Many mysterious about vicious creatures, like a dragon hid in somewhere. This church was sanctuary for dragon, even welcomed half-dragon and half-humans too. It found out A well-known dragon slayer, Frederick supposed die and was brought to the church as dragons celebrated it. However, it became a chaotic when he woke up, from coffin. There was panic spread around dragons expected a person with black cassock belted with gold necklace looked the daggers, still stood up watching the dragon slayer. Frederick once noticed Aesop’s black-silver scales appeared on their neck, pulled the sword on their neck.
“Are you really human? Why-“
Aesop cut his words off, “What you will do with here?”
“Huh?” Frederick was confused at the question.
Aesop walked toward him closer and lean his ears, “I will gladly serve you if you will promise to keep a secret of my true identity in exchange. I don’t care what you will do with other dragons here. My whole life was here.”
Right, Aesop was born in the church for the dragon sanctuary as she hid her female gender part, she was on her own all times. It was never easy disguise as the “male” through dominated male dragon society, especially powerful. Again, this sanctuary may welcome half human and half dragon, but it wasn’t different much, all of the dragons had shapeshifting ability, and no one could tell what the difference. Aesop thought it was pointless about a life, but she wanted to survive on her own and this dragon wasn’t matter to her. She stayed out of other dragons’ life and didn’t want to see their business and “sob” and emotional stories.
Frederick started to see using half dragon and half human wasn’t a bad idea. That day, a dragon slayer started to control over dragon and set the rule on creatures’ life. Simple, they had to obey a dragon slayer, or their life would on the cost. Frederick only could do two things with dragons where he made them become his slave and sell the dragons. Aesop acted his guide and gave information about different types of dragons, their abilities, and other whatever they see the fit.
She watched dragons suffered so miserable while working and for the worst, some dragons were taken away from their babies. They were confused about Aesop as they thought her purpose in this church since she was raised the way. Their “sorrowful” eyes begged Aesop to help them and stopped Frederick, but Aesop ignored them and did nothing as she didn’t see what she would do with dragons. She didn’t remember her childhood much since she was born in, it wasn’t that she didn’t grateful anyone for raising and feeding her, but the dark truth was no one care or love for half dragon enough well.
Aesop didn’t know about a feeling; she didn’t see what the point about helping other dragons. She had secret goal was leaving the church on someday. She had to make the plan well and using dragon slayer would be good too. She would risk on her sins and had to be prepare for a blood coming a flow toward her, whatever she accept it.
One day, the rumor of a “snake” judge had the power whatever they see the worth, no matter of justice and fairness, intimidated human and creatures expected a few people. Snake judge came to the church and creatures and humans walked back off his path. He walked to Frederick, sit the huge throne chair behind the glass window looked like the clock, as if it was in the clock tower. Aesop stood up next to Frederick. Both of them didn’t flicky away by the judge’s intimidation.
Snake judge bowed down to Frederick, “My name is Joseph. I come here to buy one of your dragons.”
Frederick’s eyes made judgement on Joseph’s fancy gold and black coat, but kept his opinions behind his lips and greeted them back politely, “Welcome here. What type of dragons you’re interested in? Red? Power? Abilities?”
“I have a mind about one.” Joseph grinned.
“You can’t know yet-“ Frederick was so wary of how the judge set their mind too quickly, not bother to see what types of dragons.
“I want to buy that’s one.” Joseph ignored Frederick’s warning and pointed at Aesop.
Frederick’s eyes were wide and turned to see his servant, “I’m sorry, Aesop isn’t on a sale and also not dragon.”
“Too bad, my mistake. You can consult with me, but I’d like to think about it at the first. I will stay here for a while, if it’s ok with you.” Joseph laughed a bit, crossed his arms behind.
Frederick suspected that something fish about the judge and it would be a good time to check them out. He accepted Joseph’s request for staying at the church. Aesop glared at Joseph as she was suspicious of them too by her observing the judge’s facial expressions and behaviors. This judge might had secret intention behind the words and planning to stay here, so Aesop had to keep eyes for him.
That night, Aesop watched at the glass clock window and the tail never stopped the tick down, like a time continued to the forward forever.
“Watching a time is your hobby? Or you can’t sleep well?” Aesop heard the voice came from behind her and she knew who it was.
“Hello, Joseph.” Aesop turned to see Joseph behind her eyes were distress. The judge’s gold part was so bright which it’ hurt her eyes.
Joseph joined in standing next to Aesop watching the glass clock, “Poor dragons fell in despair as long as a dragon slayer still alive.”
Aesop sealed her lip, she didn’t interest in making a small talks.
Joseph asked her if she was really curious why the judge was here. Aesop didn’t deny her curiosity, but still refuse to reveal the part, as she pretended to not hear Joseph’s words. Joseph chuckled, “Well. I came here to find to see if it’s true half-dragon and half-human is here.”
Aesop’s face remained not change. Joseph started to ask the question, “You’re the one, right? Half-dragon and half-human, Aesop.”
Aesop’s eyes were wide eyes, “What do you talk about……”
A white snake wiggled around Joseph’s neck as the affection, “How am I become the judge? Because of my ability. I’m able to see the truth and through what their true inside and color, not people see.”
Aesop still skeptical and gave glancing at Joseph, was ready to call Frederick……
Joseph noticed Aesop’s facial expression and offered the test, “Aesop, you had a silver-black scales and beautiful golden eyes. Dragons can do shapeshifting, but I can tell difference about you that you have human ability, your communication skills. Your language is almost perfect. Both dragon and human.”
Aesop sighed, raised her arms down as she saw the judge was right about everything and no point to defend herself.
“What do you want, sir judge?” She had to make sure not letting the judge exposed her out.
“You. It’s simple. I just want to have you.” Joseph smiled and pointed at Aesop.
“What do you want to do with me? What does it make you interested in half dragon and half human like me?” Aesop raised her eyebrows and started to feel a weird a bit about somone took an interest in her at first time.
“I said I want to have you, that’s all. Or if you interest in freedom. I can give you a better life under my protection.” Joseph said it again as they offer it.
Aesop raised her hand, denied it, “I’m fine. I work alone.”
Joseph challenged the question, “What you would do with a dragon slayer? What’s happen if he find out about your secret plan?”
The judge’s words getting on Aesop’s nerves as much as annoyance and she wouldn’t share the details with them. Joseph wanted to know how long Aesop would make the plan happening. Aesop knew it probably took a long.
“How’s about taking a shortcut? I know about a dragon slayer, especially his secret.” Joseph offered some help again.
“My final answer is no. I’m going to bed, bye.” Aesop reached to her limit, but she had to hold it bac, she bowed down to the judge.
Joseph watched Aesop leaving behind him, smiled, “You’re not only one, but someone will also turn against you.”
“Aesop, I need to talk with you.” Frederick made unpleasant tone, which making Aesop get nervous.
Aesop followed him in the private room and had the sense of something she would be afraid of…..
“Aesop, please tell me the rumor isn’t true. You plan to escape here after you use me.” Frederick crossed his arms and made “begging” eyes.
“What do you talk about? Remember I’m the one help you about your “throne”?” Aesop wondered how a dragon slayer come closer to find out……
“That’s true, you said I can use you, but I suspect you use me too. Alright, you can go, but I will watch you. If it became a true, I will see what I can do with you, punishment on you or I rather make you my slave.” Fredrick made the gesture of dismissing his advisor, but he warned her.
Aesop gulped before she left the room and saw the judge stood up next the door. The judge must overhead the conversation. Aesop sighed, “What you will offer about a dragon slayer?”
Joseph got excited, “You’d see……”
A silent moment between Fredrick and Joseph in the “throne” room where no one here. Fredrick held and read the paper carefully and looked at the judge.
“Are you sure? You’d offer me helping me to find the rare dragon by your ability? Add the trade with me.”
Joseph pet with their finger on the snake’s head, “I give you, my words. I’m the judge make the oath about the truth.”
Fredrick did double check on the paper before he signed his name on there. He handed it to the judge, “I’m very looking forward to do business with you.”
“Same.” Joseph grabbed the paper and then Fredrick’s wrist. A sudden gold magic put the twirl on a dragon slayer’s wrist, like burn the hell.
“Ouch, what is that?” Fredrick was confused at the mark of snake.
“You once accept the contract with me, I put the mark on you. If you dare to break the contract, my snake won’t be hesitant to find and poison you.” Joseph warned a dragon slayer about the consequence. Fredrick gulped and lost the brave at the moment as he started to understand why this judge was so intimidation.
“Come with me, Aesop. You’re free now.” Joseph called Aesop’s name and beckoned a hand.
Aesop came out of the shadow and walked toward Joseph. Fredrick was so shocked and yelled at them, “What does this meaning???? You trick me, sir!!! You said your oath about the truth.”
“I technically do oath about the truth, but if you’re able to find my hidden details.” Joseph showed the contract to Fredrick’s eyes closer.
You once accept it, exchange for Aesop.
“You……the rumor is a true. I will come get you!” Fredrick glared at Aesop and made swear a revenge.
“If you don’t have the mark on your wrist.” Aesop rebuffed Fredrick’s point and looked at Fredrick’s wrist.
“Damn!!!!” Fredrick was knee down on the floor and felt defeated in the first time. Aesop bided a farewell to dragon slayer and looked at the dragons still stuck here.
“Good luck, I hope you will get a freedom soon.”
Aesop followed Joseph to the carriage from the church. They once entered in there, Joseph took the robe down and Aesop stared at the judge’s chest with her wide eyes.
“What? Surprised?” Joseph played the twirl her hair, giggled.
“You leave the details out that you’re a woman. I dislike it when you trick my eyes.” Aesop rolled her eyes.
“My bad. I’m sorry, but like you, I try to get survive through dominated male society. They won’t takes me wrong and shouldn’t underestimate me.” Joseph reached to hold Aesop’s chin.
At least, Aesop didn’t feel alone anymore, so odd. Aesop wanted to know why Joseph had gold tear and the judge claimed it was for decoration. Aesop shook her head as she didn’t believe her, but she let it go for now. Aesop realized she was outside of the church and wondered what she would do with her life and looked at the judge. She remembered her words that she provided a better life and wonder if she should trust Joseph. Aesop didn’t understand why she made move herself, but she kissed Joseph’s cheek.
“Don’t me a wrong, it’s my thanks to you. I do it for once, get it?”
“Alright, I will promise that I will make your life better as long as you’re stay under my protection.” Joseph held Aesop’s hands and was looking forward to what a life with half human and half dragon about future.
Aesop usually hate touching, but this judge made Aesop felt so weird and crazy, real safe as she accepted it. The freedom of half dragon and half human was beginning now. A female judge received the prize.