Later that day, after a loud farewell from Ikkul, Nalrik Tilrak came to say goodbye to the citizenry of Bortan. This eventually meant, of course, that he came to the barracks where Dareak and Coxinjarn lived.

Nalrik Tilrak was a Blue Draconian who always wore white and blue. His blue hair spiked up to a point at the top of his head, and one would always find him with a smile on his face, trying to help whoever he could.

Dareak treated Nalrik with respect, bowing and wishing him a good trip. She wished him luck at the Magic College and told him to stay safe. She expected this respect to make Nalrik recognize her as a standout, exemplary soldier.

But then, every other soldier followed her example. When Nalrik asked why they were all saying it, one of the smaller and shyer troops spoke up. "Well... It's procedure. We just wanted you to do well."

The man was Elmes Wuqiroth: a white Draconian. He had spent his entire life savings on fancy silver and gold armor and a matching spear, so he was stuck in the military despite not being the kind of person who really wants to charge into a battle. Not that he'd ever had much choice in that; in Bortan, you were born a soldier, and you died one too.

"I see... thank you all." Nalrik bowed back to the soldiers and said, "You don't need to treat me with that much respect. Just because my father is the Chief doesn't mean I'm anything special."

"Yeah, I'm special!" Coxinjarn yelled out from atop one of the beds. Dareak realized that Coxinjarn had yet to say goodbye to Nalrik, and now here he was, making a ruckus.

"You are?" Nalrik was quite confused about what was going on. He had never really been shown the more... rowdy antics of the soldiers, so this was no doubt a major shock to the poor eighteen-year-old Dragonborn. Still, he shook his head, smiling politely, "Of course you are."

Coxinjarn jumped off the bed, with it falling back as he pushed off of the sheets. Dareak waited for the worst, but surprisingly, Coxinjarn landed on his feet. Nalrik was about to clap when, after landing, Coxinjarn spontaneously fell flat on his face.

Dareak ran forward to grab Coxinjarn, kneeling before Nalrik and saying, "I am so sorry for him, he doesn't know what he's-"

Laughter interrupted Dareak as Nalrik was laughing along with her partner. He said, "It's fine. He reminds me of my brothers. I've had to deal with some rambunctious kids before. Take good care of him."

As Nalrik left, Dareak immediately turned to Coxinjarn, "Let's go. We need to follow him."

"Nah." Coxinjarn shrugged.

"What do you mean 'Nah?' The Chief asked us to follow after him!"

"He asked me to bring one other person. So I choose... Elmes!"

Elmes was curled up in a corner, crying. He had his bowler hat covering his eyes, but tried to hide his fear by saying, "What do I need to do?"

"Follow Nalrik with me!" Coxinjarn ordered, though the order was quite casual, as if it was just an invitation.

"Why... why would I do that?"

"Ikkul asked!"

Immediately, Elmes shot up, wiping his tears and in a shaky voice saying, "Oh... well if Ikkul needs me to then wha... what can I do about it? I guess I have no choice."

Dareak had a feeling that Elmes was lying about that and just wanted to get on Ikkul's good side for a promotion, but Dareak thought that of everyone. Her competitive nature made it difficult to believe other people had goals and ideas she herself did not, so the idea that Elmes did not like being in the military was ridiculous.

But Dareak had the perfect plan this time. If Coxinjarn and Elmes were following Nalrik... she simply had to follow them following him!