The next morning Scythe awoke after a rough night of sleep. Just staying in bed, until the maids came in to clean. Scythe got up and wandered the halls, Looking at each painting. Seeing the small details, the strokes of the brush, the slow gradients of color, the different styles of each artist.

  After he was done with that he went into the library and started to read anything that sounded interesting. Placing the books back after a quick look through. Some he read while standing. Eventually, he was bored of that.

  Now in the viewing area, he watched the guards train, and repeat drills, over and over. After a while, it turned into sparring, each pair taking turns, fighting to first kill strike.

Returning to his room, Zander was outside, "Scythe."

Scythe didn't lookup.

"Scythe look at me, please? I don't want to beg." Zander asked

"What?" Scythe looked up

"There is someone here to see you, she is waiting inside."

"Who is it?"

"Her name is Ifera, she said you saved her from goblins."

"I did, but more than thirteen others died."

"You still saved seventeen."

"I can take it from here," Scythe entered the room.

Ifera was pacing, "Scythe you're back."

"Well I'm here."

"After yesterday… I didn't mean for that to happen. I wanted to thank you, but I just made things worse."

"You are not at fault." Scythe spoke, "I just don't know how to face my parents after this."

"I don't have an answer for you." Ifera said, moving closer to Scythe, "myself, Liz, and Reven, are going to take a mission, we wanted to ask you, if you would like to join us?"

Scythe paused for a moment, "sure where too?"

"Gooselight Mountain, we are hunting kobolds in a cave."

"I can help with that." Scythe seemed to gain some energy back

"Really, that's good. We are leaving in three days, it'll be a four day trip."

"But after what happened, do you want to continue so soon?"

"If I do nothing, I'll just get stuck in a gutter, I want to keep moving."

"Okay."

"Well then, see you in three days in front of the guild." Ifera had a bounce to her step.

"Yep, see you then." Scythe followed her out of his room. Zander led her to the gate. After that Scythe was excited about doing more things. "What should I bring?" Scythe started thinking, "I should check if the library has any books on kobolds."

"You get one visit from quite the nice lady, and you perk up, like this *snaps*. People might get a different idea about you."

"Who really cares."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Well, it's time to practice, this time. Use the blades of Fenriin." Phae ordered

"Okay," Scythe's energy seemed to return in full.

  Scythe practiced and practiced. When the maids told him dinner was about to be served. Scythe joined in, eating his fill. Then after Scythe slept well from being so tired.

  Scythe's pattern in the next few days was to eat, practice, read, and sleep. By the time the day arrived, Scythe was in a better mood. But something lingered on his mind, like a bad aftertaste.

  Scythe reported to the guild about his first mission, Claire was surprised about the number of kills the stone recorded. And gave Scythe the next up stone they had. Finalizing his gear, Scythe stayed near the guild. Waiting.

  Ifera showed up alone in a dress, walking up to Scythe, "You ready?"

"Yeah, where is Liz and Reven?"

Ifera had a look, "I kinda lied about the mission, I wanted us to hang out. I also wanted to get you back. Better than what happened."

"Oh… Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just a little dense sometimes." Scythe said

"Well, anywhere you want to go?"

"The gardens are a nice place," Scythe picked up on the plan.

"The gardens, sure." Ifera said, "Well shall we?"

Walking next to each other, Ifera informed Scythe about all aspects of the city. The day seemed to race by, and before they knew it, it was night. "This was fun, I'm glad you agreed. I know I lied a little."

"It was a nice change of pace." Scythe replied, "it was good to learn about the city."

"Your welcome."

"So what now? We walked across town, what should we do?" Scythe asked.

"Why don't I cook you dinner, you needn't help."

"I… uh sure." Scythe blushed a little

"I know your nineteen, but you still seem like a kid sometimes." Ifera laughed a little.

"Yeah," Scythe played with his hair

"Since it's the first time you will visit my home, I can lead you there."

"Okay…"

"SOMEONE HELP!" a voice spilt the silence, before a blood-curdling scream

Scythe looked around, trying to find the voice. "Where was that from?"

"Look down there," Ifera pointed outside the gate, in the last lights of the day, you could see the blood splatter. Seconds later, bells started ringing, once means raid, twice means monsters and three times. "A dragon, what is a dragon doing here?"

Scythe froze.

"Scythe we need to run. We can't fight a dragon." Ifera pulled on Scythe, who didn't budge an inch. Turning around, Ifera saw the dragon looking right at them. A deep growl, and the dragon pointed at Scythe, "You. Come with me."

Scythe stayed still.

"Or do I raze this small town, I know you heard my calls. In this lesser tongue."

"Scythe how do you know a dragon?" Ifera asked

"I don't know."

"You're moving too slow," The dragon grabbed Scythe, in a blink of an eye.

  The dragon took off flying at high speed, still held in it's claws. Scythe watched the city fade from sight. "Where are you taking me?" Scythe yelled.

The dragon spoke, "I was asked to find your scent, and if I found you. Well she left that one open."

"But who asked you?"

"A golden haired fox, she asked me a few days ago. And I finally got wind of your scent."

"How."

"Just shut up, you'll bite your tongue." Scythe went silent for the rest of the flight.

  Landing, in an unfamiliar place, a massive golden fox lay sleeping. Hearing the wing beats it awoke. "I found your person." the dragon dropped Scythe in front of the fox. "Now your promise to turn me human."

"Done." the fox spoke without moving its mouth, the dragon transformed into a human, cheering it left.

  The fox turned to face Scythe, and shrunk into a human size. "It's been quite some time… Scythe."

"Sol. Why did you ask a dragon to get me?"

"I had no luck finding you. Seven years, I searched everywhere." Sol said, "Luna doesn't know I found you."

"If you couldn't find me for a few years. How did you know where I was?"

"The letter and Fenriin. It was an off chance to get to you, but it's worth the shot." Sol said, "There was magic in the letter, to let me know when it was opened, and where."

"It's good to see you," Scythe said, "How… How is Luna?"

"Depressed, so Phae, is he learning?"

"He is. Quite well in fact."

"Good."

"What? You take me from a city with a dragon, and basically seem not interested in me. We haven't seen each other in years."

"We… I thought you were dead until four days ago. I came to that after I lost your scent in a river. Luna still hopes you are alive. Do you know how much it hurts to watch her just sit there."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorries don't cut it," Sol snarled, "you left without warning, a note or anything. Just Aurora covered in blood, and Phae missing. I'm trying not to beat you here now."

Scythe looked down.

"But I won't, I'm just glad to see you are alive, I won't make you do anything," Sol opened a portal, "This will bring us home. Luna misses you the most. I won't force you to go through, but please, ease her suffering."

"I'll come home, but I also have a home out in this world too. I made new friends."

"I understand, come on, let's go."

From a barren mountain, to lush green forest, Scythe remembered the smell. This was home.