Kaelen awoke the next morning, glancing down at the sleeping woman beside him. A smile crept across his face; she brought a sense of joy and comfort into his life. However, just as the smile appeared, The dream he had just last night came to him.

He found himself back in the mine, enduring the familiar sting of a whip against his skin. Just before the lash struck again, a tall woman with striking white hair emerged from the shadows. She seized the whip, freeing him from the torment of the mine. Gently, she rubbed his hair, soothing him into a peaceful slumber.

As the dream faded, Kaelen couldn't shake the uncanny resemblance between the woman and Vessira.

Kaelen found the small woman nestled on his chest, her grogginess more pronounced than he expected. "What's wrong with you? Didn't get much sleep?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

She smiled sleepily, rubbing the debris from her eyes. "Yeah, something like that." With a flutter of her wings, she lifted off and landed on his head, settling comfortably.

"Kaelen, you actually look your age when you sleep," she remarked playfully. "I never noticed how much you frown and furrow your brows when you're awake."

"Huh, I never really noticed," Kaelen muttered as he got out of bed, slipping back into his armor.

His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "Vessira, it's time for me to focus on getting stronger—seriously. I'm leaving Ashenhold. You're free to go, but... I hope you'll stay."

Vessira smiled, settling back down on his head. "Leave? Why would I do that? Besides, who else is going to help you read your stats?"

Kaelen only smiled in response to Vessira's playful comment and began making his way toward the city gates. But first, there were errands to run.

His first stop was the blacksmith's shop. The familiar clanging of metal filled the air as he entered, and the blacksmith greeted him with a nod. "Your armor's ready, lad. Took a bit of work, but it's reinforced and good as new."

Kaelen picked up his armor, examining the fine craftsmanship, and nodded in approval. He handed over the coin with a quiet thanks before slinging it over his shoulder.

Next, he headed to a supply shop, picking up rations and essential travel gear. Vessira floated lazily by his side, occasionally chirping in with sarcastic comments about the weight of his pack. After he filled his bag, they made their way to the entrance of the city.

As they neared the gates, Kaelen stopped in front of a guard. He glanced at the imposing gate, the heavy iron reinforced with magic runes, and turned back to the armored man. "Hey, how much is it to buy one of those entry passes? I plan to come back, and getting in without one seems... pretty illegal."

The guard chuckled, clapping a hand on Kaelen's shoulder. "You're right about that, mercenary. Come with me, I'll show you where to get one."

He led Kaelen and Vessira to a small office tucked away near the gates. The desk was cluttered with scrolls and forms. The guard waved to a clerk. "He needs an entry pass."

Kaelen sighed as the clerk placed a large stack of papers in front of him. Vessira, noticing his reluctance, zipped forward and grabbed the quill with a playful grin. "I'll take care of this. You'd probably just get lost halfway through."

Kaelen smirked and crossed his arms, watching her deftly fill out the paperwork. After a few minutes, Vessira handed the completed form to the clerk with a satisfied nod. The clerk stamped the document and handed Kaelen a small metallic token.

"There you go, one entry pass. Keep it on you if you plan on coming back."

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Kaelen slipped the token into his pack and smiled in thanks. As they made their way back toward the gates, he looked up at Vessira perched on his head. "Guess you're good for more than just reading stats."

Vessira snorted. "You'd be lost without me."

As the city gates opened, the vast desert beyond came into view. The journey ahead loomed large, but Kaelen felt ready. His focus sharpened, knowing that his goal was not just survival, but becoming stronger.

With his supplies in hand and armor secured, Kaelen stepped through the gates, feeling the pull of the unknown adventures ahead.

Kaelen stepped into the desert, and as the city of Ashenhold began to fade behind him, something caught his eye. In the distance, a familiar caravan stood, the same one he'd traveled with when he first arrived. Recognizing the hulking figures, he called out, "Zharaith!"

The gnoll leader, standing at the front of the caravan, turned with a broad smile. "Kaelen! I didn't expect to see you again so soon. I figured you'd already left."

Kaelen chuckled as he approached. "I was planning to come back to see you off before I left. Didn't realize you'd be heading out early."

Zharaith nodded, her eyes gleaming. "We had more success in the market than expected, and the smiths were already prepared with the equipment we needed. It didn't take long for us to get set up." She gestured toward the well-stocked wagons behind her, filled with weapons, armor, and supplies.

Kaelen smiled. "Looks like everything worked out then. Glad to see you're ready for the road."

Zharaith's grin widened, but there was a hint of something more in her expression—perhaps relief, knowing they had made it through another challenge. "Are you heading out too?"

Kaelen nodded. "Yeah, time for me to move on. But it looks like we'll be traveling the same road for a while. Mind if I join your caravan again?"

"Of course, you're always welcome," Zharaith replied, her eyes softening with respect. "Let's keep each other company for as long as our paths align."

With that, Kaelen fell in alongside Zharaith and her gnoll companions as they set out together across the vast desert once again.

Just as night began to fall over the desert, Kaelen approached Zharaith once more. "Looks like this is where we'll part ways," he said, his tone somber. "I need to focus on getting stronger. There are some dangerous people with their eyes on me, and I can't afford to be weak when the time comes to defend myself."

Zharaith's expression grew serious, her sharp features framed by the flickering firelight. "Dangerous? What kind of people? Is it something I can help with?"

Kaelen shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but this... this is a bloodline issue. Unless you can find a way to take my father's blood out of my veins, there's not much you can do."

Zharaith frowned, her eyes narrowing. "What kind of problems could a bloodline cause?"

Kaelen leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, ensuring no one else could overhear. "My father is Alexander the Stormsent," he revealed. "I inherited dragon blood from him. Because of that, I’m not just some ordinary wanderer—I've been marked by powers that want more than just me dead. I meddled in things I probably shouldn't have, and now his enemies are my enemies."

Zharaith blinked, processing the weight of his words. "Dragon blood? Your father’s a Drakewarden... one of the strongest," she muttered, more to herself than him. "No wonder you’ve got problems."

Kaelen nodded grimly. "It’s more than that, though. I’ve only recently learned the extent of what this blood means. And now, those who oppose him, who want what he has, are turning their attention to me."

Zharaith looked at him, her eyes full of concern. "That’s... a lot to carry on your own. Be careful, Kaelen. You might be strong, but even you have limits."

Kaelen managed a faint smile. "I know. That’s why I need to focus. Thanks for understanding."

Zharaith nodded and clasped his arm. "Good luck out there, Kaelen. And if you ever need allies, you know where to find us."

Kaelen nodded in return before turning to the horizon. "Take care, Zharaith. Until we meet again."

With that, he headed off into the night, leaving the safety of the caravan behind as he ventured into the unknown, determined to face the trials ahead.

Kaelen walked through the night, Vessira shivering inside his armor. "Kaelen, this isn’t fair at all. Does the weather really not affect you?" she complained, her voice muffled from within the armor.

Kaelen kept his steady pace, his eyes focused on the path ahead. "Not really. I can tell when it’s cold or hot, but I’m never truly uncomfortable."

As he finished speaking, his eyes caught movement in the distance. Emerging from the shadows was a large, sleek cat-like creature with gleaming black fur, its sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl.

"A Shadow Cat," Kaelen muttered under his breath. "They used to show up around the mines at night. Usually, they ambush their prey... this one must be desperate."

The creature stalked closer, its eyes locked on Kaelen, hunger radiating from its movements. Vessira peeked out, still trembling but alert. "What’s the plan, Kaelen?"

Kaelen reached for his weapon, his gaze never leaving the approaching predator. "We finish this quickly," he said, bracing for the inevitable confrontation.