Chapter 31: A Long Trip [ Part 3 ]
The Paladin of Tirian? Oh, did this have something to do with his holy magic? How the hell could she tell? Emre got over his initial surprise quickly as his brows furrowed with curiosity.
"I don't." It was a short answer.
"I see…" Raina, despite her glaring eyes, seemed awkward.
"Do you want to explain?"
Her expression kept its seriousness, but she easily complied. "The Paladin of Tirian is my father." Her voice held a bit of pride and Emre didn't get the chance to respond as she continued. "Being around him often, I learned that he has a different type of feel to him. After seeing you I realized that your… demeanor—although I'm not sure if that is the right word—is similar… in fact, it's a stronger feeling."
Emre was quiet for a moment as he processed the information. In other words, she was able to feel holy magic? How did that even work? And merely from being around her father? Also, what were the odds that he of all people ran across the family of Tirian's Paladin?
"I'm not sure what this feeling you are talking about is… but I don't have any relation to your father." Emre had no choice but to try and feign ignorance.
"While I don't doubt that you may have not met my father, I find it hard to believe that you do not know what I am talking about." She retorted.
"Excuse me?" Emre's mood was ever-shifting.
At first, he was irritated by her constant glaring, then he was thinking that perhaps it was just her face, and now she was telling him that he was lying straight to his face? While he was indeed lying, her initial awkwardness had allowed him to put his guard down. It was hard to get a feel on what the hell her personality actually was. He was just irritated again now.
"I don't know the reason why you would lie about it, but having holy powers is only something to be proud of." She explained with a matter-of-fact tone.
"If I say that I don't know what you are talking about, then that is that. Regardless of if I do or don't have holy powers, you have no say—"
She cut him off. "Why would you want to hide something like that? My father gains many benefits from being the Paladin. If you have holy powers then you should go to the shrine at the capital. You're just wasting away in a group with those people. Your aura is more prevalent than my fathers, you'd be better off—"
"Listen, it's none of your business." Emre's patience ran low quickly.
His raised voice met the ears of the group sitting at the fire and a small silence took over the camp. The audacity of this person who had just met him. Not only was she insisting that he was lying as well as interrupting him she was also trying to tell him what to do. Not to mention practically insulting his group.
He thought she was some strong stoic angry woman who wouldn't talk much, but it turns out she only had a blabbing mouth and made audacious assumptions. Of course, at his tone, her brows only narrowed further.
"Hey, I'm just—" She had begun to retort.
"Well, I don't want to hear it." Emre spoke over her, fed up.
At this point, Idris, Ragan, and Elayna had all begun to stand up.
"I am the daughter of Tirian's Paladin as well as the personal Knight to Young Miss, Elayna Regala. You have no place speaking that way toward me." Her voice became haughty.
"Hah?! You're the one who—" Emre had started to shout, his aura was slowly beginning to instinctually respond to his anger.
"Emre." Ragan's voice was stern as he interrupted.
The three had arrived beside them quickly. They seemed to have sensed the urgency of the situation.
"Now, now, I don't know what is going on, but we should all get along." Elayna said with a small laugh despite her nervous tone.
'Your aura.' Idris warned in his head.
Emre straightened up and began to conceal his aura at Idris's reminder. He tried his best to stifle his anger despite Raina looking down on him. Emre truly couldn't get a grasp on her attitude. He was ultimately chalking it up to be just a noble that didn't know any better. When things went south she used her title in an attempt to make him stop.
She didn't know anything and yet here she was telling him what he should do merely because she assumed that he had holy powers like her father. It was worse than when Killan got upset with him and Idris. Then she even went and flaunted her titles when Emre wanted to obviously be left alone.
This type of person pissed him off the most. It reminded him of a rich businessman who was telling a homeless person what they should do to get their life together when they didn't even know that person's situation at all.
"Sir Maller, I hope you keep your assumptions to yourself." Emre had corrected his tone at this point.
"I was just trying to give you advice." She scoffed.
His teeth clenched and he took in a breath to reserve himself. Ragan placed his hand on Emre's shoulder and he forced himself to relax even further.
"Sir Maller, you do not know me. If I wanted advice, I would have asked for it. Since I did not, it would be best to keep your thoughts to yourself."
He wasn't a human… Even if he used to be, he wasn't a human any longer. He was a dragon. He had to keep reminding himself of this fact. Maybe it was just an instinct that he had gained from this new biology, but he felt that the arrogant person in front of him wasn't worth his time.
The ignorance of the lady in front of him let a small sense of amusement trickle through his irritation, however. Should this person figure out who he truly was—a dragon and even the child of Tirian—would she not be shocked and ashamed of her attitude? Perhaps not, but even so this thought was the only thing keeping his mood from plummeting further than it already was.
Raina opened her mouth but shut it quickly as Elayna grasped her hand with a small squeeze.
"Why don't we all cool off before we eat, hm?" She recommended.
"Fine." Raina spoke reluctantly, starting to turn before looking back at Emre. "But Mr Emre, I hope you are more careful about your attitude toward nobles in the future."
Emre let out a vindictive chuckle, ignoring Ragan's tight grip on his shoulder. "Of course, Sir Maller."
Raina's expression soured but she was promptly dragged away by Elayna. They were heading to the carriage rather than the fire. At this point, the lady mercenary had been cooking without worrying but the whole deal with Emre and Raina. A nice smell had begun to come from the pot she was stirring.
He felt his stomach growl as he shrugged off Ragan's hand and straightened his leather armor.
"What was all that?" Ragan asked with a confused look once the two were out of earshot.
"Just an ignorant person that doesn't know what she is talking about." Emre responded bluntly.
The only good thing about this situation is that Raina didn't go telling everyone about his abilities and was obviously only ranting quietly to Elayna as they walked away. It seemed she had a small ounce of sense on not severely offending someone who may be like her father even further.
"Emre, I understand she upset you, but you cannot talk to nobles like that." Ragan warned. "Nobles have so many connections. They will not stop at just trying to make your life miserable."
"Ragan, I think I have more to worry about than what nobles think they are going to do to me." His voice was softer because he understood Ragan's intent, but he wasn't in the mood to be lectured.
Ragan understood his meaning and merely let out a defeated sigh. Looking to Idris he gave a small gesture toward Emre with his head which Idris responded to with a small nod. With this small wordless confirmation, Ragan gave Emre's shoulder a small pat.
"Alright, come join us when the food is ready." Ragan said before he started back to the group sitting around the fire.
Idris remained with Emre who had sat in the grass with an exasperated exhale. Emre couldn't tell what Idris was thinking as the black-haired man—well, dragon—sat down as well, his face as stoic and expressionless as normal.
"You're not gonna go back?" Emre questioned.
"Do you want me to?" Idris asked in return.
"Do what you want."
With that Emre leaned back and laid flat on his back in the cold grass. The sun had dyed the sky in dark purples and reds and it would only be a moment now before it disappeared over the horizon and they were left with darkness. He was just glad he still had his appetite after that.
"I wonder how the hell she could tell…" Emre began to mutter out loud.
"Tell what?" Idris wondered.
Emre sat up quickly and quieted his voice despite how far they already were. "She could tell I can use radiant magic."
Idris's brows furrowed. "How?"
"I'm not sure exactly. Something about being able to tell because her father is Tirian's Paladin."
"Right… I heard her say that when we walked up."
"Apparently the 'feeling' she gets from me is even stronger than her father's." Emre scoffed. "She went on to say how I should go to the shrine and that I shouldn't hide my powers. And even that I was wasting my time with the party. She went to try and say I'd be better off doing something but by that point I didn't want to listen to her blab anymore and cut her off."
Idris's face dropped the stoic look and scowled. "Did she not even consider the fact that you might not even be able to?"
"No, she barely even gave me the chance to say anything. She didn't even ask what my situation might be and started questioning why I would hide my powers and that I should be proud of it instead."
"How annoying."
"Yes, very."
"Before at the fire, she had said that I was 'weird' as well."
"Hm… It must be because your magic is holy as well? So maybe she is not only able to feel radiant magic?"
Idris began to ponder. "Perhaps it is because she is an elf as well?"
Emre remembered her pointed ears. "I know that elves are supposedly close to nature, but I don't see how that would allow her to be able to tell that we are able to use holy magic."
"It must really just have to do with her father."
"As long as she doesn't go blabbing off about it, I don't really care anymore. I'll just avoid her."
"That's a good idea." Idris nodded.
Thankfully due to the quick conversation, Emre's mood had already improved. He was glad Idris stuck around. The tight feeling of anger had left his chest and he really just wanted to eat now. The smell of the stew was no help. In fact, his stomach even let out an audible sound.
For the first time, he watched Idris's expression lift. A small smile had curled upon the other's features and Emre had to hold back his dismay. Had he not noticed Idris smiling before? Or was this just the first time he was showing genuine amusement in Emre's presence that wasn't spurred on by the nerves of battle? He tried to wrack his mind to remember.
Regardless, Emre cleared his throat, and let out a small chuckle. "Seems like I'm a bit hungry."
"Let's go and rejoin everyone." Idris said as he stood up, the smile still apparent on his face.
Maybe Idris was opening up? While they both seemed to linger around one another, there actually wasn't much interaction aside from when Emre was asking him stuff. Idris wasn't very talkative which didn't really bother Emre, but perhaps it was just because Idris still wasn't quite sure about him?
Unlike Emre, Idris was born and raised as a dragon. While Emre was living life as a human in a different world, Idris was being raised as a dragon, by a dragon. Dragons were mostly solitary animals. It was natural for them to not talk to or become friends with other dragons.
Both he and Emre were going out of the norm here by working together with a common goal. Although it was also a grouping for convenience to get the job done, there was still a semblance that separated the two of them from the rest. They weren't humans, and they also were different from normal dragons.
They had been lingering around one another for that reason, whether unconsciously or not. They only had each other right now in those terms. The fact that Idris's smiling face brought upon this revelation was surprising to Emre. He felt lucky that he wasn't fully alone in this world. Emre had thought that he already knew this, but for some reason, it felt a bit different now.
Perhaps they could end up truly friends despite the norm of how dragons really worked? Idris only solidified this idea as he reached his hand down toward Emre. Reaching up, Emre used Idris as leverage to get up easier.
"Thanks." He said with a smile.
Idris simply nodded as they both began back toward the fire pit. It was only a glance, but Emre noticed that the smile had already disappeared from Idris's face once they arrived at the large circle of people.
Everyone glanced toward them even within their own conversations but Emre paid no mind to it as he sat beside Conin once more. Idris sat down on his other side.
"Alright, food is just about done. Get ya' bowls and be patient." The lady mercenary called out.
There was a table that was set up off to the side. Apparently, they had already prepared bowls and spoons that were ready and waiting to be used. The mercenaries got up first to get bowls, being as rambunctious as possible as they did so.
Gerrar stood up and offered to get a bowl for Conin who happily agreed. What Emre didn't realize was that Idris had watched the small interaction and turned toward Emre quickly afterward as he seemingly got an idea from his other party members.
"I can get a bowl for you as well." Idris said as he stood back up.
Emre blinked in surprise before nodding. Idris didn't linger as he walked over to the table. There was definitely something different happening with the fellow dragon. He was going out of his way to be friendly to Emre. Not that he was ever unfriendly.
Was he just doing it because Emre had been in a bad mood? While it wasn't entirely impossible, it was out of the norm for Idris. Maybe he was doing it because he really was trying to make friends with Emre. It wouldn't be odd if this was the case.
Idris grew up being told that dragons were never friendly to one another. Going out and trying to show his goodwill was just reassurance that he really wanted to work together with Emre. Emre couldn't help but feel a bit amused at the idea. As if Idris was a kid learning how to make friends for the first time.
His mood only went up further as he watched the dragon waiting patiently as the lady mercenary poured the stew into the two bowls he was holding. At least until Raina and Elayna made their way over. They collected their own bowls and Emre had to resist the urge to glare at Raina like she had done to him most of that evening.
However, it wasn't even like he needed to because Idris glanced up from the bowls as they passed by with an obvious scowl on his features. It disappeared just as fast as it appeared, however. They passed by him without a word. Emre wasn't even sure they had noticed as Idris walked back without incident.
"Thank you, again." Emre said as Idris passed one of the bowls down to him.
"Mm."
They all had to wait as the stew cooled, but overall it was a quiet dinner. Not just because everyone was stuffing themselves, but also because of the subtle tension that flowed between the Ladies and Emre's group. Raina's glaring had lessened, but it was still there. On the other hand, Emre was just ignoring her.
The meal was quick and Emre felt much better with a full stomach. Once he finished eating he dismissed himself from the group and headed to his tent. There wasn't any disturbance for the rest of the night.
He was hoping despite their first chaotic day on this journey, things wouldn't go even further south.
...This would be a long trip...
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Trraven
Trraven Gotta sprinkle a lil bit of conflict here and there!
Stinky noble lady, amirite?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone