DRAGON LONGZE- THE GOOD FATHER (REVISED BY BOST 2026) – PART 1
Dragon Longze, now in his mid teens (about fifteen earth years), wanting to see more of the world, one day he successfully absconded from his island prison, where he had been tutored and, carefully monitored by his stringent guardian teacher day and night.
In truth, his guardian Vernon had read his mind and intentions long before this and, had already decided on allowing Longze this apt lesson (and experience). Vernon, though demanding and strict, being a much younger than his peers (guardian colleagues), he had been far more tolerant of Longze’s defiant, rebellious traits that had exasperated the prior three veteran ones before Vernon.
All the same, Vernon had been perturbed for some time now, by Longze’s unusual attachment to humans and his unwavering fascination in their perceived, noble capacity; hence, he’d hoped that Longze’s firsthand experience in the mortal world, his albeit brief exposure to the truth, might shed more accurate light (truer assessment) on his otherwise idealized interpretation (version) of the matter.
Vernon had, furthermore, hoped that in the interim this would temper, if not forever bust (diffuse), his charge’s impractical, steadfast (inexorable) belief in humanity, and decisively ensure his future survival.
~
Longze after having efficaciously run away, he had incessantly swum in the vast ocean in the form of a white fish with golden gills (for at this early stage in his life he was not able to transform into a dragon just yet), traversing a great distance.
Subsequently, affirming that he had gotten clear away and that he was not pursued, he selected an ideal, deserted sandy shoreline (with not a soul about) to emerge from the waters and now fully transformed into a human form, his two bare feet was firmly planted (landed) on the coarse sandy beach. His first precarious (bit wobbly, tottering) steps quickly balanced (stabilized), he then swiftly ascended (climbed) the snaking, barely visible goat’s path and reached the top of the hill where he could then better (observe) survey the entire perimeter at that higher elevation.
His keen eyes spotted at once t. top part of the chimney of the wooden cabin which was nestled in a grove of tall pine and was ordinarily well hidden, at some distance from where he stood: the abrupt rising wind swaying the brunches at one point had fortuitously, revealed the chimney’s presence. It was nearing dusk and in his naked state, the cold seeped into his very marrow (bones); however, indifferent to thrashing wind that now bend or whisked the tall grass (and bushes) that reached his waist, he elatedly tread (walked, practically ran) his bare feet over the uneven, gravelly ground towards the cabin. The deceptively dilapidated wooden hut was overgrown with ivy; Longze, reaching the door and finding it unlocked, without hesitation (entered) stepped inside.
His quick perusal, revealed that interior was not only sturdy but orderly and practical: a sparse furniture of a well positioned crude table and two chairs was placed in the centre, while a small sleeping bed with thick woolen blanket over it (that had seen better days) was pressed against the far wall by a small, boarded window. The absence of curtains, tablecloth or other soft feminine touches, revealed that the cabin belonged to a solitary, robust male human. The cold (unlit) hearth was slightly off center, with few cast-iron pots hanging overhead and a stack of wood piled at the side of it; a large empty earthen jar probably used to store-rain water, stood next to four barrels of spirits which rested at the far corner beside some other wooden boxes clearly holding rations.
The well constructed (pine-wood) bookcase that was set against the other wall, was composed of three shelves: The top shelves held a crude stone carving of a fierce bear and some withered, scrolls of maps, a discoloured romance fiction, a simple bound book with pages all curled up, and two innocuous account books. The middle shelves sported two large wooden utensils (large ladle, a huge fork), a long kitchen knife, and four wooden dishes. The bottom shelves had on it neatly stacked, bunch of ropes, one deadly stiletto, a stack of thirty arrows stored in leather casing, an axe with a short handle, box filled with various size metal splinters (sheards, pins, spikes, pegs, tacks, various size nails), a deadly looking metal hook and something else, Longze could not rightly identify.
His eyes next caught the two ebony chests off to the side adjacent to the pine bunkbed with crumpled dusty blankets over it. Judging by the look of things however, thick layer of dust covering everything about, the occupant had not been there for quite some time.
Longze did not know it, but the place was a secret hideout, used infrequently by a notorious, a felonious (lawless) highwayman and a dastardly killer named Kalen, who prayed on the beached travellers, or lost and vulnerable hunters (trackers) or adventurers. From the looks of it, the place was used to temporarily stashed his most recent ill-gotten booty there before he carted it away to the nearby town for illegal sale.
Fortunately, Kalen was away at the time, probably already pursuing (tracking) his next prosperous prey (target).
Anyhow, Longze, finding the premise abandoned, he searched through the large wooden chests. In one he found stacks and stacks of coins and other precious gems and valuables. He understood that he needed some cash in the human world, so he borrowed a small bundle with some coins in it, with purpose of repaying what he took to the owner later.
Longze, next rummaged through the other five smaller wooden chests that housed varied forms of attires; he was too naive to discern (recognize) that these, shirts, pantaloons, vests, socks and in some cases jackets, in all likelihood were pilfered, appropriated garbs, costumes, and wardrobes, of various fabrics (silk, cotton, wool) and quality. At the bottom of the third small chest, he had additionally discovered, four pairs of leather boots, (varied) different in style but all black in colour. He measured (pressed) the souls of a pair, which had caught his eye, against his feet and found that they were close to his foot size; therefore, he set this sturdy pair aside. Subsequently, he in quick succession, fetched a pair of a grey coloured woolen socks, few pieces of garbs from other small chests, which were practical and fit well. Shortly after, Longze emerged from the hut, appropriately dressed.
Longze did not know this, but he had been spotted at some distance by the eagle-eyed, returning culprit. Kalen was a stubborn villain; he had always pressed on (his stamina) hard refusing to accept his bodies’ limitation. This most recent heist had gone terribly awry (wrong); encountering real resistance, he had barely made out with his life, only to find unexpected intruder, a brazen thief exiting from his cabin wearing his clothes and Heaven knows what else he had absconded with? More importantly, how had the thug (goon, trespasser) breached the set deadly traps and the locked door?
Kalen’s mind reeling (spinning, whirling) with unanswered questions, ignoring the fact that his body at present was teetering on the verge of collapse, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, towards his cabin.
Longze, oblivious to all the peril, was halfway down the hill, when the rogue warrior Kalen arriving, almost breathless, at the spot, finding the traps un-engaged and the door clearly unlocked (with no traces of the sturdy iron lock anywhere) and therefore, seeing red ( fuming with rage) and growling, rushed inside his cabin to assess anticipated marks of intrusion, damage or, more specifically, theft ( what was missing ).
Nevertheless, deciding not to linger, Kalen at once fetched his stored (spare) arrows- as his arrow-sack (bag, satchel) slung on his back was entirely empty, having buried the last one (arrow) squirely in the chest of his most ardent pursuer. All five guards that had been the relentless pursuers for half a day, bent on revenge for his dastardly murder of their Lord, in the end had been expertly vanquished one after the other, by his poisoned arrows that always found their mark.
Kalen fuelled entirely on (running on) adrenalin, commanded by an unyielding, stubborn brain demanding blood (retaliation, retribution) and utter obliteration of this brazen thief; and so, armed with fresh arrows, and some deadly shards and hook, Kalen had dashed outside, with murder registering in his pupils.
His path, however, was abruptly (instantly) blocked by the menacing looking dark warrior, who stood his ground with an unyielding, menacing stance (posture).
This was Longze’s guardian Vernon who had manifested on the scene some time prior, swooped down from the clouds long before Longze had appeared on the scene and seen to disarming the traps then simply vanishing the lock on the door, by a beam shod from his pupils, therefore, allowing his wayward (naughty, disobedient, unruly) ward (charge) uninterrupted, safe entry into the wooden cabin.
From far above, amidst the clouds, Vernon’s keen eyes (vision, sight) nevertheless piercing the walls of the cabin, he’d with some amusement, monitored (watched) his charge Longze’s subsequent activities within the cabin. He had carefully noted for instance, what Longze had selected and what he did not take. Vernon was intrigued with his ward’s practicality and his disciplined mind, and additionally pleased, with Longze’s lack of greed, decency, and pure heart. Longze had only borrowed what he needed, and nothing more; even then, he had left, though foolishly, a written note to the proprietor, the complete list and the promise of repayment of those items, later.
Vernon then had watched his naïve charge exit the premise and quickly descend the path, looking every bit the confident traveller, an ordinary normal human being.
Subsequently, Vernon had lingered amidst the cloud’s tad longer but long enough to assess the immediate danger posed to Longze; he had clearly read Kalen’s malevolent intent. Vernon with darkened mood, observed Kalen’s subsequent collection of items, that Kalen’s mind demanded not just to punish, murder or maim, but to inflict the exacting, excruciating prolonged pain and torture on the perceived thief, Vernon’s ward, before his end.
Therefore, feeling perfectly justified of what he was about to do, he had slowly descended from the clouds and waited, both feet firmly planted on the ground, Infront of the wooden cabin, in real time minutes before Kalen darted to, outside.
“Going somewhere?” Immortal Vernon’s sneer froze the very blood in Kalen’s veins. But before Kalen could respond, Vernon with his dragon’s fiery power channeled to his hands, he incinerated all, Kalen and the entire cabin, all was scorched and reduced to ash in an instant.
~
(END OF PART 1)
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