I Breathe Euro

Jack adjusted the satchel slung over his shoulder, ensuring the vials of his newly formulated medicine were secured inside. His new companion, the massive feline-like creature that behaved more like a loyal dog, padded beside him, its large paws making almost no sound against the earth. The journey back to the underground city had been planned meticulously; he knew he couldn't afford any mistakes.

The entrance to the city loomed ahead, the ancient stonework blending seamlessly into the cave walls, as though the city had been grown rather than built. The peculiar energy surrounding the place made the air feel dense, and Jack could sense the unbalanced nature of space-time within its boundaries. He wasn't sure what lay ahead, but he was determined to make a strong first impression.

As he stepped past the threshold, the city's brilliance unfolded before him. Towering structures, each intricately carved with patterns that glowed faintly in the dim underground light, stretched into the distance. Dwarves moved in an orderly fashion through the streets, their beards adorned with beads and rings of gold, their clothing a mix of leather and metal plating. Their eyes, however, carried a strange weariness—something Jack recognized instantly.

"Radiation poisoning," Jack muttered under his breath. His hypothesis had been correct. The spatial distortion in this underground haven likely subjected the dwarves to unseen cosmic rays, gradually weakening them over time. He tightened his grip around one of the vials in his hand. This medicine could be their salvation—if they were willing to listen.

Before he could take another step forward, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes settle on him. The dwarves, initially moving about their tasks, had stopped. Weapons were gripped, hushed whispers spread like wildfire, and soon enough, a group of armored figures began making their way toward him. Jack remained still, ensuring his stance was non-threatening, but he also exuded confidence. He had faced beings far more powerful than these before; he wasn't about to falter now.

One of the dwarves, a man with a helmet crowned with polished gemstones, stepped forward. His posture screamed authority. "Who dares enter the realm of the Arkhund Dwarves uninvited?"

Jack took a slow breath, then spoke, his voice steady. "My name is Jack Williams. I mean no harm. In fact, I believe I bring something that may help your people." He carefully pulled out one of the vials, holding it up so the dwarves could see. "Your city, your people—you're suffering from an ailment caused by the very space that grants you refuge. I have a cure."

Murmurs erupted through the crowd. The dwarf leader narrowed his eyes. "A bold claim, outsider. And why should we trust you?"

Jack smirked slightly, his mind already working on the best way to prove himself. "Because unlike anyone else you've met, I understand the problem. And I have the solution. Let me show you."

The leader exchanged glances with his warriors, then finally, with a reluctant nod, gestured for Jack to follow. "Very well. But if you deceive us, know that even in a world of shifting space, you will find no escape."

Jack merely nodded, following the dwarves deeper into their grand underground city, knowing that this was the beginning of a new and possibly game-changing alliance.

Jack stood at the grand entrance of the underground city, his massive feline-like companion by his side. The dwarves, skeptical and wary, formed a tight circle around him, their hands resting on intricately crafted weapons. Their leader, a burly dwarf with a long silver beard and piercing golden eyes, stepped forward. His armor gleamed under the strange luminescent stones embedded in the cave walls.

"You claim to bring us medicine, outsider. But why should we trust you?" The dwarf's voice was deep, filled with the weight of authority and years of battle experience. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Jack remained calm. He had anticipated their doubts. "Because I understand the dangers of space radiation. I've seen how it affects organic life. And I can prove that my medicine works."

The dwarves exchanged glances, still uncertain. Then, their leader, whose name Jack learned was Grondar Ironveil, nodded. "Very well. But we do not trust words alone. You must pass our trials. If you succeed, we will hear your case. If you fail, you will be exiled, or worse."

Jack agreed without hesitation.

Jack was led to a precarious stone bridge, suspended over a deep chasm. The bridge was narrow, and the air was filled with strong, unnatural winds that threatened to throw him off balance. Grondar explained that the bridge tested an outsider's ability to control their body under pressure, a crucial skill in their unpredictable underground world.

Jack took a deep breath and stepped forward. His experience as a scientist had trained him to keep a steady hand even in the most delicate of experiments. He kept his center of gravity low, using calculated steps. The wind howled, but he adjusted his footing accordingly. Halfway through, the bridge began to shake violently, a mechanism designed to make the trial harder.

Instead of panicking, Jack crouched and used his hands for stability. His keen intellect allowed him to anticipate the movements of the bridge, adapting before the next shift. After several tense moments, he finally made it across, earning a few impressed nods from the watching dwarves.

Jack was then taken to a massive underground forge, where molten metal flowed like rivers. The heat was almost unbearable. The challenge was simple—he had to hold a red-hot ingot with his bare hands for a full minute.

The dwarves, naturally resistant to heat, smirked, assuming the human would fail instantly. But Jack had come prepared. Before coming, he had developed a special protective salve made from local minerals and his knowledge of chemistry. He applied it to his hands and, with a confident smirk of his own, grabbed the ingot.

Pain surged through him, but the salve absorbed the worst of it. He clenched his jaw and focused, counting down the seconds. When the time was up, he placed the ingot back, revealing his hands with minimal burns.

The dwarves stared, first in disbelief, then in reluctant admiration.

Grondar led Jack into an ancient chamber filled with carved stone tablets. "We value wisdom as much as strength," he explained. "You must answer three of our ancestral riddles to pass."

Jack nodded, his mind sharpening.

The first riddle was presented: "I am not alive, but I grow. I do not have lungs, but I need air. What am I?"

Jack smiled. "Fire."

The dwarves grunted in approval.

The second riddle: "The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?"

Jack chuckled. "Footsteps."

Now, the final riddle: "I have cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and rivers but no water. What am I?"

Jack paused for a moment before answering, "A map."

Silence filled the chamber. Then, Grondar roared with laughter, clapping Jack on the shoulder. "You have passed, outsider!"

---

With the trials completed, the dwarves gathered around as Jack presented his medicine. He explained its function, how it countered space radiation, and how it could strengthen their underground civilization. The skeptical looks slowly faded, replaced by genuine interest.

Grondar finally extended his hand. "Jack, you have proven yourself. We welcome you as a friend of the dwarves. Come, let us talk further."

Jack exhaled in relief. This was just the beginning, but he had earned his place among them.

Jack had successfully passed the trials of the dwarves, proving himself not only capable but also valuable. The dwarves, initially wary of the towering human, had begun to see him as more than an outsider. His intelligence, resilience, and ability to innovate with new medicines and technologies intrigued them. Yet, trust was not easily given in the underground city, a place carved into the very fabric of the planet's mysterious space-time.

As Jack stood before the council of elders, their bearded faces scrutinizing him with eyes sharp as diamonds, he knew this was a pivotal moment. He had come armed not with weapons, but with knowledge and goodwill. He held up a vial of his specially crafted medicine, explaining how it could help mitigate the effects of prolonged exposure to unstable space-time distortions. The dwarves, many of whom suffered from ailments they had accepted as part of their existence, listened intently.

After a long deliberation, Elder Thranor, the wisest among them, finally spoke.

"You have passed our tests, outsider, and have shown no ill intent. You are strange to us, but so is the world beyond. Perhaps it is time we learned from each other. From this day forward, you are no longer just a traveler. You are our friend."

A roar of agreement spread through the assembled dwarves. Jack exhaled, relieved. His journey here had not been in vain. The dwarves welcomed him into their city, showing him places no outsider had ever seen. Grand forges where metal was shaped with precision beyond human understanding, underground rivers that carried minerals so rare they defied known science, and hidden chambers where ancient knowledge was stored.

Jack, ever the scientist, absorbed everything. He exchanged knowledge freely, teaching the dwarves about advancements in energy storage, sustainable resources, and metallurgy that could strengthen their forges. In turn, the dwarves taught Jack about their deep-space crafting methods, the unique properties of materials found only in their underground world, and the history of their people—how they had once been explorers of the cosmos before retreating to this hidden sanctuary.

As days passed, Jack grew close to many of them, but none more than Thranor and a young dwarf named Rurik. Rurik was fascinated by Jack's world and the sciences he spoke of, often spending hours asking questions about technology, physics, and the mysteries of the stars. In return, Rurik shared old tales of the dwarves' past, hinting at secrets long buried beneath layers of stone and time.@@novelbin@@

One evening, as they sat by the glowing embers of a forge, Rurik asked, "Jack, do you miss your home?"

Jack looked at the flickering flames, a shadow passing over his face. "I do. But I also know that home isn't just a place. It's the people you meet, the bonds you forge. Right now, this is my home. And you, all of you, are my family here."

Rurik grinned. "Then we shall drink to that!" He raised his tankard of thick, frothy dwarven ale, and the others joined in, roaring in approval.

Jack had come to this world as a stranger, but now, he had a place among the dwarves. And as he looked around at his new companions, he knew this was only the beginning of an even greater adventure.