The untold tale

After making sure that he is still a caterpillar and that he is not dreaming, he approaches the make-shift door and enthusiatically wrench it open. Revealing a small creature he has seen from tales and stories alike, a dark colored dragon pixie. It is as its name, a tiny lean little dragon with wings of leaf-like structure. Its skin covered with enchanting glows of starlight, flickering about in the hundreds on the canvas of the dark night blue.

The curious creature startles a bit, not expecting the quick opening of door, before schooling its face back to a neutral smile. It gestures to the mansion and says,

"I couldn't help but notice this magnificent structure as I fly by. There seems to be a shell-sign outside, albeit a bit fresh... mayhaps you are the innkeeper?" It asks politely.

Meanwhile, Tedior's mind is working overdraft.

'What the fuck am I looking at?' He bewilderedly thoughts and decides to fuck it and goes with the flow.

"Yup." He replies intelligently. The creature happily perks up and proceeds on asking for the price per daylight stay.

"How... exactly are we trading?" Tedior asks instead, giving away his ignorance of this side of the business in which the dragon pixie graciously explains.

"Oh by trade of course. Some trade with food, mostly nectars or spirit wine, then there's some with weaved daylight and orbed nightlight. Some even trades with cores. These are all common knowledge in these parts. May I know where you are originated?" It asks enthusiastically, eager to learn of his peculiar origins.

"I am from a different world." He replies without missing a beat, giving the pixie a wide smile that, he hopes, comes out friendly.

The pixie tilts its head in confusion, before nodding slowly.

"Ah, a different region, you mean?"

"Nope."

"No?"

"Nope."

"Different country, maybe?"

"Nope."

"Surely you can't literary means a whole different world."

"Yup."

"..."

"Mmhmm."

"You jest."

"Nope. Used to be a man from Earth."

It gapes at Tedior, oepning and closing its mouth in astonishment. Before it suddenly gives a squeal of excitment and holds onto Tedior's hands or thoracic legs then enthusiastically shaking it.

"I can't believe this!" It squeeks. "I am... baffled! Amazed! Astonished! Honored! Another from Earth! I knew those stories were true. Ma used to tell me stories, you see."

As the dragon pixie enthusiastically and naively tells him all about this story of summoned heroes and their valiant quest to save this world he slowly guides it in. He briefly wonders if the dragon pixie will tastes good or if it yields more core than that insect. Maybe he could tame it like those games do.

"... then Yunan slashed the Demon King's head, all the puppets were destroyed from that single act. People began to rowse from their slumber but..." He wonders if he should just bites its head off but he stops himself when he remembers his psychologists mentioning that killing others is bad not to mention illegal.

"...turns out they were betrayed by his most trusted aid. His core was stolen that night and he falls into despair from the broken faith and..." Does that morality works the same across different worlds? But he has already three acts of murders. Does insect counts?

"... was regressed! 15 times! Do you believe it? This was the only path with the least amount of casualty. So he..." What about all those insects that he unknowingly crushed under his feet? They are, after all just insects.

"...sacrificed himself for the greater good." It sniffs sadly from the tragic yet epic end of the tale. It looks at Tedior expectantly with pure admiration in its eyes. "Mayhaps you know of this hero?"

"Nope!" He zealously answers, shattering the poor dragon pixie's hopes and dreams.

"Ah, it's alright. I should've expected it. Its a big world after all... no matter, it is an honor to meet another who hail from Earth!" It says, once again shaking Tedior's hands vigorously. He could only smile and nods.

"About the trade..." he asks instead, slowly retrieving his hands and diverting its attention elsewhere.

"Ah yes! I need to stay for the day. Cant have too much sunlight, otherwise these wings will burn." It gestures to its delicate blue leaf-like wings. Tedior nods as he guides it further up to the top most room a window.

"Sorry, theres no bed and stuff."

"Please do not apologise! It is an HONOR! To meet another otherworlder. An honor!" It wipes a stray tears before asking, "Now, may I know how much to stay for the day, o otherworlder?"

"I was hoping that you would tell me." He says instead. It seems to ponders a bit before starting to pull out items from nowhere. Or maybe from its own pocket space?

The dragon pixie lays out a couple of tems on the floor and points to each items, explaining patiently and gently to Tedior of their use and name.

"Here, this is a weaved daylight and orbed nightlight." It hands him a spiderwebbed ball and a white glowing flowery bud. "Extremely useful items to wards off nightmarish wraiths. Also good for alchemy."

"Nightmarish wraiths?" He ask, intrigued by the different type of foes.

"By product of the First War. They are lingering curses from the tortured soul. No one knows how to deal with them until a thousand years later our valiant heroes came up with these genius ideas. They even share it to everyone!" It cries in worship.

"But why would these wraiths bother with insects?" He asks.

"For the Small World wraiths, of course." It answers as-a-matter-of-factly. At Tedior's questioning look, it complies. "They are mostly summons that died horrendously or when their contracts are ended abruptly and violently..." it trails off as in deep thoughts before moving on to the next item.

"These are cores, every living creatures have them." It says as it pass him a core.

Obtained an insect core

3 of 100 000 000 insect core collected

"Ah..."

"I will replace that!" He hurriedly says.

"No, no. It's okay. Mayhaps we count that as one of the payment for the room?" It says.

"Yes. Thank you."

"It is an honor."