The next morning Collin awoke to the strange witch from before sitting across from him. She was playing with her familiar, whisking her wand in the air while the honey bee dodged it lazily. 

“You’re Polly, right?” Collin groaned, propping himself up onto his elbows. 

“And you’re the dragon-boy,” Polly said dully. “Is it true that you and your friends are after the Oracle? I overheard Marques talking to the others about it,” she added with mild interest. 

“It is,” Collin sighed, crawling out of bed. 

Suddenly Polly’s wand stopped mid-whisk, and her bumble bee hit it gently with an annoyed buzz. Polly scooped the bee into the palm of her hand and gave him a hurried, whispered apology. 

“In that case, I’ll be joining you on your quest,” she said matter-of-factly. 

“The more the merrier,” Collin said, too exhausted to argue. 

“Really? That was…easier than I thought,” Polly said, walking with him. 

“Kace wasn’t lying about everyone wanting something from the Oracle. At this point, it seems like the whole kingdom wants to join our party. Who am I to try to stop you?” Collin yawned. 

He found himself standing in a large, circular living room where the others were waiting for him. Marques cottage was decorated warmly with Autumn colors, circular in shape. The walls were cluttered with framed scrolls and posters, alongside drying bundles of flowers held together by twine.

“Look who’s finally awake,” Animus teased. 

“It’s pretty much a straight walk to the port. But we have to get moving. We don’t want the Knights to catch up with us.” Kace said, throwing a satchel across his shoulder. 

“Are you sure you’d like to come along?” Collin asked, turning back toward Polly. 

“Once I make up my mind about something then it's final,” Polly said with a stoic expression. Marques walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“We will miss you at the circus,” he said kindly. 

“All I did was make flowers…” Polly pouted. 

“Yes, but the crowd loved it; their cheers would reach the ceiling,” Marques said. “Promise me something, keep on making your flowers. They are a simple, yet beautiful thing. And in life, sometimes those are the most important. Flowers can brighten a room, comfort someone, or even express love in all its many forms. Do not doubt what beauty you bring to this world.”

Polly’s lips thinned, and she nodded shyly toward the ground. She broke character, momentarily turning to Marques and hugging him. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. 

. . .

They traveled out of the city and into the wilds. They trekked through the forest where the sky was clear and quiet. Kace collected whatever edible things he could find as they walked, Breven chasing after any poor game that caught his eye. Animus hummed a cheerful tune to the beat of their footsteps, taking the form of a spotted deer. Collin and Polly took up the rear, talking to one another. 

“Where are you from?” Collin asked.

“Meridia. It wasn’t too far from Kurtz actually.” Polly said. 

“Oh,” Collin said, his pupils dilating with fear. “So then-”

“The dragons had been pushed across the entire map by the Knights until they all ended up West. Most of the Western villages were destroyed during the final battles of the War, including Meridia.” Polly glanced up at Raz sitting perched atop Collin’s shoulder. 

“Do you…despise the dragons?” Collin asked gently, catching her stare. “Most Westerners blame the dragons for all of the destruction.”

“It wasn’t the dragons’ fault,” Polly said simply. “The Knights were the ones who brought their swords and catapults. The dragons only acted in self-defense.” 

“Do you have any family in Meridia?” Collin asked. 

Suddenly, Polly stopped walking. She stood, her head bowed, her hands curled into tight fists. 

“My family was slain during the Inferno Wars, and not by the hands of a bloody dragon.” Polly gritted. “That is why I seek the Oracle because I want to make whoever killed them pay, over and over again.” 

At first, Collin gave her a look of terror, but slowly it melted to sympathy. 

“I also lost my family to the War,” Collin said. “I may not share your anger, but I can more than understand it. I still see visions of blood and fire. I doubt those memories will ever really leave my mind.”

“You do not wish to avenge your family, your village?” Polly asked. 

“All I want is to live a happy, mundane life. And hopefully, give others that opportunity as well. I believe It’s what my family would have wanted.” Collin said, with a bitter-sweet smile. "The Knights have taken a lot from me, including the last few years of my life spent constantly fleeing in fear. But I refuse to let them take anymore from me."

"And even after everything the Knights have done to you, you still choose to travel with one?" Polly asked, gesturing to Breven.

"What? Breven? He used to be one, but quit many years ago." Collin said.

"No matter if he left or not, the blood still stains his hands-" Polly began.

“Hey, you two!” Animus called. Polly and Collin both turned around to see the others up ahead waiting for them. “I hate to break up the heart-to-heart but we have to keep moving!” 

“Sorry!” Collin yelled, hurrying back down the path. 

Polly hesitated a moment, then ran down after him.