I woke up in the bed at the inn.

  Michael and Jonnie had found me and carried me back to Mount Terra. Jonnie had used most of his healing potions to fix me up. I’m sure I’ll have to pay him back for those later, but for now I’m just glad to be alive.

  The group made a couple trips to the dragon carcass. It took them that many just to carve it up and get all the parts. We were the richest players in that zone and our names got added to the list of dragon slayers.

  Mei made me wait at the inn until they had taken care of everything. My brush with death had worried them all, but she took it the hardest. She felt responsible because of her pep talk. I appreciated the concern, but I just wanted to get up.

  No one else saw the mystery man from that night. Michael thought I must have been hallucinating, but I knew it was Billy. I didn’t know why he had chosen to watch us fight the dragon. Or why he didn’t show himself to me, but now I knew he was close.

  I sat at the bar, while the guys did the last of the bartering. The scales had been sold outright and the leather had been traded for dragon leather armor. Most of the bones had been sold, but a few were crafted into a new bow for Michael and daggers for Mei and Jonnie.

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  I knew something was up when they walked in with a wrapped box the size of one of the tables.

  “We got you something.” Jonnie smiled as he handed me the box

  I ripped the paper off. "What is it?

  “We couldn’t find your sword.” Mei said

  “And your shield…” Michael made crumpling motions with his hands.

  I took the lid off. Inside was a brown, dragon scale shield.

  I picked it up. Despite its larger size, it was lighter than the iron shield that I had carried to fight the dragon.

  “You guys.” I grabbed Jonnie and Michael in a big hug. "You shouldn’t have.”

  “There’s more.” Mei prompted

  I set down the shield and dug through the paper in the box. Under a lot of paper was a yellow bladed sword. I choked as I lifted it out of the box.

  “You got me Fulgur Sectis?” I felt tears in my eyes. "You didn’t have to do that!”

  “We had some extra money from selling all the dragon stuff and considering how you almost died.” Jonnie shrugged. "It’s a cool sword, right?”

  I gave him another hug.

  “What now?” Mei asked

  I looked at everyone. They were looking to me for direction. "The mission is the same. We find Billy.”

  Jonnie raised his glass. "Let’s find Billy!” He downed his drink. "Wait. Who’s Billy?”

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