Year 47

*Dàirean, Kaven, Emma, and Andrew all sit around a table. Maps and reports are all across the table.*

Dàirean: I understand Kaven, but it’s not like we can head home. If any of us develop signs we can’t take it back. We’ll kill everyone.

Kaven: Yes but his majesty didn’t have us take elves to send them on suicide missions.

Emma: Can I interrupt?

Dàirean: Not now elf.

*Emma casts silence on Dàirean, he continues to attempt to scream but nothing comes out. Emma sits down and waits until he calms down, she snaps her fingers as she releases the spell.*

Emma: I’m going with or without your consent the day after tomorrow.

Andrew: If Emma is going then I’m going. Her sister would gut me and hang me out to dry if I let her little sister do something so dangerous.

Emma: It’s been months and we haven’t made any movements. I only came with you all because it was faster.

*Emma stands up and leaves before Kaven can stop her.*

Kaven: Damnit! Nightwarden!

*Andrew soon follows after her. Kaven turns to Dàirean.*

Dàirean: If we don’t have any signs in the next three months we send a ship back to get the quarantine supplies. Then we can help them again. Until then we need to do more than hide.

Kaven: I know, I just don’t like the idea of sending someone else to do our work.

Dàirean:*Laughs* You’re probably one of the few dwarves to think like that. How you became captain is beyond me.*Laughs*

*Andrew follows Emma into her room where she begins packing a bag.*

Andrew: I’ll go with you, but can you at least wait?

Emma: *Stops*I’m not waiting any longer

*Emma’s eyes crackle slightly*

Andrew: One day. I’m gonna ask for one day. So we can get the proper supplies.

*Emma turns to Andrew and looks him directly in the eyes. Her eyes, still visibly crackling.*

Andrew: Your eyes.

Emma: *Irritated* Yeah. What about them? *Deep breath* I’ll wait but only if you can keep your mouth shut.

Andrew: I’ll make you a deal, I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine.

Emma:*Rolls eyes* What’s your secret then?

*Emma’s eyes shine purple for a second.*

Emma: I can guess you already know mine.

Andrew: I’m dating your sister and your dad thinks I’m just her gay best friend so we can sleep in the same bed when we visit. As for your secret, are you one of those seers I heard about?

*Emma squints her eyes, glaring at Andrew*

Emma: What do you know about Seers?

Andrew: Nothing much. Your dad and mom talked about it one night, and I just overheard. I remember something about different-colored eyes and the fact that they’re stronger than most other elves. I asked your sister, and she said I could talk to you about it.

Emma: Keya.*Sigh* I can explain more as we travel if you want. *Sits down* What do we need before we leave?

Andrew: Just the basics.

Emma: We’re going to have to hunt for our own food, you know that right?

Andrew: Speaking of hunting. Is Lily really evolved or is that because she’s a seer's spirit?

Emma: A little of both as far as I know. Focus Andrew.

Andrew: I never ate any of our kills, Keya does all the time but I normally stuck to rations.

Emma: If we take too much we risk hurting everyone else. We’re just taking some potions, supplies to map the area, and sleeping mats.

Andrew: I didn’t think about that. Well, I’d like to get some extra water.

Emma: There is plenty of moisture in the stone down here. As long as we aren’t around any active areas we can draw anything we need from around us.

Andrew: Well let me check with Dàirean and Kaven. Maybe they can give us some more information on the dangers around here.

Emma: You can. I’m going to go fish for rations.

*The next day the two elves head off, following the marks left behind from the last expedition. After the first mile, Andrew begins asking Emma question after question about the seers.*

—----------------------------------------

* A week passes as they reach the final marker. Emma hops up on the wall she had created during her fight with the wyvern. As she looks down she shakes her head.*

Emma: All that is left is the skull.

Andrew: What’s weird is why there are wyverns underground.

Emma: It’s not unheard of near Glimmerfell. But we don’t have any Dive points near here. At least that we know of.

*As the two sit around a quick fire, Emma looks over at Andrew.*

Emma: You okay?

Andrew: Yeah, I'm just coming to terms with the fact that getting home isn’t going to be fun. But Keya always said if she had to pick someone to back her up in a fight, it was your mom and dad, then you. For planning ahead, she would pick you.

Emma: I know she’s our stepmom but it feels weird having someone address Isabelle as my mom.

Andrew: Sorry.

Emma: No, It’s fine. I call her Isabelle or Auntie still. She raised us and trained Keya, even before our mom passed.

Andrew: Keya doesn’t talk about her. What was she like?

Emma: *Smiles* She was nice and always fought for people to be happy. She passed due to Spirit loss. She passed with a smile, Dad said. So I know she’s happy.

*Tears start to form on Emma’s cheek*

Emma: Which makes me happy.

Andrew: I. I didn’t mean to make you cry.

Emma: *Sniff* It's fine, I love talking about my mom. I just wish I knew more about her. I wasn’t even ten when she left my life. We went to train with Isabelle and when we came home she had passed in her sleep. Keya and Dad didn’t talk for a long time after she passed.

Andrew: My parents were supposedly both adventurers. My grandpa said my mom was bleeding out when she left me at his doorstep that night.

Emma: Do you know what happened?

Andrew: He’s not my actual grandpa, he just raised me. He never met my parents and when he tried to heal her she had lost too much blood already.

Emma: Wait heal?

Andrew: Yeah, my grandpa is a human. He’s retired now. I almost didn’t come because I’m not sure how much time he has left.

Emma: Just means we have to hurry up and find that stupid dragon's nest.

Andrew: Remind me again why we’re looking for this dragon?

Emma: I need it’s egg. All I can say is it’s for a quest.

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Andrew: Yeah, but. Emma, I understand why you want to be stronger, but it almost feels like you’re trying to atone.

Emma: I’m still careful.

*As the two hop over a trench, Emma grabs Andrew and pulls him down. Emma creates a layer of earth to hide them both as thousands of feet run over their heads. After the creatures pass Emma and Andrew climb out of the hole.*

Andrew: A little warning would’ve been nice.

*Emma investigates the footsteps.*

Emma: They’re migrating. It must be close to winter on the surface.

Andrew: They were tarbeasts right?

Emma: Yeah. They changed their path at the last minute. They were going to pass behind us, but I think they got our scent.

Andrew: Won’t they be back then? Why’d they continue running?

Emma: I sent a clone holding a bag of meat running that way. *Stands up* Good news is. We don’t have any of those Gravenborn in the pack it seems. Kaven said they stop producing tar when they die.

Andrew: So after this egg. Are you going to come back?

Emma: Depends on how long it takes. I got some information I’m not ready to deal with yet.

Andrew: Well. You should at least come to say hi to your family.

Emma: I might go visit my daughter one last time before everything happens.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

*As the two elves follow the stream, a faint glow becomes visible down the path.*

Andrew: Did we get lost? We should be at least a month away from the cove if we mapped it outright.

*Under the entirety of Sylvndor rests an ancient bioluminescent jungle. The roots from the capitol tree are visible, creating a cage around the area. At the center of the jungle rests a small lake.*

Andrew: Should we head back?

*A loud roar shakes the trees. Andrew and Emma watch as an Unfathomably large red dragon raises its head from the other side of the Jungle. A nest sits, nestled into the back wall, and the roots make stairs leading up to it.*

Emma: That’s what I’m looking for.

*Andrew looks at Emma and pulls her back down behind cover.*

Andrew: Are you crazy? That thing looks like it could take out a nation on its own.

Emma: I know. Which is why we’re heading back to the cove.

Andrew: *Breathe of relief.* I was afraid you were going to still try.

Emma: I don’t need her. I need her egg.

Andrew: Dragons are known to search endlessly for their eggs. That’s a terrible idea.

Emma: I’m not even sure it’s what I need. I’ll know when I see it.

Andrew: How do you know it’s a she and it has an egg?

Emma: Educated guess.

*Andrew struggles not to yell at Emma’s response as they both head back to the cove. The first night on their way back, Emma meets with her past self in a dream. *

*Emma opens her eyes to see the room with the table and chairs once again.*

Emma: I’m still looking. I think I know where Spike is. I just need to leave Andrew back at the cove.

*The figure smiles.*

Emma: Can you tell me now what Spike is?

*A display of Lily appears on the table in the center of the room. They point to Lily then the chair for Bubba.*

Emma: Is Bubba an Elf too?

*The figure shrugs.*

Emma: Bubba isn’t my Dad's Bubba is he?

*The figure shakes their hands and waves their arms, expressing how wrong the question is.*

Emma: But Spike is Bubba’s spirit?

*The figure uses their hand in a pinching gesture.*

Emma: Kind of?

*The figure nods.*

Emma: Okay. Can you get ahold of that Devil guy? He seemed to be interested in finding Bubba as well. Maybe he has more information before I go piss off a dragon capable of ending all life.

*The figure makes a Sundial appear.*

Emma: I don't understand. Are you telling me to wait or something?

*The figure nods, happily.*

Emma: So how long? *laughs irritatedly.* You can't contact him. you can't speak. I came down here for you. To look for Bubba.

*Emma takes a deep breath in and exhales. Emma begins tapping her foot. After what feels like hours Emma stops tapping her foot, stomping.*

Emma: *Irritated* Fine! I'll wait for now. But if he's not here before those ships begin leaving. I'm going with or without. I'm not going to get myself killed though if that is the egg.

*The figure nods.*

Emma: Why do you have so much faith in him? He doesn't seem like a good person. I get he is someone from your past. But Evil is in his name. Shouldn't we be more on edge?

*The figure begins to look angry as it grows slowly.*

Figure: I OWE HIM EVERYTHING!

*Emma raises her hands in apology.*

Emma: Okay. Okay. I'm sorry, I didn't know. I just want to understand. It's frustrating for me too.

*The figure calms down and the room returns to normal.*

Emma thinking: You've told me I can trust him, but can I trust you?

Emma: I understand speaking takes a large amount of your energy. But can you tell me, why can't you speak their names? Is it because it's in another language?

*The figure spells out a word on a paper and passes it to Emma. She looks at the characters in confusion, like the name tags before, but this one doesn't change like the others.*

Emma: Is this how you spell your name?

*The figure nods and writes down another name then points to the chair associated with the Devil.*

Emma: And this is his name?

*The figure nods again as the world begins to fade and Emma starts to awaken.*

Emma: Wait. I need more time to learn it!

*Emma jolts awake slightly and Lily stretches out from underneath her, acting as her pillow.*

Emma thinking: I guess writing takes a lot of energy too.

Lily: You okay Momma? You seemed stressed in your dream.

Emma(TL): Lily, do you ever hear the figure? You know. The past me?

Lily: When you get really mad I feel a presence. I can never remember what happens next.

Andrew: Are you awake over there?

*Emma sits up.*

Emma: Yeah, had a weird dream and was talking to Lily.

Andrew: I do the same with Clip. Since spirits don’t dream. I tell him mine.

*A small bird appears on Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew uses his finger to rub its chest.*

Clip: oh! Tell her my favorite. The one about the Mudpit and Henry.

Emma: Mudpit?

*Andrew turns to Emma.*

Andrew: Wait you heard that?

Emma: Oh yeah. One of my benefits as a seer is I can speak to all spirits. I normally tune them out because everyone else, but Ariella and I would sometimes go out with our spirits to just talk. Just the four of us.*Smiles*

Andrew: That sounds fun. Do you hear Clip in the same tone that I do?

Emma: A very, kind yet high-pitched and high-energy sounding? I mean how else would a bird that small sound anyway? *Laughs*

Andrew: True. if it follows how it normally works then that makes sense. What about Lazarus? How does he sound?

Emma: Last we spoke he sounded. Kind of like Grimvar honestly. That older, crackly-sounding voice.

Andrew: Almost sounds like he needs to clear his throat sometimes?

Emma:*Laughs* Yeah.

Andrew: That’s how Keya described it too. “ It kind of sounds like an old dwarf.” *Laughs*

Emma: I actually heard Lazarus before she did. I just never said anything. He sounded so cute. I don’t know what went wrong.*Laughs*

Andrew: Wait. does that mean you gave him his voice?

Emma: *Shock* Oh. I’ve never thought about that. But I always pictured him with a smoother voice. So probably not.

Andrew: That just raises so many other questions.

Emma: And I can’t answer any of them. Since I’m awake we can head out.

Andrew: Sounds good. You hungry?

*Emma looks at Lily.*

Lily: YES!

Emma: *Smiles* No. Lily is but she will be fine.

Andrew: Do we need to remind her spirits don’t normally eat again?

*Lily looks at them both, begging.*

Emma: Okay fine. But I’m not cooking it for you.

Lily: Can you at least sear it?

*Emma sighs and reaches into a bag, pulling out a steak. Emma then uses a blast of fire to sear the meat quickly.*

Emma: There. Now let's go.

*Emma rolls her eyes with a smile as Lily quickly swallows the meal.*

Andrew: And you wonder why she didn’t want to cook for you.*Laughs*

Emma: Yeah, but she’s also never complained about my cooking at least.

—----------------------------------------------------------------

*Emma and Andrew reach the cove. To find the gates sealed shut.*

Emma: Hello! Anyone home?!

*A dwarf pokes his head out from the wall.*

Dwarf: Oh! Nightwarden. Andrew your back.

Andrew: *Laughs* Nice to see you as well Fintan.

*The gates open revealing that another, much larger ship has arrived. Fintan leads them both to a newly created building.*

Andrew: Who showed up? I thought we were at risk of disease?

Fintan: We confirmed zero cases at the cove. As for the ship, King Ruairí arrived last week. The captains are currently discussing our plans to move forward.

*Emma and Andrew enter the conference room and sit at the oval table. King Ruairí sits at one end.*

Ruairí: Good to see you again Emma. Or is it Nightwarden now?

Emma: *Laughs nervously* Yeah. I decided to stay and train in Mithrun after my party headed home.

Ruairí: And I hear you’ve been helping my people without asking for much in return. I’ll have to reward you when we return to the mainland.

Emma: *Smiles* Thank you—your majesty.

Ruairí: Now. Emma and Andrew. What do you have to report?

Andrew: We managed to map out a lot of the northwest.

*Emma hands some papers to an aid who then passes them to King Ruairí.*

Emma: We also made sure to mark any signs of migration paths.

Andrew: We spotted twelve new variants of species. As well as fifteen entirely new species.

Ruairí: And what’s this about a glow at a tunnel? What was at the end? The report just ended.

*Andrew looks confused.*

Emma: We were struggling to get food and needed to head back to resupply. We decided to head back for now.

Ruairí: Is that true Andrew?

Andrew: *Looking at Emma.* Yeah. I was struggling to remember. We hadn’t eaten for a few days.

*After the meeting, Andrew pulls Emma to the side to speak with her.*

Andrew: What was that about?

*Emma holds her arm, ashamed of herself.*

Emma: If you told King Ruairí that the Red Dragon has been found. He might risk his life to the gravenborn. Dwarves view it as some kind of great challenge. We already agreed that "thing" could clear out a nation. It’s living under the capitol tree. It could kill everyone.

Andrew: I won't say anything. But you have to take me with you.

Emma: Well they said they’re hiring an entire squad of non-dwarven adventurers to map the area. Let’s wait until they get here and then we’ll decide on which way to go.

Andrew: Deal. Just don’t run off on your own and do anything stupid. I’d very much like to be able to return home myself.