"What… no, who are you?"
The little elf came closer. She couldn’t help but to reach out, wanting to touch one of his scales - but his first instinct was to move back. It didn’t surprise her, only saddened, perhaps.
Darren: You shouldn’t just touch someone like that. - he warned her, but his first reaction was more out of fear than worry. There are many beings that look like innocent kids, but things change the moment they touch you, or cast a spell.
Despite understanding, in a way, Aaliyah pouted. This 12-year-old was not used to people refusing her. Not that she would do anything about it; she hated the idea of forcing things upon other people, and honestly, she had no idea what exactly she could do to make the stranger let her touch one of his scales.
"My name is Aaliyah. What’s yours? - the elven child managed to say after a long, awkward silence."
"Darren."
"So, can you tell me why you have those shiny things on your skin?"
"...huh? Do you mean the scales?"
"Is this what they are called? They are pretty and shine like nothing I have ever seen before."
The boy before her looked confused. There was no way she was acting, now was there…? Such a silly thing to lie about, too...
"… you honestly don’t know?"
"If I did, I wouldn’t ask you, would I? Those sce-scales, what are they? Why do you have them on your skin? Did you attach them, and how!?"
Questions overwhelmed Darren on top of meeting someone that didn’t recognize what scales were. Not only dragons had scales, of course, but draconic ones were definitely specific, different.
"Did nobody tell you about the dragons? We are taught about your kind, and I thought -"
"Draegons...? What is a dregon?"
"D-R-A-G-O-N." - he said with a sigh. - "I am a dragon."
After that new bit of knowledge, Aaliyah looked all over him again. She was silently observing the boy for a long while, collecting her thoughts. But eventually, she spoke up.
"So… a dragon is an elf with weird skin color, weird ears, and shiny gems on their skin?"
"What? - Darren snapped; why would she say such a thing!? - No, that’s - We are not elves or even remotely similar to them. There are more races in the world than your own little girl. "
"But…"
"There really is no ‘but’ in this discussion, girl."
"Well, I mean!" - by now Aaliyah seemed not just confused but a little annoyed. - "You’re so similar to us! You look like an elf!"
"No. " - Darren rubbed his eyes. - "The lack of any knowledge about races of creatures around you is not just annoying but worrying. There are many races in the world, and those who look like you or me, are called ‘humanoid’. Details, like your ears, skin color, and so on, make you an elf. My scales, for example, showcase I am a dragon."
Young Princess didn’t like being wrong. However, the man’s argument made sense. What didn’t was the fact it was a stranger she heard all this from, not her own people. Why did the mother never told her this? Granted, they possibly lived here without other beings similar to them (although, finding Darren kind of proved they didn’t) but even there, from where they were before, grandmother would know… or anyone, they would know, right?
"So… a dragon? That’s what you are?"
"Yes, Missy."
"And it’s the scales that make you one? - she glimpsed over at where his scales were, once again amazed at the way they shined in the sunlight."
"I mean, it’s one of the things."
"One of the things…?"
As the girl looked over him curiously, he sighed softly and took some steps back. For a moment Aaliyah thought he was living, but not before long Darren changed forms, making the little elf step back a little. So that’s a dragon!, she thought, as a magnificent beast stood before her. Black scales shined in the sun, but everything about him - long tail, those huge wings, the paws that looked quite deadly - was exciting for Aaliyah.
"Darren laid down on the ground, making it easy for the elven Princess to climb onto him if she so wished. There was no way she would refuse such an invitation, and soon she was holding onto his neck, as the dragon flew high into the sky."
"Goodness! This is amazing."
"Glad you’re thinking so." - rather than spoken, the words seemed to be in her head, but somehow she knew it’s Darren. - "I’ll take you to a little secluded spot, you will love it."
"Hmm? Alright! "