“What in the seven hells is that?” Ravina’s eyes widened at the sight of the massive, lizard-like creature before her. It was a muscular beast with a sleek build, standing on four sturdy legs with clawed feet. Its dark, almost blue skin gleamed in the sunlight, while its underbelly was the color of light sand, like the flowing hues of a canyon. It resembled a horse but was twice as tall as Ravina and thrice as wide. Its powerful legs ended in three points, each tipped with large black talons that dug into the ground. Everything about it screamed predator, from its broad, flat head with sharp, predatory eyes and a mouth filled with pointed teeth to its long, powerful tail. It was a monster of significant threat.
Yet, it was strapped to a large cart by thick leather straps and sturdy iron, and little Ralf was darting between its legs, checking the bindings. He came running to her once she spoke aloud, smiling with his usual bag tossed carelessly in the cart behind the creature. “All set, lady!” he cheerfully cried. “I got a good one.” He looked back proudly at the beast. “Tweety’s a deep dive veteran, and we got an extra-large cart!”
Tweety huffed a massive breath of air through its nose with pride, the powerful action causing Ravina to take a step back. “T-Tweety?” she questioned.
Ralf tilted his head, his face flush with curious concern. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Never seen a draphor before?”
“Draphor?” she repeated. She was familiar with the name—they were not uncommon—but the creature in her mind wasn't the monster before her. When she thought of beasts of burden, she pictured horses. “Wasn’t a draphor just a special breed of horse?” she questioned.
“A horse? Lady, you can’t bring a horse into a dungeon, are you kidding? How's it expected to survive?” Ralf walked over to the draphor and gave it a pat on the side. “Nah, for diving, you need something sturdy. I’ve always wanted a draphor. Once I get enough dons, I’m gonna buy me a sweetheart like Tweety here, and we’re gonna go independent.”
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Ravina blinked at the news. “Independent?”
“Yeah, I’ll have my own pack and cart and be able to keep everything. No more low percentages to skim off. I’ll even bring in some of the other kids from the orphanage, and we’ll all be happy.” He gave her a bright smile, and Ravina felt a pang of shame. It took her another life and a half before she could figure out what she wanted to do with it, and here was this kid who already had his ducks in a row, smiling as a monster licked him affectionately with a forked tongue.
“Wait, orphanage? Are you not being educated?” It was a given that the kids were to receive education; she fought so hard for it, after all. It was what gave her own ducks a line.
“What?” The kid laughed at her. “Education? Lady, we’re orphans, not students at this ‘great city.’” He chuckled. “Does your kind not know what keeps this city up?” Suddenly, both hands covered his mouth. Sensing the change in young Ralf’s mood, the draphor placed a foot in front of him, letting loose a huff of protective air from the slits of its nose.
“You’re not receiving education…” Ravina repeated.
“No—and it’s not something I can tell you, so never mind.” Ralf stroked the neck of the beast to calm it down.
“But the initiative should ensure you all get proper education.”
“Initiative? Lady, the only initiative we got is to work for the guild.” Before Ravina could say anything more, he added, “They charge for the draphor by the hour, so we best be going.”
Taking the hint, Ravina restrained herself. She had plenty of time to look into it later. “Let’s go,” she ordered, and then they left the city to return to the Eternal Ruins.