Beating in his ears, like thunder is the beating of a heart he listens to. In the dark forest he wanders, his emotions confused, relaxed but afraid. There he sees the owl once more, and a wolf that accompanies its side, both with eyes that call the boy forward. There on the path he follows them, into the darkness where he catches a light, a language like art that he reads but does not understand, and hugged to his body, he senses the weight of mana that embraces his body, his eyes going black to the growing sound of the beating. And so he wakes, his eyes quickly opening to the fading sound of his dream, to a hand he catches in mid attempt to his pocket, Ayame who was about to steal the device in the early morning he wakes into.

"Ah-G-Good morning," Ayame quickly smiles. "I was...just trying wake you up"

"Hm..." Nahshon gets up, still hearing the beating in his mind.

"Are you alright?" She asks him, the boy's chest looking heavy as he holds his head.

"Mhmm. Are the others awake?"

"No. Just me and you, for now"

Out they both go, Nahshon taking for himself some sweets, and to the morning sky he looks up to. Chilled breeze washing his face and the clouds puffy, his eyes capture as they fly. He exhales as he rotates his shoulders stiff from his weird dream, walking in circles as the morning palette seeps into more. It was a colour like this one, he remembers the day he apologized to Christopher, how he teared up after, how his chest felt lighter and his mind at ease, cured of the affliction brought onto him.

"Quite the beautiful morning, is it?" Garkari comes, the boy turning to greet him. "How are you in this fine morning?"

"I'm alright, sir," Nahshon answers.

"Hmm.."Garkari sounds, chuckling at the boy as he looks over the land. "Something tells me they are many thoughts on your mind"

"Hmm?"

"We dragons have very sensitive noses. You are anxious, it is strong within you, and there is anger. It peeks through your aura at times," He tells him.

"Huh..." Nahshon sighs.

"Never to worry. I am not here to force an answer from you. But I must say, you are a very interesting person. Never would I imagine meeting someone from another world," He chuckles. "Tell me this, what is your world like? Ah! And how are the dragons doing over there??"

"Uhm, well, we don't use magic and.." Nahshon thinks, nodding as he contemplates on whether to tell the truth or not. "Actually, they're only humans living in my world. I'm not sure about what happened to the other races either"

"Hmm...? I see," Garkari listens, his hand to his chin as he tries to imagine a world like his. "Perhaps it's best I don't think about why that's the case. It seems your world has dealt with worse curses than ours. Saddening to hear that answer, If I'm being honest"

"Yes, sir...you can say that," Nahshon nods.

"How about you? Have you any questions for a race you're fond of? Come now, go ahead," Garkari invites him to ask, Nahshon looking to the sky as he thinks.

"What's it like living past whole generations?" The boy asks.

"Hm, good question. It's normal for us dragons, but it leaves quite a strange feeling. Like the ones before Arwyn, I've been good friends with many of his family before him and still am! And I'm gladdened that their bloodline has continued for this long, because to say goodbye to many of my old friends, it has been very disheartening, so I am most thankful that I could see their descendants grow up. Well, I shall leave you to your watchful eyes. Feel free to talk with me when your trust has grown. An old man like me can always use a new friend," He chuckles, Nahshon smiling as he nods. "Carry on then, I'm going be making myself some nice chocolate to enjoy in this waking day"

Garkari going to do his business, Nahshon gets from his viewing of the scenery to see the others waking up as well; Arwyn stretching like a miserable old man as Garkari offers him a cup of tea, and the other girls being hailed by Ayame. The sun has now fully arisen, and lively is the gang again. Down back in a chair, checking through his social, Nahshon thinks of what picture is best to put, his phone snatched by Ayame who begins scrolling through the pictures he has posted so far.

"Landscapes, landscapes, flowers, landscape, flowers- Damn dude, why are you hiding that cute face for? the ladies need to see you too, you know," She bumps him, sitting down as she goes to the camera app. "Come on, I'm gonna teach you how to do a selfie. Like this, hold it up"

"Uh, hmm...okay," He hesitantly takes the phone, doing as instructed, remembering when Aya was telling him to do the same thing.

"But wait. Let's do one with everybody. Hey, everyone! Come join, we're taking a picture!" Ayame tells them, and one by one they come.

"Ah, you had an account. Hm, I thought you were a full-on loner," Astrid teases, Nahshon awkwardly smiling as his self-esteem burns.

"Oh nice, we have the same phone, and the same colour too," Hazel grins at his purple phone, waving at the camera.

"I see," Garkari looks into the phone, Nahshon setting for everybody to be in it. "Is this for the fancy 'Hamster star' you children use all the time?"

"It's Hamstar, close enough" Ayame laughs. "You have one, mister?"

"My apologies. I've only just become a recent phone user myself. But not to worry, I've been taught many of you youngsters' language. Ahem!" The old man clears his throat as he takes out a small book. "L.o.l! B.r.b! L-L...Yes! Many of them!"

"Alright, old man," Arwyn pats his back. "Don't worry, they won't chase you down with pitchforks for not knowing, it's alright"

"Alright, I got it!" Nahshon tells them.

"Now!" Ayame sets him off, and hearing the green light, Nahshon outs a little smile on his face, snapping a picture of him and everybody strikes their poses, creating a new memory within his phone, Ayame slapping his shoulders as he has done it. "Okay! Good!"

"That felt quite wonderful," Garkari says. "I should learn how to do those these more often"

"Heh. Well, don't hurt yourself while you're at it," Arwyn laughs at the old man.

"Now, boy, do I look like I'm a helpless geezer to you? I should tell you, I've only fallen down the stairs once...twice, but I've gotten up on my own," Garkari claims, the both of them walking away.

"Yeah, yeah, save it until I hear from Osle and the other maids first"

"How rude. Have you ever heard a dragon lie before? Wait...d-don't answer that," Garkari shakes his head.

"Exactly," Arwyn chuckles, nodding as he's won this argument.

"Oh! Princess Astrid!" Hazel claps.

"What?? What is it??" The princess replies, a little frightened by her name suddenly called.

"They're going live in a few minutes. W-Wanna watch?" Hazel shyly asks.

"Oh," Astrid laughs, thinking it was a bug. "Sure, why not? They are very handsome men, after all"

"Right?" Hazel grins, crossing arms with Astrid. "Ayame! Don't cause trouble"

"Hmph!" Ayame sounds as they walk away, looking to Nahshon with him returning the gesture.

"Did you grow up here?" He asks.

"No, sir. I'm from Nihon. Land of the rising sun," She motions.

"Huh," Nahshon nods, understanding as they're using the same name as his world does.

"Wait. Does it exist in your world? What's it called?"

"Nihon, yeah," Nahshon answers. "But we foreigners use the name Japan"

"Ah, cool. Are the catgirls as cute as me in your world?" She asks, blinking cutely as she waits for an answer.

"They don't exist in my world," He answers, disappointing Ayame, awkwardly nodding as he remembers an article. "But...seems they're working on it"

"Huh, okay then. I came here when I was 13. I was...actually a knight in the eastern province, but..." Ayame goes quiet, flashbacks of a time that frightens her once more. "Damn crazy witch!"

"Eh??" Nahshon sounds, Ayame lifting her shirt, revealing the scar on her belly to the boy.

"She did this to me! She took my phone for a whole week, I got bored, so I took it back just to see what's happening on the outside world. She chased me into the forest...and did this to me," Ayame says, her eyes turned mad in her terrible memories.

"W-Who are we talking about??" Nahshon questions, frightened by the way she's looking at him.

"The Princess in the eastern province," Ayame sits back down, her arms crossed in frustration, spitting at the ground with the name coming onto her tongue. "Choi Ji Hyun"

"One of...A-Astrid's sisters??" Nahshon questions.

"No, you dweeb. One of the actual princesses of Joseon. She's the vice commander of Wolfgaard. Imagine how many people she probably killed off and it's been covered up," She shakes from her chills, sighing as she wipes it from her mind. "Wait, what country are you from in your world?"

"Jamaica. Is there a country like mine here? Can you tell from my accent?"

"Hm...? Ah!" She snaps her finger, clearing her throat. "Yo, my general, y pree? Zionia!"

"...Never let me hear you do that ever again," He and Ayame laugh, thinking this world has a funny way of naming things like his. "Hah...well, I'm gonna go take a walk"

"Alright, dude," She waves, sighing as she was not successful in grabbing the button.

But so she runs back to the other girls, Nahshon taking himself on a stroll within the forest, relaxed by the calming wind as he sits on a rock where he hears the river behind him. Hearing its roaring sounds, taken back to the fight with the trolls, looking into his palms where he's reminded of all the monsters he's killed so far, pressing onto the wound on his leg. And to his surprise, he presses harder, removing the bandage over his wound, seeing as it has disappeared.

"Just like when Ezek shot me...the hell is going on?" He mutters, wondering what it could be, exhaling after a long thought, nodding as he shifts his focus on something else for the time being, smiling as he's become grateful to Garkari and Arwyn. "Man, am I glad that they came along. Would be fucking awkward being up here with three girls by myself, If I'm being honest, don't? Hm..."

The leaves on the trees rustling, butterflies colourful, and birds singing, he is reminded of the night when he saw Ezek over Arwyn and the other unconscious men, the three girls who Ezek lied to about him and Bjørn having girlfriends.

"I'm not ready for that level of romance, huh," He remembers Ezek's words, looking at the dazzling light through the leaves shining down on him.

"Sure would be," He hears a voice, startled as he turns to Arwyn who's finished peeing at a tree. "Your welcome"

"Ah, captain," Nahshon gets up, speaking of the devil.

"You were enjoying the scenery? Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," Arwyn scratches his head, halting as he remembers as he had just peed. "Your welcome, by the way. That one with the cat ears looks like she's ready to rob you, innocently at any given opportunity, don't you think?"

"Heh...tell me about it," Nahshon awkwardly smiles.

"Tsk...I hope you didn't get my curse or something?"

"Hmm?"

"Actually, I broke up my girlfriend not too long ago. She was bat-shit crazy; wouldn't let me leave to go and work in peace, always keeping a tab on my location...didn't even want me talking to my friends, even the males too. My friends, well, rescued me. I gave her the apartment, then she left the country. After that, a couple of my pals got into similar messes in their relationship as well, then they began calling it the bloody Arwyn's curse," Arwyn tells him, seeing as Nahshon nods without laughing. "Thank you. I respect that you didn't laugh. Take your time, friend. We're young, we can always look for a better one"

With that, he goes by the river to wash his hands, halting as he hears multiple footsteps, meeting his eyes with a pack of wolves that notices them as well. Their eyes set on the both of them, the pack look at each other, then to pacing towards them, Nahshon halted by Arwyn before he could draw his sword, the knight laughing as the pack take their time to travel over the stream.

"Easy there. Don't worry, they're friendly. I don't want to arrest you for killing them either," Arwyn calms him, the wolves finally making their way to them, Arwyn giving them pats as they greet him. "Steady day of work, eh?"

Something Nahshon has never seen in person, man and wolf bonding together, both at ease and no fear in their actions, the boy is confused, turning to see as one of them looks to him as well, the wolf's eyes going left and right like arrows as it studies the boy. But so it steps to him, looking up to the boy with a smile, and slowly Nahshon plants his hand upon its head.

"First time meeting wolves?" Arwyn asks.

"I've never pet one," Nahshon chuckles, remembering a time on his adventure where he passed a party being helped by them, surprised by their actual friendliness. "Why would I be arrested if I killed one?"

"It's our country's law," Arwyn states. "They're like citizens too, but they mostly live in forests. They protect us in the nights when we sleep, fighting off whatever lurks in the darkness towards us. 'The goblin purge' ever heard of it?"

"No, sir," Nahshon slowly shakes his head.

"Ever wonder why you barely see goblins anywhere? About 80% of their whole population was wiped out in just a couple months," He tells him, as the wolves rest beside them. "In 1904, there was a treaty signed between us and them. The little fuckers couldn't keep their hands to themselves, broke it in just three weeks, surprised they even held out for so long, hm. So at the time, Queen Ingrid had the army destroy their settlements and burned them alive on sticks. These wolves, descendants of the earlier one after she went into the forests and disappeared for two days in Wolfgaard, yeah, hence the name"

"I see. So, what happened to the rest of the goblins? And how are they not extinct?" Nahshon asks.

"Some really made sure to keep their hands to themselves after what happened, while others haven't learned. How are they not extinct? They fuck whatever else they can get their hands on...little scumbags," Arwyn explains, Nahshon chuckling as he's reminded of his quest long ago, and on the boy's lap, the same wolf's paw taps him to get his attention, walking into a direction where it stops, looking at the boy as it spins. "Seems like she wants us to follow her. Coming with?"

"Yeah," Nahshon complies, both of them now following the wolves.

"So, you're Nahshon, huh?" Arwyn states. "Arnaldo told me about you. You and that elven cowboy killed the chimaera"

"Yes, sir" Nahshon confirms.

"Ugh...You're making me feel as old as old man Garkari. Please, just Arwyn will do," Arwyn smiles, both of them reaching to the wolves' point of interest. "Here we are?"

In his mind once more, he hears it, the heartbeats that rhythmed in his dream, and the signs he sees, but not in his sleep, the runes carved into a rock that watches over the land below, radiating energy he can feel onto his body that soothes him, like vibrations within, with a giant's sword at its side, its steel humble within the ground.

"These were built by the giants before they left," Arwyn explains, Nahshon putting his hand against the stone. "People meditate here from time to time. It helps build your mana. I'm not a really a meditator myself, but try it when you can"

And to that, Nahshon takes out his camera, snapping a couple of shots of the wolves resting beside the stone along with the old, resting sword. And back to the camp they reach, just in time as the group is packing up to move close to their next destination, Nahshon stopping at Ayame who sits in between Hazel's legs as she's being hugged.

"Ah, I hope I find a ton of gold in there," Ayame smiles, just thinking about how much stuff she'll buy if she finds it. "Even Aagni is gonna lose her mind over it!"

"I know right? She's probably going to hide that she's excited about it though," Hazel grins. "'Hmph, gold does not excite me like you mortals, because I am a spirit, and spirits are all high and mighty'"

"Heh. I'm going to spoil her till she admits it," Ayame smirks, laughing at an idea that pops in her head. "Yo! Let's get a pole and have Nari dance for her!"

"Ha! Let's practise seducing her too. Starting with this, bet she'll love this," Hazel puts her hands on Ayame's chest, the catgirl gasping at the sudden grasping.

"'Y-You mortals. H-How dare you treat a high and mighty spirit such as myself like this...this...nyah!" Ayame moans, and slowly they both get out of the scene, to Nahshon who awkwardly turns his head and move on as they both begin to laugh, and their stuff packed, the girls get inside the jeep, Arwyn and Garkari looking at each other, the knight wondering what the old man is thinking once more.

"Nahshon?" Garkari calls.

"Yes, sir?" Nahshon halts before entering the jeep.

"Would you like to fly with me?" Garkari asks, the boy's eyes lit up as he heard that.

"Hmm...are you sure? But...I'm kinda afraid of heights"

"Don't be afraid, young warrior," The old man assures the boy, chuckling as he had heard that. "You've defeated the mountain, you are about 6000ft above sea level. I would be honoured to have you taken to the sky by my wings"

"Do it, dawg!" Ayame encourages him.

"Yes, you might as well. You have travelled to another world, after all. You can do it," Astrid adds, Arwyn patting the boy on the shoulder.

"I leave him in your care for now," Arwyn smiles, getting into the jeep. "Go on. The old man rarely lets anybody on his back. I'm kinda jealous, actually. Hm"

"Hmm..." Nahshon sounds, hearing the rustling of the trees once more and the wolves that watch him from within the forest, blowing down as he looks to the dragon. "Alright!"

"Excellent. I've memorized the map, so I'll be fine without it. These mountains are very tricky, so be sure to follow what is laid out on there," Garkari orders to the jeep users.

"Yes, sir," Arwyn nods.

"Don't fall off and die, Nahshon!" Ayame laughs menacingly, slapped by Hazel, and revved is the waking of their engine, and thus they commence on their wheels to the roads below.

"Now, I hope you've dressed warm enough, these skies are cold, even in the summers," Garkari warns. "Are you ready?"

"I have," Nahshon smiles. "Yes sir"

"Alright then," The old dragon smiles.

Blowing down once more, onto the back of the dragon he climbs. But not even off the ground as yet and already he feels like he's touching the sky. And taking a few steps, into the sky Garkari's wings takes him, and down like a comet through the mountain, where they fly over the jeep, passing by cliffs and brushing down trees with the influence of his presence, and up into ascension, to the sky where his wings reach once more. And behold to the boy, the sky he finally touches for the first time in his life, in a way he never expected, looking below to the group that waves to them, as he then reaches out to the clouds, their form wet and cold on his fingers, believing they were soft and puffy, slowly waving them at his side, with birds following them like a pack as he begins inhaling the air, tighter than before, his heart excited yet a little fearful of falling as he looks over the mountains, seeing another door to the sanctuary.

"Inngangsporten; The Gateway. Home to 32 of the highest mountains of Verencia, and once home to many giants who roamed the land. Look, one of the many glaciers as well, the structure that has lived since the ice age, and have built Verencia to its spectacular form," Garkari uses his head to point, Nahshon seeing top-view of a slope of ice that still persists even way beyond its birth. "When I take to the skies, I am always grateful to be born here. Is there a country as magnificent as this one in your world?"

"Norway," The boy simply states, Garkari delighted to hear his answer.

"Interesting. The northern road. Your people seem to name your lands with great meanings," He chuckles. "It must be just as beautiful as ours too. And from what I sense in you, the king of Norway must treat his country very well. Just like our own does"

"Yes, sir," Nahshon nods. "I guess so"

"Many wars, many terrors, but our people have always pushed through the worst, as our leaders have. Do you know what a crown signifies, boy?"

"Power, honour and righteousness," Nahshon answers.

"Indeed. Many kings like Horik have always upheld these very codes, and this is why people like I can fly so freely whenever I wish. We merely worry and we don't steal nor hate each other. Yes, they are some that do, but for most of us, like a big family, we're always there to help each other whenever needed. And none of these things came easily, you see. There were many sacrifices, wars, and struggles. But none was in vain, because we as a people never ceased to stop striving for the greater days, for we knew that we could claim it as our own one day, and so it came. And many mistakes were made in the process, and I've also lived through many years and made them, learned these are only trials to teach and help me improve. No one is born already strong and wise, and I've learned it's alright to fail at times, for I am not perfect, even though I've lived for many generations. An odd thought, isn't it, boy?" Garkari laughs, and wiping the tears that seep from his eyes is Nahshon who realizes it was him that he was giving a warm speech to, one that warms his heart.

"Yeah," The boy nods, and so they slowly fly, the boy's heart at ease once more as he sails through the sky, onto their journey to the sanctuary that holds their prizes, and at last they reach, to one of the doors of the sanctuary that hides away in the cave it rests in, a smaller one that still stands just as mighty as its bigger counterparts, and in his ears, Nahshon turns to a familiar rhythm, to an owl he sees in a tree as it watches them.

"Are you afraid of owls?" Hazel asks.

"No, they're my favourite birds, actually. But...in my country, there's kind of a bad omen behind seeing them, especially in the mornings," He tells them.

"Really? Because in ours, they are the eyes of the Allfather," Garkari teaches.

"You mean, he's watching and listening to us right now??" Nahshon questions.

"He probably is. The owls are his favourite bird as well. Perhaps he's interested in our journey and would like to be entertained," Garkari tells him.

"Yeah, I hope he knows that I'm not really fancying his presence after what the kid told us," Arwyn says, showing the owl the finger.

"Nahshon, be careful of how you treat the gods here, and don't be like our friend here. The gods are very much alive in our world, and I'm sure it's just like yours, they are listening," Garkari teaches.

"He's a god, he doesn't care," Arwyn smirk, onto slipping onto his back from a wet rock, Garkari and the girls laughing.

"See?" Garkari chuckles. "What is this bad omen you speak of, a matter of fact?"

"Well, when you see an owl, especially in the mornings...it means someone close to you is going to die soon," Nahshon tells them, everybody creeped out as he states it.

"W-Woah. Alright then, heh," Ayame nervously laughs. "W-When exactly? It doesn't mean it is one of us, r-right?"

"Could be anytime. The next day, next week, months...and even in the next hours," Nahshon tells them.

"Well...ahem! Let's just hope ours isn't signifying the same thing," Astrid states, giving her praise to the gods.

"Yes. Let's hope so, because we'll need to be on our best once we enter. Well, let's be on our way then," Garkari tells them.

One last look at the owl, Nahshon follows the group to the entrance, where Garkari and Arwyn push opens the doors, revealing to them the stairways spiralling down into the home of the ancient ones. And down the dark stairs they step, echoes of their own feet against the walls beside them, to the sound of an underground noise that is revealed to them as their eyes discover for themselves as well. Like music to their ears, and finally, to their other senses, they meet the structure of the ancient land, Nahshon instinctively taking a picture as his first objective, stunned by the beauty of what lies before him.

***

And coming to the break of the night, is one who runs through the forest, his body bloodied, knife in his hand as he sprints with his breathing heavy, gunshots and screaming in his ear, Ezek who runs through the long twilight.