Relics of Aether - Homebound (Sample)

Chapter 10

Marina was momentarily startled as her brain scrambled to find words to respond to his question. Could she walk? Instinctively, she tried to say "yes", but choked on dust and coughed repeatedly. The armored man got up and took a knee at her side, stiffly helping her sit up.

"Here." He handed her a canteen filled with water, and she graciously drank from it, feeling the grime and dryness in her throat gradually wash away. He held out a hand and she took it, allowing him to help her to her feet. She wobbled a bit at first and her vision went fuzzy, but it cleared up as she blinked a few times. She looked to the man to find him peering up at the mountain. He was tall; her eye level was well below his chest. Visually, he seemed strong and exceptionally athletic, though far from large or stocky. His body was lean and agile, which was further emphasized by the sleek design of his armor's odd, royal blue plating that maintained its dark coloration in the sunlight. Under it he wore a black, full-body undersuit made of a material that Marina didn't recognize. Holding everything together was a belt that had a variety of satchels firmly attached to it, with a vicious-looking combat knife fastened to the back. By his appearance alone he was without a doubt a skilled adventurer. At a loss for words due to her unchecked admiration, Marina tried the first thing that came to mind.

"Th-thank you" She choked out, canteen still in hand. As if he didn't notice, he walked over to a nearby tree and picked up a faded gray adventurer bag that sat at its base, slinging it over his shoulders. As he was moving back to Marina, a bone-chilling roar echoed from the mountain.

"We need to move. It won't stay stuck there for long," He said.

"That didn't kill it?"

"A dragon? Of course not. We have to go." Without another word he turned and started moving into the forest. He walked with observable purpose, leaving Marina scrambling to keep up with his quick, long strides as they distanced themselves from the rocky tomb behind them.

Marina had no idea how much time had passed as she daydreamed about the experience in her head, imagining herself, but stronger, fighting the dragon with the adventurer. She pondered how things may have gone differently if she weren't so weak. The man remained quiet, the only noises being that of his heavy footsteps and the chirping of birds perched in the trees above.

The sun was at its highest, beating down on them, even through the shade of the leaves. Marina absentmindedly drank out of the canteen, now running questions through her head.

Why did he come for me? How did anyone even know I was here? She thought. On that note, I wonder what happened to the group before him. Not that it matters too much. As that girl said. I'm not worth it to them. She looked up at her armored savior, who doggedly marched onward. Who sent them? Midas? No, he'd have no way to know I was here. Was it Melody? Maybe she tracked the dragon and posted a quest listing back in town. I should ask him, he should know.

"Ah- um..." She stuttered, struggling to get words out. Maybe I should ask his name first, she thought quickly. "W-what's your name?"

"Draco," he responded curtly, still facing forward.

"Wh-who sent you here?" She managed, cursing herself for her nervous speech.

"Not sure. There was a quest listing at the guild and I took it."

"O-oh, okay. Di- did you see a silver haired girl? In the town or out here?"

"No."

"Oh. Okay." There was a long period of silence. "So uh, where are we going then? Back to Goldslate?" She said cautiously.

"No. There's a camp out here where the client wanted to meet. From there, it's out of my hands."

A camp? It has to be Melody then. It has to be. Her heart swelled at the thought. It would make sense that she wouldn't want to risk showing my face in town. Everything will be alright. She's fine. She let the hopeful thought push her forward for a while, ecstatic at the thought of seeing Melody alive. She thought about the journey that lay ahead of them. Looking at Draco, another thought crossed her mind. Maybe we can get his help. He could protect us as our escort.