Section 5

  Part IV A new addition to the team

  I was cooking the meal I had proposed in order to get the recipe for the dishes that I loved from this place. I started to prepare my vegetables, finely chopping and slicing them to an appropriate size. I already had my pan heating up on a fire, so as soon as the vegetables were cut, I put them in the pan to cook for a minute. I shaped the meat I was using into a disk-like shape, smoothing out the edges as I formed the patty. I placed the newly shaped meat on a plate to rest a moment as I checked on one of my pots.

  I lifted the lid, and the aroma of the pot's contents wafted into the air and into my nose. It was done, I reduced the fire under my pot to sparse embers with an ice spell. I put the lid back on the pot to keep the heat in, then I went back to my vegetables and removed them from the pan onto another plate to cool off while I heated the meat. I picked up my meat plate after placing all the vegetables on a plate, then set the meat to cook in the pan for a few minutes. While the meat cooked, I looked around at my cooking station for anything I could have missed. Satisfied that I had done everything properly, I returned to cooking.

  I lightly toasted the buns over an ember coming from my fingertip. I set the buns down and flipped over the meat in my pan once it was a nice brown color. About another minute and a half later, I would be able to set the plate, then serve it.

  The moment passed by quickly, I set the plates with a lightly toasted bun on the bottom, then placed a slice of cheese on top, then a meat patty, some cooked onions, and purple peppers( bell peppers), then I added small leaves of lettuce to sit between the top and the rest of the dish. I topped it all off with the sauce I was making in the pot. It was a cheese-like sauce with the addition of spicy sauce in the mixture, turning the white sauce to a light yellow.

  With that, it was ready. The saucy burgers, made with the help of a recipe I acquired from a foreign merchant selling many things from a faraway land. The only addition I made was adding bacon to the beef and chicken patty.

  I walked away from my cooking space with four delicious plates of saucy burgers on my first trip to the table where the inn's chef sat, along with the owner, Sopheia, Phaz, her brothers, and TreeLif. Rebehak said she wasn't hungry when I asked her earlier because she said she ate too much, so I only brought out four more plates of saucy burgers, placing them in front of the remaining diners.

  I fetched three tall potion flasks from my apron and set them on the table. I popped off the cork of the first bottle, then I poured its contents to evenly fill 3 cups with fresh lemonade and tea. I resealed the bottle, repeating this till all of the cups on the table were filled. I stashed the last of the drink, stowing the bottle with the rest in my apron.

  “The meal is finished, please consume my humble dish in joy, and may it bring pleasure to your appetite,” I said, standing at the empty end of the table, facing the wonderful people who would be eating the food I prepared. It always made me happy to prepare a meal for others. I'm glad to have people to eat with. It'd be depressing to eat alone.

  I watched hopefully as friends and new acquaintances partook of the meal I prepared. The chef and Inn owner were the first to react after taking a generous first bite. “Mmmmmm, that's very tasty, Draxson. I really like this sandwich, I give it two thumbs up, very good.” The elven lady Velin, the head chef, stated, immediately going for another bite.

  “Excellent, it's splendid, Draxs.. ha hem. It's fantastic, Chef Draxson. It tastes very good, and I give your dish a nine out of ten.” The inn owner complimented before taking a drink from her cup. She smiled, setting her cup back on the table.

  I smiled back at the Dwarven Inn keeper, delighted she was enjoying the food. I looked over to TreeLif to see how he was enjoying it, he was about a quarter through his meal. I caught his gaze for a second recognizing the look of enjoyment on his face. I smiled internally looking to the rest of my esteemed diners, I would sit down and join them once I saw they were enjoying the food. Sopheia was halfway through her burger as I looked at her on my left. She finished chewing What was in her mouth looking up and smiling at me as she wiped away some sauce from her face with her napkin. "It's an excellent dish, Draxxy. An 11/10."

  Those lovely eyes looking back at me and that smile me, endlessly filled my day and the moment with joy, happiness and an inexplicable sense of hope.

  I moved my gaze over from Phaz nearest to my right and down the right end of the table. I was quite surprised to witness Phaz delicately enjoying the meal in small portions, adding on to my shock I bore witness to her brothers doing likewise in consuming their meal.

  That was great for My self confidence to see people enjoying my food that much that I teared up a little. Well just a little. I sat down pleased that everyone was having a good meal. I sat down by Sopheia on my left and Phaz a bit to my right. I placed my napkin on my right knee before I dug into my own steamy burger plate. I felt something soft brush against my hand and I made sure my napkin was balanced on my knee. It was Sopheia's hand reaching to hold mine. I took hold of her hand giving up in the notion if eating with a fork and knife. I smiled at Sopheia I

  as we took a bite in sync. I love these days and hope they don't end too soon. But now I've said such a clique. Oh well those are only fantasy novels anyways. (They were in fact not just fantasy Draxson would conclude Later.[Not relevant at this moment ]

  The meal was nice and the company was delightful. I secured the recipe I wanted and obtained what I sought to achieve with a bonus of the head chef's compliments and her advice sprinkled in. Negotiations with TreeLif went better than expected and we had come to an agreement. We'd be leaving southeast for a short time then we would be heading south. Phaz snuck her brothers out a few hours before dawn saying she'd return in a few hours before we set off south. It was probably for the best that her brothers should go while they were out of harm's way.

  I was tightening my bag, securing it firmly to my back. I wrapped my scarf around my neck, lifting it to my nose. I took in a deep breath of the frost blue scarf, it smelled like frost itself, it perfectly captured the scent of the snow fields me and Sopheia would roam. It was also an excellent cooling piece of equipment. It was more than equipment to me, it was a show of compassion, of love… Let the scarf go, letting it sit snug around my neck.

  Everyone else was ready, well except Sopheia, she was placing pins on her military tunic, good ol Scout Sopheia. I walked up behind her, quickly wrapping my arms around her stomach and started tickling her, she protested beneath my fingers giggling, desperately trying to pry my fingers from her abdomen. I let go, but not before kissing her left cheek. “Let's go.” I said excitedly walking to the door and waiting with the door open watching; Sopheia throw on her paw print covered cloak over her shoulder tied at the neck, fluttering in the air before settling into a calm ripple as Sopheia walked towards the door.

  Sopheia walked past me poking me in the shoulder with a claw as she walked by.

  Sopheia Pov

  Oh Draxson, how I wanna punch him right now, but somebody might hear and didn't want to deal with potential fuss. So poking Him in the shoulder worked just fine, I'll get him back for the tickles and surprise kiss later. For now I had other things to do. As I stepped down the stairs I listed what was planned today. We're setting of south to keep exploring near forest areas while we find an adventure. Then tonight… I stopped, stepping down the final stair and turing to see Rebekah waiting at a table for us.

  Rebekah stood up and met me at the stairs, she wrapped her arms around me embracing me. I hugged her back as she spoke into my ear. “I guess this is Goodbye for now Sopheia, I know we barely met, but it was fun, I hope you come back to these parts sometime later in your grand adventure. Tell Phaz I said goodbye when you see her again? I saw her run out this morning and didn't get to tell her. Thank you for participating in the tournament and coming to our town.” I squeezed Rebekah lightly before we came apart.

  I replied: “Yes I can Rebekah, I'll tell her the next time I see her. I've also had a lot of fun in this town and the tournament you recommended to us. Thank you for the hospitality you show us strangers traveling through your land. I won't forget it, and I'll make sure we come back again. Goodbye Rebekah, Until we meet again.” I wiped away a tear after I finished my goodbye. Rebekah warmly smiled at me before turning around to leave out the door. Waving back to me as she walked away into town.

  Draxson stepped down the last stair behind me, a few metal items on him clinking together. I turned to look at him waiting for him to reach me so we could walk out the door together. “Soo, why didn't you say goodbye Draxson? I asked Draxson as we stepped outside.

  “Well, goodbyes are awkward for me, saying farewell to the village was different than saying goodbye to a new friend, but I'm still hopeful that we will see her again when we come back from some adventure or another. We'll have to get drinks with her next time.”

  “But I guess for now we should Find Treelif and head out.He said he'd be at Swarf's caravan before they set off” Draxson Said looking both ways before remembering where we needed to go. I grabbed Draxson's hand, and he allowed me to hold it, lightly holding my hand as I led him where we needed to go. “Come on Draxson, it's this way, I thought you had a better sense of direction since your part dragon.”

  Draxson gave me an attempt of an answer as we walked to our destination.heart-to-heart I say, I'm not very good with this directional stuff since I don't really have access to my innate directional sense. Guess it's because I’m not currently a massive dragon. I'm not really well versed in Dragon anatomy and stuff like that, all I know is cooking, casting, and some skill and knowledge of Archery.”

  “Ahh there he is. I see him over there.. brushing that tree? Look, over there Sopheia ” Draxson proclaimed pointing off in the distance, my eyes followed his finger, and behold there was an elf that looked just like TreeLif brushing a tree.

  We walked up to confirm if that was our friend TreeLif, a moment later, and indeed it was TreeLif LeFatt brushing the tree. “Hey, whatca doing TreeLif, why are you brushing the tree?” Draxson asked, voicing the question on both our minds.

  TreeLif turned around slowly to look at us, still brushing the tree as he answered; “Is it that odd to be brushing a tree? Is it any stranger than you brushing yourself Sopheia? Is it any diffrent from using your fire to clean the muck off your Scales Draxson? I simply found myself with the time to groom this Tree while I waited for the two of you. My discussion with Swarf went faster than planed so I brushed this tree untill you arrived.” Treelif said briefly turing back to the tree saying; “And that should be about it, all nice and cleaned of residual majics, and carbon excess. Have a good day ????l·l§???” The last bit that he said was in some language I didn't speak, which was a lot of them so not very helpful. It was maybe some sort of elvish, I dunno I could ask TreeLif or Draxson later.

  Back to pertinent details, silly me, I swear Draxson's single mindedness is getting to me these days, I thought to myself. “I'm all done now, we can set out if you're ready.” TreeLif said looking between me and Draxson, we looked at each other then nodded in agreement. Then we walked out of the town waving at the guards as we left.

  Subchapter: Metal mosnter

  We made it a few minutes out of town when Draxson started conversation, first asking TreeLif a question.

  “Hey TreeLif, why were you just brushing the tree? I thought sine you were waiting for us you'd be leaning against a tree calling out to us as we pass you like ‘hey’?, its just been bugging me a bit.”

  TreeLif turned around to look at TreeLif (TreeLif was leading us for clarity) “Oh I think I know what you're talking about, your talking about that nonchalant lean against a tree as you wait for somebody. Yeah I know what you're on about. I tired that once and was kindly told that, the trees do not like it, by first my parents and then a tree after I gained my current abilities. Hope that answers your question. “ Oh I guess that would make sense, sorry for asking such a silly question.” Draxson replied a bit somberly.

  “No no its not a silly question at all, the world around us is always trying to communicate with us, thats why tree bark is always rough, and leaves are crunchy, to tell us that were harming them. But its not really relevant for most people since they don't understand nature like I and few others. But regardless thanks for asking the question.” TreeLif said smiling back at Draxson. “Oh , Ok then, what exactly are we defending nature from anyways, zombies or other such monsters?” Draxson asked following up with his previous question as we continued to walk southeast “Some times its zombies, but recently it's been something very strange roaming the forest, shredding the trees and torching forests without majic. It's these large metal Monsters that walk on two legs and can jump super high. But to answer the question yes sometimes the trees need Defending from zombies”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Isn't there some kind of plant that can defend the Trees from zombies?” Draxson asked “Yeah there are some small plants I can only really use for a lawn defense” TreeLif replied.

  “So you can only use them for a lawn defense? Like some kind of Garden battle?”Draxson asked.

  “But anyways I got sidetracked by the plants, I wanted to ask you more about these ‘Metal Monsters’. Do you know where they are coming from or what they're after?”

  “I don't know where exactly where they come from but they seem to mostly come from the west… hmm the west, there's not much west of this part of the continent, except.. The ocean, and a golem inhabited settlement… but they seem to only be set on scorching forests and killing anything with a majic signature, except oddly keeping certain plants alive…”could this be what's causing the decrease in majic in this part of the world? Maybe it is the reason, I'll ask. I spoke up to voice my question, “ Hey TreeLif, do they happen to be dark energy golems, since they're coming from the west they might be golems or constructs of the mid-west coast peoples? What do you think it is TreeLif ?”

  “Hm, I don't belive they are golems, they don't radiate the right energy when wounded and, they're structure in more intricate when you break into them. They might be a construct of these western people you speak of, but I have not yet found any Majic power crystals or the like. … I don't really know what they are but, they're far from natural, and I believe they are possibly made by people or from an outbreak of that place. I want to find out and put an end to it. But I know that's cliché, but I know at least it's going to be a long journey and probably take more than my life to end…But of course I don't mean it would cost any of you your lives, I just meant I will need more than I am now.” TreeLif stated, letting out a sigh before continuing. “But for now I wish to accompany your party for a year to see what we accomplish, hopefully something fulfilling to the party. Speaking of which, dear Phaz is going to be joining us in a few hours right?” TreeLif asked, stopping, turning around and looking at us. “Yeah we should see her soon, our travel will probably be faster with her. As long as we stay on the route we planned she should track us easily.” I replied, stopping in my tracks as well to enjoy my surroundings, beautiful flowers and ice moss; and ahh, that crisp cold autumn air.

  “Speaking of which, how is she going to he back with us so soon, since she said she'd heading further up north, and only leaving a bit before us? Is she really that fast ? And further more how did you all meet? It's quite a strange party we have here.” TreeLif stated and questioned, it was Draxson that responded this time, averting his gaze from TreeLif's leaf cloak blowing in the north-northwest direction, what an interesting cloak. “Well it might sound pretty cliche, well it pretty much is, but we met her in the forest not too far out of Levies Da Tru. See she's not, to my knowledge a beast-kin, she's a, ‘Phantom wolf’ I interjected, “Yeah right Phaz is a phantom wolf and as the name suggests she's easily unseen, swift at a moments notice and nearly untraceable with her ‘Phazing, she called it, a form of short-distance teleport….” “Boooosh” something rang out further in the forest, might have been a spell of a guard or adventurer, hopefully it's nothing.

  TreeLif turned in the direction of the sound before speaking up. “Wonder what that was, I think I’ll send a squirrel over there to check it out. Anyways ignoring the loud noise, what else were you going to say Draxson?”

  Draxson brought his attention back to TreeLif. “Yes, well, we kind of just found her out in the forest with her brothers. And in the stereotypical fashion of most of the adventure books I've read, we fought wolves as one of our first enemies, right after skeleton's; I’m honestly ashamed to call myself an adventurer after I started out the same way countless others have before me. I wanted to, no I would do better than the many average adventurers, I would learn everything I could from their downfalls and use it to advance our party.”

  Draxson looked down kicking up some snow, “sigh, even idle I mimic the behavior of basic people, I just wanted Sopheia and I to have a journey, but we're pretty much adventurers now. So we might as well work with you on your quest as we can; that is if Sopheia agrees with me, she's the leader of this party to keep it from overly used male dominance.”

  Everyone's gazes turned to me, “Oh, yeah thats not a problem, we'll help you, Phaz might help if its seems entertaining to her, but we should have no proble…..

  “Boof, bang, ting, ting, ting, boom, bink bink bink, badang” a series of explosions of varying decibels rang through the snowy forest.

  Great, right as I said it, gosh Draxson's so called cliché curse might be affecting me too, maybe I'll read one of those books to figure out how much trouble I just got myself into. Here we go I guess, off to adventure.

  Draxson face-palmed, shaking his head, “Well we should probably figure what that is, hope it's nothing too bad.”

  “Yep you said it Draxson, let's hope its another party destroying a monster and not the other way around. Sorry Draxson, Im truly Sorry Sopheia, but I ask that you accompany me to the disturbance.”

  “Yeah I will go with you, I happen to need to release some frustration today.“ [Not like you may think dear reader]

  “Let's go already, let's get our boots movin already.” I said

  Oh sorry I forgot to mention we weren't still like we were, just standing around like earlier, we decided to move to a brisk fast walk while we were talking, but now we started jogging heavily.

  We kept up a swift pace for nearly and hour as we heard infrequent, subsequent explosions and more importantly shouts as we approached the disturbance.

  “HeLp Usss were being destroyed ouT HErE.” bang bang, and another shout of pain followed the statment.

  We saw the scene a little over a mile away, in a rush TreeLif whistled out various calls, summoning many creatures.

  Squirrels equipped with back packs, birds with pouches on their stomachs, a snow covered deer barely distinguishable from the snow beneath it; then least shockingly a wolf wearing a medium bag with a few side pouches on each side. Like some kind of animal army, what in the cliché is this? I asked myself, staring shocked at this gathering.

  TreeLif: I ??e? ?ou to take this set of instructions and information to the town southeast of here and alert the guards.

  TreeLif said tossing a letter each to two birds and a vial another, which all the birds caught their respective items with their beak and placed them gently in their pouches before flying away towards Levies Da Tru.

  TreeLif: Please take these potions and elixirs to guards as well, get it to them without surprising them too much.

  TreeLif underhanded tossed 4 half sized bottles to 4 squirrels patiently waiting on a tree, each easily caught their responsibility, placing them in each other's packs, waiting to scuttle off.

  TreeLif repeated this for the snow deer as well, giving them a cloak that projected a swarm 8 copies with the reflection of light.

  TreeLif gave a special instruction to the wolf placing the 2 large bottles of red and black flaked liquid in side pouches, followed by two vials in another set of pouches and a white and yellow potion bottle in each of the remaining pouches.

  Then speaking in another language he told the wolf something as he slid open the medium backpack and in smooth motion slid a package from his bag into it, sealing the bag right after. [?a?? ?hěse ?? the guards and take this support package, I've filled it with snacks and haste boosting crystals to aid in the teams journey. With haste be well my friend. *whistle* The rest of you stay near Seyvin and good fortune to you all.]

  Whatever it was he said in the strange tongues, the remaining animals went off in the direction of the town. And with such great speed, the march of the animals was out of sight in mere seconds, poof gone.

  There's no time for delay, focus Sopheia. I thought to myself shaking away the surprise of a delivery service made up of simple animals.

  We dashed the attackers, approaching the scene of chaos.

  Bodies were lying sprawled across the floor, bloody puddles around them. Three super shiny full body Armoured people stood over a medium sized group of the suspected adventurers. They held strange blocky like weapons that they fired mini explosions into the shoulder, and the backs of the wounded people's knees; eliciting numerous cries of pain and death screeches from the adventurers.

  I reached the middle one first launching myself 20 feet forward pouncing on them blade in my hand poised to strike.

  I went to stab through the helmet, as Draxson clawed at the chest plate of another; both of our attacks were deflected sparking across the surface of their armour. Treelif struck them with a staff barely phasing his target as he conjured tree roots underneath his and my target, tripping both up. They both struggled to turn around to face us, but still did anyways firing projectiles at us. TreeLif avoided his and absorbed one of mine grazing against his shoulder.

  I took three sharp metal rocks in my right shoulder and one in the arm, the other 3 or 5 shooting away some hair whizzing past my forehead. “Ahhgh” I cried, feeling the metal bits split and rip into my skin through my armour.

  I turned to my right and saw bullets fly off Draxson's scales leaving a bloody scar off the deflection point. That's when we heard it, the metal monster was looming above us after walking its way over to us from the trees. It had 2 cannon like structures on its supposed arms and walked on 2 massive metal tree trunk sized legs, crushing the ground beneath it. It had a sharp round and squarish reflective face.

  Hmmmmmmmmmm, brrrrrt brrrt brrrt

  The metal monster started up its cannons, firing right as TreeLif Smacked Draxson and I in the stomach with a tree branch to get us out of the metal barrage. He jumped in front of us, casting a shield to protect us from the countless metal bits flying our way. The two tripped up attackers shot at the roots that held them down, quickly rolling backwards and up to their feet, aiming their weapons at us again.

  The plates of armour they wore began to emit light and change colors like Phaz dose. Before they were both sniped by throw daggers from behind us to the left. Yes! The guards from the town had arrived a quarter mile away from us rapidly gaining. They're attacks disengaged the color shifting armour while also drawing their attention.

  The armored attackers shot at the two guards we saw at the award ceremony of the tournament. They charged and lunged at their targets, casting away all the metal bits coming their way. One struck with twin daggers the other with 2 blades on each arm, straight through the stomach of one; the daggers only dented the helmet.

  The third person slapped something on the metal monster as they fled through the forest, their armour changing colors rapidly blending them in with the forest. TreeLif launched nearly 20 tree roots

  at the fleeing attacker, but they narrowly evaded them all as they blended into the scenery.

  The two towns guards had driven the two other shiny assassins into a tightly packed area full of trees. One of them went to cut the legs of one, right as the shinny soldier

  ascended into the sky with a burst of flame under them. The guard attacking them followed pulling on the metal to give herself flight. The elf woman flew after the flying soldier while the dog beast-kin stayed on the ground running their long segmented sword through the right leg of the other assassin making them stumble.

  We were left with the metal monster. It had stopped firing at us with metal, but the other cannon appeared to be starting

  a fire in its barrel. TreeLif shouted back to us, “ send some ice majic in front of the barrier as soon as I drop it, or it's gonna torch us, and we'll be dead.”

  Draxson and I looked at each other and nodded, Draxson moved to me left to supplement my frost majic. Right as TreeLif dropped his shield, bam Draxson was punched hard in the chest, and sent flying by the previously occupied shinny warrior. The dog beast-kin yanked him back halfway to him running his blade through another leg and punching them in the face with their gauntlet pinning the warrior down with a blade in the right arm.

  The flames came at us scorching hot, we were somewhat fortunate that the shockwave of Draxson being punched knocked us on our backs, but at the same time we were in trouble, fwoooosh, I could barely get up a half made ice shield to cover us. It really only made the deadly burns mild as we all did our best to roll out the way of another stream of flames. Draxson remained on the ground clutching his chest, unable to move off it to roll away. I cast a shroud of frosty mist around us as I jumped towards Draxson to help him up to his feet and out of the Metal monster's way.

  The metal monster once again sprayed us with metal bits, stopping the fiery streams. We snuck behind the metal monster the best we could. Draxson rushed in and began punching the unnatural life out of the Metal monsters left leg, well he tried at least he barely put a dent after 10 strikes with his spiked fists in the same spot. I casted a heal spell on him to fix his hands as I grabbed him, and rolled to the ground with him,as the monster's other leg swung over to strike where Draxson was standing a moment ago.

  I threw a support spell at TreeLif as he prepared to launch some trees at the metal monster. I pushed my self off Draxson to stand up, bringing up Draxson with a hand, sending him a mental message.

  Sopheia: Draxson don't rush into this one, don't die that way. Wait until we

  Send you into strike them down. In fact in a few seconds after TreeLif attacks with the tree roots, blind it with your flames.

  Draxson: Affirmative.

  I spun around after receiving a response and threw chunks of frost on the flame cannon to freeze it over. After a moment solid layers of ice formed on the cannon delaying the flames briefly.

  From the forest came a howling as Treelif tossed the roots at the metal monster. In a cloud of colorful smoke Phaz landed on the right side of the Metal monster's body wrapping a shadow colored phase spell on the right leg. As TreeLif's roots pierced through its right shoulder equivalent, Phaz broke off the leg she targeted by teleporting it to the ground a foot away.

  When the tree root came back from the monster a large whole was left and Draxson quickly sent frost and flames to exploit the weak point TreeLif afforded him. I drove some Ice crystals towards its center mass before it fell with the loss of its leg. I used the last of my majic collapsing on the ground. My consciousness lapsed for an uncalculated moment.

  I woke up to Phaz shaking me away in her beast-kin form, she was funneling some majic into me to stimulate consciousness, while Draxson knelt by my side holding my hand.

  I put the back of my hand to my forehead and sighed glad to be alive, at least we won the battle. But I just feel so sleepy, and sleep sounds soooo nice right now.

  That was the last I thought as I curled up to go to sleep.