THE ETERNAL DRAGON
CHAPTER 2 | Meeting twelve years ago

Unlike Cindy and Sara who could not sleep because of curiosity that night. John smiled in his apartment not far from the city park, his mind drifting into winter twelve years ago.

The Canadian city of Terrace is surrounded by mountains called the Laxha Ganeeks and is traversed by the Skeena River which empties into the Pacific Ocean about 70 miles from the city center. The city of Terrace is the regional retail and service center of the northwest region for British Columbia Canada airlines today.

There are still many dense forests around the Terrace region, the name Terrace itself is taken from the sediment deposits of glaciers thousands of years that produce “teras natur” which is found almost in parts of the Terrace region. Terrace City is also one of the tourist destination cities in Canada, besides cedar wood as a major commodity since ancient times.

Below the top of Treston to the north of Terrace, there is an ancient historic temple that lives in its ruins. Behind the ruins of the temple is a very large old tree with its trunk still filled with dense leaves decorated with roots of parasitic plants that grow on its branches.

The tree stands firmly towering high against the area around the temple. It is not known exactly the age of the tree, but some experts estimate its age to be more than 3000 years.

John walked slowly towards the old tree. His gaze went around observing the ruins of the building

the temple eventually turned to the old tree.

A cold breeze blew against John's long hair revealing a thin smile that adorned his face. John stopped under the old tree and his eyes stared at the old tree which was filled with layers of peeling age in some parts of its trunk.

John stood pensively observing the old tree, his mind drifting over his past memories that cast a shadow over two young children about a dozen years old practicing wooden swords under the old tree. The two little boys, Khaga and Araga, looked serious about practicing their swords, resting and resting under the shade of the tree leaves.

Wuzzz…

Back the wind blew away John's memories. Then John walked around the old tree as if looking for something between the trunk of the tree. His hands touched the tree trunk and his eyes scrutinized every curve of the tree trunk hoping to find what he was looking for.

His steps came to a halt, as his eyes were fixed on the faint strokes midway through the tree trunk. Although the streak appears to have faded covered the age of the tree, but John can still see the rest of the stroke. His hands tried to clean around the stroke to make it look clearer. The letter K & A can only be read.

A smile re-adorned his lips reminiscing about his happy childhood with Khaga playing downstairs

the tree while inscribing letters on the trunk of the old tree. “Khaga and Araga forever” still clear the words of Khaga when inscribing letters on the tree trunk.

I don't know how long he's been stuck standing by observing those letter strokes, too many happy memories of the time

his little girl was with Khaga at that place. Then without him noticing a small child approaching him and saying hello, “What is the uncle doing here?”.

John then turned to look at the voice of the boy and saw a girl about nine years old standing behind him. The girl's face was pure white with a sweet smile that adorned her lips.

As soon as John was shocked to look at the girl's face, his heart was stunned as if it felt something about the girl. He felt familiar with the face of the little boy.

The boy was wearing thick winter clothes covering his body with a pink scarf adorning his neck. The boy held the sugar candy in his hand while looking at John with his face

curious.

John smiled and replied, “Uncle is observing this tree. This tree is still strong

standing here”

“Has uncle ever been to this place?” ask the girl back with curiosity.

“Yes, but it's been a long time John replied as he looked up at the sky as if trying to remember his past

revert.

“Do uncles still have family in this city?” ask the boy in curiosity

“Uncle is looking for an old acquaintance who is in this city” replied John back while looking at the child

“Sara!”

“Who are you talking to?” suddenly a voice broke their conversation.

An old man approached them both.

“Kakek” said the girl called Sara as she rushed over to the old man.

The man whom Sara called Grandpa smiled at her grandson and looked at John and said “I'm sorry

my grandson wants to be impolite. My name is Gary Newman”. Then Sara's grandfather stuck his hand out to John

John shook the old man's hand then looked at him, he narrowed his eyes as if searching

the memory of the man's face in his mind. Gary Newman, a familiar name in his mind.

“Ah, it's okay kek” replied John with a smile.

As John smiled, Sara's grandfather was shocked. He looked as if he had seen the face of someone he had known for a long time. “Who

your name nak?” ask Sara's grandfather.

“Oh sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm John. John Araga” replied John with a smile back.

“Araga!” murmuring Gary while researching John's face, he tried to find the name in his old memories.

“Grandfather, this uncle is looking for his acquaintance in this city” said Sara broke her grandfather's daydreams from searching for those memories.

“Oh, Terrace is a small city. If I may know who you're looking for here son maybe I know him”

ask Gary next

John is speechless, hesitant to tell Gary the person he's looking for. Then he said “I

do not remember the exact name of the cake, so I will find it myself to the city later while remembering it”

“Alright, stop by our store if you are in town. If you need my help, you can contact me” continued Gary understand the thoughts of John who was hesitant to tell it. Gary handed John his card. Simple business card with Newman's tavern name, Gary Newman's name, phone number and

the address is written on the card.

“Thank you cake. I will definitely contact grandfather if I need something” continued John while bending his body.

“Ok. We are waiting for you to come by our shop. In that case, we go first” continued Gary while holding the hand of his beloved grandson Sara to leave.

“Don't forget to stop by ya uncle” shouted Sara as she waved her hand

Gary smiled looking at his jolly and excited grandson like that. Then he turned and smiled at John before passing by. John saw the backs of his grandfather and grandson passing by with a smile.

“You are still good Gary, it's not wrong I rate you” said John in his heart who had recognized the grandfather.

Then John fell asleep in his sleep smiling.