Chapter Twenty-One: Parting Ways

“What's in Drakosia that you need to go there? Isn't it just ruins now?” Rosalia asked as the door closed.

Ash was certain it had something to do with dragons. He didn't know if he would be getting an dragon there, but Drakosia was the ruined city of the dragon lords.

Even as sheltered as he was, he had heard of it.

“Yes. The whole city was burned to the ground sixteen and a half years a go. I was just an infant then, but Ma used to talk about it from time to time,” Will said.

Nick grunted,

“No use speculating. The Light only knows what that woman is thinking, and I wonder if even it has trouble prying her secrets from her.”

Ash's dwarven friend stood up, slapping his knees.

“It's been a long day, and a longer night. I want to sleep.”

Rosalia blinked at him,

“Don't you want to say goodbye to Ash? We're leaving tomorrow, going our separate ways.”

Nick shrugged,

“Always time to say goodbye in the morning. Besides we will see him again at the academy.”

Nick clasped a hand on Ash’s shoulder before heading to his bed, and throwing himself on it. He was snoring moments later.

“I'm pretty tired too. My guts were almost clawed out.”

Rosalia snorted,

“Baby. I had it worse and I feel okay.”

“Well that just makes you special, doesn't it beautiful?”

Rosalia’s ears went pink and her furious blush matched them. Ash shifted uncomfortably.

“I'm think I'll go to bed, too,” he stated.

Rosalia sighed, standing up.

“Alright then. I'll see you both in the morning.”

The half-elven girl left.

Will began to get dressed into his nightwear and Ash did the same.

“You know she likes you,” Will casually said.

Ash started,

“What? Where is this coming from? I didn't say anything!”

Will chuckled,

“Ash, do you think people don't notice, man? Lights truth, I'm shocked she hasn't. Or she has, and is keeping silent,” Will folded his clothes, setting his bow against the wall, “Point is, she does like you. You have a shot, you just gotta take it.”

Ash rubbed his face,

“Rosalia is my friend. That's it.”

Will raised his brow and flashed a what-can-you-do kind of smile as he shrugged.

“If you say so. But I'm telling you man, Rosalia is a special girl. If you don't try, someone else will.”

“You?” Ash said, raising a brow.

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Will laughed again as he got under the covers.

“Not unless she just wants something casual. No woman will chain me down!”

Wills laughter subsided into chuckles as he turned around, and went to sleep.

Leaving Ash as the only one awake.

Whatever awaited him in Drakosia, he hopped it was the answer to his elar problem.

He laid down, and dreams took him moments later.

___

“Is the carriage going all the way up the mountains?” Will said, lifting a piece of buttered bread and taking a healthy bite.

Rosalia made a noise, shaking her head.

“No. Wyrmhaven is nestled in between the mountains. I was looking at a map the other day. Carriage should take us directly there, and it even includes real adventurers as guards!” She exclaimed, eyes shining

With a smile, she bit into a pear.

“Light take us, we killed a monster last night! I say we are already adventurers!”

“Hardly, master Al'Smith.”

Nick frowned at her.

“What did I say that was wrong?”

Amalia calmly ate a piece of bread before explaining,

“That night maiden wasn't even bronze ranked. Any bronze ranked adventurer would have ended that monster with little issues.”

Will held up a finger,

“I wasn't thinking about it much last night, but when we killed that wraith, what was that rush of energy we got? Or is that just my overactive imagination at work?”

”

Rosalia and Nick nodded, while Ash turned his head, narrowing his brows and wondering what is he talking about?

“So you noticed. I was wondering if you would. You will learn all of this at Wyrmhaven, but it is enough to say that you did indeed ‘get’ a rush of energy, as master Al’Seen so eloquently put it. What you do with it, that you shall learn at school. Now then, it is time we depart. Your carriage awaits you, while the road calls master Lorcan and I.”

“Couldn’t we travel together aways? Drakosia isn’t far from Wyrmhaven.” Rosalia said.

“It is not, but you all shall be in a carriage, and moving far faster than we can walk. You will quickly outpace us, growing too far ahead for us to keep up,” Amalia replied.

“Why not get horses?” Will asked, pushing his food around with a fork.

“Do I appear to be made of gold to you, master Al’Seen?

Will squinted at her, as if he were trying to solve a mystery.

“No, but I’ve been wrong before. We could throw you in the water, see if you float,” Will grinned.

Amalia didn’t look amused.

“It is time we part ways. You will find the carriage waiting for you at the town’s exit. Are you ready to leave, master Lorcan?”

Ash looked at his friends, stood up, and took a deep breath.

“Stay safe out there, guys. I’ll see you at the academy.”

He was about to leave when Rosalia crashed into him, hugging him tight. Her form felt warm, right against him. He gave her a squeeze, and she looked up at him, eyes determined, mouth set in a firm line,

“You better be at that academy in two months, you hear me?”

Ash nodded, smiling gently,

“I promise.”

Over her shoulder, Will gave him a knowing look, and Nick tapped his nose. Ash felt his face go hot, and he looked away. Rosalia pulled out of the hug, and they all left the inn.

Nick slapped his back,

“Light, but we’ve had a time of it, eh, Ash? I promise, we’ll figure out who attacked our homes, and we will make them pay.”

“Yes, we will,” Ash said, his voice cold.

Will shook his hand, giving him an easy smile. Then his three friends walked away from him, with Will raising a hand as he did, his other hand shoved into his pocket.

“Don’t get eaten, now!” Will called.

I hope I see them again, he thought.

Then they were gone, leaving Ash alone with Amalia and a cloud of awkward silence.

“It is time to leave,” Amalia said, gripping her staff as she began to walk.

Ash followed and together, they left Brilehaven behind.

_________

“Why are we going to Drakosia?” Ash asked as they walked. He knew no other way to fill the silence.

His breath was coming out in white wisps, but as usual, Ash didn’t feel the cold.

“Because there is something you and I must do there,” was Amalia’s reply.

It was a non-answer. Ash lifted his head, blowing out a steady stream of white air.

“Can you just answer me? For once, please just give me an answer. Anything of substance.”

Amalia tightened her grip on her staff. She looked to be wrestling with something, and that was the most emotion he had seen from her since this journey had begun.

“We go there so you may take the first steps on your path.”

That wasn’t what Ash wanted to hear, but it was likely all he was going to get.

For a long time the only sound was the wind blowing through leaves, and the sound of their steps on a road that seemed to stretch ever onward.

Toward his path.