Monstar Saga: Exiled

by Eden Redd

  The orc returned the dragonkin’s smile. “No need for thanks. You will see it with time, this is normal for us. We help each other, through the good and the bad. When Moonvale grows, we hope to become a thriving city where everyone helps each other. It’s my father’s dream, and mine as well.”

  “It’s still appreciated,” Kavan smiled.

  The dragonkin and orc continued their patrol as the stars shone in the dark sky. The residents of Moonvale rested a little better, knowing a magistrate walked the streets of their town once again.

  Eleven

  Time flowed on for the town of Moonvale. The threat of monsters dimmed as each night slipped into peaceful evenings and restful slumbers. The townsfolk fell back into their rhythm, carrying on with their daily work and relaxed evenings.

  Kavan spent a week patrolling the town, watching out for any intruders or hints of the returning xykk drone. With each passing night, his mood lightened and a relief filled him as it seemed the monster from that particular night had moved on. There were no new corpses on his farm, or even any undead venturing from the Misty Forest. After the seventh night, the mayor found Kavan on his patrol, smiled and informed him that he didn’t have to keep an eye on the town every night and he was going to lift the curfew.

  With the curfew lifted, Kavan and the mayor went to the Shouting Troll to sit and have a few drinks. The evening spun on into chuckles and laughter as dragonkin and orc talked about everything under the sun.

  Weeks rolled by and Kavan found himself busier than ever. Viz came up with a work and self-improvement routine. The dragonkin woke up at sunrise every morning and stepped into the field outside his home. Spear in hand, he practiced for two hours. The training was vigorous with the dragonkin constantly moving during the whole time. Muscles moved with ease, at first. By the end of the two hours, he was sore and a little exhausted.

  It didn’t slow down for him, pushing through the soreness and moving to the edge of the property. After training, two hours were spent chopping down small trees with his copper axe. The work was grueling as he pushed through the pain. A small glimmer of his innate pain management helped him through the process, but it barely made it easier. The dragonkin often found himself overheating. He took frequent dips in the small pond on his farm, cooling off and returning to work. Chopping wood grew easier with each passing day. It wasn’t long before alerts began filling his gaze.

  Strength increased by 1 degree! Strength is now 4th degree.

  Dexterity increased by 1 degree! Dexterity is now 4th degree.

  Constitution increased by 1 degree! Constitution is now 4th degree.

  Willpower increased by 1 degree! Willpower is now 3rd degree.

  Combat Skill increased by 1 degree! Combat Skill is now 4th degree, Proficient.

  Kavan nodded to himself with each alert. He had become proficient in many of his physical skills and his willpower. He noticed his intelligence was still 2nd degree and knew he had to work on it to bring it up. He had no idea when it would come in handy, but it wasn’t worth the risk of not improving it.

  After the morning workouts and chopping down lumber, Kavan worked on his home. The frequent trips to Sturdy Planks to drop off wood helped the dragonkin to connect with Oaks, the goblin. He asked for pointers and the goblin was more than happy to help.

  When Kavan was back home with planks he purchased from Oaks, he began the difficult task of replacing rotted or cracked wood. It was a slow process, but the dragonkin enjoyed it with every passing day.

  After saving up some coin, he managed to buy a table saw from Oaks and placed it on his farm. The barn had an overhanging roof along the side with a wood pillar at each of the two corners. Kavan had the saw placed there. It ran on a simple steam engine with a mixture of water and enchanted stones. It was strong enough to cut through wood easily and helped the dragonkin to start cutting wood into manageable shapes and make his own planks. With an assortment of other tools, he had what he needed to repair his farm on his own and perhaps add some upgrades to the fence and other areas around his home.

  Wood Working Skill increased by 2 degrees! Wood Working is now 3rd degree, Average.

  Every alert filled the dragonkin with confidence and pushed him to learn more. Viz often informed Kavan of unlocking further knowledge with each skill and helped him remember how to perform tasks. The two grew more entwined, functioning almost like one person at times.

  Onka had visited Woodhaven farm regularly. The goblin often jumped in to help either by holding wood, nails, or simply watching Kavan chop wood. At first, Kavan felt odd with the goblin watching him, but as with everything, he grew used to it and they often had lunch together.

  Socially, the dragonkin felt like he was falling behind. Little time was spent with many of the people in town, except for Durzol, Mayor Sunaxe, Onka, and Lorta. Kavan met with Durzol for a time, the pair working on a new pitchfork for Lorta. The blacksmith was patient and knowledgeable, talking Kavan through the process, but not doing it for him. The first few attempts were disastrous, the metal part of the pitchfork crumbling or bending when it shouldn’t. Durzol often smiled and talked through the mistakes, allowing Kavan to try again and again.

  Metal Smithing Skill increased by 3 degrees! Metal Smithing Skill is now 3rd degree, Above Average.

  Kavan swelled with pride when he finished crafting an iron pitchfork. Durzol was impressed and let Kavan know, when he was ready to build a forge on his property, he would be happy to help.

  The next day, Kavan walked up to Lorta’s farm door, new pitchfork in hand. When the beautiful troll answered, he bowed to her and presented her with his gift. The troll was speechless. One hand grabbed the pitchfork, while the other grabbed Kavan. The only thing he remembered from that moment was his face being pulled into the troll’s warm, overall covered bosom. When she seemed to catch herself, she quickly pulled away and apologized profusely. It all led to an awkward moment with Kavan smiling and Lorta standing with pink cheeks.

  It didn’t take long after that before Lorta started visiting Kavan’s farm. Kavan, Onka, and Lorta began working together to repair and strengthen the barn. After a week, the roof was patched and bad wood was replaced with new, stronger wood. Wood was stacked next to the small stone hearth. The inside was cleaned and made ready to house any livestock Kavan planned to have.

  When evenings approached, Kavan pushed himself to make his first bed. Sleeping on the floor wasn’t sitting well with him and his sore body. Wood was chopped, cut and sanded down. It became a project he liked to work on in the evenings. It only took him a few days, but when the last piece slid into its notch, he placed a mattress filled with fur and feathers on it. A new fur blanket laid on it and comfortable pillows lined the top of the bed. The dragonkin fell into it and slept peacefully for the first time since he arrived. All of it helped ease Kavan’s exhausted body and start a new day fresh.

  After over a month since Kavan arrived, the dragonkin looked around his property with a sense of accomplishment. The farmhouse didn’t look as shabby as when he first arrived. New windows were installed. The walls were a patchwork of new and old lumber, but Kavan didn’t care as long as it kept the rain out and the heat in. The barn looked brand new. His small workshop on the side of the barn had a wood saw and he planned where the forge would go. It all began to truly feel like home.

  There is still much to do.

  The dragonkin nodded to himself as the morning sun brightened.

  “Kavan!” shouted a voice from the road.

  Kavan smiled to himself before turning to the road next to his farm. Onka and Lorta walked up to his gate. The goblin opened the gate, a satchel bouncing off the side of her hip. Lorta stepped in, a large, clay pot in her arms. The pot was nearly half her size and yet she seemed to carry it effortlessly.

  Kavan rushed to them. “I can help.”

  Lorta shook her head, barely visible over the pot, “It’s not heavy.”

  “It’s a new vat to hatch your livestock!” On
ka beamed. “We just have to get it in your barn.”

  Kavan nodded and the three of them made their way to the barn. The large door was pulled open and the trio made their way inside. Lorta moved to the corner closest to the door. She set the vat down easily and stepped back.

  “You’ll have to make a bed for your livestock. It takes a few days to hatch the egg, plenty of time to have it ready,” Lorta informed.

  “I’ll start working on it today,” Kavan said before turning to the vat. “So, how does this work, exactly?”

  Onka nodded and stepped closer to the vat. She turned around and put her hand on the top lid of the large, clay pot.

  “It’s a simple process. I brought an assortment of eggs for you to pick from, but first, you need to fill the vat with water. Any water will do. Once you pick your egg, you submerge it.”

  The goblin reached into the satchel and pulled out a small crystal. She held it before Kavan for him to see.

  “This is an Awakening Crystal. Once the water and egg are in the vat, you drop in this crystal. It will activate and slowly fill the vat with light. The energy will seep into the egg and after a few days, the egg will hatch with a full-grown creature.”

  “They don’t start out as babies?” Kavan asked.

  Onka let out a small laugh. “It would take much longer to raise them and not worth the effort. Most livestock are bred on farms from infancy to adulthood. Once they reach the proper age, they are magically shrunk down and an egg casing closes around them. It puts them in a deep sleep and keeps them healthy. It makes them much easier to transport as well.

  “Once the activation process begins, it cannot be reversed. It’s unhealthy to the livestock to egg them more than once. Usually, once they hatch, they are in their forever home.”

  Onka dug around in her satchel and pulled out an egg. She handed it to Lorta. The big troll took the egg as the goblin dug around and pulled out two more. Kavan eyed the eggs. They were brown in color, but each one had different colored spots. One had red spots, another had white spots and the last one had purple spots.

  Kavan’s gaze gravitated to the egg with purple spots. Onka caught Kavan’s gaze and smiled wider.

  “Good choice,” the goblin grinned.

  “I haven't picked one yet.”

  Onka nodded. “You did, with your eyes,” she said before putting the other two eggs into her satchel. “You should always go with your gut.”

  Onka walked up to Kavan and handed him the egg. “You should inspect it first.”

  Kavan turned the egg around in his hands. He wasn’t sure what he should be looking for and assumed it was fine.

  “Before buying an egg, you should check for cracks and unusual spots. If there is a spot, or spots, that don’t match the others, the egg could be corrupted. Nothing worse than waiting a few days for it to hatch and have dead livestock.”

  Kavan nodded and looked from the egg to the goblin, “It seems like it's fine. What’s next?”

  Onka smiled. “We fill the vat.”

  “Do you have a bucket?” Lorta asked.

  Kavan nodded and walked outside the barn and to the workshop area. He lifted two wood buckets he made and turned to the troll and goblin.

  “Let’s get started,” Kavan said.

  The next few, long moments were Kavan and Lorta bringing buckets of water from the pond and dumping the contents into the vat. Onka cheered them on as they walked back and forth a number of times.

  When the vat was filled to the top with pond water, Onka stepped to it with the egg Kavan chose and an activation crystal.

  “It’s best if you do the honors,” Onka said and held both to the dragonkin.

  Kavan took hold of the egg and crystal. He looked down into the water filled vat. Next, he gently placed it in until it touched the bottom. He then dropped the crystal in. For a short moment, nothing happened.

  “Wait for it,” Onka said.

  Sure enough, the vat began to glow with a pale, blue light. Onka placed the lid on top of it. It didn’t screw in or such, but simply laid on the top of the vat.

  “There! In a few days, you should have your very own taur,” Onka grinned.

  Kavan nodded. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Six gold coins. Pay me when you can,” the goblin said whimsically.

  Kavan smiled.

  Lorta shifted on her feet with her head tilted forward and her eyes looking away. “I have to get back to my farm. I was simply taking a break to help Onka move the vat. I’m sure my bolids and harpies are getting into trouble.”

  Kavan noticed the shy uneasiness in the troll. “Do you have to go?”

  Onka spoke up next, “Yea, I was thinking of showing Kavan the beach today. You could join us.”

  Lorta’s eyes widened a little as heat touched her blue cheeks. “I… I would like that, but I really need to get back.”

  “If you change your mind, we will be at the beach for a little while,” Onka said with a warm tone.

  Lorta nodded before she turned in one direction and then another. Kavan and Onka watched as the tall troll didn’t seem to know where to go. She made a full spin before her cheeks glowed hot. Before Kavan or Onka could say anything, Lorta sighed, turned, and marched quickly for the front gate of Woodhaven farm.

  The moment Lorta was far enough away, Onka smiled wider. “She’s really into you.”

  Kavan simply blinked. “I only gave her a new pitchfork. I thought a useful gift meant a better friendship?”

  Onka shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that all the time. You could give her a shiny rock from the floor and she would be falling all over herself to be with you. If she wasn’t interested, she would have just thanked you, but that’s not what she told me.”

  Kavan looked down at the goblin, “What did she tell you?”

  Onka looked up with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “She hugged you and was so embarrassed, she had to fight the urge to shove you off her porch.”

  Kavan sighed. “I really don’t understand how all of this works.”

  Onka reared back her hand and smacked Kavan across his rump. “Good! It will keep you on your toes. And speaking of leggy creatures, have you seen Zellee yet? She keeps talking about you when I see her.”

  Kavan blinked again. “I… hadn’t had time to stop by her shop. I feel I need to bring her a gift and I don’t know what to give.”

  The dragonkin’s brow made a slight V. “And why are you so interested in pushing me to see others?”

  The goblin let out a sharp laugh. “Let’s talk as we walk to the beach.”

  Onka took Kavan’s hand and pulled him along. The dragonkin followed, the pair of them stepping past the main gate and onto the south road.

  Kavan stared into the small distance, seeing the blue waters of the Azure Sea. He guessed it would take a little over ten minutes to walk to the beach. He then glanced down at his hand, Onka still holding it.

  Onka squeezed his hand as they walked. “That night we spent together was very special. I think about it from time to time. I would love to climb you like a tree again, but I think there are many more hearts that need you.”

  The goblin looked up to Kavan with a sly smirk, “Besides, I’m not sure you know you don’t need to settle down with just one lover.”

  Kavan looked down on the goblin as they walked. “I was beginning to get that impression from what you told me before about relationships in Moonvale. I…” Kavan trailed off.

  “I sensed it that night. You were holding back,” Onka said bluntly.

  Kavan sighed. “Where I come from, it’s not seen as something everyone does. You can see people, but you often settle down with just one.”

  Onka let go of Kavan’s hand, darted forward and spun into a cartwheel. The dragonkin watched as the short goblin rolled onto her feet again, bent her legs and jumped into the air. She spun around and landed on the dirt road, facing Kavan with her arms out.

  “Who cares what it means from where you came fr
om! Moonvale is free of such thinking! You should embrace your freedom! Follow your heart!”

  The beautiful goblin crossed her arms and stared at Kavan with bright, yellow eyes. “I know your heart wants more.”

  Kavan nodded. “Not just with romance and love. I want more with everything.”

  Onka turned and started walking beside Kavan once again, “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  “Are we friends?” Kavan asked with genuine curiosity.

  Onka nodded. “Yes, very good friends now. I don’t just sleep with anyone.”

  Kavan smiled. “I don’t just want to have a nice farm and gold coming in. Kogan spoke about how there is no leadership among the kingdoms. He mentioned how the dragonkin have shut themselves off to the rest of Voldor. I keep asking myself, how long can this continue?”

  Kavan’s eyes took on a shadowy edge. “Where I came from, because of an accident, my life was over. I knew I would live the rest of my short days in pain.

  “Since I arrived here, every day feels like I found a second chance, my second chance. Moonvale can be so much more. I see what the mayor is trying to accomplish, but I think he is thinking too small. I have nothing against him, but I know we can do better.”

  Onka gave a firm nod, “What can we do better?”

  “The people in town need to feel safe. After that, we can expand the town into a real kingdom. I know it’s only been over a month, but I can see the potential.”

  Kavan lifted a scaled hand up and looked at it, “I have to become stronger. It’s the only way to make sure Moonvale is ready to grow.”

  Onka licked her lips as she looked up at Kavan. Her heart thudded in her chest as she could see the ambition in his eyes.

  “I think you're going to be a legend around here,” the goblin said before turning her attention forward.

  “We’re here.”

  Kavan lowered his hand and looked up. The ocean scent drifted over his senses as he stared out at the bluest sea he had ever seen in his life. Waves curled and crashed onto the beach. The white noise of the tides soothed his nerves. White birds floated on thermals, their small squawks carrying on the wind.