The magi lies dead.

We leave the body. I put on some spare clothes and we make our way through the rough terrain to the main road down the mountain as the noon sun rises in the sky.

We meet Lovia at the side of the road. She gives us all separate hugs. Then in spontaneous action we join together in a group huddle.

I relax in the warm embrace of my companions.

We break the hug and begin to settle down with the loud rumbling of Gareth’s stomach.

We start a fire and sit around it. Lovia and Subia stay close and I lean on Gareth across from the Twins. We eat some of the dried meat we got from the outpost while starting a more hearty meal over the fire.

"Tell us a story about you, Master." Asks Lovia with a smile chewing on her food.

"A story. I could tell many stories about wars and the warriors they breed or beasts of other realms."

"About yourself?" chimes in Subia.

"Me? Huh. Sure." I answer.

I try to think about what to say as I finish chewing the gamey meat.

"I was born in the Dark Lands. Deep beneath our feet are a network of tunnels connecting an entire civilisation. I was born among the Demons. Like all the 'weak' children I was sent above ground to the light. To die or return stronger. To fight in the legion as all demons dream, in the eternal struggle against the Lich Lords for domination of all the Dark Lands."

"I didn’t know that." Says Gareth.

"True though I don’t remember being abandoned. But it is the story of my finding as told by Davial. The histories and the occasional demons I’ve met confirms something like that occurred."

"Your parents gave you away!" says Lovia, her mouth open with shock.

"We were taken from ours, over their dead bodies, not much difference sister." Subia adds with bitterness her hands clenching into fists.

I nod somberly at Subia's comment.

"Demons don’t have family groups like aboveground people. They have squads which are like a family, then there is the legion. A community of fellow demons who live and die for the cause. Above the legion is the Army. All demons are a part of and protected by and must give service to the Army. I’m a wanderer or light dweller. I can only return when called or with a Lich’s head."

"Is that why you are strong? So, you can return?" ask Subia.

"No, I became like this the same way as Gareth as a child fighting in war far north of here. We were nine. Then we fought again as young followers of the Hero Galain in the Great battle of Undur. We fought the dead with the angels. No lich head, unsurprisingly we barely survived the zombies. For our services along with our magical potential got us to the Athfen Academy of magic signed by Galain. Three of left for the academy. Two now."

"Four." Insist Lovia.

I smile, a full smile tugging at my lips.

"Four."

"You have seen Galain?" asks Subia leaning forward.

"I have seen from afar. We were there at Foyan square. We heard the call and answered." I look at Gareth with a half smile on my lips.

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"I met Galain. Briefly." He says truthfully.

"What? How?" says Subia as Lovia leans forward, her eyes wide with wonder.

"I was on night patrol. Galain took over my watch when my shift was over. Handed me food and ale. We talked. Galain was like every other person there. Fought with us, ate with us, spoke as we did. If it was Galain I would venture into the dark lands or face the magi of Timami in their city that floats on clouds. I have tried to be like Galain ever since: strong in body, studious in mind, and noble in heart."

"You are more like Galain than anyone I have ever met, Gareth."

He nods, a small smile across his face. Happy.

We all fall silent sitting on the grass a few feet away from the main path at a safe distance from the mountain edge.

"I am going to hunt some rabbits." Declares Subia.

"Right now?" asks her sister.

"Yes." She looks over to me.

"You do not need my permission any longer, nor have you ever needed it." I answer.

She nods but wrings her hands and her brows furrow.

"But thanks for telling us, August and I will wait and rest. Try to be quick and we can add it to the stew." Inputs Gareth.

"Will do, be back shortly." She says running off with a smile.

"Sorry." Lovia apologises.

"No need." Gareth and I say as one.

Lovia stands up and gives a small bow before running after her twin.

With a wave of the hand Gareth tempers the flames till they are small and cool. "A waste of a spell." He mutters.

"Out of kindness, from affection directed towards those whom you care for Gareth. It is the only worthy spell you have cast today." I reply.

"Should danger arise again?"

"The long shadows cast by our encounter with the dragon stretch beyond any attempt at anticipation or reasonable enquiry."

"Should we do nothing then. And again and again be caught by surprise and by luck’s whim survive? Luck does not bear anyone in soaring flight for long beyond dropping them."

"We are alive, with rich rewards in hand. More awaiting us. If it was but the first then living by your side would be enough. But all three. With new loyal companions of unreckoned potential. We have made two friends today. For they were slaves yesterday and thus not able to befriend those that bound them."

"Let them grow comfortably unbound before we declare friendship. Let them be firm in their freedom and proud then we will see who stands side by side on the line locked in shields."

"Indeed. We should have taken the shields." I say reflecting on the day.

"Would have been useful in that fight." He replies with a faint blush visible from his reddening ears down his cheeks to his neck.

"Might have saved us a lot of trouble."

"Damn." we both mutter over our stupid mistake.

"It is nice campaign again." He says after a few moments.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I know things went rougher than expected but that was the first time I have felt alive in years."

"Yes, a terrifying and thrilling adventure."

"More than that we just stopped a killer. We faced evil and ended it. No one else will suffer from his actions. The fight itself wasn’t just about survival, we weren’t forced or in it for the money. It mattered."

"I mean most of it was survival."

"Aye, but not some rat who will stay in its cave. Like with Galain we stopped something that would have destroyed lives."

"It is likely, but we don’t know that."

"I believe it, they felt evil. What they did was wrong."

Again more silence descends and I stir the pot of stew of mostly root vegetables inside.

"You know, I am okay that we left the academy now." I say.

"Yeah?" he replies.

"Yeah, it was bad but we have met the Twins now."

"They are good people."

"A dragon, what a beautiful experience."

"So glad we left then?"

"I would like to have finished our full learning."

"Sorry about that, if only I had been stronger."

"No, if only I had shared. If we had prepared properly. Maybe we could have failed with dignity."

"Don’t think we could have passed?"

"Academy politics would have screwed us in the end. We were welcome at the beginning but by the end of year two we remained outsiders but without the freshness." I pause and add. "I think we can let it go, maybe Alessia as well. Let her live her life maybe. We have a good thing here, our eyes should be forward not looking back. We learned the lesson now. Work together and trust our team."

"We just beat a higher magi than us. No one can look down on us now."

The girls return carrying an unskinned rabbit each. Gareth and I skin them showing the twins how to do it.

I heat up the fire again and we throw the cut up meat into the stew and let it cook.

We all chat for a while before settling into a comfortable silence. Gareth starts to show Subia how to hold her sword and then a shield. He makes sure she is in a good stance.

Lovia sits by my side leaning against my shoulder.

They stop when the food is ready and we eat.

We linger at camp talking and relaxing.

We leave as it gets close to sunset and arrive back at the inn at dusk.

Sleepy, we all head to bed early.

I stink of sweat and I am in dire need of a wash.

It takes a while in the stuffy heat to relax and drift off to pleasant dreams.