사막으로 향해서

모래 위에 흩어진 크레시들의 시신, 그들의 금빛 비늘은 햇빛 아래서도 이제는 생기를 잃은 채 바스라지고 있었다.전투는 끝났고, 모래는 여전히 뜨거웠다.“아성가셨어.”보루넬이 으스스하게 웃으며 발끝으로 무너진 도마뱀의 시미터를 톡 찼다.“생각보다 그렇게 많진 않았어.”용사가 칼을 휘두르며 피를 털어내고 방패를 정비했다.“그래도 방패 덕에 막아냈지. 다들 무사해서 다행이야.”그러다 사제가 땀을 닦으며 중얼거렸다.“그보다… 목마른데?”보루넬은 미간을 찌푸렸고, 사제는 작게 웃으며 손을 뻗었다.마법진이 허공에 펼쳐지고, 맑은 물방울이 공기 속에서 응결되어 손바닥에 모였다.“자, 물. 미리 준비해놨어.”용사는 벌컥벌컥 들이켰다.“푸하! 고마워… 사막에서 물 마시니까, 이게 진짜 생명줄 같아.”“넌 덥지 않아?”그가 묻자, 보루넬은 어깨를 으쓱였다.“나는 용이야. 이 정도 열기쯤이야, 거의… 아늑해.”그리고는 고개를 돌려 다른 동료들을 돌아봤다.“다들 잘 버틸 걸? 강하면 잘 버티는 거지 뭐.”사제가 피식 웃으며 말을 받았다.“하지만 배고픈 건 힘들지 않아?”“그건 그래… 나 아직 어려서 많이 먹어야 해.”보루넬이 진지하게 말했다.“그렇게 먹으면… 옆으로도 클걸?”용사가 눈을 찡긋하며 장난스럽게 던졌다.“흠. 그럼 나는, 강하고 멋지고… 약간 통통한 어른 드래곤이 되겠지.”보루넬이 뿌듯하게 굴며 배를 톡톡 쳤다.“그럼, 넌 엄마가 만들어준 음식은 계속 중독될 준비 돼 있어야 할 걸?”세 사람은 그제야 웃음을 터뜨렸다.사막의 한복판, 정적 속에서도 작은 평화가 모래 위에 남겨졌다.The bodies of the creases scattered on the sand, their golden scales, were rustling in the sun, now lifeless. The battle was over, and the sand was still hot. "He's mad." Borunel chuckled smugly and tapped the cimeter of the collapsed lizard on his tiptoe. "It wasn't as much as I thought it would be." The warrior wielded a knife to shake off the blood and repair the shield. "But I saved it thanks to the shield. I'm glad everyone is okay." Then the priest murmured, wiping his sweat. "More than that... "I'm thirsty" Borunel frowned, and the priest reached out with a small smile. Magicians spread out in the air, and clear water droplets coagulated in the air and gathered in the palm of the hand. "Come on, water. I've got it in advance." The warrior gulped down. "Puha! Thank you... Drinking water in the desert, it's like a real lifeline." "Aren't you hot?" When he asked, Borunel shrugged. "I'm a dragon. This is about as hot as this, almost... It's cozy." Then I turned my head and looked back at the other colleagues. "I'm sure everyone's going to hold up well. If you're strong, you're going to hold up well." The priest received the words with a smirk. "But isn't it hard to be hungry?" "That's the case... I'm still young, so I have to eat a lot." Borunel said seriously. "If you eat like that... "It's going to be big on the side, too." The warrior frowned and threw mischievously. "Hmm. Then I'm, strong and cool... It's going to be a little chubby adult dragon." Borunel patted his stomach with pride. "Then, you should be ready to be addicted to the food you make." Only then did the three burst into laughter. In the middle of the desert, even in the silence, a small peace was left on the sand.