Act I

  A group of five stood infront of a canal, within a street of overgrown stone ruins.

  At the head of the group is the tallest among them, a young man of brown hair.

  And infront of him were three overflowing mugs of blood.

  “Celestia, are you still a member of the exploration guild?”

  I asked, as I gathered the mugs near the stream preparing to summon Flare.

  “Yes, I’m still considered a scribe of the guild. Why do you ask?”

  I nodded, not answering her as I focused on the ritual infront of me.

  With my [Book of Circles] opened I began my chant.

  “Lesser spirit of wealth, merchant of the pond, fire spirit that pretends to be of the water tribe. . .”

  I spoke the chant as I felt pain in my left arm.

  The tattoo Flare gave me, why is it stabbing me?

  But then flames erupted on the tattoo, as the pain ceased as I continued my chant.

  “I, Lazir, priest of the protector of Hearths, ask to trade Draconid blood for what you may offer.”

  For a handful of minutes but unlike before nothing. . .

  He didn’t jump out of the water.

  Or did he send a spirit projection.

  “Huh. . . I think he's busy.”

  I said unsure, as this was the first time he didn’t appear when I called for him.

  “Does that mean, we’ll be carrying all that blood back to town?”

  Elira asked, I wanted to say no but then again I was planning to share what Flare would give me for the blood so. . .

  “I was only planning to sell blood to him, but if he's busy today, we can just try this tomorrow."

  I told them, but there was hesitation in their eyes.

  At that point, Amorette was the one to decide our next move.

  "There's always tomorrow and besides, the blood would be rotten by the time we get back to town.”

  With those words said, we prepared to leave.

  Act II

  As we made our way back, I saw Darius limping.

  “Hey are you okay brother?”

  I asked, making our group pause our march.

  “Oh this? It’s fine, I just twisted it a little.”

  I’m not a doctor nor had any medical training that doesn’t involve drowning.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  So I’m not sure if I need to heal it or leave it be.

  “Can you run like that?”

  I asked, making the youth sharpen his eyes as he looked up at me.

  “What’s that supposed to mean Lazir?”

  His tone changed, why is he angry?

  “I’m asking if you need me to heal it.”

  Darius paused at my answer and then nodded.

  “No it’s fine, I can run with it.”

  I smiled as we continued walking as the fencers walked ahead of us scouting the path.

  While Amorette took the rear, her eyes focused on the places we passed rather than our backs.

  “Darius, why are you the only guy in your group?”

  The question made the youth stay silent.

  It took us avoiding a large group of Draconids before he answered.

  “Well I didn’t have a choice.”

  With his words I shook my head.

  “It’s fine then, you don’t need to tell me.”

  I smiled, I’m not sure why he was lucky enough to always be with three elven beauties but. . .

  “No, no, it’s fine. I can tell you, it’s because Elira is my sister.”

  Cough* Cough* I felt my throat dry, as Darius gave me an odd look.

  “Really?”

  I asked, recovering from my sudden coughing, trying to be cool.

  And not make the brother of the girl that clearly has a crush on me, get any ideas.

  “Yes, have you not noticed we have the same hair color?”

  Darius said as if it was obvious which it was, but then again it’s not that uncommon.

  Like come on, I’ve seen pink hair color in more than a few of the other elves.

  May they sellswords or merchants.

  “No. . . I thought you two were lovers, from the way you two acted.”

  He didn’t react, just smiling.

  From the joke, but really how dense am I not to notice their siblings?

  “Well, that was the plan, atleast when my parents adopted me.”

  I looked at him again, you damn lucky . . .

  I didn’t finish the thought, or say anything more as we silently continued the rest of the way.

  Act III

  Within the town of cobbled marble, two walked next to each other, both still wearing their battle gear.

  “Lazir, are you sure you want to come with me? The alchemist guild house isn’t that interesting a place.”

  I’m not sure how to answer Amorette.

  It’s not like I can say that I know next to nothing, about how things worked in this world.

  “I just want to visit all the guilds when I get the chance, and this is a chance.”

  The half lie came to me, which made the sleepy eyed girl nod.

  “Oh is that so?”

  Amorette paused, as a silence came but then her eyes widened for a second.

  “Have you not joined one yet? Remember, we need all the members of our troop to atleast be a member of one guild.”

  I nodded at her nagging tone, it made me smile as it reminded me of my mother.

  “Yes I do remember, but I want to visit them all first, and besides we’re still missing five members.”

  The answer made Amorette shake her head, as I saw a sign of a bottle and some kind of claw.

  “We're here. . . I should tell you to not be too surprised by the alchemist, she’s a little strange, but I guess all alchemists are like that.”

  I nodded, a little insulted by being called judgemental.

  Like come on, I’ve been mostly eating vegetable stews and fruit beer just because I’ve been living in an Inn run by rabbit people.

  Did I ever judge them, just because everytime they twitch their little noses I want to start patting their heads?

  No, because I’m a well adjusted man that has been sent to. . .

  “Lazir? Lazir? Are you alright? You were in a daze for a minute there, are you sure you don’t want to go back to your Inn?”

  I shook my head and smiled at her, as Amorette took me out of my own mental ranting.

  “I’m fine Amorette, but yeah I think I’m a little tired. . . It’s normal for me too. . . think slower and understand things slower when that happens.”

  She looks concerned, I wonder why she would.

  “Is it a racial curse? I heard the stories that the reason that some of the giants were dumb brutes was because of their ancestors.”

  I’m not really a giant though. . .

  “The titans cursed them to be simple, yet strong, so that they will always be their loyal soldiers.”

  I felt my mouth about to say something, but then nothing came.

  I wanted to tell the truth that I know nothing about the giants that live in the south of the Free Cities Federation.

  But also I wanted to lie, to keep my persona as a giant from the south coming here as a missionary.

  Then when the silence turned deafening, Amorette shook her head.

  “It’s okay, even we Senae do not like speaking of our curse from the Grandfather of all Forests.”

  That’s an honorific name, is she talking about a god they follow?

  He might be on the same rank as my lady.

  I wasn’t able to say anything as she smiled and motioned me to follow her into the building.

  Which like many of the larger buildings in this town, didn’t look like it had any doors.

  But as you get closer, you would see planks of wood in between the columns with cut outs large enough for a person to enter and place a door.