"The four major cities of the Empire are Hunter's Oath, Bloodport, Ademere, and Dragon's Knee. The Godwalkers of these regions after vanquishing their Wyvern overlords cut down the vast Banalor Forest to create the first settlements. Here, safe under the Great stone roof of the Claw Peaks, the dwarves, under my leadership, have freed ourselves from the oppression of our taller cousins."— An excerpt from High Slayer Syndri Granetstorm's 'A Reflection Upon the Surface'
***
It rained all night in that Godsforsaken forest. The worst bit was I couldn't even see the clouds! The horror of the predicament truly was incomprehensible. Now you ask, "Why didn't you just leave?"
Well, I'll tell you why inquisitive reader. It's because the lumbering giant had my belt gripped like a vice. Whoever this person was, even the Land of Dreams couldn't shake their determination to hold my leather belt. I was beginning to worry that it might get stained with all of the water pouring down on us. Now, that would be the real tragedy. It's one thing to drown in a puddle due to someone else's idiocy. It's another to do so knowing they ruined a perfectly fashionable belt too.
Finally, as the sun began to shine through the foggy grey morning, they woke. Their brown eyes blinked a few times then closed. "Hey. Get up you lumbering fool. I'm going to drown at this rate." They opened their eyes and then sat up. They let go of my belt and just sat there with their knees in front of them. I ran like the wind. Thank Harfefs. I got about a good couple of yards away when I turned back to see if they were chasing me. They just sat there in their steel breastplate as the rain battered their bent-over frame. I walked back slowly. Each step was one I took with care. It may seem a bit paranoid, but the bloodletting at the Council of the Hunt was still fresh in small folks' minds even 1,944 years later. As I got closer I could see their face hadn't changed its expression since last night. I got out one of my coats from my bag. I was finally close enough to see the whites of their eyes when I got the courage to speak, "Aren't you going to leave?" They didn't respond. I just stood there at eye level with them. They looked past me unblinking. "You'll get a cold if you stay out here any longer you know."
They turned around. I sat next to them. They then spoke, "Why are you still here?"
I wiggled my toes in my boots as I clicked the tips together. "I could ask you the same."
"I guess that's fair."
"Will you be okay?"
"Does it matter?"
I looked up at the canopy of wet leaves. "My father works on broken machines."
They turned their head over to glance down at me. "Yeah?"
"He once said, 'If a machine is broken it doesn't lose its value. It just needs kind and attentive care from someone who understands.'"
"Huh." The rain kept coming down. It was warm and not as unpleasant as the night prior. I got up and began to walk back down the road. The figure turned around. "Hey, where are you going?"
"I'm going to Hunter's Oath. A friend wanted me to pick something up there." I smiled. "You're welcome to come along if you'd like."
They stood up and walked next to me. "Sure, but we'll want to get on the Slayer's Highway if we want to make some solid headway."
I gestured left and right. "Well I agree with you, but I've got not a clue where that might be."
They walked forward arms swaying. "Me either, but walking one direction never seems to fail."
I threw the jacket around their shoulders as I tried catching up. "Those scholars at the Naval Academy are adamant on the world being round. Why not put them to the test?"