The scale in the wind

Chapter one

The shadow in the valley

There weren't always dragons in the valley, but Saviano valley, a small town hidden between the limits of fantasy and reality, was about to discover how important they were.

Many years ago when the valley saw dragons for the first time everything was chaos and terror. Shortly after, the terror turned into gratitude and even dependency, since they were not only raised and used to hunt, but even served as food when their time came. They ate the dragons and the dragons did not seem to mind, it can even be said that they lived to serve the people. Later, people began seeing dragons as something normal, as if they had always been around, yet the worst moment in terms of adapting to dragons came the day people began to miss them.

One day, out of nowhere the village woke up and all the dragons had disappeared, those who lived on farms and in the forest simply left no trace, and those who were inside some enclosure for medicine, training or preservation, destroyed everything in their path to free themselves and disappear along with the rest of their species. It was precisely these ravages caused by those who were caged or locked up the only evidence that dragons had once existed in the valley.

But this was just the beginning, as if Saviano valley had not had enough with having to learn to live again without dragons. Just three days after their disappearance, the entire valley was covered by a gigantic shadow, curiously this problem did not seem to affect the habitants of the valley too much.

Something like that would have seemed really bad or at least curious in any other place, but here it was totally understandable since Saviano Valley was used to the terrifying and the incredible. For a period of time, not long ago, all its inhabitants grew fins but this did not affect them, although after a while the fins disappeared, thanks to that, the Saviano valley underwater Olympic games were born; also many remember the time that for a week everyone with black hair laid a golden egg at exactly 10:44 am; or the time everyone named Jack or Rose's skin turned purple (they're still purple). Or the most recent time when for a few days everyone had to speak using only one vowel in their words. Due to all this the new shadow in the valley was not Saviano valley's biggest concern. However, dragon specialist and newly unemployed Sigfrid Fumunguz was not on the same page as the rest of the town and due to his new amount of free time he was determined to get to the bottom of all this.

Sigfrid, a tall man of about 31 years with fuchsia hair and beard, metal elbows and a back of dry oak leaves, was talking as he walked through the garden of the town hall with Tomengu, the mayor of the valley, a very large man of about 140 years, extremely muscular, with no hair and a huge wooden nose.

"So you think this little shadow that covers the valley is something we should worry about" Tomengu says with a cynical smile on his lips.

"And not only that sir, I also believe that it is related to the disappearance of the dragons."

Tomengu looks at him from above with a bit of nostalgia and answers him.

"We didn't always have dragons in Saviano valley, you know? But most of our inhabitants don't remember it, of course, they're not as old as me, and I must confess, I grew fond of them too and miss them a lot, but after living here for so long I have discovered that nothing is forever, everything comes and goes. But I understand your concern, I also understand that without dragons around here you have nothing to do. So cut to the chase and tell me what you need from me."

"Well, I need to start an investigation and get to the bottom of all this" replied Sigfrid, filling himself with courage.

"You don't need my permission for that I'm the mayor not your f..."

"I don't need your permission sir, I need your help, because to get to the bottom of this I want to start an excursion to the northern forest" interrupted Sigfrid.

Tomengu stopped suddenly and his face turned completely red, he couldn't remember the last time someone wanted to enter the northern forest on their own free will; the only way to enter Saviano valley was either through the Orange River from the south, the mountain from the east, the crystal slopes from the west or the forest from the north. However, from the last one was the only place from which no new inhabitants had entered Saviano valley and the only times that something came from there was never good news; That's why the mayor had a hard time thinking that someone wanted to enter there on their own free will. A few seconds later he calmed down and his face went from red to pink and from pink to his usual tan color, once calm Tomengu answered.

"And what kind of help are we talking about?"

"I need a team that will increase my chances of success in this mission, I know it's risky, but I have reason to believe that if my mission is successful, it will not only solve the problem of the shadow, but also the problem of the disappearance of the dragons."

"You're a good person, I know that, and I'm sure you have reason to believe what you say, but where do you want me to get a team willing to risk their lives for a suspicion."

Sigfrid looked down as if he knew from the beginning of the conversation that this would be the mayor's answer, so he sighed and told him.

"I know it's hard, but I have a plan I just need everyone to listen to me and if after that no one joins the team I'll go alone. Is that okay with you?"

"When and where?" growled Tomengu.

"Tomorrow morning in the central square"

"Very well boy, I'll see that everyone is there, now I can only ask you to rest very well tonight, the days to come will not be easy, now go home, I need to think". Saying this, Tomemgu stepped aside and turned into a statue. Sigfrid saw it, thanked with a smile and walked slowly out of town hall.

Chapter two

Dragon breath and other symptoms

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