章節 52: [Ch. 52] Going for a Swim (Past)

When the sun reached the highest point in the sky, we could feel the heat scorching their skin. They decided to go down to the water to swim. I followed them down. Despite feeling uncomfortable from the humidity and hot weather, I wasn't desperate enough to jump into the water.

The men took their shirts off and jumped into the water while the two dragon girls dove in still wearing their clothes. Mona and Amanda dipped in their feet while I stayed as far away from the water as possible. Once I determined I was a safe enough distance away, I laid stretched out in the sand enjoying the sunlight.

Tama motioned to me as I napped on the beach, "Oi. I have an idea."

I was sleeping peacefully enjoying the sun, when all of a sudden I felt my body lift into the air. My eyes snapped open as I realized Tama had picked me up and tossed me forward. My arms flailed as I saw the lake coming into view. My eyes shrunk back in a panic as my body froze. I sank in the deep lake looking up at the surface of the water with frightened eyes. I wanted to thrash and swim up, but I couldn't move my body.

Amanda screamed, "She doesn't know how to swim!"

Before anyone could even panic, Korph jumped into the water without a second thought.

My vision started to turn dark as the unpleasant memories flooded back into my mind.

I could feel the chains tightened strongly on my wrists, forcing me to lay on a stone tab without being able to move even slightly. A black cloth was placed over my face. I could hear my panicked breathing as my eyes looked back and forth trying to see through the cloth.

What do they have planned this time?

Suddenly, a bucket of freezing cold water was dumped onto my face. Water rushed over the cloth, going up into my nose and over my mouth. My eyes were forced to close from the stinging sensation. At first, it was just cold...

...Then I realized I couldn't breath.

I thrashed and tried to scratch at the cloth to pull it off my face. However, my hands couldn't even reach. My skin around the chains soon became bruised as I struggled to clutch it. Yet, the black cloth still stubbornly clung to my mouth, cutting off any possible airflow.

It felt like I was drowning.

Even though it was clear I wasn't, the familiar sensation of being underwater unable to breath was far too vivid. I could still feel the iron tight grip on my arms holding me underwater until I lost consciousness. After gaining consciousness again, I would be forced underwater once more.

My lungs were being burned as I gasped and struggled for any air. The only sound I could hear was the chains clinking from my useless thrashing.

I finally let my breath go, unable to stand it any longer.

As I sunk into the depths of the lake, my vision blurred. Slowly, a dark figure appeared amongst the darkness and swam towards me. I felt a tight grip grab my upper arm. I thrashed wildly in a panic and tried scratching at the hand to pry it off.

They are going to do it again...

Why can't they just let me die?!

The hand tightened, dragging me towards the surface. I stopped fighting and slipped into unconsciousness.

It's so dark and cold…

I don't want to feel this again...

Did I... Die?

A blinding light erupted in the darkness. A warmth enveloped my body as I felt my breath returning to my body. My eyes snapped open to see Korph inches away from my face. I pushed him off and retched up water. I coughed while trying to desperately crawl away. Korph rushed to grab me, "Hold on-"

I pushed him off once more, "Don't put it on me!"

I was still stuck in my memories, unable to realize I was shaking in Korph's arms. I was still back in that god forsaken prison cell with the guards standing in front of me sneering. They held the cloth as they stood in front of the stone slab already prepared to put me through the water torture once more.

I gasped out, "Just kill me."

Korph looked down and saw the sand start to tremble around them. He quickly shouted, "Oi! Go grab her something to dry off with! Kali and Hera! Bring us the strongest dragonshine we have!"

The two girls understood and quickly rushed off. Michiya and Raylon could feel the magic in the air begin to electrify causing their chests to tighten. Michiya and Raylon understood right away what it had meant. Michiya whispered with a mix of awe and fear, "Instability?"

Amanda was weak against magic and fainted from the powerful currents. Mona caught her and fell to her knees as she struggled to stay awake. Raylon recognized that it was another attack like the one in the hall. Those who had much too powerful magic for the human body also suffered from Instability. Those who exhibited instability would be locked up somewhere where no one would be hurt.

Yet, I managed to avoid that fate.

My heart raced as I saw my wet face reflected in the water's surface. The guard's demonic laughter echoed as their grips tightened around my arms leaving behind bruises.

*SMACK*

My head fell forward after being hit by an invisible hand. I paused and looked at the two guards holding my arms. However, they weren't the ones who had hit me.

Korph's voice echoed in the prison cell, "Oi! You dumb bird! Why didn't you tell me you couldn't swim? We live on an island!"

Eh? That voice…

That voice doesn't belong to a guard here...

But who... Who did it belong to?

He continued shouting whatever came to mind, "I bet you wanted to be thrown in so you could ensnare another guy."

Ensnare another guy? How distasteful.

I'm happy with just that Phoenix following me around. Why would I want another one following me?

...Wait. Phoenix?

Around me, the static in the air began to dissipate and the sand slowly stopped trembling as my heart rate slowed down.

His voice became clearer, "Or did you just want to flaunt your gigantic breasts around since they are now see through from the water?!"

The memories before my eyes broke apart as my vision slowly returned to me.

I realized I was laying on the beach beside Korph. I glared at Korph and threw my hand forward. He flinched expecting to be hit, but instead I ruffled his hair affectionately. Korph was dumbfounded as I spoke in a gentle tone with only a hint of my usual coldness, "Thank you little dragon."

He smacked away my hand, "Oi! Don't treat me like a child!"

I walked over to the boulder on the beach and sat down leaning against it. I closed my eyes and forced myself to breath deeply. I was trying to cure myself of my headache when I felt something drape over my shoulders. I opened my eyes to see the group lowering their heads waiting for their scolding.

Tama looked at me apologetically, "I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

I was a bit surprised to see him looking genuinely sorry. I didn't think he was capable of such things. I gave him a nod, "Mmn."

Kali nudged me with a timid look, "I made a picnic with snacks and dragonshine. Come indulge."

"Mmn."

We moved over and sat down, indulging in the food and wine. I noticed Raylon staring at me with a troubled look. He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. I raised an eyebrow as he moved to sit next to me. He handed me a fruit, "It's too bitter for me."

"Mmn."

As I nibbled on it, he looked down and fiddled with his fingers, "I should have been the one to save you."

Korph saw Raylon's gloomy face and frowned in irritation, "Oi, what's wrong with you?"

Tama chuckled, "He's probably just grumpy that you were Moao's first kiss."

Wait. What?! Who kissed me?!

I slowly turned to Korph and narrowed my eyes. He flinched and shouted in embarrassment, "Oi! I was just giving you mouth to mouth! It wasn't a kiss! I was just saving your life!" Korph turned to Raylon in a panic, "I-It really didn't mean anything! S-So don't be mad!"

Raylon grinded his teeth, "Why would I mad if you kissed her!? It's not like I haven't kissed several girls before!"

My eyebrow flinched in irritation after hearing this. I had no idea why, but I had the urge to punch something and scream. I flung my head toward Raylon and grabbed his wrist. I pushed up his sleeve and bit down on his arm with all my strength.

I could feel his flesh between my sharp teeth.

He yipped and pulled his arm away, "What the-?! Are you some kind of dog?"

Still feeling enraged, I stood up and began to walk away from them in anger. My chest felt so strange. I wanted to bite him some more to get this anger out.

He had kissed several girls before?! Why do I hate this so much!?

It's not like Korph was my first kiss. Not only have I kissed before in my past lives, but didn't I also kiss Raylon not too long ago?!

….Well. I guess I did force that on him when he was asleep.

Ugh. I'm the worst.

Mona looked at his bleeding arm, "Let me see it. Oh wow! She really did bite you!"

Tama laughed, "What did you do to make her so angry?"

"Nothing!" He hesitated, "I don't think."

Korph looked at it closely, "Wow. Remind us to not let Moao bite anyone."

Tama chuckled, "I don't know. I don't think I'd mind."

Raylon and Amanda shot him an evil glare, shutting him up immediately.