The Nine Dragons The Life Dragon Part Two
Scratching The Surface
For the next few days, Loc decided she would explore Paradtopia and observe things as she knew that something was amiss. She knew that she could not let things lie nor could she make her move until she knew the danger they were in. She knew that she would be blamed for all the misfortune that they would endure over the moment that Paradtopia, the dragon, was slain.
She looked at how the children played. Yet she noticed that there were no adults observing them nor supervising them at all!
She then noticed a leather ball by the side of her ankle. She looked up to see one of the children run up to her. She suddenly noticed his skinny frame. Then the dark circles under his blackened eyes. Yet he looked so full of life and happy that it was strange.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.” He said with a wide happy-go-lucky smile.
“Where are your parents?”
He shrugged.
“Don’t have any!”
“What happened?”
He laughed.
“I don’t know but Paradtopia says that it doesn’t matter so I don’t think it does.”
“Why not?”
“I know that she does good to look after us. Although, I would like her to help my tummy. It feels weird.”
“When was the last time you ate anything?”
He shrugged.
“I don’t need to eat. She did tell me. There are those special people that can live without food and I am one of those!”
She looked up, trying to keep her alarm from her face.
“And are they?”
“Yes! Yes they are!”
She saw that they were in the exact same condition. Yet they seemed strangely alright, however she could see that some of them were shaking.
“And has anyone offered food to you?”
“Once or twice but Paradtopia told us that they’re all evil.”
At this she felt anger within her. Yet she could not do anything about it. No, she knew better than to. So she closed her eyes for a moment.
“What is your name?”
“Iroh. That there is Jyo, Juro and Jan. Who are you?”
“Loc.”
That was when he looked at her with a mixture of fear and anger.
“You’re not the bad guy that has been killing the brothers and sisters of Paradtopia are you?” He asked nervously.
“Why would you think that she’s the bad guy? After all, look at yourself, do you look alright?”
“Urm.” He muttered as he looked down and at his hands and looked up.
“Paradtopia told me that I am perfectly fine!”
“Do you like that feeling in your stomach?”
He looked down and frowned. He then shook his head.
“Do you know what food is for?”
He shook his head.
“Then how do you know that Paradtopia is right? Has she told you?”
He looked down as his eyes narrowed.
“You’re trying to confuse me, aren’t you?”
He then picked up the ball and kicked her. She masked the pain as he ran back to the group.
“Don’t have anything to do with that woman. She’s evil!” He sang as he pointed at her.
They looked at her and stuck out their tongue. Then they ran away from her like she was an evil monster. Yet, even though she was used to this, it always seemed to hurt. Yet she knew that she had to put up with it as she got up.
She needed to talk to more people to grasp the full magnitude of the situation. So she walked to a group of women. They were all talking and giggling. Yet she saw that they too were thinner than they should have been. But they all seemed to be filled with life.
“Urm, hello. I’m…”
Maybe I should not use my real name.
“Laroc. Tell me, where are their parents?” She asked, pointing to the children running away.
“They never had any silly!”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“They just popped up!”
“And why do you look so thin?”
“We can feed off the air. Although I would like to take something to ease the pain in my stomach. But if Paradtopia says it’s for the best, then it must be for the best!”
She nodded.
“And how many people live here?”
“Oh! Urm…”
“Oh! I know! Ten thousand!”
“Yeah and only half of us need food, unlike us, who only need air.”
“And who told you that?”
“Paradtopia.”
“And how did she know?”
“She knows everything! She even knows that those children are evil and we are not to feed them.”
“And what evidence did she give?”
They all looked at each other and frowned. Then they shrugged.
“Paradtopia told us we didn’t need it.”
“And what about the men? Where are they?”
“In the Pleasure Houses. Paradtopia said they don’t need us and we don’t need them. So we go there then go home. There is nothing more to it. Yet when we feel a life in us, Paradtopia always blesses us and asks us who the father is so she can bless them too.”
“Then?”
“Then we have to eat and eat a lot. Some stay, some don’t. I don’t hear what happens but Paradtopia tells us not to think about it so we don’t.”
“And when does she come to bless everyone?”
“Why! She will come tomorrow.”
“She will bless all of us to give us new strength.”
“She will even bless you!”
She looked to the side. Now that she knew the situation, she knew that it was time to meet the dragon.
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