Chapter 55 – Dwarfs

Chapter 55 – Dwarfs

---Should be a poll at the bottom of the page, just want to know you viewers opinions on something, obvs don't vote if you don't want to :)

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"Ikarus, they're already dead"

"I know, I'm making sure they can't revive in the afterlife"

I've done what I previously said, these wolfs cease to exist and now are just a tiny pile of ash. I'm making sure to burn them even more so, Petra is standing by my side while I'm doing such an important task.

"They're only wolfs Ikarus, no need for such a thing"

"They dared to get involved while you and me were swimming, that's more than enough justification to obliterate them"

She smiled to my response, I'm just a little pissed since I was trying to make Petra feel better and they provided a dumb distraction. I guess it did help distract us both but still, they still deserve no mercy.

(Charlotte) "Are you two okay?"

(Nathan) "We rushed over as fast as we could"

Both of the other two-party members have now just decided to join us, damn slow idiots. I'm still in a bit of a mood it seems.

It was at this moment, I only just realized what I'm wearing. Shit, both of them can see me wearing this dumb thing as well.

Petra at the very least decided to put her robe back on before coming over here, I literally ran out to flamethrower these wolfs wearing this stupid bikini, sighhh.

Wait, I'll just change form, it's enchanted and that'll make this whole process quicker...

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(Petra) "Should be just over there"

"Is this the right location though?"

I'm a little confused on something now, the dwarven mountains are supposed to be further north than these, we seem to be not at the right location. We're looking at a large cave entrance from up in the sky above the howling forest right now, this cave entrance sits at a base of one of these mountains.

"This cave system leads to a large bridge that traverses the gap, have been here before Ikarus"

"I'm not doubting you; it just seems like we're on the wrong island"

I mean, we technically are, the elven continent is made up of three massive landmasses. The first part is connected to my parents' mountain range and the empire, the second is the large land that has the howling forest on and is split by a huge river, the third is an island in the far northwest which has the volcano and the mountains that the dwarfs apparently live in.

There's also a load of little islands scattered around the outside of the continent's north and west coast but they're not really relevant.

We land anyway next to the large cave looking entrance and everyone gets off my back.

"Have to change form as well Ikarus otherwise it might get a little tight in the caves"

Probably a good idea, meeting a bunch of dwarfs as a big orange chicken might be risky. No idea what the dwarfs in this world are like but for some reason, I'm getting the idea they might be grumpy people who'd like the idea of frying a big chicken.

I'm actually making myself hungry now, why is fried chicken so good? All those secret herbs and spices, urghhh...

I change form and do the same old routine, only this time having the enchanted clothing on. Forgot to take it off last time so that's the reason why it's still on, it's also still on under my dress right now. I guess I have unfortunately been convinced that wearing this isn't the end of world, stupid Aesa.

All four of us enter the large cave entrance, this one already seems to be endless just from the little amount we've already seen. Not the height or width, just that it seems to go long and far.

"Be warned Ikarus, we may have to take a break or two"

"Why's that?"

"This cave is a very long, this'll take a couple of days before we get to the entrance itself"

Couldn't she have told me this beforehand? It wouldn't have made any difference I guess, the thought of getting enchanted clothing that actually is clothing is too important to turn down. I guess spending a couple of days in a cave isn't the worst thing in the world.

"Hmph, I have gotten a lot better with my impatience I'll have you know"

"I know, just giving you a heads up"

"We'll help you get through Ikarus-sama"

(Nathan) "Yeah, we've got your back"

I swear these two are subconsciously annoying at time, is it really that hard to believe I've actually mentally developed? Petra's concern was just giving me a heads up for God's sake.

Well anyway, it's time to head into the dwarven kingdom, very slowly.

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"Are we finally here?"

(Petra) "Yes Ikarus, that's the door"

(Charlotte) "That journey wasn't all that easy"

(Nathan) "I agree Lotte, that was a difficult trip"

Those two do have a point, that wasn't an easy trip, mostly because of how much walking through narrow parts and down to the winding of the caves. These caves don't seem natural though, at least I think they aren't. There only seems to be one way in and out so getting lost is nearly impossible thankfully, it still doesn't help how long it was travelling these narrow and windy caves.

Petra was right, it took two days to get to this point, a large metal door stands in our way now, probably the entrance to the kingdom itself. Petra seems to have a slight smile on her face now though.

"Heh, fancy doing something funny Ikarus?"

"Always"

Petra then whispers something in my ear, I'm a little unsure why she thinks it'll be funny but I'll do it nonetheless.

I go up to the large metal door and bang on it hard, then instantly after the first bang before I have the chance to do it again, a small letterbox slit opens at my eyesight level and a pair of eyes as well as bushy eyebrows greet me.

"Who's wants entry?"

"Your mother Nickolas, she wants her gold back"

"Fuck"

Immediately, the slit closes and a small thump hits the back of the door.

It's kinda odd, the female dwarfs look nearly identical to the males other than the beards and even some of the children look to have slight beards as well. Their species really do be a bit odd but I'm a talking bird that basically was fully grown in months so the irony isn't lost on me.

It's quite odd, we don't actually get many looks despite us towering over them, they clearly don't seem to hold much dislike of humans, or human looking phoenixes. They're definitely better than the racist beastmen we came across.

(Charlotte) "We'll meet you back here in a week then"

(Nathan) "Yeah, sounds like a plan"

Those two actually look slightly happy from getting more solitude, it's really proving difficult to not tease them. Thanks Zeki for making me less obnoxious, feel like I've lost a bit of my personality.

Still need to decide how to handle priestess and the knight when the royals die, that's not worth thinking about right now though. I'm hoping they don't have to die but if it comes down to it, then it might have to happen. If we plan this out well enough though, then we might be able to get around it but we're still a ways away from that.

Now that those two have left us, Petra seems a little happy about something. Did she really want some alone time then?

"Heh, there is another reason why it's good those two are gone Ikarus"

She has a slight coy smile as well, what is going on inside her brain right now?

__________

"Bloody hell! This is strong!"

"Heh, it does hold a kick"

Before we got on the train heading towards the northern part of the mountainous island, Petra suggested we had to get a drink somewhere, I of course would never say no to such an opportunity.

This bar is packed full of dwarves all drinking similar drinks to what we're having, don't have a clue what it is since dwarfs have weird names for alcoholic drinks. I guess it's similar to a beer but it also tastes a little similar to a cider, odd choice but it's still nice, it is bloody strong though.

Oh, they have their own language but loads of them speak the same language spoken in the empire, makes no difference to me and Petra, language translators for the win.

The dwarfs might have an alcohol problem, I've had just a couple of drinks and can already feel a slight effect kicking in. This would be pure poison to a species that can't handle alcohol, absolutely love it but we should probably start heading off, we are basically day drinking after all.

"We should probably head to the north now though otherwise we'll end up spending hours in this bar"

That might be the first time I've suggested leaving while having a drink, this stuff will kick my arse if I drink more of it. It really is that strong, even I should be careful.

"One more won't hurt"

"Erm... fine then"

She's a bad influence on me at times.

Petra heads up to the bar and gets some looks from the dwarfs around the place, she almost seems to be a slight celebrity around here.

She did tell me slightly the reason why during the first drink here, it sounds like they owe her a lot. Not in money, just in favours, it almost sounds like she's helped out every dwarf who holds an important role in this city, she does get around a lot I guess. Six-hundred years would do that for you.

"Heya lass, want to share a drink with us two?"

"We won't bite, honest!"

While Petra has gone to get us another drink, two dwarven men have come over to the table we are sitting on and have taken a seat next to me. Am I seriously getting hit on by a couple of dwarfs? Unsure how to respond to this, this type of thing hasn't happened yet surprisingly enough.

"Erm, I'm really not alo-"

It was just then, I noticed an aura more deadly and serious than anything I've ever experienced, except once before. Then it left in a split second when I looked where it was coming from.

"Sorry for making you wait too long Ikarus, there was a slight line"

It was at this moment, sweat appeared on the two dwarfs faces and they quickly tried to rush away, the smiling Petra has now put the fear of God in those two.

"S-Sorry, we'll be leaving!"

"We'll s-screw off now!"

I don't think I've seen people try to run away faster than that, she's basically a celebrity so no one's even batting an eyelid at what just happened, she probably could get away with murder if she wanted too here.

"Got these drinks to go since you wanted to leave, we can enjoy them on the train"

'Is she seriously trying to pretend I didn't see that?'

Urgh, let's just head off then.

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While we're heading to the train station tunnel heading down some mountain stairs, I can't help myself but ask what just happened? My curiosity sometimes cannot help itself.

"Oi, what was that?"

"What was what?"

She just gives me a smile while responding as well, is she seriously trying to play dumb, her aura was similar to how my mother was when she burnt down the city. Does she seriously get that jealous or something?

"Was that jealously? I've never felt your aura go like that"

She takes a second before answering, then does her laughing heh thing basically shrugging it off.

"Heh, you noticed that then?"

No no no, I know what you're doing Petra, stop playing dumb.

"You know, if we ended up together, you'd have to control yourself in situations like that"

Feel a little wrong giving her a lecture but damn, she really had the aura of a psycho killer then. Heh, wasn't that a song? Ah forget it, getting distracted.

"Those two have tried the same type of thing with me before, it isn't what you think Ikarus"

You know what? I don't believe her, maybe they tried it on with her but that slight anger was clearly out of jealously, at least she can still control herself in that situation then I guess. Killing someone who approaches me to flirt is something that should be very much avoided, it's a good thing this was the first time. So weird that it was two dwarfs who did such a thing as well.

"Whether it's that or not, still might want to be careful"

"Ikarus, it's not that but promise I will be"

I'll just forget about it then; we should be near the station now so it's time to head to the northern part of this mountain kingdom.

For some reason though, I think I'm irritated at myself more than her, kinda liked Petra getting jealous over me like that...