"Oh, thank goodness... there you are, Ali—and Sufian too!" Malak said, relief washing over her face as she hurried toward them.

  "Malak!" Ali lit up at the sight of her.

  "It’s good to see you’re safe," Sufian added, breathing easier.

  "It would seem we've found who we were looking for," the dwarf said, sheathing his weapon.

  "Yeah-yeah, alreaighty-right!" Snagglix chirped with an exaggerated nod.

  Malak turned toward Ali with a mix of concern and irritation.

  "Ooo, where did you run off to, Ali?! I was worried sick about you!"

  Ali’s shoulders drooped as he looked down in shame.

  "Yeah, uh, about that... I'm like, real sorry, okay?"

  But just a moment later, his face brightened with a sheepish grin.

  "I won’t look so lame in front of you again! I’ll run in all heroic and save the day!"

  Malak gave a tired smile.

  "Right back to the hero talk... just don’t give me a reason to worry again, okay?"

  Sufian thought to himself, (Ali's relieved to see Malak safe and sound. He’s back to his wisecracking self. To be honest, I’m just happy Malak seems more annoyed than angry.)

  As he looked toward Malak, something else caught his eye—just beside her legs, a small figure was glaring up at Ali.

  "Sorry isn’t going to cut it!" the round one shouted. "How dare you run off and leave a lady behind like that?! Don’t think you’ll get off that easily!"

  "Yow! What’s with this little squirt?!" Ali flinched.

  "Another one of them?!" Sufian blinked. (Wait, this one seems... different.)

  "Now hold steady, you two," Thoren interrupted calmly.

  "Oh, don’t worry," Malak reassured them. "This one’s nothing to fear."

  "You sure? It looks just about ready to take a chunk out of my butt!" Ali muttered.

  "Who’d bite a stinky rear like that?!" the small figure snapped.

  Malak laughed lightly.

  "This sweet little one saved me when one of those things was getting ready to pounce."

  "Yeah! I'm gonna protect Malak!" the tiny figure said with a proud, puffed-up smile.

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  "That thing’s more of a kid than a mutt," Ali grumbled. "You ever see a talking pear? Seems like something you should at least be a little curious about, Malak..."

  "No worry-worry, okay?!" Snagglix chimed in. "Pimi-Pimi’s a GOOD-GOOD GEARHEART! Known her since before the boom-booms! She’s friend-friend YES!!"

  "Yeek! Is... is that a huge toad?!" Malak gasped as she noticed Snagglix.

  Snagglix struck a ridiculous pose, one hand on his hip and the other pointing dramatically to the sky.

  "Snagglix Loudboots, that’s ME-ME!! Boom-stepper, gear-clanker, noise-maker EXTRA-SPLENDID!! Good meety-meet, Malak-friend—what say you, huh?!"

  The dwarf took his chance, placing a hand to his chest and bowing slightly.

  "And I am Thoren Quicknail. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

  "Nice to meet you..." Malak said politely, a bit overwhelmed. She turned to the small girl.

  "And your name is 'Pimi-Pimi,' right?"

  "Yeah, that’s right, Malak! Good to meet you all!" Pimi beamed.

  Then Malak’s eyes widened.

  "Oh no! You’ve been injured!"

  She knelt beside Pimi and quickly tied a handkerchief around her arm.

  Sufian observed quietly. (Malak tied a handkerchief around Pimi. Look how close they are already... a stark contrast from Ali’s panic before. And here I thought he always kept his cool.)

  Ali, standing nearby, looked down. (Hmm? Is it my imagination, or does Ali look a bit down in the dumps?)

  In a low mutter, Ali sighed, "I can’t believe it... leaving a girl to fend for herself... I’ve got a lot to learn before I can be a hero..."

  "What’s wrong?" Sufian asked.

  "Ah, nothing..." Ali waved it off. "That means we have to head back to the school. Not that I have any idea where we are..."

  "The fact that the shrine is nearby means the school must be within walking distance," Sufian said. "Let’s try to head back before the sun sets..."

  "Hey, are you sure this place was here before?" Ali asked, scanning the area. "The terrain looks totally different to me."

  "Really? You think so?"

  "I don’t see that tunnel we entered before, do you? And this ain’t what I heard the place would be like before camp. Not even close."

  "That doesn’t sound good..." Malak frowned.

  "Shoot... I doubt we can make it back to the school building if that’s the case," Sufian muttered. He turned to Snagglix and Thoren.

  "Hey, Loudboots—and you too, Thoren. Do you know this area well?"

  "WE SURE-SURE DO, YES-YES!!" Snagglix declared.

  "Ask anything you’d like to know," Thoren added with a nod.

  "How do we get back to the school building?"

  "‘Skewl’ building?" Snagglix tilted his head.

  "Um, it’s like a two-story building made of wood... humans spend time there."

  "Oh-oh-oh! That thingy-thing? Boblin brain say ‘HEY I KNOW THAT SPARKLE!!’ Seen it in the before-times! Might’ve poked it... might’ve run!!"

  "Really?!"

  "Big wood-hut with no top-top, seats for miles, and room to rumble-rumble! All-tall like a stack-a-crates! And the space—WIDE-WIDE like a stomp-field!!"

  "The schoolyard! That’s gotta be it! Where did you see it?"

  "Errr... where place go?! Boblin forget!"

  "Loudboooots..."

  "I do believe I know the location," Thoren cut in calmly. "I shall guide you there."

  "Thanks! We’ll leave it to you!" Sufian said gratefully.