You ever had one of those sleeps where you are so tired that you don’t even remember dreaming? I wake sometime later in a strange bed. I’m a little sore from everything, but I’m not tired anymore. It’s hard to focus, but I don’t think Trigger is lying in bed with me. No, the thing next to me is much too large to be my furry little friend.

“Ahhhhhhh!” I scream out in startled confusion. A half-awake red-headed girl, roughly my age, is snuggling my half-naked body.

“Deriah! What did I tell you about sneaking into bed with the guests!?” A coarse-sounding man scolds from just beyond the doorway. As the portly man with thick red hair and overalls walks in, the girl jolts awake and jumps out the window of the second-story rooms.

 “Dear, Bob!” I shockingly shout.

 “Oh, don’t worry about her,” the man says, “She does this all the time, though I wish she wouldn’t sneak in here in the first place. There is a thatch roof on the other side of that window, so she’ll be fine. That’s my little girl Deriah and she loves to sneak in here anytime people stop by to avoid the terrors at night. Well, mostly only if it’s a cute boy that’s in here. Ha! She wouldn’t even know what to do with ‘em anyway. Still, gotta try to crush those habits before she’s old enough to figure it out.”

“Um, yeah,” I say still confused. “Do you know how I got here?”

“Same as half the folks this month tend to get here,” he responds. “That mister in red dropped you and your fuzzy little buddy off last night. He’s been patrolling around these parts ever since the masked weirdos came through. I think he’s hunting ‘em or something. You’re the eighth person he’s brought by and I still haven’t gotten his name yet. Anywho, mine is Kanrio Boskins.”

“Na,” I say politely, “Na Riknia.”

“Well, Mister Riknia. You’ve been out like a light all day. Dinner is already on the table and I insist that you two stay at least another night with how it is out there after sunset. You won’t be putting us out. We are used to being hospitable by now. If you need a ride into town, you can hitch one with us on our milk run in the morning.”

 “Thanks. Which town though?” I ask

“Why, the big one! Dryadsah” he bellows out cheerfully. “With our delivery truck, we can cross the Black Plains in no time flat. Your buddy already let me know that’s where you are heading and luckily for you, we deliver there twice a week.”

After a nice meal and waking up to that same strange girl in my bed yet again, it’s nice to be on the road again. It seems I’ve already become more accustomed to traveling than staying in one place. I guess to some extent I always have been. This is definitely a more comfortable ride than the trips to and from my ranch and the closest town. The countryside even looks more beautiful in the daytime when undead skeleton knights are trying to kill you.

Dryadsah is a very modern city all things considered. Back at home, some of the buildings at the port have been around for so many generations that a lot of the people living there have lost count. But here most of the buildings are barely older than I am. People from all over the world migrated here during the reign of the Dreadnought Armada and entire sections of the town are still constantly being torn down and replaced with higher structures just to house the growing population. Uncle Jagan once said that even in his lifetime this city was littered with picketed yards and beautiful brick roads, but now it’s all four-story apartments surrounded by concrete. At least they try to keep the architecture nice. It’s all curved triangles everywhere you look. Very different from anything back in Thamia.

They take us all the way into the market of the city, which saves us a lot of walking since Uncle Jagan lives nearby. It’s been so long that I can’t remember the way, but what I do recall is that you can’t miss it. Right next to the main marketplace of Dryadsah is a sanctuary that towers over all the other buildings in the district. It must be at least ten stories tall. It’s an IBKP building, so not only does it serve as a temple to the local gods, but it is also a haven for mages in addition to being Uncle Jagan’s home.

I should probably explain that my Uncle Jagan is actually a pretty important guy. When the International Bureau of Keeping the Peace was formed, they decided that the best way to get everyone to play ball was to copy the legends of the old world and thus made a council of twelve. These twelve each oversee different customs and disciplines throughout the world and have the final say over what is taboo or even a war crime. The seats include the Mage, Sage, Paladin, Smith, Summoner, Priest, General, Chemist, Fighter, Merchant, Hunter, and Fiend. Despite the name, the Arch Fiend is not actually a bad guy. He just holds certain responsibilities that are very misunderstood. As far as I know, they are only relieved of their positions if they die, no matter what acts they commit. At the top of that sanctuary is the home of the Arch Mage who is responsible for the practices of modern destructive magic, and the laws around them, and leads the field of research in magical advancement. Uncle Jagan is a pretty cool guy.

“I don’t care how far you’ve traveled or how long it’s been since you’ve eaten. If you don’t have the coin you can’t have any food,” A man angrily yells loud enough I can hear him over the crowd.

“Why are people here so stingy that they wouldn’t feed a hungry traveler?” asks a man so tall you could see him despite the crowd. “I’ve had it with this place. I came here seeking aid for my people, but if the common man won’t help just me why should I expect those who lead these men to be any better? Might as well burn it all down and do this world a favor.”

His staff began glowing brightly as though mana was flowing through it. I could tell he was preparing a spell, like when Trigger’s orb glows. Why is it that I’m the only one ever willing to do something about this?

“Hey, buddy,” I shout at him before he casts anything. “I’d cool it if I were you.”

“B-b-boss, of all people to confront, I d-d-d-d-don’t think the n-nearly seven-foot t-t-tall wizard is the best choice,” Trigger worryingly begs.

The man turns around looking for me in the crowd of people and asks, “Who said that? Was it this fuzzball floating here?”

“No, it was the boy right next to him!” I holler.

“Sorry, Blondie. I thought it might have been an adult or someone that actually mattered,” he joked.

Oh, well that was uncalled for. For that, I’m gonna jump up and drop-kick him in the crotch.

“Ow! What the-” He cries while grasping his nethers. “Okay, if you wanna pick a fight with me, then you can have a fight with me. Let’s see how you like this. Mófǎ Fēidàn!” Bright lights zoom out of his staff like missiles homing right for us. They’re fast, but not quite as fast as a bullet. I grab Trigger and bolt at the last second. The missiles hit the ground and blow rubble from the street into the air causing the crowd to disperse.

“Hmm... that usually never misses,” the tall wizard mutters as he prepares his magic again.

“Hey, Trigger,” I mention, “let’s split up. You provide some cover fire and I’ll try to route him from the side.”

“G-g-got it, Boss!” he eagerly replies. He flutters off a little to the left before shouting “Huǒmó’lì” and begins hurling fireballs at the man.

“Crap!” the wizard shouts leaping out of the way. He’s surprisingly nimble for a man standing roughly six foot eight. The fireballs collide with a nearby shop and the explosion shoots debris into the air like a smoky cloud. I can’t imagine the Arch Mage would approve of such activity in his town and so close to his home no less. Landing cleanly on his feet, the wizard tries to cast another spell. Through the cover of the debris, I launch myself full speed at his torso. We land on the ground and I throw a couple punches into the sides of his face. I’m sure he feels that, but to no surprise, he immediately tosses me off with ease. I probably weigh nothing to him.

“You’re tough little guy, aren’t you,” he asks jokingly. “Let’s see if you are tough enough for this. Huǒmó’èrlì!” Oh dear. That’s a second-order fire spell and in point-blank range. An explosion the size of the truck we rode here in zoomed out of his staff faster than I could jump away. Luckily, thanks to the size difference, he had to aim mostly down to hit me and the street took most of the blast. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure that spell would have nearly killed me then and there. Though, maybe that would be the less painful death. Catching some air at the last second, I can feel that the part of the blast that did hit me has sent me currently flying high enough that I just saw the top of one of those apartment buildings from above. Oof! And then a sudden stop. There is only one thing tall enough around here to stop me mid-flight above these buildings.

I fall down after hitting the wall of the tallest building in the district and land in some trees and then some bushes in the courtyard of the sanctuary. Guess I finally found Uncle Jagan’s place. I’m definitely still alive, but I think I cracked a rib or something because it hurts when I move just about anything. But I can’t worry about that now. I left Trigger out there in the streets with that maniac. If only I had a weapon or something. Maybe if I feel around this courtyard I can at least find a branch or something. Then, as I try to get some footing, the ground gives loose beneath me and I fall yet again.

“Or a hole. I could just find a stupid hole,” I feel the need to say aloud. How could the Mages Guild or the local clergy be so careless about the grounds of this sanctuary? A child could get hurt here. This doesn’t appear to be just some random grotto formed by erosion. This place has support beams and is at least partially furnished. I must be in some basement for the building, though it looks more like the basement of the ranch house at home than it does anything around here. Actually, I don’t remember this building even having a basement.

I hobble around looking for either an exit or something that can help me in a fight. The part I fell into feeds into this larger room that looks almost like a shrine in the same way my father’s armory felt like a shrine to his old weapons. In the center of the chamber looks to be a pedestal with a sword in a scabbard laying on it. The sword is far too big for me, or just about anyone for that matter. It looks like something my dad would use. The entire handle is jet black aside from an emerald embedded on both sides of a circular piece at the hilt that fastened the blade and grip to these two golden, geometrical horns that acted as the handguard. Handle and all, it must stand about five and a half feet tall and the blade itself looks nearly half a foot wide. This thing is bigger than me. Screw it. I’ve been needing a weapon and this is what the world gives me so I’m just gonna take it. Now where is that exit?

Ahh! Before I know it, I’m falling again. I’m back in the bushes from before. How did I go up from going down? Did I just imagine all that when I hit my head? No. I still got that stupid sword. This scabbard is gonna drag against the ground regardless, but I might as well sling it over my shoulder until I find a better way to carry this thing. But for now, I better draw it out first because it is time to fight.

Trigger is still engaged with the wizard firing spells back and forth at each other in the street. I’m surprised the police haven’t shown up and tried to arrest anyone, especially with how close we are to the sanctuary. I rush back over with the sword already gripped up for swinging.

“Hey, streetlamp!” I shout thinking it was something clever to call a guy that tall. He notices me right away and begins to cast another spell at me. It’s the missile one from earlier. I ain’t taking anymore of this. If this sword isn’t tough enough to block a spell like that, it ain’t worth its size. I swing the hunk of metal and make contact with the magical bolts. Upon touching the blade, the missiles bounce off and fly back in the direction they came. Did this sword just reflect magic?

“Did that sword just reflect magic?” the wizard frighteningly questions as if we had the exact same thought. “Yeah, nope. When shit starts reflecting magic, that’s when I’m out.” His staff emitted darkness in the same way it would glow and he tapped it hard against the ground as smoke erupts everywhere covering the street for a block in all directions. By the time the smoke faded, the wizard was already gone.

“That’s a lame way to end a fight,” I say disappointed.

Trigger flies over to me. Thankfully, it appears he took very little damage while I was gone. It must be easier to dodge when you are that small and can fly.

“Where d-did you get that sword, Boss?” Trigger wonders.

“I honestly have no idea, but now I’m keeping it.” I assert proudly. “Let’s just try to forget this whole day and find my uncle.”

Still hurt, we slowly make our way into the sanctuary and ascend to the top floor. When we finally make it to Uncle Jagan’s quarters there is a note on the door that reads: “Sorry for the inconvenience, but I’m out of office for the next month as I escort the King’s daughters on their vacation. In case of emergency, bring the azure vase to the rooftop and break it to send the lightning bird to retrieve me.”

Damn it all. No one actually let Uncle Jagan know I was coming. Rascal you single-minded buffoon. You just wanted an excuse to contact my sister this whole time. I bust into Uncle Jagan’s office and grab the only possible thing that could be the azure vase he was talking about in the note and head to the roof.

“W-w-what do you think he means b-by lightning bird?” Trigger asks scared of the name.

“Probably just some kind of fancy magical carrier bird small enough to deliver a message.”

I break the vase to find out that is definitely not the case. Exploding out like a bolt of lightning, a staticky bird of prey the size of a small cottage forms before us. I grab Trigger and hop on before it has a chance to take off.

“This looks fun!” I holler.

“B-b-b-b-b-boss, I think this is a b-b-b-bad idea!” Trigger whines

“Nonsense,” I retort, “if this thing knows where Uncle Jagan is, then let’s go!”

The bird takes to the sky and we are off to find wherever my uncle went.