I, Viretta, Am Going to Hunt a Dragon

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lanken could not hide his frustration. As he was being shooed out of the chapel with Viretta and Iola in tow, he couldn’t help but feel betrayed by both the priests and the divine itself.

"How could they treat me like this!" he lamented openly, not bothering to mask his feelings. "I came here in need, and this is what I get?"

He wasn’t one to bottle up his emotions, especially not in front of Viretta. Such behavior was beneath him, and Lanken made sure everyone knew exactly how he felt. The priests had urged him to take responsibility for the disruption caused by his companions and to maintain order in the chapel.

"Brother, shouldn’t you be helping those who are lost and struggling?" one priest had asked.

"My plate’s already full. Isn’t that reason enough not to?" Lanken had countered.

"Remember, the scriptures teach us not to turn away from our struggling brothers and sisters. Perhaps, as a brother, you could help guide your companions to a more peaceful state. After all, the house of God should be a place of peace."

Lanken had sighed. "Doesn’t feel like I’m the one getting any peace here."

"Brother, our Father above surely witnesses your trials. He sees the hardships you endure for your friends and prepares blessings for you as He gives you these tests."

Lanken had no response. The priest's kind yet firm words had clearly meant that the chapel wanted them out, and with the many judgmental glares cast upon them by other devotees, Lanken knew there was no winning.

In the end, they had been forced to leave the chapel, not as outcasts but certainly not as welcome guests either.

Now they were seated in a small inn room, having bought their lunch. Bread and simple fare lay on a table in front of them, but none of them seemed particularly eager to eat.

"I still don’t understand why they accused me of blasphemy," Iola said, tilting his head in confusion. "I’ve visited the chapel in the capital many times, and nothing like this ever happened. The countryside folk here seem rather harsh."

Lanken sighed. "You called the act of donating and praying ‘a meaningless ritual,’ my lord. That’s bound to offend anyone."

"But isn’t the purpose of religion to find meaning in the meaningless? I was merely pointing out its origins. Why did that make them so upset?"

Lanken muttered under his breath, "Why am I even having this conversation with someone who bought a rock?"

Ignoring Lanken’s grumbling, Iola proudly displayed the two rocks he had purchased earlier. "As you can see, these stones are rare and hard to find. I bought them as a gift to commemorate our engagement and the upcoming annulment, Viretta."

"Don’t fret. The dragon doesn’t make donations. Obviously, the gods favor us more."

It was a miracle of logic. Lanken could only collapse onto the table, burying his face in his arms.

Watching this unfold, Iola tilted his head curiously. "You seem far less enthusiastic about this hunt than you were last night, Lanken. Has something changed? Do you think it’s too dangerous for us after all?"

"Of course!" Lanken cried, lifting his head. "If we go after the dragon, we’re practically signing up to die!"

His polite mask slipped as he shot a glare at Iola. The man was either blissfully unaware of the dangers or too naive for his own good.

A dragon was a fearsome creature, with skin tougher than any armor, claws capable of tearing through bone, and flames that could incinerate armies. Even with a group of thirty warriors, victory was uncertain.

But Iola, still smiling softly, shook his head. "No, Lanken. Not a glorious death..."

"-but a miserable one."

He delivered the reality so plainly, his smile never faltering. The contrast was so sharp that both Lanken and Viretta paused, blinking at him in disbelief.

This man wasn’t just a little odd—he might be more unhinged than they initially thought.

Lanken’s eyes narrowed, "Do you actually understand how dangerous this is? You seem pretty calm for someone who should be terrified."

With a kind and composed expression, Iola nodded. "I understand perfectly well. I’ve studied dragons extensively. But I’m doing this because I cannot let Viretta suffer in a marriage she does not want. Someone like her, so full of life, shouldn’t be tied to someone like me."

"I think Iola is just fine," Viretta chimed in, trying to interject. She wasn’t particularly averse to the idea of marrying Iola. He seemed like a good person, considerate, and kind.

But Iola, as if he hadn’t heard her, continued, "To force such a bright soul into sadness would be a crime against humanity."

"I really didn’t mind," Viretta added again, her voice growing softer.

Despite Viretta’s best efforts to correct him, Iola remained convinced of his righteous mission to annul their engagement for her sake. His face was so earnest and full of sincerity that it nearly brought tears to her eyes... though not in the way he intended.

It was both touching and tragically misguided.