You rode East for a week now. Atem said you were close to the City. Many merchants visited Nagaram City. It was located on one of the biggest trade routes. It extended from the capital of Westenra in the West as far as Moratu Kingdom. Yugi told you that on this time a year when Vasanta season was at apogee many merchants visited the city.

You were listening closely what the boy was telling. He seemed to be very knowledgeable and he answered most of your questions. You noticed Laegil did that too, but she wouldn't admit she was interested.

Yugi, when he wasn't speaking about complex subjects, was quite shy. You found it rather funny.

First thing you noticed while travelling was that it was hard. While you enjoyed views of the land you couldn't stay in the saddle for more than 3 hours straight. You were disappointed that it didn't work like in childhood books, where character rode fast whole day to reach destination and wasn't even a little tried. So much for you knowledge about world.

So here you were now, lagging behind with Atem, while Yugi and Laegil went to the town to search for inn to stop in. You felt extremely guilty and Atem's assurance that you shouldn't feel bad about it didn't help at all.

Well, at least you could admire views.

You walked in steady pace through green hills. Mountains with a cave was far behind you and now you could see only its outline. In the distance before you caught glimpse of Nagaram's City gates before it disappeared behind a hill.

"How does Lord Pegasus' manor looks like?" you asked. You couldn't imagine big dragon within some kind of mansion.

"You wondering about dragon fitting in a human home, right?" amusement flickered in his eyes.

"How do you know?" you pursed your mouth.

"Your face is like an open book, you know?" he said." Anyway, dragons can change their forms at will. So he lives in human-like manor in the mountains."

You hummed in response to new revelation. Somehow you could imagine that. Plus taking into consideration fact that brothers said that they couldn't change into their full forms, explanation made sense to you.

"So Laegil can change into dragon again whenever she'd like?" you inquired.

"No, I put a spell on her. Now probably she's pestering Yugi to remove it."

"Why would you put a spell on her?!"

"Because now came dangerous times." He said once again leaving you confused.

You sighed and turned face towards the sky. There were no clouds above and you could feel sunbeams touching you skin leaving pleasant sensation. Sun beaconed whole hill saturating green grass. It was amazing view.

"How long do you know Laegil?" you asked after some time.

"Hmm... about few centuries?"

"Centuries!? Just how old are you!?" you exclaimed jumping slightly.

He rubbed his chin and answered.

"Around three centuries."

You went quiet. You knew dragons had long life-spans, but subconsciously you assumed boys were around your age. So half-dragons lived long too. That's something new, you thought.

You two got on the road where merchants carriages rode. You were so excited seeing so many different colored people. Each wore exotic clothes, funny hats or coats. They were mostly men, each different from one another.

You decided you were fine and could ride a horse again.

"Maybe if you sat sideways in a saddle it would be more comfortable?" he mused looking at you.

"Well, let's try!" you said and grinned.

Since looking at merchants your mood has improved and you forgot about Atem's riddle-like speaking.

He helped you sit correctly and climbed on Gurram behind you. You decided it was nice change because you could see everything clearly without boy's back obstructing the view.

(If Atem had to be honest with himself he'd have to admit that he proposed this solution only half caring about your comfort. When he saw how delighted you were seeing merchant carriages he was sure you'd be wriggling in the saddle and most likely fall down. You were almost jumping at the sight. It's not like he'd tell you this, of course.)

So you rode within merry crowd. Next you two rode colorful carriage with a dance troop. They were laughing and playing some lively music. Women waved to you and giggling when you waved back. Being close enough they clasped around your neck shining necklace saying that it would liven up your white dress. Then they gave you beautiful scarf mate of soft material. You thanked them gleefully. You didn't understand what they were saying in their language, but they seemed to be joyful.

Soon city gates came into view. They were made of light wood. Tops were decorated with flowers. You passed them along with merchants.
You saw small and different colored townhouses. All of them adorned with flowers. On balconies and roofs there were garlands. All around there were people carrying bouquets or wreaths.

"It's so beautiful!" you clapped your hands in joy. Your eyes darted on every house.

"Yes, it is." Atem agreed smiling at you. "It must be annual flower festival."

Soon enough you found Yugi and Laegil. They said they've found inn to stay in. Yugi and Atem went to find a place for your horses to stay. They left you and Laegil before inn on a small market place, since red-head refused to leave you alone. You laughed at her stubbornness. Even before she argued with Atem about you two travelling on foot. She was quite protective about you. You guessed it was because she didn't exactly trust Lord Pegasus.

You watched as musicians from dance troop from earlier arranged their instruments. You recognized some of them, others were unknown. You waited as they tuned them.

You looked around small market place. There were flowers spread all over the place. On balconies stretched wreaths of multicolored flowers. Townspeople chatted and laughed, children were running around with flower crowns. Whole place emitting with warmth and positive energy.

"Miss! Do you want a flower crown?" small girl held wreath towards you. Behind her stood few other children.

"Really? Can I?" you leaned towards her. She nodded vigorously and gave you colorful plait.

You thanked girl and grinned when she put a crown on your head. You jumped as music started playing. It was pleasant tune, rhythmic and lively. Girl that gave you the crown tugged on your hand and pulled you towards the center of marketplace.

You gave children funny look as they started to drag you.

You followed sweet melody and danced with children. They twirled around you, all laughing and grinning. You noticed as children pulled more and more people to dance with them. You recognized women who gave you scarf joining as well.

Music quickened as you danced and jumped with townspeople. The started to clap their hands to the rhythm of music. From the balconies fell flower petals filling marketplace with thousands of colorful sparks. You spinned and twirled alongside people. Laughter filled your ears as music came to the end.

You breathed heavily as you smiled broadly. You caught gaze of Atem and run towards the dragon.

"I see you're having fun," he said and smirked.

"Yes!"

***

"Here, ______. Me and Laegil went to the market before and bought you some clothes." Said Yugi handing you a package.

"Oh, thank you!" you beamed at him and went to change.

"I chose them, you can't trust men in such cases," you heard Laegil's voice behind closed doors.

You liked your new clothes. They were more colorful than your pervious dress. It's not like you hated white, but it was rather plain in comparison to new clothes. You also got new cloak that you knotted around your shoulders. Only thing that you decided to keep was silver bracelet. Call it sentiment, but you never took it off.

"You look great, ______" praised Yugi. You thanked him again.

The inn you were staying was small and clean. Every furniture in your room was made of wood. You liked it. It was first time you stayed in something like inn. You felt excited.

In the evening you felt sudden urge to get outside. You saw how beautiful flowers looked in the light of sun going down. Streets were not so busy, but still few people went here and there.

You stood in front of the inn when a men came towards you with troubled expression.

"Miss? Could you help me?"

"Oh, what happened?"

"I've got a cart over there." He said and gestured at alley nearby. "There is a hole in the road and some of my goods got stuck. I can't reach
them."

You hummed in response. You smiled ad him and nodded in your resolve.

"Sure, I'll help you, sir."

He smiled at you and led you to the alley. Indeed, there stood a cart but you couldn't find any holes.

"Sir...?" you said. You frowned and turned at him. There you saw two other silhouettes.

You stumbled backwards feeling uneasy. He smiled, now in more mocking way and yanked your hand. You squeaked and tried to break free from his grasp.

"Now be good girl and be quiet." he threatened.

"No! Let me go!" you shouted. You didn't know what the man wanted to do with you, but his menacing laugh didn't promise anything good.

"You've heard her?" he snorted while his companions laughed loudly. "We have to let her go!"

You trembled unable to escape the man. You could only whimper while he tightened his grip on your arm. You closed your eyes and once again shouted for him to stop.

"Yes, you do."

You heard scream. His grip on your arm eased and you fell down on paved ground. You heard more shouts and screams and. You opened your eyes and saw Atem with bloodied sword and two man lying on a ground. One who threatened you was on his knees clutching tight his arm and cursing viciously. Only then you saw blood flowing deep from his arm. You screamed and jumped backwards.

Atem, with his eyes shining dangerously in the light of setting sun, moved towards you. He picked you up from the ground and dragged behind him towards the inn. He didn't say a word while you stumbled behind him.

The half-dragon led you towards your room where Yugi and Laegil stood.

"What in the world have you been doing?" he said in low voice. You trembled and looked at the floor.

"I-he... I mean... He-" you mumbled trying to explain the situation.

"You what?" Atem said again in that low, dangerous tone.

"He needed help!" you blurted out looking at him in the eye. But soon enough you once again looked away.

"A-atem" Yugi interjected softly. "There is no need for quarrel."

"You're going to help anyone without any common sense and jump into dangers?" half-dragon continued and ignored Yugi.

"That's-! I'm sorry...! I didn't know!" you said. You felt tears pricking on your eyes.

Everyone went quiet, tension within the room was unbearable. You clenched your fists just as Atem clenched his jaw. You couldn't look at him. You just wanted to help the man. You didn't know it would turn out like this. You felt awful.

"Don't do this again. Ever." After agonizing minutes he said quietly though clenched jaw.

You breathed in relief. Yugi and Laegil visibly relaxed.

You sat down, whole adrenaline went out and you just felt tried. Still not looking at half-dragon you slowly asked one question.

"But why did you cut them with your sword?"

"It was punishment."

A/N
Dancing music:  

Reader-tan is so naive that it hurts DDD: But it needed to be done!
Anyway, I finnaly decided which characterization I want for Atem. It's mix of 3 (Yami from begginigs of manga/season 0; Yami Yugi the duelist; Atem the Pharaoh) + being dragon. Oh yeah, this gonna be fun~!