Author's Preface
"What happened to your arm?" Gilmer inspected the gauntlet. "Thank god the gauntlet is okay, though."
"Yes, thank the gods the gauntlet is okay, BUT MY FUCKING ARM IS MISSING! YOU REALLY ARE A BITTER, CRAZY OLD MAN."
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT I WAS FORCED TO HAND THEM OVER TO SOME WEAKLING WHO CAN'T KEEP HIS ARMS ATTACHED!"
"I'M GOING TO THROW YOU INTO YOUR OWN FUCKING FORGE, GILMER!"
"WHAT, WITH YOUR DEMON DICKS? I DARE YOU TO TRY."
Alyssara stepped between them. "Wait, so you two know each other?"
"We've met," Gilmer said.
"Well, I came to see if you can make him an arm with that gauntlet."
Gilmer tilted his head. "There isn't enough material here to do that."
Alyssara reached into her bag, pulled something out, and put it in front of Gilmer. "How about using this too?"
Gilmer's eyes went wide. "A dragon bone?" He looked at Ryan. "You sure you want to waste a dragon bone on this kid?"
"Well, he is our savior, and I owe him an arm. So... yeah. Please, Gilmer, do it for me."
"Tch, fine. Come here, boy. Let me measure the arm you did manage to save."
Ryan stuck his arm out. "Have you ever done this before? I really don't want some deformed-looking arm."
"I haven't, but how hard can it be?" Gilmer took measurements of Ryan's arm. "Give me a few months, and I should have it done."
Ryan looked at Alyssara. "You sure about this?"
"Of course. My mother and father approved. Plus, dragon bones carry magical properties, so whatever Gilmer comes up with should be amazing."
Ryan sighed and looked at Gilmer one last time. "Don't fuck up my arm, Gilmer." Ryan turned and walked out.
Gilmer grabbed Alyssara's arm. "That kid is special, so I understand why you are doing this. But what do you mean he is your savior?"
Alyssara explained the events with Ixur, Turux, and the Shadow Clan to Gilmer. Gilmer stared at the door as if he could see Ryan outside. "Holy shit." He looked at the gauntlet and the dragon bone. "I will make sure this is my greatest work. Just don't tell the kid that."
Alyssara smiled, bowed, and walked out. She met Ryan outside. "Ready to go to Elyndor?"
Ryan nodded. Alyssara transformed.
"I'll drop you right at the edge of the forest to the west. There aren't many villagers or elves there who can spot me."
"Sounds good." Ryan hopped on her back. "You know, you never did explain how you tracked me down and knew I was the one you were looking for."
Alyssara turned her head. "Yeah, I know."
"What the fuck kind of answer is that?"
Alyssara flapped her wings and began flying as fast as she could.
"ALYSSARA, THAT ISN'T A FUCKING ANSWER!"
Alyssara laughed as they flew over the forest toward Elyndor. Alyssara landed at the edge of the western forest. She transformed again and stood in front of Ryan. "Seriously, thank you for everything. If you need the dragons for anything in the future, let us know, and we will be there."
Ryan bowed. "It was my pleasure, Princess. Look after your brother. Although the Shadow Clan has joined dragon society, I fear the hatred and disdain aren't going away anytime soon."
"You're right, but now that Ixur is gone, there's not much to stand in the way of progress." Alyssara transformed into her dragon form one last time. "I hope you won't be a stranger!" She flapped her wings and left.
"If I have anything to say about it, I won't be going to the Dragonlands anytime soon. Take care, Alyssara." Ryan mumbled under his breath as he waved, turned toward Elyndor, and began walking.
Ryan opened his system window.
[Mana Reserves: 2350/∞]
Ryan sighed and summoned the egg out of his shadow. "You aren't by chance going to hatch anytime soon, are you? I would appreciate it if you hurry the fuck up!" Ryan put the egg back into his shadow and stopped dead in his tracks. "NO, NO, NO. I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!"
He opened his system window again.
[Mana Reserves: 1850/∞]
[Shadow Dragon Egg: 1000 Mana/Day Drain]
Ryan hit his knees and screamed. "SON OF A BITCH!"
Ryan screamed loud enough that a group of adventurers heard him. In a matter of a minute, four adventurers appeared before him and watched him punch the ground repeatedly.
"Umm... sir, are you okay?"
"Fuck." Ryan sighed and slipped his mask on. "I am." He stood and stared at the adventurers.
"We are on our way to Elyndor with a caravan. If you'd like, you can join us."
Ryan nodded. "That would be great." Ryan followed the adventurers and stayed behind them, but he could still hear their conversation.
"That's him. Look at his mask!"
"No way. He only has one arm."
"Yeah, and I barely sensed any mana at all from him. Imposters are everywhere now. Adventurers left and right are popping up wearing masks now."
Ryan shook his head. "So I have copycats, huh?" He raised his hand to his mask. "These enchantments really do work." Ryan smiled as they reached the caravan. One adventurer turned to him.
"You can ride in one of the carriages. The monsters on this road are strong, and I'd hate for you to get hurt."
Ryan smiled. "Sure, whatever you say, bud."
"Adventurers need to be taught lesson. Master strong. They weak."
"It's okay, Meatloaf." Ryan chuckled and thought to himself. It's a good thing he can't leave the Shadow Realm on his own yet. Ryan chuckled as the carriages began moving toward Elyndor.
As the carriages pulled into Elyndor, Ryan hung his head outside the carriage window and took a whiff of the air. "Ahhh. Yes, it's good to be back." The carriage pulled up to the Adventurers Guild's front door. Ryan hopped out, thanked the random adventurers who gave him a ride, and walked inside. As he reached the front counter, the same woman who told him he couldn't take the little girl's mission was standing behind it. Ryan stood in line and waited his turn.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
Ryan tilted his head a little bit and didn't speak.
"Sir, if you want to register with the Guild, you're in the wrong line."
"Register? Seriously?"
Behind the woman, a door flew open as Nyx walked through. "Kade! Welcome back. Come to my office."
Ryan sighed. "Damn it, I really wanted some peace."
The woman slowly opened the door to the back area for Ryan and stared at him. "Is it really you?"
Ryan lifted the mask just enough to show the lower half of his face as he smiled at her. He lowered his mask and followed Nyx upstairs to his office.
As Nyx walked upstairs, Ryan cleared his throat. "Umm... how the hell did you know it was me? Or that I was even here?"
"Oh. You think those fancy enchantments work on someone like me?" Nyx stopped and stared at Ryan for a moment. "It appears you've underestimated me. I can read your mana signature. It's unique, undeniable, and certainly unmistakable."
Ryan lowered his head. He remembered what he was told about talents or those who were just plain strong still being able to detect his mana. "So, is it your talent, or are you just crazy strong?"
"Do you wish to find out? I'd say either way, you wouldn't fare too well with only one arm."
"Dick," Ryan said under his breath as Nyx led him into his office.
As Ryan walked in, he stopped in his tracks. Samuel stood from the couch and turned toward Ryan. Auntie stood behind him. Samuel stared Ryan up and down for ten seconds.
"Oh my god, what happened to your arm?" He looked at Nyx. "I will talk to my father. We will get the best blacksmiths and enchanters available to make you a new one."
Ryan waved his hand in the air. "Whoa, tiger, relax. It's already taken care of... I think."
Ryan sat down on the couch next to Samuel. Auntie reached down and grabbed Ryan's shoulder. "I see someone made you pay for that mouth of yours finally."
"Now, now, be nice." Nyx leaned forward and grabbed a cup of tea. "I do wish to know how your little adventure went."
Ryan sighed. "I just helped a little girl find her father."
"What about the brother she said was missing?"
Ryan paused and thought for a moment. "Motherfucker... you're right." His hand reached his chin, and he took his mask off and placed it on the table. "She played me."
Nyx leaned back on the couch. "What do you mean?"
"I think she was in cahoots with her brother. Her brother wasn't kidnapped. He simply had a different mother and was basically exiled, I guess. But that means..."
"Interesting." Nyx took a sip of tea.
Ryan shook his head. "Damn, I didn't even think about the brother going missing after she bit my arm off." Ryan's eyes went wide as he stared at Nyx, who was smiling ear to ear. Ryan groaned.
"You already know, don't you?"
Nyx smiled and set his teacup down. "It is a discussion for another day. Samuel and I do have a task for you, though."
Ryan looked at Samuel, who stared at his missing arm.
"Your arm got bit off by a little girl? Is that her talent? What were your shadows doing? Where is she now? Where is your arm? Maybe we can reattach it."
Ryan laughed. "It's okay, Samuel. It's a long story, one I don't care to get into the second I get back."
Auntie smacked the back of Samuel's head.
"Ow." Samuel rubbed his head. "Fine, I get it."
"So, how do you plan to annoy and irritate me now, Nyx?"
Nyx brought a hand to his chest. "Ahh. I'm offended, but we need you to go to the Demon Continent."