Minagh stepped out of the portal and the first thing he heard was the squelch his boot made as it sunk half an inch into the swampy terrain. He looked down in annoyance.

'I really hope this is a swamp and not ten year old shit,' Minagh said to himself. Frostpetal peeked out of his hair and examined their surroundings.

'The portal comes out at a swamp, a sort of halfway point between the city of the Iudex, Lux Deorum, and the camp of the Saor.' Frostpetal said, keeping her voice just low enough so only Minagh could hear her.

'Saor didn't name their home?'

'To them, names are earned and chosen. The city will name itself one day.'

Minagh cocked a brow, imagining what Dublin would call itself if it could do so. He chuckled lightly and began walking through the dense swamplands.

Twisted and gnarled trees surrounded him, the overgrowth blocking out the sun Minagh imagined to be above. This place was so dark and cold, it was hard to imagine anything being alive here. Yet, as he listened, their were shrieks of animals he could only imagine the look of all around, rustles in the leaves as he walked.

He felt like he did whenever he had gone to Belfast with his father. He was being watched.

'You said the Saor lived with the monsters?' Minagh said quietly, though he had the suspicion lowering his volume was doing little to protect their conversation.

'If they're here, you're about to have your first major fight. Humans are nothing compared to the Saor in battle. Use everything you have.'

Everything he had? Minagh could punch hard but he had no training at all. From what Frostpetal had told him, he was basically a Glasgow street fighter going up against a master martial artist. Interesting to imagine, but there's no way the boy from Glasgow is winning.

'Any other advice?'

'Don't die.'

Minagh stopped in a clearing, a small area about the size of his former home. It was enough room to move in battle, which he would need. Any advantage would be sorely needed.

'Alright, listen!' Minagh called out, and the jungle itself silenced itself. He felt tension and fear in the air as he announced himself. 'I am not doing this!'

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

'What are you doing?' Frostpetal said worriedly.

'I'm not here to fight, but if you want to go, bring it on! There's more to this Human than a pretty face.'

Minagh had barely a second to avoid the attack. He moved to the side as a humanoid darted through the trees with a blade of bone, serrated and stained with blood. In the dark, he could barely see his obsidian-hued skin, dark brown leathers armouring the unmoving parts of the body. The eyes though were visible, glowing crimson in the shadows like a garnet in the river.

The Saor rolled and steadied himself behind Minagh, waiting for Minagh to turn and face him.

'You are not a Iudex,' the Saor said in butchered English. Clearly not his first language.

'No,' Minagh said, his fists ready to swing if needed. 'Like I said, Human.'

The Saor tilted his head, hearing the word and studying Minagh's posture. He never once lowered the bone blade, and never took his scarlet eyes off of Minagh.

'Why have you come here?'

Minagh breathed out, contemplating just what he could say. Humans had a shit track record for first contact. He really didn't want to start a war with a race of hyper-violent shadow warriors, so he needed to be careful with his wording and actions.

Minagh let his fists go. 'I'm here to examine something called The Source. Do you know what that is?'

Those appeared to be the wrong words. The Saor's face scrunched into a hostile mask of hate and he sped forward like a cheetah. Minagh was looking this time, though, so he swung his fist forward.

The blade nicked his cheek, but the fist knocked the Saor backwards. The same punch that could launch a human only seemed to wind this man. Minagh grit his teeth. That wound stung, his eyes watered. Carmine liquid trickled down his cheek and along his jawline.

The Saor stood up. 'The Source is not for you. It is ours. It protects us. I will not allow you to corrupt it.'

Frostpetal poked her head up, making the Saor flinch. Suddenly he was outnumbered. But the Pixie spoke in Saorese. The Saor was unsure whether this put him at ease or not.

'We don't want to corrupt it. Minagh here, the Human, he has powers that might come from a Source.'

'Lies,' The Saor snarled. 'Humans are a Ley race!'

Minagh readied himself at the display of anger, but Frostpetal patted the top of his head.

'Then come with us. If we make a move to corrupt or harm the Source, it's clear we can't stop you.'

The Saor narrowed his eyes. Could this be a trick? A Iudex ploy to discover the location of the Source? Bringing in Humans of all things?! The Human was ready to fight and die against what was clearly a superior foe, but the Pixie... The Stories said Pixies could be trusted.

'Very well. I will not hesitate if you are lying.'

Frostpetal breathed a sigh of relief. 'Ok. Let's start again. This is Minagh and I'm Frostpetal. What's your name?'

The Saor stiffened a little, still gripping his sword. He didn't want to share his name just yet.

'We can call you Saor if you want?' Minagh offered, sensing they were coming to an agreement. The Saor nodded, talking a step forward and holding out a canteen made of leather.

'Drink this. It will stop the poison.'

Minagh didn't need telling twice. He took the canteen and took a deep swig. The thick viscous liquid burned his throat like strong whiskey and it's flavour was like tree sap and onions. He coughed out loudly, making the Saor smirk at his pain.

'Follow me. Do not slow down.'