When I first started teaching at Verdia, it was like opening a door to a secret room full of knowledge that had been waiting just for me.
Thanks to Rubbish (George), I had the freedom and tools to do something meaningful.
The RRV were where I felt most alive, surrounded by the noisy chaos, all sorts of contraptions. I showed the locals some basic stuff from my past, like gears that could make things run smoother and rifling that would make bullets fly straighter. They were skeptical at first, but once they saw the difference it made, they were hooked.
Life became a mix of teaching, playing around with new ideas, and building cool stuff.
I liked watching when students really got it, when they saw how things worked and got excited about it. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more out there to learn, more secrets to find. And George, that sly fox, knew it.
That's when he brought up the idea of a trip to Solara.
He made it sound like a big deal for the kingdom, but I could tell he knew I'd jump at the chance to check it out.
Supposedly, Solara had these special minerals that could change the game for making weapons, and they had some old-school engineering tricks we could use. So, he put me in charge of a team to go find out what was what.
The crew he picked was serious business – ten of the king's soldiers, all battle-hardened and ready for anything.
The boss, Commander Valerius, had a stare that could cut through metal and a way of carrying himself that said he'd seen it all.
We all had to get along for the sake of the mission, even though we were from different worlds. We'd sit around campfires, them in their shiny armor, and me with my books and sketches.
Valerius would tell us war stories in his deep, calm voice, and the other guys, even though they were younger, treated me like I was some kind of hero. It was weird, coming from them.
Things took a turn for the worse when we were climbing up a really nasty mountain pass.
The weather went from nice to hellish in seconds, with these huge dragons swooping down on us like something out of a fairy tale.
I'd always thought dragons were just stories, but when you're staring into the eyes of a creature that could roast you alive, you know they're real.
Our well-trained soldiers turned into a bunch of scared rabbits. The dragons were like nothing we'd ever seen before, just massive and terrifying.
Their fire was like nothing I'd ever felt, turning the air into an oven and turning the ground to ash. I barely had time to shoot one with my crossbow, but it just bounced off like it was nothing.
The dragons tore through us like we were made of paper. Valerius fought like a beast, but even he couldn't do much against those monsters.
In the end, I had to jump into a river to save my own hide. It was like hitting a brick wall made of ice, but it was better than getting roasted. When I came up for air, I could hear the fight going on above, but I couldn't see any of the soldiers anymore.
I made it out of there with my life, but not without scars.
The dragons were a harsh reminder that the world is a dangerous place, and that knowledge doesn't always keep you safe.
Now I'm on my own, trying to stay alive and still hoping to find some answers in Solara. The path ahead is full of risks and unknowns, but I can't help but feel the weight of the things I left behind.
The thrill of discovery is now mixed with the bitter taste of loss. And I know that no matter what I find, it'll never be enough to bring them back.