The next day they made a quick stop while passing through a town. Unlike the one near the border which had been almost completely in the trees, this one was more grounded and Faelan could make out more familiar architecture. But it was still so surreal. Trees towered over the buildings and the roads were unpaved. No lanterns were in sight and Faelan wondered how they lit the town at night.

Conversations filled the air as they walked through the streets, horse leashes in hand.

Faelan studied his surroundings from the shadow of his hood. Nobody gave them much mind— just another two travellers passing through town. Nym stocked up on supplies, as Fealan watched over the horses.

Standing in the shade of a nearby tree, he noticed a group of children whispering and pointing at him. He smiled.

I must stick out like a sore thumb to them, he thought.

Then he felt someone tugging at his cloak. He looked down and saw it was one of the little kids.

The little elven girl said something in elven and pointed at his head.

Faelan smile widened, unknowingly revealing his fangs. "I'm sorry little girl, I don't speak elven." He said in common tongue.

The little girl's eyes went wide, but not with fear. She excitedly jumped from one leg to another, calling out to the other kids, and pointing at Faelan.

Faelan's smile faltered. Shit. I'm drawing too much attention.

But before he could walk away, the kids had surrounded him, taking in his strange appearance.

Unlike the elves, who had skin reminiscent of light, smooth tree bark, Faelan's skin was a dark tan, smooth and near flawless, apart from the scars hidden under his sleeves.

The girl that had tugged at his clock again said something in elven and pointed at her mouth. Then she smiled, revealing her perfectly white teeth and pointed back at him.

"You want me to smile?" He said, pointing at his mouth.

The girl nodded, her smile widening.

Faelan sighed. Maybe they'll let me alone once I show some fang.

With the subtlest of eye rolls, he smiled, baring his fangs.

The children's eyes went wide.

One of them, the one who looked the oldest, pointed at Faelan, and spoke in broken Common,

"You teeth sharp. Why?"

Surprised by the boy speaking he knelt.

"I'm not like you. I'm not an elf," he whispered secretively.

The boy's eyes went even wider.

Carefully looking around, he made sure nobody saw him.

He carefully pulled back his hood, revealing his horns.

More elven whispers emerged from the group of children.

Faelan put his finger on his lips and shushed them.

He pointed at his horns and repeated the gesture.

"Secret."

The group fell silent. Most of them seemed to understand. They nodded solemnly. Then a couple looked up past him as a shadow loomed over him.

"Making friends?"

The kids quickly scattered, laughing, recognizing Nym's guard armour.

Faelan readjusted his hood, his horns falling back into its shadow. He got up and dusted off his clothes.

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"Ah, what can I say? I like children and children seem to be drawn to me. Must be my charming looks."

He smirked, giving Nym the reins of her horse.

She snorted as she hooked the sack of supplies on her saddle.

"Your charming looks eh?"

"Oh, you have to admit I'm charming. What? Don't give me that look."

Faelan mimicked Nym by raising an eyebrow.

"I had you hooked from the moment we met. It's in my nature."

They both got onto their horses and set off on the road.

"Since you didn't react to that comment, I'm going to assume I'm right."

Faelan looked at her with a sly smirk.

He noticed a slight blush creep up Nym's cheeks.

"Shut up..."

Falean laughed.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one. Like I said, it's in my nature."

Nym relaxed at this.

"I see."

==================

That evening Nym started teaching Faelan about astral projection.

She taught him the basics of meditation.

"In the end, it's all about figuring it out by yourself. I can help you along the way, but nobody is the same. You'll have to find out what binds you."

They once again sat near the campfire, though this time not in a wanderer's den, but in a small clearing near the road.

Faelan sat cross-legged, and Nym with a knee up.

"Does it matter how I sit?"

Nym shrugged. "Whatever feels more comfortable to you. I'm at the point where I can separate myself without meditation, but that will take you a little while."

==================

The following nights Faelan's nightmares became more frequent and vivid.

They also became stranger and stranger.

As their journey through Terr'Alveran came to a close, only one day's travel away from the border, Faelan woke with a start as dawn was about to break.

He quickly calmed himself with slow deep breaths as he took in his surroundings.

He noticed Nym, also sitting upright, looking in his direction, her eyes having a strange shimmer. Then she blinked and the shimmer was gone.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"I'm fine. Just another dream."

He had told her about his dreams two days ago, just after they became more frequent.

"What was it about this time?"

"I-it was an eye. It was gigantic. At least as big as I'm tall. It was an animal eye. A predictor's eye."

"Did you have this one before?"

Faelan shook his head.

"It was a new one."

He sighed.

"It doesn't make any sense. None of these dreams are connected in any way. The only two that seem connected are the ones about the tree with golden threads and the ones about the girl."

Nym sat up more straight as she ran her hand through her long brown hair.

"Ah. The girl in the golden gown. When was the last time you had that one?"

"Yesterday. She was wearing green that time."

"Do you think that means anything?"

Faelan threw up his hands. "I don't know. Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe I'm slowly going insane. Who knows?"

He slumped back down, staring up at the slowly brightening sky.

"Ancients, I'm in way over my head again."

"At least you're getting better at astral projection." Nym offered.

"You almost managed to separate last night. You've picked it up faster than anyone I can remember."

"And in return, I get more freaky dreams! Huzzah!"

Two thumbs sarcastically rose skyward.

Nym chuckled at his antics. She had grown fond of the young man behind the assassin's mask.

Not in her century-long life had she met someone quite like him.

"You'll get it one day. The first days of mastering projecting often lead to self-discovery and reflection."

Faelan slowly rose, his signature eyebrow up.

"Wow. Laying some ancient wisdom on me there."

He theatrically moved his hand over his heart.

"I'll carry this knowledge in my heart, oh wise one."

A laugh escaped Nym.

"You better do, my young apprentice. Or there will be consequences." She mocked back with a posh voice.

Silence.

The pair both burst out laughing, a nearby finch taking flight from the sudden noise.

Joking and laughing they packed their belongings and headed back on the road, only taking a few brakes before reaching the great elven border.

There, the process of passing went fluidly and without trouble. Nym explained the situation and Faelan was let through.

"Guess this is farewell then."

Nym said.

Faelan bowed, a smile wide on his face. "Indeed it is. Strength to you, Nym Arwen, a friend of the Brotherhood. May your path be fortuitous."

Nym rolled her eyes.

"Streng to you too, Faelan. Friend. I would wish you luck on your mission, but even though I am willing to accept what you are and why you do what you do, I just can't."

Faelan's smile didn't falter but grew wider, this time completely sincere.

"I understand. I thank you for your understanding and wish you the best of luck. May we meet again, hopefully on more joyful and less professional terms."

Nym nodded and extended her hand.

"Aye. Let it be so."

The two companions clasped hands and embraced each other. Two unlikely friends, going their separate ways.

As Faelan got on his horse, Nym waved him off as he set down the road, on his way to the mountains of Durinar.