Hi there, my name is Kirion. I wanted to preface this next part of the story by addressing a few important matters. So far, I’ve kept myself largely out of the story – and your attention – but I felt it was about time I introduced myself. I referred to myself a bit ago – I think it was the part about not fully adhering to Alen’s laws – and I wanted you to know that I will not bend any facts of this story to make myself look good.

  That said, it is I, Kirion, the Lord of Past and Future. I’ve been narrating this story for you, even if you never realised it. I wanted to tell you that this next part is going to be a bit… unorthodox. As you had the pleasure of reading in the bit before this, our group of heroes is finally complete – for the time being at least, but no spoilers. With that milestone passed, the heroes finally had the time and energy and conversation fuel needed for a good session of sitting by the campfire and talking to each other.

  Now, in order to avoid a never-ending cascade of he-said’s and she-said’s, I wanted to tell this part of the story in a different way. Some would even say that this next part is a different art-form altogether. Due to the large amount of dialogue and general lack of actions performed, I will be narrating the rest of this chapter as if it were part of a play. It will all make sense once you see it, but I wanted to have some face-to-face disclaiming beforehand to make the transition as smooth as possible.

  You may find it jarring, you may have no opinion, you may call this the greatest work of art you have ever seen; all are completely valid and justified. Then again, I’m the narrator, and I’ve decided that this is how we’re doing things.

  So sit down, strap in, and enjoy: “The Part where they Sit around a Campfire and Talk”.

  ???

  We find our five heroes sitting around a campfire they built just outside a hunter’s cabin, enjoying the natural sounds of twilight and each other’s silent company, when Elion stands up to say something. All eyes are pointed at him.

  Elion: Hi… everyone, I know most of us have only just met, but I thought it might be beneficial for our future endeavours if we know each other’s skills… magical and otherwise. What do you guys think?

  A few moments of silence follow as Elion awkwardly sits back down again, wondering if what he said was too forward.

  Randan: Count me in mate, I’m not a fan of hiding things about me self anyways. This is as good a place as any to elaborate on things I s’pose.

  Aerean: I agree. Besides, it’s a good opportunity to get to know each other better.

  Aerean glares at Elion, a slightly flirtatious look from her is answered by a confused and awkward look from Elion. Aly does her best not to scoff while Randan barely tries to hide his amusement.

  Elion: Okay, great. Ehm, how about I start? Before any of this happened, I was a hunter. Now I should be honest, I wasn’t one for very long… but I did pick up quite a few useful tricks while I did that work. I can hunt animals, skin them, track things… mostly in the woods. I’m pretty good with a bow I suppose, not bad with daggers but horrible at close-quarters combat. Randan can attest to that. Besides that… I- I don’t know what I can do.

  Randan: What do ya mean by that mate? Are ya some kind of natural magician or somethin’? You gonna surprise us with the ability to spew fire or sweat acid? I won’t lie that’d be bloody incredible to watch.

  Elion: No, it’s not like that. It’s more that… I have this power inside of me. But it’s been locked away, was locked away a very long time ago. I have an idea of what it could do, but I don’t know how powerful it actually is – if I can even still use it.

  Aly scowls at Elion.

  Aly: What is it that gave you these powers?

  Elion sighs, visibly stressed, and wipes the beads of sweat from his forehead.

  Elion: I- I’m sorry guys can we circle back to me? I… need to think how I’m going to phrase this. I’ll find a way, it’s just going to take me a minute.

  A very long second of awkward silence follows before Randan stands up.

  Randan: I’m not very good at explainin’, but I can show ya what I can do.

  As everyone turns from Elion to look at Randan, he grows a long grey beard that goes down to his feet. He turns the left side of his body blue and the right side red. He also changes his eyes to cycle through five different colours: red, blue, yellow, purple, and green.

  Randan: That’s not all. I can change me appearance by having seen or read about a trait, but I can also change me physiology. I can grow gills to breathe underwater, or – although it costs way too much energy – grow wings and fly. Haven’t mastered that one yet, but I work on it every now and then. Shapeshifting take a lot o’ energy, so I need tons of food to supply me self.

  Randan turns back into his usual form, then stops shifting and sits back down.

  Randan: When it comes down to me skills, I consider me self somewhat of a weapons and combat expert. You see, I used to do some fighting… the professional kind. Got pretty good at it. You have to be, if you wanna live through it. Got tired of it after a while, then I escaped. Not much more to say about that…

  Randan stares into nothing, his gaze slowly drifting from the trees to the ground at his feet before he sits back down.

  Aly: (underneath her breath) by the gods you two are so pathetic.

  Aly stands up and takes a deep breath in.

  Aly: Unlike these two, I don’t have the ability to bring an entire group of people down. What I do have is umbramancy, I can control shadows and do stuff with darkness. I also do daggers, of which I currently have one. Besides that, my species can see really well in the dark, and I am about twenty times stronger, at least three times faster, and a lot more durable than the average human. Also, I don’t like using my magic to harm people. It’s a thing, I’d prefer it if nobody asked. Thanks for listening.

  Aly gives the group a sarcastic smile and sits back down, where she continues to glare at Elion. Aerean stands up next, Tallioth looking up to her and making some hand gestures.

  Aerean: Ah, yes, like I explained earlier, Tallioth can’t talk. I know what he can do – it mostly boils down to be very strong and very durable – and will answer any questions by translating whatever he signs. He can hear and understand all of you, so don’t feel hesitant to talk to him. He might not look it, but he enjoys a good conversation. I can also assure you all that he is thoroughly enjoying himself right now.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Tallioth does something that looks like a dragon trying to smile even though its physicality does not allow for such facial expressions. Elion smiles back and looks a lot happier and less contemplative than a few seconds before.

  Aerean: (to Tallioth) Hey, don’t do that, I told you it freaks people out.

  Similar to before, Tallioth now pouts even though his face doesn’t allow for it. Aerean turns to the others.

  Aerean: So, first I’ll talk about myself. As you may have noticed, I am an Ornid – or ‘Birdfolk’ as some would call us. Most of my kind can transform into a bird at will, but I was kind of… cursed – in a way – as a child. I am trapped as a bird unless I wear this necklace, which is something the kobolds found out by accident and then capitalised on heavily.

  Tallioth smashes his fist into the ground.

  Aerean: Yes, we are very glad that we were able to deal with them thanks to you. Now, when it comes to magic I’m afraid I have to disappoint. I don’t know a lot about it, but I do have some minor control over air currents and very limited control over the weather. I can make my direct surroundings be slightly more or slightly less moist is basically what it’s limited to. I have heard of Ornids capable of weaving great storms and summoning lightning – but I can’t do that. I left the nest and that entire plane of existence behind me a long time ago. I can fight pretty good, spears and staffs mostly. I’m fast, agile, and can move very silently. I can also speak to birds, but most of them aren’t intelligent enough to actually speak in full sentences so it’s not a very useful ability. In bird-form I can fly and basically do anything a bird can do. I’m even stealthier as a bird, because people don’t realise notice them as much as they do a humanoid creature with feathers.

  Aly takes a short break, during which she takes a quick swig from a waterskin she borrowed from Aly.

  Aerean: So, now about Tallioth. He is very strong and very durable – even more so than he looks. I’ve seen this man lift stones the weight of a house and survive it when those same stones fell on him. He’s also impervious to fire, like fully immune to getting burned. We’ve heard rumours about dragon-fire being able to burn Draconids, but we haven’t exactly been able to test that. He can’t breathe fire I’m afraid, but he does have some simple magic. He can summon and throw balls of fire, make his claws so hot they can cut through metal, and heat up any object he touches. It’s very effective at distracting noblemen while a certain bird-like person sneak behind them and steals their things.

  Aerean laughs and gives Tallioth a fist bump.

  Aerean: Then, if he’s feeling up for it, I suppose it’s back to Elion.

  Everyone looks at Elion expectantly, while Elion himself stands up slowly. He looks at Aerean as she sits back down again, ignoring the others staring at him. She smiles kindly at him, and he starts talking.

  Elion: I am a demigod.

  Tallioth’s mouth falls open, Aerean smiles and looks at the ground as if she already suspected something like that, meanwhile Randan and Aly appear unfazed.

  Aly: We already knew that dumbass. Remember ‘Auntie Ellie’s Grand Emporium for Desperate Demigods, Shady Shapeshifters, and Grinning Greyskins’? Who else out of the three of us would have been the demigod? I mean for Ailwin’s sake, this entire thing started because you were attacked by someone who was clearly a demigod and he took your parents with him to lure you to an altar in Celestia! Celestia! You know, the place where famously every single demigod-related story eventually ends up! If you thought we hadn’t figured this out yet you’re even more oblivious than I thought.

  Now Elion’s mouth falls open while Randan simply nods along to what Aly said.

  Randan: Personally, I’d have chosen some kinder words, but I do agree with Aly here. We know you’re a demigod. Who are you descended from?

  Elion: My grandfather may have been Artoris…

  Randan’s mouth falls open, Aerean starts laughing out loud, and Tallioth’s eyes start darting around in disbelief.

  Aly: What!?

  Elion shrugs his shoulders.

  Aly: (voice elevated both in tone and volume) Do you seriously mean to tell us that we’ve been walking around with the grandson of the Lord of Death and Darkness? No wonder the Church of Alen is after you, your very existence is proof of their shaky foundations. The Church preaches that Artoris was fully banned eons ago, that he holds no more control over this world and that Alen is the superior deity in all regards. Now you mean to tell us that a mere two generations ago he had enough power to possess a man, live out a human life on Traisil, and had kids?

  Elion shrugs again. Aerean is still laughing.

  Aly: (to Aerean) what are you laughing at?

  Aerean: (struggling to speak in between fits of laughter) I- I’m sorry… it’s just, so funny. To think that you’ve been walking around with the humanoid equivalent of a mythical beast and never noticed.

  Aly: Funny? Like you would have noticed if he hadn’t told us.

  Aly stands up and walks over to Aly, taking an aggressive stance. Randan jumps up to block her.

  Randan: Alrighty, you’ve had enough of the kobold’s mead for one night. Take a walk.

  Randan points over to the hunter’s cabin, Aly walks off muttering and cursing under her breath.

  Elion: What was that all about?

  Aerean: I think she’s jealous.

  Elion: Jealous of what?

  Aerean laughs and moves over to Aly’s seat, placing herself right next to Elion.

  Aerean: You might be the most oblivious man I have ever met.

  Elion: Is that… a compliment?

  Aerean: It could be, if you want it to be. It’s all up to you.

  Elion: Then I suppose I’ll take it as one. But I do wonder, did you already know I was… you know, a demigod?

  Aerean: Not exactly. I’ve been around other demigods, back home there’s plenty of them. It seems like it’s a rarer occurrence here. I could sense that you were something similar, but a direct descendant of Artoris? I don’t think anyone could have guessed that.

  Elion: Then why did you give Aly such a hard time about not noticing sooner?

  Aerean: (sighing) I suppose I also have a bit of a jealous streak.

  Elion: Again with the jealousy thing, what are you talking about?

  Aerean smiles and looks up into Elion’s eyes.

  Aerean: What I mean – Elion – is that women are competitive. In the end, only of us can be the one that’s closest to you.

  Elion: I still don’t understand, I’ve known Aly for years. Why would she only now start to develop those feelings for me?

  Aerean: Oh no, you misunderstand. I don’t think she likes you that way. It’s just… sometimes people like their things to be their own – completely. I’d like to get to know you better, but I think Aly might be afraid to lose the friendship you guys have.

  Elion: I wouldn’t want that either. But I think I do get what you mean. I can’t put all my energy and effort into… you, leaving my friends behind.

  Aerean nods. On the other side of the campfire, Randan and Tallioth have been exchanging hand signals – Randan clumsily trying to copy the basic ones Tallioth was doing.

  Elion: So, what do I do now? Do I stay here with you, or do I go to console Aly?

  Aerean: Well, if it were up to me, I’d say you should stay here and talk to me. But I think that’s mostly my jealous streak talking. If it were me in your situation, I’d go take care of my friend first. I’ve seen the kobolds drink that stuff, it goes in smoothly, but going out is a whole different ordeal. She could use some help.

  Elion stands back up and walks towards the door of the cabin. As he is about to open it, he looks back and watches Aerean walk over to Tallioth and Randan to join the conversation and help with some translation. Disappointed, he opens the door and walks into the cabin. As the door closes, Aerean looks up and after him before her smile fades for a second and she looks at the ground before returning to the conversation she was having.

  ???

  Hello again, Kirion here. I hope it now makes a lot more sense as to why I decided to change the format for this particular part of the story. Either way, from here on out it is back to your regularly scheduled narration.