Author note: [Sorry this is quite a short chapter. Chapter 2 & chapter 3 used to be one extremely long chapter - before I broke it up into two parts. Rest assured that the next chapter is a much longer one; with things moving forward a lot quicker. That's all I'll say. Hope you enjoy reading!]

Naphtali dashed outside, the door rattled as he threw it open, and it bounced back closing shut on its own. Naphtali began searching the darkness, his eyes scanning back and forth. The door behind him opened again, and closed; this time with a soft thud. Naphtali looked back, his aunt laid a cloak over his shoulders.

"You're going to get cold out here if you don't rug up," she said, patting him on the back.

"Thank you," Naphtali replied with a smile, "but I hear being cold is quite the trend down in Bellaqua."

Eva rolled her eyes, Naphtali chuckled.

"Still the same jokes, eh?" a voice laughed.

A light flared up, illuminating a small part of the road; three figures moved towards them.

"Sorry we're so late. It took as almost an hour to find a stable suitable for our horses. And even longer to find a storage shed for our karts," said a male voice, it was without a doubt Naphtali's Uncle, Gaius.

Another figure ran out of the night, a boy about Naphtali's age.

"Naphtali!" The boy grabbed his cousin, spinning him around enthusiastically.

"Korah!" Naphtali replied. "It is good to see you!"

Korah was Naphtali's height and shared the inherited black hair and blue eyes from Naphtali's mother's side. Though Korah's hair fell down a little longer than Naphtali's and curled slightly more.

"I hope that sword arm of yours hasn't gotten any better," Korah joked.

"Not really, but you still won't beat me!"

Gaius strode into the light, and Naphtali's aunt Laelia followed.

Gaius was dressed in travellers' gear: thick boots, a cloak and a scarf wrapped around his neck. He was a tall, lanky man, with brown hair that fell to his shoulders. Laelia wore a long blue travelling dress with a layer of garments underneath. She had black braids, bright blue eyes; and looked so much like Naphtali remembered his mother – or maybe he just thought they looked alike, because whenever he pictured his mother, in his head, he pictured Laelia. Sometimes Naphtali wondered if he'd completely forgotten his mother altogether. Even though he felt like Eva had done a good job stepping into her place, there was something about losing a family that couldn't be replaced. Everyone else seemed to take that for granted.

"Come inside." Eva ushered them forward. "I'm just about to get dinner started."

"And just so you know," Korah piped in, "Nobody in Bellaqua actually likes the cold."

Naphtali chuckled and grabbed Korah, tugging him backwards into their home.

"Then why do people live there?" Naphtali laughed, "Actually don't answer that. Come on. This way. I'll show you my new sword collection."

It was sometime later when Eva, Gias and Laelia sat huddled around the dining room table, with the warm oven providing enough heat to keep the cold of the night at bay. Korah and Naphtali were still playing childishly in Naphtali's bedroom. Eva placed two steaming bowls of stew down onto the kitchen table, one in front of Laelia and one in front of Gaius. The juices of the meat, which had mixed with the simmered herbs, produced an aroma so appealing that it gave the room a pleasant feel and seemed to drag the boys out of their room. The two boys burst out through the door and stumbled into the kitchen, Naphtali almost tripping over Korah's leg as he ran.

Laelia reached out and took Naphtali as he flew past, pulling him in closer.

"Come here." She kissed him on the cheek. "I haven't seen you in such a long time! You've gotten taller."

"Thank you, Aunt Laelia. You haven't, really," Naphtali joked.

"It's because I'm getting old, darling," Laelia replied with equal sarcasm.

"So, Naphtali, I hear you've been apprenticed to a blacksmith," Gias called over.

"I suppose I have," Naphtali replied.

"Don't go easy on it," Gaius said. "It's a sturdy trade and requires hard work. But it develops a strong arm."

"Alright," Naphtali replied, not overly enthusiastic.

"Last time I was here you were going on about how you were going to become a Dragon Slayer!" Korah teased.

"Shut up!" Naphtali said through gritted teeth.

"There's no hiding it, Naphtali," said Laelia. "Eva's already told us all about it in her letters. And it's nothing to be embarrassed about. Nobody ever gets apprenticed to those mysterious men. Trust me, you'd rather be a blacksmith."

"Aunt Eva, why did you have to go tell everyone?" Naphtali folded his arms and plonked himself on a chair by dining table next to Korah.

Eva smiled warmly and placed two bowls in front of them. Naphtali instantly forgot about his embarrassment, picked up his spoon and began eating eagerly.

Eva joined them, and they continued their light conversation, with the flow of time following gently in its wake. They spoke about mediocre things and other topics that seemed to set Eva's eyes ablaze with burning interest. Korah's sister, Abigail was one of those topics. It was no surprise, Abigail was two-thirds of her way through her apprenticeship as a healer, and nobody needed reminding of Eva's passion for plants, herbs, and potions.

"It's a shame she couldn't come down, though," Eva harped, "but I do remember how busy I was when I was in her shoes. And she'll only get busier from here."

"Growing up doesn't sound all that fun, does it," Naphtali whispered to Korah who sat by his side.

"No, it doesn't at all," Korah agreed.

The late hours snuck up on them like a thief in the night. The coolness settled over, and the coals in the hearth of the oven had died down from a bright red glow to a charred black.

"Well, we have some important people to meet tomorrow," Gaius said eventually, "so we'd best be getting some rest."

"Isn't tomorrow the Feriae?" Naphtali asked curiously.

"Yes. It might be a public holiday for you. Trade doesn't stop for us though. But we won't be needing Korah. He can stay with you," Gaius said.

Korah's face lit up and he nudged Naphtali in a childish fashion.

"For now, I think we'd all best be getting some rest," Eva said.

Eva had laid out mattresses for Gaius, Leila and Korah, in the guest room, and the lamps were doused quite soon afterward. Throughout the night, the chill managed to creep in through the cracks in the windows. Naphtali was thankful for the warmth that his quilt provided. He could feel the cold air on his face, but his body was warm and cosy, and he began to drift into a world where his dreams were not quite dreams and his memories not quite memories. Yet they both seemed to intertwine as his mind took him back to his earlier days in Aldun.

The streets had been new to him; everything was new and unfamiliar. His aunt held his hand gently.

"They're not coming back, are they?"

A tear slid down his auntie's cheek. Odd. Naphtali felt like he should be the one crying.

"No dear. They're not," she squeezed his hand a little, "but I'll do everything I can to give you the life you should have had."

They were on their way to the markets. The people came by in crowds and the buildings towered high around them. There were no greetings. Nobody knew him by name. Everybody seemed like they were in a rush, in some kind of hurry.

Later that night Eva took Naphtali into her room. It was neat, had a small bed in the middle along with an assortment of plants and vials on the shelves. Along the far wall was a large bookcase. She pointed to the books.

"Normally books are confined only to the wealthy. And it is true that many would pay dearly for the knowledge they contain. My father gave me these books. A third he passed to each of his children. A third to me. A third to my sister. And a third to you mother. But you shall have these, and you shall learn to read and write. Take them as you please. When I am gone they will all be yours."

Naphtali rolled over, brought back to reality for a moment, just a moment. And then he began drifting back into a state somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. More memories came to him.

He was used to crowds now. He'd learned to nimbly weave in and around the people without anyone noticing him. It was twilight. He was on his way to the local tavern where a bard would be performing, and he wanted to get there before the bard's performance began. He arrived soon after. The tavern was quiet. The lanterns glowed but not brightly. The fire crackled in the hearth. Some people were drinking at the counter, but many were gathered in front of the bard who sat in the corner with his lute. Naphtali quickly joined them. It was clear that the bard had said something; he'd missed some kind of introduction because there was a silence upon the crowd that seemed to linger. That was; until the bard spoke. He began to recount the legends of Alesia. The heroes of old. The feats of the Half-Bloods, and at last of the Dragon Slayers. The mighty Dragon Slayers. He began strumming his lute and burst into song and soon there was much singing and dancing. Naphtali didn't dance though. He sat staring at the bard; his eyes ablaze with passion.

Naphtali breathed slower, feeling the effects of the valerian running through his body. His muscles relaxed and he drifted further and further into a peaceful slumber.

Visiting the bard had become a regular thing. Once, twice, three times a week if he was allowed. One day he approached the bard after he had finished his performance and the crowds were beginning to disperse.

"Excuse me," Naphtali said to the older man.

"What is it boy?" the bard asked him.

"Well, I was just wondering... have you ever met a Dragon Slayer?" Naphtali asked the bard.

"Me? No. I've seen them. But never met them."

"Then how do you know so much about them? How can I be sure that all your stories are true?"

The bard grinned.

"You can be sure. The bards have their way of getting information."

"If you know so much about them, I suppose you would know how they take up their apprentices?"

There was a moment of silence. Almost all of the crowd had disappeared by now, either finding a table for food, or ordering drinks at the counter.

"Why does it matter to you?"

Naphtali beamed up at the bard.

"It matters because...I've decided I want to become a Dragon Slayer."

The bard began to laugh. He laid a gentle hand on Naphtali's shoulder.

"You just decided did you. How old are you?"

"Twelve," Naphtali said.

"Twelve? Well let me tell you this; young prodigies are often taken up to become Dragon Slayer apprentices. Or the children of nobles with high political connections. It is true, there are some great Dragon Slayers who've come out of nowhere, like Aginor or Torin. But even then, the Dragon Slayers like to start early. You're twelve. That's quite old for a Dragon Slayer apprentice. Almost too old. So, unless you can showcase some exceptional talent at the next showing, I'd say you don't have a chance."

Another author not: If you're enjoying this story, don't forget to check out my social media, all linked here: https://linktr.ee/d.j.j.mizzi. Thanks again, and I hope you've enjoyed reading so far!