Before Hark can react, Max jump as high as he can. All the dragon has one weakness. It is the head. Middle area of it's horn which saving it energy stone.
Hark's tail quickly whip him, but Max was faster. He finally land a blow to the head.
Nothing happened. Hark didn't even move for an inch.
But Grant stop screaming and the fire on his body was gone. It is strange since Grant's body look fine even after burned alive. His clothes look unscratched, and he just looks like the same as before.
"Sir, are you okay?" Max shouted while he still on Hark's head.
Grant hold his head. His body feeling cold and everything feel like a dream. A bad one. That's why all he managed to say was,"Oh… god."
Max then jump to the ground and checking it out. The dragon isn't dead yet. He can feel it heart beat somehow.
Hark's eyes was wide opened and glued to every Max's movements.
"This is weird…," he whispered.
"Max! Just take that stupid stone!" Grant approached the dragon, but he got slapped with Hark's tail.
But, Max saved him in the perfect timing. He pushed the Marquess body aside. And let him whipped by it tail.
"Max!!"
But, Max can't answer. His skin pores was emitted with fiery fire. There is something boiling inside his body. It made his throat feel like eating the hot charcoal. Dry and blazing. The pain was so undescribable and all he can do just screaming out loud.
"Max!" Grant shivering, but he is too afraid to approach.
"Hmm, this is weird." Hark said, now, with low and deep tone. "It's been a long time since I got attacked. And I didn't sense any bad intention from him. Hmm, what I'm supposed to do?"
Grant can't feel anything except the fear and uselessness. He feared the dragon might burn him again. He's afraid that Max is dead, and he can't find a way back to home.
Now, the stone isn't his first priority. He just wants they can run away from here. Alive and unharmed. What should I do? He thought to himself. If I get stronger, maybe I can save both of us.
Then, the fire on Max's body was putting off. Except from his head.
"Max!"
"This is interesting!" Hark laughed and it tail dancing on the air. "You are so special!"
Max felt like his head was going to be exploded. "ARRRRRRRRGGHH!"
But then, the pain was shrunk and everything seems blurry.
"Congratulations! You passed the test!" Hark said while it throw the stone to his leg.
Grant shivering and trembling,"Bu-but, his face… His face was… scarred."
"It is a dragon curse. Because he interrupted our business. You should thank him for his bravery."
Max held his face and feeling something harsh on his face, "YOU! DARN LIZARD!"
"It is just temporary, Mortal. Someday you will find the antidote. Just be patient until then."
Grant feeling something sunk on his heart. It was his fault to make a poor teenager lost his handsome face and his brightly future. He ruined it all. It is all because of that stone!
Hark's eyes look to the men's,"Why you feel sad, Mortals? You already got the stone, right?"
Max still touching his face, wondering if someone will recognize him. When he looked at Grant expression, Max got a feeling that his face might be disfiguring.
"To cheer you up, I will give you a small gift. I am a generous dragon, Mortals. Not like the other. Feel a little bit grateful, please."
Something shining from their body. Max and Grant shocked when their body floating on the air.
"See you again, Mortals. Thank you for visiting me!"
And then, their eyes blinded of that white light.
A second later, when they opened their eyes. All they can see was a desert. It just a mile away from the entrance gate of Forbidden Forest.
"I'm sorry. It is all my fault." Grant said with sincerity. All of his arrogance or his haughtiness was disappearing.
"Don't worry. It is part of my job, Sir." Max said with a faint smile. He threw the stone which lying on the ground to Grant. "I hope you can succeed on your experiment."
Grant accepted the stone with mixed feeling, "I don't deserve it."
"Don't!" Max shouted when Grant trying to throw it away. "You already resisted the pain of burning."
"But, your face…,"
"It's not hurt me anymore. Don't worry."
"Mister Max, I will be always indebted to you. If you need something, please come freely to Hagrav. I will do my best to help you."
"You are older than I am. Just 'Max' is okay." He said with giggling.
Grant smiled faintly, "You are too kind, Mister Max. I hope you can live a happily live."
"Why did you get sentimental like this?" Max's brow narrowed. "It doesn't suit you at all."
"I realize something, Mister Max. I will stop this fruitless investigation."
"You are giving up to find her?"
"I hurt so many people because of my ego."
"You will regret it." Max crossed his arm and seem disappointed. "After all this time, you've sacrificed so much tears, bloods, and sweats."
"But, I…,"
"Just as you said before, I do want you to live a happy life too. Don't worry, I will help you achieve that. Don't give up, Sir."
Grant feeling touched. He is much older than Max and supposed to cheer him up after that incident. Not the other way around. There is something charismatic about this guy. Something he doesn't have.
Grant bowed his body, "Then, I will need your guidance in the future."
"Don't be like that, Sir. More important, let's start moving. We have to go back to the Capital before the sunset."
"Yes. You are right." He said after straightening his body.
"It must be good if Hark send us to the bar. I am so tired of this journey."
But before Grant can answer, their surrounding is going blurry.
"What the hell is this?" Max asked in confusion.
Grant take his hand, "Let's run away, Mister Max."
However, when everything stop moving, they are already on the bar!
Gale stopped wiping the glass and looking puzzled. His jaws dropped. Fortunately, the bar was empty.
"MAX! What happened to your face? Why did you here? I thought you are still in that forest!" Gale blinked twice. Couldn't believe what he saw.
"Sir, I think this is the gift that Hark said before." He whispered to his interlocutor.
Grant nodded his head as the sign of agreement. "I think so too, Mister Max. Hark wasn't lying for being generous."