After Xiang dropped off her clothes at the cloth cleaner, she and Chika went to a restaurant for a meal. All eyes were on them as soon as they stepped in. Perhaps because of who Chika was, they did not have to wait to be seated as a greeter welcomed them the moment they stepped in and guided them to a table.
A waiter arrived within seconds. "Welcome back, milady," the waiter said to Chika. "Will you have your usual?"
Chika nodded. "I would like that very much."
"And you, young lady?" he asked her.
Xiang flipped through the menu until she saw it. "Vegetable soup and a biscuit, please."
"Very well." Then off he went.
Looking at Chika, she saw her giving her the biggest smile. "Seeing me must really make your day. Am I someone important and haven't realized it yet?"
"No," Chika answered. "I would not say you're important or special, per se. If I had to use a word to describe you, it would be...refreshing."
"Refreshing?"
Chika nodded. "You see, I have been on a number of adventures. No matter where I went or who I talked to, there was always...a smell. The stench of lies. Merchants lied while attempting to sell me products. Adventurers lied while talking about their exploits. People lied to their spouses about what they had been doing on a particular. There was always at least a faint smell. But you are different. You smell nice."
Xiang was curious. "Can you really smell lies?"
"You doubt me?" Chika asked. "Surely you do not think this purple skin is just for show, do you? In my veins pumps the blood of a dragon. A dragon of knowledge, to be precise."
She had heard of those. They were docile dragons with vast knowledge and the abiltity to speak the human language. It's said that they're fiery breath doesn't burn, but fill the target with knowledge instead. They are rare, but easily identified by they're purple scales. "I see. So you know all kinds of stuff."
Chika shook her head. "Not necessarily. I do have the experience of many adventure and have acquired a vast amount of knowledge through books, but I am no more intelligent than a well-educated human. The only things I have inherited from my dragon parent is my skin and my sense of smell. My ability to smell is quite a bit more limited than that of a dragon of knowledge, however. I cannot tell exactly what a person is lying about without doing a little prying. Depending on the strength of the smell, though, I can judge how great the atrocity they are lying about, how recently the lie was told, and whether or not the person feels regret for the lie." She clasped her hands and flashed Xiang that same smile from earlier. "That is where you come in. You smell so pure, it is almost as if you have never told a lie. As I said before, your smell is refreshing."
Xiang was starting to get embarrassed. "It's not like I've never lied. I'm only human, after all. But growing up, the only thing lying got me was a good whuppin'. I guess I learned to just stop doing it. I think it's been...maybe ten years since I've told a lie. My legs twitch in anticipation of being hit with a switch every time I even think about it."
Chika sighed. "The sweet, sweet smell of the truth. What a wonderful thing." There was a brief silence before she continued. "You seem to be new in town. If you are just passing through, I would be glad to provide you with lodgings at my home for a night or two. No charge, of course."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because you're a good person," Chika answered. "Good people deserve to be rewarded. At least that's what I think. Having been on a number of adventures, I can say that not enough people have that mindset. I am striving to be one of them."
She could live with that. "Thank you."
Then, the waiter brought their food.
"Now, shall we enjoy our meal?" Chika asked.
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