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The fire crackled softly against the trees that surrounded their small camp. The cool air of the evening carried the faint scent of pine and the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil, a pleasant backdrop to the warmth of the fire. Lazar sat cross-legged on a fallen log, a chunk of wood in one hand and a knife in the other. His long, deft fingers worked methodically, carving slivers of wood from the block with slow, deliberate movements.
Across from him, Jadzia was hunched over a fresh kill, a small rabbit she had expertly trapped earlier in the day. Her small hands moved with practiced precision, her sharp knife gliding effortlessly along the animal's hide, peeling it back to reveal the meat beneath. She worked in silence for a moment, the only sounds being the crackle of the fire and the faint scrape of metal on wood or flesh.
Finally, curiosity got the better of her. She glanced up from her work, her icy blue eyes glinting in the firelight. "You know," She said, her tone casual but tinged with genuine interest, "I didn't think you'd be the type to… Whittle."
Lazar glanced up, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Why not, girl? Ya tink I be too savage for dis, yah?" His knife moved steadily, carving an elegant curve into the wood. "Dis troll can't be having hobbies, mon?"
Jadzia shrugged, returning her attention to the rabbit. "I just didn't picture it, that's all. You're always smashing things or stabbing something, or yelling at things. I figured you'd be too... I don't know, active, for something like this."
It was a pastime from his old life, not that he could explain that to the girl, it helped calm him, to do something with his hands, when his kind was running a hundred miles per hour.
"Dis be good for anyone, girl, keep da mind quiet like." Lazar replied, chuckling softly. He turned the piece of wood in his hand, inspecting his progress. It was beginning to take shape - a small bird, its wings held tightly to its body like it was deep in slumber in its nest. "When ya livin' in da jungle, dere be plenty time ta sit an' carve, keep da hands busy, yah? Be peaceful, it do."
She paused mid-cut, raising an eyebrow at him. "Peaceful, huh? I didn't think you even knew what that word meant."
She wasn't jesting either, her face fully serious as she looked up at him.
He laughed, a low, raspy sound that rumbled in his chest. "Peaceful don't hafta mean boring, girl. Sometimes ya need somethin' dat clear da mind. Dis be dat for me."
Jadzia tilted her head, considering his words. Her hands resumed their work, the rabbit's skin peeling away cleanly under her blade. "So, what do you do with them? The things you carve, I mean?"
"Sometimes I keep 'em," Lazar said, shrugging one massive shoulder. "Other times, I leave 'em behind. Maybe someone find 'em an' smile, yah? Dat be enough."
Of course it would be quite different here. Back home, he'd found some amusement just leaving a carving around, Imagining what kind of person would find it. Here? Would leaving something behind he'd poured his soul into - metaphorically - still hold a connection to him others could use? He wasn't sure.
Jadzia's lips quirked upward in a small, thoughtful smile. "Huh. That's… Actually kind of nice. I didn't expect you to be sentimental."
Lazar's grin widened, his tusks gleaming faintly in the firelight as he leaned closer to the fire, and the girl, "Dere be plenty ya don't know 'bout me, girl."
"Oh, I'm sure," Jadzia replied, her tone dry. She set the now-skinless rabbit aside, pulling out a small cloth to clean her blade. "You're like one big mystery wrapped in muscles and tusks."
"An' you be da picture of simplicity, eh?" Lazar shot back, his grin turning teasing, even as he eyed her speculatively.
He knew there must be something odd in her background, he just wasn't sure pushing for it was worth the hassle, emotionally.
Jadzia snorted, tossing the filthy cloth - a remnant of the dead elf's robe - onto the ground beside her. "Oh, absolutely. I'm an open book. Easy to read. Nothing weird or complicated here."
She didn't even try to sound honest, a satirical and slightly bitter smile on her face.
Lazar raised an eyebrow, his hands still busy with the carving. "Dat why ya runnin' 'round da forest wit' a troll, stabbin' Murlocs an' stealin' books, eh? Cuz dis not be complicated, mon?"
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against a nearby rock. "Okay, fine. Maybe I'm a little weird in a very unspecified way. But you're the one who's literally glowing half the time, so I think you win this round."
Lazar chuckled again, shaking his head. "Fair 'nough, girl. Fair 'nough." He held up the carving, examining it in the firelight. The bird was nearly complete, its wings delicate and detailed, as though it could wake from sleep and take flight any moment. Satisfied, he set it aside and reached for another piece of wood.
Jadzia watched him for a moment, a question forming on her lips. "So... What got you into it?" She asked finally, scooting closer. "The carving, I mean. Did someone teach you, or did you just pick it up?"
Lazar's hands paused briefly, his gaze flicking to the fire. "Picked it up, I did, mon." He said after a moment. His voice was quieter now, more thoughtful. "Back in da jungle, sometimes ya need somethin' ta do when da day be done, yah? Nothin' ta fight, nothin' ta hunt. Jus' da quiet."
It was a lie, but not too dissimilar to the real thing. All the mental stuff in his old world, all the social stuff that was now a constant with the hyper connected society - he'd just wanted something to distract his mind and keep his hands busy, so on a whim, he'd started, and it had just…
Become almost a crutch, of sorts.
Jadzia nodded slowly, her expression lit up with interest. "Makes sense, I guess. Better than sitting around doing nothing." She hesitated, then added, "It's nice, though. That you have something like that."
Lazar glanced at her, his violet eyes glinting with curiosity. "What 'bout you, girl? Ya got anythin' like it, mon?"
Jadzia blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. She shifted uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her tunic. "I mean… I guess. I used to read a lot. Before... Everything." She got a far away look, "That way I could look like I was studying, and place myself in the story, travel the world…"
"Books, eh?" Lazar said, his tone light. "Dat why ya keep stealin' 'em?"
She scowled at him, but there was no real heat behind it. "I don't steal them. I... Acquire them. And yes, I like story books. They're interesting. They teach you things even if you don't realize it until much later."
He could emphasize, he'd certainly been heavily into stories, hopefully she wouldn't find herself thrust into a fictional one like he had - not anymore then she already was involved in this storybook universe anyway.
Lazar's grin returned. "So, ya be a bookworm, then?"
He wasn't sure if that phrase existed here, although from the look on her face, she got the gist.
"Maybe," Jadzia admitted eventually, her voice defensive. "But it's not like I had a lot of options. Books were... A way out, I guess. A way to learn about the world without actually being in it any longer."
Lazar tilted his head, studying her. "Dat why ya ran, eh? Ta see da world fer yaself?"
She stiffened, her gaze dropping to the ground. For a moment, she didn't answer, her fingers twisting the fabric of her tunic. Finally, she shrugged. "Something like that," She muttered, her voice barely audible.
Lazar didn't press her, sensing that the topic was a sensitive one. Instead, he picked up his carving again, the soft scrape of his knife filling the silence.
After a few moments, Jadzia spoke again, her tone more lighthearted as she tried to pivot away from herself. "What about you? Got any favorite books, oh wise and mystical barbarian?"
He laughed, the sound breaking the tension. "Books an' me, we still gettin' ta know each other here, yah? But I be likin' da ones ya been teachin' me ta read, mon. Dem stories 'bout knights an' dragons, dey fun." He teased.
He was as much of a bookworm as her, but he couldn't say as much, as he was just now learning to read common, and could hardly claim he had access to many books with the Amani.
Jadzia smirked. "Figures. Big, dumb troll likes big, dumb heroes." She taunted.
"Careful, girl," Lazar said, faux scowling. "Big, dumb troll might decide ya dinner instead, mon."
She snorted, tossing a small rock at him. It bounced harmlessly off his chest. "You wouldn't dare. Who else is going to skin the rabbits for you? Dig the space for the waste for camp? Stab you when you're being stupid?"
"Dis be a fair point," Lazar conceded, chuckling.
The two fell into a comfortable silence, the fire crackling between them. Lazar continued to carve, his hands moving with practiced ease, while Jadzia began preparing the rabbit for cooking, her movements quick and efficient.
"Can… Can you teach me?" She asked hesitantly after a while, glancing at his carving.
Lazar smiled faintly, "Dis I can do, aye."
It became their new ritual every night. After everything else, they'd pull out their knives, and he would teach her how to carve.
It was… Nice.
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In the heart of Eversong Woods, the golden light of late afternoon filtered through the towering trees, dappling the ground with patterns that shifted as the breeze played among the leaves. The forest hummed with life - birds chirped, unseen creatures rustled in the underbrush, and the distant babble of a stream completed the serene tableau. Yet, amidst this tranquility, four figures moved with purpose, their presence at odds with the peaceful surroundings.
Chromie, the ever-enthusiastic Bronze Dragon in her preferred gnomish visage, was at the head of the group, her usual sprightly demeanor shadowed by uncharacteristic frustration. Behind her trailed three others, their mortal guises barely concealing the immense power they carried. Each woman bore the unique marks of her dragonflight:
Tyrygosa of the Blue Dragonflight moved ahead in her elven visage, her striking purple hair flowing like a cascade of water down her back. Her attire, if anything, showed her lack of familiarity with mortals, her 'armor' more akin to lingerie as she gazed across the forest, arcane calculations done on the fly as she double and triple checked they were in the supposed 'right' area.
Chromie had badgered her immensely, and eventually bribed her to get her here, and she still felt she got underpaid with how much of a hassle this was turning out to be.
Merithra of the Green Dragonflight appeared almost at one with the woods, her emerald tresses streaked with gold, entwined with thin vines that seemed to grow naturally among her hair in her night elven form. Her pale eyes reflected the vastness of the Emerald Dream, though at present, they were narrowed in irritation.
The daughter of Ysera, the Aspect of the Dream, had trusted Chromie's word, needing nothing else to offer her assistance.
Yet it seemed Chromie was chasing something more fleeting even then dreams, for she had not been able to grasp anything of what Chromie so desperately sought.
All while refusing to share everything about what, exactly, they sought.
Bringing up the rear was Keristrasza of the Red Dragonflight, in the guise of a human mortal. Her crimson locks fell in loose waves down her back, and her piercing eyes took in everything with a quiet intensity as her lips were pulled into an ever present scowl.
She really regretted wearing robes, this forest wasn't made for this - but Chromie had promised - in and out she'd said. Bah! Dawned Bronze, she should have known better.
The group had been scouring the forest for days, their progress painstakingly slow. Each hour seemed to deepen the tension between them, the weight of their task made heavier by the lack of tangible results. Or a real reason for why they were doing this!
Chromie stopped abruptly, spinning on her heel to face the others. "I'm telling you, it's here," She said, her voice unusually sharp, no doubt feeling how their eyes pierced her back. "The ripples are undeniable. Something in this forest is causing disturbances in the timeways!"
Merithra crossed her arms, leaning against a tree, sighing wearily. "You've been saying that for days, Chromie," She drawled, her tone heavy with skepticism. "And yet, we've found nothing. Perhaps it's time to admit that whatever is causing these ripples isn't something we can find by wandering aimlessly through the woods."
"You don't understand," Chromie snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "The Bronze can feel it. It's there, but we can't see it. It's as though it's deliberately hidden from us!"
Which they could all agree was worrying, hence why they hadn't all already left, but that was all the information Chromie was giving them.
Tyrygosa, crouching beside a patch of flowers that seemed to shimmer faintly with arcane energy, glanced up with a faint look of interest. "If it's truly hidden from the Bronze, it must be some truly remarkable magic. Imagine the skill required to create such a veil. It's… Inspiring, really." Her eyes gleamed with a spark of curiosity. "Perhaps it's worth studying just for that, before they are removed, of course."
Merithra groaned, pushing herself off the tree and brushing leaves from her clothes. "Oh, of course," She muttered. "Let's all marvel at the mystery and ignore the fact that I could have searched for answers in the Dream. Instead, I'm stuck traipsing through this forest. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to keep the elves from noticing us?"
Tyrygosa straightened, fixing Merithra with a pointed look. "You're the one keeping the elves away? Forgive me, but I was under the impression that Chromie and I were the ones maintaining the cloaking spells. You've contributed nothing but words on dreams."
"Perhaps if you stopped gawking at flowers and actually helped -"
"Ladies!" Keristrasza's voice cut through the brewing argument like a blade, her tone firm but weary. "Enough. Our task is already challenging enough without this petty bickering. Focus on the mission." She twisted her neck slightly, muttering under her breath, "No matter how pointless."
She personally believed Chromie had just gotten this whole thing wrong and refused to admit it.
Merithra and Tyrygosa exchanged heated glances but fell silent. Chromie let out a breath, grateful for Keristrasza's intervention, and turned her attention back to the forest.
For a while, the group moved in tense silence, each dragon consumed by her own thoughts. The forest, as always, revealed nothing of the anomaly they sought.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting shadows across the woods, Keristrasza's keen eyes caught movement in the distance. A troll, tall and imposing, moved quietly through the underbrush. His long limbs carried him with ease, his steps careful and deliberate despite his size.
Keristrasza's initial reaction was one of indifference. Trolls were not uncommon in these parts; the forest bordered Amani territory, after all. Her attention shifted back to her companions, who had once again started bickering.
"We've wasted enough time," Merithra said, her voice tight. "If even Nozdormu can't discern what's causing this, what hope do we have?"
"I didn't hear you offering solutions when this task was brought to us, you accepted to be here like we all did." Tyrygosa shot back. "Oh wait, you were probably napping in the Dream when anything important was discussed..."
Keristrasza sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as the argument escalated. This is why we generally stick to our own flights…
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something odd, the Troll again, a human girl, small and slight, trailing the troll. She moved with a clumsy stealth, decent for a mortal - her cautious steps giving her away as inexperienced visavi someone of her own skill.
Keristrasza raised an eyebrow. The girl's presence was unusual - humans didn't often venture this far into the woods alone, especially not ones foolish enough to chase after a troll to kill it.
For what other reason could there be for the girl stealthily following the Troll?
For a moment, Keristrasza considered intervening. The girl seemed fragile, her small form almost lost among the towering trees and dense foliage. But as Keristrasza focused, she felt something faint but unmistakable radiating from the girl's direction just as she was almost upon the Troll. It wasn't the powerful aura of a seasoned spellcaster or a paladin, but it was there - a flicker of potential, like the faint glow of a candle in the dark.
"She'll be fine," Keristrasza murmured to herself, dismissing her concern. If the girl possessed even a hint of the Light, she would be more than capable of handling herself. And if she wasn't, well…
Mortals had a knack for making foolish decisions, and it wasn't Keristrasza's place to intervene in every one of them.
A mortal little girl and a Troll certainly wasn't what they were looking for. The magus capable of hiding from Chromie would likely be a highborn of significant age, hiding behind wards somewhere in this forest.
She did not even for a moment entertain the thought the Troll wielded the Light.
As that would have been preposterous.
"Keristrasza, are you even listening?" Merithra's sharp tone broke her thoughts.
The red dragon turned her gaze back to the group, her expression calm. "I am. And I suggest you save your energy for something more productive than arguing." She hadn't been, but she was equally sure nothing important had been said.
Chromie, standing a few paces ahead, turned to face them, her small hands planted firmly on her hips. "She's right," The gnome said. "We have a job to do. Whatever anomaly is causing these ripples in time is here, and we will find it, no matter how long it takes."
Merithra rolled her eyes but said nothing. Tyrygosa smirked faintly, the tension between them easing - if only slightly.
As the group pressed onward, Keristrasza sighed deeply. She made a mental reminder to herself.
Next time Chromie needed something.
She'd tell her she was washing her hair or something.
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A few days later,
The forest had settled into a quiet lull, the kind of peace that came when the night had claimed the day but predators had not yet stirred. Lazar leaned against a fallen log, his sharp ears twitching at the occasional rustle in the underbrush. Jadzia, her small form curled near the fire, hummed softly to herself, inspecting her latest attempt at a carving. Lazily cutting grooves in it.
Lazar was halfway through chastising her for her lazy fingers when the sound of faint stomping reached his ears. He stiffened, his keen senses picking up the odd cadence. It wasn't heavy like an orc or deliberate softness like an elf. It was... Irritated, almost petulant, a sharp, repetitive crunch of boots on leaves and reminded him of Jadzia if he was totally honest, it had the same sound. He frowned, gripping the Silver Hand resting beside him.
To his approving gaze, Jadzia had immediately scampered near him at the sight of him reaching for his weapon.
The noise grew closer until the source emerged from the treeline, and Lazar's blood ran cold.
"Loa above..." He breathed, almost swallowing his tongue as a tiny, gnomish figure marched into the clearing, muttering under her breath and looking thoroughly put out. Her golden hair was tied into twin ponytails, and her diminutive form radiated an aura of power that was wholly at odds with her size.
Chromie. The Bronze Dragon in gnome form. One of the stewards of time. A living, walking embodiment of cosmic meddling.
And here he was, inserted in the timestream, bound to mess with stuff…
This wasn't good.
He'd really been trying to not think of the Bronze dragonflight…
Lazar reacted immediately, shoving Jadzia behind him with a hand so firm she let out a squawk of protest. "Stay dere," He hissed, his voice low and urgent. "Don't move, don't breathe too loud. Dat's a dragon, mon."
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"What?" Jadzia peeked around his arm, her blue eyes wide and skeptical. "She's tinier than me! That's a dragon?"
Lazar gave her a look that could have curdled milk. "Dat be Chromie, girl. Dis don't just be a dragon - dis be a Bronze. She mess wit' time itself. She blink, an' ya whole life might be erased, ya hear me? Do. Not. Move."
If anything, he'd make sure she erased only him, the girl could be put back in her caravan surely… Time rolled back to normal.
But Chromie didn't acknowledge them at all. She didn't even glance in their direction. Instead, she stomped right through their campfire, her boots disturbing the flames without so much as a flicker of reaction from her that she was walking through it.
"What da fuck…" Lazar muttered under his breath, his mind scrambling for an explanation. Chromie stopped a few feet away, her hands on her hips as she stared up through the canopy of trees, seemingly enjoying the air and some peace and quiet.
"Why isn't she doing anything?" Jadzia whispered, her voice barely audible. "She's standing right there!"
"She can't see us, mon" Lazar said slowly, realization dawning on him. "She... She don't even know we be here, praise the loa."
He, in principle, didn't pray to the loa, but on this occasion, he'd pray to almost anyone if it worked.
Jadzia squinted at him, her expression dubious. "You're saying this terrifying, time dragon can't see us? That's convenient."
Her tone of voice said she clearly doubted his assertion of dragonhood about their tiny guest.
Lazar didn't answer immediately. He was too focused on Chromie, the impossibility of their situation gnawing at his mind. He had no idea how or why they were hidden from her. The Light? The system? Dumb luck? Whatever it was, he wasn't going to risk testing it. Not unless -
"Oi!" Jadzia hissed. "What are you doing?"
Lazar had stepped forward cautiously, the Silver Hand left behind as he closed the distance between him and Chromie. His mind screamed at him to stop, but curiosity won out. Slowly, carefully, he extended a finger and poked the gnome squarely in the shoulder before hopping back as if expecting a lightning bolt.
Chromie twitched, her hand rising to swat at her shoulder like she'd felt a mosquito. "Ugh, bugs," She muttered, her tone annoyed but otherwise unconcerned.
"She can't see us, mon" Lazar whispered, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief. "Dis be crazy, dis dragon not be able ta see us at all."
Jadzia, naturally, took that as permission to act. She slipped out from behind Lazar, moving with a speed and stealth that surprised even him. By the time he lunged to grab her, she was already out of reach, standing directly behind Chromie with an impish grin.
"Girl, no!" Lazar hissed, but Jadzia ignored him entirely.
She worked quickly, her nimble fingers slipping into Chromie's pockets and emerging with various items. Coins, a small hourglass filled with shimmering sand, and a dagger that seemed to flicker in and out of existence, as if it were only partially tethered to reality.
By the time Lazar caught up to her, Jadzia was back in the camp, her spoils spread out on the ground before her.
"Mine," She declared, clutching the shimmering dagger possessively as she glared up at Lazar.
Lazar stared at her, his jaw hanging open. "Girl, ya just robbed a dragon. A time dragon. Are ya mad, mon?"
She could keep the knife either way. He sure as the damned Loa didn't want to get stabbed by it trying to remove it. He glanced worriedly at Chromie, but she still seemed completely oblivious.
"She can't see us!" Jadzia retorted, her tone defensive. "And look at this stuff! It's amazing!" She held up the dagger, turning it in the firelight. "This thing's practically magic!"
"Practically? Dat ting is pure magic," Lazar growled, kneeling beside her. He pointed at the hourglass, having his suspicions. "Dat be mine, girl. You can keep da knife, but ya don't stab nothin' important 'til ya know what it does, yah?" Especially me, he thought.
Jadzia narrowed her eyes, clutching the dagger tighter. "What do you want the hourglass for?"
Lazar shrugged, his tone dry. "Cuz I don't trust ya not ta break reality wit' dat ting. Hourglass safer wit' me."
Jadzia considered this, her glare softening into a begrudging pout. "Fine. But the dagger's mine. And if it does break reality, at least it'll be whatever I need breaking at the time."
Impeccable logic as always, he thought, eying her fondly. And with only a little fear.
"Interesting. Right, mon." Lazar shook his head, muttering something under his breath about insane humans.
Before they could argue further, Chromie stirred, her hands patting at her pockets absentmindedly. "Huh," She murmured, her brow furrowing. "Guess I forgot my knife. Silly me. I was sure I had it with me."
Jadzia froze, clutching the shimmering blade tightly, her eyes wide.
Chromie glanced around the clearing, her gaze passing right over Lazar and Jadzia without so much as a flicker of recognition. "Oh well," She said with a shrug, rooting around in her other pockets for a moment before sighing. "Probably left it in the Caverns of Time. Again."
She turned and wandered back toward the treeline, her muttering fading into the distance as she disappeared into the forest.
For a long moment, neither Lazar nor Jadzia spoke. The fire crackled softly between them, its warm light flickering over their stunned faces.
Finally, Jadzia broke the silence. "So... That went well."
Lazar stared at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "Girl, I swear, ya gonna be de death o' me."
She smirked, twirling the dagger in her hand. "I could take you." She agrees smugly. "Also, no way that was a dragon, you're full of it."
Lazar groaned, sinking back against the log and covering his face with his hands. "Loa help me, mon," He muttered. "Dis girl be more trouble dan she worth."
Jadzia grinned, clearly pleased with herself as she inspected her new prize. "Admit it," She said, her tone teasing. "You're impressed at my skill, panache and beauty."
Lazar peeked at her from between his fingers, his tusks twitching in a reluctant smile. "Ain't da word I'd use, girl." He cocked his head, "Ya even know dis word mean? Panache, mon?"
She blushed and looked away, clutching her new knife tightly to her chest.
The next morning they, by mutual consent, decided to head far away from the area.
Lazar also decided to always be far away from anything Jadzia was stabbing.
Her tests on random trees and animals showed two separate random effects. Anything she stabbed, the area either aged rapidly, or went in the other direction.
Lazar now knew what it looked like when a squirrel had one leg turn into infancy, while another part aged to dust. While it was still alive.
Why the fuck, did Chromie have something like that?
He almost wished she had been there to erase him.
Jadzia cackled quietly as a tree began teetering, its base turned into a young, barely blooming tree, while its ancient heavy remainder started falling.
Maybe the knife only has so many charges? He thought hopefully, as he grabbed the girl and jumped away from the falling tree.
----------------------------------------
A week later,
Lazar and Jadzia trudged through the undergrowth of the forest, having put a lot of distance between them and the area Chromie had been in. The girl trailed behind him, her movements quiet but not entirely silent still, her newfound shimmering dagger twirling idly in her hands. Lazar kept his eyes forward, his sharp ears twitching at the faint rustles of movement ahead. The forest felt... Off. Too quiet.
"Keep close, girl," Lazar said in a low tone, his violet eyes scanning the path ahead. "Somethin' don't be feelin' right, yah?"
Jadzia raised an eyebrow but said nothing, sliding her dagger into its makeshift sheath. She quickened her pace to walk closer behind him, her small form almost disappearing behind his broad frame as she did her best to use his bulk to hide, her use not as a frontal fighter.
It didn't take long for Lazar's unease to bear fruit. The shadows ahead shifted, revealing four tall figures stepping out from the trees. Their skin, a deep bluish-green, was adorned with tribal markings, and their builds were lean but powerful. Each carried weapons - axes, spears, and clubs - crudely fashioned but no less deadly. Their tusked faces split into sneering grins as they took in the sight of Lazar and Jadzia.
"Amani," Lazar muttered under his breath to Jadzia, gripping the Silver Hand tighter as he hefted the two handed mace before him.
The lead troll, taller and broader than the others, stepped forward, a wickedly barbed spear resting over his shoulder. His piercing yellow eyes locked onto Lazar with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Well, well. Look what da Loa dragged inta our woods, mon." He said, his voice a low growl. "A bruddah far from home... An' wit' a li'l human pet, no less."
Lazar forced a grin, stepping forward to put himself firmly between the Amani and Jadzia. "Aye, bruddah," He said, his tone light but wary. "I be wanderin', yah? Dis land ain't claimed, so no trouble wit' me passin' through."
He really doubted there would be no trouble. He knew the Amani.
Besides, he'd been lagging on points, animals not giving a ton, even though he'd killed a massive amount during their travels, so in a way… He wasn't too sad to be running into them.
He would have preferred to have had the advantage of Jadzia sitting in a tree or something though…
The lead Amani snorted, his sharp teeth glinting as he laughed. "No trouble, eh? Ya trespassin' on our ground, bruddah. Trouble already found ya."
Behind him, one of the other trolls hefted a massive axe, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Jadzia. "An' da girl? She dinner or dessert?" He asked mockingly.
Jadzia stiffened behind Lazar, her fingers twitching toward her dagger. Lazar extended a hand to keep her still, his posture remaining deceptively calm.
"She be mine," Lazar said evenly, his grip tightening on the Silver Hand. "An' I ain't lookin' ta share, yah?"
The lead troll tilted his head, his grin widening. "Oh, we don't gotta fight, mon. Share da girl, an' ya can walk away. No harm, no foul." He jabbed the butt of his spear into the ground for emphasis. "We even let ya keep dat shiny mace."
Lazar's grin faded, his expression hardening. "Nah, mon. Ya ain't touchin' her."
This was always going to be a fight. But now? Now he was going to enjoy killing them.
The air grew tense, the space between them heavy with unspoken threat. The Amani exchanged glances, their grins turning sharp and predatory.
"Shame," The leader said, his voice low and dangerous. "Coulda been easy, mon."
With a guttural war cry, the Amani charged.
Lazar moved first, the Silver Hand blazing with golden light as he swung it upward in a wide arc. The leader's spear crashed into the glowing mace with a deafening clang, sparks flying as the force of the blow sent the larger troll stumbling back. Even as Lazar called on the Light and a bright flash caught two of the trolls right in the face, as they stumbled back, giving them a moment's reprieve.
Jadzia darted to the side, her small frame moving with surprising agility as she avoided the swing of an axe aimed at her from the only troll not engaged or blind. The shimmering dagger in her hand flickered like a mirage as she slashed at her attacker, the blade phasing in and out of reality as it left a shallow cut on the troll's forearm.
The troll snarled, swiping at her with his other hand. "Come here, lil' whelp!"
"Not a chance!" Jadzia shot back, ducking under his swing and darting behind Lazar. She peeked out from behind him, her blue eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and determination.
The Troll began screaming, freaking out, as his arm visibly changed around the cut, his forearm suddenly becoming the size of a toddler. Jadzia nailing him with a fireball to the face to keep him distracted further.
Lazar was already in motion, his mace swinging in a deadly arc. The Silver Hand connected with the side of one of the half blind troll's head, the sickening crunch of bone echoing through the clearing as the Amani crumpled to the ground his entire skull mulch, nothing to regenerate from.
"Dat all ya got, bruddahs?" Lazar taunted, his tusks glinting as he grinned fiercely. The Light surged through him, a radiant glow surrounding his massive frame as he pressed the attack.
The lead troll roared, lunging at Lazar with his spear. The two clashed, the spear's barbed tip scraping against Lazar's thick hide but failing to pierce deeply as he filled himself with the Light. Lazar retaliated with a brutal upward swing, his mace crashing into the troll's chest and sending him sprawling with a crushed rib cage, but it was already visible healing.
"Jadzia, keep movin'!" Lazar barked, his violet eyes darting to the girl as she scrambled away from the last attacker. The troll chasing her swung a club with bone-rattling force, but she ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the blow, Lazar stretching a hand out, a smite making the Troll howl as its skin seared off.
The temporal dagger flashed in her hand as she lashed out, aiming for the troll's thigh. The blade seemed to hum, its edges warping as it sliced cleanly through flesh and muscle, leaving a wound that shimmered strangely. The troll howled in pain, stumbling as he clutched his leg. His eyes went wide with fear as most of his thigh crumbled to dust.
In the Trolls' distraction, it couldn't avoid her sinking her knife through his eye and into his brain, whatever effect the knife gave off - the Troll didn't regenerate, and fell over dead.
"Love this knife," Jadzia muttered, her lips curling into a grin. "Mine."
"Focus, girl!" Lazar called out, slamming the Silver Hand into a troll's side - the first Troll she had cut, who was now back in action. The impact sent the Amani flying into a tree, his body hitting the trunk with a dull thud before crumpling to the ground for a moment, before standing back up, visibly healing.
The leader had recovered as well, his spear twirling in his hands as he circled Lazar. "Ya tink ya tough, mon? Ya just a traitor. A bruddah who don't know his place!"
Lazar snorted, his grin sharp and savage. "Dis bruddah know exactly where he belong - an' it ain't wit' ya lot."
With a roar, the leader charged again, his spear thrusting toward Lazar's chest. Lazar sidestepped, deflecting the attack with his mace before swinging downward in a powerful arc. The Silver Hand crashed into the ground where the troll had been, sending up a shockwave of Light that rippled outward, forcing the Amani to stagger back, his skin sizzling.
Jadzia used the distraction to rapid launch fireballs at the other Troll, who kept swearing at her as he failed to get close, his healing not fast enough to tank several fireballs in a row, forcing him to dodge.
"I don't think he likes me," Jadzia quipped, dancing away from the troll's wild attacks whenever he could close distance.
"Dat be da point, girl!" Lazar shot back, slamming his mace into the leader's chest again. The troll's ribs buckled under the impact, and he fell to his knees, coughing blood, Lazar pivoting and swiping the Troll attacking Jadzia in the side of the head, the Light empowering the strike, his skull popping like a balloon.
There was no healing from that.
"Ew." Jadzia wrinkled her nose at the mess, having been in the splash zone.
"Ya want more, bruddah?" Lazar growled, his glowing eyes narrowing. The Light radiated off him in waves, casting an intimidating aura that made the Amani leader hesitate.
He sneered but attempted to back away. "Dis ain't over, traitor." He threatened.
"Bet it is, mon." Lazar replied, his tone cold. He launched himself forward, even as the troll scrambled to get back, the mace shining so clearly with the Light, both their eyes became useless.
With a final crunch, the skull of the Amani leader gave way, the rest of his body following as Lazar roared, slamming the mace down with full power crushing the corpse of the troll into the ground.
The clearing fell silent, save for the crackle of the fires raging where Jadzia had missed a few shots, and the ragged breaths of Jadzia as she stared wildly around her.
Jadzia leaned against a tree, her chest heaving as she clutched the shimmering dagger. "Well… That was fun." She said, still running on adrenaline apparently, but thankfully not injured.
She'd done well. Lazar hadn't stepped in too much, because he hadn't felt she needed it much. He could have used the Light more offensively to deal with the group, but this had turned out better this way.
He was a hair's breadth away from leveling Light too with these deaths. Even if Jadzia stole one.
Still, he couldn't let her believe this was always this easy, so Lazar shot her a withering glare, his tusks twitching as he grumbled at her. "Girl, ya definition o' fun be broke." He paused, "Just like mine, mon."He grinned, unable to truly act mad with her.
She grinned, wiping a smear of blood from her cheek. "We kicked ass, didn't we?"
Lazar shook his head, a faint grin tugging at his lips despite himself. "Dat we did, girl. Dat we did."
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The clearing had settled into an eerie silence as Lazar and Jadzia began rummaging through the belongings of the fallen Amani hunters. Jadzia was muttering about how their coins weren't worth much, while Lazar carefully shifted the body of the Amani leader, hoping to find something of interest. The faint smell of blood mingled with the earthy aroma of damp leaves and rotting wood.
And then, without warning, the sharp twang of a bowstring cut through the quiet.
Lazar barely had time to react before something slammed into his head. The impact sent him staggering back, his foot having slipped on a patch of wet, decaying leaves changing where it hit. He went down hard, landing on his back with a grunt as Jadzia spun around, her eyes wide with panic.
"Lazar!" She screamed, rushing toward him.
"'M fine, girl," Lazar growled, reaching up to touch the object protruding from his skull. His fingers brushed against the wooden shaft of an arrow, and he grimaced. It had sunk deep into his thick hide, but the bone of his skull had stopped it short of anything vital.
Lucky. Too lucky.
As Jadzia knelt beside him, frantically checking his wound, Lazar's mind raced. His Light reserves were low from the fight, but not empty, but close enough apparently that his boon of luck had clearly kicked in. He'd picked it over the ability to cheat death outright, and now it seemed that choice had saved his life. An inch to the right, and the arrow would've pierced his eye straight into his brain which could have possibly ended him.
"Dis nothin', girl," Lazar said, his voice steady despite the pain. He yanked the arrow free with a grunt, tossing it aside. "We got company." He said, even as he knocked another arrow out of the sky with the spear laying next to the dead Amani leader that he'd picked up.
Jadzia's eyes darted to the trees, and her hands began to glow with fiery energy. "You call this nothing?" She hissed, her voice shaking. "They tried to kill you! Whoever these twats are!"
"Dey try, but dey fail, yah?" Lazar said, pushing himself to his feet. "Focus, girl. We ain't gonna die here, but best to stay calm, mon."
Before either of them could say more, another arrow whistled through the air, narrowly missing Lazar's shoulder. It thudded into a tree behind him, and Jadzia screamed, her panic boiling over into action.
"Burn, you bastards!" She yelled, hurling a fireball into the dense foliage. The ball of flame exploded against a tree, sending sparks and smoke into the air. Then she fired again, and again, intent on smoking out their adversaries.
From within the shadows, there was a strangled scream, and a voice cursing in Thalassian. Another arrow flew out, this one skimming past Jadzia's head and singeing a lock of her hair. She shrieked, firing another volley of fireballs wildly into the forest.
The barrage flushed their attackers into view. Two highborne elves stepped into the clearing, their once-immaculate robes and armor marred by soot and ash. One of them, a tall elf with sharp features and a longbow in his hands, sneered at Lazar as he notched another arrow. The other, his face partially obscured by horrific burns, glared at Jadzia as water magic swirled around his fingers, running down his face. Her wild volley was obviously somewhat successful.
Another arrow flew for him, and Lazar enveloped himself and Jadzia in a shield of Light.
"Abomination," The bowman spat, his words recognizable now that he was in range of Jadzia's talisman, his eyes narrowing as he took aim at Lazar, but held back, knowing it wouldn't pierce the Light.
Lazar's tusks twitched as he bared his teeth in a feral grin. "Don't worry, mon," He rumbled, his voice dripping with mockery. "I be comin' up wit' a cute pet name for ya too - when I break ya underneath me."
Jadzia glanced at him, her face scrunching in disgust. "Ew. That sounds creepy."
The burned elf snarled, his gaze snapping to Jadzia. "You, human girl. Get away from it."
Jadzia bristled, stepping closer to Lazar. "It? He has a name!" She snapped, raising her hands to hurl another fireball.
The bowman sneered, notching another arrow. "Don't bother, Haliron," He said to his companion, his tone dripping with disdain. "She's already tainted."
Haliron scowled, his hands tightening around the swirling orb of water magic. "Sir, we should report back to Windrunner Spire. A troll wielding the Light… This is unheard of."
"Report back?" The bowman scoffed, his eyes gleaming with malice. "No. We bring back its corpse. For study."
"That be ya last mistake, elf," Lazar growled, stepping forward. His hands glowed with golden light as he called upon his power, the Silver Hand in his grasp igniting with a radiant aura. The warmth of the Light surged through him, driving away his exhaustion and steadying his resolve.
The bowman loosed his arrow, the projectile streaking toward Lazar like a bolt of lightning, magic swirling around it. Lazar swung his mace in a wide arc, the glowing weapon intercepting the arrow mid-flight. The force of the blow shattered the arrow into splinters, the pieces falling harmlessly to the ground even as the force of his swing sent a wave of Light forward.
Haliron let out a guttural yell, unleashing a torrent of water magic at Lazar. The stream hit the Light shield Lazar had summoned around himself and Jadzia, dispersing into harmless droplets as it met the barrier's radiant glow. The elves froze for a moment, their eyes wide with shock.
"What… What are you?" Haliron stammered, his voice shaking. "Even if you wield the Light, it shouldn't be this strong!"
"A pain in ya arse, mon," Lazar shot back, his grin widening. He surged forward, the Silver Hand raised high. The bowman scrambled to retreat, but Lazar closed the distance with terrifying speed. His mace came down in a devastating arc, slamming into the ground as the bowman barely dodged to the side. The impact sent a shockwave of Light rippling outward, knocking both elves off their feet.
Jadzia took the opportunity to hurl another fireball, this one aimed squarely at Haliron. The blast caught him in the chest, sending him sprawling with a scream. He rolled frantically on the ground, dousing the flames with a wave of water magic, but not before they left blistering burns across his torso.
The bowman recovered quickly, his hands moving with practiced precision as he notched another arrow. He aimed for Jadzia, his eyes narrowing. "Tainted girl, this is mercy," He said coldly.
Lazar seized the moment, closing in on the archer with a roar. The Silver Hand swung upward, its radiant glow illuminating the clearing. The bowman tried to block with his bow, but the enchanted weapon shattered under the mace's force. The elf cried out, stumbling back as Lazar pressed the attack.
"Ya wanted dis fight, elf," Lazar snarled, his violet eyes blazing. "Now ya gonna finish it!"
Haliron, meanwhile, had recovered enough to launch another spell. Shards of ice formed in the air around him, spinning like deadly knives before flying toward Lazar. The troll ignored it, his Light shield on and moving with him and Jadzia, intercepting the projectiles. The shards shattered against the barrier, their fragments falling harmlessly to the ground.
He wouldn't be able to do anything fancy with the Light, keeping this shield up, but it was proving useful against the level of magic facing them.
"Jadzia!" Lazar barked, his voice echoing through the clearing. "Keep dat burnin' elf busy!"
"On it!" She called back, standing by his back. Firing fireballs anytime the elf moved, even darting out of the protection of the shield to taunt him.
Haliron countered with a burst of water magic, forcing her back to the shield. "Stay still, you little wretch!" He hissed, his burned face twisted with rage.
Jadzia grinned, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Where's the fun in that?"
Meanwhile, Lazar delivered a bone-crushing blow to the bowman's side, sending the elf flying into a tree. The elf crumpled to the ground, coughing blood as he tried to rise. Lazar stood over him, the Silver Hand glowing with an almost blinding light.
"For study, yah?" Lazar said, his voice low and menacing. "Let me show ya da lesson for da day for yah study!"
With one final swing, the Silver Hand connected with the bowman's head, the impact crushing it into mush, the elf's body slumping down.
Haliron saw his comrade fall, screaming, "Lirath! The Windrunners will take your head for this!" His resolve faltered and he turned to flee, but Jadzia was faster. Her dagger flew across the clearing, the strange blade sticking in his back, the area crumbling to dust. The elf stumbled, his escape thwarted as he fell with a scream of agony.
Lazar approached, his towering form casting a long shadow over the wounded elf. "Ya done, mon," He said, his voice cold. "Ain't no runnin' now."
Haliron looked up at him, fear flickering in his eyes. "You… Abomination…" he spat, his voice weak. "Sylvanas will kill you for this!"
Lazar raised the Silver Hand, its radiant glow filling the clearing. "Ya had ya chance, elf."
The mace came down, ending the fight, and his life.
Lazar's thoughts were troubled, as he thought over what he'd heard. The clues all pointing to something impossible.
The Windrunners' younger brother died in the second war. This ranger couldn't be him, right?
Right?
The forest fell silent once more, the tension dissipating like smoke in the wind. Jadzia leaned against a tree, panting as she wiped sweat from her brow. "That was… Unfair, two battles in a row!" She whined.
Lazar grunted, resting the Silver Hand on his shoulder. "Dat what ya get wit' highborne, girl. Always tinkin' dey better, got ta butt in everywhere."
Jadzia sheathed her dagger, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, they're not better when they're face down in the dirt."
Lazar chuckled, shaking his head as he scanned the clearing, making sure no other surprises were lurking in the trees. His gaze lingered on the motionless forms of the two elves, "Dey tink da Light somethin' only fer da holy an' da noble. Ain't ready ta see a troll swingin' it."
Jadzia tilted her head, looking at him thoughtfully. "You really don't think they're ever going to get used to you, huh?"
Lazar gave her a crooked grin, "Not likely, girl. Dey see what dey wanna see - an' I ain't about ta make it easier fer 'em."
He was only a point away from leveling too, tch, damn elves couldn't even do that for him.
He knelt by the bodies, searching through the elves' belongings for anything useful. Jadzia sidled up beside him, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she poked at one of the corpses with her boot.
"They had magic," She said, her tone casual but tinged with a question. "Powerful magic. And you still took them down easily." Her tone turning wondrous, "I helped take them down easily…"
Lazar shrugged, pulling a small pouch from the bowman's belt. He opened it, revealing a handful of coins and a strange crystalline shard that pulsed faintly with arcane energy. "Magic don't mean much if ya don't know how ta fight proper like, girl. Dey weren't ready fer me." He gave her a glance, "Fer us, mon."
He'd hoped to find something identifying, but he supposed he really didn't want to know anyway if he just killed Sylvanas Windrunner's darling little brother.
Jadzia crouched beside him, snatching the crystal from his hand and holding it up to the fading light. "What's this?" She asked, squinting at it.
"Don't know," Lazar admitted, his tone wary. "But if it came from them, best ya don't play wit' it too much."
She rolled her eyes, tucking the crystal into her pouch. "You're no fun, it's loot!"
Lazar ignored her, moving to the second elf. Haliron's robes were soaked with blood, the burns on his face still raw and angry. Lazar rifled through the pockets, pulling out a small, intricately carved wooden box. He opened it carefully, revealing a handful of vials filled with shimmering blue liquid.
"Mana potions," Lazar muttered, setting the box aside. "Might come in handy, mom."
Jadzia was already inspecting the bowman's discarded weapons, her fingers tracing the delicate runes etched into the shattered remains of his bow. "You think they were hunting us specifically?" She asked, her voice quieter now.
Lazar paused, considering her words. "Could be," He said finally. "Or could be dey just didn't like seein' a troll an' a human in da same group, be more likely, mon."
Jadzia frowned, her gaze shifting to the surrounding trees. "Well, if there are more of them out there, we're going to need to be ready."
"Always, girl," Lazar said, standing and stretching his shoulders. He winced slightly, his earlier injury still aching despite the Light's soothing presence. He hadn't been able to afford a healing spell with how much he was using the shield.
"Let me see that," Jadzia said, motioning to his head. She stepped closer, her small hands surprisingly gentle as she inspected the spot where the arrow had struck. "You're lucky, you know. Another inch, and you'd be dead."
"Luck's been good ta me so far," Lazar said with a grin. "Be even better if ya don't stab me while ya pokin' 'round."
She rolled her eyes, pulling her hands back. "You're fine. Thick skull and all."
Lazar laughed, shaking his head. "Dat I be, girl. Dat I be."
The two of them stood in the clearing for a moment, the tension from the fight slowly ebbing away. The forest was quiet again, save for the rustle of leaves and the distant call of a bird.
Jadzia looked up at him, her blue eyes thoughtful. "You know," She said, "for a big, scary troll, you're not so bad, I kind of like this… Us."
Lazar raised an eyebrow, his grin turning sly. "An' for a tiny, stabby human, ya not too bad yaself."
She smirked, crossing her arms. "Don't get used to the compliments."
"Wouldn't dream of it, girl," Lazar said, his tone teasing.
As they gathered the spoils of the fight and prepared to move on, Lazar glanced back at the fallen elves one last time. Their presence was a reminder of the dangers lurking in Eversong Woods, but it was also proof that he and Jadzia could hold their own.
"Come on, girl," Lazar said, slinging the Silver Hand over his shoulder. "We got a long way ta go, an' I ain't lookin' ta fight every elf in da forest."
Jadzia nodded, falling into step beside him. "Fine by me. But next time? Try not to get shot in the head."
A wolf appeared not too far away, no doubt drawn to them by the blood. Lazar immediately drew his bow and aimed, excitement brewing as he saw his last point pause and sniff the air, the arrow flying through, piercing the wolf through the eye.
A searing warmth shot through Lazar's chest, followed by the unmistakable thrum of power. He stood upright, muscles tensed as the sensation grew, his entire being resonating with the Light. He'd felt something similar when he hit the 250 benchmark, but this was more intense, a tidal wave of energy flooding his body as he hit the 500 benchmark in Light.
Jadzia glanced up at him, immediately catching on that something was happening. "Uh, you're glowing again. Are you dying, or…?"
Don't have to sound so damn cheerful, girl…
Lazar didn't respond to her, focusing on the strange sensation and seeing if he could parse some new information from this system that really didn't tell him much. The air around him seemed to shimmer, golden motes of light gathering in front of him. The energy coalesced into a blinding sphere, the brightness forcing him to shield his eyes.
When the light dimmed, he lowered his hand cautiously. Floating in front of him was…
"A fairy?" He muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
The tiny figure hovered effortlessly in the air, radiating a soft, golden glow. She was diminutive, no taller than Lazar's hand, with delicate wings that shimmered like sunlit glass. Her features were strikingly beautiful, with golden hair tied up in an elaborate bun and an impish smile on her glowing face.
Fucking Tinkerbell, Lazar thought, his disbelief mounting. What the hell kind of reward was this?
It hadn't given me an option this time, he thought, the fairy arriving as a fait accompli.
He hated how he literally had no information, and couldn't know if this was the normal, or the previous process of giving him options was normal.
For all he knew, it went three options the first time, two options the second time he 'leveled' and one option the third time.
This thing needed a tutorial.
The fairy darted closer, her giggle a chiming sound that rang through the clearing. She spun in midair, leaving trails of light behind her as she twirled around his head, flashing her tiny panties in her way too short dress.
"What da hells…?" Lazar muttered, expressing his disbelief again, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at Jadzia to see what she thought.
The girl was wide-eyed, staring at the fairy with equal parts fascination and wariness. "Is this… Normal for you?" She asked, her voice heavy with skepticism, even as her eyes sparkled with delight as Tinkerbell did a fly by right by her face, waving at her enthusiastically.
"Dis not be even close ta normal, girl," Lazar replied, frowning as he waved a hand at the interface now hovering in his vision. He scanned the new entry in his system, his expression growing more incredulous by the second.
Tinkerbell Companion
A Tinkerbell steeped in the Light, this sapient companion can act semi-independently, with access to your reserves to fire Light attacks or heal from a distance. Includes the ability to detonate everything within fifty yards in merciful Light as a Light Bomb for healing or destruction. Upon her destruction upon detonation or other means, she will return after 12 hours.
Lazar blinked at the words, rereading them twice to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "A bomb, mon" He said flatly. "She's a tiny, gigglin', light-powered bomb."
Jadzia's mouth fell open. "Wait, what?"
If anything, her fascination with the fairy grew, as she stared at her almost hungrily.
Lazar gestured toward the fairy, who was now perched on his shoulder, humming a cheerful tune. "Dat's what she is, girl. A bomb dat laughs an' sparkles, mon."
Jadzia squinted at the fairy, her interest mounting. Slowly, she reached out a finger, inviting Tink for a visit. The fairy immediately flying over and setting down, "I can't wait to see you blow up!" She said in fascination.
The fairy giggled again, her laugh a bell-like sound that seemed far too happy for what was essentially an eternal kamikaze pilot. She grabbed Jadzia's finger with both hands, playfully tugging at it like a child demanding more attention.
"This…" Jadzia said slowly, looking between Lazar and the fairy, "Is the weirdest magic I've ever seen. Magic doesn't work like this. It shouldn't work like this." Her grin grew manic, "I fucking love it!"
Tinkerbell giggled and flew up to kiss Jadzia on the nose, both of them breaking out in giggles.
"You tellin' me, girl," Lazar said, scratching his head. "Dis be the kinda thing ya dream up when ya hit da drink too hard, yah?" He eyed the two of them and let out a huff.
It was probably good for the girl to have female friends, right?
Even if it was a suicidal fairy…
What the fuck was this life even?
Jadzia poked the fairy, acting more forcefully this time. The tiny creature pouted, fluttering her wings in indignation before sticking her tongue out at the girl.
"She's… Really alive?" Jadzia asked, her voice tinged with excited disbelief.
Lazar shrugged, still trying to process what he was seeing. "Seems so, mon. Dunno how dis be workin'. Ain't no one's mojo I ever heard of, mon. S'ppose dis could be summoning."
That was the excuse he'd have to use, wasn't it?
"Wait," Jadzia said, holding up a hand. "And she can blow up? Like… Boom? Kill everyone? Without dying?"
"Dat's what I be understandin'," Lazar replied, gesturing vaguely at the fairy. "She take mah Light an' go boom. Clears out everytin' in fifty yards. Dis fairy den be returning back in twelve hours."
The girl's face twisted in a mix of horror and fascination. "That's insane. Who makes something like this?"
"Apparently, mah patrons, girl." Lazar leaned closer to the fairy, who beamed up at him with a face full of mischief. "You able ta speak, mon?"
The fairy cocked her head, her tiny voice chiming like a bell. "Tink! Tink!" She repeated, clapping her hands enthusiastically.
"Great," Lazar muttered, rubbing his temples. "Dat's all I need. A hyperactive, light-powered sidekick wit' no sense or da ability ta speak."
Jadzia leaned forward, peering at the fairy with a mix of curiosity and childish glee. "You know what? She's kind of adorable. I mean, in a really creepy, magical sort of way."
The second part of her statement rushed out, as if to make up for saying something so girly as, adorable.
Tink responded by darting toward Jadzia, zipping around her head in playful loops. The girl flinched, swatting at the air as Tink laughed and wove effortlessly around her hands, shooting tiny harmless sparks of Light at her.
"Hey!" Jadzia snapped, glaring at the fairy. "I'm not a toy! I'll stab you!" She brandished Chromie's knife threateningly.
Tink giggled again, then flew back to Lazar's shoulder, settling there with an innocent expression.
Lazar sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Dis… dis gonna be a problem."
He'd never be able to even pretend to fly under the radar wherever he went with this pest constantly following him.
"Only gonna be a problem if she doesn't realize her position in the group." Jadzia shot back, still glaring at Tink.
For a moment, the clearing was silent except for Tink's faint humming. Lazar looked up to the sky, exhaling deeply as he tried to make sense of the situation with his system.
"I don't get it," Jadzia said finally, breaking the silence as she brought her attention away from Tink. "Your power… It doesn't make sense. Magic has rules. Structure. Even from gods and entities. This? It's like someone threw all the rules out the window and said, "Let's make it weird.'"
Lazar snorted, his lips curling into a wry grin. "Tell me somethin' I don't know, girl."
Tink fluttered upward, circling Lazar's head before landing lightly on his nose. She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she posed for him.
Lazar crossed his eyes to look at her, deadpan. "Ya got a lotta nerve, ya know dat?"
Tink just giggled, patting his nose before taking off again, her wings leaving a faint trail of light in the air.
Jadzia watched her go, shaking her head. "It doesn't make any sense," She muttered, but the grin that snuck on her face told him she didn't mind overly much.
"We move on, girl, dat all we can do, mon." He said, wondering with some trepidation what the next level would hold.
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In Lordaeron, Stratholme, burned.
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