Kale stirred, his mind drifting in the space between sleep and wakefulness. Exhaustion clung to him, but something was different. He wasn’t lying on cold, hard stone, nor wrapped in the suffocating vines of Xeroth’s dungeon. Instead, he felt warmth. Softness.

Opening his eyes, he blinked in confusion. Above him stretched a sky unlike anything he had ever seen. Endless and shifting, filled with shimmering blades that hovered in the void. Each one caught the light as if suspended in a silent dance, neither falling nor striking, an infinite expanse of silver waiting to sever the heavens themselves.

He turned his head slightly and realized he was resting on something, or rather, someone.

Aeloria.

His head lay gently on her lap, her delicate fingers running through his hair in slow, soothing motions. She radiated a soft, comforting glow, her eyes filled with warmth as she looked down at him. Kale’s heart raced, but oddly, he felt no fear. The goddess of blades, an embodiment of grace, precision, and unmatched power, looked at him not with stern judgment but with something akin to... affection. Like a mother watching over her child.

"You did well, Kale," she said softly, her voice a melodious whisper. "You were brave."

Kale swallowed hard, feeling both overwhelmed and reassured at the same time. There was something about her touch, her presence, that made him feel safe, as though nothing could hurt him as long as she was there. But even as calm washed over him, questions swirled in his mind.

"What... what’s happening?" he asked. "Why me?"

Aeloria smiled gently, her fingers never stopping their soft caress. "Because you... It had to be you."

Kale blinked, her answer only added to his confusion. "But... why?"

"Because," Aeloria continued, leaning closer, "you have something that belongs to me."

Kale frowned, trying to understand, but the words didn’t make sense. He was about to ask another question when something caught his eye. He noticed for the first time the immense wings extending from Aeloria’s back, their feathers not just sharp and gleaming, they were swords. Each blade shimmered with an ethereal light, deadly and beautiful. Her four arms, which had seemed so natural moments ago, now stood out as something otherworldly. Her hair flowed gracefully upwards, as if she were underwater, giving her an even more celestial, otherworldly presence. Yet, even in her divine, almost fearsome appearance, there was nothing threatening about her.

She was a goddess, but more than that, she felt... comforting. Like a mother. Calming, reassuring.

Kale opened his mouth to speak again, but Aeloria raised a hand, silencing him with a gentle touch. "It’s time to wake up now, Kale," she said softly. "Wake up."

The serene light began to fade, and with it, the warmth of her presence.

"Wake up, Kale," her voice echoed.

"Wake up!" Liliana’s voice cut through the haze.

Kale’s eyes snapped open, the harsh light of reality flooding back into his vision. He was lying on the ground, no longer cradled by Aeloria but surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Men, rough-looking, weathered, were staring down at him, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

Kale blinked, disoriented. "You’re... you’re going to kill me, aren’t you?" he muttered, still half in the dream, half in the waking world.

One of the men chuckled, shaking his head. "Do ya need killin’?"

Kale groaned, trying to push himself up, but his body betrayed him, muscles trembling with exhaustion. "I’d... prefer to live."

The man smiled, offering a hand to help him up. "Good answer. Let’s get ya some food and medicine, you look like ya need it."

***

Kale, still weary from blood loss but steadied by the food he'd eaten, followed the man through the camp. The air was filled with the scent of smoke and roasted meat, a welcome change from the dungeon’s damp, decaying stench. As they approached the heart of the camp, Kale glanced around at the rough, weathered group of men gathered there.

The man, who had helped Kale, scratched the back of his head before asking, "So, what’s your name, kid?"

"Kale," he replied, still unsure of how to feel about his sudden rescuers.

The man gave a crooked grin. "Kale, huh? Well, nice to meet ya. I’m Dirk," he said, tipping his head to Kale. "That big fella over there’s Bobob." Dirk gestured toward a massive man sitting by the fire, his long, tangled beard covering his chest.

His shoulders looked broad enough to carry a cart, and his arms were thicker than Kale’s torso. Kale couldn’t help but wonder if the man was part giant. Bobob barely acknowledged Kale, just gave a slow nod, his deep-set eyes barely visible beneath the curtain of his unkempt hair.

"And that’s Jim," Dirk continued, pointing to a much smaller man, short, bald, and built like a sturdy barrel. Jim had sharp, quick eyes and was whittling something with a small knife. He glanced up and gave Kale a toothy grin.

"Now that we’re all friends," Dirk said, "mind explainin’ why you’re haulin’ around that head?" He tilted his chin toward Liliana.

Kale glanced down at her and shrugged. "This old thing?" he said with a grin. "This is my good friend, Liliana."

Liliana’s eyes snapped open. "Friends? Never. Stuck with each other, unfortunately."

Dirk raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting the talking head. "Alright then," he muttered, his curiosity piqued but not quite sure what to make of it.

Bobob, for his part, didn’t react, his massive form still hunched near the fire as if this was just another day for him.

Jim, however, seemed unfazed and waved cheerfully. "Hiya, Liliana!" he chirped, as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

"...Hi," she replied.

As the fire crackled, Dirk leaned forward. "So, what’re ya doin’ wanderin’ around these parts? These woods ain’t exactly safe. Seen some shady-lookin’ fellas crawlin’ through here lately."

Kale swallowed a bite of food, glancing at Liliana before answering. "Yeah, we had a run-in with those guys. Got ourselves kidnapped. We had to fight our way out of a dungeon."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Dirk slapped his thigh, laughing. "Ha! That explains why ya look like you’ve been through the hells and back! Barely alive, and I mean that literally." He nodded toward Liliana. Bobob grunted in agreement, still half-hidden under his wild beard.

Jim, ever the chatterbox, leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on Liliana. "What’s it like bein’ a head?" he asked, rubbing his own smooth scalp as if it was a natural follow-up.

Liliana’s eyes snapped toward Jim. "What’s it like being bald?"

Jim’s hand froze mid-rub, and then he broke into a hearty laugh, rubbing his shiny head again. "Hoho! She’s a spicy one, ain’t she?"

Dirk chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I gotta say, you two are lucky to be alive. Those fellas you ran into ain’t exactly friendly types. Good thing we found ya before more of ‘em did."

Kale nodded, still trying to get his bearings. "Yeah... definitely lucky."

The fire crackled in the silence for a moment, the group sharing a quiet understanding of the dangers lurking in the area.

"So, where ya headed?" Dirk asked.

Kale blinked, unsure of how to answer. He hadn’t really thought beyond survival at this point. "Honestly? No idea. Just... trying to figure out where the hell we are."

Dirk leaned back, chewing thoughtfully before speaking again. "We’re about a day’s ride from Harrow’s Reach. We’re headin’ to Highrest tomorrow, and we’ll pass through it on the way. You’re welcome to ride with us if you’ve got nowhere better to be."

"Harrow’s Reach?" Liliana said. "That’s good. I have a friend there."

Kale turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "You have friends?"

Liliana, without acknowledging Kale’s jab, continued, "We should go see him. He might be able to help us with our... predicament."

Dirk raised an eyebrow but didn’t press for more details. "Well, if you’re keen on Harrow’s Reach, we can get you there."

***

As the group settled in for the night, the day’s events began to sink in. Kale sat quietly for a moment, staring into the flames, his mind racing. The offer to ride with Dirk, Bobob, and Jim seemed like a good chance to recover and regroup. He had no idea what lay ahead, but for now, survival was the priority.

Dirk stretched out his legs and kicked a stray log into the fire. "We’ll leave at first light," he said. "Bobob will get the horses ready. You can catch a ride with me or Jim, whichever ya prefer."

Kale nodded, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into his bones. "Sounds good."

Liliana, still resting against Kale’s side, narrowed her eyes slightly. "You sure you’re up for this, Kale? You nearly bled out earlier."

Kale gave her a tired smile. "I’ll manage. Plus, it’s not like I’m doing all the heavy lifting. I’ve got you to guide me, right?"

"Sure. Just don’t get too comfortable."

The night passed in relative quiet, with only the occasional grunt from Bobob and the distant sounds of the woods. Dirk eventually rolled over, muttering something about needing his beauty sleep, while Jim kept himself busy sharpening a blade.

As dawn broke, the camp came alive with the sound of packing gear and prepping horses. Bobob, true to Dirk’s word, was already saddling up the horses with a quiet efficiency that belied his massive frame.

Dirk smiled as Kale approached. "Ready for a ride?"

Kale nodded. "As ready as I’ll ever be."

"Let’s just hope we don’t encounter any more... complications." Liliana said.

***

As they approached the city walls, Kale turned back to the trio of men who had accompanied them. "We owe you one."

Dirk waved it off with a casual grin. "It’s nothing. It’s always good to help a stranger in need. Who knows, they might just become friends."

Jim, always the cheerful one, chirped, "Seeya!" as he waved energetically. Bobob gave a low grunt, barely acknowledging them but enough to show it was his version of goodbye.

Kale and Liliana made their way toward the gate. Two guards stood watch, their halberds crossing in front of them as Kale approached. They eyed him suspiciously, their gaze lingering on his tattered clothes, worn boots, and the various scratches and holes from their escape.

"Troublemakers aren’t welcome here," one of the guards said, sizing Kale up. "And you look like a troublemaker."

Kale raised his hands in protest, Liliana’s head still in one of them. "I’m no troublemaker," he said, "What makes you think that?"

The guard frowned. "Look at the state of you, boy. And you’re walkin’ around with a severed head. That’s exactly the kind of trouble we don’t want."

"I’m not carrying around a decapitated head!" he said, wildly gesturing with Liliana’s head as he spoke. The movement caused her to swing back and forth like some kind of macabre puppet.

The guard’s face twisted in disbelief. "I’m lookin’ right at it!" he yelled back. "You’re wavin’ it in my face!"

Kale scoffed. "This old thing?" He held Liliana up, shaking her slightly for emphasis. "This isn’t a real head."

The guard squinted, clearly suspicious. "Looks plenty real to me."

Kale gave a dismissive wave. "Only a complete idiot or psychopath would carry around a real head, and I’m neither."

The guard scratched his chin, eyeing Kale. "Hmm..." He leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Let me see that."

Kale held Liliana up proudly. "See? Fake!"

The guard poked her face a couple of times, his brow furrowing as he inspected it closely. Liliana glared daggers at him, but he didn’t seem to notice. After a few more prods, the guard stepped back, nodding slowly. "Hmm... almost fooled me. It’s so lifelike."

Kale grinned. "I know, right?"

The guard straightened up and uncrossed his halberd. "Fine. You can pass."

As they walked through the gates and into the town, Kale could feel Liliana shaking in barely contained anger. She mumbled under her breath, something about being called "old thing" and throwing insults at Kale for humiliating her.

Kale, on the other hand, walked with a spring in his step, a satisfied grin on his face. "That went well," he thought happily.

The city buzzed with life as they passed through the gates, the streets bustling with merchants, travelers, and locals going about their day. Despite his tattered clothes and the numerous scrapes covering his body, Kale felt oddly at ease, at least for a moment.

"Finally, a place that doesn’t look like it wants to kill us," he said as he scanned the streets.

Liliana immediately cut in. "Don’t say that! Don’t ever say that again! Every time you say something like that, something tries to kill us!"

"You think I’m cursed? Or is it a bladeweaver power to make the opposite of what I say happen?"

"No, Kale, you’re not cursed. You’re just an idiot. And you really need to stop dropping your guard. The world isn’t a safe place, don’t you know that by now?"

Their conversation was interrupted by a sharp shout nearby.

“Watch where you’re walkin’, furball!”

Kale turned to see a large man juggling a heavy sack on his shoulder, his face red with frustration as he glared down at a small creature blocking his path. The creature, covered in violet fur and standing barely knee-high, had a round, almost spherical body with large, expressive eyes that shimmered in the sunlight. Kale stared, baffled.

“What... is that?” he asked.

The little creature didn’t seem fazed by the man’s shouting. Instead, it planted its tiny hands on its hips and glared back.

“We are called myrrel, ya dirty cocksucka!” it bellowed in a voice so deep it made Kale flinch.

Before the man could react, the Myrrel swung a surprisingly strong kick at his shin. The man howled, stumbling as the sack tumbled from his grip, spilling its contents—onions, Kale realized—onto the cobblestones.

“What the—did that thing just—?” Kale’s words faltered as the myrrel gave a self-satisfied huff and scampered off into the crowd, its little furry tail bobbing behind it.

Liliana sighed heavily. “That’s a myrrel. And now you’ve seen one. Congratulations.”

“Okay, but why is it so... furry? And small? And angry?”

“Why don’t you ask it next time?” Liliana said as the man continued hopping around and cursing.

Kale shook his head, still staring after the disappearing myrrel. “This place keeps getting weirder. I don’t think I like it.”

Liliana gave a wry smile. “Good. You shouldn’t.”

They continued through the lively streets. “It was pretty safe back home,” Kale said after a moment, trying to shake off the strange encounter. “Pretty boring too... I like boring. Boring is good. No one ever tries to kill you, statues don’t move, plants just sit around... it’s pretty great, really.”

"You’re a long way from home now."

"I don’t even know where I am."

"We’re in Harrow’s Reach."

"And I’m supposed to know where that is?"

Liliana rolled her eyes. "You not knowing something is hardly a surprise at this point."

"Alright," Kale said, "so where does your friend live?"

"Right through there," Liliana said, nodding toward a narrow alleyway that snaked between two tall buildings.

Kale scanned the crowded streets once more, noticing how people kept staring at him. He looked down at his ragged clothes and ran a hand over his scratched-up face. I guess I can’t blame them.

He cleared his throat. “And who exactly is this ‘friend’ of yours?”

“A fellow mage. He might be able to help us with... certain problems.”

“Like how to fix your whole... head situation?”

“Something like that. Let’s just say, he owes me.”