The two men returned to town late the next morning, their heavy packs slowing progress considerably through the forest. Tobias unlocked the workshop and led Enzo inside, depositing the iron near the furnace.

“I’ll start working on getting the mix right. It’ll take a couple days, so don’t worry about rushing over,” said Tobias. “Rest up, and see some of the village. Meet some people, and I’ll see you the

day after tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Enzo replied. “Think Cornelia will be ready for me?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to start there. Just remember to be courteous, she doesn’t want anything to do with you,” Tobias warned. “I’m sure she won’t outright kill you, but I have no intention of starting a fight in town to try to break you out of an enchantment.”

“I’ll be careful,” Enzo called back as he headed out of the workshop. “See you in a couple days.”

A cold breeze blew through the village as Enzo walked down the main street to Cornelia’s house. Smoke billowed from most chimneys along the path and the handful of children ran around in thick coats. Winter is right around the corner, I’m going to need to find some new clothes.

He checked his coin purse as he walked around the row of bushes that surrounded Cornelia’s home. Going to need to find somewhere permanent to live too, staying at the inn is getting expensive.

Enzo slipped through the gap in the bushes and entered Cornelia’s garden. Today, the flowers and herbs had been replaced with rows of grapes and pumpkins. Black berries lined the bushes that surrounded the walls of the garden. A soft, warm breeze played through the leaves. Not this again.

He felt his inhibitions start to fade away. The door to Cornelia’s home slowly cracked open, and the wood elf stepped from within the shadows.

“I know you don’t want to cause any harm, but I must take precautions,” she said, her words soft whispers on the wind. “It will be good for your treatment as well. Removing the dragon’s mana from your wounds will be a delicate process. Just relax, and it will be over before you know it.”

Enzo felt the words wash over him. He was just able to see Cornelia fully this time before he lost his grip on reality. The elf was short, no more than five feet tall with tangled green hair that spilled past her shoulders. He had no idea how old she was, her skin was flawless but her eyes held a level of knowledge and wisdom well beyond her appearance.

The haze he felt the last time he’d been near Cornelia slowly clouded his mind. The elf approached, and a layer of vines grew up beside Enzo. As they thickened, the vine wove together to form a sort of table. Cornelia gestured to the vine table and Enzo lay down on his back.

“Breathe deeply,” she said, and Enzo closed his eyes and breathed deep.

A small flower budded near his head and released a fine mist of pollen. As he inhaled the pollen, he felt the numbing sensation take effect. In moments, aches and pains he’d hardly registered disappeared. The feeling was euphoric, and a small smile crept across his face.

“Looks like it has taken effect. Now sleep, and you will awaken refreshed,” Cornelia said as she began the arduous process of opening the blisters across Enzo’s arms.

===========================================

Hours later, Enzo awoke alone in the garden. His shirt lay on the ground near the bed of vines he’d slept on. He flexed his arms and stretched. The skin was scarless and new, the evidence of his brush with death completely erased. He stood and looked around the garden. I wonder where she went, I want to thank her.

As he stepped toward her home, the vines of the table receded into the dirt and reformed across the door.

Pretty clear I’m to leave then.

“Your thanks is noted,” came Cornelia’s voice on the wind. “Now leave, and tell Tobias he owes me double. This mana is disgusting, and difficult to be rid of. He is lucky I didn't make him dispose of it for me.”

Enzo just nodded, and headed to the entryway. As he exited the garden, he was met with a chill. Night had fallen while he was out of it, and it brought a significant drop in temperature. He quickly slipped on his shirt and made for the inn.

Inside, a fire warmed the inn. The main dining area was quiet, a young couple ate by themselves near the far wall. Oskar sat at a table near the hearth and seemed to be deep in thought. Enzo approached and pulled up a seat opposite him.

“Mind some company?” Enzo asked. “You look like you have something on your mind.”

“Go right ahead,” Oskar replied, a smile brightening on his face. “Was just thinking about Olena. Going to make her mine one of these days.”

“I wish you luck with that one,” Enzo chuckled. “Seems like everyone’s thinking the same thing.”

“That’s fair I guess, but I’m not giving up,” Oskar stated, confident in his chances. “So, I saw you and the old man headed out yesterday. Pick up anything good?”

Enzo leaned in closer. “We picked up some good smithing materials,” he said in a hushed voice. “The dragon roasted those mercenaries and melted down their weapons into some high grade iron, but that’s not the half of it.”

“Oh?” Oskar replied, now paying full attention. “You never did tell me how you got those burns. What all went down?”

“I’d been camping out in a cave out there while hunting in the area,” Enzo explained. Have to do this carefully.

“Seems like while I was in town, the dragon decided my cave was a good place to hide. When I got back, I found this ruby inside. Guess the mercenaries thought I was up to something, ‘cause they followed me out there. We got into a fight over the ruby, when the dragon showed up and burned the whole cave. Don’t know what happened really, but the ruby turned out to be an egg. The thing cracked open while the dragon was burning everything and last thing I saw was the head of a little baby dragon poking out.”

“Damn. You alright? I figured the burns would be a lot worse,” Oskar said, looking Enzo over.

“I got lucky, I was at the back of the cave when the dragon hit,” Enzo responded. “I think the egg hatching was a surprise for the dragon, it’s the only reason I can figure that it just stopped and ran off. When I came to, I was covered pretty badly in burns. Actually, I just spent the day today at Cornelia’s getting treated for the worst of it.”

He lifted up his shirt and displayed the new skin growth. While unmarked, the areas that had been burned were now pale and stood out against the otherwise tanned young man.

“That’s wild. I knew Cornelia could do healing magic, but I’ve never seen her actually use it on anyone. She hardly ever even comes out of her garden,” Oskar said.

“Tobias seems to have some kind of relationship with her. He brought me over there the other day and talked her into treating me,” explained Enzo. “I have no idea what happened in there, she just put me under an enchantment both times I entered the garden and was gone by the time I woke up.”

“So what else did you find in the cave?” asked Oskar.

“The remnants of the egg,” Enzo replied quietly. “Tobias wants to teach me how to make a weapon with it. Not sure what to make though, swords seem to be the only thing people use these days.”

“Dragon shell weaponry? Never heard of anything like that, but if anyone can do it, it’s Tobias,” Oskar replied. “Talk with Gunnar about it, he’s spent half his life studying the arts of battle. If anyone would have a good idea, it’s him.”

“Been meaning to talk to him about moving into the barracks as well,” said Enzo. “Mind introducing me? Don’t want to just spring it on him out of nowhere.”

Oskar stood up from the table and pushed in his chair. “Sure, I can do that. How about we meet up at the training circle outside the barracks tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll be there,” replied Enzo as he stood from the table as well. “Thanks again for the offer.” The pair shook hands.

“Any time, my friend,” Oskar responded as he left the inn.

Enzo walked to the bar and found Olena reading a book by the candle light. He requested and received a bowl of stew and returned to his place near the fire. While eating, he daydreamed about the type of weapon he’d end up wielding and was thankful for his health and the opportunities tomorrow would bring.