Meanwhile.
Small border town in the Dwarven Nation.
Ridan floated above Hazuki, staring down at him with a completely flat expression. His arms were crossed, his eyes half-lidded, watching Hazuki snore loudly while sprawled on the side of the cobblestone street.
Around them, the town carried on with its usual morning rhythm. Dwarven merchants hauled carts of iron goods toward the market square, bakery smoke curled from chimneys, shopkeepers rolled up their shutters and called out prices, and miners trudged past with picks over their shoulders.
Some noticed Hazuki and simply smiled. Others shook their heads and kept walking without breaking stride.
A small group of dwarven children squatted in front of him, giggling. One poked Hazuki's arm with a stick. Another poked his leg. They waited, wide-eyed, as his snoring hitched, then he shifted and mumbled in his sleep. They burst into laughter and scattered, running off down the street.
Ridan let out a long, exhausted sigh.
Wow...
