As we arrive, we are split into teams. Apparently, those who go inside are at much greater risk of injury, so Bosir has chosen to let the split happen by age. That means Asger and I, as well as the twins are left outside while the rest go in. Every clan is split in two, lest there be commotion about what percentage of the reward each part deserves for taking on risks.

I kind of want to protest. I want to see a living, breathing dragon in all of its glory, even when I have to take risk to find it. If they just end up killing it and I only get to see its corpse, I am going to be somewhat disappointed. I then think it is silly to think about these things, when the situation is apparently really dangerous.

Time passes, while we chat with our neighbors in the circle formed around the dungeon's entrance. This is the first dungeon entrance I have seen, that looks like a regular cave. Both of the others have this "man-made" vibe to them, like they have somehow been put together, or worked on, but by this one, I can see no features that I wouldn't find difficult to be naturally occurring.

Asger and I end up chatting about our theories of why Atna didn't come. Asger thinks she is a noble from the capital, anxious that she will be recognized.

"Come one, Atna can't be a noble. Don't they have, I don't know, a more dignified air to them? Atna is kind of wild, arrogant and an anger management problem." She will often appear frustrated or ice cold at a moment’s notice, like someone set off a bomb no one knew about.

"You only know her now, but you didn't see her when she first became an apprentice" Asger argued. "She was in fine clothes and acted impeccably, though she fairly quickly inherited the general boisterous conduct of our clan. Also, don't even pretend to not know that you are the source of her mood swings."

Hmm, I am? "What do you mean?"

"Really? Are you dumb or just ignorant?" Due to my mental age, I feel it painful to be called dumb by a kid some 16 years of age, but I bear with it.

"Before you two started to get along, she only ever got angry when someone insinuated that she shouldn't be a hunter or that she was weak because she was a woman."

That's strange. "But she is strong? Why would someone ever argue the opposite?"

Asger proceeds a little carefully. "Well, normally a woman in a hunter's position is completely unthinkable. But an exception is usually made for those with gifts, hence why both Mynie and Atna, the only two female members of our clan has gifts." He holds a small pause. "Some people think that it is wrong. That a woman's place is at home, raising children and tending house. Have you seriously not noticed how despised Mynie is?"

Well, I did, but "Isn't that just because she is a sexual predator and completely irresponsible?" Mynie often tried to skip out on any form of work, went drinking every night and would frequently hit on young boys whenever they were near, often with some physical contact.

"I guess that exaggerates it, but Larn is pretty much all of those things, and he doesn't get nearly the same amount of hate now, does he?"

Well, he is certainly right, but Larn is also way more quiet about it, and usually goes to the bar in town specifically catered towards that sort of inappropriate behavior, whereas Mynie attacks whoever. Then again, I don't think there exists a bar, where the waiters are young boys you can grope while you drink. Mynie would definitely be their top customer.

"Ah, you weaseled out of the thing with Atna again, listen here, you little..." Asger suddenly went quiet. I cast my read magic, but nothing is really around us, except for the encirclement itself.

"What is it, Asger?"

"Is that, the dragon?" A quiet, nervous voice coming from Asger sounds while he extends his arm and finger at a certain point in the sky. People look in the direction he points. And something far away is flying towards here, at incredible speed, judging by the rate it grows in my field of vision.

"Oh no" I remember Bosir's words. A dragon that can fly is unbeatable.

"Everybody, emergency! Break the encirclement and enter the dungeon." Some older hunter shouts, while the disorganized group breaks and scrambles for the dungeon entrance. Asger and I are amongst the one furthest from the entrance, and we start running, but since the circle collapses in on itself, there is not room enough for everyone, and some get pushed back. Asger trips and falls, and I stop and turn around, wanting to spot him, get him inside.

I hear some random guy ask in a panic: "Are there two of them? Did it leave the dungeon for some reason?”

There he is! "Asger!" I shout, as I approach him.

But just as I am about to reach him.

With a loud slam.

A tri-pronged appendage with claws is crushing down on him.

An ear-deafening roar is soon all I can hear.