The next day Faylin wakes up to the morning sun. Her arm is wrapped in a bandage and her leg is also bandaged. She limps out of the hut to see Lyrian and Aleena chatting.
"How are you doing Fay?" Lyrian asks as she goes to meet with them.
"I'm fine," Faylin replies.
"Are you sure?" Aleena asks, looking to her arm. "You don't look so good, human. We should stay for another day."
"No, I'm fine," Faylin replies trying to convince her of her determination, "I just want to get to Limerock and find ore. I've wasted so much time already."
"You have all the time in the world human," Aleena corrects with her usual stern face.
"No you don't get it elf! I have to make weapons and armor for about twenty armed soldiers for a noble that I know in the Avesian Empire, by the end of the month. Or they'll take my house away, and we'll become homeless on the streets." Faylin explains, her voice shakes. "I don't have time to waste, so let's go."
"Fine, but we'll go slow. We'll stop at nightfall," Aleena replies, "it's for your own safety."
Faylin rolls her eyes and walks away.
"Don't be like that," Lyrian tells her, "we just want you to be safe."
"I can fight!" Faylin argues as she flails her arms in frustration, "that thing just caught me off guard. I'm a warrior not a rogue!"
Lyrian looks at her, "you're hurt. I don't want to see you hurt worse. Let's just go slow and get to Limerock."
"No! I'm in charge of this business so I'm leading the way," Faylin argues. "And I say we don't need to stop, we're going to get there fast. If not for my sake, for my mother's sake," she pleads. "Please, I need to get to the mines. I need the ore to craft and sell, to make money, to keep a roof over my mom's head, and my own head."
Lyrian frowns, "okay."
"You humans and your need for material possessions," Aleena scoffs with disgust, holding her chin up at Faylin.
"Excuse me, but I don't recall you having a mother who's paralyzed from the bottom back and up! Who can't even walk or take care of herself!" Faylin points a finger at Aleena's chest in anger. They are both in each other's faces, ready to blow. Faylin continues with fiery heat, "Do you think I'm doing this just because I'm a greedy human!?"
"You have no right to speak to me like that, human!" Aleena points, and her eyes are narrowing, but more self aware.
Faylin growls and faces away from her, "I have every right to speak to you however I please, elf!"
Aleena glares at her. Lyrian steps in between the two, "Stop! Please! I've had enough of this."
"Stay out of this, mage," Faylin says, turning to him. "This elf is nothing but an uppity, stuck up, self-righteous jerk who thinks she's better than us."
"I'm a wood elf, and you're a human. Of course, I'm better than your elephant ears! I should've let you rot with these creatures," Aleena says closing her eyes in disappointment.
"Really? Well, you're an arrogant bitch. That makes you perfect doesn't it!" Faylin raises her voice to a yell up the last word.
Lyrian stomps the earth beneath him and causes a swift quake, "Enough!"
Faylin and Aleena turn to him in shock and anger. "You will not argue like this in front of me or anyone else! We're all in this together! So just stop!" Lyrian orders. "Now, we're going to get to Limerock, and we're going to find the ore we need, and Aleena can get her information and then we're going home, and that's it."
Faylin and Aleena look away from each other. "Fine," Faylin says. "Let's just go."
Aleena follows, "I can't believe I'm about to travel with this hoarding scrooge."
Lyrian follows third with his hand held to his face.
----------------------------------------
The three of them are walking awkwardly after the argument down the dirt road of forest. Lyrian walks next to Faylin in slight anger, "Faylin. Don't ever call me mage again. I'm your best friend. I'm not a mage, I'm not an elf, I'm not a dwarf, I'm not a human. I'm not even a man or a woman. I'm a person." He lectures.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. It's just..." She looks at Aleena who is walking behind and can never seem to wipe off those mean nature green eyes.
"You need to apologize to her," Lyrian tells her.
"She's the one who should be apologizing," Faylin argues.
Lyrian rolls his eyes in disappointment, "then just forget it ever happened Fay. We're in this together."
Faylin nods in slight sadness but she sticks to her decision, and they continue walking. Although the walk is emotionally unpleasant, they manage to calm in silence, after focusing on their destination.
Some time passes. They're in a clearing. Forestry starts to dissipate as trees grow smaller and more spread apart. Grass is getting shorter and the sky is more visible. They're nearing the valley of Limerock.
"We're almost there," Faylin says, looking to the blue sky with minimal clouds. "We'll get there before nightfall."
The three of them walk in silence, and they approach an arid orange desert valley getting cooler from the coast. Faylin looks around, and she sees a few rocks, boulders, and some short grass patches. Plants aren't present as much as the orange rock hills and cliffs. A lot of plant life is dead. Lizards scurry across the dirt.
Aleena stops them at a small town on the edge of the valley, "this is Limerock Village. We should rest here before we venture to the mines."
Faylin looks at the town with an arch above them and a dangling sign reading, 'Limerock.'
Houses are made of stone, and the roofs are thatch. Small fog runs above the town from long chimneys, with a bridge over the stream. They rattle the dirt with each step. A small windmill grinds it's wood on the side of one of the buildings. There are a few shops, and a few houses that they take notice of, and only a few people outside.
Aleena walks through the old dusty town with her back straight and her eyes alert, ready for danger at any moment. Faylin walks with a slight limp from the bandages around her arm and leg, and the tiredness of walking all the way. Lyrian walks in between them with a slight smile on his face, happy to be off the road.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
People look up at them as they walk by, curious about the newcomers in their little village.
Aleena approaches a small house and opens the creaking door. The wooden sign hangs above reading 'The Dancing Donkey.
She leads the two into the tavern, and they're immediately greeted by the innkeeper, a dwarf. "Welcome travelers," he says. "What can I get you?"
"We need a room for three," Faylin says, handing him some coins.
"Three? I'll give you two for that price." The innkeeper nods, and he hands Faylin two room keys. "Enjoy your stay."
They walk up the stairs, and Aleena turns to them. "I'm a light sleeper, so I'll take the room at the end of the hall. That way, if something happens I'll wake up and come to your aid."
"Me and Fay will take this room. That'll work," Lyrian says, and Faylin agrees. Aleena takes her key, opens the door, and heads to her room. Lyrian and Faylin head to their room. Inside is a bed, a dresser, a table, and a window. A very small room.
Lyrian blushes slightly, "damn, only one bed?"
"Yeah. But it's big enough for both of us," Faylin says with a nervous chuckle.
"Right," Lyrian puts his bag down. "Let's get some rest."
"Want to come with me for dinner and information? I'm sure the innkeeper must know something about this place," Faylin asks.
Lyrian smiles, and they head to the tavern downstairs. The innkeeper is cleaning up, and he turns to them. "Ah, you're the two who are staying in the room." He says, and he walks over to them. "What can I do for you?"
"We're looking for a mine to dig ore and gemstones. We're hoping that you know where some are and what we'll find," Faylin asks.
"Nope. The mine is closed to all people and outsiders of Limerock Valley," The innkeeper says, his beard covering his mouth. "It's closed off to the public."
"Closed off to the public? That's absurd," Lyrian argues.
"Are you serious? We came all this way from Acrine and fought a bunch of bird-lizards in an elven camp ground," she complains with a clenching fist on the bar table.
"Well, I'm sure you can still get in, but I don't think it's a good idea. Unless you're some kind of bounty hunter or mercenary looking for work, the job for the mine is posted outside," the dwarf explains while shining a cup with a rag in hand. "I'd be careful if I were you. You might end up dead if you go there. Or worse."
"What happened?" Faylin grows curious.
"There's a dragon down there. It's been causing a lot of trouble. It's been killing miners and people alike. And the king doesn't want to send his army to deal with it. He wants to use his personal bounty hunters."
"I see," Lyrian says.
Faylin nods, "we'll take it. If it'll earn us coin then all the better as we mine for ore." Faylin can only think about the ore she'll collect, feeling desperate to finally get back to work. "Do you know a dwarf named Gimrik? Moved to Acrine, and knows a couple of people here?"
"Gimrik? I think he used to be a miner here, no? I'm not sure who might've known him better than I. Most of the dwarves are either dead in the mine or have ran off back to their kingdoms underground. This place is being slowly abandoned because of that beast."
Faylin sighs, "alright thank you."
"Good luck," the innkeeper says, "you'll need it."
Faylin and Lyrian nod, and they head back to their rooms. "I hope Aleena can help us," Faylin says.
Lyrian nods, "I hope so too. She seems like she can take care of herself."
"Thanks, that makes me feel better," Faylin says with a nervous itch of what they might face.
----------------------------------------
The next day arrives and the sun is shining through the window of the room. Faylin is already up and dressed in her usual armored leather attire. Lyrian is still in bed, his hair a mess. Faylin watches him on the small bed and nudges him with her foot. "Lyrian wake up!" She yells and pushes with her boot. "We've got to get to the mines."
Lyrian groans and rolls over and falls to the floor. "Alright, alright, I'm awake."
Faylin smirks from above him with a chuckle, "are you okay?"
"Yeah, just tired," Lyrian yawns.
"Well, get up and get dressed. We've got a lot of work to do."
Lyrian stands up and stretches. "Okay, okay." He goes to his dresser and pulls out a pair of pants and a shirt.
They arrive down stairs and Aleena is there eating a couple of berries for breakfast. She's wearing her leather armor and her bow is on her back. "Ready to go?" Faylin asks Aleena. "We should be getting to the mines before noon."
"Negative. I'm headed to the library," Aleena replies popping a berry into her mouth. "I'm hoping I can find some information on the flightless dragons that are plaguing the forest and this valley."
"We need to get to the mines and kill the dragon," Faylin says. "If I can get paid for the kill and get ore while I'm at it, we can head home and I can start making weapons again."
Aleena sneers at Faylin, "I'm not going to argue over your greed again. You can either come with me to the library and then I'll help you kill your dragon, which is probably flightless." She stands up crossing her arms. She points out at her with a slow grudge, "or, you can go alone and risk your life."
"Where do you think you'll find information at a small town like this?" she questions.
"Have you not noticed that this desert is home to many prehistoric bones and archeology?" she argues. "There are mines, and dig sites for quarries and bones stuck inside sediment rock. We'll find lots of information here. Now what is your choice? Are you to go alone to face your death and come to the realization that you're a worthless human?"
Faylin turns her head to the side and growls, "fine!"
"Great. Let's go to the library," Aleena whips her long blonde hair and leads the way out the door. "We can get some information on the dragons."
The library is small and the walls are stone. There is a small wooden door in the front, and a small cracked window. They barge inside the dust filled library, and there is a small fireplace in the corner. Bookshelves lean against the wall.
Aleena asks Lyrian in a calm yet noble tone, "archivist, can you find anything?"
Lyrian nods and begins looking through the books on the shelves. He pulls out a few and sets them on the table, all having to do with dragons.
He reads through the pages, sitting on a uneven wooden chair, "dragons, wyvern, drakes, wurms. They all seem to be able to fly, or have limited flight, but there are no drawings or anything." Lyrian says. "I don't know how to identify what kind of creature we're dealing with. I'm sorry, I need more information."
"These things are supposed to be extinct. Try the origin of the dragons," Aleena says.
Faylin is pacing the room and Lyrian is reading the pages of the books. "The origin of dragons? Well, there are a few theories, but most of them seem to be based in folklore. One says that dragons were created by the gods to be guardians of the world."
Lyrian pulls out another book and reads the title, "Dragons of Myth and Legend, by Dr. Gromley. Here's one by an alchemist."
"Alchemist?" Aleena asks.
"Someone who practices magic using potions and elixirs. They are usually called mages, but this one seems to be more of a scientist than a mage," Lyrian explains.
"What does it say?" Faylin is disinterested. She is sitting at a chair and placing her cheek on her fist in boredom.
Lyrian flips through a few pages. "Let's see here," he reads, "Dragons were not created as told in the religious stories told by monks and priests but as an evolution." He reads more of the passage, "Dragons were not originally meant to fly, as they were originally meant to swim, like a fish in the sea, or crawl on land, like a snake. However, as dragons evolved, their bodies changed, and they gained the ability to fly, but at a cost. Dragons like hydras were meant to swim in the sea, and they became wyverns, the ones that were meant to crawl on land. A family of dragon but of a different species."
"No, close. Try reading ahead," Aleena says dismissing with a wave.
Lyrian flips the pages and stops on a page titled "In prehistoric times, dragons never had wings, or breathed fire."
"There! Keep reading."
Lyrian clears his throat. "In prehistoric times, dragons never had wings or fire breathing abilities. These creatures once dominated the lands before any human, dwarf, elf or any sign of intelligent life. These wingless dragons are called dinosaurs," Lyrian continues. "These creatures lived, hunted, and thrived. There were carnivores and herbivores of these species. Some were even as small as a house cat."
"Keep going," Aleena commands. Lyrian turns the page.
"These dinosaurs were wiped off the face of the world by a meteorite strike event that led to the extinction of all these beasts, and then came the new mammals and reptilians, which eventually led to the dragons we know and love today." Lyrian flips through more pages, "Look, here's all the types of Dinosaurs."
Lyrian points to a page as Aleena peeks from behind, "There's the one that attacked your clan. They're called dilophosaurus. They hunt in packs, they're fast, and small." Lyrian turns the page, "Oh, and that one is called a tyrannosaurus rex. Look at those teeth, and those jaws. It's chunky. It must have been terrifying to come face to face with." Lyrian peers at the small picture.
"What about the dragon in the mine?" Faylin whines, "we're on a limited time schedule."
"I'm not sure, no one knows what it looks like. But it's gotta be flightless."
Aleena closes the book in Lyrian's hands, "let's take the book. We can identify it when we see it."
"Sounds good to me. Fay, are you ready?" Lyrian asks, putting the book in his bag.
"Oh my gods, I've been ready," Faylin says, rushing out the door. Aleena and Lyrian follow her.
----------------------------------------
image [https://i.imgur.com/FPO4Tos.png]