Chương 95: The Goblin and the Green Dragon

Ethan jolted awake in his tent. Outside, he could hear the clash of swords and distant screams, as though a battle were raging somewhere nearby. He remained frozen for a moment, still dazed, then looked around. His blood ran cold. Renlin's severed head lay before him. He recoiled, his breath catching in his throat.

"So you still haven't understood? Wasn't last time enough for you?" Ethan spun around. Xarath stood motionless before him, a cruel smile spread across his face. In his right hand, he held Agnes's severed head, blood still dripping from it.

"No…no…NO!" The scream burst from his chest. He woke with a violent start. The world became real again in an instant. The tent. The silence. The darkness. He was breathing heavily, his heart pounding as though it would burst from his chest. He wiped a trembling hand across his sweat-soaked face, trying to convince himself it had only been a nightmare. Beside him, Agnes was alive. She was watching him with a look of deep concern.

"Did you have a nightmare?" she asked softly. Ethan slowly sat up, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah…" Neither of them spoke for several seconds. Agnes lowered her eyes.

"I have them a lot too". Ethan looked at her.

"You do?" She gave a faint nod.

"Yeah…I still dream about those goblins chasing me. I see the village destroyed again. I see my parents lying dead…" Her voice trembled slightly.

"I wish I could have happy dreams about them. I wish I could remember them smiling…but they're almost always nightmares". Ethan remained silent. He knew that feeling all too well. He reached out and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I have nightmares like that too". Agnes slowly looked up.

"I dream about the things I've lost…the people I've lost". This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Ethan sighed.

"We can't change the past. All we can do is accept that it happened, even if it hurts. But you and I are here. We're alive. We can help each other. We can be strong for one another". For the first time since waking up, Agnes managed a faint smile and slowly nodded. For a few moments, they simply sat together in the silence of the tent while, outside, the world still seemed asleep. A new morning had begun in Loxia. Teresa had not stopped for a single moment.

Since dawn, she had wandered from street to street, questioning every magical creature that seemed to know anything. She had spoken with elves, gnomes, fairies and even a few giants who lived on the outskirts of the city. She asked each of them the same question. Did they know the Green Dragon? Many had heard of the famous book. Its story was known almost everywhere. But to nearly everyone, it was nothing more than a legend. No one claimed to have actually seen the dragon. And very few believed it had ever existed.

Every answer left Teresa more frustrated than before. Yet she refused to give up. She continued to believe or perhaps simply to hope that the dragon had truly existed. Eventually, accompanied by Naomi, she entered a large bookstore. The walls were completely lined with shelves overflowing with ancient volumes. The scent of aged paper and old wood filled the air. The building was enormous and it was immediately obvious that it had been built many centuries earlier.

Behind the counter stood an elderly gnome with a long white beard. He approached the two women with a warm smile.

"Ladies, how may I help you?" Teresa returned the smile.

"I sincerely hope you can. Have you ever read The Green Dragon?" The gnome nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course. It's one of the best-selling books in the world. Why do you ask?"

"Because I intend to find that dragon". The gnome froze.

"And I'm looking for someone who's seen it with their own eyes". For a few moments, the old gnome stared at her in silence. Then he burst into laughter. Naomi immediately stepped forward.

"How dare you lau-". Teresa placed a hand on her shoulder, urging her to calm down. Then she looked back at the gnome.

"Magic exists. Magical creatures of every kind exist. Why should the existence of a dragon be so absurd?" The gnome's smile faded. He let out a slow sigh.

"Because no magical creature has ever seen one". He paused briefly.

"It's a human invention. Nothing more".

"And yet there are hundreds of witnesses".

"All of them human". The gnome folded his arms.

"It's a legend created to make mankind seem special. A tale about humans capable of taming gigantic creatures. But dragons do not exist". He slowly shook his head.

"They never have". Teresa let out an exasperated sigh. She had no intention of continuing the argument. She turned to leave the bookstore. As she did, however, her shoulder accidentally bumped into one of the bookshelves. It wasn't like the others. It was far dustier. The books were visibly older and far more worn. Most of all, the shelf faced the wall, as though it had been deliberately hidden and forgotten by everyone. The impact caused one of the books to wobble.

A moment later, it fell to the floor with a dull thud. Teresa stopped. She slowly picked it up. The cover was completely coated in dust. She brushed the surface with the back of her hand. The title gradually appeared beneath the dust. The Goblin and the Green Dragon. She stood motionless for several seconds. Then she slowly turned toward the gnome.

"And this…what is it?" The old gnome's expression changed instantly. He suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"Oh…that…" he stammered.

"It's just a failed sequel. It really isn't worth reading". Teresa lowered her gaze to the back of the book. She checked the publication date. Her eyes narrowed.

"Impossible". She slowly raised the book.

"It was published a hundred years earlier". Silence fell over the bookstore. Teresa locked eyes with the gnome.

"Tell me everything you know about this book". Her voice grew firmer.

"Now". The gnome swallowed hard.

"It's…it's a very long story. I read it many, many years ago". He lowered his gaze.

"And it's a terrible story. Truly, it isn't worth your time. I could recommend plenty of other books, ones far more suitable for noble and beautiful ladies such as yourselves". Naomi slowly folded her arms.

"Do exactly as you were asked…now". Her voice was calm. But her gaze was icy. The gnome immediately understood that it was not a request. For a brief moment, he had the unsettling impression that the woman would not hesitate to draw her sword and force him to speak. He sighed in resignation.

"As you wish". He gestured toward two chairs beside an old wooden table.

"Please, have a seat. It will take me some time to tell this story".