Awakening Of Magic

🌄🔆 Chapter 4 🔆🌄

The orc Q'inde arrived - after rain did.

The humans sat on the cold, wet earth, a flimsy flap of the tent offering poor protection from the elements. They saw the lantern first through the mist, then the glow of the light on the monster's green skin. Hair a few shades darker stuck to their face.

Maxim stood in the entryway of the tent, his wings already sheltering the two more.

When the orc approached, a smirk was the first expression they wore. "I've never seen you take in drowned kittens, Maxim."

The drahke scowled. "Just appraise the gold. How much will the elf king pay for two humans?"

The instruments and curious baubles on their belt clinked as the orc approached. Aurelia recoiled slightly on instinct at the size of this second intimidating creature. But their hand was gentle as they reached out for her jewellery.

After pocketing the pieces, they shrugged. "He'll not pay much for them in these sorry clothes. Come find new robes in my caravan."

They helped the humans to their feet, and even Alexan couldn't bring themself to scowl at them as they shivered from the cold. A strange beast snorted and stomped its cloven hooves as they approached the caravan.

"Step inside. Choose anything you like."

They looked back at the enigmatic smirk tugging at the orc's lips before the door was closed. And then both started talking at once.

"This is insane!"

"I didn't want to think this was real, but no dream has ever been so long and miserably cold!"

"Bounty hunters?!"

"Dragons and monsters?!"

"The dragon guy is kinda hot though."

"They're both kinda hot though."

The best friends stared at each other before bursting into nervous laughter.

Alexan ran a hand through their drenched hair. "Let's see what threads this monster's got."

While the humans rifled through the contents of the caravan, Q'inde looked at the jewellery. "Fool's gold. And... a magic amulet?"

The magic beings exchanged a look.

Their pointed ears twitched at the sound of the humans' footsteps. They'd heard.

The glow of the necklace was undeniable. They stared at it with slack jaws. It was Alexan who finally spoke. "Ray gave it to me. She didn't like the colour & never wore it. It was... her gran's."