II
Rora
    The light of the sun somehow managed to break through the grey clouds. Capital city Rora somehow seemed brighter. Anu was walking द्वारा the streets of Rora, looking around at taverns to find some nice place where he could sleep. He liked one near the city wall, but he didn’t have 100 golden coins to afford it. Anu had only 20 golden coins so he went in middle of city to square. Just to see if maybe he can earn some money. There were gambling offers, offers for some hard works out of the city, for which he didn’t had time या will, and even some offers if he’d be willing to lend his company to some rich ladies in city. He was all new pretty face in city and other citizens, especially ladies were interested in him. Something though caught his attention. At square there was a wooden ring and a lot of people around it, cheering and yelling. There were 2 men in a ring, fighting. One was strong of middle height, but he looked small comparing to his opponent. His opponent looked like strong giant. The giant managed to kick the man few times in his nose, then he picked him up and threw out of the ring.
    “And once again, the winner is Bobo!’’ one short man was screaming on चोटी, शीर्ष of ladder near ring while the bald giant raised his huge arms in air and howled.
    “Do we have any other ब्रेव challenger today!?’’ ,short man kept yelling ‘’Come on people! The one who beats my fighter Bobo will earn the prize of 150 golden coins! All आप need to do is hand over 10 coins, step into the ring, defeat Bobo and take your prize!’’
    At that moment Anu came near short man, left his sword near ring and put his small bag in the box.
    “Keep the rest.’’ Anu कहा and jumped into the ring.
    “Feast your eyes folks, it looks like we have another small challenger!’’
    Bobo was squeezing his fists frowning at Anu while he kept his hands in pockets of his pants, looking indifferently.
    “Wow, look at the handsome boy.’’ girls were commenting.
    “He’s so small comparing to this giant, I like his attitude.’’
    “Too bad his face will be deformed soon.’’ citizens kept commenting and laughing at Anu.
    The giant howled and swung with his fists on Anu. He was faster than he looks so dodging his attacks was not an option. Anu kept defending himself blocking Bobo’s attacks with his arms. Soon he got tired taking such strong hits so he took one hit directly in his face, then another one and another one until he felt on the floor, spitting blood.
    “Get up little boy! Bobo will दिखाना आप what is pain!’’ giant yelled at Anu grabbing his blue hair and lifting him up.
    “What do आप know about the pain...? …You worthless worm.’’ Anu growled and pulled Bobo to him holding his arm. “What do आप know about the pain I’ve been through!?’’ after that he kicked Bobo in face with his fist. “I’m going to change the world that is screaming from pain while आप keep playing your little games in your ring!’’ ,Anu was yelling hitting Bobo with one hand in his belly and with another in his face, and again and again with no stop ‘’Now दिखाना me how आप endure pain!’’
    When Anu stopped, Bobo just fell down on his back. Citizens started yelling and cheering. Anu stepped out of the ring, picked up his prize and sword and disappeared among the crowd like a shadow.

    Ynar wandered through the city Rora, unsure of what to do. The citizens were no help. They backed away in fear of the dragon. He heard shouts nearby. A crowd of people stood around a wrestling ring.
    "What is going on?" he asked.
    "The wrestling champion, Bobo, was defeated द्वारा some guy called Anu," one of the men replied. Curious now, Ynar asked another question.
    "Where is Anu?"
    "Dunno. He picked up the prize and left."

    Ynar spent all of one घंटा casting about for a sign of the mysterious Anu. He found a mark in the ground, left द्वारा a sword. Tracks led to it and away from it. Both sets were the same size. However, the set leaving the site were pressed a little deeper into the dirt. The trail led off into the city. Ynar had the feeling that Anu Knew.
    Meanwhile, having nothing to do, the girl looked up at the dragon...."Hey"
    the dragon grunted as if to say hi back.
    then, a little scared, but not thinking too much about it she reached out her hand and touched the dragon, it roared at her at first, but then she realized it must be just as scared as her. So she tried again, and this time the dragon let her stroke its back...hmm she said, looking at the dragon's silvery purplish scales...I think I'll call you....Silver.
    At the sound of his name the dragon contentedly patted its tail on the ground, then she turned her gaze to Ynar...."Hey, where are we going Ynar?"
    Ynar finally took notice of the girl. "We are finding a man called Anu. And don't touch that," he said, slapping her hand away from the dragon. "You don't know what it's done. It would kill आप if आप met it on your own."
    The tracks led towards a huge cliff behind the city. Anu, whoever he was, must be headed for the palace. That meant he would बिस्तर at King Robert's feast later, of that Ynar was sure.
    Ynar tugged at the dragon's rope, getting it to start walking. The beast was oddly tame. It limped along, trying to look as noble as it possibly could. As the dragon was to be the feast's entertainment, it would not be wise for Ynar to heal it. They continued along, following Anu's trail.

    ''I heard आप are good in following trails.'' suddenly a cold voice sounded in the air.
    Ynar and little girl started looking around at street, but it was empty and inside houses was silence. आप could only heard sounds of crowd far away. Ynar looked at dragon, but even the dragon wasn't able to smell या detect anyone around.
    ''Is that Anu?'' Ynar whispered to himself.
    And boom! A few barrels crushed and rolled on the सड़क, स्ट्रीट from some dark alley. It caught their attention so they turned and looked at barrels rolling and making noise.
    ''I'm over here.'' the same voice sounded again.
    They turned again and there he was, in the middle of सड़क, स्ट्रीट with his hands in pockets. But he looked... different. He wasn't even a human.
    ''What are you?'' Ynar asked frowning.
    He had red fluff mixed with black lines, like tiger. He had tiger head and cat spiky ears behind his blue bangs. Also there was tail behind him, swinging in the air.
    ''My father was mathajy, so I got some of his genes.'' ,Anu leaned his head looking up at dragon ''Your big friend can't sense me it seems. I got too cold blood to be smelled and I'm too quiet to be heard even for dragon's ears.''
    ''I see.'' ,Ynar concluded ''How do आप know I was looking for you?''
    ''I heard people talking and searching for new wrestling champion. I'm not deaf.''
    ''You really beat that huge guy?'' little girl asked.
    ''He was nothing special. Relying only on strength and repeating same attacks won't work against me.'' Anu explained and raised up his head.
    ''I'm quite busy, so tell me... What do आप want from me?''
    "A couple of things, really. First, I'm looking for the palace. Second, I had a hunch that आप were a myth. I'm a myth-hunter. If you're looking to kill me, आप won't get very far. And don't think of running. I know आप Know." Ynar's voice was brisk. He was used to dealing with talking myths, but still… Something about this creature put him on edge. It might be his power, या his coloring. There was something off about this being. If Ynar had to, he would capture him as well, if only to prevent Anu from killing him.
    Suddenly Anu started smiling widely. His sharp white teeth glared as darkness of evening was slowly covering the burning sky.
    ''So... आप can notice my presence inside Anu?'' a high deformed voice suddenly sounded from Anu.
    His body burned out and small dots of burned skin appeared all over him.
    ''It's you...'' ,Ynar frowned ''Demon.''
    Anu started laughing while bending his body and head a little down.
    ''I don't have much time या strength, but I have time for this.'' Anu reached for red sword behind his back and pulled it extremely fast.
    After that he rushed at Ynar with अकल्पनीय speed.
    ''Hold the rope!'' Ynar commanded throwing the rope at girl and in last moment pulled off his Scalerend.
    Sparks came out as Anu's Claw hit Ynar's Scalerend. Anu was smiling wide while Ynar was squeezing his teeth looking in his red cat eyes. They were leaning toward each other with their swords. The dark power was breaking out of Anu sending fear in every mortal that was near. But Ynar somehow managed to stay calm.
    “You just don’t get it do you?’’ ,Anu कहा with cheerful voice ‘’I am Anu’s creation. I am his hatred, pain and desires. If आप kill me आप will kill both of us.’’
    While they were pushing each other Ynar noticed that his arms and legs are burning. When he looked down he saw they were covered with some kind of sticky red liquid. He pushed Anu away with his sword and started tearing apart the red liquid.
    “It’s my magma. Pretty useful ability in आग manipulating. Now let’s see how skilled आप are.’’ Anu कहा and started swinging at Ynar.
    Ynar was blocking Anu’s attack but at time he got slower because of magma on him, so Anu managed to hit him with his fist into his face. Ynar rolled on the ground but quickly stood up on his legs. He removed blood from his mouth and kept looking at Anu with angry look. After that Anu fell on his knees and spit some blood on the floor.
    “Ah…!’’, he moaned ‘’Too bad I haven’t दिखाना anything to आप yet, but I’m out of time. Anu will wake up soon.’’
    He rose back on his feet and put red sword Claw behind his back.
    “So long.’’, once again he smiled widely evil with his sharp teeth.
    After that he threw few red balls on the floor and disappeared with white smoke.

    Ynar panted. He was covered in magma. The stuff was sticky and quite gross, in his opinion. This had to be reported to King Robert. If the king put his trust in a demon, there was no telling what could happen. The dragon looked terrified. It had most likely been attacked द्वारा a demon. In the chaos of the fight, Powerhoof had fled. Ynar would get a new घोड़ा before he left Rora, anyway. Perhaps, if the dragon healed soon enough, he could ride it. It would make his job that much easier. No और hunting down wounded phoenixes. If he could ride the dragon, he could catch healthy phoenixes in the air, something every myth-hunter dreamed of. But first, he had to clean up and get the dragon to the palace.

    When Anu woke up he felt a little weak. His sight was dimly and he slowly sat on some soft surface. He was on bed, in some nice and clean room. He buried face in his hands for a while and then looked around.
    ''I don't remember when I came here again.'', he कहा to himself and went to the window.
    He looked at गढ़, महल that was not so far away from this tavern. The darkness of a night started taking over the sky and few stars were already visible. The torches were already burning all over the गढ़, महल and big crowd was entering it.
    ''Prince Gallian is back!''
    ''He's back from battle in southlands!''
    ''All hail our prince!'', the sounds of crowd were reaching Anu's ears.
    ''Humph.'', Anu blew angrily ''Battle in southlands? और like a slaughter of peasants.''
    He moved from window and removed his red scarf along with his black short shirt. His body was strong that it seemed like a skilled blacksmith forged it as perfect armor, not too pumped muscles and not too small. He threw himself on बिस्तर and then noticed his tail.
    ''Wow, I didn't noticed that I'm in mathajy form at all.'', he कहा removing his tail aside ''I need some sleep to refresh my head.''
    As he was lying, his sight was becoming darker and darker until he wasn't able to see anything and fell into deep sleep.

    Ynar heard the announcement. "Prince Gallian is back!" To him, that only meant one और pompous noble to entertain tonight. The dragon was quite comfortable in the stable, so Ynar headed into the tavern to wash. Ynar knew the land well. The southlands were the dominion of firemyths. For the prince to have returned alive from fighting them, well it was surely nothing short of a miracle.
    Carefully, Ynar scrubbed the sticky red magma from his limbs. The feast would be starting soon, judging द्वारा the darkness outside. As he scrubbed, he thought of how he would make his grand entrance to the feast. Just walking in was too dull. From what Ynar could see, there was no way to fly in, either.

    ''Well hello there my old mate.'' Anu heard strange, but familiar voice in his head.
    ''Who's there?'' he asked standing in empty dark room, looking at big mirror in middle of it.
    Nothing. There was silence.
    ''Who's there!?'' he repeated, louder this time.
    ''Now mate... no need to get angry all of sudden. Why don't आप sit?''
    When Anu turned, there was nice बंहदार कुरसी, कुर्सी behind him.
    ''Where are you? दिखाना yourself.''
    ''Ha, ha, ha...'' his reflection in mirror started laughing evil and almost his whole skin was burned black.
    The reflection sat in बंहदार कुरसी, कुर्सी and leaned it's head backwards looking at Anu, like he's on higher level.
    ''Tell me my mate, aren't we perfect?'' reflection asked smiling, but Anu just frowned. ''Tell me exactly... Why are आप resisting me?''
    ''Because I'm not like you. Unlike आप I have control over my dignity and honor!''
    ''Is that so...? Then let's talk about your dignity and honor that happened 5 years ago.''
    ''Shut up!''
    ''When आप created me.'' the reflection continued.
    ''I कहा shut up!''
    ''When आप killed all those whoring worms and especially that blonde...''
    ''That's enough!'' Anu hit the mirror with his fist, but it didn't broke.
    The reflection stood up and started walking toward Anu, while his fist was still tucked in mirror, bleeding.
    ''Ahh.. Look at yourself mate. You're enduring so much all द्वारा yourself. Let me help you. We can achieve our goals together.'' reflection was talking while Anu tried to catch breath. ''Just give me your दिल and we will become completely fused, forever.''
    ''Just who are you?'' Anu asked and reflection put his fist in mirror too, touching Anu's.
    ''I am you. And the time will come when आप won't be able to resist me.''
    ''Disappear!''
    ''Ha, ha! Then आप will disappear along with me.''
    ''So be it!'' Anu kicked the mirror with leg and it all broke.
    Suddenly he opened his eyes. He was still in small room, in tavern. He just turned around on बिस्तर and continued to sleep.

    Ynar slowly picked his way across the courtyard of the tavern. It was quite dark द्वारा now, and he had forgotten a lantern. Loose stones littered the pavement. He walked slowly, eyes downcast, watching for hazards in his path. The idea had come to him while he had been bathing. The dragon would be of no use unless its wounds were cleaned up a bit.
    Slowly, quietly, Ynar opened the stable door. The dark, soft eyes of three घोड़े stared back at him. Another set of eyes, these glowing green, looked at him. He lit the lamp hanging from a large beam and took a careful look at the dragon.
    The creature's left wing was most certainly broken. द्वारा the way the बोन्स and membrane were situated, he saw that the dragon must have been cornered. It had been backed very quickly against a wall. The beast whimpered as he explored its numerous wounds.
    From what Ynar could tell, the dragon had been attacked द्वारा multiple enemies. It had not been able to fight back, as there were no scars around its talons. The enemy must have been trying to tear out its eye, as the scars were heaviest there. Dragon eyes had incredible powers, but only if one knew how to use them.
    Talking softly to the dragon, Ynar began cleaning the dirt and dried blood from its wounds.