I was thinking about chocolate, and what I can do with it, then I came to realize that at some point I had gotten lost in my thoughts that I somehow ended up back at the ruins of the village. The arrows, coating the ground like grass, the ice glacier persering the metal humans. This is something I am not sure I was ready or prepared to see yet.

A deep sigh left my mouth as I looked at the scene, like it was frozen in time. It just makes me think about how things continue while I am not there. I wonder how much everyone back home has changed. I still wonder if they know where I am, or if they care. Being so close to the void has messed with the mana of the world. Though mostly protected, the side of which faces the void has clearly less mana to use. The side directly away from it has the most concentrated.

I looked around and saw the lake which felt like a warm welcome back home, to take a break in. I flew over to the lake and landed on the beach, I remembered back to my fight with the shade. It really must've been trying to seek me out. I wonder how well shades can track dragons. I heard many stories of shades. How violent, and harsh they could be, but until I fought that one it didn't seem real.

I splashed myself with the brisk cold water, washing away the thoughts of that fight. I am glad I had won, but not paying attention to the mana is what led to that situation happening. I am still very young for a dragon, but I am no hatchling. I am a dragon!

I rolled onto my back and floated on the water. I know of the war against the shades, and recently I have defended myself, but what would I be able to do, if I was up against something as strong as me, or stronger. I am sure I would struggle to function. I am not the best at fighting.

I thought more, when my mind finally settled one thing. I wonder how Hickory has been. Tomorrow I will go visit his house, and see how he is doing. I let the thought hang in the air as I dozed off to sleep.

***

Hickory just finished cutting wood, when he went over to his bench to sit down. Looking up near the top of the mountain, he could see the cave in which Lost usually rests. It's been a while since she has returned home.

“It's been a while since she has returned home. I know Lost is a dragon and strong, but she is also clumsy and absent minded sometimes.” I admitted.

Whipping the sweat off my forehead, I let my body relax, comforted by the chill breeze which runs down the mountain. I had yet to tell Lost, I had gained some mana control. One night while practicing, I felt crippling pain in my chest, before I suddenly felt the flow of what she called mana. Though mine is different then hers.

I held my hand out and after a bit of focusing I had a warm small fire in my hand, quickly I closed my hand extinguishing the flames. Seems I can use fire. I had come to start practicing it after training my body, sometimes while training my body. I really wanted to learn about Lost's ice and water. When I see her mighty usage of her mana, it's so majestic and powerful, but that is not for me it seems.

I haven't shaved in a while and started reaching the age in which I am growing a full beard now. I was absently mindly watching the flames, when I heard everything get quiet. I felt a chill run across me and my hair stood on end. Something dangerous is nearby, and it's not Lost.

I grabbed my ax, stood up, and looked around from where they could be approaching from. It's when I saw several pairs of eyes, reflecting the fires glowing light from the darkness. I assessed my options, if i ran for my house, they would get on top of me, and if two are here this is more. Lost’s presence had granted me protection from any wildlife from getting too curious. Seems her absence was not noticed by just me.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

I had on my jacket made from minotaur hide, which will offer a good bit of protection, but not really a lot. I best illuminate my surroundings. I stepped toward the fire I was burning and grabbed a log, which one side was ablaze and threw it at the eyes, in the darkness. What I saw was much worse then, just wild wolves.

Behind the wolves were human scouts, from the military of the Kingdom of Dirus. The kingdom from the Sea seemed to not forgive Lost for what she had done. She must’ve put fear in their hearts, for them to wait till Lost is not returning before climbing the mountain.

I readied my ax, and charged at the men and wolves. When I started charging, the men let go of the restraints and let the wolves charge at me. Heaving my ax at the first wolf I felt my muscles bulge and become tight as I swung my ax, with as much force as I could muster. I felt the ax sink deep into the wolves flesh and break bone, when I brought it down on the things head. Not letting the wolf keep my ax, I quickly stepped onto the wolf and pulled my ax out, and readied myself for the second wolf as a ball of fire grew in my open hand and flung itself at the wolf charging me.

The ball of fire, though not strong, popped in front of the wolf’s eyes blinding it long enough for me to close the distance and heavy my trusty ax again, dispatching of the second wolf. I got coated in the second wolf’s blood as it was not as clean of a strike. So I took a second to swipe the blood from my face, when one of the soldiers came charging at me, coming at me when I am not ready to counter, is smart, but not enough.

I kicked the bench from in front me, to under his legs, making him fall onto the ground. Quickly I stomped his unprotected chest, not killing him, but he will be indisposed long enough hopefully to deal with the second.

Looking at the second soldier, he had closed the distance when I had looked. Too close for my ax, and nothing to trip him up, I immediately dropped my ax, and as he readied his swing, I leaped at him. Closing the distance, faster than he can swing I put my palm in front of his face and ignited a ball of fire. Though not much harm was caused, it was startling enough to break his defenses. Quickly I snuck my leg behind his, planting it firmly, I put all my weight behind my hand as it grabbed his face and threw him over my leg, tripping him, I threw his head into the stone ground with all my might. The dull thud of his skull colliding with the stone, left a bloodied mark on it.

Panting, I stood up straight looking around to make sure no other adversaries were approaching, I called on my mom’s lessons. I walked over to the man gasping on the ground trying to get his breath, I grabbed him by his tunic and slammed him against the wall of my house.

“How many are you?” I asked the scout.

I needed to know if I needed to run, or fight. The man struggled, seemed all the training and living out here Lost had me doing, put a great deal of muscles on my body, I had made quick work of these men and wolves. When the man finally gasped out the number, I got a grin on my face. A few dozen as scouts, then further down the mountain was another gathering of almost 100 men. This is way more than I would have been able to handle if they had all pushed at once, but spread out. This mountain is my home.