Part 1

Narin found himself on a windswept hilltop in a rolling plain, alone with the except of Vordea's avatar, who stood next to him with a neutral expression, but raised eyebrows. He looked around and saw no signs of life besides himself, the grassland extending beyond the horizon. After thinking it over for several minutes, he determined they were likely on the Gheddan Steppes before the fall of Zimmil Ma.

"So why are you still here?" Narin eventually asked. "You tossed me out of the Dawn, but you followed me here."

"You gave Vordea memories that would have caused a bootstrap paradox if she held onto them, so she created me." The avatar responded. "Technically... I'm one of her children, I suppose."

"You got a name?" Narin said, huffing dismissively.

"Evangeline." She replied.

"Eva is better." Narin answered, shaking his head. "Long names don't suit you."

"Eva it is." She smirked. Dragons are always the same. "So where do we start?"

"We?" Narin asked with some surprise.

"Vordea said I have to help you." Eva replied, shrugging. "So yeah, we."

Narin thought about this. Having someone to talk to was a nice proposition, come to think of it. Something still felt off though, and he realized they needed one other person.

"We're starting by going to get someone. The Gourmand Witch, Nicole Savill. She's a... friend, I suppose." Narin said, eyeing Eva.

"Where, actually, when are we going?" Eva asked, gesturing around. "She obviously isn't here."

Narin responded by snorting. "Obviously."

Patiently and calmly, he began to take on his humanoid form. He hadn't done this for a very long time, and was starting to forget how to do it. His wings shrunk until they disappeared, along with his entire body. As he reached a more human scale, he stood up his rear legs, and his front legs began to change, hands forming from claws, and hair growing from his head. The process continued for a few more seconds, until Narin was a pale white skinned, bronze haired, golden eyed human.

"Now we're ready." He said, his voice flat.

"You sound like Eigengrau!" Eva said, bursting out laughing. "Oh my me, no I can't. When did you even do this last?"

"Seven thousand years ago from my perspective."

"No, we're teaching you how to talk first!" Eva said.

"We'll do that on the way." Narin said, his face displaying clear annoyance. "Come on, we're going to Ironhand 9423, or thereabouts."