“You might have a few scars, but they should be faint and you shouldn’t lose any function in your hand as long as it doesn’t get infected. Keep it still for a few days, but try to start moving it as soon as you’re able, though it will be stiff at the beginning” the healer said as she finished cleaning out and suturing the cuts on my hand. Inspecting her work a bit longer she applied some salve and wrapped it in fresh white bandages.

Made by a skilled [Alchemist] with the use of [Prevent infection] and [Accelerated mending] this salve aids wound healing in areas applied and boosts Health regeneration for a few hours.

Relieved I watched her; she’d given me some painkillers for later, but the moment she had touched my hand, all the pain had vanished. That had to be a Skill, but unlike with the salve I didn’t get a notification when she used a Skill on me directly.

She let go of my hand and pushed her glasses up her nose as she looked at my wing “To be honest, I don’t have any experience with drakes and lizardfolk don’t have wings so I’m not too familiar about what to do, but I’ll take a look” I tried not to flinch as she reached out to touch the wound in my wing, but the second her hand made contact, cool relief washed down my wing and I exhaled, releasing some of the tension I’d been holding in.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and picked up some fresh cloth and dipped it into a clear liquid that smelt of alcohol and started cleaning the area around the hole. She inspected it again “Can you extend your wing fully?” she asked and I complied, it was much easier to move it without the agonising pain.

She reached forward testing different angles to try to close the hole and leaned back frowning.

“I could stitch it closed, but considering how taut the wings are when extended, I think stitching it might limit your full extension and their function in flight. I really don’t know enough about wings to tell you what the best thing to do is, but leaving it as a hole might be the best course”

I stiffened and looked at her horrified “I’m going to have a hole in wing forever?” I croaked, shame at having disfigured wings coursed through me. I’d believed my injuries could easily be healed, but apparently real healing potions were only used for severe injuries, or if you could buy one.

“How much would it cost to get it healed with a potion?” I asked fearfully.

She sighed, “Even if you could afford it, a normal healing potion wouldn’t help you, you need to regrow the area of the hole that was removed by the arrow and for that you need a regeneration potion”

“Well how much is one of those?” I asked mouth dry, dreading the answer.

I could see a flicker of pity in her eyes and she smiled at me “How about I bandage this up and get you back to your friends, I’m sure you’ve got a cool story to tell them”

I looked down as tears gathered in my eyes; I was stuck with a hole in my wing. I hadn’t flown yet, but I’d sort of believed that that was either because I needed to train my wing muscles or wait for them to grow bigger or something. But now, was it even possible or would the wind pressure rip through the defect and destroy my wing if I ever managed to fly?

Function aside, my wings had been beautiful and now there was an ugly hole in them. My pride stung and my tail drooped. Orange scales had been insufferable, but at least that had been temporary. My eyes watered but the tears didn’t spill over, I sat still, letting her work, she said something but I wasn’t really listening and I just nodded along.

I wasn’t sad as much as I felt hollow and ashamed. I wanted to hide my wings, make sure no one ever saw their disgrace.

The healer applied some salve and ended up wrapped the bandage around the width of my wing so it looked like someone had bisected my wing and she’d reattached it instead of the hole that was in the middle.

When she was done I went to leave and paused “How do I pay?” I asked nervously, she hadn’t mentioned payment at the beginning and I didn’t have any money.

“Your total comes to 2 silvers and 41 coppers. Jak is your current guardian right? I’ll sent him a copy of your bill” my shoulders sank and I looked at the floor. I didn’t want Jak to have to pay for me, but I didn't have any money. Guilt roiled inside me as I balled my hands into fists and nodded before walking out of the well-lit room into the corridor.

Aron was sitting on a bench waiting for me, legs swinging in the air as he hummed. He turned when the door opened and jumped up “How’d it go?” he grinned.

“My hand will be fine,” I said quietly, I didn’t want to think about the hole in my wing and I had to find a way to pay Jak back. Assuming he’d pay for me, what happened if he refused? How much was 2 and half silvers anyway?

“That’s great” Aron looked relieved, “Daniel is still in there” he pointed at the room opposite the one I'd come out of. The hollow feeling inside me filled with anger that saturate my whole body, this was entirely his fault. My breathing sped up, if it wasn’t for that idiot, I wouldn’t have a hole in my wing and Jak wouldn’t have to pay for my healthcare.

At that moment the door opened and Daniel walked out, looking a lot calmer and steadier than before. He smiled at us and waved “Hey guys-“

My rage boiled over and I launched myself at him screaming, “I’m going to bite your other fingers off, you don’t deserve to have any!” I tried clawing at him; arms lashing out wildly as he jerked backwards out of my range, tripping and almost falling eyes wide. Aron grabbed me from behind and dragged me back “Are you ok?” he asked concerned, holding me and all the rage just drained out of me, leaving shame and sadness.

I sagged and hiccupped before the fat tears rolled down my cheeks and started bawling “He- my wing” hiccup “Hole forever and-“ I swallowed, shame at being a burden to the people who had helped me burning inside me “I’m sorry” I cried and broke down sinking to the floor as Aron patted me head a bit confused. I didn’t bat his hand away this time.

“Its gong to be ok, you said your hand would be ok right?” he said awkwardly trying to comfort me “Its going to be ok”

“No its not” I sniffled “I’m never going to be able to fly now” I rubbed at my eyes with both hands willing the tears to stop but they kept coming.

“Did the healer say that?” he asked cautiously crouching next to me, putting an arm around me.

“No, but she doesn’t know anything” my breathing was evening out a bit and I pressed the heels of my palms to my eyes, swallowing thickly. Somehow I was terrified of never being able to fly.

“If she didn’t say anything about you not being able to fly, then it means you’ll probably still be able to” he said optimistically grinning down at me as I looked up at him hopefully. I knew he was just trying to comfort me but it was true; the healer hadn’t specifically said anything about not being able to fly.

Hopelessness slowly washed away and I flushed taking in the scene. I'd had a tantrum and broken down crying in the middle of the corridor. I quickly stood up wiping away any traces of tears though I suspected my face was still red and puffy.

So embarrassing, I stood there trying to regain control of myself and saw Daniel pressed against the wall watching us carefully. Mouth dry I forced the apology out even though it burned my pride to say sorry to him “Um sorry I tried to bite you again”

He came off the wall and shuffled in our direction “I’m sorry about your wing, but hey you can still walk” he tried to joke but I just glared at him and the smile left his lips as he awkwardly stood there “Sorry, I didn’t mean, I just, I hope you’ll still be able to fly”

I rolled my eyes and looked away in a huff, he really wasn’t worth my time to be upset over “Lets just go” I turned to walk down the corridor. It looked so different from the day of the Orc attack. There was no tent outside and no cries of the numerous injured people crowding the building. Reaching the reception area I saw the front door open and mace-girl walked in.

She looked at me and waved in recognition “Hey” she jogged over “What happened to your hand? And your wing? I didn’t know drakes had wings...” she trailed off quietly.

“He shot me,” I ruthlessly pointed at Daniel who turned bright red and looked down guiltily. She peered at him “Well looks like you got his fingers so guess you’re even”

I scowled shifting my weight on my feet; they really didn’t take violence as seriously as they should here.

She turned back to me “You’re Sasha right? Carston told me, I’m Farel. You should come train with us, we can help you can unlock a combat Class if you don’t have one, having someone who isn’t a complete meathead is a good addition to our group”

“No thanks, fighting isn’t really for me” I said a bit too curtly; I was done with any wishful ideas of becoming the greatest warrior alive.

“Alright, well come find us if you change your mind, I’m visiting Jen, but see you around” she walked away down the corridor and I winced thinking about the girl who’d taken the Orc’s axe through her shoulder.

“See ya” I responded and noticed Aron standing quietly next to me looking at the wall. As nice as Farel had seemed, she hadn’t acknowledged Aron’s existence a single time and his blank expression filled me with anger again. She hadn’t been there when Carston had dumped water on him from the roof, but if I had to guess, she’d taken part in the bullying at other times.

I turned to say something to Farel but she’d already disappeared down the corridor. Irritated at myself I looked at Aron “I’m never going to join them you know right?”

He looked at me and smiled weakly nodding before walking forwards. I frowned trailing after him; I was going to punch Kaid for ditching Aron some time. Outside the infirmary Dante leaned against the wall and stretched when we came out “All done?” he asked yawning.

“Yeah” He had volunteered to bring us here and look after Daniel until they could decide what to do with him.

“Alright Daniel, now that you aren’t bleeding everywhere lets take a look at your Basic status and get your permission to be in the village sorted, sound good?” he looked down at Daniel who hesitantly agreed. His left hand was cleanly bandaged now and I could see 2 short stumps where his little and ring finger had been.

Dante turned and started walking back to the gate and we fell in behind him. I frowned as a thought popped into my head “Hey how did you pay for that?” I asked Daniel indicating his hand.

He looked down at his hand “Oh, yeah I have some money” he patted a pouch at his side “Honestly I have no idea how much its worth, but I could afford getting my hand looked at and its better than nothing” he whispered to me leaning in as his eyes flitted about nervously.

I scowled irritated, how come he had money and I didn’t? That aside, he had a bow and arrows and a dagger and leather armour, why didn’t I have any of that? I touched the hilt of his dagger at my side and contemplated giving it back, I’d taken it so he wouldn’t attack us again, but now that he wasn’t a threat anymore, I should probably give it back. Though I wanted to keep it because I wanted a weapon and to spite him: he’d attacked us and put a hole in my wing so wasn’t keeping it only fair?

I sighed glumly and pulled the dagger out of my belt and held it out to him “Here, its yours” no matter how much I wanted to keep that dagger, I was basically just trying to justify stealing.

He hesitantly took the dagger and put it in to the leather sheath attached to his belt “Ugh thanks, sorry again, for you know, before” he shuffled a bit awkwardly, looking down. I rolled my eyes and looked at Aron was trying to pretend he hadn’t seen me give him the dagger.

I nudged him and pointedly looked at the rucksack, bow and quiver Aron was still carrying. Aron looked at me a bit crestfallen and a slowly unslung the rucksack and handed it back to Daniel, who carefully threaded it past his bad hand and then put it on properly.

I nudged him again and Aron looked at me a bit rebelliously and I glared at him before he let out a disappointed sigh and unslung the quiver reluctantly and handed it over to Daniel along with the bow. Elbowing Aron I grinned at him and he gave an irritated huff and looked away after one last yearning look at the bow.

Arriving at the gate, the riders and [Guards] from before were gone, only Rudy was standing outside and Dante nodded at him before taking us into the Gatehouse. Aron immediately darted forward and took one of the two seats in front of the desk while Dante rummaged around taking out the same enchanted stone that had been used on me.

I shot a glare at Aron who grinned back at me smugly swinging his legs as I stood behind him while Daniel took the remaining seat and Dante explained what to do. I rolled my eyes and looked to the stone. Daniel reached out and placed his hand on it, saying ‘Show basic status’ and supressed a surprised yelp when a panel appeared above the stone.

Name: Daniel Reid Species: Human Gender: Male Age: 11 Class 1: [None] Class 2: [None]

Dante tapped a card to the stone and writing appeared on it before he filled it away as Daniel slowly drew back his hand, still eyeing the enchanted stone in poorly concealed surprise.

“Ok all done” Dante said siting down smiling at Daniel, “Now, can you tell me what you were doing out in the grasslands? It can be dangerous, did you get lost? Separated from your parents?”

“I’m an orphan,” Daniel blurted out nervously, clenching sweaty hands under the table.

“I’m sorry to hear that” Dante frowned “So who was looking after you?”

“I worked for some traders” he swallowed but stuck to what I’d hastily told him “But we were attacked by Orcs about week ago on the road, I was the only survivor”

Dante inhaled “It was probably the same Orcs that attacked us last week, you’re lucky to be alive kid. Do you remember where it happened?” Daniel shook his head looking more nervous by the second, which Dante luckily mistook as Daniel remembering traumatic events.

“Its ok kid, I know it’s not easy, we can talk about the details another time then. We can figure out where to get you settled for the time being, do you have anywhere else to go? Any remaining family or something?” he said coming around the desk and rubbing Daniels shoulder comfortingly.

“No” Daniel said thickly.

He was about the say something when the door opened and Dante jumped to stand up straight as the Lizardfolk archer from before walked in, “Dante we need more-“ she cut off and scanned us briefly before settling on me “You’re the drake girl who could see the Orcs right?”

“Yeah” I said cautiously.

“Good job for spotting them coming over the eastern wall and well done for keeping calm during the attack, any interest in joining the village [Guards] one day? We can always use people who are level headed in a fight,” she said calmly, eyes briefly darting through the open door at Rudy leaning against the wall cleaning his battle-axe.

“I’ll keep it in mind” I was not going to keep that in mind, but I couldn’t help preening a bit as warm pride made me stand a straighter, tail lifting and wings flaring a bit. I could see Aron slouched in his chair rolling his eyes next to me but I ignored him.

She nodded and flicked her pale green eyes to Daniel before looking at Dante “What’s happening here?”

Dante stood a bit straighter “This is Daniel” he indicated the boy “He’s an orphan who worked for some traders and they got attacked by Orcs roughly a week ago. He was the only survivor, he made it to the village today and has no remaining family to take him”

Daniel wilted a bit at depressing description while the Lizardfolk woman eyed him with interest “You survived in the grasslands by yourself for a week? Are you a good archer?” she looked at his bow.

“Not really, but I’d like to learn” he said awkwardly looking at her triangular reptilian face.

“Hm well you’re going to have difficulty finding somewhere to stay now that Lady Trostin’s contingency is here, everything is going to be full” She paused thoughtfully “You can stay with Dante for now” I could see Dante cough trying to hide a choking sound “And if you’re interested in archery, you should join training, if you’ve got any talent, we’ll see about unlocking a combat Class and maybe you can join the [Guards] when you’re older. Though in the mean time if you really have no family or guardians to return to and you’re settling here permanently, you should look into getting a job,” she advised.

My wings drooped a bit and I felt incredibility guilty and lucky that Aron and Jak had taken me in. There didn’t seem to be any sort of welfare system and I figured the only reason Daniel wasn’t left to completely to his own devices was that he was a child. But even then, he was expected to get a job if no one took him in and Dante clearly wasn’t overjoyed at having a child forced on him.

I peeked at Aron who looked fairly unbothered about the situation. I squirmed, I felt like I should ask him to take Daniel in too, but he had made his dislike of Daniel clear and it really wasn’t my place to ask him and Jak to take in more strays. It still felt wrong though that I’d lucked out with them so I looked down, guiltily avoiding looking at Daniel.

“Ok sure” Daniel agreed looking a bit unsure.

“I need to talk to Dante about some [Guard] things now so if you children could wait outside” she dismissed us which irked me a bit. Even if I understood this was private [Guard] stuff, I still didn’t like being treated as a child; it ruffled my scales and scowled as we walked out.

“Oh and Daniel, I finish my shift in about 2 hours so meet me back here then and I’ll show you to my place” Dante called as we left and Daniel nodded before he closed the door, leaving the adults to their business.

Standing near the gatehouse doorstep Aron turned to Daniel stating “I have to go to take care of Mr Ferguson’s pigs, but if you hurt my little sister while I’m gone, I’m going to beat you up” he tried to look menacing, but ended up looking sort of constipated and my lips twitched in a barely contained smile but Daniel nodded stiffly. Aron had managed quite well in the heat of the moment, but without adrenaline, threats and intimidation were not his strong suit.

“See you later” I said giving Aron a light push and he scowled at me before giving Daniel one last glare and jogged off down the street.

I turned to Daniel “So, you need a job and honestly so do I, so I’m going to take you to the adventures guild” I said and his eyes lit up as a broad smile took over his face.

“There’s an adventurers guild? That’s so cool” he whispered excitedly.

“Yeah don’t get to excited, it’s basically a glorified job centre, though apparently monster slaying quests do exist in bigger towns and cities. Also you don’t have to whisper,” I added when he leaned in to whisper again.

He reddened slightly and drew back, jogging quickly to catch up with me as I started walking.

“So you’re like me right?” he looked around and leaned in “From earth? How come you’re not human?” he whispered.

I almost tripped on a cobblestone, I’d gotten so used to being a drake, I hadn’t thought about the fact that Daniel had stayed human and I hadn’t “Yeah and I’m not sure” I paused looking at him “Also you’re younger right? I mean you weren’t an 11 year old on earth?”

He shook his head “No I was 29, it was strange to wake up as a child, but I got kind of used to it, though I keep having childish reactions that I can’t control”

“Yeah me too” I said slightly relieved I wasn’t the only one “Also do you look like yourself? I mean like a younger version of yourself or like a different person?” I tensed a bit nervously waiting for his answer; if he looked like a different person then maybe we somehow possessed other people’s bodies. It wasn’t exactly something I could check myself, with my change in species I was definitely going to look different.

“No I look like me, I mean a bit thinner than I was, but roughly same weight I was when I was this age I think, not completely sure though” he said and I exhaled relieved, the idea of being in someone else’s body was quite uncomfortable.

“When did you get here?” he asked.

“Same time as you, I woke up in the grasslands a short distance from the village about a week ago” I replied.

“Oh so you were alone when you woke up?” he looked out at out of the corner of his eye trying to be casual.

I narrowed my eyes “Yeah, just me, you weren’t alone?”

“Uh not really, I mean there weren’t any live people” he looked away uncomfortably “I woke up in this camp in the middle of the grasslands, there were a lot dead people around. At first I thought I’d killed them or something, but that’s stupid, whatever killed them had completely crushed them, like one of them had his entire ribcage flattened. No human could have done that, whatever killed them was really really big and strong.” he started breathing quickly looking away, taking a moment to calm himself “I’m pretty sure they weren’t traders though, they all had weapons and didn’t have any goods to trade, they were around a destroyed campfire and some tents, but didn’t really look like quality stuff”

“Bandits?” I asked hesitantly, that must have been a terrible scene to wake up to in a new world, but it didn't sound like an Orc attack. Not that I was an expert or anything, but excluding Skills usage, Orcs weren't significantly larger than people and hadn't seemed to rely on overwhelming brute blunt force. Also they probably would have looted.

He shrugged “Probably, I’m just really glad that whatever killed them wasn’t there when I woke up and never came back. Its strange though, whatever killed them didn't eat them or take anything, just smashed and ripped them to pieces and left” he was getting paler looking a bit grim “That’s what made me think that I was in a new world and it was humans against monsters here and I kind of started thinking I could be a cool monster slayer” he glanced at me guiltily “Again, I’m sorry for thinking you were a monster”

I sighed “Its ok, I get it you woke up in a shitty situation. By the way, didn’t you say you were a [Scavenger]?”

“Yeah I’m not sure why it didn’t say that was my Class, I unlocked it a few days after I woke up here. I stuck around the camp for the first few days, eating their food rations and sorting out anything good to take with me. I slept in a tree at night” he reddened a bit “I know its sort of stealing, but its not like they were going to use it and I didn’t have anything else”

“Its ok, I get it, I would have done the same if I were you. Also it sounds like you only unlocked the Class, you actually have to activate it to add it to your status to level it” I told him knowingly.

“Oh” he frowned looking down “I kept trying to say Class or [Scavenger] or ask for the notification to come back but it didn’t work so I thought I’d imagined it until you asked me about a Class”

“Think status” I relished feeling a tad superior.

His eyes widened as he came to a stop and looked at something invisible in front of him.

“Yeah I know, kinda cool right, I’ll explain things to you later, but lets get some jobs first” I turned left and opened the door to the adventurers guild. Daniel shook himself out of his stupor and followed me.

He looked visibly disappointed “This is it?”

“Yup, told you not to get your hopes up, though apparently [Adventurer] is a real Class and so is [Mage]” I said trying to make it into an offhand comment.

“Seriously, magic is real? I mean I hoped it was, but damn, I can learn magic” he grinned excitedly as he followed me to the notice board as I tried to suppress a grin, keep it cool.

“Its probably best you pick a job in the village and that you can do after school” I said scanning for a post I had skipped over last time but that I was quite excited to take now. I could see Daniel make a face at the mention of school but I ignored him, zeroing in on my chosen notice.

Beekeeper assistant required.