The dragon's harem

As Arad approached the tavern, memories slowly started coming back. How he used to fight here as a kid, that fence he snuck around with the rascals, the empty barrels they used to roll down the slope, and even the old wheel of the carriage they broke, which was still decorating the stables.

^I was right, taking a walk is the best.^ Even with his memories shattered, immersing himself in his daily routine helped him regain them. Even without memories, he seemed to remember where the forest was, where he kept the large saw hidden, the road to the tavern, and even people’s faces started slowly showing up in his head.

But… something still felt off, a deep sense of fear, worry, and guilt still gripped his heart. Two golden eyes keep flashing back in his head, screaming with a will to live, calling him to move. He tried to recall who that woman was, but the agonizing headache always dragged his thoughts away, washing them away like a stream of water.

He rubbed his eyes and walked back into the tavern. A warm, familiar feeling washed over him as he saw the people drinking in the corner, a bard singing on a table, and the barmaid rushed toward him with a large smile on her face, “It’s Arad! You can already move?”

One of the drunks in the back laughed, “Told you his mother was a cheater, she must’ve courted a bear or something.” Another drunk punched him in the face. “Don’t say that! He’ll punch you in the face.”

Arad sighed and ignored those drunks, they meant no harm. He approached the counter and sat down. The bartender looked at him with a smile, “The usual?”

“I don’t know what that is. Still hazy from the hit.” Arad looked at the bartender, yeah, he remembers his face… but not his name.

“A tall beer, some lemon and a large shot of whisky all mixed into an oak mug… with a side of nuts and honeycomb.” The bartender had the order ready in seconds as if he had prepared it hundreds of times.

Everyone seemed to know him and of course, he was memorable. While he was an almost eight-feet-tall giant, not a single one here reached six feet tall. Compared to him, they all looked like kids.

As Arad started drinking, the barmaid approached him, “The healer said anyone else besides you would’ve been ripped in half by that tree. How are you feeling?”

“At least I’m still alive, memories hazy though.” He looked at her, thinking, “You’re the one who got kicked in the face by a goat trying to milk it… right?”

She giggled, “That was ten years ago. Is that all you remember about me? Can’t you recall my name?”

Arad shook his head, “Sorry… I’ve only managed to remember Merlin’s name. Everyone else, I can feel that I know someone when I see their faces, but I can’t recall who they are.”

“As the healer said… it’ll take you a while to recover, but at least it’s not permanent.” She pointed back at the drunkard, “Who’s that one with the twirly mustache?”

“The one who had to eat cow dung after losing a bet,” Arad replied, and the whole bar burst into laughter. The man growled at Arad, “ARAD! You bastard, that was twelve years ago, we were still kids!”

^NO! DON’T, WAKE UP!^ The veins on Arad’s forehead bulged, and his eyes shot with blood. The jolts of pain radiating from his skull down his spine grew stronger and stronger, causing him to choke on his beer.

The bartender looked at him with a worried face. “Come to the back, I’ve got a bed you can lie on.” Arad was known to push himself over the limit. Just seeing him in pain was enough for the bartender to understand that he went out before fully healing. Probably that was the reason he grew so large and muscular; his body always needed to be a bit stronger.

As Arad lay on the soft bed, his eyes slowly drifted into a deep slumber, soothed by the stench of beer. The throbbing in his head felt like a hammer, knocking on his consciousness. With each heartbeat, fog clouded his vision, and soon he was fast asleep.

^Arad?^ The woman he had been hearing appeared sitting on his chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Arad could see her hugging her legs, staring at his face with burning golden eyes.

Even now, he couldn’t remember who she was, but that didn’t matter now. ^Who are you?^ He can just ask. But the woman didn’t look to be able to respond, as if plagued by some disease, her gaze looked distant. The only words coming from her mouth were mumbles.

^It’s eating us… We must survive, live, and death can’t claim us. Live…consume, fight the hunger, ever so hot… painful, and powerful.^ It was then that Arad realised something, the endless darkness creeping toward him, only the glimmer of the woman’s eyes kept it at bay.

Soon, Arad woke up, feeling a bit better. The bartender informed him that the carriage driver had already carted the wood to the sawmill and that he had left the payment here for him. Arad had been asleep for two hours, it was already almost noon. He sat up, and the image of the woman still flashed clear in his head.

The hit he took to the head seems to have messed up a lot of things inside his skull, now he is seeing things. Merlin was probably right, he should rest unless he wants to go crazy.

Arad picked up the gold and walked out, looking at the bright sun in the sky. It was such a beautiful day, reminding him of once he… the thought quickly faded from his mind. He tried to remember, but all he could come up with was the sight of the spikes on the back of the woman in his dreams.

He stopped and walked back to the bartender, “Say, is there a woman with golden eyes and spikes on her back here in the village?” He asked, and the bartender looked at him with a lifted eyebrow, “No, never seen someone like that, and we’re not a large village.”

With that in mind, Arad headed back to his house early today. Usually, he would cut a tree or two in the evening, but he needs rest today.

When he approached his house, he could see Merlin walking out of the door to greet him. She must’ve seen him approach from the window. He expected his heart to be filled with joy, love, and compassion, but all he could imagine when he saw her was blood, his image ripping her head off and feasting on her flesh. The woman in his head was screaming. ^Survive! Consume all threats!^