78 Work (1/2)
The light hadn't diminished from the children's eyes yet. It was already night time and they were back in the cave, having their dinner.
After the awarding ceremony of the race, the audience seated on the stands or standing outside started leaving. Even the people in charge were busily cleaning up the place. Ling then decided to come back there early tomorrow morning.
However, although the noises from the city lessened during midnight, he still couldn't forget the happenings that afternoon. From the breathing and movements beside him, Ling also knew that Maga was also having a sleepless night.
Morning came slowly for these two children. There were bags under their eyes but the sparkle in them hadn't diminished yet. After Ling and Maga had their breakfast, they immediately climbed past the rocks again to get to the city.
The city was started to awaken too with the coming sunrise. The merchants were setting up their stalls in the market area while the men at the port were loading their boats for another sailing. One could also hear clattering sounds coming from the houses within the city, and the roars and whines of several animals were joining the cacophony of the early morning.
When Ling and Maga reached the city center where the starting track was situated at, they also saw the workers there preparing for today's race. Ling then slowed his steps, turning his head left and right to look around for someone to talk to.
Everybody was obviously busy and most likely wouldn't entertain a lone boy with his dragon. However, the two soon garnered some stares like what they had experienced yesterday afternoon before the race. But most of the people's eyes were actually mirroring theirs, slightly confused and afraid.
Ling frowned. Were they still unique in this city? But the others also have dragons here. Some were even bigger than Maga.
The two children remained standing before the workers, now more hesitant to ask around. The previous night's excitement was slowly receding amidst the stares. They were only children after all. Before, they had an adult accompanying them when they went out in a city or town.
Consequently, before Ling could take a step back, a man saying orders to several workers stepped out of the group and walked towards their direction. He had been frequently staring at this boy and his dragon as he was giving orders, waiting for them to go to their destination. But now, it looked more like these children were lost.
”Hey, kid!” The man called when he got near the children.
Ling had noticed this man walking to them so he wasn't surprised with the call. ”Hello, sir.”
When the boy didn't say anything else, the man asked, ”Are you lost?”
”Um,” Ling gave a glance at Maga, then continued speaking, ”We were looking for the person in charge of the race participants?” He then ended what he said as a question when he saw the man's frown getting more prominent.
Upon closer inspection, the man had carefully checked the dragon beside the boy. It was as they speculated.
”Boy, you should return to your group.” The man started, ignoring the boy's question. ”Isn't this dragon with you still too young to go out alone? We don't want any problems here.”
Ling didn't understand the man's statement. Seeing that the man was now glaring at him, he wasn't able to reply. However, the people around started whispering to each other. A wisp of it reached him. Like he was probably from Kal'wa. Had ran away from the group then. A kid probably seeking for more adventure.