Faul’s POV //

  I woke up early in the morning, feeling the warm breeze drifting in from the entrance of my lord’s dwelling. To my surprise, Leya, the tree nymph, was already awake.

  “You! When do you think that basta— ahem, your lord will wake up?” she asked, quickly correcting her words.

  “I’m not sure. My lord might wake up at any moment,” I replied uncertainly.

  She let out a sigh. “It’s already morning. I can’t wait to leave this pce and go home,” she said irritably.

  So, we waited for my lord to wake, but even as the day stretched into the afternoon, he showed no signs of stirring. Suddenly, Leya stood up.

  “I can’t wait anymore! He promised I could go home this morning, but he’s still asleep,” she said, frustration clear in her voice.

  I remained silent, simply watching my lord as he slept soundly.

  “Can’t you wake him up? You’re his servant, aren’t you?” she pressed.

  “You can go,” I said.

  “What?” She stared at me, as if unsure whether I was serious.

  “I said you can go. My lord already gave you permission to leave in the morning, so you’re free to go home,” I crified.

  “Are you serious?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Yes. You already have his permission, don’t you?” I reaffirmed.

  “That’s true… but I should at least leave a message so he knows I’ve gone,” she reasoned.

  “I’ll tell him myself, so there’s no need to worry,” I replied, now growing irritated.

  “Then I’ll leave now,” she said before departing.

  Once she was gone and her presence had completely faded, I turned toward the entrance and spat.

  “Hmph, even though my lord saved and treated you kindly, what an ungrateful person.”

  Interacting with her made me realize just how rude and ungrateful tree nymphs could be.

  I understood that she had endured a traumatic experience—witnessing her loved ones sin before her eyes by a dragon—but to judge all dragons as evil was far too narrow-minded.

  “My lord is different,” I muttered.

  He was the one who saved me from the nightmare I had suffered, and for that, I was deeply grateful.

  I shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t come to my rescue.

  Without him, I would have met a gruesome end.

  The mere thought made me appreciate even more the life I had now, all thanks to my lord.

  I turned my gaze to him, still sleeping peacefully, his rhythmic breaths the only sound in the dwelling.

  As I took in my surroundings, I suddenly noticed how dark and eerily silent his home was. The only thing breaking the stillness was the soft sound of his breathing, filling the otherwise empty space.

  My eyes drifted back to his silhouette, and before I realized it, I murmured absentmindedly

  “It’s… quite lonely.”

  My lord may be a dragon, but he is unlike any other dragon I have known or heard of.

  He is both gentle and commanding, embodying a presence that is both firm and patient, Even when faced with the tree nymph’s rudeness and harsh remarks, he remained composed, tolerating her attitude with the reason of someone far wiser. He is also quite talkative, which makes him feel even more different from the dragons I had imagined.

  With that in mind, I made my decision.

  “My lord, the tree nymph Leya has left and returned home,” I announced.

  “I will also be leaving—to report back to my tribe about our mission in investigating the forest.”

  “But I will return once my task is complete. So, until then, take care… and thank you for saving my life.” I saluted in gratitude.

  Whether he heard my words or not, it was my duty as his servant to inform him of everything.

  I had made my choice—to serve the fire dragon. Whether it would prove to be a wise or foolish decision, something to cherish or regret, only time would tell.

  But my mind was set, and I would not take it back.

  With that resolve, I turned and began my journey home.

  ?

  ?

  ?

  ?

  I stirred from my slumber when I sensed movement. It was still early in the morning, yet I could tell who had awakened so eagerly, unwilling to waste any more time—it was Leya, the tree nymph.

  She cast her gaze in my direction, though all she could see was my back. Her intense stare seemed to pierce through me, as if trying to unravel my very being.

  After some time, Faul awoke as well, and a conversation ensued, initiated by Leya, who impatiently inquired about when I would wake. They chose to wait, but as the afternoon arrived and I remained asleep, Leya’s irritation grew. Frustrated, she began pestering my servant for answers.

  Once she understood that she was free to leave, she hesitated—only relenting when my servant reassured her that he would inform me of her departure.

  “Hmph, even though my lord saved and treated you kindly, what an ungrateful person,” my servant spat, his words ced with disdain.

  Hearing this left me momentarily dumbfounded, though my reaction remained unseen as I maintained my position.

  Then, out of nowhere, he muttered, “It’s... quite lonely.”

  I couldn’t see his face, but I had a good sense of what he meant. I was not oblivious; I was perceptive, attuned to the emotions and atmosphere around me. His words struck a chord deep within me, even if only for a fleeting moment.

  Rising to his feet, my servant began informing me of his pns—his departure, his mission, and his eventual return.

  Once his presence fully faded, confirming that he had indeed left, I finally opened my eyes.

  “Hmph… how cheeky,” I scoffed.

  I had already taken note of my servant’s sharp observational skills—almost like that of a seasoned detective. His keen insight was something I found impressive.

  With that thought, I closed my eyes once more and allowed myself to drift back into slumber.