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The sun had long since gone down in the wastes.Dillon who had been traveling for days finally stops to rest and set up camp mainly for his horse fury a beautiful black horse he loved more than anything rather than his own need for rest.Best to let her sleep Deciding to use this time to his advantage decided to course the next few days travel to the magical city of Corinth a place with an incredible magical barrier keeping evil out the place he believed would at least give him a start to recovering his memories. When suddenly he feels a small pressure in his back accompanied by a mousy voice saying
“I am not here to hurt you I just need enough supplies to get to Corinth”
Dillon replied “are you threatening me with a stick”
“no this is my sword now give me your supplies” replied the stranger with a twinge of fear in his voice.
Hearing that Dillon wheeled around and grabbed what he correctly guessed was a stick and threw it to the ground. Looking up he then saw his supposed mugger was a scrawny man who seemed about 20 with curly brown hair and peasant clothes in a light green color.despite this Dillon still drew his sword and pointed it at the “mugger” causing the stranger to let out a yelp and immediately start rambling
“hey don’t stab me I just wanted to get to Corinth same as everyone else and your horse seemed like a -“ Dillon cut him off with “don’t you dare touch my horse” while he was distracted a stabbing pain suddenly emanated from his leg looking down he saw it was a creature seemingly made from shadows his mugger yelled
“Grinder”
and covered his face with one hand and with the other released a blinding white light instantly scaring the creature away into the darkness seeing the boys potential Dillon decided to lower his weapon and helped the boy up
“What was that”
“You mean the grinder”
“If that’s what that thing is called”
“How do you not grinders Venjixs foot soldiers?”
“Venjix?”
“HOW ARE YOU IN THE WASTES CAUSED BY IT AND DONT KNOW OF IT”
“I have amnesia and believed Corinth could help”
Stopping immediately in his tracks the boy immediately started rambling once
“Oh my lord I am so sorry that is so terrible”
Dillon said “ I don’t really care”
Then walked over to fury sitting with her and gesturing the stranger over
“What’s your name “ asked Dillon
“You first” said his increasingly annoying companion
“Dillon”
“Well then you only get Ziggy if you’re going to be so closed off about last names” said Ziggy in response
“I don’t have a last name Amnesia remember Dillon is just a placeholder”
Ziggy then promptly turns bright red
“Ziggy Grover is my full name”
“Ok then Ziggy you said you wanted to go to Corinth right? If you help me get rid of those grinders you can ride with me”
“You can’t? Your whole body emanates magical power it’s how I found your camp in the first place you should be able to cause a blast 10 times that strength but whatever floats your boat as long as it gets me to Corinth”
“Yeah whatever but we should get to sleep we’re still a few days off from our destination” saying this more for Ziggy than his own sake and with that Ziggy curled up by the fire and within moments he’s fast asleep
And for a while Dillon just watched him wondering about this strange boy who merely fifteen minutes ago tried to rob him blind and also internally wondering why he wasn’t mad about it and why he was a little happy deciding to not really dig into it he also eventually drifted off
Shwoom froom
Dillon rose with the sun while Ziggy was a different story,Dillon found fast asleep snoring near the ashes of the fire.
“Wake up we gotta get going Fury is getting restless”and even after that it took a few soft kicks to the stomach to finally get him to wake up
“Uggggggghhh let me go back to sleep”
“No”
“Five more minutes” he asked as final attempt and as Dillon began to give in Fury’s snort fully woke them both up
“How’d you sleep” Ziggy asked not fully standing up yet.
“I don’t really need to sleep so I guess better than usual”Dillon replied while walking over to Fury to saddle her.
“That could be how your magic manifests itself everyone can do roughly the same things in Corinth but everyone is proficient in something” and without warning Ziggy appeared on top of Fury.
“For example mine is a sort of jump through space I’m the only person it works on but I can pull small objects that are close to me” and with that he held out the extra treats Dillon had stored in his pockets for Fury and he fed them to her.
“It’s a neat trick but it’s really exhausting out-“ and Ziggy fell off Fury Dillon’s body moved own its own to catch him.After he realized he had caught this man he barely knew bridal style he dropped him immediately waking Ziggy up
“Side of Corinth”Ziggy finished with the same
Tone as if the passing out had never happened.
“Fun,can we get going now”with the help of Dillon was hoisted onto fury’s back without passing out followed shortly by Dillon who handed the map and asked him to read out the directions.
Froom schmoom
At about noon the stopped for a break to feed themselves and they started an idle conversation
“So what can magic do in battle not against those weird shadow things” Dillon asked half paying attention
“Wanna see” Ziggy said playfully summoning a little sparkling ball in his hands and without warning throwing it Dillon’s head Dillon dodging quickly replied
“Oh you’re on let’s go” and without warning charges at Ziggy. Even though Dillon didn’t have a sophisticated reach of how expend the magic from his body he still benefited from it being there and then drags Ziggy to a clear path in the wastes so they can fight properly
“Are you ready”
“I guess”
With the verbal confirmation both launch their attack Ziggy has the initial upper hand because he is more suited for long range fighting but Dillon soon closes the gap
And Dillon raises his hand above his head to deliver the fake winning blow Ziggy blocks it with a small dagger hidden in his boot and then pushes Dillon over In his surprise.
“I guess I win right” Ziggy says with a triumphant smirk on his face twirling the dagger in his hands
“If you had that dagger why’d you try to mug me with a stick” Dillon says completely ignoring the others gloating words.
Realizing that Ziggy had shown his hand he once more turns beet red and storms off back to Fury muttering something about how Dillon should be thankful he didn’t actual stab him right then and there. Dillon just watched now boasting a smirk of his own.the first smirk he could remember then picked himself up and met up with Ziggy at Fury and got back on the road
When they both got onto the horse Dillon wrapped his hands around Ziggy The grab the reins.wanting mess with his new companion as well as to make good time he pushes Fury to her limit causing Ziggy to tense up in fear and push back into Dillon for support
“Can we take it easy I’m not sure I’m going to be able to stay on this monster” Ziggy asks weakly”
“Oh but what fun would that be”Dillon replied holding onto Ziggy a little tighter so He wouldn’t fall
“I hate you”
“feelings mutual”
But neither of them actually let go for the whole ride till sundown when they finally reach Corinth but they had already risen their shields so disparagingly the two set up the final camp of their journey. Then they sat in silence for a good 30 seconds before Ziggy decided to say something
“ thanks for not murdering me initially”
“ well you’ve proved to be nice company so far”
Then roughly 30 meters behind them they heard a terrible grinding of teeth
“ Grinders” says Ziggy
“On it” replies Dillon Already running out of the range of the fire in the vague direction of the monster already drawing his sword
“What are you gonna do”
“ something probably” after 30 seconds of Dillon wildly swinging his sword in the dark hoping to hit the Grinder he hears Ziggy scream.
“ZIGGY” yells Dillon pounding his feet into the sand as fast as he can to get back to him
Seeing Ziggy with a small chunk bit out of his shoulder with the Grinder rearing its head for a second surely fatal bite.
“NOOOOOOO” Dillon screams jumping in between Ziggy and the monster bracing for a bite. When he feels a power swell inside him and then spill out of him and when he opens his eyes the monster is gone.
“What happened?”Asks Dillon
“I think it was some sort of shield”replies Ziggy
“Ok good to know but that’s not what’s important right now” says Dillon getting on his knees to survey Ziggys injury.
“It should heal on its own I’ll just wrap it in bandages so it doesn’t get infected”says Ziggy pulling bandages from his pocket.
“Are you sure” says Dillon still holding Ziggy as he suddenly passes out from exhaustion on top of Ziggy.
“I was wondering when that was gonna happen using magic for the first time and all” says Ziggy to himself. Deciding it would be best to not wake him Ziggy lets himself drift asleep with Dillon on top of him despite the struggling to breath
Froom schoom
Dillon as per usual is the first to wake up and in his dreariness he pushes on Ziggy waking him up and making him realize where he is.
“Sorry sorry sorry” Dillon says trying to get up. When Ziggy throws his arms around him and says
“Not even a good morning how rude” before tenderly kissing his forehead. Initially Dillon pulls away But after realizing what happened he pounces on Ziggy with a kiss. Letting the flood gate of emotion out he’s been feeling since they first met.
“Ok easy there I’m not going anywhere but Corinth is right there” says Ziggy.
Dillon replies with “ Five more minutes”
Ziggy smiles and says
“Ok can’t argue with that”
“Whatever just let me sleep “ says Dillon nuzzling into Ziggy. And they stay there until fury nuzzles them and makes them get up. Then finally they walk into Corinth together