Guardian of the Dragon Soul

6) Eljirkin of west artine range

I glanced around wildly, trying to distract myself. "So..." I gulped. "Where did Artymiis originate from?"
Carter's eyes slowly lifted back to my face. "From Armesiia of course."
"So the planet does exist,"my eyes widened.
"Yes, so does a lot of 'mythical creatures' "he used air quotes.
So I'm not high or in some dream. This is real.
Of course its real, my inner voice strutted as if I was a small child. Do you see any brownies laying around for you to snack on?
Shut up, I know. I then reliesed I was just arguing with myself. I think I'm going crazy...
Please... you idiot, you're just mental with a case of terrible humor. That's a diagnosis by the way,my inner voice informed me.
I huffed, my humor is great thank You. And I'm not mental im- I'm special!
Suuure.
"So,"Carter's voice interrupts our little quarrel."does that locket of yours have a backstory? "
You don't even know half of it-or maybe you do. I noticed the curious gleam in his eyes.
"Yeah. It was my mothers. .."I trail off.
He seemed to notice my use if past tense, "was?"
"Yes, before she died, she gave it to dad. And during the fire he gave it to me," I explained as my eyes cast down.
My mom died protecting the locket. Bow that I think about it, she probably put the Dragon shard in the locket. Maybe they need the complete soul with no fragments missing, to use its power or whatever they want to do. If that's true, it would explain why they are so persistent on finding it. I will have to ask Eroese later.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried my best to block out the horrifying scene of my mother's body crumbling to the ground with a bullet in her head. My parents risked everything. Since that day , me and dad lived in fear. Even isolated in the Artine range, we consistently found ourselves always looking behind our backs. It didn't help that Dad refused to tell me anything. He would just ignore all my pleading questions. Frustrated and broken, countless nights I cried myself to sleep. Even after two years it was still hard for me to talk about it.
"In sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up, " Carter's surprisingly soothing voice drifted through the cave.
"It's okay, you didn't know. What's done is done, "I answered curtly.
"Lets eat, " Carter changed the subject and took the rabbit off the stick it was roasting on.we split it and dug into the greasy meat.
Carter shoved the last piece of meat into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully."how did you set up the fire so fast?"he asked.
I sighed, guess I've got to show him one way it another. Channeling the power, a flame appeared on my Palm. Carter stopped in mid-chew and cursed, "I should've known..."he mumbled.
"It doesn't shock you, or scare you? "I asked.
Swallowing he answered, " I was a soldier in the Artymiis, there are humans and creatures alike- creatures with powers. "
"And why did you quit the Artymiis," I couldn't help but wonder if Carter has powers too.
"Well you can't really quit the Artymiis after you take the oath- you will always be part of the Artymiis. I waited for him to continue. " I actually stumbled across you by accident. Our group was sent to go scavenge the area for you... and your dad. But if found you on the trail, burned with a twisted ankle laying unconscious I just couldn't let them hold you hostage or worse. So I took you here.
I didn't see a scavenger around here at all. For something so big-" he shook his head. "They should've already fine- tooth combed this area. Its as if they're waiting to strike when least expected. That's why we need to get out of here as soon as possible. " he explained.
"Wait,what about my dad?where is he? "
"I don't know. My best guess is that he is held hostage. If they found him that is. "
"Then we must go find him," I demanded,
He flinched,"well if we go to Eljirkin there is some one their that could help you locate your father. For all we know he could already be half way across the country" he said slowly.
"Ok, when do we leave for Eljirkin and where is this-"
"City" Carter interrupted.
"This city located?"I asked.
Carter got out a map and laid it in front of sum " we are here, " he points to the middle bottom if the artine range. And eljirkin is here " his finger trails to the west of the range.
This map doesn't show some locations and land marks...
"Where is Tailka ? " I ask with my eyebrows scrunched with confusion as I study the map.
"This is a special map, it doesn't show your capital. " Carter said as he rolled up the map.
That's weird. ..
"How are we going to get there?" I ask.
Carter ponders the question but finally decides," we will ride on horseback."
I find myself nodding, it wasn't the best plan and extremely suspicious but it was definitely a start.

***
ADVENTURE AWAITS!
And hello there* waves*
Oooh special maaaps* sings*
Till next time, adios 😉