Alvin walked.. using the fire as a light source.

  The fire showed him roots and shadows and nothing beyond. The forest offered itself ten steps at a time and no more.

  With every step deeper into the forest.. the pull of home grew heavier in his chest.

  It wasn't even a place exactly. Just the feeling of being somewhere that already knew him. That feeling had no address out here.

  Pull yourself together Alvin..

  This place is almost the same.. he thought as he walked.

  Trees were trees. Dark was dark. The ground was still ground. But the sounds were wrong. Too many things moving in the wrong rhythm.

  Then he opened his mouth.

  "Hey system.. next city.. I mean.. village destination."

  But nothing happened.

  Tch..

  Alvin frowned as he walked.. until a sound echoed beside him.

  A woman's voice.

  Clear and furious and human — or close enough — in a forest that had offered him nothing but crickets and shadow since he entered it.

  "Get out of my way you bastards!"

  What's going on?? Alvin thought, tilting his head.. searching for where the sound came from.

  Until he saw a small light flickering from the left.

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  Orange and unsteady. The kind of light that comes from torches held by people who are not trying to be careful.

  Alvin stepped closer.. then slipped behind a tree to see.

  White horses. And three small humans holding an elf.

  Wait.. there are actually dwarves? Alvin thought.

  He'd processed goblins because he'd woken up as one. Wolves because one had spoken to him. But dwarves standing in a forest with horses meant the whole map had expanded and he'd only been looking at one corner of it.

  Ah wait.. I am a goblin.. no wonder.

  He rubbed his eyes.

  What is this.. a beautiful elf?!!!!

  Then his brain arrived and reminded him she was tied up. He cleared his throat quietly behind the tree. Alone. In the dark. Still.

  Alvin watched.. staring at the yellow-haired elf struggling to break free.

  "I told you elf.. give me the gold you promised me!" the dwarf said.

  "I never promised you any gold!"

  The elf stepped back..

  until they threw a rope around her.

  "Selling a rare elf.. good deal then."

  The other dwarf rubbed his hands together.

  The elf stopped for a moment.. kept silent.. then sighed.

  The tip of her finger glowed pink.

  "You gave me no ch—"

  The torchlight between them steady and ordinary. The pink glow on her fingertip going unnoticed for exactly two seconds.

  A massive wall of fire erupted.

  "WHAT'S GOING ON?!" a dwarf shouted in fear.

  "IS THERE A FIRE MAGE HERE?!" another rushed in circles.. holding his burning backside.

  His mouth was open. He closed it. The burning dwarf made another loop. He opened it again.

  All the dwarves fled.. leaving the elf alone.

  "Wait — at least untie me!!!" the elf cried, rolling on the ground.

  She rolled twice and stopped and looked at the sky like she was taking a moment to think. The forest floor didn't seem to bother her.

  Until a small flame was sent toward her rope.. loosening it just enough.

  Her hands stopped moving. She looked at the loosened rope. Then at the tree line. The dark between the trees looking back at nothing.

  From afar.. Alvin blew on his finger, the fire dissolving.

  I think I'm starting to get used to it. he thought as he turned to leave.

  Then he hesitated.

  May I ask her? he thought.

  No.. a goblin using fire would be very odd..

  He was already three steps gone before the thought finished.

  Alvin turned and continued walking.. reaching into the bag for another mushroom.

  The mushroom was cold and tasted like the forest floor. He ate it anyway. Walking.

  The bag was lighter than when he'd started.

  I think I might find some food when I reach the next village.. if I find it at all..

  "Heeeh.. interesting.." the elf smiled.. staring in the direction Alvin had walked.