Arc 1, Chapter 11: The Predator’s Smile (Misunderstood)

And then, with the last tune, the dragon finishes her heartfelt bass performance under the moonlight.

The Trios, Eclipsera, were stunned. Especially Mizuki, who is now starry-eyed.

Mizuki: “That’s it! You’re the bassist we’ve been looking for!”

Mizuki, who couldn’t contain her excitement, dramatically leaps out from hiding. She points to the sky, striking a pose, as if she’s announcing on stage. This led Eillia and Frida, who were behind her, to facepalm.

I understand she’s trying to recruit a bassist, but why is she posing?

The dragon freezes and turns her head towards them. The dragon’s sharp teeth exposed as its wings twitched, and dust flew from the ground. Its glowing eyes narrowed at Mizuki.

Is that… The classic dragon glare in fantasy stories?? So cool!

Mizuki: “Woooah… so majestic! Look at that aura!”

Mizuki, who interprets the dragon’s body language as fierce confidence, gasped in awe.

Frida: “That’s not majestic, that’s danger, you idiot!”

But before Mizuki could continue, the dragon let out a terrified cry and shot into the air, its wings flapping wildly.

Mizuki: “Woahhh…Is that what they call Aura Farming!?”

Eillia: “...Aura what? And definitely not because she looks like she’s scared away…”

Eillia sighs softly.

Mizuki: “Wait… I scared a dragon away?? So I’M the aura farmer instead!?!?”

Mizuki puffs her chest out in confidence and laughs like a demon lord.

The two girls facepalmed once again.

Eillia: “Let’s just go after her…”

Mizuki: “Good idea.”

And the trios start chasing after the dragon’s direction.

***

Rocks tumble beneath the trio's boots as they run uphill. Like a battle cry, Mizuki's voice echoes through the canyon.

Mizuki: “Wait! Don’t run! We just want your autograph— I mean, your bass skills!!”

The dragon's wings beat awkwardly against the cliffside as it flaps more forcefully. She looks back in fear as pebbles and dust fall.

Why me?! Did I offend them with my bass!? Was I too loud? Too jazzy?!

Her tail hits the rock as she swerves just in time to avoid colliding with a rocky mountain peak. The ground trembles, forcing the trio to jump aside.

Frida: “You’re gonna kill us before we recruit her!”

Eillia: “To her, it probably looks like we’re hunting her down…”

Mizuki: “That’s ridiculous! We’re way too cute to be hunters!”

The dragon looks back once more, sees Mizuki pointing dramatically and smiling like a villain, and lets out a louder shriek.

That smile… That’s a predator’s smile! They’re after my life!!

After soaring through the sky, the dragon’s eyes widen.

???: “Finally… A good hiding spot!”

She darts into a canyon, curling behind a huge boulder. Her tail, however, sticks out like a huge black flag, twitching uneasily.

Moments later, the trio shows up. Mizuki squints, then smiles.

Mizuki: “Ohhh, I wonder where she could be! Certainly not behind the rock with the obvious dragon tail sticking out!”

Frida: “She’s bad at hide and seek.”

The dragon trembles and squeezes her eyes shut.

???: “I-I’m not here! Please don’t eat me!!”

Mizuki: “Eat you!? No way! We came to compliment and recruit you!”

Running around the rock, Mizuki strikes yet another dramatic pose.

Mizuki: “Your bass shook my soul! It was deep, strong, and raw—like a thunderclap inside my chest!”

The dragon freezes.

She thinks my playing is too noisy! She hates it!

Mizuki: “It was amazing: smooth, soulful, and cool. It's cooler than any dragon roar!”

The dragon’s eyes widened as if Mizuki had just spat fire herself.

???: “C... Cooler… than a roar?

Her voice cracked. Her wings suddenly lifted, casting shadows on the canyon walls.

???: “Are you mocking me?! Do you know how long I’ve trained to perfect my roar? How many cliffs I shatter with my voice only to be laughed at by the elders?! I know it’s weak! I already know!!”

The ground rumbled as she drove her claws into the stone. The sound of falling pebbles and dust echoed through the canyon.

???: “I...I’m sorry for being a disgrace to dragonkind! Please spare my pathetic scales!!”

Then, in her panic, she dropped her head so suddenly that her nose bonked against the rock.

The trio stood in silence.

Frida: “…She thinks that was an insult?”

Eillia: “Apparently.”

Mizuki blinked; her dramatic smile wavered into complete disbelief.

Mizuki: “…Wait, what?”

The dragon's eyes were trembling and full of tears as it peered up.

???: “…Wait, what?”

Their voices overlapped as they stared at each other.

Mizuki & ???: “Huh??”

The awkward echo of their identical "huhs" reverberated off the walls as the canyon fell silent.

Silence.

Frida grumbled and rubbed her temple.

Frida: “Great. We’re chasing a dragon who is bad at taking praise and a band leader with brain rot. I’m outta here…”

Eillia let out a sigh, but there was a tiny laugh visible in the corners of her lips.

The tension was broken in the most absurd way possible by the moonlight that hung over them.