Aviva regarded the dwarf with a haughty expression, her eyes cold and aloof. "I'm here to see the dragons," she announced, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.The dwarf rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and why should I let you do that?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "You some kind of dragon expert?"Aviva laughed, a scornful sound that made the dwarf's blood boil. "Hardly," she said. "I'm a goddess, you fool. And I demand to be treated with respect."The dwarf's face turned red with anger. He didn't take kindly to being called a fool, especially by some snooty goddess who thought she was better than everyone else. "And who says I have to respect you?" he asked, his voice rising in volume. "What makes you so special?"Aviva glared at the dwarf, her eyes blazing with a divine light. "I am the goddess of the sun, you miserable little man," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "My power dwarfs yours, and you would do well to remember that."Finn had had enough. "F

"Thank you for being so understanding," she said, her voice still a bit shaky. "I know I wasn't my best self out there." She gestured towards the door, where she and Finn had had their confrontation."We all have our moments," Markus said, giving her a kind smile. "But you're still welcome here, and we're glad to have you."Aviva's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly blinked them away. "Thank you, truly," she said, her voice full of emotion."My friends," Aviva began, her voice echoing in the great hall, "I have gathered you here today to discuss a matter of great importance. The safety of our lands depends on it."Talia, the goddess of hunting, crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, her expression skeptical. "What is it that you wish to discuss, your grace?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension."I wish to speak of the beast hunters," Aviva said, her gaze shifting between the faces of those gathered around the table. "They are, without a doubt, the most lege

As the ship rocked and rolled on the waves, Markus struggled to keep his balance. He felt his stomach churning, and a wave of nausea hit him. He clutched the railing, trying to focus on the horizon, but the sight of the moving water only made his stomach turn. He felt a bit like a fish out of water, completely out of his element. Meanwhile, the other crew members moved around the ship with ease, their "sea legs" having developed over time. But for Markus, this was all new and disorienting.As the pirate ship pulled alongside, its crew began to scramble across the narrow gap between the two vessels. They moved quickly and agilely, clearly experienced in such maneuvers. But as they began to swarm across the deck, the captain was ready for them. With a single swift movement, he drew his sabre and plunged it deep into the mast, using it as a makeshift ladder to descend onto the deck. He landed with a thud, his sword already in hand, ready for battle.Juniper turned sad that the sail was

The beast hunters arrived. "Are you for us or against us?"Markus stared at Ugochukwu, feeling a strange mix of fear and awe. He had never seen a man so large, so imposing. Ugochukwu's voice was deep and booming, and his eyes were dark and inscrutable. He was an intimidating figure, but there was also something strangely compelling about him. He seemed to exude power and authority, but there was also a hint of something else, something that Markus couldn't quite put his finger on."I am for peace," Markus said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I seek only to protect those who cannot protect themselves.Ugochukwu studied Markus for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke again, his words slow and deliberate. "You claim to seek peace, yet you bring death and destruction. How can you justify this?"Markus took a deep breath, trying to find the words to explain himself. "The Spidynx were terrorizing the villages, killing innocent people. I did what I had to do to stop them."

Juniper blinked, looking at Carnelian like she'd just seen a ghost. "I... I've never seen you before in my life."Carnelian let out a small laugh, clapping her hands together. "Oh, but we did meet. You were just a baby then.""I doubt I'd forget someone like you." Juniper said, not quite convinced.Spike, meanwhile, was staring at the two of them in confusion. "You mean we're related? Like cousins?" he asked, his eyes wide. "Is that why you're always hanging out at our house?"Carnelian nodded. "That's exactly why." she said, smiling. "I've been watching over you all this time, making sure you're safe."Juniper scoffed, crossing her arms. "You didn't do a very good job then. Spike got kidnapped."Spike looked at Juniper, feeling a bit betrayed. "You didn't have to bring that up.""I'm just being honest, Spike." Juniper said, giving him a half-apologetic look. "You can't deny it was a bad situation."Dorian, sensing the tension in the air, cleared his throat. "I think we're getting off