Matty's Library.

It had been a couple weeks since the mortals from her world arrived to town via the portals. While she was initially hopeful that it was one of her siblings that had arrived, that hope was quickly dashed as she watched the stream of mortal faces flood into the backwater town of Somewhere.

Matty was less than thrilled that it was only mortals that had come. But at this point she was coming to terms with the fact that her family will more than likely stay behind in their world and pridefully await their death.

A fate that she was beginning to grow more envious of as time slipped by her and her draconic power was siphoned out by The Crone. She maybe had enough power to assume her full, and true, form in all its glory should the need arise. But even in such a state of almost deific power, she was no match for the void spawn upon the mountain.

If things continued as they have been then she would never get such a chance at sinking her fangs into its eldritch flesh or rend its being with her claws.

She sighed though at those thoughts. Even with the arrival of an entire city from her world it wouldn't be enough to save her from her own folly. Even if she could somehow convince enough of them to follow her, there would be more than a few that would rather take the chance at killing her in her weakened state to collect priceless dragon parts.

Not like anyone in this world would have any real interest in scavenging her remains save for those select few that knew that dragons in this world were more than just fanciful tales.

She huffed as she organized the dusty books on the equally dusty shelves. The place had been in decline for years, ever since the invention of the internet many flocked to the cyber realm and her library was left destitute save for some hold outs that still enjoyed the feeling of paper in their hands and the occasional gaggle of teens seeking a bit of privacy to explore one another more than the written word.

A mixed blessing, she thought. On one hand she was now left to her own and no longer had to deal with pestering mortals asking asinine questions that were so simple to answer she's had to hold back gouging out tongues. On the other, she was left alone with her increasingly dark thoughts. What if's and such that would always seek the chance to infest the mind when able.

So she was relieved, albeit marginally, when the new arrivals began to slowly stream into the library. Mostly to seek warm shelter, but many did begin to take curious interest in the books of this world. Perhaps bored and seeking something to pass the time? Or perhaps interest in discovering what this world holds?

That thought was a happy one, she thought as she pointed a small cadre of gnomes towards the science section. She missed those days in both this world and her own as she scoured entire continents for knowledge, magical or otherwise. She even recalled meeting various tribes of early humans on this world that knew about the intricacies of this worlds magic!

Court sorcerers were almost all charlatans who used slight of hand to wow gullible fools into giving them positions of power. But there were a rare few that really did earn their titles, and their reputations as entire wars were won, or lost, at their whims. Cunning sorcerers from the east. Magi from the deserts. Even druidic teachings that bled from the interactions of fey and man.

Of course as time progressed and the gods of man changed, so to did the attitude to these men and even women of magic. Their power were stripped as kings and emperors consolidated theirs. Others were outright butchered and set aflame in whatever justification they deemed fitting at the time.

So as time moved forward, these enlightened few were seen less and less until their names were heard of only in myth and tales. Records were changed or destroyed to reflect their roles in the world. Either as wise men leading kings if they submit. Or as devil spawn if they resisted.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"But such is the way of mortals." Matty muttered as she watched a trio of the turtlefolk head towards the historical section.

It was the nature of things having to do with mortals. They rose, they fell, then they rose again. Like the tide they would always leave and return again. If it wasn't for their seemingly wanton nature to destroy and corrupt then she might even have a modicum of respect for their tenacity.

But she didn't. They have proven time and again to be callous creatures not fit for any real power.

She sighed though. Such prideful thoughts for someone cast so low, she thought as she aided an elf in checking out a book about birds. Still, it was nice that she had company, even if just to keep such thoughts at bay for a time.

-----

Sam's Home.

"Full House." Skeeter proclaimed as he set down his hand.

Sam grumbled as he threw his own, and much poorer, Pair o' 4's.

"Every time you shuffle, you win."

"And every time YOU shuffle, I win." Skeeter said as he slid his winnings over to his side of the table. A few bucks American mixed with the odd coins they both received from their work with the halflings and dwarves.

Sam grumbled some more before snatching the deck and began to shuffle the cards as Skeeter tallied his winnings for the next bout.

"So how is workin' with those lil fellers goin'?"

"Not bad. Beats bein' covered in machine oil and smellin' like a grease trap." Sam said as he dealt the cards. Pair o' Jacks this time!

"Yeah? Heard from some of the boys that you lot were really enjoyin' workin' out there not long ago!" Skeeter laughed as he rearranged his hand before throwing a small garnet into the pot.

"I don't know what your talkin' about." Sam said as put a handful of halfling coins into the middle.

"I bet you don't. Call."

Sam slammed down his Pair o' Jacks with a grin.

"My turn!"

Then Skeeter plopped down a Royal Flush.

"Not yet it's not."

Sam cursed as Skeeter chuckled and took his winnings.

"Maybe I'll try that new place in town?"

"What place?"

"Heard some of the boys talkin' about a new gamblin' place that's in town now. Thinkin' about maybe givin' it a shot."

"I wouldn't."

"Why? 'Fraid I'll give THEM all my money instead?"

"Well that, and the difference between me and those types is if we owe one another we work somethin' out. A bit of work here, a freebie from the store there. If you owe places like that money, they'll be demandin' alot more than your time, labor, and a bag of chips." Skeeter stated before dealing the reshuffled cards.

Sam sighed as he was dealt Two Pairs. He folded, not wanting to lose anymore of his cash, even if it was to a friend.

"I'm out."

Skeeter chuckled as he set down a Ace High.

"You suck at poker."

Sam grumbled before getting up and fetching a couple beers from the fridge. He returned and handed Skeeter his while he counted out his varied winnings.

"So how's work at the General Store?"

"Better than ever. Sorta."

"Sorta?"

"Yeah. Got a contract for the new owners of the railyard. Pay's pretty good if I don't cut corners. But the General Store isn't doin' too well."

"Why not?"

"Can't for the life of me get in contact with my suppliers! Half the time my calls either don't connect or drop before I get even a single word out!"

"So what are you plannin' on doin'?"

Skeeter sighed before taking a cold sip of his drink.

"Not a fuckin' clue. The contract work is puttin' money in my pocket. But that doesn't really mean much if I can't get supplies in now does it?"

Sam huffed.

"Guess we'll be S.O.L before long then?"

"Yeah. Jeb ain't takin' things well either."

"Why? What happened?" Sam asked, more concerned for his son than his work.

"Nothin' to worry over. He came by the other day to pick up a couple things is all."

"That's it?"

"Let me finish! He comes in and is greeted by some of the new faces that are lookin' after the front of the shop while I'm gunsmithin'."

"Again, how is that not takin' things well?"

"I'd get to that if you let me finish the damn story!"

Sam threw up his hands and Skeeter continued.

"Don't know why, he was just actin' a bit jittery about it all. Came by, picked up a couple things and the rest of his order and got out of there like a bat out of hell."

Sam sighed.

"Jeb isn't really used to change is all. And there sure has been... alot of it these few weeks."

"Well I hope he can figure it out before he gets some new neighbors."

"What do you mean?"

"Overheard some of the boys I'm workin' for talkin' about stakin' their claim in the hills and mountains."

"Why in God's name would they consider doin' that?!"

"No idea! Even warned them that the folk that live that way don't much care for company! They said that they'll be fine and that they could take care of themselves."

"How does Jeb fit into this though?"

"Well there's only one road that actually leads a ways up, and Jeb is sittin' right on it. The other is the coal mine, but they want to be near the railyard apparently."

Sam groaned and put his face in his hands.

"This isn't gonna end well."

"Don't worry so much! They're alright folk that keep to their word and to their selves! How's about you and me go over and talk with Jeb! Sort things out before somethin' happens?"

It isn't Jeb he's worried for, Sam thought. Well, not entirely.

"Jeb isn't gonna like the company anymore than those people."

"I know it's alot. But things change all the time! Sure, Somewhere hasn't really changed all that much over the years. But it had to happen eventually."

Sam groaned as he rubbed his face.

"Fine. Keep those folks in line, and YOU and I will go and have a chat with Jeb."

"Fair enough. So you still playin'?" Skeeter asked as he held up the deck of cards.

"...maybe one more?"