The morning sun crept through the inn's tattered curtains, casting a warm glow on J's bare chest. He stretched lazily, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as memories of the night before flooded back. The scent of ale and sweat still clung to the sheets.

  J rolled over, finding the other side of the bed empty but still warm. His companion had slipped away in the early hours, leaving only a lingering trace of cologne on the pillow. J inhaled deeply, savouring the musky aroma.

  After dressing and gathering his belongings, J made his way downstairs. The innkeeper gave him a knowing wink as he passed through the common room. J felt a flutter of pride mixed with a twinge of guilt. He never meant to leave broken hearts behind, but the road always called him onward.

  At the town gates, a familiar figure waited. The man from last night - tall, broad-shouldered, with kind eyes that crinkled at the corners. J's heart skipped a beat, but he steeled himself against the temptation to linger.

  "I had a wonderful time," J said, his voice husky. He reached out to grasp the man's calloused hand. "But you know I can't stay."

  The man's smile was tinged with sadness. "I understand. Wanderers like you, you've got to keep moving."

  J squeezed his hand, fighting the urge to pull him close for one last embrace. "Maybe our paths will cross again someday," he offered, though they both knew it was unlikely.

  The man's eyes softened, a mix of understanding and longing in his gaze. "I do understand, J. Truly. But..." he paused, his voice lowering, "I can't help wishing we had more time. That I could see you again."

  J felt a familiar pang in his chest - a bittersweet cocktail of flattery and regret. He'd heard similar words before, but they never failed to stir something within him. He pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the warmth of the man's hand in his.

  "You're sweet," J murmured, his trademark grin spreading across his face. He lifted the man's hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it. The gesture was both a farewell and a silent apology.

  With a final squeeze, J released the man's hand and stepped back. He turned, his boots crunching on the gravel path as he set off. A few paces out, he lifted his arm high, waving without looking back. The morning sun caught his blonde hair, turning it to spun gold.

  As he walked, J allowed himself a small sigh. Another town, another fleeting connection left behind. But the open road beckoned, promising new adventures - and helping to ease the ache of what he left behind.

  J's boots crunched along the dirt path as he set out, the sun warm on his face. He whistled a jaunty tune, eyes scanning the rolling landscape. Every so often, he'd veer off the path to scramble up a small hill, shielding his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings.

  "Come on, you beauties," he muttered, searching for telltale signs of hidden ruins. "Where are you hiding?"

  The day was glorious - cloudless sky stretching endlessly above, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. J paused atop a grassy knoll, drinking in the view. His fingers itched with the familiar urge to practise his secret art, but he resisted. Too open, too exposed.

  Instead, he crouched, plucking a few blades of grass. He held them up, watching how they bent in the wind.

  "Hmm, not bad," he mused, gauging the wind's strength. "Decent day for exploring, if I can just find the damn entrance."

  His thoughts drifted to the man that he had just left behind in the town; a fun time, a sweet face, gentle touches… Perhaps he should find another person to spend time with, one who will travel with him.

  "All in good time," he told himself, stretching. "First, let's see what treasures this place is hiding."

  With renewed determination, J continued picking at the grass and searching for any changes in the land; any way that he could tunnel into a new ruin; hopefully one that nobody else knew about this time.

  As he was low to the ground, still searching after at least an hour, J's keen ears pricked up at the sudden sound of shouting. His heart quickened, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through him. Without hesitation, he broke into a run, his sturdy legs carrying him swiftly over the uneven terrain.

  "Well, well," he muttered, a grin tugging at his lips. "What have we here?"

  As he approached a small hill, J slowed his pace, dropping into a crouch. He climbed carefully, using the sparse vegetation for cover. At the crest, he peered over, his icy blue eyes widening at the scene below.

  In a small clearing stood a striking figure - a lizardfolk warrior unlike any J had ever encountered. Black scales with a hint of red covered the creature's muscular form, glinting in the sunlight. Its long, wide mouth was filled with razor-sharp teeth, and piercing golden eyes with vertical pupils darted between its opponents.

  Surrounding the lizardfolk were seven mercenaries, their identical armour marking them as a cohesive unit. They circled their prey, weapons drawn and ready.

  J's breath caught in his throat. "Now that's not a fair fight," he whispered to himself, admiring the lizardfolk's calm demeanour in the face of such odds. A part of him itched to intervene, to even the playing field.

  He hesitated, weighing his options. "Could be walking into a right mess here," J mused, his fingers unconsciously tracing the hilts of his sword. "But damn if that isn't the most intriguing thing I've seen all day."

  The mercenaries' taunts drifted up the hill, their voices dripping with misplaced confidence.

  "Look at this scaly bastard," one jeered, brandishing his sword. "Thinks he can take on all of us."

  Another chimed in, "We'll make a nice pair of boots out of you, lizard."

  J watched intently as the lizardfolk remained stoic, his golden eyes betraying no emotion. The warrior's clawed hands tightened around the hilts of his twin swords, scales rippling as muscles tensed beneath.

  "Impressive control," J thought, admiring the lizardfolk's composure. His own heart raced with anticipation, a familiar thrill coursing through his veins.

  Without fully realising it, J found himself standing, his stocky frame silhouetted against the sky. A reckless grin spread across his face as he shouted down to the group.

  "Oi! Looks like you boys could use a lesson in hospitality," J called out, his jovial tone belying the tension of the moment. "Mind if I join the party? Seems like your scaly friend could use a dance partner."

  All eyes snapped to J, the mercenaries' faces a mix of surprise and annoyance. The lizardfolk's gaze, however, was inscrutable, those golden eyes narrowing slightly as they locked onto J's glowing blue ones.

  J's mind raced, assessing the situation. Well, in for a copper, in for a gold, he thought, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. This should be interesting.

  The lizardfolk's scaly maw curled into a sneer. "I don't need your help, human," he spat, his voice rough and cold. "This is my fight."

  J raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the warrior's bravado. Before he could retort, the air around them shifted. The mercenaries, emboldened by their numbers, charged at the lizardfolk with a collective roar.

  "Suit yourself, mate," J muttered, his heart pounding as he watched the lizardfolk spring into action. The warrior's movements were fluid, almost beautiful in their deadly precision. His twin swords flashed in the sunlight, meeting steel with resounding clangs.

  J's feet were moving before his mind could catch up. He stumbled down the hill, loose rocks and grass sliding beneath his boots. Damn it all, he thought, struggling to keep his balance. Can't let him have all the fun.

  As he half-ran, half-slid down the slope, J's mind raced. "This is madness," he chided himself, even as excitement bubbled in his chest. "But when has that ever stopped me?"

  The sounds of battle grew louder - grunts of exertion, the clash of metal, and pained cries. J's fingers itched to grasp his sword, the forbidden thrill of necromancy tingling just beneath his skin.

  "Hold on, scales!" J shouted, his voice carrying over the din. "Your reluctant backup is on the way!"

  The lizardfolk’s blade sliced through the air, finding its mark in a mercenary's throat. Blood sprayed, and the man crumpled to the ground. J's eyes widened, both impressed and unnerved by his lethal efficiency.

  As another mercenary lunged at Hollow, J finally reached the fray. Without hesitation, he grabbed the attacker from behind, using his stocky build to wrestle the man to the ground.

  "Gotcha, you bastard!" J grunted, pinning the struggling mercenary.

  The lizardfolk’s golden eyes flickered towards J, his scaled features twisting into a scowl. "I told you to stay out of this," he hissed, parrying a blow from another assailant.

  J grinned, despite the chaos around them. "And miss all this excitement? Not a chance, mate."

  The lizardfolk scoffed, his attention already back on the fight. J felt a surge of admiration for Hollow's focus and skill, even as he grappled with his own opponent.

  "You know," J panted, dodging a wild punch, "most people would appreciate a little help in a situation like this."

  He didn't respond, his twin swords a blur of motion as he fended off two mercenaries at once. J couldn't help but marvel at the grace in his movements, the deadly dance of scales and steel.

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  "Stubborn bastard," J muttered under his breath, a hint of fondness creeping into his tone. He tightened his hold on the mercenary beneath him, feeling the familiar tingle of necromantic energy at his fingertips. "But I've got to admit, he's bloody impressive."

  The dance of death continued, blades flashing in the sunlight. J and the Lizardfolk moved in a strange, deadly synchronicity, their fighting styles complementing each other despite their lack of familiarity. The lizardfolk’s twin blades carved through the air with lethal precision, while J's sword struck with brutal efficiency.

  One by one, the mercenaries fell. Blood stained the grass, the metallic scent mingling with the earthiness of the soil. J felt a grim satisfaction with each opponent they dispatched, his icy blue eyes glowing slightly brighter with each breath of fresh blood.

  As the sixth mercenary crumpled to the ground, J turned to see the last one fleeing, his armour clanking as he stumbled away. "Oi!" J called out, gesturing towards the retreating figure. "Should we go after him?"

  The lizardfolk, his black scales glistening with sweat and blood, shook his head. "Let him go," he rasped, his voice low and gravelly. "If one lives, they won't send stronger ones."

  J raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the lizardfolk's reasoning. "Clever," he mused, wiping his blade on the grass. "You've dealt with these types before, I take it?"

  The lizardfolk’s golden eyes met J's, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. "More times than I care to count," he replied, his tone clipped.

  J nodded, a mix of curiosity and concern washing over him. He wanted to ask more, to unravel the mystery of this fascinating creature, but he sensed now wasn't the time. Instead, he surveyed the carnage around them, a wry smile twisting his lips.

  "Well," he said, breaking the tense silence, "that was one hell of a workout, wasn't it?"

  J approached the man, a hearty laugh bursting from his chest. The thrill of battle still coursed through his veins, making his skin tingle with excitement. "Now that's what I call teamwork!" he exclaimed, raising his hand for a high-five. "We should celebrate our victory, don't you think?"

  His jovial mood was met with a stark contrast from his new companion. The lizardfolk’s golden eyes narrowed, regarding J with a mix of suspicion and irritation. He scoffed, the sound guttural and dismissive.

  Without a word, he sheathed his swords with practised efficiency. The metallic scrape of steel against leather seemed to punctuate his silence. He then shook his hands vigorously, droplets of crimson blood splattering onto the grass at his feet.

  J's hand slowly lowered, his grin faltering slightly. He couldn't help but admire Hollow's stoic demeanour, even as it frustrated him. "Not much for celebration, are you?" he mused, more to himself than to the other man.

  The lizardfolk's tail swished once, agitated. J found himself wondering what it would take to crack that hard exterior, to see what lay beneath the tough scales and tougher attitude. Despite the rebuff, his curiosity only grew stronger.

  J's brow furrowed, his icy blue eyes searching the lizardfolk’s impassive face. "What's wrong? I thought we made a pretty good team back there."

  His vertical pupils constricted, his voice a low hiss. "I don't need help. Especially not from you." He turned abruptly, scales glinting in the sunlight as he prepared to leave.

  "Wait!" J called out, his hand instinctively reaching for the other man’s arm before thinking better of it. As the lizardfolk turned back, J dropped to his knees beside the nearest mercenary corpse. His fingers, still sticky with drying blood, deftly searched through the dead man's pockets.

  "What are you doing?" The lizardfolk’s voice dripped with disdain.

  J glanced up, a roguish grin spreading across his face. "Well, if you won't celebrate, maybe these poor fellows left us a parting gift." His hands continued to explore, seeking the telltale clink of coins. "No harm in a little treasure hunting, right?"

  Inwardly, J wondered if this display of pragmatism might impress the stoic lizardfolk. He found himself oddly desperate to make some sort of connection, to pierce that impenetrable armour he wore like a second skin.

  The lizardfolk’s golden eyes narrowed, a mixture of exasperation and grudging respect flickering across his reptilian features. "Don't bother," he growled, his tail swishing irritably. "They wouldn't have gotten paid before the job was finished."

  Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode away, his movements fluid and purposeful. The black leather armour he wore creaked softly with each step, a stark contrast to the silence of his footfalls.

  J paused, his hands still buried in the dead mercenary's pockets. He cast one last longing glance at the bodies, then scrambled to his feet. His stocky frame moved with surprising agility as he jogged to catch up with the retreating lizardfolk.

  "Hey, wait up!" J called out, slightly out of breath. His icy blue eyes glowed faintly, a reminder of the forbidden magic that coursed through his veins. As he fell into step beside the other man, he couldn't help but admire the play of sunlight on those black and red-tinged scales.

  Curiosity burned within J, stronger than his usual casual interest. He found himself captivated by this enigmatic creature, wanting to unravel the mysteries that shrouded him. "So," J ventured, his tone deliberately light, "you got a name, scales?"

  The lizardfolk stopped abruptly, his vertical pupils fixing on J with an intensity that would have made a lesser man flinch. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension. After a moment that stretched like eternity, his lips parted, revealing a hint of sharp teeth.

  "Hollow," he said, his voice low and gravelly.

  J's eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across his tanned face. He couldn't help but chuckle, the sound rich and warm in the afternoon air. "Hollow? What kind of name is that? Sounds more like a description than a name, if you ask me."

  Hollow's eyes narrowed dangerously, his tail twitching in irritation. "And what's yours?" he countered, his words clipped and precise.

  "J," the shorter man replied, puffing out his chest slightly. "Just J."

  A scoff escaped Hollow's throat, a sound somewhere between amusement and derision. "And what kind of person uses a single letter as a name?"

  J shrugged, his grin never faltering. "The interesting kind, of course."

  They continued walking, the silence between them thick with unspoken words. J's mind raced, trying to think of ways to engage the taciturn lizardfolk. He found himself stealing glances at Hollow, admiring the way his muscles moved beneath his scales.

  After what felt like an eternity, Hollow's gruff voice cut through the silence. "Stop following me."

  J blinked, feigning innocence. "Following you? I'm not following you. We just happen to be going in the same direction."

  After more than a few miles, J's curiosity finally got the better of him. The silence had stretched on long enough, and the question burned on his tongue. He cleared his throat, blue eyes glinting with interest.

  "So, those guys back there," J began, gesturing vaguely behind them. "What was their deal? Why were they after you?"

  Hollow's jaw clenched, his golden eyes fixed straight ahead. "It's not your business," he growled, his words sharp as the claws on his hands.

  J raised an eyebrow, undeterred. "Come on, it can't hurt to share. We did just fight together, after all."

  The lizardfolk's tail swished in agitation, but he remained silent.

  They continued their trek, the sun beating down on them. J absently flicked at the drying blood on his armour, watching as flakes of crimson drifted to the ground. His mind wandered to the fight, replaying Hollow's fluid movements and deadly precision.

  Hollow's voice cut through his thoughts. "I told you to go away."

  J couldn't help but grin, a mischievous glint in his eye. "And I told you, I'm just walking the same way." He spread his arms wide, gesturing to the path ahead. "It's a free road, isn't it?"

  Hollow's nostrils flared, a low hiss escaping him. J found it oddly endearing, despite the clear warning it carried.

  This one's going to be a challenge, J thought, his grin widening. But oh, what an interesting challenge he'll be.

  Hollow's clawed hand clenched into a fist at his side. "You're a stubborn bastard, aren't you?" he growled, his golden eyes narrowing at J.

  J let out a hearty laugh, his chest shaking with mirth. "Guilty as charged," he admitted, running a hand through his short blonde hair. "But you have to admit, it's part of my charm." He winked at Hollow, unable to resist the flirtatious gesture.

  The lizardfolk's scales seemed to bristle, but J caught a flicker of something in those reptilian eyes. Interest? Curiosity? It was gone before he could be sure.

  "Look," J continued, his voice softening slightly, "I just think you're interesting. Not every day you meet a lizardfolk who can take on seven mercenaries single-handedly."

  Hollow scoffed, the sound rough and dismissive. "I don't need allies," he stated flatly, his gaze fixed ahead. "Especially not prying, overly-friendly humans."

  J shrugged, unfazed by the cold response. His icy blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "Who said anything about allies? I'm just a traveller, walking in the same direction as you." He gestured dramatically at the path ahead. "Pure coincidence, I assure you."

  Hollow's tail twitched in irritation. Without warning, he swung his arm out, landing a solid punch on J's bicep.

  "Ow!" J yelped, more surprised than hurt. He rubbed his arm, a grin spreading across his face. "Was that supposed to make me go away? Because I have to tell you, I've had much rougher foreplay than that."

  Hollow's eyes widened slightly at J's brazen comment, a flicker of surprise breaking through his stoic mask. He quickly composed himself, his features hardening once more.

  "You're insufferable," Hollow hissed, quickening his pace.

  J matched his stride, undeterred. "I prefer 'persistently charming,'" he quipped, his grin widening.

  They walked in silence for a while, the sun dipping lower on the horizon. J's mind raced, searching for a way to break through Hollow's icy exterior. He found himself oddly drawn to the mysterious lizardfolk, intrigued by the secrets that clearly lurked beneath those scales.

  As twilight approached, Hollow abruptly veered off the path towards a small copse of trees. J followed, raising an eyebrow.

  "Setting up camp?" he asked, trying to keep his pace matched to his perceived new friend’s. J followed Hollow into the copse, his eyes adjusting to the dimmer light beneath the trees. The lizardfolk moved with purpose, scanning the area before selecting a small clearing.

  "I suppose this means you've decided to tolerate my company for the night," J quipped, a hopeful note in his voice.

  Hollow's tail lashed in irritation. "Don't flatter yourself," he growled. "I'm simply too tired to keep walking. Your presence is... inconvenient."

  J grinned, undeterred. "Inconvenient, but not unwelcome. I'll take it."

  As Hollow began gathering fallen branches for a fire, J busied himself clearing a space for them to lay down. He couldn't help but steal glances at the lizardfolk, admiring the play of muscles beneath those dark scales.

  "So," J ventured, breaking the silence, "do you always travel alone?" He kept his tone casual, but his eyes were keen as he watched Hollow's reaction.

  The lizardfolk paused, a branch held loosely in his clawed hand. For a moment, J thought he might not answer. Then Hollow's gravelly voice cut through the twilight air.

  "Yes," he said simply, resuming his task.

  J nodded, processing this tidbit of information. "Must get lonely," he mused, more to himself than to Hollow.

  Hollow's tail twitched, his golden eyes flashing in the fading light. "Loneliness is preferable to the alternative," he growled.

  J's brow furrowed, curiosity piqued. "And what's the alternative?" he pressed, unable to help himself.

  Hollow's jaw clenched, then he answered; “Being stabbed in the back.”

  His words hung heavy in the air, laden with unspoken pain. J felt a pang in his chest, a mix of sympathy and intrigue. He opened his mouth to probe further, but the look in Hollow's eyes made him think better of it.

  They worked in silence, the crackling fire soon casting dancing shadows across the clearing. J settled onto the ground, his back against a tree trunk. He watched as Hollow positioned himself on the opposite side of the fire, golden eyes reflecting the flames.

  "We part ways in the morning," Hollow stated flatly, his gaze fixed on the fire.

  J nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "If you say so," he replied, his tone light but determined.

  Hollow's eyes snapped to him, narrowing dangerously. "I mean it, human. This ends here."

  J held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I hear you.” Hollow stared at him for another moment, then placed his swords on the ground, and laid on his side, facing away from J and the fire.

  Silently, J told himself that there would be no way that they’d separate.