Previously on The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL]...
A discarded experiment survives a massive dragon attack by hiding in the sewers. He encounters the fleeing attendant Tavos, kills him in a desperate struggle, and brings his body back to the Queen. The Queen recognizes the dagger Tavos carried as a treasured item, rewarding the experiment with a choice of how he wishes to die. After he is gruesomely killed, the Queen declares that their King is about to return.
*The vibrant existence of a young dragon was certainly not for the faint of heart.*
*It had been a full week since Orien, the magnificent golden dragonling, alongside the small sprite, had purportedly succeeded in reviving the individual secluded within that highly questionable chamber.*
*And frankly, it was probably best not to dwell too much on that particular night, as acknowledging the two separate meltdowns he endured during the process was profoundly embarrassing.*
*Nevertheless, he held steadfastly to the belief that he shouldn't be held accountable for any of it. No one had afforded him adequate time to mentally brace himself for such prolonged stillness, which alone felt rather cruel and unusual.*
*But in any case, all of that was now in the past, given that the ailing man had ultimately survived.*
*And that was the crucial outcome.*
*Ideally, with such a significant issue resolved, and with the young dragonling being completely oblivious to the fact that numerous factions had apparently spent the entire week attempting to infiltrate the MBE, Orien Vathros should have finally been afforded the opportunity to recuperate like any other patient.*
*Unfortunately, the concept of rest had devolved into nothing more than an idyllic dream.*
*For starters, the man they had rescued was peculiar.*
*To be sure, Orien’s keen survival instincts were not blaring alarms in the presence of this individual, yet the golden dragonling still found him remarkably suspicious.*
*And the reasons behind this?*
*Well, there were several contributing factors.*
*Observation A: The peculiar man constantly smiled at them.*
*It mattered not the location, the time, or the manner. Every single instance Orien’s gaze chanced upon the crimson-haired man’s, a smile would already be gracing his features.*
*Undeniably disconcerting and certainly intriguing. This alone necessitated more thorough observation.*
*Observation B: The peculiar man possessed a rather unusual scent.*
*Not unpleasant, mind you. Just… odd. A familiarity that unsettled the dragonling, preventing him from pinpointing its origin.*
*Furthermore, the MBE medical wing provided identical toiletries to all patients; therefore, that could not be the source.*
*Observation C: Whenever the peculiar man believed himself unobserved, he consistently appeared on the verge of tears.*
*Admittedly, Orien was not yet adept at interpreting facial expressions, but the little sprite asserted its truthfulness. And truthfully, the sprite was typically disconcertingly accurate regarding such matters.*
*Indeed, there were even more suspicious observations he could add to the compilation.*
*For example, the uncanny familiarity of the man’s voice. Or the perpetual, strange look of longing in his eyes. Then there was the undeniable fact that his presence was somehow impossible to disregard, despite his complete lack of action.*
*Ah, but perhaps the most suspicious detail of all was what transpired the day after his awakening.*
*The peculiar man began making repeated requests for transfers between hospital beds. Multiple times each day!.*
*Only to quietly end up occupying the spare bed in the same room shared by Orien and Liam.*
*Strange, wouldn't you agree?!.*
*Moreover, did that man genuinely believe that a formidable dragon like Orien would fail to perceive his presence simply because a flimsy white curtain separated the beds?.*
*How amateurish!.*
*Clearly, despite perhaps being a dragon, the man was somehow an even greater novice than Aunty!.*
*If he aspired to become a true dragon, he still had a considerable journey ahead!.*
*But alas.*
*There was precious little time to continue contemplating the suspicious man, as far more critical matters demanded attention.*
*Such as the relentless assaults upon the golden dragonling’s delicate sensibilities!.*
*It was just that….*
*Who could have possibly foreseen that these assaults would manifest in the form of boisterous young humans?!.*
*__*
*While whispers of sudden leadership changes within the red dragon clan circulated beyond the MBE's confines, within that very same Ministry, a distinctly different kind of stir was occurring.*
*And it all commenced on a particular bright morning.*
*The sun had risen, the morning bell had just chimed, and one golden dragonling had only just concluded his uniquely prepared breakfast.*
*Today's menu featured that marvelous item known as bacon, which had long ago cemented its status among his favorite delicacies, accompanied by fried potatoes artfully cut into small, smiling visages.*
*In summary, the day had dawned wonderfully.*
*Truly splendidly.*
*Which was precisely why the subsequent calamity felt all the more unjust.*
*Because all that tranquility and happiness shattered with a single knock, the arrival of which the golden dragonling didn't even witness.*
*__*
*Wondering if it was already time for his scheduled examination, Liam responded to the knock, signaling for the visitors to enter.*
*At that moment, he was seated alone on his hospital cot, engrossed in a book he needed to finish before indulging in playtime, when abruptly, instead of the gentle and discreet entry customary of physicians, the door was flung open with a resounding crash that startled the boy into stillness.*
*"Liam!"*
*Most certainly not the physicians!.*
*No, these individuals!.*
*"!"*
*A brief silence ensued before his eyes widened, illuminated by undeniable elation.*
*"You all! You’re truly here?!"*
Then, utter pandemonium erupted.
A herd of young boys and girls surged towards him, almost shoving him back onto the bed in a boisterous group hug.
"Liam, are you alright? Does it still ache?"
"Hey! Make way! It's my turn to hug him! You've had him for way too long!"
"Was the MBE frightening? Did you witness monstrous creatures?! There was a dragon, wasn't there?!"
"We brought you presents! Look!"
The room instantly became a whirlwind of incessant children's chatter. Loud. Giddy. Overflowing with boundless energy.
It was precisely the sort of clamor Liam hadn't known he'd been missing until this very moment.
To be perfectly honest, hearing it again felt almost surreal.
And while he understood that certain individuals had intended to visit him, he truly hadn't anticipated their appearance today of all days.
One of the boys puffed out his chest with evident pride.
"Of course you didn't know! It was meant to be a surprise!" he proclaimed with smug satisfaction. "We aimed to arrive without you finding out! Hehehe!"
A wide grin spread across Liam's face, his joy palpable at seeing friends he hadn't encountered in such a considerable time.
It wasn't as though he had experienced loneliness throughout this period. He had embarked on numerous adventures and encountered a multitude of wonderful people along his journey. Yet, even so, it was impossible not to feel a profound emotion upon witnessing familiar faces from a significant chapter of his life.
As the joyous din intensified, with everyone vying for proximity, their teacher finally intervened to avert complete mayhem.
"Alright, settle down, everyone," she urged, her voice laced with helplessness, though a fond smile graced her features as she held a stunning floral arrangement. "What did we discuss regarding crowding Liam and causing a scene within the Ministry? He is still recuperating."
"Wow! Even Teacher is here?!" the temporary patient exclaimed, his expression radiating even more delight.
"How could I possibly not be?" she responded warmly. "We simply had to obtain the necessary permits, but naturally, we were going to visit you."
Upon hearing this affirmation, Liam appeared genuinely touched, possibly even a touch embarrassed, yet he offered a sincere smile, expressing his gratitude for their visit.
To have gone through all that trouble just to see him?
He felt a twinge of guilt, knowing he wasn't truly unwell and was, in fact, perfectly fine. Nevertheless, his appreciation for their well-wishes and efforts was immense.
"Oh, but Liam, we certainly came because we wanted to ask when you'll be returning to school," one student interjected hastily. "We want to play— err, study together again!"
The boy's swift correction, prompted by the teacher's presence, couldn't help but elicit laughter from Liam.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Tch! I mean it! We genuinely wished to study too! We even took turns diligently recording notes for you so catching up wouldn't take long!" the child pouted, insisting on his sincerity.
In truth, the expressions of the others suggested they were on the verge of erupting into laughter as well.
Regrettably, before the cheerful ambiance could fully bloom, a resounding thud suddenly echoed from the vicinity of the doorway.
Everyone jumped, then instinctively redirected their attention toward the source of the sound.
A brown paper bag lay on the floor, having evidently tumbled from the grasp of another child positioned near the entrance. This child sported luxurious golden-blonde hair and wore a hospital gown identical to Liam's.
However, it wasn't merely the fallen bag that caused astonishment; it was the expression etched upon the child's face.
Unadulterated shame.
Complete dread.
For the golden dragonling appeared as though he had stumbled directly into his most profound nightmare.
