Chapter 6

When Mira awoke for the second time since entering this world, the sight before her confused her. She was laying on her back in a soft, cushiony bed, looking towards a bright blue ceiling, one of which she had never seen before. She made a puzzled expression towards the ceiling, not making any movements to escape the comfortable bedding. As she stared at the ceiling, she heard what sounded like a man's chuckle coming from somewhere around her.

"What are you doing, making that face?" she heard a man say, amusement obvious in his voice.

She turned to the left, where she had determined the man was sitting, and the person\-\-or rather, dragon\-\-she saw was not what she was expecting. To be honest, when she figured out that she had been kidnapped, she assumed that her captor would be some fat, old man who had plans to sell her to some wealthy noble so he could get some money. A handsome man with sea green hair and aquamarine eyes with backward curved horns was not what she thought her kidnapper would look like. She continued to stare at him with half\-lidded, vermilion eyes. He looked at her for a quick few seconds before looking away, rubbing the back of his neck in a 'this is awkward' manner. After a couple of tense minutes, he broke the silence with a deep, baritone voice.

"Um, I apologize for the way my servant treated you earlier," he said, sincerely.

After hearing this, Mira decided that this man wasn't going to hurt her, but she still wasn't sure if he was trustworthy. "What, you mean hitting me in the back of the head while kidnapping me?" she bitterly said. "If that's what you're sorry for then you don't need to apologize. The one who actually did it should be the one to say he's sorry. But nonetheless, I still don't appreciate being injured and kidnapped."

The dragon visibly winced at her words. "Yes, you're absolutely correct. If a formal apology is what you desire, Miss, then I shall make it happen."

She narrowed her eyes at him then nodded her head. "Alright," she began. "But I would really like to know who you are and why you decided to kidnap me."

He seemed to have realized his mistake and stood up\-\-only to bend over into a bow. "My name is Kirsha," he stated then raised himself from the bow. "I have brought you here because, honestly, I wanted to see who else Ryder had decided was worthy enough to be his companion."

Mira looked at this dragon\-\-Kirsha\-\-in confusion. Did this man know Ryder? Wait, did he say Kirsha? Why does that name sound so familiar? Mira didn't know why, but Kirsha's name sounded oddly familiar but she just couldn't place her finger on where she'd heard it before. She decided it was best to not dwell on unimportant questions and ask this dragon how he knew Ryder.

"So," she began. "You know Ryder?"

Kirsha smirked as he knowingly gazed at her. " Why, yes. Ryder and I are quite close to one another."

She looked at this dragon in front of her, slightly suspicious of his intentions. "So, if you're that close to Ryder, why would you need to go through the trouble of kidnapping me?"

"Well, you see, dear\-" He paused, almost as if realizing something. "Oh, I'm sorry, I never asked for your name."

"Ah, that's right. I apologize. Just call me Mira."

He hummed in approval. "A great name indeed."

"Now, answer my question, Sir Kirsha."

He put up a hand, stopping her. "Please, call me Kirsha. Sir is far too formal."

Mira sighed. "Fine. Kirsha, please answer my question."

He dramatically pouted. "Well, dear Mira, Ryder and I had a bit of what you call...a falling out. Somewhat of a disagreement, one would call it. I didn't think that Ryder would allow me to meet you if I had merrily sauntered up to you."

Mira dubiously stared at Kirsha, but eventually gave in to his explanation. "Alright, I understand the situation. Well, now that we've met, can you please allow me to return to Ryder?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "I apologize, dear Mira, but I cannot permit you to leave my castle premises quite yet," he said, standing up from the chair he had been sitting in.

Mira quizzically asked, "Why can't I?"

"Well, because I would love to learn more about you and your relationship with Ryder."

To that, Mira could say nothing. But she knew that she wouldn't allow herself to remain captive in this strange man's domain, patiently awaiting Ryder's rescue. No, she was not that type of girl. She would attempt to escape by herself.

"By the way, the rabbit ears are a cute touch. I've never seen anything quite like it."

Mira returned back to the dragon in front of her, a slight blush making its way to her cheeks. For the first time in a long while, she was acutely aware of the appendages extending from her skull. She felt the ears twitch at the man's attention.

"T\-thanks, I suppose," she shyly murmured in a quiet voice.

She had trouble looking at Kirsha face for a few seconds following his sugarcoated comment, but once she did, she saw an intense curiosity in his ocean blue eyes. She looked at him, thoroughly puzzled by his expression.

"Um, excuse me, Kirsha. What's wrong?" she inquired.

Kirsha quickly shook his head, seemingly escaping his reverie. He explained, "No, it's nothing. I was lost in thought for a moment. Sorry."

She hummed at him suspiciously, but accepted his explanation. Perhaps he was merely mulling about his own problems so Mira thought it better to let him do as he wished. A loud knocking on the door jogged Mira from her thoughts and both of them swiftly turned their attention to the door.

"Your Majesty, there is something of great importance that I must report to you," a man said from the other side of the door.

Kirsha sighed, running a hand through his mossy green hair. He spoke, a slightly annoyed tone was obvious in his voice. "You may enter."

Opening the door, a young man entered the room. He looked plain and boring, nothing like the other inhabitants of this town that Mira had seen. His hazelnut hair was short and cut unevenly and his eyes were dark chocolate. Mira looked at his head and noticed that he donned no dragon horns, leading Mira to believe that he was some other race, maybe a sorcerer. While studying this newcomer, the boy respectfully bowed to Kirsha as he relayed his "important report."

"Your Majesty, the guards at the front gate of the castle have gone missing," the boy said.

Kirsha raised an eyebrow at that. "What do you mean, missing?"

"Well, they're just not there anymore. We suspect that there is an intruder on the premises."

Kirsha clicked his tongue in annoyance. "It's obviously Ryder. That idiot's making it so damn obvious that it's him," he looked to Mira with a smirk. "This is quite interesting. He really did come to save you. He must really care for you, don't you think?"

Quite a few questions ran through Mira's head. Why was this boy calling Kirsha 'Your Majesty'? Ryder had come for her? Why? Suddenly, she remembered something about the history of Iralan. Something about the dragon king. What was his name again?

"King Kirsha, what actions should we take to remove the intruder?"

Mira rapidly turned to stare at Kirsha in awe. King Kirsha?

Kirsha noticed her gaze and smirked triumphantly at her. He held her gaze with his as he spoke. "Capture him alive. I wish to speak to my good friend, Ryder."

This man was the king of dragons, King Kirsha.

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