Prince Lucian trudged through the snowy mountain pass, his breath forming clouds in the frigid air. The cold bit at his exposed skin, but he pulled his cloak on his armor tighter and pressed on. He had to catch up to the orc and the elf. Their trail was faint but still visible, and every step brought him closer to answers. The snow crunched beneath his boots as the wind howled, carrying with it a chill that seeped into his bones.

As he ascended, his mind drifted back to the words of the Wood Elf King: "The frozen cliffs themselves are perilous, teeming with giant trolls and frozen lake lizardmen. If you do not encounter one, you are bound to encounter the other." Lucian shivered, not just from the cold but from the memory of those tales.

When he was a child, his father had spoken of the lizardmen. They were creatures that walked upright like humans, their bodies covered in scales that shimmered like frost-kissed stone. Hunters by nature, they thrived in the harsh environment of the mountains. Yet few had seen them and returned to tell the tale. More often, survivors spoke of trolls—giant, hairy brutes whose strength could crush stone and whose faces haunted his childhood dreams. Lucian recalled the day an adventurer brought a troll's severed head to the palace. The grotesque sight had sent him running to his mother, seeking solace in her comforting arms. The thought of her brought an ache to his chest, a reminder of what he had lost. If only I hadn't been captured...

Shaking off the painful memories, Lucian focused on the path ahead. The snow grew deeper, and the wind more relentless, yet he pressed on. His musings were interrupted when he spotted movement in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, he saw them: three lizardmen dragging a massive, white carcass toward a frozen lake.

Lucian's breath hitched. The carcass was a troll, larger than any he had imagined. Its horns jutted out like jagged icicles, and its body was a grotesque blend of muscle and frostbitten fur. The sight stirred a mix of awe and unease within him. Then, he noticed a fourth figure, draped in bones and tattoos, standing apart from the others. This one leaned on a greatsword that glinted with frost.

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Lucian approached cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. As he stepped closer, the lizardman leader turned to face him, its eyes narrowing. Despite its fearsome appearance, it made no move to attack. Instead, it opened its mouth and spoke in broken but understandable words.

"You... with elf... and big one?"

Lucian froze. The lizardman's voice was guttural, but the meaning was clear. He raised his sword slightly, unsure of its intentions.

"You... have seen them?" Lucian asked, his voice steady despite his racing heart.

The lizardman leader tilted its head, its reptilian features unreadable. "Elf... strong. Clever. He win... duel." It pointed to itself with a clawed hand. "Big one... fight big white... great one... and win. We... respect strong."

Lucian's grip on his sword loosened as the lizardman continued. "Elf strong. Big one... strong, strong. He kill big white great one. Now lizardmen... happy. White ones eat everything. Nothing for hunt. Long, long time ago... lizardmen happy. Lizardmen hunt lot prey. Then one day... big white one come. No problem. Great big white one come... problem. Not much food." The lizardman gestured toward the troll's massive carcass. "Big one kills big great white one. Big one leaves. Small big white ones scared. Lizardmen grateful."

Lucian pieced together the tale. The orc, had slain the massive troll that had been terrorizing the lizardmen's territory, depriving them of food and forcing them to the brink of starvation. The lizardmen, grateful for their newfound peace, had granted him a safe passage.

Lowering his sword, Lucian gave a respectful nod. "Thank you for your help. Which way did they go?"

The lizardman leader pointed toward a narrow path winding through the mountains. "That way. You pass. Lizardmen, no attack you. Lizardmen grateful."

Lucian hesitated for a moment, then bowed slightly. "You have my thanks."

The lizardmen watched silently as he turned and began his ascent. The wind howled around him, but he felt a newfound determination. The orc and elf had left a trail of unexpected alliances in their wake. If he could catch up to them, perhaps he could finally uncover their true intentions.

As he followed the path, he glanced back once. The lizardmen were still standing by the frozen lake, their forms silhouetted against the pale light of the snowy mountains. Lucian's heart swelled with resolve. The journey was far from over, but he would see it through—no matter the cost.