Clara

"I am sure that we can't trust this woman out of nothing, but it's my only hope to come back home. I must hold on, hoping not to die in the meanwhile!" She thought scared and furious, waiting for more info about the "mission".

«What is the reason of this sudden silence? Have you finally decided to spare our ears from your chats? Or maybe, you have realized of having put yourself in troubles and now you don't know how to get out.» Amos speculated, strangely enjoying the situation.

«I haven't changed my mind, feathered man. Just worry about yourself. For what I understood, our funny "guide" doesn't like you very much, but this is just my modest opinion.» She replied.

"Hit and sunk. Now, he'll be quiet for a while." She thought.

«Let's say that Dark Dragons and humans don't get along very well. You know... different points of view, diabolic plans of destruction...» He explained nonchalantly.

«Dear Lady, I wouldn't like to rush you, but it would be better to start looking for this "philosopher' stone the soonest possible so I could finally go home. Now, would you be so kind to tell us where and how we can find this stuff?» Clara asked to their "kidnapper".

«What a rush my dear, wouldn't you like first something to drink after such a long walk?»

«I am not and now ta friend of yours. Tell us what you have to and let's put an end.» Clara answered.

«I agree, but what this "philosopher' stone" is? I have never heard of it.» Amos stepped in who, in the meanwhile, had gotten comfortable on the fluffy arabesque pillows on the ground and, as if it wasn't enough, he was tasting juicy grape or something similar like nothing ever!

«I suppose that you don't know Rowling o watch the tv... Well, never mind, I don't think is the most important thing at the moment.» The girl told resiliently, sitting too near to him. Clara felt tears weeping her eyes, but she didn't want to show it, she would have not given them this adding satisfaction.

Amos noticed it and turned to the woman.

«Listen, I know that your goal it's me, taking me back to prison you will be covered in praise, peace will be restored and bla, bla, bla, but she has nothing to do with our business neither with our world, so, why don't you simply send her back, also because she would be just a burden to me and, honestly, I can do without.»

Maybe this intervention could have taken effect, but the words used have been a punch in the gut for Clara. At the end, even involuntary, it was thanks to her if he was finally free after so much time and this was his gratitude?!

"Did he just define me a burden?!"

«Hey, how dare you? I remind you that is thanks to me if you are no more tied like a hog in a humid and smelly cell, so think about the words you use, dude.» She finished, pointing a finger to him.

"Damn me, I keep asking myself when I'll learn to bite my tongue, maybe if I had spared this funny show, the woman could have sent me home with the tag: "don't send it back."" She realized, trying not to look at Amos who was again sit on the pillows with his sculpted body.

"This is not fair! There's a maximum that a woman can stand and I have already passed it!"

«I was just trying to help you, but it's evidently too difficult for you to understand.» He answered, looking back at his partner of misadventures.

Clara was about to reply, but she promptly interrupted by him, who still hadn't finished his philippic!

«Since the moment I met you, you have been a constant trouble and now I have to take care of unable human like and I must obey also to the orders of that damn old pompous hag. So, my dear, the one who should be thanking is you, not me!» Amos boomed.

«Damn ungrateful boor, I really hope that someone put you back when I met you and that you'll never be able to get out.» Clara kept insulting him, until being interrupted by the woman and other people.

«Could you be so kind to let us insult each other in peace? Don't you know that poking the nose in other people's conversation is unpolite?» Clara explained in front of a resilient Amos.

«We are really sorry. We didn't want to interrupt you, but I thought that what you wanted to know could be more important, but, maybe, I was wrong, it's evident that you prefer keeping discussing with our common friend.» Lillybeth told keeping attending to the show.

«For your information, we don't like spectators, so tell us what you have to because I am starting to lose my patience and I am not known for it.» The dragon announced, wringing his hands. His eyes were on fire and Clara, in that exact moment, was sure to have never seen such a beautiful creature.

«You can calm yourself, because I have decided to send the girl back, since we will always know where we could look for her and, at the right moment, she will help us. So, Clara, do we have a deal?» An old man with a long beard with a long and finely decorated white cassock (which made him seem like Aristotle or Plato) asked.

«How can I know that you won't send me who knows where?»

«Because we need both of you, indispensable for saving this world. You are a chosen, Old Scriptures have been talking about you for centuries.»

«You are wrong, I am just a normal student of Literature with an equally normal life, until a few days ago.»

«You will know at the right moment, in the meanwhile enjoy your return. We need you in force.» Once told so, Lillybeth threw a little marble on the ground that created a portal similar to the one that took her there.

"At least, I'll be at home and I could try to explain this absurd situation." Clara thought, looking at Amos for the last time.

«I know that you can't take your eyes off me, but don't be scared since that from what it seems we will meet soon, even before of what you think.» He "reassured" her.

«I hope the latest possible. Dear home, wait for me, I am coming.» And then, armed herself with courage, she threw herself in the portal, under Amos' gaze.

Clara, in her heart, knew that she would have been lucky to spend that night in her bed before that this new adventure knocked at her door and, even if she would never admit it, a very little part of her liked the idea!