Chapter 363: The Fireworks show... Part-1.


    ?


    Central City, East District.


    While walking on the streets of the central city, the group not only enjoyed the games put up


    by the dragon folk, they also got to see the amazing decorations ced by the people on their homes.


    Every house in the central city has been decorated to at least a minimum level.


    No matter poor or rich, people have done their best to decorate their houses; this is how important the great dragon festival is to the dragon race after all.


    Evening, after the duel.


    Standing near a smartphone cover stall, the three most talented guys of the younger generation were in a great dilemma at the moment.


    "Hmm, which one should I buy... They have the couple ones, but I don''t really know which one Riya will like..."


    Just 30 minutes ago, the group split up once more, with the girls opting to go on a solo shopping spree, leaving the three of them wandering aimlessly through the streets.


    And as Riya isn''t here, Link has no idea what to buy, as he doesn''t know what she would like to buy.


    "Hey, forget it, I will just buy the whole stall!"


    Liam rubbed his temples after hearing those words and spoke in an annoyed tone.


    "Idiot! What are you going to do with so many phone covers!? Just buy any random two and be done with it!"


    Upon hearing those words, Link red back at Liam, saying,


    "Tch! You don''t know anything; Ellie doesn''t use smartphones; otherwise, you would have been stumped by the choices too!"


    While the two were bickering, Rio just went ahead and bought himself a pair without hesitating too much.


    He doesn''t really care how bad his own smartphone cover looks; he just saw that the female counterpart of that pair looked good, and so he bought it for Lia.


    ''After wandering around in such a big festival for so long, if I don''t even buy something for her... wouldn''t I be considered an inconsiderate boyfriend...''


    [You think too much... She''s been with you for two years, and I don''t think she would be fazed by such small things...]


    ''Well, I did hear on the inte that in rtionships, small things are the ones that matter the most...''


    [Like?]N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ''Hmm, for example, you appreciate the other party''s efforts no matter how small and pointless they are... and always say some good words from time to time...''


    ''Seems like small matters, but they do have a lot of effect... Buying something for her is also part of it... I need to keep up with her pace; she''s always ready to make delicious food for me...''


    ''I need to return some favor, or I am too useless as a boyfriend...''


    [Unexpectedly, you can indeed give decent advice on rtionships... I didn''t expect that from you...]


    ''I might not have much emotion left, but I have enoughmon sense...''


    There are two ways people can go when they lose their humanity.


    Either the person goes the path of a monster and bes a total maniac who ughters or torments people so as to feel any sort of remaining emotions in their heart.


    Or the person will go the path that Rio is walking.


    Learn how normal people respond and adapt to situations.


    Even if you lose your emotions, learn how to act like someone who has emotions.


    By this point, Rio has learned so much about emotions and the ways of ''acting like a human'' that he can do it wlessly.


    [By the way, are you going to help out those two or not? They are creating quite the mess there...]


    ''Forget it; I don''t feel like ruining the mood by bickering with them..., I find it quite tiring to argue with people...''


    [Ah, I see, acting that you are offended by their words and then acting to be angry, all that is quite troublesome indeed...]


    ''Yeah, why would I waste my energy on that? I only do that when it''s necessary...''


    Rio has learned how people act under the influence of various emotions, so he can indeed adapt ordingly, but he likes to avoid these situations usually as it''s a waste of time.


    He grabbed a smartphone cover with a candy design on it and threw it at Link''s face, then he grabbed one with the dragon emblem on it and threw it at Liam''s face.


    The two of them were taken aback and caught the covers with a shocked look on their faces.


    "Just take these and be done with it... You two are destroying the image of the human empire in front of so many people on the street..."


    Hearing Rio''s words, the two wanted to say something, but then they noticed Rio''s choices and shut up on the spot.


    They obediently proceeded to purchase both those items and their other half of the pair.


    The stall owner gave Rio a grateful look for solving the issue.


    Rio just shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the next stall, with the other two following behind him, like chicks following the mother hen.


    At the same time.


    "Eh, so you can''t actually change your humanoid form?"


    Hearing Lia''s question, Sin nodded her head.


    "Yeah, although we dragons can take humanoid forms, the form is fixed; it can''t be altered...


    It only changes as you grow up..."


    Riya was about to say that ''Ellie could change her form though!'', but Lia hurriedly grabbed a candy and stuffed it in her mouth to make her shut up and forget about the matter.


    Sin took a moment to look around before speaking quietly.


    "There''s only one type of dragon that can change their form at will; those are ''Shadow Dragons''; they are masters at that thing... But taking their name in the dragon valley is taboo,


    so don''t tell anyone that I told you about it..."


    Lia nodded her head at those words and didn''t say much.


    "By the way, I have been meaning to ask... But why are shadow dragons hated so much in the


    dragon valley..."


    Hearing that question, Sin shook her head and replied,


    "I don''t know much personally; all I know is that they once betrayed the whole dragon race about 1500 years ago or something..."


    "They were exiled from the dragon valley for that same reason... There are no written records of it in the grand library or any other books that mention the exact reason..."


    "So, I don''t know much myself, and I highly doubt any of the dragon folk even know about why all dragons hate the shadow dragons..."


    "In my opinion, only those in high positions, like my father, might know the real details..."


    Lia nodded her head, then inquired,


    "Can you, uh... ask your father about it... I am kind of curious to know about this matter..."


    Sin shrugged her shoulders and replied with a big sigh,


    "It''s pointless... Not only will he not talk to me much, I myself don''t want to bother talking


    too much with him..."


    "We have not been on good terms the past few days, so I don''t really think it will work..."


    Lia nodded her head and stopped asking about this matter; it would be too suspicious if


    she kept on being persistent about it.


    "By the way, how was the battle? Are you feeling okay now? Facing Rio''s sword intent head on


    can be a great shock for first-timers."


    Sin sighed at those words and nodded her head.


    "Yeah, I still have some lingering fear of it... A legendary skill is indeed miraculous; thankfully, I gained some insights from Rio''s attack and will be able to improve in the


    future..."


    Lia patted Sin''s shoulder and said with a smile on her face.


    "Well, you are doing better than I expected; when I got hit by sword intent for the first time, I was having nightmares... It''s a very destructive power after all; it affects not only your body but your soul and consciousness too..."


    "Last time I got hit by it was when Rio still hadn''t reached 50% mastery over it, now that he has be even better at it... I really can''t fathom how awful it would feel to get hit by it..."


    Lia gave a slight smile and shook her head before speaking.


    "His hands were trembling like crazy, and his eyes were shaking when he used sword intent on me during the tournament... I guess even someone as indifferent as him gets troubled


    when fighting those who he cares for..."


    Sin sighed at those words, then continued speaking.


    "I think he hesitated only because it was you he was fighting... I don''t think he would be that shaken when fighting anyone else..."


    "You are really lucky, Lia; you got to meet him before me... Otherwise, I would have snatched


    him for myself... I warn you, if one day you end up breaking up with him, I will ept him, so


    make sure you don''t give me the chance..."


    Lia smiled at those words and spoke with confidence.


    "Hmph, who do you think I am! I will never let you have your way with him!"


    Sin shrugged her shoulders at words.


    "We will see, hehe..."


    "Okay, we have spent enough time chit-chatting; it''s about time we head towards the


    fireworks show venue..."


    Lia also nodded her head and grabbed Riya''s hand to drag her along with them.


    Riya, who waspletely oblivious to the world around her, got dragged around by the two


    with no thoughts in her mind.


    ...


    Author''s Notes.


    Yo! It''s your beloved author here!


    Question of the day.


    Which group would you be a part of?


    1. The couples (Praise your partner all day long, like Rio and Lia.)


    2. The singles (re at the couples with hateful eyes, like Liam.)


    By the way, don''t forget to use those power stones!!