By: Yuer Li

Chapter 3

Alisa led Mary to the dragon that had attempted to eat her. Alisa muttered a spell, and the obsidian dragon stood, smelling Alisa from head to toe like a dog.

“This is Dared,” Alisa announced, petting Dared on the head.

“Why did the ob— Dared, try to eat me?” Mary asked, crossing her arms.

“Look,” Alisa said, sighing while she pulled a saddle from her satchel. “Dared is like a puppy. Besides, he didn’t know you weren’t an Unbeliever,” she explained.

“Okay, fine,” Mary muttered, looking down. Alisa finally secured the saddle, which somehow had fit in her satchel. She climbed onto Dared.

“Hop on,” Alisa instructed. Mary did. They took off, through rolling green hills and murky swamps. Finally, they arrived at a quiet spot to let Dared have a drink. He slurped the water loudly. Alisa tapped her foot, rolled her shoulders, and cracked her knuckles.

“What are you doing?” Mary inquired. Alisa only smirked. Then Alisa waved her hands in a rectangular shape. A glowing purple box appeared, showing a scowling face.

“This is the leader of the Unbelievers,” Alisa scowled at the face. Mary studied it. It was a pale man, in chrome-like robes. Deep scowl lines marked his face.

“You must stay away from him, don’t even talk to him,” Alisa growled. Mary nodded, and Alisa made a slicing motion with her hand. The picture disappeared. They remounted Dared, then took off again.

A few hours later, Mary spotted purple structures in the distance. They glowed brightly in the sunlight.

“Come on!” Alisa exclaimed when they landed. “Let me introduce you to Gamel Bennet!”

She confidently strolled in. Mary marveled at the walls one last time before walking in.