I couldn’t fall back asleep so I walk down to the main room. Lily is playing with Llewellyn. She has a bent fork tied to a string, and holds it just out of reach. She lowers it slightly. Llewellyn springs up to snap his jaws at it, Lily moves it up slightly, and it moves out of reach. The little dragon looks up at the fork like an arch nemesis. He hisses, and swipes at the air with his front claws. When he sees me come. Down the stairs, he scampers up to me, and digging his claws into my clothing climbs up my body before I know it he has rested himself on my shoulder his short little tail wagging in joy. I scratch the top of his head.

“I’m glad it likes someone else.”

Lily says. She takes a seat placing the makeshift toy on the table.

“Don’t know if I could handle watching it all the time. You are up early, doing anything?”

I nod.

“Heading to the dragon's cave.”

She shakes her head.

“In this weather? The roads will be flooded, and horses won't do you much good when there is no trail. Especially with the mud that accumulates.”

I shrug, shifting Llewellyn who growls a little.

“I have a feeling about it. I just have to.”

Lily nods. She looks upset, but doesn't say anything. I've brought my backpack, and my new gear down with me. I transfer the contents of my old bag into a new water resistant one. I’ll give my paper to the wizard to put in the water proof scroll case.

First aid kit I hang from my new bag, using a bobby pin. I tug on it to make sure it’s secure. The water resistant bag has some hooks, which I put my umbrella on. The other hooks I realize are for pans, and pots which I don’t have. I let out a sigh, I’ll ask Marnie if she has any extra.

I hook up my bedroll, and dump my rations and other supplies in. While I look through my own bag, I find my solar charger, and a wire. I thought had left these at my friends so this is a big score.

It was rainy out, but I wasn’t so worried about never using my phone again. I turn my phone on, and scroll to spotify. Llewellyn stares at the bright screen like a little kid. Lily only notices when I put the music on. Ever since I thought about it yesterday, I’ve had Africa stuck in my head.

“Are you doing that?”

I nod.

“This is a common device from my home, lets you talk to people on the other side of the world, listen to music, and look at the sum of knowledge with a few taps.”

She looks at me dumbfounded.

“What did you use it for?”

I smile.

“To look at pictures of cats.”

After Africa finished I pull up some more music. Paint it black, completely different tone. Lily looks a little shaken.

“Music can change a lot in over 100 years.”

I throw Bohemian Rhapsody on after Paint it black. The Thunderbolt and lightning part causes Llewellyn to jump and run to Lily.

“I don’t know how to feel about that music.”

Lily says to me after the song finishes. I think for a moment, then put on Misty Mountains.

“This is a Dwarvish song from my home.”

I tell her.

“Don’t be playin’ none o’ that round other places.”

Marnie says.

“The bard’s would skin ya alive.”

She seemed to appear out of thin air.

“Don’t worry, just got excited for a moment. I have these.”

I hold up my earbuds. I plug them into my phone, and the music disappears. I pass one to Lily.

“Put it in your ear.”

She does as I say. An amazed expression on her face.

“The music is in the pod. Your home sure is amazing.”

Marnie rubs her chin.

“That song was very Dwarvish, although it wasn’t in dwarven. Did you grow up in a hidden city? Would explain your very dwarven esque attitude. Strong grip too, so says Gred.”

Gred?

“The smith?”

I ask.

“Aye,”

She nods.

“The very same.”

“I have a question.”

Lily says.

“What is Africa?”

I pause for a moment then start laughing. Just the absurdity of it. Being in another world that has magic, with my cellphone, listening to music, and being asked what Africa is. I calm myself down.

“Africa is a continent, a huge land mass with many different countries on it.”

I finish packing the rest of my gear away.

“Hey Marnie, you have an extra pot, or pan? I can pay you for it. Don’t want to skewer my meat with a stick to have to cook it.”

“I think I have something that might do. You heading to the dragons cave?”

She calls back.

“Yeah.”

“Bring me back something good.”

She walks out with a weird looking wok. It's very shallow, and wide like chest size.

“Family heirloom, ain’t done nothing since I got it.”

This thing looks like it’ll weight 30 pounds. She places it on the table with a solid thud. I don’t know how strong Marnie thinks I am, but not strong enough to lift that. I get into a lifting stance, and nearly fall over backwards. The wok is like 5 pounds.

“Holy shit. It’s light.”

She looks at me like I am an idiot.

“It’s mithral you numpty. When I opened my Inn my father gave it to me as a present, was our families prized shield. He ‘ad it converted into this pan. The fucking trog.”

She shakes her head.

“At least you, and your pack should be safe from attacks if you attach it to your backside.”

“Wow thanks, must be worth a fortune. Let me give you some money for it, wouldn't feel right otherwise.”

She waves her hand.

“Just get me something extra special from the Dragon's cave.”

I had no idea why the fuck Marnie was giving me a mithral wok, but an adventurer certainly doesn't turn down free loot.

“I’ll owe you a favor still.”

I reply, Marnie was nice and this gift was too nice.

“Thank you for the wok.”

“The fuck is a wok?”

I lift the wok,

“This. This is a wok, it’s good for stir fry. Very versatile.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Stir fry?”

I smile.

“I’ll cook it up for you when I get back.”

The party starts to come down now.

“Grabs some food you chuckle heads we gotta get a move on.”

Lily plates out some boiled veggies, and a crusty buttered bread. A mug of milk for me, the others some light ale.

I ate my fill, the trek would be hard with the rain. We walked to the edge of town, the rain obscuring our vision. In the distance, the mountains outline looms faintly.

“Alright, lets go.”