Slippery little runt!

I was comfortably relaxing in the shallow stream, thoroughly wiping down my body with a ripped piece of cloth from my ruined shirt, when all of a sudden a heavenly voice descended into my head! Into my head!

Seem to be enjoying yourselves? Tell me what you're doing here?

Ha! What I would give to find out the answers to that question, miss disembodied voice. What the hell am I doing miles deep into the enchanted Forest of Elenoir, following what might possibly be the most peculiar child on Dicathen?

And the boy walks about as if it is the most natural thing in the world, his casual demeanor and his unhurried gait speaks volumes of his mentality. He was clearly on a mission, and it killed me not knowing what his mission was.

Standing back up after my graceful fall into the stream, I grabbed my dual daggers laying on the side of the riverbed and prepped myself for an attack. I look over to the boy and his sister, wondering if he too got the same message, only to see him slightly turn his body and kneel down to one knee. A gesture more of respect and less of worship.

He stays still for a few moments, wiping away the occasional tear with a sad smile on his face. Knelt down for a few moments, the boy suddenly lifts his head and darts forward, kicking up dust, as he heads into the thick forest.

"Hey! Wait for me!" My cry fall on deaf ears, the boy not even bothering to look back. I use both of the elements at my disposal to try and chase after him.

Yet dispute being a gifted dual elemental augmenter at the solid yellow stage, the boy, or Arthur as he calls himself, makes a mockery of my abilities. He doesn't even seem to concentrate on manipulating mana, there is no effort in his movement nor any delay in his spell.

The mana around him dancing to the tune of his existence, obeying his every command, his every thought. As Arthur speeds away, I was half-certain he didn't even realize he was casting spells around his body, as if unconsciously conjuring the most useful spell in any given instance.

I mean seriously! His status as an awakened, a mage already at the light orange stage, is already weird enough without the addition of his crazy control. And don't even get me started on his quadra-elemental affinities, because such a fact only add to his ridiculousness.

He's disappeared into the distance and I'm left with countless questions as I chase him down. He doesn't leave behind footprints nor a scent, forcing me to follow him by his last known general location.

With a few more minutes of my top speed, in the distance I make out a cliffside hugged by large and small boulders alike. I come to a halt with panting breath, my hands on my knees as I take a break long enough to replenish some of my mana. Heh, he either went left, right or climbed the cliff. Though through the short time I've know him, I wouldn't be surprised if he instead chose to go under the cliff side.

I approach the bundle of boulders to look for any potential clues, only to get blown away by an earth shaking shockwave. With cat like reflexes, I twist my body to land on my feet, only to be forced down on all fours by a crushing, ferocious pressure.

An all encompassing presence, fueled not by anger but something that felt closer to irritation. The almost mellow feeling emotions were still enough to force me to grit my teeth and take in short, desperate breaths.

Against all the protests coming from my neck, I look up see the previous cluster of rocks blown away, a large hole ripped into the ground. From below, faint golden and purple lights shine upon the dull, brown rocks, glowing in fluctuating intensity, as if they were telling a story.

The ground continues to tremble, yet I only gain the courage to explore the events that took place down below after the light show ceases and the world goes quiet again. I slowly approach the large hole, looking down into to find small fruit like plants giving off a soft light.

Saying a quick prayer to any God that would listen, I clench my fist and drop down into the cave like structure in the ground. Using a spell to soften the landing, I escape the rubble only to widen my eyes equally in horror and awe.

Arthur was splayed on his back across the ground in a sizable puddle of his own blood. His body and clothing covered in blood, his eyes, mouth and ears oozing in red. But his condition is merely an afterthought, because at the very least he was alive, the creature laid around him more than capable of killing both of us.

The dragon was beautiful. Thick, white scales seeming to reject any darkness and shadows. The long tail and neck added to the majesty of the massive feathered wings, one folded on its back while the other serves as a mattress for the bleeding boy.

"S-s-stop right there! Let the b-boy go or e-else!?" With hesitation and weakness in my every word and move, I point one dagger towards the towering beast while using my other hand to prepare an evasive wind spell.

To my credit, I figured I was as level headed as you could be in such a situation. But to my surprise, the only thing my "threat" managed to cause was a chuckle from the dragon and from Arthur, all I got was a groan of... embarrassment?

"Sylvia meet Trista, Trista meet my grandmother." The boy spoke with a hoarse, tired voice strong in tone and authority despite the wounds covering his body. "Put the dagger down, grandma here hasn't had a decent meal in a while, and with a core as strong as your's, you'd make a decent snack." The blood on his face hid it well, but I could make out a slight smirk on his face.

That damn smirk of his! So freaking annoying!

"Hello there Trista, I'd like to thank you for accompanying this little one for so long. He surely wouldn't have made it easy." With a voice you couldn't help but love, the dragon uncurls her neck to raise her head and look into my eyes.

At any other point in time, I would have been bewitched by her shimmering purple eyes, her majestic horns or her rows of finger long, blade sharp teeth. Had the situation bit even a bit different, I'd be basking in the gloriousness of her presence, such an encounter blessing me for the rest of my life.

Though I knew nothing about them, the familiarity between them and the non threatening atmosphere gave me a boost in courage.

Instead, from the core of my soul, I could feel a rising heat just waiting to burst out of my vessel, a vessel more so designed to vent pressure than to keep it contained.

"If you really want to thank me, could you do me one favor?" I knew the being in front of me could possibly kill me with a snap of her fingers, or claws, but I still felt compelled to ask her.

She raises an eyebrow, the exact image of a child asking for something a tad bit overpriced coming into place. "After he's nice and tidied up, could you pretty please with a cherry on top, give him the beating of a lifetime? You know, the personality changing type? The one every unruly child gets at least once. Pretty please?" Giving her my best pity face, I wait for her response with my hands behind my back, swaying side to side in false anxiousness.

The dragon named Sylvia, looks down to face Arthur, whose stopped bleeding with a pondering look. The boy lays there on top of one of her wings, stiffly shaking his head with an uneven smile.

"He was so mean to me on the way here. He tried to get rid of me with his devious spells and when that didn't work, he tried to starve me to death, only feeding me on a whim and forcing me to eat grass." I land my final blow, hoping to garner as many pity points as I could.

"First of all, that's a slight exaggeration. Second of all, you were the one who decided to fol-"

"Of course dear, for being such an uncaring little brother, he deserves to be punished."

The dragon cuts him off, giving him a look of pure amusement.

"YES! Suck it brat! I hope you live to regret ever messing with the great Trista!" I pump my arms into the air, celebrating the first victory I have over the kid. No more starving! No more "pranks!" Hopefully no more stupidly long and awkward silence as we walk together!

"Alright, note it down Arthur. I'd like a pair of roasted turkey legs marinated for four days in pale salt, with a pinch of eldermoss spice. While you're at it, throw in a side of chicken bites covered in black liquor sauce along with a pint of your finest beer." I come down from the high of victory to see Arthur with his arms crossed over his chest and eyes closed in concentration. "I'd like it as soon as possible. Please and thank you"

"What is she referring to Art? Surely you don't have such an oddly specific request at the ready, do you?" Sylvia looks at the boy in wonder, while I just watch in confusion.

I know he has a dimensional amulet of considerable size, seeing as he carries nothing on his person yet always as a full meal ready along with all the necessities required to tend to a baby. I wasn't expecting anything close to my order, I just pounced on the opportunity to pry a meaningful portion of food out of his greedy little clutches.

A minute later, Arthur opens his eyes and stands up, no longer bleeding and with no visible injuries but he was still clearly weak.

"We'll be leaving shortly, but I don't see a reason why we can't sit down to enjoy a meal before we depart." With a flick of his wrist, a circular table large enough for four people appears on the ground in front of him. We each take a seat at each end, a bundle of cloth I realized to be the boys sister, moving out from behind a hidden wall to occupy the last seat.

With all of us seated, Arthur flicks his wrist again. On the table is a variety of silverware and plates with delicious smelling food resting on top. I drool at the sight of the plates presented to me. One had a pair of thick turkey legs with a homely smell, while the other had bite sized chicken pieces smothered in an enchanting sauce.

Before anyone can say anything, I disregard all forms of manners and shove the food down my throat. I wash it down with a swig of the tastiest beer I've ever had. I eat and eat, almost crying in joy for the proper meal I've had in days. I could hear the other two casually conversing about this and that, talking about who knows what.

Only after I finish my meal, do I realize there's one more person in the room. Or rather, that person has replaced a rather large dragon who couldn't have been missed leaving.

Arthur hands the gorgeous white haired woman a large fur blanket, as she gets up to cover me with. Confused, she answered before I can say anything.

"You poor soul. To think he was so hard on you, enough for you to forget human decency. Don't worry, I'm sure we can find your clothing with a bit of looking."

Looking down to my self, I only now realize....

Fuck.