The forest grew quieter as they traveled, the sounds of daytime creatures giving way to the rustling of nocturnal life. The group moved in vigilant silence, every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves making someone tense, hands moving toward weapons or mythbeasts shifting into defensive positions.
But they were lucky. The wild mythbeasts they encountered were small—nothing threatening, nothing aggressive. A rabbit-like creature with crystalline horns watched them pass from behind a bush, its nose twitching with curiosity. A family of something that resembled foxes with overlarge ears scattered at their approach, more afraid of the group than the group was of them.
Ember seemed fascinated by everything. The tiny fire fairy darted from tree to tree, investigating strange plants and unusual rock formations with the curiosity of a child in a new playground. Occasionally, she'd return to perch on Kael's head, her warmth pleasant against his scalp, before launching off again to explore something new that caught her attention.
"Your fire-type is certainly... energetic," Mira observed, watching Ember investigate a cluster of bioluminescent mushrooms. "Most fire-types I've seen are more reserved, conserving energy."
"Ember's special," Kael said, which was true in more ways than one. Through their bond, he could feel her delight at the new sights, her joy at simply existing in this vibrant world. It was infectious, helping to lift the exhaustion that weighed on the rest of them.
Ren, despite his injuries, proved to be an excellent guide. He navigated them around dangerous-looking areas, chose paths that were easier on the injured mythbeasts, and kept them moving at a steady pace that balanced speed with sustainability.
"That's the treeline ahead," he said eventually, pointing through the gloom. "Another ten minutes and we're out."
The group's pace picked up unconsciously, the promise of safety spurring them forward. Even the exhausted grass oxen seemed to find new energy, their heavy footfalls quickening.
They emerged from the forest as the last light faded from the sky, stepping out onto a cleared area that marked the boundary between wilderness and civilization. A wide dirt road stretched before them, well-maintained and clearly traveled regularly. And in the distance, perhaps two miles away, Kael saw lights.
Many, many lights.
He stopped, simply staring.
Thornhaven rose from the plains like something out of a fantasy novel—which, Kael supposed, it was. Massive stone walls stretched in a rough circle, easily forty feet high, with watchtowers rising even higher at regular intervals. Lights blazed from countless windows, creating a constellation of illumination against the darkening sky. The city was huge—far larger than he'd expected—easily housing tens of thousands of people.
"First time seeing Thornhaven?" Garrett asked, noting Kael's awed expression.
"First time seeing any city like this," Kael admitted honestly. Nothing on Earth had quite prepared him for the sight of a medieval fortress city lit by what he assumed was some combination of fire, magic, and maybe mythbeast abilities.
"It's impressive," Mira agreed. "One of the three major fortress cities in the region. The walls have never been breached, or so the guards like to claim."
They started down the road, their footsteps crunching on packed dirt. Other travelers were visible now—a few late arrivals heading toward the city gates, a merchant with a cart being pulled by what looked like an oversized badger.
They were perhaps halfway to the city when a rough voice called out from behind them.
"Oi! You lot look like you've been through hell!"
Kael turned along with the others, and what he saw made him freeze in shock.
The man—and it was definitely a man, despite his size—was the shortest adult Kael had ever seen, barely reaching four and a half feet tall. But what he lacked in height, he more than made up for in sheer width. Muscles bulged beneath a simple work shirt, arms thick as tree trunks, chest like a barrel. A magnificent beard, brown shot through with grey, fell nearly to his belt. His face was weathered and kind, with eyes that crinkled at the corners from frequent smiling.
Behind him stood a creature that fit him perfectly—a rhinoceros-like mythbeast with hide that looked like polished stone, metallic grey with veins of what might have been actual metal running through it. The beast was easily eight feet long and built like a living siege engine.
The small, impossibly muscular man was leading a cart loaded with massive logs, each one easily weighing hundreds of pounds. His mythbeast was harnessed to the cart, but from the way the man moved, Kael suspected he could probably pull the thing himself if needed.
Kael stared, his mind racing. The proportions, the build, the beard, the affinity for a rock/metal type beast—
A dwarf. An actual, genuine, fantasy-novel dwarf.
This world just kept getting more interesting.