Man, lately, it seems like no matter how long I sleep, I still wake up tired.
Perhaps our journey has exhausted you.
Let us take today to relax.
If you're still sleepy, might I recommend a nap?
Well, if you insist.
What is it, Pip?
You'd like to play with someone?
Unfortunately, Letty is sound asleep.
You're sure?
You'll go alone?
I don't see why not.
But don't stray too far.
And be back before sundown!
And no following suspicious strangers. I can't get this black bar off'a me!
That's a no-no, all right?
"Suspicious Strangers"
Have fun on your adventure.
"Property #8: Pip Goes on an Adventure"
You'll hear my sad story?
Thank you so much!
Let me introduce myself; I'm Mister Leprechaun.
I once lived in a lovely shoe, until...
a passing Hero crushed it with his foot.
Then threw it over his shoulder.
Ew, what's with this gross shoe? Then threw it over his shoulder.
Then it floated down the river...
How can this world be so cruel?
My friend and I split up to find a new home, but it's slow goin'...
What? You'll help us?
Your father's looking for a home, too?
And he's a dragon? Why would a dragon need to look for a home?
Huh? It's one part of his plan for world domination?
It is not!
Now I've got me a place to sleep.
Now, where did my friend run off to?
Hey! Where are ya?
There he is! Ho, there!
It's gonna eat us!
The two leprechauns were reunited.
Forgive me for losing my composure there.
If you could help us find a nice, old shoe to live in, we'd appreciate it.
Leather if you can. It's easy to work with.
Ugh, my feet hurt.
Why're you makin' us scout out this place, anyway? There's nothing here.
There could be a cave or treasure hidden around here!
That one?
We couldn't!
Those Heroes would have our hides if we stole from them!
You're sure it'll be fine?
How do you know?
Dammit, get us out of here!
The Heroes always get screwed when they show up? If you say so...
It's so annoying that we have to get up close to NPCs to talk to them.
Wish we could interact with them from a little further a...
Bugs? Eek! Run away! Run away!
"Piyobert learned 'Caterpillar Rain'!"
I left my shoe back there!
Go get it later!
I ain't goin' back!
Thank you so much.
We've got a home, all thanks to you!
Thank you for all your help, too, little fellas.
"You guys owe us one" You guys owe us one.
"Didja see the looks on their faces? Classic" Didja see the looks on their faces? Classic.
Pip!
Papa!
You have to go?
I see. I wish we could thank you somehow.
Take care!
Pip! Pip!
Pip...
Calm down, Letty.
Pip...
Papa!
I was so worried!
Pip!
I was so scared when I woke up and he was gone!
I can't believe you let him go off on his own like that!
If he's big enough to handle himself like this,
he's big enough to start using his own magic to regulate his temperature.
You don't need to keep him cool anymore.
That's not the point.
What if he'd gotten hurt, or someone attacked him?
There are no bears or wolves in these woods.
At worst, there are foxes and martens.
Drool.
They could eat him, too!
I think Pip needs to be a little bigger before he can go on his own adventures!
You're quite overprotective, Letty.
When I was a child,
I lived in a snowy mountain range where rabid berserkers roamed.
This is much safer, comparatively.
Your baseline for "dangerous" is way out there!
What were you doing out there?
I apprenticed with a master that lived there.
Wait, Dearia,
you had a childhood?
Did you think I just spawned into existence?
Where do Elves come from, anyway?
Most of us live near in a hidden village in the branches of Yggdrasil.
They apparently lived in splendor on the surface until not too long ago.
Wow, how long ago is that?
About 100,000 years ago.
That's "not too long ago"?
However, as the younger races began to prosper,
the elves found themselves unsure of how to approach them,
so they decided it was best to withdraw from the mortal world.
So elves are just socially awkward?
Wow, though, an itty-bitty Dearia...
Would you care to explain that giddy grin?
Just wondering what you were like when you were little!
I don't have any amusing childhood tales, sadly.
I do have one tale from a little over 1,000 years ago.
In the village of the elves,
there once lived a child who possessed an unrivaled thirst for knowledge.
When I was a child, I was desperate to absorb any knowledge I could,
spending most of my days between the pages of a book.
Once, I tried to make a place where I could read alone in peace.
"Chnarb sit edisni kun kub eezok a etaerc."
I failed spectacularly.
Dearia!
Why is it always you?
Do you not understand the ramifications of breaking a branch of the world tree?
Sorry.
Every branch of the tree is a manifestation of life itself!
I'll do better next time.
You're going to strip Yggdrasil bare!
I'll try a different spell next time.
No, you will not!
I've told you again and again,
children must stay in the nursery.
You will be allowed private quarters only when you come of age.
Besides, isn't it much more fun living together with your friends?
C'mon, I'm way better than him.
I prefer to be alone.
There's so much I want to learn.
I need a place where I can read all day without being bothered.
If you'd like to learn something, then ask an adult to teach you!
You shouldn't isolate yourself.
Says the adults who've isolated themselves in the world tree.
What could you possibly know that's not in these books?
You little...
If you are that thirsty for knowledge,
then we can entrust your care to the great wise serpent.
You're going to exile me because I'm too much of a handful?
It's study abroad! Study abroad!
In the northernmost lands, far, far away from here,
near the frozen Ergot sea,
lives a giant serpent who was old and wise even when Yggdrasil first sprouted.
Though living in their domain is quite dangerous,
it would quench your thirst for knowledge.
Welcome to the far reaches of the north, little traveler.
I have been expecting you.
I am Jormungandr.
My name is Dearia.
I was told that you, who can see for 1,000 leagues,
could teach me everything I wish to know.
What is it you wish to know?
Are goblin loincloths made from wool or hemp?
Oh, dear!
That's quite the niche interest.
It has been centuries since anything has surprised me so.
I couldn't find the answer in any of my books.
Likely because no one cared enough to preserve that knowledge.
Before I answer your questions, you will need a place to build a fire.
No doubt there are many things you wish to know,
but there is much more you can learn to attain the knowledge you seek.
Everything that exists in our world is interconnected.
An empty answer is hardly equal to true understanding.
Fortunately, both you and I are long-lived.
First, let us get you warmed up so you don't go catching a cold on me.
After that, let us unravel all the queries you may have.
I look forward to your tutelage,
Master.
And so, I applied myself to my studies under the tutelage of the great serpent.
I learned languages, philosophy, religion, history,
biology, geography, astronomy, medicine, and last but not least, magic.
The days I spent there were most fulfilling.
There was, however, one problem.
Not again.
Whatever is the matter, boy?
An earthquake flattened my house again, Master.
An earthquake? I don't recall sensing one...
Because my Master most certainly caused it.
Whoa.
You're going to live there?
Here, live in this house.
The grown-up elves built me a house, Here, live in this house.
But it only lasted ten days.
My Master asked some golems to build me a house...
All done!
But that didn't even last two days.
If I rebuild it again, it'll likely just collapse once more.
In that case...
Master, please resurrect me every morning from here on out.
Why? Do you intend to freeze to death every night?
Temperature is not the only threat to your life here.
Whatever will you do if a wandering berserker comes upon you?
If I cannot ensure your safety, then I will have to send you back to Yggdrasil.
I-I'll rebuild it at once!
This time, it'll be able to withstand any earthquake!
I fear that construction is one area in which I lack knowledge.
I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can make something work!
I see. Very well.
I've heard that adding more walls adds to a structure's strength.
Why not try a denser layout?
It looks like a box of chocolates.
I don't need that many rooms, anyway.
Let's just give it a try.
Good. I'll call the golems to help once more.
It's gone from a studio apartment to having a bedroom and a kitchen.
"Three Days Later"
It didn't last, I see.
What if we reinforced it with metal girders?
That's a fine idea.
Good! Now my house will be way stronger!
Cold temperatures cause metal to stick or grow brittle.
Pondering this design is somewhat fun.
"Metal Girders: freeze, weak in low temps" There's so much to learn in all of this.
Despite encountering a bit of trouble during the design process,
I was able to find a metal alloy that would resist these cold temperatures.
It's finally done!
Master, look! I built my house!
Come, see it for yourself!
Now I can get back to studying!
You called for me, boy?
What have I done?
My most deepest apologies, boy! I am so sorry!
Could those other "earthquakes" have been my doing, too?
Doesn't seem to be going well, hmm?
The materials we provided ya were no match for her.
Well, of course not.
She's never been good about watchin' out for her tail.
The Graiae sisters...
Now, cheer up there, Dear Boy.
No helpin' it around her.
Hard for such a little guy to live 'round a ginormous serpent.
At least you didn't end up crushed to death inside it!
Might be safer for ya if you ran along home.
No. I will stay here.
Why?
What, back already?
Done with your studies already?
If I went back to the world tree, the adults would just sneer at me.
What's wrong with them?
How childish.
What a pain.
Not only that...
"Price Negotiable!"
If I can design a building that can withstand Jormungandr,
then I'll make boatloads of money.
In it for the money, huh?
That's our little entrepreneur.
Let us invest in ya, yeah?
Despite everything,
I want to stay here with you, Master.
Dearia...
Aww, us old grannies'll give ya a helpin' hand.
Go on, take whatever you want!
How sturdy is this lumber?
That's silver willow.
It's light and sturdy,
but it won't hold up to Jormungandr.
Whaddya say, boy? Think it'll work?
Yes, it will.
I'm finished!
Well, earthquakes certainly won't affect it up here, nor can I crush it.
Good thinking.
Of course it was.
I learned from the best, Master!
That you did, boy.
I have myself a fine apprentice.
One question, Master.
What should I do when nature calls?
Wh-Wha...?
Time passed.
I spent a few centuries as Dark Lord in name only.
Just when mankind had forgotten about the Dark Lord altogether...
That is when he came calling.
"Elf Housing Realty"
Do you like insects?
If you don't, have you considered changing the lighting in your home?
"Fluorescent Lighting"
Fluorescent lights emit UV radiation that attracts insects.
LED lightbulbs can solve that insect problem for you.
Next time, "A Home for a Black Dragon."