I woke up.
I hope I did not sleep for a century again.
Just as I opened my eyes though, I was surprsied, elated and rushed to descend from my throne. However having the short legs I had, I unfortunately rolled over my throne and fell down.
Thankfully there was nobody around to see this scene. Or perhaps Kavest is somewhere around me...
Either ways, I cared not. Because there was food ahead of me! A fish, in fact! I cared not as for how it looks because I was about to mark my name in the face of history as the first carnivorous apple.
I looked at the entrance and discovered Mar Hast still standing by it obediently guarding my entrance. I thanked him internally and got my hands upon the fish. Old man used to never eat things raw, but I was not a human.
With each bite, as the meat swalled down my non-existent throat, I could not bear my enjoyment. After an approximately a total of two bites, my hunger was met.
Apples do not have much appetite it seems...
"Mar Hast!" I called.
"Yes your Majesty." He replied from outside.
"How long was I asleep?"
"A day, or less."
"Ah... Is that normal?"
"We spirits do not sleep your Majesty. As for the sleep schedule of apples, I am not sure."
Reasonable answer, I thought.
"So has more spirits appeared to Astagha yet? Kavest told me spirits from all over the world is coming."
"That is true indeed. Just a few hours ago, a batch of Erohor monsters and two skeletons arrived."
"What is Erohor?"
"They are the monsters with a horse's face. They are the weakest and dumbest monsters."
"Ah." I could not understand if that was a fact or his personal rage against Erohors.
Right at the same time, an annoyingly loud voice resounded around me. "Has my Majesty awakened!"
It was Kavest. Dear Lord of Seven Seas, I do not like this man.
"Kavest, do not come yet. I am busy." I announced.
"Sure... Your Majesty..." He did not show obedience in that response. I see, humans are like that, annoying.
"However I am here with a great news."
"What is it?"
"A monster of fourth generation has responded to your call."
As I kept my urge to ask 'what is generation now...', I asked again, "Who? Where?"
"It's Ratabat the Shifter. He was active in the Fifth Sea for the last eight centuries. He is to be kept along the same lines as Viyanshi sisters. He is currently, here!"
Mar Hast's armoury body mumbled a little as he heard the name of Ratabat. From a random bush upfront, I heard a howl of wolves. I could hardly decipher what he said, but it was along the following lines:
"I... Ratabat... Has ARRIVED!"
Mar Hast stopped him in his place taking out a blurry sword. "Are you Ratabat?"
"You stupid knight that's what I just said." Ratabat did not reply with patience. "Oh oh, wait. I think I know you... Let me guess."
He thought for a while, returning the forest into silence. "Nevermind I don't remember you."
"It's been three centuries. We fought, once."
"And you died?" the wolf laughed.
"You are Ratabat... The Traitor."
"Come on, that is a hasty decision. I hate people like you. Where is the King of Astagha?"
"Are you here to swear allegiance to our King?"
Unlike others, Ratabat did not reply to this question instantly. He stopped, thought for a while, and transformed his legs into that of a human's and stood up. His mouth returned to that of a human but his body was filled with strange scales. Afterwards, the sides of the scale turned into red.
"Mar Hast, move aside." I ordered from inside my 'palace'. I was not getting a nice view.
As he moved and I walked closer to see him, I gazed at Ratabat's strange shape. If I am not wrong, old man once told me the story of a man who made forbidden love with dragons in the prehistoric age, which gave birth to a rare draganoid race. They are humans with a characteristics. Nevertheless, I had forever found them to be extremely elegant and powerful. Dragons, I love dragons.
"Ratabat... Are you a dragon?" I asked, my eyes sort of sparkling.
Ratabat looked at me, seriously. Then replied with something I will remember for quite a while.
"Why the f**k is this apple talking?"