The next morning, Clover met Grady at the town gates as they had planned. Grady was a fellow Silfran who lived in the town, and he and Clover had been friends since childhood. Grady secretly harbored feelings for Clover, but he had never found the courage to tell her.

"Good morning, Clover," Grady said with a smile. "Are you ready for our journey?" His tail flicked with eximent.

Clover nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

They made their way out of town, trying their best to remain inconspicuous as they rode their Hava lizards. The Hava lizards were large creatures common to the area, used for riding through wild terrain. They had powerful legs and could scale steep mountains and deep valleys with ease. As they left the town behind, Clover couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. She had never traveled beyond the town's borders before, and the thought of what lay ahead both thrilled and frightened her.

The first day of their journey was filled with beautiful sights. They passed crystal-clear lakes filled with iridescent fish that shimmered in the sunlight, and fields of flowers that glowed with a soft, otherworldly light. They stopped to rest when they found a small grove of trees that had trunks as wide as small houses. Clover used her gift to examine the feint magical auras of the plants and animals around them. She noticed certain species had a brighter auras, she wondered what that meant. As they continued on their journey, the landscape around them began to change. The trees grew taller and wider, their trunks stretching up towards the sky. The air grew thicker with magic, and Clover could feel a sense of wonder and awe washing over her.

On the second night of their journey, they made camp in a clearing near a small stream. While they were setting up camp, Clover found a small gemstone nestled among the rocks near the water's edge. She examined it closely and saw that it was pulsing with a soft, blue light. She tucked it into her pocket, feeling a sense of excitement at the discovery.

That night, Clover had another nightmare, but this time it was different. She found herself face to face with a shadow, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Clover tried to run, but her feet were rooted to the ground. The figure approached her, and Clover could feel her fear growing with every step it took. Suddenly, she remembered her gift, and she closed her eyes and focused. She felt a surge of energy coursing through her, and when she opened her eyes again, the shadow was gone. Clover gasped for breath and looked around, relieved to find that it had been just a dream.


On the third and final day of their journey, Clover and Grady had been traveling for hours, the excitement of their adventure now replaced with exhaustion. They were trekking through a dense forest, their Hava lizards struggling to navigate the thick undergrowth. Suddenly, they heard a loud roar coming from somewhere up ahead!

"What was that?!" Clover asked, her heart racing with fear.

Grady's face went pale, "That was a forest drake. We need to get out of here, now!"

They spurred their lizards forward, but it was too late. A massive forest drake burst through the foliage, its eyes fixed on the two travelers! Its scales were a deep green, and its long, sharp claws gleamed in the sunlight.

Clover tried to reach for her sword, but it was still strapped to her Hava's saddle. Grady, however, was quick to react. He pulled out his sword and charged the drake head-on.

The drake let out another deafening roar, and Clover's Hava bolted in fear. She clung to its mane for dear life, watching in horror as Grady fought for their lives.

Grady was a skilled fighter, his father had taught him well, but the drake was a formidable opponent. Its claws raked across Grady's armor, leaving deep gashes in the metal. His armor was about to break!
Grady swung his sword, striking the drake's side, but it barely seemed to notice.

Clover watched in horror as Grady was knocked to the ground, the drake looming over him, ready to deliver the killing blow!

Without thinking, Clover drew upon her gift. She closed her eyes and focused, feeling a surge of energy coursing through her. She opened her eyes, and a brilliant light erupted from her hands, blinding the drake.

The drake recoiled from the light and gave of a thunderous roar, allowing Grady to roll out of the way. He scrambled to his feet, his sword at the ready and pointing at the drake.

The forest drake started circling the two, looking for a opening. It's calculating eyes moving back and forth, keeping track of them. This lasted almost an hour, and the drake understood that these wouldn't be easy snacks. It looked at Clover and gave of a roar before moving away.

"Thanks, Clover," said Grady, his eyes meeting hers.

Clover nodded, her heart still racing. "Are you okay?!"

Grady nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Thanks to you. That was quite the display of magic."

Clover blushed, feeling a warm sensation spreading through her chest. "I just did what I had to do."

They mounted their Hava lizards and continued on their journey, grateful to be alive. As they rode, Grady kept sneaking glances at Clover, wondering how he could ever work up the courage to tell her how he felt. But for now, he was content to ride by her side, knowing that he had a true friend in Clover.

End of Chapter.