Wait... what?

I finally stepped out of the cramped little shop. My pockets felt considerably lighter – 25 silver coins lighter, to be precise. Two days' rations of bread and water, a rickety spear that looked more like it belonged on the blacksmith's "Wall of Shame," and a set of second-hand clothes later, I was feeling ready to conquer a hidden bandit hideout.

A glance at my reflection in a passing puddle did spark a flicker of amusement. Not bad, kid,yes, this Raven was indeed handsome. Okay, maybe "cute for a kid" was a more accurate description. My hair, a shade of black that almost shimmered under the morning light, with an almost-grey tinge was now neatly combed. Grey eyes that had a shade of lavender.

But beneath the surface, my bones seemed to poke through my skin. It was a temporary state, though.

I was a grown man in a child's body which was unsettling.Twenty-eight to ten wasn't the ideal age swap, but hey, you play the hand you're dealt, right?

Two days of fruitless searching followed. I scoured the undergrowth, climbed fallen trees, and even poked into a few suspicious-looking crevices. Nothing.

No sign of the bandit hideout, any telltale cave entrance, hidden trapdoor, or suspicious glint of metal in the afternoon sun. Nothing.Not a single glint of gold, nor any sign of the bandit hideout. It made a twisted sort of sense. If a scrawny raven like me could stumble across it, wouldn't that be a reflection poorly on the city guard? Still, I persevered, hunger gnawing at my stomach despite my careful rationing. One day's worth of food remained.

Dejection threatened to engulf me, but giving up wasn't an option.

Another troubling thought flitted across my mind. Two days in, and I hadn't encountered a single monster, not even a goblin or a territorial pack of wolves. Was this forest devoid of danger, or had I simply stumbled upon some unnaturally quiet patch of woods? 'Oh shit just raised a red flag didn't I?'

Then there was the unsettling fact that Raven wasn't mentioned in the novel. Not even as a background character. I wasn't even a barfly wooing a woman that the author needed to fill the scene, to give it life, just another face in the crowd. I was an extra.

Letting out a sigh that escaped in a puff of dust, I closed my eyes. Sleep, even in this uncomfortable cave, precious commodity. Tomorrow, I'd figure things out. One step at a time, Raven. One step at a time.

I woke up, well I was woken by the sound of clashing steel and booming magic echoing through the trees. My heart hammered a frantic tattoo against my ribs. Check it out? Absolutely not! This wasn't my business, and getting mixed up in some brawl wouldn't help my situation one bit. Stuffing my meager belongings into my makeshift bag, I crept away from the commotion, the forest floor muffling my cautious steps.

As I navigated the dense foliage, a glint of metal caught my eye. A hidden passage, tucked away in a spot no one in their right mind would think to look. A bandit hideout on a cliff? Talk about unconventional! Tucked away on a cliff face, practically invisible unless you were specifically looking for it

Cautiously, I lifted the trapdoor, peering into the inky blackness below. Indeed, a passage snaked downwards, dimly lit by strategically placed torches. This had to be it. The bandits' lair. Taking a deep breath, I descended, the air growing colder and staler with each step.

This was the bandit hideout, no doubt about it. The labyrinthine passage twisted and turned, deeper and deeper into the rock face. The air grew thick with the stench of stale sweat and something else... blood?

A thrill of anticipation ran through me, quickly dampened by a flicker of disappointment.

Pushing deeper into the labyrinthine passage, I finally reached a dead end – a small, dusty chamber. In the center sat a chest, far less impressive than the treasure hoards I'd envisioned. Disappointment clawed at me, but I pushed forward, curiosity gnawing at me. Inside the chest, nestled in faded velvet, lay a simple silver ring. A storage ring, I assumed, but how did one even activate it? Inject manner of course! But I don't know how.

Also the book hadn't exactly delved into the finer points of magical trinkets.

Did the dragon just stand there patiently while the hero fumbled with the ring?

Frustration bubbled up, but a bigger question loomed. Where were the traps, the guards, any semblance of security? The answer, it seemed, came courtesy of the ongoing battle. The city guards must have finally decided to clean house. Great timing, right?

As I mulled over these incongruities, the sounds of battle from earlier faded away, replaced by an unsettling silence.

Emerging from the hidden passage, I clutched the ring in my sweaty palm, a bewildered frown etched on my face. Just then, a voice sliced through the rustling leaves, seductive yet chilling. "What is a human child doing out here and this deep in the forest? Last time I checked, they were kept hidden behind walls, safe from monsters and the dangers that lurk in the shadows."

I spun around, my blood turning to ice. Perched nonchalantly on a branch, impossibly thin for her weight, was a woman of breathtaking beauty. Moonlight bathed her form, highlighting the raven-black hair cascading down her back in a loose ponytail, the fiery red eyes that seemed to pierce my soul, and the full lips that promised both pleasure and danger. Her body, clad in what appeared to be supple black leather, was enough to make a saint reconsider his vows.

Even as my gaze swept over her, the woman's voice continued, "Have you by any chance seen a thief around here?"

My mind reeled. A thief? What in the world was she talking about? Could she be talking about me? Before I could stammer out a reply, a horrifying realization dawned on me. The battle I'd heard earlier... the city guards exterminating the bandits... maybe they hadn't gotten everyone.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, not just from fear, but from the sudden, absurd possibility

Or maybe she is not a bandit member just another independent party. Wait could she be after the same thing I was? The very ring I now held in my hand?

" A dragon thief, to be exact?" She continued.

"Wait... what?" My jaw dropped, my brain struggling to process her words. A dragon thief? This whole situation had just taken a turn for the bizarre.

With a hint of amusement creeping from her voice she said,"Well, don't just stand there gawking. Have you?"