Chapter CCC: Old Memories with an Old Friend ~Travallian

Hmm…Bulaklak’s waiting for me to go to her for once, huh? Travallian thought to himself, smirking faintly in his human form as he read Bulaklak’s thoughts. Very well then…I have kept her waiting long enough. I might as well.

Motioning himself to the masked girl’s table, he casually took a seat, putting an elbow to the table and his hand under his chin as he leaned forward. Bulaklak stared at him from under her masked, but he could tell that she probably was rolling her eyes at him. Ginning in a style which showed his fangs freely, he apologized to her in joking Transylvania accent.

“So you vaited for me, child. I vould have expected you to have been long gone by now,” he started, laughing in a low chuckle, speaking in his normal human voice. “I ask for forgiveness for my late return, Bulaklak,” he paused, glancing at Chrono who was leaving the inn. “I was making sure that the young Yoshi was alright. As you can see from his little shout earlier and his current leave, he is fine…hopefully.”

Motioning his free hand upward and signalled for the barkeep. “Service to this table, please, good man! You may take your time. I am in no hurry.”

Resting his hand back down, he turned his attention back to Bulaklak, becoming rather silent in thought before speaking again.

“You did something, did you not?” He asked her, slanting his head to one side in an eerie fashion, reading far into her thoughts, pretending that it was a psychic trick. “You went outside. You cut someone’s hand off! Well, well, child…you have quite a past hidden within your heart…quiet a past…and that mask…and how you got it…what a shame,” he stopped, choosing not to go further for her sake.

Bulaklak backed up against her chair slightly, but said nothing. The vampire smirked faintly, turning his head to glance around the room. He found that people were looking at him, talking among themselves. They still chose to call him a minor hero to their town, but feared to approach him. Let them keep their distance. They didn’t know the truth. They can’t know the truth. Their mortal minds would not be able to handle it.

Travallian laughed faintly, but suddenly stopped. The feeling of eyes watching from behind his back started to make the hair rise on the back of his neck. The draconian was watching him. Stranger yet, the anthropomorphic dragon’s presence gave a familiar feel as if he knew him. As if he knew him from his past…his kingdom…the place he once called home long ago.

Turning his head gradually to face the corner, he caught sight of him. He gaped at what he saw. The draconian wore armor with the Crystalforce family crest on his chest plate. The stranger thing was that he could sense life in him, but he could not seem to read any thoughts from him as if he were being blocked out. The draconian seemed to be old, but was filled with spirit and strength of a young man as the old vampire lord looked at him.

It…it cannot be…could it …? Travallian narrowed his eyes, baffled by the familiar energy he felt. You’re…you are hiding in a form…just like I am…Does this mean my father is alive as well…? Zekoru…my old mentor…centuries…centuries have passed since I have seen you…is that truly you…?

The draconian nodded to him in a noble approach as if he could hear his thoughts. In spite of this, his expression was bitter as he let him read his thoughts.

Turn around, lad. We both need to keep in character right now or I will have to leave, but believe me…I want to stay and explain myself. There is so much you need to know, but I will tell you later when the time is right.

Looking down slowly, he obeyed him and turned back and sighed. Blinking slightly, he was starting to act like his real self…his Paratroopa self. Breaking away, he shook his head hard, realizing that he was forgetting that Bulaklak was even there.

In character…very well then. I can do that for you, Master…just level down on the ‘inhuman’ stuff…I heard you talking to the humans hours ago about me. You sounded hateful…a little too deep with your appearance, I must say.

Travallian closed his eyes and leaned back on his chair, sniffing the air slightly that was filled with robust amounts of alcohol, candles, and the living blood of humans around him. Wincing slightly, he murmured to himself to forget about his slowly increasing hunger for blood again by just the thought of it all.

Thinking of blood, kid? Zekoru telepathically chuckled at him. Hah…after all these years, you’re still the same.

Aw…give me a break, old man, Travallian rolled his eyes, suddenly remembering why he barely made conversations through telepathy. …wait…‘Kid’?! Zekoru?!

You are still a kid compared to me, Zekoru grinned from his corner. All right…I’ll leave you alone now.

With another sigh, he looked upward, then at Bulaklak. “Forgive me …My craving is starting to haze my thinking pattern…that’s not the only thing, however…ugh.”

Grumbling out of annoyance, the vampire gestured one hand in the air in the way conductor would until something seemed to phase into appearance in his hand. It seemed to be a leather skin. Opening it carefully as he opened his eyes, he took a slow whiff of it. The leather skin was filled with blood. To hide the little fact, he had to hide the blood in a container that did visibly show the liquid in which it showed. Slowly putting the opening to his lips, he drank some of the blood carefully. Even so, drops of the red liquid trickled down the corner of his mouth when he drew the skin away from his lips.

“Looks like you cut yourself on your water skin, boy!” The barkeep’s hardy voice boomed behind the shape shifter in a sudden manner, making him almost drop the skin when it was still open which would have blown his cover completely. “Think you should drink from a mug while you be in me side of the in! This here tavern has quite a selection of drinks. You may use your travel equipment later, Lord Jeremy! You are among service right now.”

Coughing lightly, Travallian wiped his mouth with the backside of his hand slowly. Licking his blood stained lips quickly, he turned to look at the bartender and laughed faintly.

“Guess my lips are a little chapped from the cold…it’s nothing,” he said, trying to make an excuse as he looked at his masked friend. “The girl here may take her order first if she wishes to.”

Before more could be said, Chrono re-entered the inn shortly. Quirking his brows in concern from the sight of him, Travallian noticed that he was injured, once the wounded Yoshi sat down another table. Rapidly getting off his seat, he almost knocked into the barkeep. Apologizing quickly with a wave of his hand, he rushed over to Chrono and stood on the other side of the table, placing his hands on the table and bent forward. His face showed great concern.

“Look at all these abrasions all over you!” he exclaimed, but not loud enough to cause attention. Clearing his throat, he drew himself back and stood straight, crossing his arms together, speaking more calmly and faint so that no one else in the other tables could hear him. “Tell me what happened. I won’t use my abilities on you to find out. I want you to tell me on your own.”

As he waited for his response, he shifted his eyes over to Zekoru’s table. He was staring back at him, drinking from a silver goblet. Once he closed his eyes for a second, a waitress walked passed the old draconian’s table and then he was out of sight, leaving the corner empty, leaving a blue velvet pouch on the tabletop. Saying nothing, Travallian looked back at Chrono and waited for him to speak.