One of the door-like windows was half opened and some weird sounds were getting through, as if someone was choking and moaning. I didn't go to check up. I had to leave at least some dignity to such a creature. Instead, I lit a torch with the fire from the fireplace, then went to the boar to cut some chunks of the meat. Unfortunately, the knife I took from the kitchen was in a pretty bad shape, with the blade almost blunt. Also, the boar meat was quite hard to cut. Annoyed, after a few minutes of my efforts in vain, I threw the knife and went to get one of those daggers, which I knew were extremely sharp.
"But what if it's poisoned? Or what if there is some boobie trap if I get it out? I should ask the dragon."
"Just take them and kill me!" said the dragon, barely crawling in the room.
"Are they poisonous?" I asked, ignoring his words.
"No. Kill me!"
I took one dagger. It was heavier than it looked, but felt good in my hand. I handled it with extra precaution, because that sharp blade gave me the chills and I didn't want it anywhere near my skin.
"Somehow, I think I could easily cut even bones with this thing."
"I can't take this anymore. Kill me already!"
"You were strong enough to drink a whole barrel of wine. That requires lots of training. I'm sure a little hangover is nothing to you. Dragons are truly incredible."
"I know you're mocking me, Miha. Where are you going?"
"To eat something. Wanna walk... er... crawl along?"
"Yes."
I went out and started to cut the meat. I was right about the dagger, it could cut through flesh and bones like they were butter.
Outside, the smokiness of evening was becoming more and more thicker, and the air got even crispier and colder. In the deafening silence I could hear the snowflakes turning into ice crystals and hitting the glass like thousands of needles.
"It's so cold that it feels like it's burning. Everything is so weird. Whatever, there is no use trying to understand it anymore. Not now, at least. I may as well just go with the flow."
In the kitchen, I threw the torch in the hearth and lit all the other dry woods, then took a pan and placed it on the stove, throwing some pieces of fat meat inside. It took a while for the stove to heat, but I didn't mind. The warmth was pleasant and the presence of the drunken dragon was comforting. The cold air filled with the smell of bacon, making my mouth water.
"This smells soo good. Mind if you share some with me?"
The dragon gave up the drunken act and came closer to the stove, sniffing the sizzling meat. I watched him as if I had seen him for the first time. It wasn't moving like in movies. It had a natural, predatory grace, and that terrified me. The shape of his body was almost humanoid, lean but very muscular, with elongated limbs and leathery wings folded closely to his back. His tail wasn't ending in spikes or fur, but was smooth, like that of a snake. I could barely hear him moving, although I listened carefully. Then I noticed the way he talked. The sounds were coming straight from his throat, because that mouth with extremely sharp teeth wasn't designed for words utterance... not those of humans at least. The face had reptilian features - even the tongue was bifurcated - combined with something cabalinic and felinic altogether. On top of his head were lots of horns, resembling a crown, and continuing like a crest on the back of his neck. All of them were white, except the biggest two, ornamenting his forehead, which were black.
Suddenly, my knees started to tremble.
"Just what the hell is this creature?! What is it that it wants?"
"You will burn it."
I stared at him, completely at loss, the words devoid of all meaning.
"You will burn the meat," he repeated and I snapped out of it, automatically placing the meat on a plate. "Why are you scared?"
"Scared?"
"Your heartbeats quickened. Your breath became chaotic. I don't understand your fear. I don't sense any peril around."
"It's a matter of perception. Your appearance is absolutely terrifying to me, And it's even more disturbing that you can hear my heart. Makes me feel completely vulnerable and exposed," I admitted, tasting a piece of bacon.
As I felt the taste of slightly salty, somewhat metallic, greasy meat my hunger revived and I started to gulp down the pieces one by one. Before I could even finish everything on my plate, I threw other meat pieces in the pan.
A few embarrassing moments passed and none of us said anything.
"I won't hurt you, I promise. We have a blood bond. I shared my blood and my powers with you. To kill you would mean to regain half of my powers, and that doesn't worth it a life."
"Isn't that something that you need?"
"I was weak to begin with. Taking back the little I gave you won't make too much of a difference. Besides, we will share our power and grow together."
I opened my system stats, curious if there was any change. Then I rubbed my eyes and looked again and again. It was real!
Name: Elamiha Amber
Age: 29
Race: Human
Level : 2
Vitality: 1500
Strength: 1858
Dexterity: 1765
Intelligence: 1432
Unique skills: Storyteller (Allows Master to tell stories. Secondary traits: History - allows Master to remember everything she reads; Story Walker – allows Master to convince others to tell their stories; Keeper of Stories – allows Master to grow her powers each time she successfully uses a skill; Story Forger - ???; ??? - ???)
Sacred Familiar: Pyrope, The Cursed Dragon
"Just what the hell is this? The Cursed Dragon? And what's with these crazy status points? Is it because of him? He shared his powers and blood with me... I don't feel any different though."
I looked at him, while he was gobbling the entire pan of fried bacon.
"Ah!" he stopped, putting the pan with a few leftover pieces down. "You wanted to eat more?"
"No, serve yourself. I'm full. Uhm... can I ask you a question?"
He hesitated for a moment, but with a deep sigh, he nodded. He seemed exhausted and angry, avoiding my eyes.
"Maybe this is not the time to ask him something that personal. I don't want to upset him, after all, he is my savior. Perhaps I should..."
"It's about my curse, right?" he said, interrupting my thoughts. "You're curious. That's understandable." After a short pause he added: "It's a very long story. Let's go to the fireplace room."
"Before that... There is something in that third room over there," I pointed with my finger towards the door with that oily black thing from earlier.
Pyrope went to check that door, but when he opened it there was nothing behind it. The room was empty.
"How?! Check the other doors too."
He did and the result was the same. I was confused and felt queasy.
"I swear there was a black liquid there that was moving."
"I believe you. In a place like this, you will meet them quite often."
"Them? You said we were alone here."
"You should feel sorry for them. They are dark elementals. Truly pitiful sprites. So weak that nobody cares about them. Can be easily destroyed by light, or pretty much everything, that's why they gather and hide in abandoned places. You probably scared them when you opened the door."
"They scared me more. Anyway, so I don't have to worry about some creepy shadow monster waiting to eat me. Just to be sure, are there any other creatures lurking in this place?"
"No, as far as I know. I didn't look everywhere though."
"I see," I murmured, took the daggers and went silently in the room with the fireplace.