I opened my eyes to a void of never ending darkness. This is odd. I brought my hand up in front of my eyes but they weren’t there. I couldn’t see anything. My heart started beating rapidly as the familiarity of the situation dawned on me. I quickly stood up, wincing as pain rushed to my head. It was sharp and unrelenting. Oh gods. It hurt so much. I cradled my head in my palm as I tried to calm my beating heart.

The world was completely silent. No sounds of the forest. No water, birds, trees, and not even the sound of breathing.

“Kagin? Genesis?” I called, but gasped as a scraping pain filled my throat. I coughed, slowly falling to my knees as the hacking continued. I know this pain. It was way too real. I slowly reached forward, trying to search for something to hold on to.

“No. Not again.” I croaked, my tongue and throat becoming drier by the second. Shit. Need to get lower. This smoke, why isn’t it rising?! I let my body collapse to the ground as the heat seemed to build. Sweat now drenched my form as I continued to cough and gag. It was still dark. Nothing could be seen. Not the light of fire or the crackling of embers floating into the sky.

Realization dawned on me. Am I in the smoke? I lifted my head, trying to gaze around but my eyes only failed me. I am going to die by smoke inhalation. Just great. I let my head fall to the ground as the smoke grew thicker. My body began to relax as I accepted it. Better this way I guess. Hope Galterius got what he wanted. My eyelids slowly closed as I let out a hoarse sigh.

That was when I felt like I was falling. I gasped, the air clear again. My eyes shot open as the wind rushed past me, pulling and tugging at my hair and clothing. My heart sped up tenfold as my stomach jumped to my chest. I felt my body seize up and my limbs grow cold. No no no no no. Stop, please! The overwhelming fear took over my senses as another second passed by. I didn’t want to look down. I didn’t want to see how close the ground was, how close my death was.

A high-pitched whine filled the air as my position snapped. My feet were now on the ground. I felt the need to collapse, to let my body adjust to what just happened, but I couldn’t move. God dammit. What now? Let this end. Whoever the fuck is messing with me, quit. My eyes darted around the now barren wasteland in anxiety as my heart reached beating levels that I didn’t think were possible.

“Why didn’t you save me, Kat? I was right there, you could’ve grabbed me!” My eyes froze as the disembodied voice called out to me. My stomach twisted as I tried to turn to look at who was behind me, but I couldn’t move. Let me see them. Please. Just this once. Shrill screams suddenly erupted from behind me as I sucked in a breath.

The screams of agony and pain filled my ears. A deep, booming laughter followed as the screams grew louder. Words could barely be made out, but I recognized each and every voice. The warm, splattering sensation of blood doused my back as I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the tears rise from the bottom of my heart.

“Failure!”

“Help us!”

“You did nothing!”

The urge to scream clawed at the back of my throat as the insanity continued. Why wouldn’t this end? Please make it go away! No sound came from my throat as I opened my mouth in a silent scream. I opened my eyes again to find it dark. The screams had subsided to a background noise as I turned in a circle to find emerald flames surrounding me in a ring. My eyes widened as I noticed shapes in the fire. They were humanoid, but something felt off. They were completely black, no mouth but yellow eyes. My eyes widened as I realized what they were.

“Are you going to let them die too? How would they react if they knew you were insane? How would they react if they knew you let someone die? How would you feel if they disappeared right before your eyes?” The dark cackles slowly began to fade as the tears finally dropped. The emerald flames began to die as I returned to darkness.

“No, don’t do that. Please, please don’t tell them. I can’t let anyone else die. No, not like this.” I felt myself finally collapse, drowning in my own sorrow. I curled against the pitch-black floor. My eyes slowly began to droop as I kept whispering, hoping this attack would end. How could Shadow People even do this? Where are Kagin and Genesis? Are they alright? Where am I? I just want it to end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Kat! Dammit, Kat! Wake up, we can’t sit here all day!”

“Kagin, she had her energy drained, stop shaking her.”

“Yeah, but what else could they have done to her? We need to know if she is alright!”

“You’re not helping by shaking her.”

I shot up as I felt a form jump away from me in shock. My breaths were heavy as I slowly trailed a hand down my stomach. I’m here. I’m alright. My head snapped up as I looked around. The pain in my head was still there, sharp and quick. That felt too real. Was it a nightmare? I winced as the harsh sunlight flashed in my eyes.

I slowly turned my head, taking in my new surroundings. We were at the edge of a forest with grasslands spreading out to my right. The sun stood high in the sky as I groaned, pulling my cloak over my pale skin from the fear of a sunburn. I felt something wet slide down my face and my eyes widened as I realized I was crying. I quickly pulled my hood over my head as a familiar voice forced the echoing screams from my skull. I was grateful to hear that familiar tone, but the nagging fear made it more anxiety-inducing then it should have been.

“Kat, are you okay?” I looked to my right, spotting a tired Kagin gazing at me. His crimson-flecked eyes seemed dark with worry. I looked to my left, seeing an equally-worried Genesis. Her fur cape was draped over my legs with the top piled at my waist. I brought my hand to my head as relief shot through my veins. They are fine. Thank god. What the hell? Why does my head still hurt?

I felt a soft tap on my shoulder. I had forgotten Kagin had asked me a question. I blinked in ignorance for a second before the question actually reached my brain.

“Ah, yeah. I’m fine. Just confused?” I murmured before wincing again as the sun blinded me. The hood apparently did nothing to shield my eyes.

“Why’d you have to place me in the sun. This hurts.” I chuckled with little humor as I glanced at both of them. Neither of them were smiling. I let my chuckles fade. Worry still rested on their features as Genesis spoke up.

“Do you remember what happened?” I blinked at her for a second before gently pulling her cape off of my legs. I neatly rolled it up before holding it out to her. She looked at me for a second before I sighed.

“Take your damn cape. And all I remember is that a Shadow Person grabbed my arm. It all went black after that.” Genesis pulled the cape from my hand as I yawned. I stretched my hands to the sky, feeling the harsh heat of the sun lick at my palms. I hate this heat. I let my arms fall back to my sides.

“They drained my energy, for sure. I still feel extremely tired.” I mumbled.

“We noticed.” I heard Kagin hum as he leaned back on his palms. “It didn’t seem like you had a restful sleep either. Are you sure you are okay?”

I felt my heart drop a little. Did I toss and turn that much? Was it that noticeable? Oh gods, what if I said something? I quickly shook my head as the thoughts didn’t help the pain. Everything in that dream had felt so real. All of the pain. All of the voices. I winced again.

“Y-yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” I quickly stuttered, cursing at myself for making that stupid little error as the two didn’t seem too convinced. “I think the effects of being drained are starting to kick in.”

I looked to the sky, noticing something odd. I looked at both of them in confusion.

“What day is it?” That seemed to pull a small smile from Kagin as he seemed to hold back a small laugh.

“What, what is it?” I narrowed my eyes. It was Genesis’s turn to smile for she actually cracked a small laugh.

“You sound like that one man from that bar back in the village.” Kagin teased, poking at my shoulder. I was still recovering from the drowsiness. My face fell blank as what he said registered in my overworking mind.

“Shut the hell up, I’m serious.” I snorted. Their smiles were slightly contagious. I tried to force mine down, but to no avail. “What day is it? Because I am sure as hell that the sun is in the same exact spot it was in earlier.”

“You were out for two days.” Genesis answered, cutting off Kagin. Kagin huffed before falling back onto his back. I looked at her in shock.

“Two days?!” I cried, feeling my heart sink even more. Just how long was that nightmare?! The sudden outburst of my voice caused an immense surge of pain to shoot up my skull. I grunted as I felt my head droop to my hand. I slowly rubbed one finger against my temple, hoping it would ease the throbbing sensation.

“Yeah,-” I heard Genesis’s voice trail off as she noticed my odd behaviour. “They really got to you, didn’t they?”

I nodded slowly, the slight urge to reject her assumption being forced down. It was impossible to fake this cursed headache now. It would’ve been easy to just fake it as the sun in the beginning, but the pain was more harsh than whatever the sun could do. I slowly lifted my head as it slowly faded.

Kagin was sitting up again, his eyes narrowed. Sometimes I hate your seemingly knowing abilities, lion-boy. I smirked lightly at the thought, thanking Genesis for the little nickname. I made sure to keep my hood higher on my face as I sighed.

“Just a headache for now.” I whispered, keeping my voice down. “It will go away with time. Weren’t we in the forest?” I was eager to change the subject again. Genesis and Kagin looked at each before Kagin sighed.

“Yeah, but those Shadow People wanted to stick around, and seeing as you were completely knocked out, we figured it would just be easier to leave the forest before night fell again.” I looked to Genesis, curiosity dawning on me. The slight fear of how they traveled to the edge of the forest caused my heart to skip a beat. I already knew the answer, and it would explain a part of the nightmare, but it still sent chills up my spine.

“You flew, didn’t you?” I murmured.

“We had to.” It was Genesis this time, who looked at me in slight pity. I felt a harsh blink force its way to my eyes as I sighed. It’s over and done with anyway. I only fell back onto the grass in a dramatic kind of way. The soft blades poked at my covered skin as I basked in the heat. My dark clothing sucked up the heat, making it uncomfortable real quick.

“At least I was asleep.” I chuckled, hearing the light sigh of relief from both of them. “Did you lose those supernatural fuckers?”

“Sadly,” I heard a small growl from Kagin. “I want to tear them to shreds now.”

“Sadly,” I repeated in a playful manner. “You wouldn’t be able to.”

Kagin huffed in annoyance as he peered back into the forest. Silence fell over our group as minutes waned on. I pulled myself back up, now ready to assess the damage the Shadow People had caused. With apprehensiveness, I pulled up the legs of my dark gray body suit. Pale skin met the sunlight as dark bruises and scratches stood in stark contrast. I stared at the marks with narrowed eyes.

Those Shadow People were way more aggressive than mentioned in the scrolls. Like all who gain bruises, I lightly applied pressure to one of the larger patches. I quickly pulled my finger back as a throbbing pain soared up my leg. I looked to my combat boots as my curiosity built. I quickly pulled the boots off of my feet, running my hands along the soles of my feet. I was met with nothing and with a breath of relief, I slowly pulled the boots back on.

“Damn. Who knew they could cause that much damage?” I hummed to myself, aware of the eyes lingering on my form. “Nothing but bruises, so I should be fine.”

I pulled the legs back down as I stood up. Soreness radiated through my body as I wobbled slightly. I quickly put a foot behind me to stabilize my form. I looked down at Kagin and Genesis before smiling.

“At least I can stand, right?”

The two rose to their own feet as I slowly stretched out my joints, hoping to lose the soreness as I reworked each muscle. After a satisfying pop from my spine, I gazed at the forest. Two days gone? That’s worrisome. I pulled my hands under my cloak, tracing my fingers over the satchel wrapped around my waist. I let out a breath as the heat of the King’s aiteho flowed through my fingers.

“We lost two days to those Shadow People,” I looked to Genesis as she spoke. Her warm and almost-motherly tone pushing over the wind that whistled through the long grass that surrounded us. Her blue irises turned to me.

“Are you good to travel?” I gazed at her for a long second.

“You are coming?” I questioned, slight shock flowing through my bones. “Don’t get me wrong, having a person who can turn into a dragon is amazing, but why risk leaving your home to come with us?”

My question was met with silence. I felt immediate regret for asking, but kept my face neutral as a sigh emanated from Genesis. Her eyes glazed over both me and Kagin before she rubbed the back of her neck.

“Good question,” I felt my form stiffen lightly. “I ask myself the same thing, but I don’t think I can call the forest home if it will be overrun by demons and Galterius’s army. I may be able to turn into a dragon, but I can’t protect the forest like that forever.”

“You could easily hide out in the forest. Never to be found or heard of. Left alone in peace. You won’t be promised that if you travel with us. We are criminals, may I repeat, and criminals are always found, sadly. Why risk your life in coming with us?” My mind whirled as I struggled to understand her logic. It would be easier, safer, to continue in the forest. That’s all most people want. An easy and safe life. Why would she risk it just for a good-for-nothing criminal like me? Even Kagin falls into the category, but as proven earlier, he was not favorable in answering that.

“You aren’t criminals. Far from it. I don’t know why you keep calling yourself that.” I froze as her eyes met mine. “You have a good cause. I can turn into a dragon, yes, but what good is that if I just hide in the forest like a coward? To answer your question, yes I am coming. Not for the adventure and not to explore, but to help. Like Kagin said, you can’t do this alone,” She gestured to my legs where the bruises still throbbed. “Point proven. You are going to need all of the help you can get, so I am coming, whether you like it or not. A forest will grow back, but it can’t stop a King’s tyranny.”

Once again, I was in shock. I couldn’t tell what emotion surged through my veins. It wasn’t anger, happiness, sadness, or confusion. I didn’t know what it was. Jealousy? Envy? Possibly self-loathing? God dammit people. You are just going to get yourselves killed. But wasn’t that what I was doing? Was this just a suicide mission? What point did I have to prove and why do these two seem so eager to help a person delusional in the head?

My face fell blank as I slowly nodded, her words still echoing in my mind. You can’t do this alone. I couldn’t help the feeling that maybe she was wrong. That they were wrong. These two were going to die because of me. That is why I want to do it alone. I don’t want more people to die. That was the whole point of this. Maybe if I could keep Galterius’s attention on me long enough, souls will be saved. No more death was required, even at the expense of my own. Maybe I could end his life along the way, but no, I didn’t have it in me to kill. Stop thinking. Dammit, I don’t have time for this.

I shook out my head as I looked back up, smiling softly. My insides felt torn and stretched as a million voices seemed to battle within me. They wanted me to argue back but yet, they didn’t want to drive them away.

“Alright, and yeah, I’ve never been better to travel.” I rubbed the back of my head as the voices immediately disappeared as the decision was made. The lingering feeling of doubt still pumped into my heart.

“You are going to take two steps and then fall.” I looked to Kagin as he snickered lightly. I narrowed my eyes.

“Yeah? Wanna make a bet?” He tilted his head. Genesis coughed as she stepped back, muttering softly.

“I don’t want any part of this. Make it quick, it is already noon.” Kagin ignored her as he pointed at me.

“Yes. And if I win, I get to laugh and make dwarf jokes for the next three days without you complaining as well as get to carry you for the rest of the day.” I narrowed my eyes before sighing.

“Alright, and if I win,” I felt a small smirk slither its way across my lips. “You will be under my command whenever you are in your lion-form. That means I might just make you behave like a well-mannered house cat.”

“You two are children.” I heard Genesis mutter from the side.

“Shut it, you lizard. Let me make my damn bet.” I muttered back, brow twitching.

“Lizard?”

“You’re on, Kat.” I looked back to Kagin as we nodded at each other. Genesis sighed as she sat down, ready to enjoy the entertainment.

I felt the pain still throbbing in my legs. Alright, it’s just a little pain, I’ve dealt with worse. I stared at the ground intently as I tried to figure out where to step and what would make it less painful. I looked back up as a plan outlined in my head.

“Okay, how far?”

“To the treeline and back. If you can do that, you should be fine to travel.” Kagin sat down as well, brow arched. “Well, quit stalling.”

“Alright, alright.” I set off, excitement flowing through me as I began to quickly walk to the treeline. I picked through the long grass, which slowed my process, but never hindered me. The pain was still there, so I didn’t dare to break out into a sprint. And plus, I shouldn’t be wasting too much energy on this little dare. Walking; however, was not too exerting.

After a quick minute, I made it to the treeline. I stared into the dark forest, stalling as the nightmare resurfaced in my head. I let my face fall for a moment before Kagin’s voice called from the few hundred yards behind me.

“Now you gotta come back, don’t celebrate just yet!” I heard his laugh before rolling my eyes.

“Quiet! I’m not celebrating!” I shook my head as I turned around, ready to head back. Something stopped me in my tracks, though. No, it wasn’t a stomach curling monster or another enemy coming to haunt us. Are you going to let them die too? The voice was back and it didn’t seem like anyone else heard. It was so loud though, how could they not have heard it? I only sighed, wanting to get away from the forest as soon as possible.

The long grass was up to my waist, making it impossible to see the ground beneath my feet. Who knows what it could hold? Snakes? Frogs? Mice? I felt my weight shift as the world rolled past my eyes. My face immediately fell blank as I drew closer to the ground. Rocks. Dammit, what luck. My thoughts seized as I face-planted the grass. I didn’t bother to move as laughter drew closer.

I felt two hands slowly pick me up as he continued to laugh. It wasn’t in a teasing kind of way, but it still irritated me. I looked to deep-brown eyes as Kagin snickered.

“I win.” I frowned deeply as I slowly lifted a finger. I heard Genesis laugh in the background while I flashed Kagin the bird.

“This shit is stupid. There was a fucking rock. What are the fucking odds?!” I grumbled in an effort to defend my clumsiness.

“The bet was your idea!” Kagin laughed. I only rolled my eyes, bending down to brush myself off. “And I won, so you have to deal with me for three days!” He poked me in the cheek as I crossed my arms.

“Oh, fuck off.” I murmured, wanting it to be over already. I turned my head as he continued to poke me. I felt my eyes begin to twitch.

“Stop being grumpy, dwarf.” A tiny squeak left my lips as I felt two hands pick me bridal style. My eyes widened as I looked at the sky.

“This feels familiar.” I heard Kagin laugh as he picked his way back to Genesis. Genesis was still laughing, having overheard Kagin’s little jabs. She pulled herself from the ground, standing to her full height. I crossed my arms as I stubbornly looked at the ground, sulking in my loss.

“Sucks to be confident, doesn’t it.” I heard Genesis chuckle.

“I’ll give you the bird too if you don’t shut up.” I mumbled. She only shook her head as she picked up our supplies. I narrowed my eyes, noticing that the bags had grown slim. Running low on supplies already? It has only been four days. Then again, we have another member now. I looked to the grass that stood before us.

“Hey, Genesis?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you happen to know how long these grasslands stretch?” I looked at her, although with difficulty. Why did I agree to this stupid ass bet? Her face contorted in thought as she looked in the direction I was just gazing at. A hefty breath left her chest.

“It’s two days until the next village if we continue heading Northeast. But, if we change directions and head North, we should reach a village in a day.” I nodded, trusting her knowledge of the land.

“Heading North it is, then. Let’s hope they have some shops there.” I hummed.

“Kat, we barely have money.” Kagin mumbled. It was my turn to laugh, to his surprise.

“We are in this situation because I am a thief. We don’t need money. Kagin, I thought you knew better.” I saw him frown lightly before I felt a sharp pain in my side.

“Hey!” I hissed. He only shrugged as his pinch left a stinging sensation.

“Bastard.” I mumbled while he started walking. Genesis followed quickly, taking the lead as we trekked North. From a forest to grasslands, the country of Feldrir had its fair share of diversity, that’s for sure. I watched in mild amusement as bugs burst from the grass. Their transparent wings glowed in the sun while their exoskeletons kept them safe when a hand whacked them to the side.

No matter how simple minded the creatures were, I guess it’s amazing how strong such a tiny creature could be. They don’t know what danger comes after them, whether it be a frog or tiny rodent, they just carried on without a care. You could call it a wonder how they’ve survived this long, but there’s no wonder to it.

I let my mind drift into these analytical thoughts as I stared absentmindedly at the sky. It kept me busy. It kept my mind off the doubt of making it out of this alive. Think of it as a being on its own, the mind, for no matter how much you try to keep it in check, it will find nooks and crannies to crawl through. It’s frustrating, to say the least. So, letting it think is the only option I have. If I don’t, something dark might escape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours stretched on as the cool breeze of the evening wafted over the plains. The sun barely kissed the horizon as the cricket’s song took over the mosquito’s buzz. Their melody was different from that of the forest. It was more drawn out and sorrow filled.

I felt my eyes droop as the comforting rhythm of Kagin’s gate seemed to rock me to sleep. I didn’t want to fall asleep, though. So, I forced my eyes open in an attempt to keep my consciousness. My own form of stimulant: sheer will.

I stared at the moon that peeked over the horizon. Its pointed tip is a reminder of the night two days ago. No, I am not going back to that hell of a dream. I pursed my lips as I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind. I returned to looking at the sky as purples, pinks, blues, and oranges bounced off the clouds. It created this surreal landscape that fascinates any who stare long enough.

“Kat, you’ve been awfully quiet for a while.” I flicked my hand in response. I yawned before muttering a few words.

“So have you two, thought it was a game or something.” Genesis seemed to stop ahead of us. I looked at her in confusion.

“You good?” I called. She nodded before pointing at something that laid before her. Kagin didn’t move. I frowned as my lips thinned.

“If you are going to carry me, at least let me see what’s up ahead.” I grumbled to which he only hummed in response. He stood beside Genesis as we looked down at the rolling hills below.

Grass swayed in a hypnotic manner, smooth and silky against the dusk backdrop. Patches of flowers sprouted from beneath the blades, adding splashes of reds and yellows here and there. It was something you would see in a painting. Something like that of a utopia. The black petals of night verbena grew in less numbers here, but roses and poppies took over their niche as shadows and streams of light danced beneath their stems. Tiny chirps from the prairie below gained my attention as I looked to the right.

My eyes landed on a rodent about twelve inches in length. Long incisors protruded from its upper lip as it gave off another chirp. A long and bushy tail, like that of a cat, twitched in awareness as the rodent gazed around. Mouse-like ears swiveled in all directions as tiny paws held something to its chest. The creature was dusty in color and blended perfectly against the grass. Three more appeared from the grass as the first chirped once more, having spotted us. The four creatures rushed into the grass, disappearing from view. After a few minutes, their warning calls started up again.

“Wow.” I breathed. The view was almost iconic in a way. A scene of which grandparents would tell their grandchildren about from their days of exploration and adventure. You would choose not to believe them for their failing credibility, but before you know it, the sight stands before your eyes and you begin to wonder what else they could’ve said might be true.

“It’s amazing how one place can differ so much from another.” I hummed, intrigued by the landscape. “I’ve heard of these grasslands before, but never imagined they would look like this.”

Genesis nodded as she began to pick her way down the hill, each step careful to avoid slipping on the loose pebbles.

“Yeah. You rarely see the caesal out during dusk like this.” She made it to the bottom of the hill. She waved to us to which Kagin began to descent. I thought back on the word caesal. Is that what those rodents were called?

“How come there’s nothing about caesal in any of the scrolls?” I questioned, more to myself. Genesis shrugged as she looked at me.

“They are elusive, so I imagine there is nothing much on them. They are harmless though. Just your average rodent.” Genesis stretched before looking around. “We should make camp here tonight. We can make it to the village by noon tomorrow.”

I let out a sigh of relief. We were finally able to make some headway against the King, even if it were only for a day or two. I gazed around the little valley as the sky grew darker. I looked to Kagin, who still carried me.

“Day is over. I would like to be put down now.” Kagin tilted his head to the right, clearly trying to make it look like he was thinking long and hard about it. I felt my eyes droop in irritance and my cheeks puff out as I tried to contain a drawn-out sigh.

“Only if you say please.” This time I actually did let out a loud breath. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I inhaled.

“Please?” I yelped as I felt myself fall to the ground. I stared up at the half-elf who was smirking in a playful manner. I frowned as I sat up. I ran my hands through my hair, pulling out the blades of grass that had lodged themselves in the loose curls.

I looked to my left where Genesis had already gotten a small flame burning. The orange sparks floating gently into the cooling breeze. Dried grass and small twigs were pulled into a pile to feed the growing embers. I felt the light licking of the flame’s heat as it clawed at any foliage that dared to cross its path.

I leaned back against the long grass, enjoying the change from the soggy soil of the forest. The grass was soft and brittle, making for good bedding.

“Other than supplies, what’s the plan when getting to the village?” Kagin spoke over the crackling of the fire. He sat to my right, fiddling with a long blade of grass. The fire illuminated the flecks of crimson in his irises, causing an eerie sort of glow.

“I say we scope out the townsfolk. We have no news of Galterius’s approach, so getting information would be the next priority.” Genesis leaned back on her palms with her cape draped over her freed shoulders. Her eyes, too, were lit by the flames but unlike Kagin’s, it seemed as if an ocean swirled behind her pupils with each flicker of the embers. They looked at me as I switched my gaze to the stars. I picked out constellation after constellation, going back to my old habit of questioning the universe.

“I want to see if they have a library.” I hummed.

“Is that necessary though?” Genesis gazed at me through the flames. I took no offense to the question. Logically, scrolls would do nothing to help us. But something that I wanted to know ate at my curiosity. Genesis’s aiteho glowed brilliantly in the flame, seeming to feed on the heat. My eyes flickered to it.

The stone was odd. The ability to shapeshift was only known by the druids and elves, but Genesis didn’t seem like either. Even the strongest elven magicians needed decades to manage a shift as strong as a dragon. No stone was ever heard of that could shift a person’s form, so why was hers the only one? What made it special and where did it come from? I knew where the answer lay, but the place was destroyed along with the elves.

Kagin was an oddity as well. He could shapeshift which isn’t as unbelievable due to his elven features, but without a source? Every form of magic needed a source and the elves had one, but it was lost to history along with them. Are his abilities due to those numbers etched onto his skin, and Galterius’s unknown experimental progress? These questions burned at the back of my mind as everything I was told about magic began to unravel.

“I believe if I can somehow read up on old battle strategies or perhaps learn of our opponents magical abilities, it can give us a leg up in the race.” I hummed. It wasn’t a total lie for learning strategies and magic was never a bad idea. But, at the moment, my curiosities must lay beneath the surface. I squinted as a shooting star shot across the sky.

“Well, I’m sure the next village has all that we need.” Genesis replied, falling onto her back as well.

“We also have an advantage. Genesis, don’t show your face or give your powers away when we are in that village.” I covered my eyes with my forearm as I yawned. “They must know that me and Kagin are travelling together, but with you with us now, fooling them with our numbers could provide an upperhand in the future. Here.”

I pulled one of my larger daggers from my right boot. I gazed at the ebony handle before tossing the sheathed weapon by her side. She looked at it with confusion for a long second.

“It’s for when you can’t be in your dragon form. I noticed you don’t have any other weapons, so take that one. I have two more for myself so I can spare that one.” I smiled at her, albeit it softly. “The sheath you are holding is made from Giga bison leather with a stitch tough as nails. The handle is made of pure ebony, and the guard is made of maple that has been dyed with blue pigment. The blade is forged with steel from the orc mines of Annerwald with a silver coating. It’s durable as all hell. Shouldn’t be hard to draw some blood.”

She stared at me for what felt like a lifetime before she returned the smile.

“Thank you, Kat.” I nodded, looking back to the skies as the night drew on.

I held my hand up in front of me, studying the ring that adorned my middle finger. My eyes switched to a single star in the night sky.

“See that star, Katsai?” My father held my shoulders as he pointed above us where a single star shone brightly against the pitch-black sky. I nodded in response, awestruck by the tiny white globes that littered the world above me. Identical ice-blue eyes turned to look at my small form.

“That isn’t actually a star. Not many know this, but there are other worlds like ours. Little balls of rock and dust floating in the skies above our heads. Not much is known about them, but some believe they hold many secrets. Your own dad is a believer, kiddo.” I looked to the grown man, my mind whirling.

“W-w-really?” I stuttered, struggling to form the little ‘r’ sound. My father laughed.

“Yes, really. It’s amazing how many secrets this world holds, isn’t it? I may not know all of them, but I know you will one day.”

“I alweady know a secwet!” My father cocked his head, a small laugh falling onto his lips.

“And what would that be?”

“You stole a slice of cake from mama!” I cheered in a happy manner, proud to know the little secret.

“Yes, but that secret you have to keep. Don’t tell your mother.”

“Okay!” A big smile spread across my lips as the older man tossed up my locks.

I felt my face fall as the memory faded. I looked at the bright globe in the sky. Another world? I wish, father. I really do wish.