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Amalia thought perhaps the Dragon and her could be friends since he was forcing them to occupy the same space and they had saved each other.

That seems like a farfetched reality.

Deciding to take up his advice, she started to wander the tunnels to distract herself. She peeked her head inside each alcove, finding them mostly less than boring.

Many held treasures. They did appear somewhat organised, though. Piles of gold and jewels in two. A room filled with chests she guessed were full of clothes. Another with furniture. There was a room of different kinds of armour bearing crests of kingdoms and noble houses she’d never heard of.

She stopped when she came to an alcove of weapons.

If only I knew how to fight, maybe I could fight him and flee.

Curious, she stepped inside and picked up a claymore sword. She had to use two hands because it was awkward, and she’d never held a sword before, but eventually she did pick it up. The tip stayed against the ground, and she wasn’t able to lift it much higher for more than a few seconds. I cannot use this.

She picked up a bow and pulled the string back as best as she could. Pushing her head into the space she’d created, she pretended to aim it across the room.

Then she let the string go.

It slapped her in the back of the head and then the long handle smacked her in the face. Instantly she felt blood pooling in her nose.

She placed it on the ground with her eyes darting around, thankful that the Dragon hadn’t seen her do that.

She then picked up a mace. It wasn’t as heavy as the broad sword, and she twirled it with two hands. With a smile, she then spun in a circle with it.

The spinning momentum she got was quite exhilarating.

Oh, I very much like this weapon.She twirled the mace again and then slammed the ball into the ground with a loud thud. She did it repeatedly.I wonder if I could use this.

She spun it again in a circle around her body – only to realise she was now being watched. She cringed when she accidentally let it go.

It sailed in the air, eventually copping the Dragon in the snout.

“My apologies.”

She winced when he huffed at her and walked away once more, but in the opposite direction he’d gone before.

Deciding that being in a room that she’d managed to hurt them both in was no longer a good idea, she left the weapons alcove.I doubt I would win if I fought him anyway.

To her relief, she finally happened across the many books he’d been speaking of.

In a large alcove, the only one matching the size of the one she’d woken up in, were towers of books. They were neatly piled on top of each other, and she could barely reach the tallest ones with the reach of her fingertips.

There were also chests here, but when she tried to open them, she discovered they were locked.I wonder what books lay inside them.

She started going through the stacks while creating herself a small pile she would come back to read. The number of books in this alcove was daunting, and she knew it would take her a long time to sort through them. It was perfect to allow her some time to herself, to process what she was going through.

Amalia didn’t know how long she’d been in there, going through them all, but she barely made a dent. Yet, there was something she couldn’t ignore, hadn’t realised she’d been ignoring for quite some time.

“Lord WitchSlayer!” she yelled, walking down the tunnel in the direction she’d seen him go last.

“Did you honestly just call me Lord WitchSlayer?” he called back groggily, but she couldn’t help but notice the note of humour in it.

“Well, what else am I supposed to call you?”

She followed where the voice came from to an alcove of treasure she’d visited earlier – one only of gold and jewels.

She didn’t see him inside.

“Hey, where did you go?”