It had taken 14 days but the unit had carefully managed it to where it was alone for the vast majority of its time and would be uninterrupted by the humans in the woods with it.

The unit had stopped by a small cliff that had once been home to an outpost but had since fallen away into the waters of the lake it overlooked some time ago. To the outside observer, the unit seemed to just be taking a puff from a pipe it pulled from one of the saddlebags on the horse it rode. It would always do the same routine, stare out over the waters of the lake as it puffed away in a comprehensive daze.

The guard would look upon their Captain in worry, but none dared approach him due to the heavy atmosphere he seemed to emit. Even Soren was kept at bay by his mentor's mood. All of this led to the unit's privacy. Which it would soon find to be interrupted.


The moon had only just begun to rise when the unit's advanced microphones detected the shot. It deftly rolled to the side as an arrow punched deep into the rock directly across from it without so much as a soft grinding sound.

It calmly stood, pipe still in mouth, as the first elf walked out into the clearing.


Ram was beside himself in shock. The human had fluidly dodged his shot and stood up so quickly it was as though he was simply dodging under an overhanging tree branch. The human looked completely calm as he and his fellows emerged from the shadows.

If the Cursed One gave any indication of his fear, it was only by the rise of one of his eyebrows. He took one final inhale and blew out, before tapping out the pipe on his hand.

He made a motion toward his steed and began to slowly ease his way to it when Ram pulled back again. The human froze and slowly turned to face them again, hands up. He again made a gesture to the saddle, but Ram paid it no heed as he just pulled the string tautly.

He tensed as Runaan pushed his arm down. He looked at him dumbfounded until he saw his bow at the ready and fully eased back. If the human tried anything Runaan would drop him, Cursed One or not.

The human put the pipe in the bag and produced a well-worn-looking book. Taking out a writing tool, the human began to write something. Now that he thought about it, Ily had mentioned he was incapable of speech and spoke through an interpreter. Unfortunately, none knew how to speak such a language. Not that he wanted to hear one word from this human. He studied him closely and was only more puzzled.

From what he could see, this man looked entirely average. He was as tall as Runaan but as thin as Ilythyrra. He then studied his face as he continued to jot down more in the book. He had to clamp down his blush at the human's handsome features. His red eyes seemed to strengthen his mysterious aura as well as his raven black hair. All that aside, it still was unfathomable to him.

How did this man scar the Dragon King?


Runaan kept his eyes fixed on the Cursed One as he wrote. He had to recognize the human as one of equal standing. Thinking back now, he saw how well he had planned out everything. His increased isolation, his show of an obvious routine that gradually became longer and longer, and his habit of doing so only towards twilight to nightfall.

He had seen Runaan and had been preparing for their inevitable meeting. Runaan's eyes narrowed. Who was this human?

His wonderings were cut off by something hitting his boot softly. Without looking down, he gestured, and Andromeda was the first to pick up whatever it was.

"It's the book he was writing in."

Runaan kept his eyes on the human, who simply stood there as if waiting for something.

"What does it say?"

He heard paper being turned before Andromeda spoke up again.

"Can you understand this language I have written? If not, can you understand sign language?"

Those who could look at Andromeda gave her quizzical expressions. She simply gestured with a hand to the page her head shaking from side to side as if she was unable to believe it either.

"We can understand your writing Cursed One."

Runaan growled as the grip on his bow tightened.

"What is the point of this, a delaying tactic, or perhaps another trap?"

The human simply held out his hands to Andromeda who kicked the book back across the ground to him. He wrote a few lines before bending down and sliding it back to her. It would seem she had been made his 'voice' for their encounter.

"This is neither a delay nor a trap. I simply wish to understand why it is you have come so far, and why you seem to fix solely on me?"

Runaan eased the bowstring but kept the arrow in place.

"Why should I tell you anything human?"

His response was simply to shrug, while he picked up the book. Sighing Runaan looked at his team and gave the faintest nods. Slowly they eased but kept their weapons ready.

"You scarred our King and took away our only heir."

The last part was a bluff, no one knew for certain what had happened to the Dragon Prince but he wanted to know. He needed to know, not just for his sake, but also for a young girl waiting for him in Silvergrove.

"I admit to wounding your King and I do convey my apologies for that. It was not expected to happen."

Runaan breathed out through his nose, he still didn't trust this human, but he got the impression his expression of apology was genuine. The next sentences, however, threw him off mentally.

"I do not admit to the abduction of your land's heir. I only strive and work for a peaceful existence between both worlds, I would never dare do something so foolish as to take away the child of your King."

Runaan clicked his tongue softly in frustration, he couldn't explain why exactly, but knew that this human was telling him the truth. He had not flinched or shied away from the withering glares of his team, a guiltier man would've but not this man.

"Be that as it may, I still have orders to bring you back. Walking or dragged. The choice is yours."

Runaan stated as he indicated his armband.

His team didn't say a word but he knew they were thinking he had probably lost his mind. Their orders were clear, kill the Cursed One and take his gauntlets to Lux Aurea for destruction. But something was off. Runaan figured that if anyone could figure out what was going on, it'd be the Sunfire Elves. Besides, as memory served there was someone there very keen on meeting the Cursed One face to face.

"You seem to be a decent fellow, I hate to disagree with you but my responsibility is to my own King and Queen. Please understand this. If I must pick either, then I shall be dragged."

Runaan was not the only one to snort at that. The human was noble, he'd give that to him.

"So be it."

Before they moved the human wrote something else and passed the book back.

"By the by, the little one, is she with you?"

Runaan's heart sank to his stomach, without even turning around he simply lowered his head before calling out.

"RAYLA!"

A startled yelp and the resulting crash from a nearby tree was all that was needed for Runaan to know she had tagged along.