bones crunch against her organs. 

It let go of Jules, her body crashing into the dry ground like sticks on a drum. It roared as it flipped Jules on her back side with its massive claws. It took its sharp claws and pinched the tips of its pointer finger and thumb together. 

CLINK, CLINK!

It tapped its claws together. Jules watched as the Dragon of Chaos dived its claws into her sides. 

SCHPLUNG

Blood gushed out of Jules's side. "I can't even fucking move! SYSTEM!" She wheezed out as the Dragon of Chaos threw away the horn.

POP!

Jules felt her body lift up and her head turn. She saw the dragon's claws caress her face, then force her mouth open. Its swirling eyes mystified her as she saw a waterfall of red liquid smoothly fall into her mouth. It then dropped her. 

As she fell her pain subsided, she felt her ear and horn grow back, as well as the hole in her stomach patch itself up. She heard glass shatter as she managed to get herself up. 

"My legs are still used up, but the pain isn't as prominent anymore? What did it give me?"

[A healing potion.]

She looked up, the dragon was standing on its legs and began flapping its wings. As the air around Jules picked up and brushed past her, she yelled "WAIT!"

It stopped. It landed back on the ground and brought her head up to Jules. It puffed in front of her face. Her hair flapped and almost leaped off of her scalp. "Can" she caught her breath, stammering as she continued, "can I get a hug?"

The Dragon of Chaos stared at the Terror of Dracaelfia, blinked twice, then lowered its head. Jules looked around and inched closer. A puff of fire came out of its snout, she jumped back. It showed its teeth, snarling, then dropped its lips.

Jules dashed over to the dragon. Took a deep breath, then hugged it, or rather the side of its face. She could not wrap her arms around its head. 

[Quest Complete!]

A whimsical chime (Duh De Dah. Duh De Dah. Duh Duh Dah, Deeee~ DAH!) played inside of Jules's head and confetti (mostly a mix of pink, blue, and white, alongside an assortment of colors) was dropped in front of her, followed by a POP! 

She jumped back.

The Dragon of Chaos flapped its wings, and circled around Jules. "I expect much from my daughter. Make me a proud mother." She said with a boisterous grainy feminine voice. The tone of her voice made Jules's scales tense up.

[You've gained +1 Skill Points] 

Her mother flew away. Jules stood there dumbfounded, the sun beamed down onto her. "My mother? My mother is a dragon?"

[Would you like to view your skills?]