Further down the river, near the water’s edge, stood a peculiar hut that set itself apart from the others. Its roof was sharply pointed, extending all the way to the ground, and was adorned with crowns made of flowers that wound around it like a colorful serpent. At the hut’s base, hundreds of golden coins lay scattered across the ground, glimmering brilliantly under the sun. I felt an irresistible pull toward them, and before I knew it, I was crouching down, reaching for the coin.

Suddenly, a loud slap echoed through the settlement, and a stinging pain shot through my hand. I looked up to see an old goldling standing before me, clutching a whip with a brown leather grip and a tail adorned with sharp thorns.

“Greed has tainted your soul, young one,” the goldling snarled, his voice sharp and commanding. “It is my duty to purge that greed from your heart with this whip, so you’ll never again be tempted to take what is not yours! All that is golden belongs to me!” He cracked the thorny whip in the air as a warning.

“I’m sorry... I don’t know what came over me,” I stammered, still reeling from the shock.

“Greed came over you, you fool!” the goldling spat. “Gold attracts the vilest of creatures, and if you’re not cleansed soon, greed will consume your very being and cast you into oblivion!”

“Silas? What’s wrong with him?” I asked, glancing nervously at Silas, concerned by the old goldling’s rambling.

“I don’t know,” Silas replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “He seemed perfectly normal when I first met him. Now it’s like he’s been possessed by some sort of demon.”

“The point is,” the goldling screeched in a disturbingly high-pitched voice, “the gold is mine, and mine alone!”

“Fine, it won’t happen again. I’m sorry,” I assured him, backing away.

“They’re all sorry once my gold consumes them,” the goldling muttered darkly. “But by the time they repent, it’s already too late...”

It was clear the goldling’s mind was a fragile one, as he quickly shifted from his outburst to humming a cheerful tune. Yet, beneath his frailty, there was a sliver of truth hidden in his mad ramblings. The gold had tempted me, just as the river had before, and it was unsettling. I’d never had a particular fascination with material wealth or shiny objects, so why had I been so drawn to the gold? Why had my body moved on its own? There was something real behind his words, a truth I was reluctant to face.

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“What can you tell me about this world?” I asked the goldling.

“To the likes of you, nothing!”

“Silas?”

“Yes?”

“I’m about to kick this creature,” I warned, feeling my patience wear thin as the goldling’s stubbornness got on my nerves.

“Mister Callusfoot, please forgive my friend’s earlier mistake; he didn’t understand the customs of the goldlings. As I mentioned, we’re from a world called Eldoria,” Silas interjected, trying to smooth things over.

“Oh, Foozy Callusfoot knows all about your kind! You Eldorians come here and do nothing but take what isn’t yours! You, and those other ones—the ones with bird wings!”

“Avians?” I asked, my suspicions solidifying by the second.

“I don’t know what they’re called,” Callusfoot snapped. “All I know is they think they own this place. They steal our gold and kidnap our kind! Countless goldlings have vanished since they arrived.”

So, it’s true. The Avians are in league with the Dragonsworn Conclave, and I’m certain Lucius is behind this. The Conclave’s primary goal is to resurrect dragons through necromancy, and Lucius, with his twisted brilliance, wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity. It’s time to tie up some loose ends. As long as he’s alive, my family isn’t safe. Even though the world may have forgotten me, he would remember—his cunning is unwise to leave unchecked and his life too dangerous to spare.

“Tell me more. When did they arrive here? Where are their headquarters? How many are there? Anything you can tell me,” I urged, desperate for answers.

“That’s a lot of questions, young one! Not sure if my mind can handle all that, but old Callusfoot will try,” he said, clearing his throat. “Those winged creatures have been here as long as I can remember, and I remember a lot! I’m as old as 159 winters, and 160 summers! I hatched right in this river, a little further south. They say the egg I came from was so large it killed my mother when she laid it.”

“That’s… disturbing. Could you please get back to your first story?” I asked, trying to steer him back on track.

“To hell with the first story!” Silas cut in. “I want to hear more about the egg your mother laid! And wait—you’re amphibious?”

“Amphi-what?” The goldling gave Silas a puzzled look.

“Never mind… Just answer my friend’s questions,” Silas sighed, shaking his head.

“Right. What was the question again?” he asked, his expression utterly blank.

“Just tell me which direction Orion went...” I gave up on getting any meaningful answers from the goldling.

“Who’s Orio—?”

“The big guy with white hair, the one who also tried to steal your gold,” Silas clarified.

“Oh, that thief! He went south! Toward the castle overlooking the golden lands of Isilrun! And if you see him, tell him not to come back here—he’s not welcome!” the goldling snapped.

“Valerian! You’re finally awake!” Finn shouted as he jogged over, a flower crown perched on his head as well.

“Not you too...” I sighed, exasperated.

“Oh, this? The kids made it for me in exchange for a few gold pieces! Talk about a bargain!” Finn grinned, adjusting his flower crown like it was a prized possession.

I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious, but if he was actually serious, my disappointment in his lack of judgment was profound. What kind of thief doesn’t understand the value of money? Never mind—we needed to find Lyra and Kaela.

“Pack your things, both of you; we’re heading south!” I ordered, and they both nodded in agreement.