Flying for hours, Alvor starts to doze off as the sun rises into the sky. The grassy fields sways in the morning light. A river runs across the center of the valley and enters a forest on the other side. Alvor and Kendra shake from the cold as bags hang under their eyes. Alvor’s eyes return to normal as he yawns.

  See a clear spot? Alvor asked. Valisa chirps as she sees a safe area in the distance. Let us land, you need a break, Alvor responds. Valisa begins to descend in the direction of the trees. Raises her wings and slow down, she extends out her legs and lands gently on the ground. Valisa looks around and yawns as she tries to keep her eyes open and lowers herself to the ground. Alvor grips the staff tightly in his right hand as he releases his grip around Valisa’s spike. Dust clings to their armor and clothes as Valisa’s scales were also coated.

  The river on the left rushes gently as the trees to their right cast shade over them. Alvor lifts his right leg and slides off with Kendra as they land on the ground. Their legs were stiff as the cold slowly leaves their bodies. Kendra begins to breathe normal as the dust drops off her armor.

  Alvor looks up at Valisa with a smile on his face. Thanks, Alvor said as the dust falls off his clothes. Valisa chirps happily and walks away from him. Alvor watches Valisa come to a complete stop and extends her left the right wings and gives them a quick sniff. Valisa lets out a series of franticly hisses. Alvor starts to worry as he watches Valisa’s reaction. She takes off the dust and runs towards the river. She leaps into the river with a massive splash and submerges herself. Alvor freezes in place as Kendra reaches up and scratches her head. What got into that dumb animal? Kendra asked. Stupid Templar, you have no education? Alvor said with an irritated voice. I do have and education you bastard, Kendra yelled!

  Alvor watches as Valisa’s head pops up and bobs in the rushing water. Alvor turns around as he reaches up and pulls his hood back. Turning his head, he looks to the Kendra. A sensation keeps building in the back of his mind. Can she be trusted? Alvor thinks to himself. Alright so who are you? Alvor asked. I told you, Kendra, she responds. I Know you’re lying, I saw you freeze and stutter when I asked for your name, Alvor said.

  Kendra stands up straight with anger on her face, Elenora, she said with a firm voice. Dropping her crossbow and shield to the ground. Alvor spots a rock and slowly walks over to it. Reaching the rock, he sets his mother’s staff against it, he returns his attention to Elenora.

  So, who are you? Elenora asked. I am just a man, Alvor responded. A normal mage cannot kill twelve templars while on the defensive, Elenora said. My name is Alvor, he said. I only killed five Templars, Valisa got the other seven, Alvor said. Elenora looks confused and angry. Still, does not explain the encounter, Elenora said. I had years of training with magic, Alvor said. Elenora shrugs her shoulders, I encountered an older mage with your kind of power, Elenora said. I am not that powerful, Alvor said. You are, I can tell you are holding back, Elenora said with a firm voice. Alvor begins to get annoyed. Whore, Alvor said out loud. Elenora’s face begins to twitch. Give me a reason to kill you, Elenora said with fury in her voice. Get past Valisa and we will see, Alvor responded as he catches a scent in his nose.

  Alvor lifts his right hand and gives it a sniff. Pulling his hand away and holds it away. They must be completely reckless, Alvor thinks to himself. Elenora looking smug.

  Get cleaned up the dust is not good for us, Alvor said in a firm tone. Reaching up he unhooks his cloak, the cloak drops to the ground. Pulling in his arms, Alvor removes his tunic and tosses it close to the river. Hearing large clunks of metal landing on each other, Alvor turns his head as he pulls off his tunic. Alvor feels the sun on his chest. Seeing her dropping her armor, her chain mail was stained in the dust.

  So, what is this dust? Elenora asked. Poison from the mining operation, Alvor responded. Poison, Elenora screamed! Alvor sniffs again, sulfurit, highly flammable poison when its exposed to air, Alvor said. Long term exposure will degrade the body and mind, Alvor said. I think your making this up, Elenora said. If I wanted you dead I would not tell you, Alvor said. We need to wash ourselves, Alvor followed up.

  Elenora grunts and begins to pull off her chain mail to reveal her stained light brown shirt. Tossing her chain mail onto the rest of her armor, a light clunk could be heard. Elenora breathes deep as she feels her chest expanding. After a few minutes Elenora removes the last of her armor. her pants were the same color as her shirt.

  Hearing the water rush away as Valisa emerges from the river. Shaking the water from her scales, she walks over to a sunny spot and lays down. Valisa curls up and close her eyes. Wash up, Alvor said. Not while you are looking, Elenora said in a firm tone. Not a chance, I still do not trust you, Alvor responded. I will keep my eyes on you, Alvor said. No way I will get naked in front of you, Elenora screamed. Alvor points to Valisa, want to argue with her, Alvor said with a firm voice. Ok, Elenora said with frustrated tone. Both begin to walk to the river, Alvor turns his head and keeps Elenora in sight. Alvor lets out a whistle.

  Reaching the river Alvor and Elenora step into the river. The cold running water rush up their legs. Walking deeper into the water, both stop as their necks reach the water. The water feeling nice, pulling something up. Alvor bundles his pants and tosses them to the shore. Seeing a wet shirt and pants, laying on the shore, Alvor looking over and seeing Elenora washing her hair. Looking away, Alvor rubs his skin as he hears a low chirp. After a few minutes both begin exiting the river. Elenora stopping as Alvor keeps low near the shore. Grabbing his pants, he heads for some trees. Valisa, Alvor calls out!

  Valisa wakes up and looks to Alvor as he points to Elenora, Valisa chirps loudly. Getting up, she walks over to Elenora as she smacks her lips. Valisa reaches Elenora, she cover’s Elenora with her wings. Hearing a hiss, Alvor begins to change into his pants. Feeling the wet leather stick to his skin. Forming a fire glyph in front his right hand and flips his hand over and aims at his pants, Ignatius, Alvor said. Feeling heat around his pants, the leather quickly dries out.

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  Valisa pulls her wing back and heads back to her spot. Quickly reaching her spot, lowering her head and curls back up in the sun. I might need to call upon you again, Alvor said. Valisa hisses and violently swipes her tail. Elenora back in her shirt and pants. Alvor pointing his right hand in her direction, forming a fire glyph and turns his hand over, Ignatius, Alvor said. Elenora feels the warm air hit her clothes and feels them drying out.

  Feeling better, Elenora walks to her armor. I suppose we need to clean my gear out, Elenora said as she stops near her armor. That would be a good idea, the poison is highly explosive near an open flame, Alvor said. Looking down she sees the dust on her armor, I could cause and explosion and hopefully kill him, but the wyvern would get me, Elenora thinks to herself.

  No going back now, Elenora said under her breath. Hearing a splashing sound. Elenora looks back and sees Alvor cleaning his clothes. Looking back to her gear she pauses and thinks of what to do next. I cannot wear this armor, I would be killed on site, Elenora thinks to herself. Elenora kneels and examines her gear. The chain mail possible, the crossbow and sword I can keep, Elenora thinks to herself. But I am in the wild, Alvor might not want to protect me, Elenora ponders to herself. Elenora stands up with her armor and walks to the river. Coming to the shore, she tosses the armor into the water and feels a burden lift from her shoulders. A loud splash echoes out as each piece sinks into the river. Elenora walks back to her remaining gear.

  Hearing a loud hiss, Elenora looks back to see Valisa snarling at Alvor. Alvor seems to have set some of his wet gear on her back. Overgrown lizard, Alvor said. Hearing a light cooing, Alvor begins laughing. Stopping for a few seconds, Alvor begin to remove his clothes from her back. Get some sleep we need to leave by morning, Alvor said. I am not that tired, Elenora said. Not you, Valisa she carried us over 150 miles from the mountains, Alvor said.

  Elenora grabs her sword, chainmail and crossbow and bolts, standing up and walks back to the river. Holding her chainmail, crossbow in her left hand and sword in the right. she tosses in her chainmail, crossbow and slowly dips in her sword and sheath. Waiting a few seconds, Elenora reaches in and pulls the gear from the river. Seeing the dust fall from her gear and into the river as she feels the grass between her toes.

  I am free, for so long I dreamt of this, Elenora thinks as she looks to her sword. A smile forms on her face as she pulls the sword from its sheath and looks over the blade and sees no dust on the blade. Elenora quickly sheathes the blade and stands up and she takes her chainmail and crossbow.

  Spotting a rock in the sun, Elenora stands up and walks to the rock. Reaching the rock, she sets her chainmail and leans her sword against it. Should dry out in a few hours, Elenora thinks to herself. Alvor what is the plan? Elenora asked. Lay low for a couple of hours and get some rest, I am leaving as first light, Alvor responded. Where will you go? Elenora asked. Alvor shrugs off her question as he sits on the ground and begins to meditate. Elenora scoffs and grabs her crossbow and heads off into the woods.

  Hours pass as they wait for their gear to dry. Alvor heals his wounds and sets up a camp for the night as Elenora hunts for some food. The sun starts to set in the distance as Alvor starts a fire. Valisa still curled up fast asleep with a half-eaten deer carcass. Alvor and Elenora sit on some rocks across from each other around the fire. Alvor’s staff shines next to him.

  A couple of sticks with some meat on them hang over the fire. Alvor covers himself with his cloak. So, what is your plan Alvor, after leaving at first light? Elenora asked. I will head to one of the free kingdoms, lay low for a couple of months and hit the road again, Alvor said. Alvor kept thinking of something in the back of his head. Looking up, Alvor studies Elenora. She stood at 5’10 as he stands at 6’2. The gods did not want us to be too different in height, except the barbarians of the north, Alvor thinks to himself.

  Why did you help me escape? Alvor asked. I wanted my freedom, Elenora responded. Freedom, you are a Templar, Alvor responded in an aggressive tone. Freedom is forcing people into shackles or bending their knees, Alvor followed up. You cannot be loyal when you were given no choice, Elenora responded. I do not believe that you templar’s love your holy crap. Alvor said.

  Sitting up, Elenora begins staring down Alvor. I was taken from my family when I was eleven, all because they raised the taxes on my family, Elenora said with a fury in her voice. you have no idea what it is like to pulled away from your family, your father pushing Templars to get you back, Elenora said.

  Trust me, my family turned on me quickly, Alvor said as anger built in his voice. Attacking me for not supporting their insanity, Alvor said with regret in his voice. Alvor staring deeply into the fire, the flames dancing in his eyes. Remembering deeply as he began to relive that day. Quickly snapping out of it, he looks to Elenora.

  Solaris Chantry, Alvor said as he spits on the ground. Elenora looks annoyed as her left eye twitches. So, what, the Dark lords of Xin are no different? Elenora said. At least they did not choose to commit genocide, they were forced to, Alvor said. They have long since lost their way, the knowledge and their history will be lost, Alvor said. Elenora looks ashamed of herself. I had no idea, Elenora said. I cannot believe you are so stupid, you know the crimes the chantry has committed, Alvor said.

  Alvor reaches forward and pulls his stick away from the fire. The meat sizzling in the cold air. Both have become monsters in this world, Alvor said. Where is the closest free Kingdom? Elenora asked. Three weeks by foot I think, could be captured by one of the factions by now, Alvor said as he looks at his meal. The Dark lords have been making some severe pushes, Alvor said. The chantry lost several generals due to assassination, Elenora said. Alvor laughs. You idiots promote due to faith and devotion not skill, Alvor said. Elenora getting angry and breaths deeply knowing he was right.

  Elenora pulls her food away from the fire. Looking at it, the charred cook deer meat was ready. Both begin to eat their meal. After a few minutes as the last bite was taken. Alvor tosses his stick into the fire.

  The scent of warm maple fills the air as the fire continues to burn. Alvor watching Elenora eating her meal, quickly finishing her food, and tossing it into the fire. Alvor getting up from the fire, yawning as he stood straight up. Will you help me reach the free kingdom? Elenora asked. Alvor stops and rising his right hand to his chin. Alvor thinks of if this was a good idea. Lowering his hand to his side. I will, but when we reach the Kingdom, we part ways, Alvor said in a firm tone.

  Thanks, Elenora said with a slightly relieved tone. Alvor walks away, quickly leaving her by the fire. With each step the grass crunched under his feet.

  Reaching Valisa, Alvor looks and finds a spot next to her neck. Walking to the spot, he lays down next to Valisa as he feels his eyes become heavy. Alvor closing his eyes and falls asleep. A high pitch hum rings in his ears as he sees a woman with brown hair in his dreams. Valisa wraps her head and neck around Alvor and covers him with her left wing.