They travelled through the wilds, far beyond the reach of cities or sanctuaries.

  The world had changed again.

  Gone were the carved stone corridors and soft glow of elven crystal. Here, the sky stretched wide and endless, the land rugged and unforgiving. Winding forests gave way to ash-covered plains, broken paths, and jagged hills. Smoke lingered faintly in the distance, trailing from the volcanic ridges far ahead.

  They were heading toward the Dwarvish lands—toward the shadows of the volcanoes—following the elder’s map. It wasn’t much. But it was something.

  Astrid clutched the scroll tightly as they walked, trying to ignore how dry her throat felt.

  Find the dragon. Fix the problem. Go home. She repeated it like a mantra. Like if she said it enough, it would be true.

  They moved mostly in silence. Partly to stay hidden. Partly because there wasn’t much left to say.

  Kurai walked a few steps ahead, his coat fluttering with each gust of wind. Every now and then, Astrid caught a flicker of gold at his fingertips, barely visible. Controlled. Barely. His hand flexed once, then stilled—as if holding something in.

  As twilight bled into dusk, they found a hollow beneath a jutting rock outcropping—sheltered, mostly hidden. Kurai swept the space with a practiced eye, muttering something under his breath that made the air hum for a moment.

  "This isn’t too out in the open?" she asked, settling down on a patch of moss.

  He nodded. "We’ll be fine. Besides, I’d rather be able to keep an eye on what’s around us."

  Astrid sat, stretching her legs out with a tired groan. The city had been eyes on her back. This was silence. Silence she could breathe in.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "So… you always this chatty, or is it just me?"

  Kurai glanced at her from where he knelt, coaxing a flame to life with nothing but a flick of his fingers and a muttered word. "You talk enough for both of us."

  His mouth twitched like it wanted to smile. Then it didn’t.

  She rolled her eyes, but there was no bite to it. "And here I was worried this would be awkward." She laid down using her pack as a pillow.

  The fire crackled between them, casting shadows that danced against the stone walls. For a moment, they just listened—to the crackle, to the distant wind, to the quiet.

  Then, softer: "Why did the elves treat you like that?" Astrid asked. "Like they’re scared of what you’ll do next."

  Kurai didn’t answer right away. He stared into the fire like it held something only he could see.

  "Because they are," he said eventually. "And they’re not wrong."

  He didn’t say it with pride. He said it like it was a scar.

  Astrid looked up at the roof of their hideaway. "They look at me like I’m a walking anomaly."

  "That’s because you are."

  She let out a breath, almost a laugh. "Gee, thanks."

  He smirked faintly. "Didn’t say it was a bad thing."

  Another beat of silence passed.

  Astrid fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "What about before all this? Were you always… like this?"

  Kurai didn’t respond for a long time. Then, quietly: "There was no before. Not really."

  He believed it. And she believed that he did.

  She didn’t push. Just nodded, folding the information away like a puzzle piece she’d come back to later.

  After a moment, she pulled out her phone. It was useless out here, but the lock screen still lit up—her and Charlie, mid-laugh.

  Kurai tilted his head, intrigued by the glow. "You really miss her, don’t you?"

  Astrid nodded, eyes not breaking from the screen. She couldn’t look at him. Not now.

  She could see him studying her out the corner of her eye. "That’s why the thought of trying to find a dragon doesn’t faze you. You’ll do anything to get back to her?"

  "Anything."

  She blinked hard, once. Then twice. No time for tears. Not here.

  He didn’t say anything, but his expression softened just a little.

  The fire popped.

  Kurai leaned back, arms folded behind his head. "You know," he said, voice low and tired, "you’re not what I expected."

  Astrid blinked. "What, you thought I’d be taller?"

  He huffed a laugh. "I thought you’d be a complete mess."

  She blinked.

  "Well… you are a little bit of a mess," he chuckled, then continued. "But you fell into a world you don’t understand. Got chased. Threatened. Saw things most people would run from. And you’re still here."

  Astrid was quiet for a moment. Was he talking about what happened that night when he lost control?

  "I guess," she said, not sure how to react. "I think it just means I don’t know when to quit."

  It was just survival. But maybe he didn’t see the difference. Besides, she hates it when others are hurting it makes her feel more powerless.

  Kurai looked at her—really looked.

  "you’re pretty strong Astrid," he said.

  She blinked. He’d said her name. Did he even know it before? Or just never cared to use it?

  I thought he didn’t know it or just didn’t care to know.

  “Not really, just determined” she tried to brush off the compliment.

  She didn’t believe him. Not really. But it was the first time someone had said it like they meant it. That made her uncomfortable.

  “Anyways I’m tired, try to sleep this time” she was done talking, she didn’t like this conversation.

  She laid down, facing away from him, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

  its okay, he doesn’t know you. No need to cry.