Kaiden and Aridan, scurried through the narrow, shadowed streets of Gul’Gormeth’s slums, navigating the decrepit part of the Dragonborn capitol with caution. The district, once a testament to architectural might and splendor, was now a crumbling relic of its former grandeur.

“This place is a dump,” Aridan observed, as he gestured to the ruined buildings around them.

Kaiden, adjusting the hood that concealed his features, agreed with a nod. “This section was destroyed by monster attacks decades ago and was left to wither in the aftermath. It never recovered. Now, with the guards’ absence and the recurrence of attacks, it has degenerated into what you see today, a home for the destitute and desperate.”

They continued past the collapsed remnants of a shop. Abruptly, Aridan’s hand found Kaiden’s shoulder, his other hand cupped behind his ear in a silent signal. Kaiden stilled, it was their signal that someone was approaching. Seeking refuge amidst the shop’s wreckage, they weaved through the fallen beams and broken stone, both squeezing into the confined space.

Then, the faint rhythmic patter of footsteps reached Kaiden’s ears, growing steadily clearer as they approached.

Kaiden cautiously peered through the small gaps in the ruins, his gaze catching the swift movement of a figure darting past. Kaiden caught the dim reflection of the moon off blue scales, covering the fleeing Dragonborn.

Immediately, two other Dragonborn arrived, one covered in black scales, the other with red. A chilling screech pierced the night as the black-scaled Dragonborn unleashed a fearsome skill, propelling himself with alarming speed toward the fleeing blue-scaled Dragonborn. With a forceful hit, the blue Dragonborn was sent crashing to the ground.

“Brak, my friend, how are you?” the black-scaled Dragonborn, asked.

“Gorath, please… don’t do this,” Brak pleaded, as he tried to squirm away.

Gorath stomped down on Brak’s leg pinning the blue-scaled Dragonborn in place. “Brak, this pains me too, you know?” Gorath retorted, his tone dripping with insincerity. “Had you settled your debts, you wouldn’t be in this position.”

The ensuing half-hour was a harrowing symphony of Brak’s agonized screams that gradually dwindled to pitiful whimpers and eventual silence.

In the quiet that followed, Gorath stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the space before him. It dawned on Kaiden that Gorath was looking at his Status screen.

“Still haven’t leveled up,” Gorath growled in frustration. “Worthless,” he spat venomously, disdainfully kicking the lifeless form of the blue-scaled Dragonborn.

Beside him, the red Dragonborn let out a snicker. “Shall we find the next one?” he suggested.

Gorath scanned their surroundings with a predatory gaze. “Yes, but make sure it’s stronger than this one. Otherwise, you’ll be my next target,” he warned.

The smile on the red dragonborn face faltered, shrinking noticeably at those words. “No worries, no worries,” he stammered, eager to placate the imposing figure next to him. Without wasting another moment, he hurried off, in search of their next victim.

A few seconds later, Gorath too departed, leaving the scene of the brutal encounter behind. Kaiden and Aridan waited a few minutes before emerging from their hiding spot.

“That was close,” Kaiden said letting out a sigh of relief.

“They were pretty high-leveled for thugs,” Aridan commented, his tone reflecting a mix of surprise and concern.

“This is the wastelands. Only the strong survive. Just how high were they?” he asked curiously.

“46,” Aridan responded.

Hearing the number, Kaiden’s face paled, without an analysis skill of his own, he had always been in the dark about the true strength of those around him. The thought that mere thugs in this city could possess such levels was alarming. It led him to wonder – just how powerful were the Dragonborn guards stationed within the castle’s walls?

Their journey towards the city’s outskirts remained uneventful. By the time they neared the imposing walls that marked the boundary to the city, the first glimmers of dawn were beginning to breach the horizon.

They squeezed through a narrow crevice in the weathered and deteriorating wall, escaping the confines of the city. They pressed on, fighting fatigue, driven by a desire to put as much distance between themselves and the Dragonborn capital as possible.

Traversing the vast expanse, Kaiden and Aridan left a distinct trail of footprints behind them, marking their passage through the desolate landscape.

“We’ll head east, towards the Eleweyn Forest, with the rising sun as our guide,” Aridan instructed, pointing towards the horizon where the early morning sun had begun its ascent.

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“Are you sure that Elven territory is our best option? Why not attempt passage through the human lands?” Kaiden asked.

Aridan pondered the question before answering. “While Burnwar Fortress, is slightly closer, it may pose a greater risk. The fortress guards the entire boundary between Dragonborn and Human territory, bolstered by a natural ridgeline. It’s a strategic chokepoint. Approaching from Dragonborn lands, we’d be spotted long before we could explain ourselves. On the other hand, the Eleweyn Forest offers the chance of stealthier entry and once we’re under the cover of its canopy, my skills will allow us to sense anyone nearby. Additionally, I have allies within the forest. Can you claim the same for humans?”

Understanding the logic, but still apprehensive about the unknowns of Elven lands, Kaiden conceded with a reluctant nod. “Alright, but just so you know, if another elf kills me, I blame it on you.”

Aridan smiled, with amusement. “Fair enough.” He turned serious. “But remember, if anyone asks, you’re a human from one of the northern nomad tribes. Their customs include intricate tattoos, which will explain your markings. It’s imperative that no one learns of your Dragonborn heritage. Even I would have trouble preventing your imprisonment – or worse.”

“What about my eyes?” Kaiden said concerned at the possibility that the amber colour could betray his identity.

“Just claim it’s a skill.” He suggested confidently. “That should be fine.”

As they continued, the sun climbed higher, scorching the sand with its oppressive heat. The intensity, even before noon, was a bad indicator of the harsh conditions they would face as the day progressed.

They came to a cluster of rocks that provided a much-needed respite from the relentless sun.

“We should take shelter here,” Aridan proposed, eyeing the natural canopy formed by the rocks. “Travelling at night will be wiser. We’re too exposed during the day, and this heat could prove fatal.”

Kaiden offered a silent nod of agreement, his throat parched and words seemingly too difficult to speak in the oppressive heat. Contrary to belief, not all deserts were freezing at night. Here, the day’s heat was trapped by the rocks and earth, which then radiated warmth long into the night, offering only a brief window of cooler temperatures before dawn.

Kaiden took a swig of his waterskin, the warm water soothing his throat. He rummaged through their supplies, extracting some provision which he then passed to Aridan.

“Thanks,” Adrain said, after taking a sip from his own waterskin.

“I thought elves would be vegetarian,” Kaiden remarked, nodding toward the piece of jerky in Aridan’s hand.

Aridan paused, a piece of jerky halfway to his mouth. “Eating meat isn’t taboo among elves, it’s more about maintaining balance and living in harmony with nature. After a successful hunt, it’s our tradition to give thanks to the spirit of the animal, acknowledging its sacrifice and sustenance it provided for our survival,” he explained.

“That’s fair.” Kaiden acknowledged, it sounded like a more sustainable way of living than back on earth. His mind then shifted to their immediate concern – their journey ahead. “How long do you think it will take before we reach the forest?” he asked.

“Considering our pace, we’re looking at least five days,” Aridan estimated.

That fell within their calculations, which meant they wouldn’t face starvation, but their journey would be far from comfortable, and their water would have to be rationed.

Overcome by fatigue, Kaiden yawned deeply, his eyes were irritated by the relentless assault of sand and dust, compounded by sheer exhaustion. “We should take this chance to sleep,” Kaiden suggested.

“We’ll need to keep watch though,” Aridan insisted. “Let’s take shifts – three hours each should suffice to get us through the hottest part of the day.”

Aridan, noticing Kaiden’s fatigue, insisted, “You sleep first. Your body still needs to recover from the healing and potion earlier.”

“Thanks,” Kaiden said, looking for a comfortable place to lay down.

He watched as Aridan chose a particularly uncomfortable rock to sit on. Kaiden raised his eyebrow at this peculiar choice.

“An old trick to help me stay awake.” The elf grumbled.

In a matter of moments, Kaiden fell asleep. In what seemed like a few seconds later, Kaiden woke up to Aridan shaking him.

“You’re turn.” The elf announced, his exhaustion evident reflected in the dark circles under his eyes. “Are you rested enough?”

Kaiden still shaking off the remnants of sleep, reassured him “I’ll manage,”

Relief washed over Aridan’s features. Kaiden stretched out, feeling his body and mind gradually awaken. He watched as Aridan settled down, his exhaustion visible in his sluggish movements.

Standing guard, Kaiden thoughts began to wander. They had achieved what once seemed impossible – they had fled Gul’Gormeth, the Dragonborn capital. The prospect of reaching a place of safety and being free, caused his mind to think about the future. For so long, survival had been his sole focus, leaving no room for dreams or aspirations. Yet now, he couldn’t help but wonder.

Could there be an academy out there willing to accept him, helping him learn the skills and nuisances of this life, or perhaps an adventurers’ guild in need of new members and quests to complete? His thoughts drifted to his previous life on Earth, a life filled with missed opportunities and time misspent. He had been given a second chance in this new world, and Kaiden was determined not to squander this opportunity. In that moment, he resolved to explore this newfound freedom, eager to carve out a meaningful existence in this world.

As Kaiden’s watch progressed, the sun continued to beat down. Even in the shade, the air was stifling. He couldn’t help but notice Aridan sweating profusely in his sleep – something he found somewhat unexpected. He didn’t ever recall sweating elves in any of the movies he watched, but it made sense, they had to cool down somehow.

A while later, Aridan’s rest became troubled. He began mumbling, which turned into fearful whimpers and groans. It escalated into a shout and his body began to thrash, Kaiden, concerned, decided it was best to rouse him. He gently placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and began to shake him awake.

Aridan jolted awake, his eyes wide, filled with a mix of fear and confusion.

“Hey, it’s just me.” Kaiden soothed.

Gradually, the fog of confusion and fear lifted from his friend’s eyes. “What happened?” He croaked.

“You were having a bad dream. Didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention.” Kaiden explained, offering him the waterskin.

After taking a swig, Aridan managed a weak smile. “I could use one of those enchanted items to ward off the heat right about now.” He quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Me too,” Kaiden agreed.

“How long was I out?” Aidan asked.

“Just a couple of hours. You’ve still got time to catch some more rest,” Kaiden reassured.

Grateful for the respite, Aridan settled back to sleep. Meanwhile, Kaiden remained alert, he took the opportunity to practice his skills, honing them in preparation for any challenges they might face. He did not want another repeat of his last fight. He let his friend sleep a bit longer than initially planned, knowing that whatever lay ahead, they needed to face it with all the strength they could muster.