Long Story | The Grumpy Dwarf

I looked at the bandits' hideout and prepared my axe for the fight, it was time to end my journey. It had been a while since that moment when I lived a simple life in the small town of Odell mining gold with humans. A race that more than helping me looked at me with fear and hatred at the thought "there goes the dwarf", separating me from that society and confining me to live on the outskirts of the village, being only a shadow of what once was my race.

— Duno! Move these boxes out of here!

He was only a humble servant who did everything that those people ordered, a bastard who every day was filled with hatred waiting for his race to become great again, a waiting that more than real was only a fantastic story for me but nevertheless managed to appease my hatred.

After spending hours in the depths of the tunnels I could finally get out and watch the sun at dusk, going to the solitude of the forest where my lonely, gloomy cabin was located.

— Who I am?

However, a skirmish of happiness invaded my body when I had her there.

— Lyanna? —I asked myself.

— Bingo! —she replied.

Her smile always managed to get me out of my darkness, giving me a breath of life in the face of the uncertainties of this society. The relationship that a human could have with a dwarf was somewhat strange, but that was not important, we were happy.

— What have you done today?

— The same as always, mining gold. —I replied.

— There are more important things in the world, Duno. We can always go somewhere else and start again, without the worries of the city dwellers.

— I don't want to go anywhere, I just want to be here with you.

The cold nights became warm with his presence. I was just a grumbler, she was a storm of calm.

— Wake up Duno!

— Lyanna!

— Duno!

That dawn turned into a tragic surprise for me.

— Get the hell out of this town! —shouted a man armed with a dagger.

— Let her go! —I shouted.

— Kill him Daco!

But they were only screams. A thrust went through Lyanna's body, two seconds later it fell to the ground and by the time I reacted, the men had already moved away from the forest, beyond the mountains, away from the village.

— Lyanna...

— Duno...

I felt her cold lips giving her what would be the last kiss, my hands stained with her blood trembled with rage and with her desperation and a cry of anger sealed the beginning of a journey for revenge. In my mind I am left only with her memory and the memory of those men, dressed in rags and with a skull drawn on their arms.

That same morning, after burying Lyanna's body, I discussed to myself what I should do now, I didn't know where to start or what actions to take but something was certain, I needed revenge. I took provisions and went to the village in search of weapons, there, in the shop, the eyes oscillated around me and I felt the whispering of voices around me. I paid for an old shield, an axe, and quickly left that place. My blood was boiling as I approached every man who crossed my path, I wanted to put an end to that race that ironically snatched me from the only thing that made me have respect for them and that for matters of life was part of them.

— Duno...

Listen to the foreman's voice but don't take it seriously and I continued walking towards the north.

— Duno must not seek revenge, that only...

— Shut up! —I shouted after I punched him and threw him to the ground.— For years, my race lived serving humanity, we were miners, ranchers, goldsmiths, and even imperial guardians. Today we are only reduced to acting indifferent to your glances of repudiation.

The city dwellers stood around me and listened to my monologue in fear.

— What have we only done to help you? What sin have we committed? Look at you! With your repudiation you have managed to drive us away, you have seen us as monsters, beings unknown before the world and her... —The tears flowed from my face and I tried to hide them.— She! Why did she have to pay? They are a race condemned to their own destruction! They repudiate me!

Those were the last words I crossed with the citizens of Odell. My journey began now and the captors would have no forgiveness.

---

Chapter II: Travel.

I walked for more than ten days following only clues found on my way: footprints, remains of bonfires, dead animals; everything indicated that someone had passed through these valleys, if they were right they would be Lyanna's killers, if not, I would die on a senseless journey to nowhere, but I couldn't stop, she was gone and my heart was darkening with each step towards the horizon.

— Who's there?! —I asked myself after drawing my axe.— I won't repeat it one more time!

— Apparently someone is very angry...

— Get out at once!

The blow of his sword resounded as he touched my axe, it was fast and his blonde hair covered much of his face.

— Are you looking for a fight? —I mumbled as I pushed his sword with my axe.— I think I'm the wrong person!

I pushed him with all my strength and I saw how he fell to the ground letting his face be seen.

— A elf?

— An elf!

She had a slim body, she was only wearing a tight green suit and on her waist hung a small silver dagger, if she had wanted to kill me without me noticing it, however something slowed her down and made me curious to know.

— What are you looking for from me?

— I just wanted to have some fun. Not many people pass by. What is your name, sir?

I watched her for a few seconds and after a sigh I put away my weapon and continued on my way.

— Where are you going?!

I heard her ask me something but I didn't take it seriously, my objective was moving towards the mountains and it was obvious that I couldn't waste time chatting with an elf.

— My name is Alena, a pleasure to meet you.

The trip didn't seem to have an end, I crossed at least two villages avoiding humans except strictly to ask about those subjects in worn and dirty clothes that had knocked down everything I knew, nobody had seen anything, there were few people that went out beyond the village and therefore could not visualize the alternative roads to it.

— Are you sure you haven't seen anything?

— Not at all. No one passes through these villages unless they are imperial warriors of the court.

— Damn it!

He didn't have a clue, but he knew he had to go north. In the previous village some men had commented on some bandits but they didn't know where they were.

— What are you looking for?

My journey became tedious and tiring but nonetheless now I had to deal with one more weight.

— I asked him a question, sir.

— What do you want? —I shouted to the elf and made him step back.

— I'm sorry. I just want to help.

Ever since I found her hunting travelers deep in a forest, Alena kept following me on my way, she kept asking questions and I kept on ignoring her, at some point she had to return to her home and I had to continue on my way.

— Why do you follow me? Go back to your home.

— I have no home...

— Family?

— No one.

— ...

I remembered my loneliness in the forest, my encounters with humans and the loss of Lyanna. For a moment I felt lost and the lonely look of that young woman echoed with the feeling of my heart. Her race had been almost as disturbed as mine.

— I am looking for revenge, they took something very precious from me and they must pay. —I said, after sitting by a well.

— Revenge? —She asked— "What is revenge?

Her innocence was pure, I didn't want to expose her to this situation, but why was she following me? Whatever it was, she had nowhere to go, and it was stupid to tell her to go back anywhere.

— Come with me and you'll find out.

— Thank you sir! —she scream after hugging my side.— By the way, what is your name?

— Duno. —I answered after getting rid of her.

— Duno... It's a beautiful name!

The journey continued for several days, the conversations were basically one-sided and I only thought of finding the causes of my fury. On the way, Alena was distracted by birds, deer and even children that we found with their parents in small huts at the base of the mountain.

— Skulls, you say?

— Yes. In his arms is marked a skull.

— If you follow this path you will reach the mountains. But I must warn you that there live bandits, servants of Zintar.

— I thank you for your help. —I replied— Alena, we are leaving!

I picked up provisions and paid the man with a pair of diamonds, his face was flooded with joy and amazement at seeing them because their costs in the market were high, for me they only represented stones. After that, Alena and I walked uphill, it was close, soon maybe everything would be over and Lyanna would rest in peace.

---

Chapter III: Punishment.

— What you seek is near, Mr. Duno?

— Closer than you think... —I answered.

The wind whistled in the heights, a mist enveloped the roads and a diversity of banners with skulls made room with each step we took towards the bandits' hideout. I was close, but it was difficult to know how many people I would have to fight.

— Watch out!

Skeletal bodies appeared in front of us and Alena quickly drew her sword to face them. After several thrusts, they were shattered and Alena put her sword away again.

— I have seen these creatures before. They were in the grey night.

— Grey night? —I asked.

— Yes. It was the night in which my village disappeared five years ago.

I didn't even want to think about what exactly had happened with her village, but I could get an idea. This young elf had been fighting alone for so many years, facing every event and staying alive and smiling in spite of everything. Again something in me broke making me think about what Lyanna would have done? however I had to continue.

— What do you think they are?

— For many years the elves were in charge of preserving nature. We heard the call of the earth and we heed it to achieve prosperity, but... in the grey night these creatures destroyed our people and with it ended the existence of the guardian of the earth.

— Guardian of the earth? —I asked.

— Yes. Every element in the world has with it a mission, that mission is entrusted to some living creature to maintain the equilibrium in the planet, however, there is an element that seeks the opposite.

— Is that where these creatures come from?

— According to my ancestors these creatures are created from the darkness of the soul. The element alone cannot exist so it seeks to create conflicts between others to attract them to their world.

Alena's story seemed fascinating. In her lands she did not remember ever having heard of guardians or elemental creatures, yet she knew that the empire protected something very important that sought to "give light" to the earth. Perhaps it was one of these guardians.

— We are coming Alena, get ready ...

The mist was beginning to clear, and two men were watching next to a hut in whose interior a light was shining brightly. I could quickly recognize the skull symbol on the arms of the subjects, and my blood burned again. I looked at the hiding place of the bandits and prepared my axe for the fight, it was time to end my journey.

— I don't want you to get involved in this, Alena...

— What will you do?

— I will have my revenge.

Alena watched me confused while I drew my axe and took my shield, those men had finished with Lyanna's life and I had to finish with their life, so they would not cause more pain to the world.

— Wait! —shouted Alena.

The men noticed my presence and ran towards me with their swords. My fury erupted at full power and I gave a first thrust, then another. I heard the crackling of the arm of one of the subjects as the other fervently struck my shield.

— What are you doing, Mr. Duno? —Alena shouted.— Stop! They are living beings!

— They are murderers, Alena! —I replied, beating one of the men to the ground.— They don't deserve to live!

— Please don't do it!

The two men fell to the ground almost unconscious, I recognized their faces, they were in the forest that night but something was still missing, my anger was at its peak and I was still not observing what they called Daco.

I walked, crossed the threshold of the hut and observed him. Sitting in front of a grey orb.

— What do you want from me? —He said, without even looking at me.

— You killed Lyanna! —I shouted and ran in his direction without giving time for more words.

The edge of my axe collided with a sword I could hardly see. He was fast, even faster than Alena.

— His death was necessary for my existence...

— What do you say?!

Another shock from his blade struck my shield and threw me to the ground. Not only was he fast, he was strong.

— Jarlax warned me of your arrival. There is nothing you can do.

— Duno watch out!

I felt him approach me in a second. Had it not been for Alena's sword, the blow would have been fatal.

— Who are you?! —Alena shouted.— Leave this man alone!

I didn't understand exactly what Alena meant. For me he was just a man, but the brightness of his eyes and the concentration in his gaze made me think that he was ignoring something.

— Charming... I didn't know that there were still your species left in this world.

— Duno...

Alena was somewhat distressed and wielding her sword with both hands.

— This man. No. This creature is in this man's body.

— Creature? I can't understand it.

— I'll explain it later! —She shouted.— Just get up and fight!

Alena ran towards Daco and they fought at the same speed, both were strong but the look of that man seemed darker, more empty and completely isolated to that place.

— Charming... What did you do when you saw your whole family cold in the woods? Did you feel fear? Anger? Sadness?

— Shut up!

I managed to strike a blow from my axe on her leg, Alena was tired and had several cuts on her body. I couldn't leave her alone.

— Simple living creatures, they disgust me.

— He is Zintar. —Alena stopped and tied her hair with a piece of leather.— A being that brings death and destruction to the life we know. He was the cause of the death of the guardian of the earth and of all my race.

I was completely confused. What wasn't that man who killed Lyanna? Why was he also the cause of the death of an entire lineage? It didn't make sense, but my revenge was now and I couldn't forget it.

— Lyanna...

— What do you say mortal? —Zintar asked.— Have you given up?

— Whatever you are, your existence does nothing but bring death and tragedy into our lives!

I ran towards him and an energy invaded my body giving me breath and strength to fight.

—

Who am I?

The blow left him on the ground and I placed my axe in his neck.

— Duno...

— Simple mortals... my existence is eternal. Even if you finish off this body, many more will come in its place. Even in your poor heart I see darkness. Wasn't what you wanted revenge? What are you waiting for? Give yourself to me!

— Fucking wretch!

— Duno!

Alena was screaming, I wasn't listening. My blood boiled with anger, my eyes sobbed before impotence, before the idea of never seeing it again. It was too much and I wanted to put an end to it once and for all.

— Come on, kill me!

— Lyanna...

—

I'll always be with you Duno.

— Lyanna?

The voice pierced every corner of the cabin. Even Alena seemed to have heard something. I stood up from the floor and saw a gust of wind invade the room, so warm, so full of life.

— What does this mean? —Zintar shouted.

A light shining in front of us and I could see again his skin, his clothes, his eyes so full of life.

— You are alive... —I said.— Lyanna.

— Duno. I will always be alive, I will be part of the wind, of the waters and of every living being that inhabits this earth.

— Who the hell are you? —Zintar shouted after rising from the ground.— Get out of here, creature! Your presence disgusts me!

Zintar covered his face with his hands and began to emit a dark mist from his skin, evaporating into the environment. It seemed as if it disintegrated into the body of the one they called Daco.

— You've done a lot of damage, Zintar. You have taken the lives of peoples, races and loved ones only to strengthen your army of darkness, we guardians cannot allow that. It is time for you to return to where you belong and try never to return.

My gaze did not depart from the ethereal figure of my beloved Lyanna, who now seemed to exist as a completely different being. almost angelic.

— No matter how hard they fight! The darkness will dwell in the hearts of the weak and my return will be eternal!

A ghostly figure came out like a fatuous fire from Daco's body and vanished into the heights of the hut. Lyanna watched me for a second with her playful smile and approached me, hugging me, feeling once again the warmth of what once was.

— I will always be by your side Duno...

— I don't want you to go Lyanna...

My eyes swelled with tears and I clung to that figure hoping it would be forever.

— Start again Duno... look for the way to a new happiness, I will be with you, forever.

His words bounced off the air just before disappearing.

It was impossible not to think of everything that had happened: his death, the crossing, my revenge, Zintar, Lyanna's new rebirth. Everything had happened very quickly and I could still feel her close, comforting me, inviting me to be who I was. I could not fail her, not her.

— A new guardian is born. —said Alena after leaving the hut and receiving the rays of the sun.

— What does that mean? —I asked.— Are you talking about Lyanna?

— Apparently her death was only the beginning of her life. The guardians are chosen long before her birth into this world and sooner or later destiny knocks at her door.

— . . .

— What will you do? —question Alena.

— Fight. —I replied

— Against whom?

— If Zintar is still on the loose, the world will not be at peace.

— Will you protect everyone?

— I think so.

— Including humans?!

— Yes...

— Incredible Mr. Duno!

— Shut up Alena once and for all! It's time to go. A new path awaits us.