"It's you, Bruno — a warrior who defended our village more than once."
Bruno spoke.
"Sherya, the great dwarf, and daughter of my friend."
"No introductions needed."
"No, ma'am."
"Come with me, I need to talk to you."
Anaalyn could only watch, fear in her eyes, as they went into the backyard.
"So long, Bruno. The last time I saw you… what, five years ago?"
"Five beautiful years. I remember the day well — it was rainy, and night was falling."
"Enough, Bruno. Just tell me why. Why, after all these years, I haven't heard anything about you? So much has changed. The family grew closer — except for you, even though you're not technically family."
Bruno took a deep breath, eyes fixed on the wet stone floor.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this, Sherya. I didn't want to disappear… it just happened."
The old dwarf gripped her staff tightly, knuckles white as granite.
"'It just happened'? That's what you tell me after five years? Drogram is dead, Bruno. My son passed, and his only living friend vanished without leaving a trace."
Bruno kept his gaze lowered.
"I know."
"No, you don't know," she said firmly, her voice trembling with contained emotion. "Do you know what it's like to bury a child and not be able to ask the only man who was with him how it ended? Do you know what it's like to wake up every day hoping he'll still knock on the door?"
He clenched his fists, the cold wind biting at his back.
"I promised him I'd return, Sherya. But every time I tried, something pulled me away. War, loss, fear… maybe cowardice."
Sherya turned suddenly, staring at him with moist but firm eyes.
"Drogram died believing you'd come back. That the human he called his brother would keep his word. Do you understand what that means to a mother?"
Bruno finally looked up — his gaze heavy, weary, full of something between regret and exhaustion.
"I understand… because I lost a brother that day too."
For a moment, silence fell between them. Only the sound of the wind in the trees and the faint clink of chains on the gate could be heard.
Then Sherya stepped closer.
"He admired you more than any warrior. He said you saw the world in a way he never could. That you carried the weight of others and still smiled."
Bruno let out a bitter laugh.
"He saw too much. I should have learned a bit from him."
The old dwarf sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You still can. Time doesn't erase what Drogram taught you — nor what you meant to him. And I will never forget, even at my age, the day you defended this village as the Black Knight."
Bruno simply nodded.
"Come," Sherya said, discreetly wiping away the tears that stubbornly surfaced. "There are people inside who'll want to see you. And… maybe fight a little too."
Bruno raised an eyebrow.
"Fight?"
"Oh, yes. His brother still thinks you're a daughter-thief, and my granddaughter… well, she thinks humans are good for carrying heavy things and having handsome faces."
Bruno gave a faint smile.
"Seems nothing has really changed."
"You're wrong," Sherya replied, turning to walk ahead. "They've changed — and now they drink twice as much."
The door opened, and Anaalyn called out,
"Grandma! Bruno! Dinner!"
"We're coming, girl."
Sherya looked at Bruno once more before closing the door.
"Look, don't disappear again, alright? I — and now one more person — really care about you."
Bruno gave a tired half-smile.
"If no corrupt kingdom drags me into another useless war, you can count on that."
The table was set — simple, but plentiful.
Meat, bread, mashed potatoes.
No vegetables, of course. Dwarves hated green on their plates.
The meat was a bit saltier than it should be, the mash was good… but the looks — those were far too seasoned.
The uncle stared at me like I had stolen all the meat from the pot.
The sister looked at me like I had given all the meat to her.
The mother watched me like I was a cousin lost to war. And the grandmother…
…the grandmother looked at me like she was seeing her son march off to war once more.
And Anaalyn…
Anaalyn ate slowly, watching me from the corner of her eyes, bite by bite.
It seemed like she was studying every move I made, every word I didn't say.
And then I wondered — how long has it been since I ate with a family?
The silence at the table was almost comfortable.
Almost.
Until the uncle cleared his throat, heavily.
"So… you're the human who saved the village?"
"One of them," I replied, trying to seem polite.
"One of them, huh?" He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Drogram died being 'one of them.' I hope you don't meet the same fate, boy."
Before I could respond, his sister — braided hair, provocative gaze — leaned over the table.
"If he meets the same fate, at least he'll die handsome."
That was supposed to be a compliment — Bruno thought.
The uncle slammed his hand on the table, making a spoon jump.
"Respect, girl!"
"Respect is what I'm showing," she replied, smiling.
Sherya sighed.
"You never change."
Amid all this domestic chaos, I only thought — ahh, damn, family.
In the first few seconds, I'm crushed in a bear hug by the matriarch, threatened by the uncle, harassed by the sister… and I still have to pretend the mash isn't too salty.
But none of that is the worst part.
The worst is knowing that outside, Anaalyn is probably laughing at me.
---
Outside, Anaalyn took a deep breath, her face flushed.
Ahh, damn… family.
In the first few moments, he is squeezed by my mother, the uncle tries to intimidate him, and the worst part… my sister practically throws herself on him!
And my grandmother…
My grandmother speaks to him. Alone.
I wanted to hear it. Just a little.
But my mother said they already knew each other.
No one ever told me that he was him.
The Black Knight.
The protector of the village.
The man from the stories I grew up hearing.
And now he's here.
At my table.
Eating with my family.
Ah, heavens… I hope he's having fun, because I'm not doing well at all.
---
Before she could think further, an old woman came running down the street, shouting.
Even with shaky legs and a weak voice, she seemed fast… and taller than an old lady should be.
"Someone help me! Please, girl! Please, help me!"
"What's wrong, old lady?"
She tried to breathe, face sweaty, eyes wide.
"The s… the snake… the iron snake… THE IRON SNAKE HAS AWAKENED!"
"The iron snake?"
Anaalyn didn't wait for the rest.
Without hesitation, she spun on her heels and sprinted back home.
"Guys…" she tried to warn —
But everyone had already heard the old woman's scream.
"'Iron snake'?" the uncle grumbled, standing up, expression hardening.
"No time, Bruno, come with me!"
In a single motion, the axe stuck in a wooden stump vibrated, releasing itself and flying straight into Anaalyn's hand.
"Anaalyn, don't go!" the uncle shouted, his voice deep and trembling. "You don't need to worry!"
She didn't even look back.
"Uncle… I'm not the same girl I used to be. I've grown. I've come so far… I won't let fear control me!"
They ran through the village so fast that even the fastest dwarves couldn't keep up.
"Now you're going to tell me what this iron snake is?" Bruno said, dodging a barrel in the middle of the street.
"Ah, I thought you already knew!" Anaalyn replied, panting. "Weren't you supposed to defend the village?"
"Every time I came… it was just to fight or pray for your father."
"You? Praying?" She laughed, even while running. "Give me a break! But seriously — the Iron Snake is an ancient invention. Many say it comes from the Golden Age. They never managed to destroy it… because it's part of the support pillars of some caves."
Bruno didn't respond. His gaze hardened, but his mind raced.
Again with this praying… and the Golden Age. Where everything was at its peak. If this thing started moving, the caves won't hold for long. And dwarves… dwarves never mine in groups. Which means many down there are alone.
Finally, they arrived — they didn't even need to enter, the noise said it all: a sound of carnage against stone and metal. The heroes had arrived.
The ground trembled first, as if the entire village were breathing with rage. Then the metallic sound echoed through the caves: tac… tac… tac. Gears grinding.
From the cave, the Iron Snake emerged. A colossal monster, almost impossible to take in all at once. Its body was a polished steel shell, filled with gears and metal parts that moved on their own, as if they had a will of their own.
But it wasn't just metal at the joint vertices; between the steel, something moved like flesh. Pulsing, contracting, undulating. Each motion seemed to have its own force and consciousness. The drills forming its head spun with a hypnotizing, deadly sound, ready to pierce stone, metal, or bone, hitting the ground with a crash. Each impact sent sparks and dust flying, shaking the entire cave.
Bruno took a deep breath, smelling burnt metal and heat rising from the depths. Beside him, Anaalyn gripped the axe tightly, her eyes shining with determination.
"We can't retreat," Anaalyn said. "If it leaves the cave, it'll destroy the whole village. We have to fight now."
The monster advanced. First, it spun its head like a hurricane, hurling debris everywhere. Bruno leapt to the left, rolling, while Anaalyn raised the axe, knocking down a stone column that threatened to crush a group of hiding dwarves.
"Bruno, we need a plan!" Anaalyn shouted, dodging a drill piercing the ground beside her.
He quickly scanned around: a forgotten cart of dynamite in the corner of the cave, small fissures and unstable pillars, and strategic points where large stones could be toppled.
"Okay… either we blow this fucker up, or he crushes everyone!" Bruno said, running to position the cart.
Bruno nodded. "You handle the pillars. I'll handle the explosion."
Anaalyn ran, swinging the axe, toppling stones strategically to hit the Snake, trying to destabilize the monster.
Bruno, with surgical precision, rolled between drills and hammers, placing fireballs in key spots and dodging attacks by mere seconds.
The Iron Snake moved surprisingly fast for its size. Each strike was calculated, almost intelligent, swinging metallic tails trying to crush the heroes against the walls.
At a critical moment, Anaalyn was surrounded: massive pillars threatened to fall on her. She spun the axe forcefully, deflecting the rocks, but part of the floor gave way. Bruno ran to her, holding her, leaping over the debris.
"All good!" he shouted, casting another spell near a vulnerable spot.
The Snake, sensing the threat, spun violently, hurling stones that destroyed part of the cave wall. Small rocks fell on hidden dwarves, and Bruno realized they needed to rescue them quickly.
Bruno positioned himself in front of another larger dynamite cart. He looked at Anaalyn, who nodded. Now or never.
"When I give the signal… you bring down the pillars!" he shouted.
The Snake lunged at Bruno. He dodged at the last second, leaping aside, detonating the cart. A deafening explosion shook the cave, sending debris of metal and stone flying in all directions.
Anaalyn took advantage of the distraction: with a precise strike, she toppled massive pillars onto the Snake's body. The monster roared, metal and flesh twisting, before trying to rise again.
Bruno, rolling through the debris, rushed to help dwarves trapped under small rocks. Anaalyn continued attacking, destabilizing the remaining mechanical arms.
Finally, with one last combined effort, while Anaalyn brought down the final pillar on the Iron Snake, the monster fell, motionless, sparks burning on its body and twisted metal scattered across the floor.
Breathing heavily, Bruno and Anaalyn looked at each other.
"We're okay… but we need to get the dwarves out now!" Bruno said, already rushing to lift the trapped ones.
"Quick, every second counts!" Anaalyn replied, helping a group of dwarves up.
When everyone was finally safe, the cave fell silent. Only the echo of the battle remained, and the colossal body of the Iron Snake reminded everyone that this monster would never be forgotten.
Bruno looked at Anaalyn, a tired smile on his face.
"That… was close."
Sweaty, but eyes shining with satisfaction.