"Magical duos? Sir, I don't know how to use magic..." Sol said as he hurried to catch up with Siegfried.
Siegfried maintained his pace and flashed Sol a mischievous smirk.
"Ha! You can't fool an old man like me, kid. I can see right through you."
The wizard halted at a nearby stall and hired a luxurious carriage. He motioned for Sol to join him, and as they settled inside, Siegfried sank into the seat with a contented sigh.
"Ohh, these seats are the best."
Sol had a plethora of seats to choose from and opted to sit in front of Siegfried. The jolt of the horses' motion caused Sol to jerk slightly.
Curiosity gleamed in Siegfried's eyes as he examined Sol's peculiar attire.
"So, where do you hail from? Is this your first venture into Dragonwood? Well, you are indeed heading to Dragonwood, aren't you?"
Uncertain how to respond, Sol decided against concealing the truth. After all, it would sound like something out of a book. Instead, he found himself sharing extraneous information while seeking answers of his own.
"I'm not from here..." Sol replied vaguely, addressing Siegfried's first question.
Once again, the carriage rumbled, shaking Sol to the side.
Seizing the opportunity, Sol interjected with his own inquiry.
"Dragonwood, is that where we are?"
With an arched eyebrow, Siegfried regarded the young man.
"This? Oh no, we are certainly not in Dragonwood. Trust me, you'll know when we arrive."
Pausing for a moment, Siegfried glanced outside.
"We're currently in Terrical, a bustling city where the roads to Dragonwood and a few others converge. Compared to Dragonwood, though, this city is minuscule. However, they somehow always have the ingredients I need for my potions, even the more complex ones. The scum who tried to sell you are slave traders, tch, the lowest of the lows."
Siegfried's gaze returned to Sol, his face adorned with a smile.
"And don't worry, I may have paid for you, but it was solely to extricate you from that predicament. Seven gold can always be earned back; blood on my hands and local troubles would have been far more cumbersome. You're free to do as you wish."
Sol felt a wave of relief wash over him at those words. Yet, what Siegfried uttered next made him gulp.
"Besides, your greatness..."
Siegfried's words took on a sincere and formal tone, a departure from his usual carefree demeanor.
"Who would I be to command a dragon? If I may, what brings you to Dragonwood? I have lived for a very long time and have even encountered some dragons myself, yet I have never seen your face. Please forgive my ignorance."
Sol was absolutely flabbergasted, staring at Siegfried in disbelief.
'Who? Is he talking about me? Do I resemble a dragon?' Sol's thoughts raced as he examined his human hands.
Raising his gaze, Sol mustered a response.
"I, um, think you might be mistaken. I am very much human, as you can see." Sol displayed his arm to Siegfried.
As the carriage made a turn, the sunlight pierced through the fabric that shaded the sun, revealing Sol's scar.
Siegfried's eyes narrowed.
"The mark of the dragon, brimming with magic on an entirely different level. I could quite literally sense you anywhere in the city, you know," he scoffed.
The elderly man pondered for a moment, then produced a ring from his pocket, tossing it to Sol.
"Catch, that's a ring of the 3rd tier. I would offer you something better but that's all I have at the moment. It'll stop your presence from leaking everywhere but won't suppress your power, don't worry."
Sol caught the ring, admiring its eye-catching engravings on the black metal material. Though unsure of the exact metal it was made of, he could feel its substantial weight.
"Thank you," Sol expressed his gratitude as he slipped the ring onto his right middle finger.
Siegfried nodded, sensing the shift in the atmosphere around them.
"That's better."
As the carriage departed Terrical and neared the forest, the coachman let out a whistle, signaling something to Siegfried and Sol.
Siegfried's formality and seriousness faded away, and his carefree personality returned.
"So, you don't fancy being transformed into a frog, do you?" He snickered.
Closing his eyes, Siegfried continued, "Keep your eyes closed until we hear the coachman's whistle again. It's hard to explain, just the forest rules. But don't worry, the horses know the way."
***
The road trip to Dragonwood proved to be both monotonous and jarring. They left the forest behind and embarked on a bumpy ride across hills and smaller towns, eventually reaching their destination.
Stepping out of the carriage, Siegfried stretched his limbs and burst into laughter.
"Ahaha! It's good to be home. Welcome to Dragonwood, Sol," he exclaimed, his smile infectious.
Sol followed suit, exiting the carriage and immediately fixating on the magnificent structure in the distance. The city sprawled before him, easily several times larger than Terrical. Its circular megalopolis consisted of three tiers—the ground level, a significantly higher second layer, and an innermost layer that cast a shadow over some parts of the city.
While Sol marveled at the breathtaking sight, Siegfried produced a piece of paper and held it delicately between his index and middle fingers. Whispering a few words, the paper ignited into flames, and the ashes scattered in the wind.
Turning to Sol, who remained captivated by the city, Siegfried beamed.
"A beautiful city, isn't it? Well, for the most part. How about we grab a bite to eat? My treat, of course!" Siegfried suggested, already striding down the dirt pathway that led to the city.
Sol couldn't help but think, 'Well, he's certainly kinder than me. Free food? I would never!' A recent memory resurfaced—yesterday, when he neglected to buy a meal for Hannah.
'She should learn to pay for her own things anyway... I wonder how everyone is doing. I hope nobody is worried about me.'
Siegfried grew more distant with each step, forcing Sol to jog in order to catch up.
"By the way!" Siegfried came to an abrupt halt, causing Sol to bump into him.
"Put this on. We don't want people noticing that scar of yours, though most won't even recognize it," Siegfried advised, tossing a purple cloak to Sol.
Without hesitation, Sol donned the cloak, keen to avoid drawing attention with his peculiar scar.
They resumed their walk toward Dragonwood, with Siegfried cracking a few more jokes along the way, or at least attempting to. Sol tried his best to reciprocate with a smile.
***
In a lavishly furnished room, an elderly woman sat in a comfortable chair, surrounded by an assortment of opulent items. She labored over paperwork that consumed most of her desk.
Placing her pen down and massaging her temples, she let out a sigh.
'For the future...'
Suddenly, something caught her attention, snapping her out of her daze. Flames ignited before her, gradually forming a written note.
'Well well, what do we have here.'