"Are you sure you are not an Elf? Or at least, have Elvish blood within you?"

Draukr blinked at Stefan while the Swordsman washed his armor and sword by the pond.

"I'm just a Human. A Human that surprisingly looks young for being a 40 year old."

Stefan smiled at the Dragon beside him.

Sirius just sat in silence beside them, wiping his ears dry with Semilia's spare clothes. His cloak hung from a tree's branch to dry while he lounged by the pond in a makeshift loincloth. Beside him, his clothes floated within Miu's transparent body. It was weird seeing Stefan without his armor and in just a plain, white shirt and brown pants that have seen better days. Only now did he notice the faint scars on his face that has mostly healed and old wounds on his arms. His hair was down as well, still damp after his short bath in the cool "pool" and not a pond, at least according to Draukr. The Swordsman wiped the sword dry slowly and methodically. Like some ritual, the man moved with great care as he wiped the sword down with a clean towel and a serious yet calm air around him.

"You move like a Soldier. And you treat this unremarkable sword like a Divine Relic."

Draukr snorted while he produced a cloth of his own from his robes.

"All weapons are remarkable if treated well."

Stefan never lifted his gaze from the sword as he finally wiped dry the pommel of his sword.

"As for moving like a Soldier... It's something I picked up a long, long time ago."

Stefan stood up and sheathed the sword into its simple, leather sheath. Draukr nodded and handed him the dry cloth in his hands.

"A rag from a Dragon's hoard. Taken from a Thief's belongings and forgotten to time, have it. Use it on your armor."

"Thank you."

Stefan stared at the clean, black cloth as he took it from Draukr's hand.

Sirius just watched Stefan wipe down his armor while Miu spat out his now dry clothes on the grass. The Slime rolled towards Semilia's clothes—the dirty ones, not the ones he was using as a towel to dry himself—and began to dry it by sucking out the water from the fabric. A yawn escaped his mouth. He put on the shirt and then his pants, both of which felt just a bit damp but he didn't mind a bit as he stretched out his arms in the morning sun. He stared at the empty pool with a refreshed and peaceful mind. A calm day like this puts his soul at ease. Under the sun, while fresh air fills his chest, and an orchestra of the forest soothing his ears, what kind of monster does not take the time to relax in the presence of nature? Even Goblins consider such a day important and good for rituals!

"What the fuck, Sirius?!"

The serene tranquillity of nature was ruined by a Low-Elf, of all things. And his body instantly felt the shackles of mortality as a heavy-handed blow struck him on the head.

"Fuckin' Hells, Sirius! Why the fuck are my clothes inside the fuckin' Slime?!"

He scratched his head while Semilia pointed a finger at the blob of water and slime that rolled around the grass.

His cheeks reddened at the sight of the Low-Elf. She wasn't naked, wrappings covered her modest chest and she wrapped her cloak around her waist to cover what's down there. Semilia clearly didn't mind, but he did. He squirmed uncomfortably. Semilia tilted her head at him with an irritated scowl while he did his best to not stare. There was just something to Semilia that doesn't excite him as much as– A firm shake of his head brought him back to reality. Even if his instincts got the better of him, he'd never go for Semilia. She annoyed him on a profound level that he wondered if his ancestors had some history with the Elves. She looked beautiful by Goblin standards, but her damned personality was worse than a senile Hob after a fight. Okay, maybe not as bad but pretty bad!

"Dry clothes. Just take from Miu. Won't bite."

He displayed his sharp, pointed teeth in a smile while Semilia stared him down.

"You... Hmph! Nasty little– Oi! Gimme back my clothes, you!"

Semilia stuck her hand into the Slime and pulled out her clothes from within Miu. The Slime resisted but a glare from the Low-Elf made the Slime relent and release both her hand and her clothes.

"Oh wow, they are dry. And they smell like... fucking grass."

Semilia sighed as she walked off into the bushes.

He could still glimpse her putting on the black bodysuit and her shorts. He glanced at the thick vest, leather chest plate that covered only the left side of her chest, and her socks and boots by the tree. Her bow and quiver hung from another tree. All of her items lay scattered everywhere and the sight of it made his eye twitch. He grumbled but did nothing about it. After all, why should you waste time on Semilia? An ear twitched and his eye flicked to the arrows propped against rocks. Slowly, he rose. He grumbled and muttered and clicked his tongue loudly as he picked up the arrows and grabbed the quiver from the branch. He walked over to the rest of her gear and placed the bow and the quiver beside it in a neat pile. He nodded in satisfaction at the organized gear.

"Ey! My gear! Thanks!"

Semilia grabbed her vest and armor from beneath the bow and quiver, making a mess of arrows on the ground.

"Ya' didn't have to pile my stuff, you know?"

She punched him on the shoulder as she grabbed his cloak from the tree and dried her face and hair with it.

"Semilia, have you seen my hat?"

"Hmm? Ah, it's on the rock over there. I think."

He turned towards the Mage, who still wore her unwashed robes yet missing the hat which made her stand out among them.

"Rock? Hmm... Please don't put my hat where it may be lost."

Riel walked over to her hot and dusted it off with the back of her hand.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Sorry, sorry! Man, that short dip into the water felt pretty damn good!"

Semilia smiled and stretched out her arms.

"Seems like the three of you had fun. Riel, you have some leaves on your hat."

Sirius whirled and saw Stefan standing behind him with his armor on and his sword strapped to his back.

He heard Riel pat her hat again while Stefan pulled the strap of his chest plate to secure it. He had his map out as well as his large journal. A quick glance told Sirius that there were new markings on the map. He tried to reach for it, but Stefan simply moved his hand out of his reach. He let out a sigh and strode towards a rock where he immediately laid out his map. Semilia stood behind him while Draukr approached the two of them from behind with a blank yet stiff expression. He peered over at the map and saw faded marks, wearing and tearing, and a black line that ran from a familiar name on the map to an unfamiliar name on the map. He tilted his head to read the name on the map. Grey obscured everything as Riel craned her head to get a view of the map. He grumbled, but he did not dare to move the giant hat out of the way. Instead, he ducked and stood under the same hat as Riel to see the map.

Arenhein, Toryehelm, and a dozen other names he vaguely remembers or just doesn't know were written all over the map. He recognized the Arendine, the mountain range that ran along the eastern side of the river Aren and divided the eastern part of the continent from the rest of the continent. On the western side of the river is the Border Mountains, or "Gr'At-Da'aeim Mouhn" in Goblinspeak. Great Demon Mountain, in other words. The wall built by magic and nature and terrible powers, it kept the Demons from overwhelming the eastern part of the continent. Or, so the old books in the dungeon says. He asked Riel about it one time, she told him that the "Barrier Mountains" were made by Giants during their age. But Stefan did not point at the Western Mountains, he pointed at the large speck on the map east of the Arendine.

"Castlleon. It would be a three days ride from here to there. Two and a half if we pushed the horses. A day if we do not stop and ride through the night but that will surely kill the creatures."

"Not with my horses. Like I said, I have already prepared them for you."

Draukr interjected with his usual stern voice.

"Can't you just-"

"I will not fly any of you into Te'loinn. In fact, none of you is even worthy of climbing onto my back."

"Fine, fine! We get it! We're all fuckin' not worthy and shit."

The Dragon glowered at Semilia's words and snorted some smoke at her direction. She flipped him off in turn.

"I have prepared horses for you from my land. But there are only three, for I do not think a Goblin is capable of riding."

"Your lands? You have lands east of the mountains, Lord Draukr?"

"A small town and a large estate, as a matter of fact. It's a Halfling village. I'm actually a recognized Lord in the Kingdom of Aven since I hold the title of the Lordship of Greenvale in perpetuity! It's a nice tow-"

"And how did you get horses into the village down there?"

Draukr narrowed his eyes at Stefan, clearly irritated after the Swordsman cut him off, and sighed.

"I am the Lord of that village. Even Te'loinn's foolish circus of nobles would not dare to stop anyone who travels under my protection."

"Own two lands? You are powerful Chieftain."

"Chief– Hah! I am no Chieftain, I am a Lord! Lord Draukr of Greenvale and Lord Mayor of Treville! I am also the Baron of Duskenny in Lehroun! I am more powerful than any mere Chieftain!"

Sirius let out an amazed "Ooh" while Draukr beamed at him and puffed out his chest in pride.

"Sirius. Duskenny is just a small plot of land along a rocky coast. It's not impressive."

Riel whispered softly under her breath to Sirius, Draukr not hearing any of it.

"Ehem! Pardon my gushing, but yes. I have arranged horses for you, but this is as far as I go. Moreover, I must speak to the old ghost that sent me here and to handle a... problem that came up."

"Wait, you're leavin' already?"

"Of course! Did you think I will hold your hand through your mission like a Halfling child learning how to plant crops? I have seen enough, and I have already wasted more time here than I should."

Draukr snorted as he whirled around and turned his back at them.

A hot sensation filled the air as the atmosphere around Draukr suddenly increased in both pressure and intensity. The Dragon took a slow, deep breath. As he did, the wind around him picked up speed. His eyes, those blue orbs that were as bright as the blue sky or as deep and dark as the sea that stretched out into the horizon blazed. They all ducked behind the large stone as the Dragon let out an earth-shattering roar. Literally. Sirius pulled Semilia and Riel towards him as the rock beside them split in two. He glanced at the figure that blew away the pond and the trees around him with his magic. It strained his eyes, but he saw the Draconic writing that appeared around him. As flames began to appear and whip around like thrashing serpents, he watched Draukr's form be consumed by brilliant flames that glowed like a fierce and furious furnace. Riel pulled on his arm, but he could not pull himself away from the sight of the Dragon as he finally revealed his true form.

His silver hair cascaded down his long, golden neck. Scales interlocked with one another and those on his underbelly were like giant plates of armor that overlapped with one another. As he moved, his scales looked like the water's surface as the light bounced off of them. He saw two pairs of reddish-black horns sprouted from the back of his head while smoke rose from within his nostrils. Draukr unfolded his wings as more Draconic symbols appeared around him. His wings glowed faintly as he unfurled them, revealing a pair of pale white wings that glimmered in the light. His four massive legs moved his great body and he could see the muscle beneath the scales flex and relax with each powerful step that shook the ground. The Dragon breathed out smoke as his head snaked towards them. Stefan stood up and lifted his sword. He planted it on the ground as wind and heat assailed them. Draukr opened his mouth and revealed to them his pearly whites that definitely looked like that of a predator's.

"Fratir Vraek Izh' Thraorh. Tremble before my flames, those who plague my lands! I fly once more! And may your journey be swift, adventurers!"

Stefan jumped on top of them all as Draukr leapt forward with a bellow that made his ears ring.

He caught a glimpse of the Dragon taking flight. Trees bent and the wind howled as he stretched his wings and soared over the forest. Stefan held onto them as the Dragon flapped his wings. The Dragon turned and cast a shadow beneath him as he flew over them. His wings let out a thunderous clap with each powerful stroke, sending gusts of wind that blew away everything not secured to the ground. Riel shouted as her hat slipped from her head. Miu stretched a limb and caught it as the wind lashed against them. The Slime held on for dear life while Semilia struggled to hold the slippery core of Miu within her grip. The Dragon roared once more as he soared over them, high up above the sky and towards the peaks of the Arendine. After a minute, Stefan rolled off of them while he panted for air. Semilia crawled on top of the rock while he just laid there on the ground, watching the bright shape that continued to soar high up into the heavens.

Something dug into his side. He turned his head to the side and saw Semilia, poking at him with a blunt stick. With a soft grunt, he swatted the stick away. He pulled himself up and patted away the dirt on his clothes. The Dragon roared in the distance, and he swore he saw an avalanche on one of the peaks. Bright light streaked across the sky in the distance. Like a falling star, Draukr dove into the mountain in a blaze of glorious flame and disappeared somewhere in the mountains. Semilia whistled, her hands on her hips and her gaze glued on the distant avalanche. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes still fixated on Draukr's trail. After a moment, she turned her azure orbs towards him. He tilted his head. The Low-Elf girl chuckled and shook her head and gave him a slight pat on the back.

"I actually saw a Dragon once. When I was just a dumb kid out in the woods back in my small village."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I wonder if Draukr knew her. My Pa says that she's been around longer than the Empire. An Earth Dragon. Says that she lives in a grove where Earth Elementals and Treants live."

Her voice had a tinge of nostalgia as she patted off some leaves on his cloak.

"Well, my Father once said that there was a Dragon in the Capital. Just under the Imperial Palace."

Stefan said with a smile on his face.

"I never really believed him. If a Light Dragon really lived in the Capital, it would probably be living in the Grand Church of Illyria... Oh, I found the path."

Stefan stood up and pointed at the woods.

"I don't see a path, Stefan."

"Ya' sure there's a path?"

"Nope. But if we're heading East, then let's head East. And... East is that way!"

Stefan said loudly as he marched into the woods.