The Tea Dragon Festival

Chapter Three



53

54

What’s
that?

Aya, lie So that you’re
down in the completely covered
up, even the tip of
grass.
your nose.

55

Rinn!! Aya!!
Hold on--

56

57

58

59

“| had almost forgotten…

“…he’s a dragon.”

60

61

62

|’m
a bit out of
practice after
being asleep for

so long.

You were
incredible.

Dragons
learn to spar
from a young

age.
Victory

in battle is one of
the ways of gaining

honour. That, and
accumulating
gold.

You
dropped this
when you took off.
| thought it must
be important

to you.

63

Yes… But
and it’s all you would for
what you did
| have.
today.
| won’t
It’s be gaining any
beautiful. respect from my
clan through

riches.

Perhaps…. | do not
know if my clan
even remembers

where they
sent me.

Well, |’m
glad you’ve
ended up

here….

64

But if
it wasn’t for
that, what would
you want to

be doing?

It is hard Nobody
to say. | have has ever
never thought
asked.
about that
question.

65

Didn’t even | am! |’m grateful Rinn and
get a chance Aya and Mama have someone
to swing my
like that who wants to
sword. protect them.

You
should be
grateful.

| admit, But
| hadn’t really | suppose
that’s natural,
taken him if you’re a
seriously.
dragon.
Me neither,
he seemed a bit full

of himself!

66

Chapter Four



Rinn! | don’t suppose
you managed to find
those goatshorns?

Sorry, | ended up getting a
bit distracted. | will get them
for you next time | go out!

69

Don’t worry about
it, | know they are

tricky to find!

May | ask, Oh,
what was that that’s Lesa,
she’s the head
about? cook of the

village! | said
|’d find her some
mushrooms, but |
didn’t get a chance

yet.

Because It’s okay,
of me? In that they’re pretty
case, | wish to rare--| probably
wouldn’t have
help you. found them yet

anyway.

70

It is my Well in
duty to assist that case,
the village! It would let’s go!
be an honour to my
clan to serve

you.

71

Does Sign
everyone in the language?
village know how A few of the
to talk with their older generation
still aren’t so
hands? confident

at it.

But after
Lesa was born,
| think everyone
wanted to learn.

| grew up
with it.

| would What is
say it most closely the language
resembles human of dragons

humming. like?

Humming?

72

The most
important thing to
a dragon is their clan,
and their position in

the clan.

According
to their rank, the
pitch and rhythm of

their humming
changes.

When a
full clan converses

in their cavern,
it sounds like an
orchestra playing

as one.

Could you | can.
show me what it

sounds like?

73

It’s | bet
usually there are tons
found almost way up in the scree
at the snow slopes, but |’ve never
been able to get
line.
that far.

| In my
will take true form, of

you. course.

Huh?

74

But Dragons Besides,
you’re still injured! heal quickly. | would like
You need to take it for you to know
how it feels
easy, we’ll just
walk. to fly.

75

76

77

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Will this It’s
do? perfect! |’ve
never been up

this high!

It’s
rather nice
to fly without
an eaglefang
clawing at

you.

Lesa

will be thrilled--

and there’s enough

for Mama and Papa

to sell next

year! Thank you,

Aedhan!

79

Can all

dragons do

that? Shift

between dragon

and human

forms.

Yes,

though it requires

a great deal of magical

consciousness to stay out

of our dragon form

for long periods

of time. | haven’t

yet learned to hold

a human form and do

other magic at the

same time.

And what
about between male
and female forms, can
dragons shift between

those too?

80

Certainly,
if you learn

how.
| know

of a number of
dragons who like to

freely move back
and forth.

That
sounds
lovely.

81

You know,
you’re extremely
skilled at gathering

food from the
earth.

It’s nothing
special--
it’s easy.

Just because

something comes

easily to you, does

not mean it has

no value. You find it

effortless because

you love it, and

that is why it is

your gift.

82

Chapter Five



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So this Yes…
is where you were |’m afraid | don’t
when the spirit put remember what it

you to sleep? looked like.

No matter!
Once we’re done here,
Hese and | will head out to
see if we can find any

trace of it.

Who
knows, perhaps
it’s thousands
of miles away

by now.

86

See you
back at the

village!

Will they be
all right?

| think so.
Uncle Erik is very
strong, and Hesekiel
seems to know about
everything--and has

common sense.

How | don’t know.
did they They’ll have to tell us
meet?
someday!

87

88

Erik! Oh, blast. Hmm,
Have we only it seems so.
been tracking the They certainly
magical residue have an ancient
from the ruins
power.
all day?

Well,
in that case,
|’m taking a rest
before we head

back.
Nothing’s
more tiring
than a dead

end!

89

90

Did the | am
ruins do not sure. It looks
like the forest of tens
this? of thousands of years
ago, when magic flowed

more freely in
the land.

91

92

93

Erik!

Erik,
wake up!

It’s still Even
warm. Don’t worry, though | added
we haven’t been out herbs to the fire

for long. to ward off
sleep….

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95

You must
be the one who’s
putting people to

sleep!

Listen,
it must seem like
barely a second to you,
but to a human, falling
asleep for eighty years
is most of their

lifetime!

| know you
want to share the
memory of your beautiful
forest with people, but

a few hours of
dreaming would

be enough.

|’m sure
you never meant
to make people sad,

did you?

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97

| don’t No…
think we need maybe all the
creatures in this
the bounty forest used to live
after all. for thousands of
years, and it didn’t
realise how quickly
time passes for

humans.

It was
just proud of
something it

loved.

| know
that feeling.

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Chapter Six