n

n

nThe bandit cleared his throat before speaking.

n“Our camp is located in a cave about 10 miles away from here, you got to follow the river until you come to a waterfall, the cave is behind it.”

nArcher nodded, committing the directions to memory.

n“But you got to be careful the cave is well-hidden, and there are traps and guards all around, If you’re caught, they’ll kill you. So be smart…”

nHe used his tail to finish off the bandit by piercing his chest.

nArcher flicked his tail to get rid of the man’s blood, he glanced westwards, his eyes scanning the horizon.

nBefore taking flight, he made a quick round and managed to gather a total of 11 hearts.

nWithout any delay, he spread his wings and took off, feeling the wind rush past him as he soared over the river toward his destination.

nAs he flew through a small wooded area on the east bank, Archer spotted a group of small creatures dressed in ratty clothing running towards a small cave nearby.

nThey were chattering excitedly amongst themselves, their tiny feet barely making a sound as they scampered along the woodland’s leafy ground.

nWithout hesitation, Archer flapped his wings even harder to increase his speed and swooped down in front of the creatures, blocking their path.

nThey stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening in fear as they gazed up at him.

nHe could see the fear in their eyes, and he knew that he had to be careful.

nArcher slowly crouched down, bringing his body closer to the ground.

nHe spoke in a calm, reassuring voice, trying to ease their fear.

n“Hello there, little ones,”

nThe creatures looked at him skeptically, still trembling with fear.

nBut as Archer continued to speak in a soft and gentle tone, they began to relax.

n“You don’t have to be afraid of me, I won’t hurt you.”

nSlowly, they inched forward, their curiosity getting the better of them, he saw what they looked like and his eyes went wide as he recognized them.

n‘Brownies!’

nThey were small and mischievous creatures from Scottish folklore, standing about two feet tall, with wrinkled faces, pointed ears, and shaggy hair.

nThey wore ragged clothing made from leaves or moss and were known to be shy and elusive.

nDespite their helpful reputation, brownies could also be unpredictable.

nThey are mischievous creatures who enjoy playing tricks on humans, such as moving objects or hiding things.

nBut they are generally really friendly and are believed to bring good luck to those who treat them kindly.

nArcher was shocked that he found such a creature on Thrylos, he was wondering what they were up to out here, so he asked.

n”What are you little guys doing out here?”

nOne of them stepped forward and started speaking but when it spoke it was in a sing-song voice, it relaxed Archer, which he found strange.

n”Gathering stuff for the winter or home will be cold”

nArcher nodded, impressed by the brownie’s resourcefulness, and offered to help them carry their scavenged belongings.

n”I can help you if you’d like?”

nThe brownies gratefully accepted his offer, and together they walked towards the cave.

nAs they walked, they kept looking up at Archer with curiosity and a hint of fear in their big eyes.

nFinally, one of them gathered the courage to ask.

n“What are you?”

nWith a smile on his face, Archer told them.

n“I’m a white dragon, but I won’t harm you, I’m here to help.”

nThe small creatures exchanged nervous glances before gazing into his kind eyes and gradually relaxing.

nThe brownies smiled as the same one spoke for them all.

n“Thank you for your kindness.”

nAs Archer followed the brownies into their cave home, he felt a sense of wonder at the cozy and inviting atmosphere.

nThe smooth, warm stone walls and soft, plush cushions gave the space a comforting feel, while the natural materials used in the furniture added a touch of rustic charm.

nThe delicate, sparkling crystals hanging from the ceiling cast a gentle glow over the room, creating a magical ambiance.

nArcher couldn’t help but break out into a smile as he took in the scene before him, feeling grateful for the brownie’s hospitality and the chance to experience their world.

nHe examined the intricate carvings on the walls and the detailed tapestries hanging from them, he was amazed by the skill and artistry of the brownies.

nDespite the small size of the space, it felt full of life and warmth, a testament to the creatures’ creativity and resourcefulness.

nThe brownies beckoned him to come further inside, gesturing for him to sit down on a small cushion near the center of the room.

nThough Archer hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect, the brownies warm smiles and friendly demeanor put him at ease.

nHe settled onto the cushion, feeling excited for the opportunity to learn more about their way of life.

nAs Archer settled onto the cushion, the brownies bustled around him, making sure he was comfortable before offering him a cup of their special brownie drink.

nHe took the drink and looked at it, the drink was a rich golden color, and as Archer took a sip he was struck by the delicate floral flavor.

nIt tasted like fresh flowers and sunshine, and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling in delight.

nThe brownies chattered and giggled around him, pleased with his reaction to their drink.

nDespite his initial skepticism, Archer found himself genuinely enjoying the experience, and he again felt grateful for the hospitality of the brownies.

nHe couldn’t wait to learn more about their culture.

nThe brownie who spoke up earlier came shuffling over and filled up his empty cup, he looked at the little creature and asked for his name.

n”What’s your name?”

nIt looked back at Archer and answered in a low voice.

n”I’m Twigg, white dragon.”

nWhile Archer was about to ask another question, his Aura Detector suddenly alerted him to the presence of someone nearby.

nHe quickly instructed his companion to stay inside and rushed out of the cave, only to find a group of 40 dark green goblins waiting outside.

nThe goblins stood menacingly about 10 meters away from the cave entrance, and Archer felt confident that he could handle them.

nHowever, he knew that his new friends, the brownies, were in danger.

nSuddenly, a small brownie appeared behind him and warned him that the goblins were dangerous.

nArcher looked down and saw the little creature trembling in fear.

n‘Draconis.’

nArcher’s draconic features appeared with powerful wings, white shining claws, and sharp teeth that were showing as he smiled. 𝘦𝑎.𝒸ℴ

nHe told the brownie to return to the cave.

n“Go back inside and stay safe,”

nTwigg, one of the brownies, quickly scurried back into the cave to comfort the others.

nArcher turned back to face the goblins, with a determined smile and his violet eyes shining, he pointed at the goblins as he declared.

n“They’re mine.”

nHe took a deep breath and let out a roar, unleashing a stream of violet flames that burned everything in its path.

nArcher continued to move the flames, burning dozens of goblins before the flames eventually died down.

nThe remaining goblin stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

nThey were caught off guard as Archer unleashed a barrage of wind bolts, striking them with deadly accuracy.

nThe goblins fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap.

nBut just as Archer thought he had emerged victorious, his Aura Detector pinged, warning him of an imminent attack from behind.

nReacting quickly, Archer turned around and brought his claws up to block the attack.

nThe sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the air as Archer was sent flying, crashing to the ground.

nHe looked up to see a muscular goblin wearing homemade metal armor, its eyes fixed on him with fierce determination.

nDespite feeling a bit wobbly on his feet, Archer steadied himself and Thunder Stepped in front of the goblin.

nArcher slashed the goblin tearing its stomach open, guts spilling on the floor as he Thunder Stepped behind it.

nJumping up he used his claws to puncture the beast’s back, taking hold of its heart he tore it out, making the goblin drop to the ground.

nArcher leaped off the corpse and began collecting the hearts, managing to loot a total of 28.

nAs he made his way back to the cave, he dismissed his draconic features and approached the 16 brownies huddled up in a corner.

nWalking towards them, he spoke to them in a friendly tone.

n“Hello, my friends. I know of a safe place where you can go if you’d like to come with me.”

nTwig stepped forward and spoke in his sing-song voice.

n“Where is this place, white dragon?”

nArcher opened his Domains portal and invited them to follow him.

nA

/N – Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord

nThis content is taken from 𝘪𝘳.𝘤𝑜

n