The Human Trial

Ragnar, I love everything about you. I love the warm and sharp scent of your body. Your deep, rough laughter. I would fall in love with you over and over again, even if I lost my memory a thousand times.

— Sophia

~~~

Rast's eyes scanning the area for any signs of his friend, Arnulp. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the forest floor. His dragon, Sopheor, landed, her scales shimmering in the fading light.

Rast dismounted and began to examine the ground, looking for any clues. He soon found evidence of a recent camp.

The ashes of a fire pit, faint but still warm, indicated that someone had been there not long ago. Sopheor lowered her head, sniffing the air and the ground around the campsite.

Rast knelt beside the fire pit, running his fingers through the ashes.

"These are still warm," he muttered to himself. He looked at Sopheor, who was still sniffing the air intently.